August 22, 1999

Center for Computer Studies

The Center for Computer Studies at IBA was established in 1982 in collaboration with IBM with an aim to provide computer education alongwith the business courses. The first program offered was the Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in computer studies. This was then transformed into the MBA (MIS) program after three years of its introduction.

Then the MIS and BCS programs were offered at the Bachelors level in the years 1998 and 1999 respectively, in response to the demand from the industry. The current number of students enrolled at the CCS is presently 150, but is expected to grow to a total of 230 with the arrival of the new batches in August, 1999.

Formation of the BITS Club

In view of the introduction of the new MIS and BCS programs at the Bachelors level and the consequently increasing number of computer students, a need was felt by the administration as well as by the students to bring the IT students under a forum that can truly represent their needs and requirements.

Therefore a separate students body, the Business & Information Technology Students Club (BITS Club) was approved early in 1999 by the Director for the students of the Center for Computer Studies at IBA.

The Club aims to organize IT seminars and conferences that will specifically benefit the students of the CCS and provide them an opportunity to keep abreast with the latest developments in the field of Information Technology.

Besides various other activities will also be carried out through the committees and societies of the club that would help the students to gain the practical knowledge of what they are taught at IBA bring out the different qualities and abilities that they may possess in a useful manner get some time out of the tough study schedules and engage in extracurricular activities that are necessary for a fresh and healthy mind.

Office Bearers of the BITS Club

The BITS Club witnessed its first ever elections in early 1999. But the formal balloting was not actually carried out as the office bearers were unanimously decided on the basis of their reputation promoting healthy student activities and hard work for the formation of the club.

The Director of IBA is the President of all the student bodies at IBA. The founding office bearers will be in office for the term 1999-2000. Their names are as follows:

l.Prof. Dr. Abdul Wahab President

2.Syed Saad Hussain Vice President

3.Ahmed Ali Siddiqui General Secretary

4.Burhan Khan Treasurer

Committees and Societies of the BITS Club

Various committees and societies have been formed in order to coordinate all the planned events. These committees are supervised by the office bearers and are headed by the respective secretaries who are responsible to carry out the relevant events with the help of the other committee members.

Profile of the Office Bearers:

Syed Saad Hussain

Vice President

Syed Saad Hussain is the fourth semester student of the BBA-MIS program at the Center for Computer Studies, IBA. He did his O'Levels from St. Patrick's High School and then completed his H.S.C. from D.J. Science College Karachi.

Since his admission into IBA, Saad Hussain has been actively involved in organizing various events at IBA. Some successful events to his name include the Annual Dinners of 1998 & 1999, IT seminars, and picnics. He has also served as the C.R., grader and member of IBA's official web site development team, besides participating in many activities as a member of the organizing teams.

In early 1999 when the BITS Club was approved by Prof. Dr. Abdul Wahab, Saad Hussain was unanimously elected the Vice President of the club in recognition of his services for the students of the CCS, IBA. He is also honored to be one of the founding members of the club.

Ahmed Ali Siddiqui

General Secretary

Ahmed Ali Siddiqui is the fourth semester student of the BBA-MIS program at the Center for Computer Studies, IBA. He did his Matriculation from Lady Bird Grammar School and completed his H.S.C. from Delhi College Karachi.

Ahmed Ali is an active member of the club and has participated in many extra-curricular activities. He has served as the Vice President of the MIS Society 98, IT Manager BASC 98-99 and Webmaster of IBA's web site 98-99. He has also been involved in organizing seminars and dinners. Besides, Ahmed Ali has the honor of holding first positions in all his previous semesters at IBA.

With the formation of the BITS Club, Ahmed Ali was elected unopposed as the General Secretary of the club. He is also honored to be one of the founding members of the club.

Burhan Khan

Treasurer

Burhan-ur-Rehman Khan, the Treasurer of the BITS Club, is currently enrolled in BBA MIS in the fourth semester. Having done his O Levels from St. Michael's school and A Levels from St. Patrick's High School, he holds a cumulative GPA of 3.3. An active participant of extra-curricular activities, he was an eminent member of Artifice - IBA's annual dramatics festival. He also helped organize and took part in the Annual Dinners and melas. Best known for his cricket, Burhan most definitely will prove to be a competent office bearer of the BITS Club.

PTV World Gives Live Coverage of ARY Bullionaire Contest

PTV World presented a 2-hour live entertainment show at the Finance and Trade Center (FTC) here in Karachi to formally launch the ARY Bullionaire Contest in Pakistan. More than three hundred and fifty jewellers were present on the occasion.

Jewellers from all over the country, prominently from Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi/ Islamabad and Faisalabad are taking part in the ARY Bullionaire Contest that includes Pakistan as a participating country for the first time. The contest is held on aworldwide basis.

The launching ceremony in Karachi was a star-studded event with Pakistan's celebrated entertainers, led by the versatile Moin Akhtar, performing to the delight of the large audience, both in the auditorium as well as a worldwide PTV audience in 38 countries. Other artistes included, Junaid Jamshed, Faisal Qazi, film and TV star Nrma, Abrar-ul-Haq, Shehzad Roy, Fariehah Pervez, Jamshed Ansari, Saloni, Ejaz Warsi and others.

Mohammad Iqbal, Executive Director, ARY Jewellers Dubai, showed his contentment on such a good turn out of jewellers and said, "We feel pleasure to launch ARY Bullionaire Contest in Pakistan, formally. I was quite sure of getting a positive response from Pakistan's prominent and experienced jewellers. On the behalf of ARY Bullionaire Contest, I would like to thank all the participating jewellers.

Consumers purchasing ARY Rainbow Products or ARY Gold Bars or Rs.5,000/- worth of gold jewellery from any participating "Privileged Outlet" will be entitled to a lucky coupon. A lucky draw on a worldwide basis will be held in Dubai every month with 20 prizes of hundred grams of gold given as prizes. The winner of the ARY Bullionaire Grand Draw, to be held at the end of the 3-month event, will be entitled to a Bumper Prize of 20 Kg of Gold.

Furthermore, the top ten jewellers of ARY Bullionaire Contest in Pakistan with the highest number of sale will also be awarded attractive prizes. The 1st Prize of 1 Kilo of Gold will be given to the jeweller with the highest number of sale, second prize will be of half kilo of Gold and 3rd to 10th place will be given 250 grams of Gold, respectively.

ARY Jewellers is a Dubai based jewellery organization and has launched a number of Gold Products throughout the world, the most popular being the ARY Rainbow Hearts and Rainbow Millennium.

Caption

Mobilink GSM and American Express TRS organized a joint promotional event for its consumers in the latter's quarterly magazine "On Line". Photo shows the winner Abdul Rehman receiving an Ericsson GS668 Handset from Ejaz Hassan, National Sales Manager, Mobilink GSM Also in the picture is Atif Anwar, Regional Marketing Coordinator, Mobilink GSM.

PACRA maintains credit rating of Gatron (Industries) Limited TFCs

PACRA has maintained the credit rating of the Rs. 274 mln TFCs issued by Gatron (Industries) Limbed (GIL). The issue continues to be rated at "A+" (single A plus). This represents high credit quality and denotes a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong but this capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

While maintaining the ratings, PACRA has factored in the enhanced business and financial risk emanating from GIL's PET resin project, which commenced operations in February 1998. The performance of the PET resin project — which represented a diversification from the company's main business line of the manufacture of polyester filament yarn (PFY) — has fallen considerably short of expectations, owing to negative developments in the international market. However, with signs of an economic recovery in the Far East, perceptions regarding the PET resin industry are positive. Meanwhile, cash flows from the main business line, PFY, are expected to remain satisfactory; the strong capacity of the timely payment of financial obligations, therefore, remains intact.

Burnett strengthens relationship with McDonald's

Just a few months after joining the Burnett family, Leo Burnett's newest partner in Finland has already strengthened the network's global partnership with one of Bumett's long-established clients. McDonald's has named LB/Helsinki (currently Lab Advertising Oy and soon to be Leo Burnett Oy) as its Finnish agency.

LB/Helsinki beat incumbent DDB, thanks to some help from Burnett's London, Stockholm and Oslo offices.. Leo Burnett Helsinki's CEO Likka Ponkanen and Creative Director Anssi Jarvinen joined forces with Leo Burnett London's Florence Waterman, Jim Drobnyk, David Kisilevsky and Ian Clarke,Leo Burnett Stockholm's Hans Werne, Thomas Andren and Lina Jungert; and Rune Roalsvig from Oslo to win the business.

In addition to providingLeo Burnett Helsinki an opportunity to work with one of the strongest brands in the world, the prestigious win translates to a jump in billings and creates an opportunity for the agency to expand and hire more personnel.