Quack! Online

Hey listen up people, as you all know that the plantation campaign is in full swings. The incentive of this article is just to clarify the confusion about our plan. Basically we have collected Rs.150 for a Neem tree. This includes the cost of land improvements that is leveling of the ground, the additional soil cost, the manure cost and the transport cost. Those who are interested in planting more than one tree, they can donate more accordingly. After planting one tree along with the plaque (that would have your name and personalized message on it), if some money remains, we will use it to plant some more trees by your name. These trees will line up on both sides of the pathway where we board the buses, and if we succeed in collecting enough money, we'll plant some trees on the hostel side as well. This is the Season 1 of our campaign. If this succeeds, the next would be Season 2 that would include plantation creepers, flowering shrubs and foliage. So please contribute as much as you can!

By Nargis Noor of TMM1 (Teee Mmmmm Mmmmm One)

Posted by Nargis Noor at 04:19 PM | Permalink

An open letter to the person (persons) who stole my cellphone, wallet, pokerchips, and book from outside the library.

Dear (insert expletive here),

May you go bald, cross eyed, bow-legged and may your girlfriend (or boyfriend) dump you publicly in a highly humiliating manner. Amen.

Cursing you profusely,

Hira Saiyed (TDT 1)

Continue reading "TIP's Personal Bermuda Triangle" »

Posted by Hira Saiyed at 09:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

We regret to inform you that Abu Asar Ghazali Iman passed away on March 15 2006.

He was a final year Textile Science student, and passed away because of an unpredictable brain hemorrhage. May his soul rest in peace and may the bereaved family find the strength to bear this loss with fortitude.

Quran Khawani will be held on March 17 2006 at the Hostel after Namaz-e-Juma.

Posted by Abid Omar at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

An interesting article comparing handling of intellectual property in the fashion industry with the film and music industry. A must read for the so-called "product developers" and "fashion designers/labels" in Pakistan, and especially useful for merchandisers interested in an alternative view on their product development prowess. Excerpts below:

"... the fashion industry long has accepted that creativity is too large and fugitive an essence to be owned outright as property. Fashion is a massive industry that thrives in a competitive global environment despite minimal legal protections for its creative design...."

"It is precisely because fashion pervades so many aspects of our lives that we fail to appreciate the "social ecology" that supports it - the open sharing, unauthorized innovations, and creative appropriations. To be sure, the fashion industry aggressively protects its brand names and logos, utilizing trademarks and licensing agreements. In most cases, however, the actual creative design of garments is not owned by anyone. The couturier dress worn by a Hollywood starlet on the red carpet can be knocked off immediately and legally appear days later on department store racks."

For the full article see Control of creativity? Fashion's secret.

A debate that arises out of this in the local market context is the fight over retaining intellectual property rights over local designs in both fashion apparel and home textiles, where "design houses" often find their designs copied and available in substandard quality and often with the same brand name. Your thoughts are invited.

Posted by Abid Omar at 10:57 PM | Permalink

The new semester has started and it just so happened to be that I needed a couple of printouts on the second day of university. But of course, the printer in the computer lab was out of order!

The machine has been causing problems since the late period of the previous semester and numerous students were forced to submit blotched assignments due to failure of the recently purchased piece of equipment.

The fact that the printer is still not in working has not come as a surprise. After all that's just how things function. It'll take time for things to settle down. It'll probably take a couple of weeks for them to call the servicemen to come and fix it. It's all right we understand.

It'll take some time for the lab and library to start opening after four. Besides, who in the right frame of mind needs to do reports or study anything during the first couple of weeks? We realize that it takes a while for things to settle down and people to get back to their routines. It's ok we understand.

It'll take some time for the labs to be conducted and it'll take time for some classes to catch swing. It'll take them time to fix the time table, we've already missed one class because the instuctor had a different schedule than the one posted on the notice boards.

But It's all perfectly ok, we completely understand!

Posted by Aasim Ahmed at 01:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Pictures for the graduating Class of 2005 are available in two flavors. Take your pick:

• Plain Vanilla
• Over-the-top Funky Flash

Of note at the Convocation were the Chief Guests Dr. Pervaiz Hoodbhoy.

The Iqbal Ahmed Achievement Award went Ali Raza Merchant, and the Valedictorian Speech was given by Sana Kamaluddin, both of whom wrote regularly for Quack! during their time at TIP.

Posted by Abid Omar at 12:12 AM | Permalink

The Herald Annual 2005, a DAWN publication, in an article "Reading the Pulse" on "alternative education, quotes a Dean Dr. Khizar Rehman as TIP's Dean. Who is this new Dean of TIP?

The article states "private and public sector universities are catering to shifting market demands by establishing alternative, career-oriented departments," along with TIP as one of the examples. Our new and knowledgeable dean elaborates in the article; "the idea is to produce trained professionals for middle-level management in the textile industry."

While students are eager to learn more about the nitty-gritty of textile wet processing, knitting and weaving, Dr. Rehman says the current market trends are inclined towards design technology and apparel manufacturing. The reason, according to Dr Rehman, quite simple: "Professionals are now needed in the garment industry because spinning has made rapid advancements."

That simple, eh? So had spinning not made rapid advancements, the garment industry would have been a flop? Your thoughts on the new Dean and on his thoughts?

Posted by Abid Omar at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Complete the sentence:

Imprint is ...

Posted by Abid Omar at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

By Kamran Mohsin

TIP, November 18, the auditorium was full of students (mostly forced in by teachers) to attend a lecture by Mr. Javed Jabbar; a well-known writer, politician and media personality. The subject of the address was "Pakistan's unique past and unique future."

He told students that Pakistan is unique among the nations of the world in many respects among the other developed and impoverished countries. These include Pakistan's creation on the bases of religion, achievement of a separate country on a notice of 10 weeks, difficulties regarding capital and water at that time and other countless issues. This indicates that Pakistan survived in every difficult situation due to unpredictable reasons.

Continue reading "Students asked to write the 'history' of Pakistan" »

Posted by Kamran Mohsin at 05:19 PM | Permalink

By Furhan R. Hussain, TMM-1

Brushing the usual aside, TIP seems to be overshadowed, these days, by a cloud of misfortunes. For example, a few days back, the institute's 'Tower Point' bus had an accident near SMCHS that almost killed a number of people including a family of four on a motorcycle (husband, wife, a four-year-old and one-year old kid), as well as the driver of the rickshaw that was hit by the bus after it's brakes completely failed. The big, bright, yellow markings and text on the coaster made sure that the institute got its due share of publicity. The grapevine has it, that the bus driver had been complaining about the failing brakes since quite some time, but in vain, and was about to resign before an accident took place. On the fateful day of the accident, he was guiding the new driver of the point who was due to take his place.

The same bus, on the same day, almost ran into a petrol tanker on the highway. Had the tanker not run onto the road's dividing area, letting the bus only scratch it, TIP would have surely lost a fair number of diligent students.

Continue reading "More Food for the Worry Vault" »

Posted by Furhan Hussain at 12:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

By Aasim Ahmed TS3

The article consists of excerpts from what was witnessed being said by various invigilators and teachers during the recent class tests.

Here's what one of the invigilators said when he saw some students cheating.

Allah Allah! Tauba Tauba! In donon ko ainda kabhi saath nahee baithnay doon ga! Iss baar kar lo ainda dekho kya ho ga!

Here's another scenario. Half an hour into the paper a faint murmur erupts in the class. The invigilator, noticing it quietly walks out of the classroom, leaving the students unattended. We know all too well what happens next. On another occasion a teacher spots a couple of students discussing answers and the following conversation takes place.

Teacher: Yes you! What are you doing?
Student: Sir, no sir, I was just mumble, jumble, blabla!
Teacher: No, I saw that! You will lose marks
Student: Sir please, my GPA. My scholarship!
Teacher: Ok don't do it next time.

When confronted by peers, here's how the students justify their act!

Hum cheating thoree kartay hain. Hum to sirf answers tally kartay hain!

Such incidents are a part of the norms. It is unjust by any means. Let alone the students who refrain from such activity, it is also unjust to those who happen to get a fair invigilator while their peers appearing for the same paper get one who is morally unsound.

I leave you with the words of one of our teachers. A statement accompanied by one of the most flustered expressions I've ever seen, a statement that goes unheeded every time it is heard during an examination.

Dekhein beta please, cheating to mat karein!

Posted by Aasim Ahmed at 03:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

The successive round of earthquakes that has struck various areas in Pakistan, (Azad Kashmir, N.W.F.P and Punjab being most badly affected) has caused immense turmoil, loss, and deprivation. As I pen down this article, some 18,000 people have been reported dead, several are homeless, and of those that have survived an innumerable amount of people are homeless, hungry and severely injured.

It is at times like these that we as a community should come forward and help those that lay helpless. True, the aftermath of the earthquakes is unimaginable for most of us, but the little that each of us can do in the form of donations must be done as soon as possible to provide immediate relief to the affected people.

The Rotaract Club of T.I.P requests you to please bring packed food items, medicines, clothes, quilts etc with you to university tomorrow. Monetary donations too are welcome, although food items, milk, water, and medicines are preferable. Please do make sure that the donations you give away are properly packed and taped least they be damaged along the lengthy route. The donations will be properly sorted out at the end of the day, loaded onto the four buses that go past the P.A.F museum, and sent directly to the areas that most require them.

Posted by sHd at 01:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Nation, a Lahore-based nation-wide daily, interviews our Dean Dr. Hafizur Rehman. An excerpt:

What are the main challenges facing the institution?
The field of textiles, spinning, weaving, wet processing, garment manufacture etc. is constantly evolving. The textile institute of Pakistan has to focus its potential to ensure that our graduates are equipped with up to date knowledge from every aspect of textile processing so as to cope with the versatility of the industry. The courses thus being offered are constantly undergoing change so that they are designed to meet modern industry specifications.

Read more at The Nation on Campus.

Posted by Abid Omar at 04:44 PM | Permalink

The Man Behind TIP's Revitalization
The Glorious Return of TIP & Mr. Irfan Hussain

By Abid Reza TS4

Ahh, some back-breaking and exhaustive internships … why do they call them summer “vacations” anyways?? In no time, we found ourselves at the doorsteps of our final year at TIP. No, not again... same boring classes, with those inexperienced teachers. Life’s dull.

But it was not all dull about coming back to TIP. Rumors had it that our former president Mr. Irfan Hussain was coming back to replace Mr. Shakeel Ahmad. The speculation about his return and the changes he’ll bring with him were the most common talk amongst the students in summers. And as we expected, he was back indeed. Let's see the befores and afters of this man.

Continue reading "The Irfanolution Is Back Upon Us" »

Posted by Abid Raza at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

On the basis of the response that the Rotoract TIP’s blood camp generated, Hussaini Blood Bank had earlier forwarded a request to form a blood camp collaboration. A group of ailing children, who happen to be under the direct responsibility of Hussaini Blood Bank require a massive supply of blood.

The Rotaract group of TIP has thus decided to launch another blood donation campaign, that will be a week long struggle starting Friday the 29th and lasting till Friday next to be able to collect as much blood as possibly can be collected.

The campaign will function during the course of the week for the convenience of everyone. The blood donation point is a place known as Mehreen Point (directly above Dunkin donuts, Clifton). We hope that you all will participate in this noble cause, make our blood camp a success and more importantly help save the lives of innocent young children.

Thanking you,

Sidrah Nadeem
Vice-President, Rotaract TIP

Posted by sHd at 10:01 PM | Permalink

Rotaract Club of Textile Institute of Pakistan is having a Professional Development Seminar along with its Official Charter Ceremony.

Continue reading "Rotract TIP Seminar and Charter Ceremony" »

Posted by Abid Omar at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A seminar on "Career Guidance for the Textile Industry" was held today by the Textile Institute Alumni Forum, and was a great success.

We applaud the speakers, and thank them for participating.

Posted by Abid Omar at 06:54 PM | Permalink

A Quack! Online Special... It all began with a phone call!

On the phone, Ammar Saif was heard saying "I am in a serious problem & it doesn't seem that these guys (2 bus conductors) are going to let go off me that easily." This was the time when a bunch of guys were sitting in the Hostel TV room, and they suddenly came across such a dramatic situation that they had never dealt with before. Its needless and at the same time useless to elaborate the aftermath of the decision that was eventually taken to subside the threat that was upon Ammar Saif. But its worth mentioning point is that had any one seen the battered face of Ammar Saif at the very moment he was rescued out of the bus, one surely would have feelings for him. A very respectful and and influential member of TIP management has been heard as saying that "agar Ammar Saif ko mara haii too nishan kahan haiin?"

I would like to answer this senseless query by an equally silly question "Agar guards koo mara gayaa haii too nishan kahan haiin?"

Continue reading "The Story Behind The Thatta Bus Situation" »

Posted by hassan khalid at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 7, 2005. This week Dr. Shoib Arif resigned from his position as Acting Dean. He says that his Deanship was becoming too stressful and affecting his personal and family life. It was also affecting his true passion of academia. He plans to engage in textile chemistry related research activities.

His research would meet the HEC recommendation for universities to increase research-based publications.

Dr. Hafeez-ur-Rehman has been duly appointed by the management as the replacement Acting Dean.

Quack! Online has also learned that there is a possibility that the management was not happy with Dr. Shoib Arif's deanship, and thus had been planning to appoint a new dean.

Dr. Zubair Bandukada remains the Dean, though he is on long leave to pursue research activities at the William Lee Innovation Centre, University of Manchester.

Continue reading "Dr. Hafeez-ur-Rehman to be Acting Dean, Dr. Shoib Arif resigns" »

Posted by Abid Omar at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

By Raghib Ali Khan

In 2002 the Higher Education Commission (HEC) came into being by a federal constitutional order to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC). The purpose of the HEC is to control and monitor the educational activities in universities in the public and private sectors. Since then, Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, chairman of the HEC with a wide experience of teaching and also managing educational activities, proved his abilities and sincerity by the performance of the HEC and the improvement in the educational sector in Pakistan. Dr. Rahman has the status of a federal minister and heads this commission with the executive directors which are equivalent to the state secretaries.

However, the purpose of this introduction is not to praise the HEC or Dr. Rahman, but to bring light to a serious issue.

The HEC states some basic requirements for any university or other the degree-awarding institute (can be download from www.hec.edu.pk). Two years ago, the HEC pointed out that about 40% of universities in Pakistan are not meeting the basic requirements and gave them a five year period to fulfill them. Now on November 13th 2004, after about two years since the initial announcement, the HEC again advertised the names of the universities in all major papers of the country in which they categorized all universities in four major categories, category A to category D with category A universities fulfilling all basic requirements and category D with universities in extremely poor condition that do not fulfill any requirements. The degree awarding status of category B, C and D institutes and universities is deemed to be cancelled in 2007. The HEC will also advertise again in January and warn the parents and students not to take admission in such institutes.

The Textile Institute of Pakistan (TIP) falls in category B which is for the universities or degree-awarding institutes which do not meet HEC requirements.

In an interview on Geo TV, Dr. Rahman on November 21th in outlined some of these basic requirements:

1. basic infrastructure
2. teaching level
3. Ph.D faculty
4. And some others.

My point is not to bring in your knowledge that TIP is a B category institute and is lacking in all three basics. Our infrastructure is not enough that fulfill our requirements, out Wet Processing Lab have converted into classrooms, our gym has converted into an Apparel Studio and future plans are up in the air. Many Ph.D teachers, including Dr. Jabbar, Dr. Zubair Bandukda and Dr. Khalid Pasha, and other good teachers such as Adil Moosajee and Aslam Khan have left. Their replacement teachers are all undergraduates (Bachelor-pass). The end result is that our teaching and studies suffered and students are unhappy with the current state of affairs.

We should consider this all and bring into debate as it is not only necessary for TIP but also for our good future.

Posted by Abid Omar at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)

The hostelites enjoyed a mini bash outside the girls wing this Monday. The party started with songs on the keyboard and guitar by freshmen Aasim Ahmed and Khalid which continued till the ladies were called in. However, that didn't deprive them of the action as most of them ended up on the roof and enjoyed an overhead view of the entire show. The party continued after a brief interruption due to power problems which arose because someone disconnected the sound system from the girls hostel (Hmm... I wonder who that could be). On the whole it was a refreshing event for everyone, including the President of the TISF who was spotted hopping around on the dance floor every now and then!

Posted by Aasim Ahmed at 06:22 PM | Permalink

EPB, the Export Promotions Bureau of Pakistan supports institutions that are providing job-oriented education and training to meet human resource and technological needs of exporting industries. It ensures students graduating from these institutes have bright prospects in the job market as their programs/courses are structured while keeping in view industry's needs. The Textile Institute of Pakistan comes under this initiative.

bq. In order to strengthen the export sector and boost exports of the country, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has extended assistance for establishment of a number of institutions for training and development of human resources for export-oriented industries. Assistance has also been provided for strengthening of infrastructure for the exporting industries. Institutions under the scheme have been established in the private sector on the principle of public-private collaboration to ensure that the institutions are managed on professional lines while remaining responsive to the needs of the trade and industry, specially the export sector.

More information can be found at Support for Skills Development & Infrastructure Strengthening on the EPB website, and a listing of 15 textile-related institutions under the EPB initiative in Pakistan.

Posted by Abid Omar at 03:41 AM | Permalink

Welcome - and welcome back - to TIP for the 2003-2004 academic year. The year ahead promises to be a memorable one, one of challenge and excitment. I hope all of you will invlove yourselves with not only your academics, but also with your community. The active participation of each member of TIP is what makes our us different. Lets keep that difference alive!

Continue reading "Welcome Class of 2007!" »

Posted by Abid Omar at 01:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

TIP is readying to welcome the it's biggest freshman class ever, with 155 new students. The previous record was 120 students in last year's class. It is in appropriate increase in intake, given growing awarness and popularity of TIP in schools and colleges in Pakistan and abroad. Over one thousand (1000) applicants from all over Pakistan sat for the admission test this summer, which is a record - last year there were XXX applicants (someone please fill in the blank!).

The new BBA Honor's program in Apparel Manufacturing & Merchandising is also a factor attracting a greater number of applicants.

TIP will also be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. With the growing student population, the student representative association TISF (Textile Institute Student's Forum) will also be having a more serious role among the student body.

Update: While the number of interested applicants were well over 1000, the number who actually gave the admission test were around 300. Exactly how many? Let us know.

Posted by Abid Omar at 02:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)