Latest news with #AgaKhanUniversity
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
Spring 2025 Digital Health Awards: AKU's digital health solution receives Merit honour
KARACHI: The Aga Khan University (AKU) has announced that its innovative digital health solution, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Electronic Immunization Registry (KP-EIR), has received a Merit honour at the prestigious Spring 2025 Digital Health Awards. This international competition, presented by the Digital Health Resource Centre (dHRC), recognizes the world's best digital health resources. The KP-EIR, a customized version of AKU's foundational Hayat platform, was specifically recognized for its impactful contribution to public health. Developed at the request of the provinicial government of Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Pakistan, this system has revolutionized the region's Expanded Programme on Immunization. By significantly improving data management, accessibility, and programme oversight, KP-EIR has directly strengthened vaccination efforts across the province. 'We are immensely honoured to receive this Merit award for KP-EIR,' said Dr Saleem Sayani, Director, AKU Digital Health Resource Centre. 'This recognition is a testament to AKU's commitment to leveraging technology for social good and public health advancement. The successful conversion and deployment of Hayat into KP-EIR highlights the adaptability and scalability of our digital solutions, directly contributing to stronger health systems and healthier communities.' This award underscores AKU's dedication to developing cutting-edge, practical digital health interventions that address critical health challenges and improve healthcare delivery on a broader scale. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Dr. Sanaa Alimia wins prestigious American prize for book on Afghan refugees
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani academic Dr. Sanaa Alimia has won the 2025 Book Prize awarded by the American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) for her research on how Afghan refugees have reshaped Pakistan's cities over the decades, the institute announced on Wednesday. Dr. Alimia, an associate professor at Aga Khan University and a scholar of urban migration and Muslim political subjectivity, was recognized for her book 'Refugee Cities: How Afghans Changed Urban Pakistan,' published by the University of Pennsylvania Press. The book was the unanimous choice of the AIPS Book Prize Committee, which praised it as an 'enormous contribution to Pakistan Studies.' Published by the University of Pennsylvania Press, Refugee Cities examines the lives and labor of Afghan refugees in Pakistan over several decades, focusing on how displaced communities have reshaped the physical, social, and economic fabric of cities like Karachi and Peshawar. Based on over eight years of ethnographic fieldwork and extensive archival research, the book highlights both the contributions Afghan refugees have made and the challenges they continue to face in Pakistan. 'This book explores the life of Afghan refugees in Pakistan with a specific focus upon their contributions to the development of Karachi and Peshawar,' the prize committee said in a statement posted on AIPS's Facebook page. 'As they settled into the peripheries of urban centers, they created their own communities and with their labor contributed greatly to the overall development of Pakistan's cities.' The committee added: 'Alimia's scholarship is excellent. The book is well-written and easy to read. It draws upon hundreds of interviews and extensive archival research.' The prize announcement comes at a time when Pakistan's treatment of Afghan refugees is under renewed international scrutiny. In 2023, Pakistan launched a controversial crackdown on foreigners it said were in the country illegally, mostly Afghans. Millions of Afghans have fled their homeland over the decades to escape war or poverty. According to data from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), more than 900,000 Afghans have left Pakistan since the expulsion drive began. The Pakistan government cites economic stress and security concerns as reasons to push the expulsions campaign while human rights advocates say the move threatens people who have lived in Pakistan for decades and contributed significantly to its informal economy and urban infrastructure. The mass returns have also upended urban dynamics in cities like Karachi and Quetta, where second- and third-generation Afghans have lived for decades. Many of those affected are informal workers or small business owners with deep roots in Pakistani neighborhoods. Dr. Alimia's work sheds light on these long-standing urban entanglements, arguing that Afghan refugees are not merely passive recipients of aid but active agents in shaping Pakistan's urban evolution. Her research challenges narratives that view refugees solely through the lens of security or humanitarian crisis. A scholar of migration, urban politics, and Muslim political subjectivities, Dr. Alimia holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and has previously been affiliated with the Berlin Graduate School for Muslim Cultures and Societies. She is currently based at the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations, Aga Khan University. The AIPS Book Prize is awarded annually to recognize outstanding scholarship that advances understanding of Pakistan's society, politics, history, or culture. It is funded through AIPS unrestricted funds and not supported by US federal grants.
Business Recorder
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Palm oil remains cornerstone of Pakistan's edible oils and fats sector'
KARACHI: Palm oil remains a cornerstone of Pakistan's edible oils and fats sector, supporting food security, industrial development, and nutritional access for millions. Industry experts, in briefing session held on Thursday, emphasized its significance, calling for greater awareness of its benefits, sustainability initiatives, and strategic importance. With annual consumption exceeding 3 million tons, palm oil makes up over 96 percent of Pakistan's edible oil imports. Its versatility and cost-efficiency make it indispensable for food manufacturers, particularly in producing vanaspati ghee, cooking oils, shortenings, margarine, and processed foods. Nadar Ali Ghanghro, Marketing Officer, Consulate General of Malaysia has said that palm oil is a pillar of Pakistan's oils and fats market. 'Its natural stability, long shelf life, and affordability make it critical for national nutrition and economic resilience, especially in rural regions,' he added. Palm oil is a cholesterol-free vegetable oil, naturally free of trans fats, and rich in antioxidants like tocotrienols and beta-carotene-components that contribute to cardiovascular health and overall well-being, he mentioned. Dr Ramle Moslim, Deputy Director-General (R&D), Malaysian Palm Oil Board, said that palm oil's unique attributes make it not only a key dietary fat, but also a sustainable and economically vital crop. He highlighted palm oil's critical role in global food security, noting that oil palm yields 4 to 10 times more oil per hectare than other oilseeds such as soybean, sunflower, or rapeseed. 'This efficiency allows for higher output with less land, reducing pressure on natural ecosystems,' he said. 'Malaysia alone has over 5.6 million hectares under cultivation, supporting over 500,000 smallholders and ensuring domestic and global food stability.' Zafar Mahmood, Chief Executive Officer, NIMIR further highlighted the industry's shift towards sustainable sourcing. 'Most multinationals operating in Pakistan now require RSPO-certified palm oil-whether Mass Balance, Segregated, or NDPE-compliant. This shift is transforming the supply chain toward greater transparency and environmental responsibility,' he added. Dr Hammad Hassan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Aga Khan University reiterated the importance of countering misinformation. 'Palm oil is often misrepresented. The reality is it provides critical nutrients, supports livelihoods, and when produced responsibly, is a more sustainable option than many alternatives.' Research is also advancing in palm-based nutritional innovations to help address micronutrient deficiencies. Red palm oil, for instance, is being studied for its use in healthcare and food interventions, particularly for vulnerable populations. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Report: SGBV Rampant in East African Sports Industry
NAIROBI: The majority of athletes in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have experienced sexual or gender-based violence, a university-led report said on Wednesday. Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) has increasingly dominated the news in east Africa, with Kenya witnessing a number of deaths and killings of prominent female athletes in recent years. The major report, by Nairobi-based Aga Khan University, surveyed 748 people, the majority aged between 18-34 years, and interviewed 18. Almost 30 percent had participated in sport at a professional or semi-professional level. It found that 62 percent reported 'experiencing or having knowledge of colleagues who have experienced some form of violence'. 'SGBV in east African Sports is entrenched in a flawed ecosystem, driven by patriarchal attitudes, impunity by perpetrators and the culture of silence,' the report said. In Kenya 69 percent of recipients reported experiencing or having knowledge of harm -- including verbal, physical, and sexual violence -- with the study noting an increase from government statistics of 43 percent in 2022. Tanzania reported a similar prevalence of 62 percent, with Uganda reporting 48 percent. The report said these abuses could be traced to dynamics within the industry, including power imbalances, coaches, sponsors, and isolation from support systems. Coaches were found to be among the top perpetrators of SGBV, it found. 'Many abused athletes quit sports entirely post-retirement, citing long-term trauma, lack of protection, and hostile environments,' the study also said. One participant told researchers individuals left because of 'the kind of treatment that they get as players' and afterwards, 'they don't have any desire to be anywhere near the sport.' It noted many incidences would not be reported, with 35 percent citing a 'fear of retaliation' and career impact. 'Victims face stigma, disbelief and legal hurdles that obstruct justice, while institutional failure and societal norms continue to embolden perpetrators and marginalise survivors,' it said. 'If there is any sport that has been affected by SGBV is athletics,' Athletics Kenya chief Jackson Tuwei told reporters. In the last five years Kenya has lost six elite athletes, including a Ugandan-born marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei who was set on fire by her Kenyan boyfriend in 2024. In 2021 top Kenyan athlete Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death. An arrest warrant was issued for her husband, but he has repeatedly failed to appear in court.
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Majority of east African athletes experience violence: report
NAIROBI: The majority of athletes in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have experienced sexual or gender-based violence, a university-led report said on Wednesday. Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) has increasingly dominated the news in east Africa, with Kenya witnessing a number of deaths and killings of prominent female athletes in recent years. The major report, by Nairobi-based Aga Khan University, surveyed 748 people, the majority aged between 18-34 years, and interviewed 18. Almost 30 percent had participated in sport at a professional or semi-professional level. It found that 62 percent reported 'experiencing or having knowledge of colleagues who have experienced some form of violence'. 'SGBV in east African Sports is entrenched in a flawed ecosystem, driven by patriarchal attitudes, impunity by perpetrators and the culture of silence,' the report said. In Kenya 69 percent of recipients reported experiencing or having knowledge of harm -- including verbal, physical, and sexual violence -- with the study noting an increase from government statistics of 43 percent in 2022. Tanzania reported a similar prevalence of 62 percent, with Uganda reporting 48 percent. The report said these abuses could be traced to dynamics within the industry, including power imbalances, coaches, sponsors, and isolation from support systems. Coaches were found to be among the top perpetrators of SGBV, it found. 'Many abused athletes quit sports entirely post-retirement, citing long-term trauma, lack of protection, and hostile environments,' the study also said. One participant told researchers individuals left because of 'the kind of treatment that they get as players' and afterwards, 'they don't have any desire to be anywhere near the sport.' It noted many incidences would not be reported, with 35 percent citing a 'fear of retaliation' and career impact. 'Victims face stigma, disbelief and legal hurdles that obstruct justice, while institutional failure and societal norms continue to embolden perpetrators and marginalise survivors,' it said. 'If there is any sport that has been affected by SGBV is athletics,' Athletics Kenya chief Jackson Tuwei told reporters. In the last five years Kenya has lost six elite athletes, including a Ugandan-born marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei who was set on fire by her Kenyan boyfriend in 2024. In 2021 top Kenyan athlete Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death. An arrest warrant was issued for her husband, but he has repeatedly failed to appear in court.
