NEWSLETTER
PASTIC
Volume 7, Issue 8
August 2024
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Seminar on Digital Libraries: Trends, Challenges,
and Way Forward
PASTIC organized a one-day seminar on "Digital
Libraries: Trends, Challenges and Way Forward" on
August 29, 2024 at PASTIC National Centre, QAU
campus, Islamabad. The event aimed to raise awareness
among librarians about current trends and challenges in
digital libraries and way forward. Prof. Dr. Muhammad
Akram Shaikh, Director General of PASTIC in his
opening remarks said that digital libraries have redefined
the role of libraries & information professionals. PASTIC
has been striving since its establishment for strengthening
of Pakistani libraries as well as information professionals
through capacity building, and development of Union
Catalogue for effective resource sharing of library
holdings. Around 60 information professionals across
Pakistan attended this seminar.
Guest of honor, Dr. Muhammad Shahid Soroya (Director
General, Pakistan Institute of Education) appreciated
PASTIC's efforts in creating awareness about this
challenging topic among Pakistani librarians. Dr. Juan
Garcia Blesa, Senior Research Associate, and Prof. Eric
Steinhauer, Director of the University Library at
Fernuniversitat, Hagen, Germany, shared insights on
digitalization and digital access to library materials in
Germany. Prof. Dr. Munazza Jabeen, Assistant Professor
at AIOU (Allama Iqbal Open University), Islamabad,
discussed data curation policies in university libraries
across Pakistan. Syed Habib Akhter Jaffri, Principal
Librarian at PASTIC, highlighted the role of PASTIC in
providing access to digital resources in
Pakistani libraries. Director General, Prof.
Group photo of the participants with Vice Chancellor Shaheed
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana.
Group photo of participants with foreign delegation and Dr.
Muhammad Akram Shaikh, Director General PASTIC.
One-day online workshop on
“Reference Management Software (Mendeley)”
PASTIC Sub Centre Karachi organized a one-day online
workshop on "Reference Management Software
(Mendeley)" on August 5, 2024. The event was conducted
via Zoom in collaboration with the Department of ORIC,
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University
(SMBBMU) Larkana. Over 100 students and faculty
members from SMBBMU Larkana and Ghulam Muham-
mad Mahar Medical College (GMMMC), Sukkur
participated in the training.
Glimpses of the online workshop.
Dr. Muhammad Akram Shaikh delivered vote of thanks
and distributed souvenirs among the resource persons .
The session commenced with a welcome address from Dr.
Mir Hassan Khoso, Director of ORIC at SMBBMU
Larkana. Ms. Afsheen Tariq, Assistant Director (STI),
provided an overview of PASTIC's services and databases
designed to aid researchers in their studies.
NEWSLETTER
PASTIC
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August 2024
Dr. Maryum Ibrar, Additional Director (STI) at PASTIC
National Centre Islamabad, delivered an in-depth presen-
tation on reference management and provided guidelines
on using Mendeley software for managing libraries and
references. She demonstrated Mendeley's capabilities
such as inserting references, generating bibliographies,
and facilitating collaboration and highlighted its impor-
tance in the research workflow. Researcher can save their
time and streamline the research process by learning such
softwares.
The workshop concluded with a productive question and
answer session. Ms. Afsheen Tariq extended her gratitude
to the Vice Chancellor, Director ORIC at SMBBMU, DG
PASTIC, and all participants for their support in making
the workshop successful.
a. The Urban Unit' s Economic Development & Infra-
structure Development team visited PASTIC
National Centre, Islamabad for exploring
the potential of different relevant organiza-
Volume 7, Issue 8
Sampling Techniques and Data Analysis Tools in
Biological Research
Dr. Ghazala Ali Khan, Additional Director, PASTIC
organized a workshop on ‘Sampling Techniques and Data
Analysis Tools in Biological Research' at ABASYN
University Peshawar. The session was attended by Dr.
Zobia Afsheen, HoD of Biotechnology and Microbiology,
along with 21 faculty members of various departments.
Group photo of the participants of the workshop 'Sampling
Techniques and Data Analysis Tools in Biological Research' at
ABASYN University Peshawar.
02
Event/ Webinar /Meeting Attended
Mr. Saifullah Azim giving briefing to Urban Unit team over
PASTIC services with reference to material testing.
tion for their capabilities and facilities with regards to
material testing.
In this context a meeting was arranged with PASTIC team
comprising of Mr. Saifullah Azim- Principal System
Analyst (focal person), Syed Habib Akhter Jafferi-
Principal Librarian, Syed Aftab Hussain Shah- Additional
Director (STI), Dr. Maryum Ibrar- Additional Director
(STI) and Nabi Bukhsh-Web Manager on August 2, 2024
at PASTIC National Centre, Islamabad. Ms. Misha
Babur- Program Manager Industrial Development Urban
Unit (focal person) along with Nishaa Zeeshan- Project
Officer Economic Development and Meesum Ali- Project
Officer Economic Development visited PASTIC for the
said purpose.
Mr. Saifullah Azim gave briefing on different PASTIC
digital resources pertaining to material testing. Live
demonstration on following PASTIC information
resources were given; Database of R&D Equipment for
searching already installed material testing equipment in
different S&T organizations of Pakistan; Database of
Directory of Scientists, R&D project and Pakistan
Science Abstracts for finding relevant experts, projects
and articles.
b. PASTIC project proposal “Enhancement of Pakistan
Science Abstracts for effective service delivery using
Artificial Intelligence” has been submitted to the PSF
Competitive Research Programme (CRP) under its
Seventh Call on AI, Materials and Nanotechnology for
financial assistance. Research Proposal was recom-
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mended by the Technical Committee in 36 meeting of
CRP. PASTIC will execute this project with collabora-
NEWSLETTER
PASTIC
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Volume 7, Issue 8
August 2024
tion of AITeC, National Centre for Physics (NCP) and the
Computer Science Department (QAU). Therefore a
meeting was held on August 02, 2024 (Friday) at Com-
mittee Room, PASTIC to review the current operational
procedure of data processing for Pakistan Science
Abstracts (procedure & problems) for finding out possible
AI solutions.
Meeting was convened by Dr. M. Akram Shaikh, DG
PASTIC (PI) and attended by senior officials of PASTIC
including Co PI's along with their teams. PASTIC team
included: Saifullah Azim- PSA (IT), Syed Habib Akhter
Jaffer-PL, Dr. Syed Aftab Hussain Shah-Additional
Director (STI), Dr. Maryum Ibrar- Additional Director
(STI), Nabi Buksh- Web Manager, Dr. Syed Khursheed
Hasnain, Director AITeC along with Awais Akhter- AM
(Tech), Zain Tariq- AM (Tech) and Muhammad Saleh-
AM (Tech). QAU team included Dr. Rabeeh Ayaz Abbasi,
HoD Computer Science Department, QAU along with
Fatima Ejaz- M.phil student, Abbas Ahmed- M.phil
student, Muhammad Ahsan Aziz- M.phil student.
Dr. Muhammad Akram Shaikh described role of PASTIC
information services towards the promotion of research
and development activities in the country. He also
informed the participants about the need of this project.
Dr. Maryum Ibrar presented current operational proce-
dure for carrying out abstracting and indexing of Journals
along with the problems faced by the team. Deliberations
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c. Dr. Ghazala Ali Khan, Additional Director, PASTIC
attended a two days National Seminar on “Intellectual
Property and Protection Pakistan's Genetic Resources and
Associated Traditional Knowledge” organized by ORIC-
The University of Agriculture Peshawar and IPO Pakistan,
held on August 29-30, 2024 at The University of Agricul-
ture Peshawar.
d. Mr. Syed Shabib Zaidi, Science Assistant at PSCK,
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attended “2 International Food & Agriculture Exhibition
Food AG 2024” organized by TDAP on August 9, 2024, at
Expo Centre Karachi. The event, under the theme "Grow-
ing a Sustainable Future," sought to unite both interna-
tional and local communities to foster collaboration and
promote a shared vision for sustainability within the Food
and Agriculture sectors.
e. Mr. Kashif Farooqui, Data Control Assistant at PSCK,
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visited “21 Pharma Asia International Exhibition &
Conferences” on August 22, 2024, at the Expo Centre
Karachi.
f. Ms. Afsheen Tariq, Assistant Director (STI) at PSCK,
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attended “25 ITCN ASIA 2024”, Pakistan's largest IT
and Telecom Exhibition & Conferences held by
Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., the event
featured a wide range of IT products.
g. Dr. Ghazala Ali Khan, Additional Director, PASTIC
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attended 47 BOG meeting (online) at NCE in Physical
Chemistry, University of Peshawar on August 19, 2024.
were made about the issues and challenges of the current
system e.g, low extraction accuracy of the metadata
extractor, manual subject classification, citation linking
etc. Cutting edge AI solutions were also discussed for
integration into the system. After this, team visited the
publication section where they were demonstrated about
the whole data processing operation from selection of
journals till verification. They also visited Library, Press
and IT section.
Group photo of the participants.
NEWSLETTER
PASTIC
04
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
pastick@pastic.gov.pk
Tel: 021-99243621
Pakistan Scientif ic & Technological Information Centre
PASTIC
Volume 07, Issue 8
PASTIC National Centre, Quaid-i-Azam University Campus, Islamabad,
www.pastic.gov.pk
dg@pastic.gov.pk, director@pastic.gov.pk
051-9248103, 051-9248109
9248113