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ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICEISLAMABAD :
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman said on Tuesday that miniature art was witnessing renaissance in the country. The minister was talking to reporters after inaugurating the Exhibition of Miniature Paintings by Najamul Hassan Kazmi at Nomad Art Gallery.The exhibition would remain open till May 16. Sherry Rehman said that there was a need to construct new museums and upgrade old museums in the country.About the performance of National Art Gallery (NAG) she said it was doing well.
However she urged the private sector to come forward for promotion of art galleries. About Public-private sector partnership she gave the example of Mohatta Palace Museum in Karachi.She said that as art lovers we should encourage and support arts.
Earlier while inspecting the exhibition she appreciated the work of the artist. She said he has broken the conventional boundaries of miniature art by introducing innovative techniques.
Kazmi has used a technique in which an ordinary paper is stained with tea to give the impression as if the portrait has been drawn over leather.
Talking to journalists Najamul Hassan Kazmi said he used this technique to infuse new spirit into miniature painting.
He said previously, he used to work with natural leave colour but this time he has used poster colour, acrylic, natural leave colour and mixed media giving an entire new impact to his latest collection.
The artist has used needle to draw minute details in his subject and such details could not be noticed with a naked eye.
ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICERAWALPINDI :
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday said the government believed in a knowledge-based economy and called for promoting research and linkages between development institutions and industry to achieve sustainable economic growth. Addressing the 14th Convocation of the College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME), under the National University of Sciences and Technology, he said high priority needs to be given to the development and advancement of science and technology.
Giving his vision of promoting science and technology in the country, Gilani stressed strengthening of existing institutions involved in research and development activities both in the public and private sector.
“Strong linkages should be established between research and development institutions and industry for value addition in the manufacturing sector,” he added.
Gilani called for capacity building of the manpower in research and development centers with emphasis to improve qualitative research.
He lauded NUST as a centre of excellence that was undertaking qualitative comprehensive learning programme that not only included all disciplines of engineering but also subjects like business administration and information technology.
Gilani said universities should not just produce job seekers but also job creators through research, technology, management entrepreneurship.
The Prime Minister was particularly pleased to note presence of several female graduates that represented a right kind of gender-mix in steering country on road to progress and development.
Gilani greeted the faculty on the listing of NUST among the world’s top 500 universities, due to quality research and an excellent academic environment.
He announced a grant of Rs. 50 million for the construction of an academic block and another Rs. 39 million for promotion of sports facility and PM’s Gold Medal and grant to the overall best students to complete their Ph.D degree abroad.
The Prime Minister later awarded gold medals to top winners and degrees to the batch of 210 graduates in the disciplines of electrical, mechanical, computer and mechatronics.
In his address, Director NUST, Lt. Gen. Mohammad Asghar noted that higher education was gaining unprecedented momentum in the country.
He said NUST now ranked among the world top 500 universities because of its world-class research and linkages with international institutions.
Gen. Asghar informed that NUST had collaboration with 40 universities in 15 countries, which were keen to expand their collaboration with NUST for its quality graduates.
He said the university was reaching to disadvantage people through its outreach programme and sought the government support in this regard.
The commandant of EME College, Maj. Gen. Najeeb Tariq, recapped the activities of the institution set up in Quetta in 1957.
Having established its credibility as a premier equipment-training institute, EME College started its own B.Sc. Engineering Program in 1981, which was subsequently shifted to Naval Engineering College, Karachi.
In April 1984, having stayed for 26 years at Quetta, the College moved to its present premises.
Gen. Tariq said that the college faculty has contributed 1800 research papers in reputed journals.
The institution, he added, was working whole-heartedly to achieve new heights.
ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICEMULTAN:
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday announced a historic development package for the city which includes start of work on Motorway (M-4), construction of educational institutions, road schemes, housing and load management plan for industrial and agriculture sector. Speaking at the Multan Press Club function ‘Guftgoo’, the prime minister said the work on all these projects would start next month and completed within five years.
He also announced expansion of Multan airport to make it of international standard for which the ministry of defence and the Civil Aviation Authority will acquire the land. The work would start in June this year.
He said six low cost housing schemes in Shuja Abad and Jalalpur would be started for which the provincial government will provide the land and requisite funds.
He said National Highway Authority would commence work on Multan Faisalabad Motorway (M-4) project in July 2008.
Prime Minister Gilani said road infrastructure in the historic city of Multan will be improved to ease traffic congestion.
For this purpose work on ring road in the inner city, which will have Northern and Southern by-pass, will be started.
He said construction of Northern By-pass will be completed at a cost of Rs 50 million in June next year, for which the land is already available. The Southern by-pass, he added, will be completed in a phased manner which will also include acquisition of land.
He said portion of ring road, passing from inner city will have underpasses and where needed, the crossings will be widened and improved.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the work on establishment of a women’s university and University of Science and Technology will start in July.
He also announced setting up of five colleges for girls and two colleges for boys and a cadet college in the city.
Water supply and sewerage schemes at a cost of Rs 5.92 billion will also be initiated.
He said to impart technical and vocational training to the youth of Multan, NAVTEC will present him a comprehensive plan for establishment of training institutes before June 30.
He announced to upgrade Bagh Langay Khan and Municipal library and refurbishment of Qasim Bagh stadium.
Prime Minister Gilani said a football ground and an athletics track of international standard will be constructed in the stadium.
Multan city, where he said, he grew up will be made into a national heritage city on the pattern of Faiz city of Morocco.
He said for proper load management after consultation with the representatives of industry, agriculture and power looms sector, the distribution of electricity to them will be rationalized according to their needs.
He said those who were arrested during the power looms strike will be set free tonight by the provincial government.
He announced to make Multan a model health district and said every Basic Health Unit (BHU) will have doctor and required staff and supply of medicines will be ensured.
He said Metro Cash-n-Carry store will open its branch in the city at a cost of Rs 2 billion having special storage for kinoo and mangoes. Prime Minister Gilani will lay the foundation stone of the store next week.
The other announcements by the prime minister include 15 buses for women colleges, upgradation of cancer hospital at Nishter College to 100 beds and two buses for the college.
The Prime Minister said that a special committee to oversee the package will be formed which he himself will chair.
The Prime Minister said that the development package has been announced after consultation with the federal government, provincial government and representatives of the city.
