NEWSLETTER
PASTIC
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“Beyond ChatGPT: Mastering Google
NotebookLM for Research, Lesson Planning
and Studying'’
The PASTIC Sub-Centre, Lahore, in collaboration with the
Professional Skills Development Academy (PSDA),
conducted an online training master class titled “Beyond
ChatGPT: Mastering Google NotebookLM to Revolution-
ize Research, Lesson Planning, and Studying” on May 20,
2026, via Google Meet.The webinar focused on enhancing
the cataloging and automation skills of library professionals
through the integrated use of Zotero, MarcEdit, and Koha
for metadata harvesting, processing, and bulk cataloging.
Mr. Ali Raza Khan, Additional Director, Sub-Centre
Lahore, highlighted PASTIC's services and its role in
promoting scientific information dissemination in Pakistan.
Participants were oriented to Google's NotebookLM and its
diverse applications across research, pedagogy, and
academic learning.
Mr. Nadeem Sohail, Library Automation Expert, TMC and
Director PSDA, was the resource person for the master
class. The session was attended by 45 participants from
across Pakistan, including university, college, and school
faculty members, researchers, MPhil/PhD scholars,
undergraduate students, and library professionals.
Participants engaged during the webinar on Google's
NotebookLM
A session snapshot from the webinar on Library Automation
and Cataloging
Volume 9, Issue 5
May 2026
Webinar on “Research Methodology and
Scientic Writing”
PASTIC Sub-Centre Karachi organized a webinar on
“Research Methodology & Scientific Writing” on May 21,
2026 via Zoom at PASTIC Sub-Centre Karachi. The session
attracted more than 125 participants, including researchers,
academicians, professionals, and students from various
universities and research institutions across Pakistan. The
objective of the webinar was to improve scientific writing
skills, promote ethical research practices, and build capacity
for producing high-quality academic publications.
Ms. Afsheen Tariq, Assistant Director, PASTIC Sub-Centre
Karachi, highlighted the importance of research methodol-
ogy and PASTIC's role in providing scientific information
resources and capacity-building opportunities.
Prof. Viqar Hussain, Convener SEGMITE & Chief Editor
IJEEG & Ex-Chairman Department of Geology, University
of Karachi, delivered an insightful and engaging lecture on
key aspects of research methodology and scientific writing
as a resource person. He elaborated on various tools used in
research methodology and provided detailed guidelines for
effective scientific writing, emphasizing best practices for
structuring and publishing high-quality research papers.
Webinar on “Library Automation and Cataloging
Using Zotero, MarcEdit and Koha”
The Sub-Centre, Lahore, in collaboration with the Profes-
sional Skills Development Academy (PSDA),
conducted an online training webinar on
“Library Automation and Cataloging Using Zotero,
MarcEdit and Koha” on May 25, 2026, via Google Meet.
The webinar was attended by 38 participants from various
academic and library institutions across Pakistan. E-
certificates were issued to the participants.
NEWSLETTER
PASTIC
02
Participants engaged during the webinar on Research
Methodology and Scientific Writing
May 2026
Participants actively engaged in the question and answer
segment and appreciated PASTIC Sub-Centre Karachi for
organizing informative, and capacity-building webinar that
supported their academic and research development.
Volume 9, Issue 5
Webinar on ''Learn Smart Reference Management
with Mendeley'’
A Webinar on “Learn Smart Reference Management with
Mendeley” jointly organized by PASTIC Faisalabad/PSF
and ORIC of the Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan on
May 14, 2026. A total of 27 participants from the university
and surrounding organizations attended the event. Main
objective was to enhance the literature-searching and
reference- management skills of researchers by providing
practical guidance on using Mendeley to organize, annotate,
cite, and manage scholarly literature efficiently.
Muhammad Hasnain, Additional Director (STI) at
Faisalabad Sub Centre, highlighted PASTIC's role in
scientific knowledge dissemination, research support, and
digital resource access.
Dr. Maryam Ibrar, Additional Director (STI), Publications,
PASTIC, delivered a keynote presentation on overview of
literature searching and reference management. She also
highlighted key features of Mendeley, including organizing
research literature, storing and annotating references,
generating citations and bibliographies, and streamlining
the scholarly writing process. The webinar fostered active
participation from faculty members, researchers, and
students, was followed by a question answer
session.
Screenshot of the Webinar on “Learn Smart Reference
Management with Mendeley”
Webinar on “Research Funding Opportunities
and Grant Management”
PASTIC/PSF Faisalabad organized a webinar on “Research
Funding Opportunities and Grant Management” on May 22,
2026. Mr. Muhammad Hasnain, Additional Director (STI),
highlighted PASTIC's role in research support, scientific
knowledge dissemination, and access to digital resources.
Dr. Hammad Majeed, Dean and representative of ORIC,
University of Management and Technology (UMT),
Lahore, delivered a comprehensive presentation on research
funding opportunities, proposal development and effective
grant management.
A total of 62 participants, including senior faculty members
from 24 Pakistani universities and one university from
Malaysia, attended the webinar. The session concluded with
an interactive Q&A, and participants appreciated PASTIC's
support for the research community.
Screenshot of the Webinar on Research Funding
Opportunities and Grant Management
NEWSLETTER
PASTIC
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A. Syed Habib Akhter Jafferi, Principal Librarian and Dr.
Maryum Ibrar, Additional Director (STI) attended 5-Days
course on Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization in
Libraries from 4-8 May, 2026 at National Centre for Rural
Development (NCRD)
B. Dr. Syed Aftab Hussain Shah, Additional Director (STI),
attended Zoom webinar on “Industrial Competitiveness in
Pakistan” conducted by PIDE on May 06, 2026 at 02:00
PM PKT.
C. Ms. Afsheen Tariq, Assistant Director (STI) at Sub-
Centre Karachi, participated in “Pakistan's First Agentic AI
Webinar” held on May 16, 2026 via Zoom. The webinar
was organized by TECH7 Academy and focused on the
emerging concept of Agentic Artificial Intelligence,
highlighting its evolving role in automation, decision-
making systems, and next-generation digital transforma-
tion.
D. Ms. Afsheen Tariq, Assistant Director (STI), Sub-Centre
Karachi, attended the “World Water Day Seminar 2026:
May 2026
Water and Gender” on May 20, 2026, organized by
SEGMITE, PSF and PCRWR, focusing on water chal-
lenges and gender perspectives in water resource manage-
ment.
E. Mr. Abdul Khalique Sial, Officer Incharge, PASTIC Sub-
Centre Quetta, held a productive meeting with Mr. Syed
Allah Dad Shah, Head of T&D Section, BUITEMS, Quetta,
on May 14, 2026, to discuss PSF and PASTIC programs
and future collaboration for monthly training and research-
oriented activities across Balochistan.
Volume 9, Issue 5
Event/ Webinar /Meeting Attended
PASTIC Sub-Centre Quetta meeting with BUITEMS officials
Muzaffarabad Sub-Center
AJK University, New Campus, Challabandi, Muzaffarabad
pastic.2011@gmail.com
Tel: 05822 960414
Quetta Sub-Center
Art Campus, University of Balochistan, Quetta.
pastic.qta@gmail.com
Tel: 03337823390
Peshawar Sub-Center
Pakistan Forest Institute,University Campus, Peshawar
pasticpsh@yahoo.com
Tel: 091-9216880
Lahore Sub-Center
PCSIR Lab. Complex, Ferozepur Road, Lahore
pasticlhr@gmail.com
Tel: 042-99230732
Faisalabad Sub-Center
Faisalabad Science Centre, Jail Road
pasticf@yahoo.com
Tel: 041-9200608-9
Karachi Sub-Center
A-43, block No. 3, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
karachipastic@gmail.com
Tel: 021-99334174/021-34994173
Pakistan Scientif ic & Technological
Information Centre
PASTIC National Centre, Quaid-i-Azam University Campus, Islamabad,
Tel: 051-9248103, 051-9248109, Fax: 9248113
URL:
Email:
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