Pakistan Academy of Sciences Becomes Member of Science Council of Asia

Pakistan Academy of Sciences Becomes Member of Science Council of Asia

The Science Council of Asia (SCA) is an international scientific organization founded in 2000 by Asian science academies and other national scientific organizations. SCA aims to provide scientists in all fields, including cultural and social as well as natural sciences and technology, a collaborative platform for promoting scientific exchange and cooperation in Asia, and to develop and promote a holistic vision focusing on sustainable development and improvement in quality of life. At present, SCA is comprised of 29 academic organizations in Asia. The SCA is governed by its Management Board which consists of one designated representative from each member country/region. The SCA Secretariat is housed at the Science Council of Japan in Tokyo. The SCA does not collect membership fees from member organizations. More information about SCA is at www.scj.go.jp/en/sca/

​President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Dr Anwar Nasim, with 

President of Science Council of Japan, Professor Takashi Onishi.

During 15^th SCA Conference held at Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia on 15–16 May, 2015, which was participated by President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), Dr. Anwar Nasim, PAS has become a National Member of SCA. The SCA is governed by a Management Board consisting of one representative from each member country/region. PAS being a National Member of SCA, President of PAS has become its Management Board Member. Currently, the Management Board of SCA comprises of 19 National Members and current President of SCA is President, National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka, Prof. Vijya Kumar. The 16^th CSA Conference will be held in Sri Lanka during 2016.

National Accountability Bureau and Pakistan Peace Collective Project Recognized for Best Public Interest Communication Campaigns with the “TRUST GOLD MEDAL”

NAB and PPC Recognized for Best Public Interest Communication Campaigns with the TRUST GOLD MEDAL

The TRUST GOLD MEDAL - 2015

The Media Development Trust, a joint initiative of Mishal Pakistan and AGAHI organized "THE TRUST GOLD MEDAL" recognition ceremony at a local Hotel in Islamabad. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Information and Broadcasting was the chief guest at the occasion.

The purpose of "THE TRUST GOLD MEDAL" recognition ceremony was to recognize and appreciate the best public interest communication campaigns during 2014 in Pakistan. The winners were Mr. Nawazish Ali Khan Asim, Director Media of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for Anti-Corruption Campaign and Ms. Bushra Taskeen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan Peace Collective Project (PPC) for developing Media Campaign on “Haq Haqdar Tak”, to raise awareness among the people of Pakistan about safer charity giving practices, lest our donations end up in the hands of banned organizations. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Information and Broadcasting presented the "THE TRUST GOLD MEDAL" to Mr. Nawazish Ali Khan Asim, Director Media of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for Anti-Corruption Campaign and Ms. Bushra Taskin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan Peace Collective Project (PPC) for developing Media Campaign titled “Haq Haqdar Tak” for the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage.

While speaking at the ceremony, Senator Pervaiz Rashid said Media is an important platform that serves the purpose of education and informing public opinion. NAB has adopted a proactive approach to highlight its performance, as corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on Pakistani Society. He said NAB under the chairmanship of Mr. Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Chairman NAB has been assigned the responsibility to eradicate corruption and corrupt practices from Pakistan. NAB devised a three-pronged strategy of Awareness, Prevention and Enforcement to curb corruption and corrupt practices through print and electronic media throughout the country. The independent Watchdogs like Transparency International (TI) and PILDAT have also appreciated NAB’s performance and achievements as the best ever position in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in the history of Pakistan from 175 to 126.

The Minister also appreciated the work of Pakistan Peace Collective (PPC) a project of the Government of Pakistan, for their work, which has helped to increase public support and bolstered resilience against extremism and violence in Pakistan. PPC is working closely with Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage, relevant government and international organizations on developing media products and impart training to help eliminate extremism and violence from the society and promote peace and harmony. PPC also documents the impact of terrorism on the lives of ordinary citizens by highlighting the indiscriminate nature of violence in the society. PPC had developed media products on CT/CVE based counter narrative titled “Haq, Haqdaar Tak” and “PurAzm Pakistan”, which were successfully launched by the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage through media campaigns at national level.

On the occasion, Senator Pervaiz Rashid said that strategic communication and media engagement has had significant impact, which continues to show results. He further added, "We believe in empowering communities through information and knowledge so they are active participants in public sector policy dialogues".

He said that the joint initiative of AGAHI and Mishal through the Media Development Trust to recognize and acknowledge the best public interest communication campaigns is a milestone for Pakistan. This step will encourage other public sector institutions to launch awareness campaign in order to educate and empower the citizens with the knowledge about different facilities/functions and steps undertaken for a knowledge-based economy. He appreciated the efforts of Mishal Pakistan and AGAHI in close collaboration with the Media Development Trust (MDT), which had also successfully created the AGAHI Awards. He said the TRUST GOLD MEDAL recognition has been given to individuals and organizations to create value for citizens by developing best communication strategies for public information and knowledge on key issues and challenges faced by Pakistan.

Mr. Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer of Mishal Pakistan and co-founder of the TRUST GOLD MEDAL, while sharing his views at the occasion said, “we must acknowledge and appreciate institutions, which are creating information and communication mechanisms and campaigns, which empowers citizens to make informed decision”. He further said, “in an attention economy information is a scarce resource and only institutions creating clear and precise messaging will be able to make an impact, rest of the organizations will be part of the noise in the system”.

Trust is a fundamental foundation in a society. Trust enriches and strengthens the relationships people can have with other people, institutes and government while the lack of trust greatly reduces and limits their interactions. To gain and understand this trust, communication plays a very important role. The level of communication institutes and government have with its people provides support and base for a progressive nation.

The TRUST GOLD MEDAL 2015 is conferred to professionals, institutions, voluntary organizations, civil society institutions and individuals in urban as well as rural areas in Pakistan involved in activities and programmes inter alia aimed at ‘Fostering Strategic Communication in Public Interest’ The Trust Gold Medal are given in recognition of excellence, result-oriented performance and commendable achievements.

Making Pakistan Science Conscious

Making Pakistan Science Conscious

The 5^th monthly brainstorming session on “Making Pakistan Science Conscious” was organized by the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), in collaboration with International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) on 7 May, 2015 (Thursday) in Allama Iqbal Auditorium of International Islamic University, located at old campus of IIU in the vicinity of Faisal Mosque. The objective of this series of monthly brainstorming sessions is to promote quality science education and research and development (R&D) in the country by enhancing stakeholder awareness about the crucial role of science and technology (S&T) in economic development and human well being.

The host of this important scientific event, Rector of IIUI, Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, welcomed the participants and appreciated this initiative of PAS for promoting S&T in the country. He stressed that the universities must impart quality education to the younger generation. However, this is not possible unless the faculty is involved in cutting edge research and knowledge generation. He shared that in Korea, with innovative research, one dollar spent on higher education gets translated into 1200 dollars worth of innovative products and services. Therefore, he emphasized for science-based innovative indigenous solutions to local problems in the county.

Secretary General of PAS, Prof. Dr. Zabta K. Shinwari, briefed the audience about current activities of the Academy in general and the background and objective of these brainstorming sessions in particular. He emphasized that younger generation is the future custodian of Pakistan, and, thus, the Academy has decided to encourage and motivate young scientists to promote S&T with the guidance and support of senior scientists. Dr. Shinwari appreciated the flag bearer of this initiative, Dr. Hamid Saleem, for his continued commitment to this noble cause.

Postgraduate students of IIUI presented a skit to emphasize the need and benefits of interdisciplinary scientific research. Two female postgraduate students of IIUI recited Urdu poetry and a female postgraduate student of QAU recited Pushto poetry.  The postgraduate students of IIUI also shared a professional Qawali to express their serious concern about skyrocketing inflation in the country. Dr. Imran Khan, Assistant Professor at Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences (CIRBS) of IIU, presented an informative talk on “German-Pakistan Research Collaboration: Post-PhD Funding Opportunities in Germany“. The Director General of Iqbal International Institute for Research & Dialogue shared his views regarding Allama Iqbal’s vision and emphasis for science in the service of humanity.

The Coordinator of this initiative, Dr. Hamid Saleem, emphasized for the need and benefits of interaction, dialogue and effective collaboration between experienced and young scientists for promotion of S&T in the country with the ultimate objective of benefit of S&T to the society.  Also, he stressed upon the benefits social activities along with scientific pursuits.

The President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Dr. Anwar Nasim, shared his vision regarding making Pakistan science conscious. While appreciating the efforts of Prof. Zabta Shinwari and Dr Hamid Saleem and willing collaboration and support of the Universities (including IIUI), Higher Education Commission and Pakistan Science Foundation, he emphasized for effective and continued interaction and collaboration of old and young generation to bridge the ‘generation gap’. A senior Fellow of PAS, Dr. N.M. Butt, elaborated upon the nature of Science Academies in the East (e.g., in Russia, China) and the West (like UK, USA). Also, he offered tips to young scientists and PhD student for effective harnessing of German funding opportunities.

This important scientific event was participated by almost all the stakeholders in S&T, i.e., postgraduate students from various Universities, university professors, senior scientists, and heads of academic and scientific organizations, Fellows of PAS. Prof. Zabta Shinwari announced that next consultative session on “Making Pakistan Science Conscious” in Islamabad will be held on first Thursday of June 2015, and the Academy also intends to organize such brainstorming sessions in the provincial capitals, i.e., Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, and Peshawar.

Mishal Pakistan and AGAHI in Collaboration with Media Development Trust Creates the TRUST GOLD MEDAL (TGM)

Mishal Pakistan and AGAHI in Collaboration with Media Development Trust Creates the TRUST GOLD MEDAL (TGM)

Recognizing The Best Public Interest Communication Campaigns in Pakistan with THE TRUST GOLD MEDAL (TGM) to Recognize the Best Strategic Communication Campaign on Public Interest Issues. 

Pakistan has produced a legacy of brave hearts since times immemorial. Probably there is not enough space to measure their sacrifices and achievements. However, we cannot close our eyes to those people who have made our country proud by excelling in their own fields and bringing us international recognition. In order to commemorate their achievements, Mishal Pakistan and AGAHI in collaboration with the Media Development Trust are pleased to announce The TRUST GOLD MEDAL recognition to the exceptional service of professionals and organizations towards the advancement of strategic communication in Public Service Campaign of the highest order.

THE TRUST GOLD MEDAL was born out of a strange paradox. Every profession recognizes annually the superlative performance of one of their own. There are few opportunities for truly great people and organizations to be recognized by their peers. Therefore, we honour individuals as well as organizations, whose exemplary efforts over long periods of time in difficult environments have inspired us to greater heights. The purpose behind recognizing these professionals and institutions is intended to locate, identify and recognize the initiatives of the public sector institutions, corporate sector, voluntary/non-profit organizations and individuals who are addressing and fostering excellence in the field of strategic communication in public interest.

Eligibility Criteria

The TRUST GOLD MEDAL 2015 is conferred to professionals, institutions, voluntary organizations, civil society institutions and individuals in urban as well as rural areas in Pakistan involved in activities and programmes inter alia aimed at ‘Fostering Strategic Communication in Public Interest’ The Trust Gold Medal shall be given in recognition of excellence, result-oriented performance and commendable achievements on the following prerequisites:

• Measurable impact on Public Sector i.e. Knowledge empowering communities through improving strategic communication between citizens and institutions or key stakeholders;
• Consistent pursuit of promoting activities encouraging efficiency in the public service delivery;
• The extent and range of the nominee’s activities stimulating similar action by other individuals/institutions in Pakistan.
• The impact of the communication campaign should lead to mobilization of new resources for improving overall status of the public service delivery.
• Extent of convergence and networking with other organizations.
• The communication should work as a multiplier effect on the critical thinking capability of the stakeholders.
• Building public sentiments of ownership and pride contributing towards a more informed society.