International Research Conference: Experts not satisfied on role of media

KARACHI, March 9, 2023 – The experts of  International Research Conference expressed their dissatisfaction on role of media recommended measure for remedy.

Prof Dr. Donna from Lisley University, Massachusetts, USA while speaking at the concluding session at international research conference said that in current world, overall the role of popular media is not good. She said unfortunately main stream media is becoming more commercial and not highlighting the real issues of humanity.

Two- day International Conference on Media and Social Development 2023, a technical session was held on the theme of media as a catalyst for Social change and Sustainable Development at Department of Social and Development studies and Media Studies at Sindh Madressatul Islam University.

Prof Dr Derrick from Algoma University, Ontario, Canada speaking as a keynote speaker has said that world is rapidly changing and media has a crucial role to play. He said, the social media is changing the people’s belief and ideas but at the same time the main stream media is not focusing on indigenous people’s issues. In the last Dr. Donna concluded the session. She appreciated the   researchers who presented their papers.

At the occasion of Technical session was chaired by Prof Dr. Donna from Lisley University, Massachusetts, USA and co-chaired by Associate professor Dr Subhash Babu from SMIU. Scholars from Malaysia, Pakistan and Canada presented their research papers on different issues.

The session was attended virtually by scholars from all over the world including Pakistan and students at SMIU.

Panel discussions on sustainable education

The academicians and research scholars have said that new technologies have brought multiple challenges for teachers, students, policy makers and community as well. Thus, curriculum must be prepared according to the standards of the day and teachers should be updated about the changing occurring in science, education and social sectors. They said this during a panel discussion held on “Reimagining our Futures Together: A New Social Contract for Sustainable Education,” on the second and last day of the 1st SMIU Global Research Congress at SMIU.

Dr Shahida Sajjad, Vice Chancellor Metropolitan University Karachi said our curriculum should address issues emerging from technological development, students should understand social responsibility and evaluation process and quality of education should be improved. She said students should not be competitors to each other, but they must be cooperative. Her was of the view that we must respect diversity and the social justice must prevail.

Dr. Bushra Khurram, Assistant Professor of University of Karachi said vision, planning and care are necessary to face the challenges. She said students should be aware about things related to knowledge, attitude and conditions of the country.

Dr. Najamunisa of SZABIST, Karachi said we are facing climate change and economic crisis, but the sustainable education is all about promoting global citizenship and there is a global economy. Now learner has become global learner. Hence keeping these things in mind we should improve teaching mythology. She said the basic challenge is curriculum reforms and teaching community must change their mindset, as they still believe in outdated and old thoughts and practices.

Dr. Anjum Bano of Iqra University Karachi said teachers and students are not aware about sustainable goals of education, hence students, teachers and community must be introduced with them. Mr. Ajab Ali Lashari, lecturer of SMIU moderated the session,

Need of Policy Reforms to Promote Sustainable and Innovative Business Practices

Talking in a session of “Need of Policy Reforms to Promote Sustainable and Innovative Business Practices,” Mr. Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, Group Head of Compliance Meezan Bank said we must promote local industry and local manufacturing, without it, we couldn’t progress. He further said the business leaders are not adopting new technologies, hence most challenges are coming from them. He was of the view that whenever a ban or restrictions are imposed then our business community is changing their attitude and mode of working.

Dr. Shujaat Mubarak, Dean CBM, IOBM said in our country manufacturing is not promoted. This is why, there is no sustainable manufacturing in Pakistan. He feared that in coming few years our textile industry will pass through more difficult days and its major parts have been shifted to Bangladesh. He said we are importing used electronic material including computers from other countries and when these are become out of order after a little bit usage, then they are burst, that is producing diseases including cancer specially in Karachi city.

Mr. Sarfraz Ahmed Khan, a country head of a private food company said in the pandemic era, some food companies that were relying on other countries for their material lost their business completely and other companies, that were relying on their indigenous sources, grown. He said food sector in our country is growing but there is an issue of quality food. Therefore, food companies must provide quality food to their customers.

Dr. Jamshed Adil, Dean of SMIU said our businessmen are failed to adopt new technologies. Hence industry must accept challenges of the world. Mr. Naeem Ahmed Lecturer of SMIU was the moderator.

“Role of Human Rights in Social Inclusion and Women Empowerment”

The panelists talking on human rights in a session held on “Role of Human Rights in Social Inclusion and Women Empowerment” said there are laws about child Labour, child marriages and women rights but these are not implemented. They said women should be considered as a human being, not only women and she must be treated like a woman. Also, trans genders should also be given equal rights. Mr. Ayub Khoso, Member Sindh Human Rights Commission, Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho, Human Rights Expert, Ms. Kami Sid, Transgender Rights Activist and Ms. Marvi Awan, Member Provincial Human Rights Vigilance Committee, Human Rights Department, TheGovernment of Sindh were among the panelists.