IEEE SIGHT Karachi – Engineering for Global Development (EDG) Community Engagement Workshop

IEEE SIGHT Karachi Chapter in collaboration with IEEE Communication Society (ComSoc) Karachi Chapter, IEEE ComSoc Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) Student Branch Chapter, Mehran University Institute of Science, Technology & Development (MUISTD), and QS World Merit organized a one-day workshop on "Engineering for Global Development (EGD) Community Engagement" at MUISTD Auditorium, MUET, Jamshoro, Pakistan on January 13, 2022.

This workshop was funded by IEEE R10 Humanitarian Sustainable Project & Volunteer Training Support Fund. The objective of the EGD Workshop was to develop the skills needed for conducting successful SIGHT projects in the participants. The total number of participants in this workshop was 67 in which 28 were IEEE members and 39 were non-IEEE members. The workshop was formally started with the recitation of the Holy Quran and the national anthem of Pakistan. Afterwards, Prof. Dr. Arabella Bhutto, Co-Director MUISTD welcomed the worthy Vice-Chancellors, Guest Speakers, the Coordinators, the Organizers, and the Participants. The worthy Vice Chancellor of MUET Jamshoro, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili, attended the workshop as the Chief Guest and delivered his speech, and appreciated the Speakers for taking their time from their very busy schedule to motivate the participants regarding community engagement. The worthy Vice Chancellor of Government College Hyderabad, Prof. Dr. Tayyaba Zarif also attended this workshop as Guest of Honour.

Figure 1: From left to right - Prof. Dr. Arabella Bhutto (workshop Coordinator and Co-Director MUISTD, MUET), Prof. Dr. Tayyaba Zarif (Guest of Honour and Vice Chancellor GC University Hyderabad, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili (Chief Guest and Vice Chancellor MUET, Jamshoro), Prof. Dr. Aftab Ahmed Memon (Workshop Coordinator and Chairman Telecommunication Engg. MUET), and Engr. Parksh Lohana (Guest Speaker and HoD at UIT, Karachi).

The first session was delivered by Engr. Hanan Daudpota and Engr. Murtaza Hanif delivered a talk on IEEE SIGHT, its Benefits and Guidelines for Preparing a Strong IEEE SIGHT Group Petition. They encouraged the participants to establish an IEEE SIGHT Group at MUET. It was agreed that Dr. Umair Ahmed Korai, Assistant Professor, Department of Telecommunication Engineering, MUET Jamshoro will be the said Group’s Advisor at MUET.

The second session was delivered by Engr. Parkash Lohana, Chair IEEE R10 Professional Activities Committee, Associate Professor & HOD (CS) at Usman Institute of Technology, Karachi, and Engr. Moiz Rahman Memon, Broadcast Engineer at Community Health FM Radio, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro & Treasurer, IEEE Karachi Section, and IEEE Karachi SIGHT Chapter respectively. In the session, Engr. Parkash conducted the EGD Community Engagement Workshop. Furthermore, Engr. Moiz facilitated to conduct activities related to the workshop with the participants.

Figure 2: Participants attending the EGD workshop

The next session was delivered by Mr. Ali Akbar, Executive Director of Association of Water, Applied Education and Renewable Energy (AWARE) – an NGO – that has been the implementation partner of IEEE SIGHT Karachi Chapter’s projects in the past. He shared the humanitarian issues of the districts when AWARE operates. He also identified the areas where Engineers can contribute through humanitarian technology which in result can change the lives of the people living in those districts.

Figure 3: Group Photo taken at the end of the workshop with guest of honour, guest speakers, workshop coordinators, organizers, volunteers, and participants

Worthy Vice Chancellor of GC University Hyderabad, Prof. Dr. Tayyaba Zarif gave the concluding remarks of the workshop. In her speech, she acknowledged the efforts of guest speakers, organizers, and volunteers. She encouraged the participants to explore in more depth about IEEE SIGHT and showed interest to host such activity in GC University. In the end, Prof. Dr. Aftab Ahmed Memon, Chairman Department of Electronic Engineering, gave the vote of thanks to the chief guest, guest of honour, speakers, event organizers, collaborators, volunteers, and participants followed by shield and certificate distribution, and lunch.