Indus Vitals

IV Report KARACHI: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) announced the results of Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2024 on September 29, with an overall pass percentage of 58.79%. Out of 38,041 candidates who took the entry test for MBBS and BDS programmes, 22,366 passed, including 20,103 for MBBS and 22,366 for BDS. These successful candidates are now eligible for admission to recognised public and private medical universities and colleges in the province. Pass Percentage by Centre: Karachi -63%, Larkana -60%, Sukkur -57%, Jamshoro -56% and Nawabshah -54%. Centre and Class-wise breakdown of successful candidates: Karachi -6,947 (MBBS) and 7,941 (BDS) out of 12,572 candidates; Jamshoro -6,350 (MBBS) and 6,973 (BDS) out of 12,492; Sukkur -2,872 (MBBS) and 3,142 (BDS) out of 5,525; Larkana -2,587 (MBBS) and 2,818 (BDS) out of 4,693; Nawabshah -1,347 (MBBS) and 1,492 (BDS) out of 2,759.

IV Report                              KARACHI: World Heart Day (WHD) 2024 celebrations concluded on September 29 with a flurry of activities highlighting cardiovascular disease prevention and promoting healthy lifestyles under the theme "Use heart for action." The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) organised a "World Heart Day Ride" on September 29, led by Dr Saulat Fatimi, Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery. In collaboration with Docs on Wheels, the event drew 600 cyclists, including students, doctors, nurses, hospital leadership, and civil society members. The ride aimed to raise heart health awareness, covering a route from Karsaz Road to Shahrah-e-Faisal, Drigh Road, and back to the AKU campus. Dr Fatimi emphasised, "Around half of people with heart diseases are diagnosed after death. Our goal is to create awareness about heart care and regular checkups through events like mini-marathons and cycling."  ...

KARACHI: Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, highlighted the country's tertiary education achievements, citing a 13% enrollment rate and significant improvements in gender parity, during a meeting with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education on September 27. Addressing the parliamentarians, Dr Ahmed noted that Pakistan now has 265 universities, with an 11% increase in tertiary education rate since 2002. The enrollment ratio has also improved, with 52% male and 48% female students, up from 68% male and 32% female in 2002. Despite financial hardships, Pakistani universities are publishing over 1,000 research papers annually, with a significant increase in high-impact journals. Dr Ahmed emphasised the need for continuous state support to ensure sustainable development in the higher education sector. Financial challenges persist: The HEC chairman highlighted the sector's financial struggles, including a Rs60.1 billion shor...

  IV Report KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced plans to establish two exclusive industrial estates in Keamari and Nooriabad, with land already earmarked and planning underway. Addressing the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry's (Kati) annual dinner at PAF Museum on September 26, Shah revealed the estates will be named SITE Karachi Phase-III and Nooriabad Industrial Estate Phase-III. The new SITE Karachi will span 2,000 acres in Deh Moachko and Gabo Pat, District Keamari, while Nooriabad will cover 1,150 acres. Shah emphasised his government's focus on promoting industrialisation, economic growth, and job creation. He praised Kati’s efforts in advocating for better infrastructure, including improved roads, drainage systems, and uninterrupted power supply. "The Korangi Industrial Area (Kia) has become a vital hub for Pakistan's manufacturing and export industries," Shah noted. He acknowledged Kati’s role in industrial growth, tax ref...

I V Report  KARACHI: A senior officer in the Sindh government’s information and public relations setting highlighted the rapidly changing phases of communications, urging universities to equip their mass communication or media students with intelligence to excel in the professional realm. During a meeting with a 19-member delegation of students from the University of Karachi's Mass Communication Department, led by Associate Professor Dr Rana Afzal, and attended by Sindh government’s Director Advertisement Muhammad Yousuf Kabooro, the Director General Public Relations of the Sindh Information Department, Saleem Khan, emphasised the need for advanced skills to succeed in the rapidly evolving media landscape. The media industry has undergone significant changes in the last 15 years, driven by electronic and social media. These advancements have eased journalists' work but also created new challenges. With 35 years of experience in the government's information department, S...

By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: In a bid to alleviate the financial burden on parents, the Sindh government's watchdog body for private schools has issued guidelines to privately-run institutions, aiming to promote a socioeconomically conducive culture for students and parents. According to sources within the provincial education department, authorities have grown concerned over the additional costs of education and training that parents must incur outside of school, on top of regular tuition fees. "We cannot ignore the plight of thousands of guardians who struggle to make ends meet due to exorbitant tuition fees," said Rafia Javed Mallah, Additional Director (Registration) at the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions (DIRPI), Sindh. "It's time for schools to take responsibility for providing quality education within their campuses." The guidelines, outlined in a letter captioned "Guidelines for Enhancing Educational Standa...

By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: As authorities seemingly ignore concerns being raised over the reported distribution of prime and hard protected land of the University of Karachi (KU), documents reveal the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) has sought two acres of KU land in March 2024, which the varsity syndicate approved in principle on August 31 in the presence of commission’s chairman. Following the development, the SHEC has set its sights on a prized land within the university’s sprawling campus, amid considerable outrage and concern raised by faculty, alumni, students and other stakeholders. According to a press release, the university’s syndicate, led by Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, attached various conditions to the approval: the SHEC building would be non-commercial, the land would remain KU property, and the university administration would manage the building upon SHEC’s departure. However, critics argue that these conditions were mere window dressing, design...

IV Report KARACHI: The two-day biennial convention of the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (Pima) concluded on September 22, emphasising the need for reforms in the education and healthcare sectors. The state was urged to take more responsibility in ensuring quality services to the masses across the country. The convention's final day featured an address by Jamaat-e-Islami chief, Hafiz Naeem-ur Rehman, who highlighted the government's failure to provide basic health and education facilities despite spending Rs3,000 billion on these sectors. He noted that 77 years after independence, Pakistan still struggles to provide adequate healthcare and education. Mr Rehman criticised the commercialisation of education and healthcare, particularly in the private sector, making medical education inaccessible to the middle class. "Education is the state's primary responsibility, but it has become a trade," he said. "Only 10-12% of people can reach higher education....

IV Report KARACHI: The 27th biennial convention of the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (Pima) kicked off at the Karachi Expo Centre on September 21, highlighting the increasing costs of treatments and emphasising prevention measures and healthy lifestyles. The medical conference drew a large participation of doctors, healthcare professionals, medical faculties, and students from Pakistan and abroad. Experts discussed infectious and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), genetic diseases, safe drinking water, sanitation, and medical curricula. They noted that quality medical care is becoming unaffordable due to rising costs and NCDs, including cancers and genetic disorders. "Disease prevention is crucial, focusing on protective vaccinations, health education, and screening for early detection," the experts added. There were observations that scarcity of clean drinking water and proper sanitation was also adding to the waterborne illnesses like cholera and diarrhea. Medic...

                                                                                          By Mukhtar Alam   KARACHI: Yet another case of polio infection has been detected in a 38-month-old girl living in Keamari district, seemingly a low-immunity profile locality of the port city, highlighting concerns over non-conducive attitudes among families and polio campaign runners.    The new case takes the Sindh tally to four and 21 nationwide this year. A source claimed that stool samples collected from the girl did not show any presence of the polio virus, and she could only be declared a positive case through her contact cases. Her siblings tested negative, but one of her three cousins had a polio-positive stool sample. Experts fear the baby was pre...

KARACHI: Karwan-e-Hayat (KH), a veteran psychiatric services facility, secured a regular license from the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) at a ceremony at its Keamari, Karachi, premises on September 20. A press release said that the healthcare facility was first in its category to be licenced in the province. “The SHCC license is a testament to Karwan-e-Hayat’s commitment to delivering high-quality, compliant, and patient-centered care.” SHCC had granted a provisional licence to KH about five years back. Over the past few years, the organisation has worked tirelessly to address operational gaps and meet regulatory standards, all while continuing to provide vital mental health services to thousands of patients, the press release further added. Official sources said that the SHCC recognition confirmed that the institution has met all medical, operational, and compliance standards required by the regulatory authority. Arshad Rahim Khan, CEO of Karwan-e-Hayat told the attendants...

IV Report KARACHI: A coalition of teachers, students, rights activists, and civil society members has vowed to launch a coordinated movement to address the crisis plaguing Karachi's higher education institutions. At a press conference on September 19, leaders expressed concern over “universities' serious administrative and academic crises”, citing chronic delays in salary payments, widespread administrative breakdowns, and protests within the University of Karachi and Federal Urdu University for Science and Technology. According to them, the universities were witnessing eroding academic quality, inadequate infrastructure, and politicised appointments. The group, backed by the Concerned Citizens Alliance (CCA) and Pakistan Medical Association, demanded immediate action, including: Halting victimisation of teachers and employees; restoring students' unions; timely salary payments and pension disbursements; improved medical services; fair remunerations for visiting teach...

By Mukhtar Alam     KARACHI: The mega-polis of Pakistan, Karachi, is once again exposed to a major outbreak of the vector-borne chikungunya disease, courtesy the city's overall deteriorated environmental and sanitation conditions. According to sources in the provincial health department, localities included in the Central and East districts of Karachi have reported an extraordinary infection among people due to chikungunya virus (Chik V) in recent weeks, calling for immediate actions in the affected areas. Earlier, during the day (September 18), Sindh Minister for Health Dr Azra F Pechuho highlighted a host of human health-related developments across the province and hinted at the reemergence of Chik V, in addition to the already existing outbreaks of dengue and malaria diseases – all inflicted upon by mosquitoes. Official data revealed that from May to September this year, 189 out of 211 people suspected of Chik V infections were screened, and 140 (74%) were foun...