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ISLAMABAD: With an aim to provide scientific and technological information in Research and Development (R&D) and Industrial Community through Anticipatory and Responsive Information Services, Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC) opened its doors for online data collection for every knowledge seeker who wanted to and especially to journalists’ community to produce quality news.
In an age of information technology where 5th generation war and hybrid warfare has become buzz words, PASTIC - a subsidiary of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), under Ministry of Science & Technology, has taken it as a challenge to serve thousands of researchers and other professionals through its specialized information services including wide range of data collection on various discipline than in the past.
For those, who are not familiar to PASTIC, it is inevitable to mention that PASTIC is known as a leading organization of Scientific & Technological information resources for supporting Research & Development leading to sustainable socio-economic development in the country. And yes, PASTIC National Centre (Headquarter) is located on the premises of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad whereas its six sub-centers are working in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad and Quetta.
PASTIC is currently offering wide range of services such as supply of full-text S&T Documents, publication of primary (Pakistan Journal of Computer and Information System-PJCIS) and Secondary Journals (Pakistan Science Abstracts in Ten Disciplines), Patent Information Service, Bibliographic Information Service, development of indigenous S&T databases, compilation of Union Catalogues and Directories, National Science Reference Library, Printing Services (Reprographic) ranging from Mimeographing, Photocopying and Microfilming to printing.
PASTIC is dedicated to fulfil the ever-growing needs of information community in the field of Science, Engineering and Technology and now for media persons for research and development activities at national level.
It also housed a wide range of online resources including Pakistan Science Abstract, Science & Technology (S&T) data forms, Scientific Books, Union Catalogue (Pak Cat), Scientific Periodicals, International Nuclear Information System (ININ), Recent articles on energy and Climate Change, R&D Projects and Equipments, Scientists Directory, S&T Libraries, S&T Societies, Associations and Organizations and last but surely not the least Database of Conferences, Workshops and Seminars on various related subjects.
PASTIC is the National focal point for UNESCO in Pakistan. PASTIC provides training on Library Automation using WIN/ISIS package and also distribute WIN/ISIS package in Pakistan. It has organized a number of training workshops for Scientists, Information Technology experts, librarians, Researchers, and last but indeed not the least for working journalists in different cities of Pakistan.
In a workshop titled "Media Literacy" held at PASTIC, Director General (DG), PASTIC, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akram Shaikh said PASTIC is the premier organization for dissemination of Scientific and Technological Information to the Scientists, Researchers, Engineers, Entrepreneurs, Industry and Citizens of Pakistan. “With the passage of time, PASTIC has developed linkages with a number of organizations and now we are heading towards Media Industry. In an age of technology, role of social media is crucial but one needs to differentiate which news is correct and which is fake,” he said adding this interactive session is organized to learn and teach the methodology as to how news information is gathered and how people react.
DG maintained that it is the need of the hour that a journalist must be equipped with latest information. “PASTIC has a wide range of data collection that could be accessed by the mediapersons for authentic reporting,” he said.
He reiterated PASTIC is reviving the interactive activities with the media houses that has been disconnected for a while. He noted that journalists are always welcomed to this Centre for any help and guidance regarding producing meaningful stories in the vast interest of the country and the society.
The interactive workshop was organized in collaboration with "Pakistan in the World" Media Group and Community Development Council (CDC) where Minister Counselor of Indonesian Embassy B. Dharmawan was the Chief Guest. Editor Pakistan in the World, Tazeen Akhtar and Chairperson CDC Meera'n Malik were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, Principal Librarian PASTIC Syed Habib Akhtar Jafri and Sr. System Analyst Saifullah Azim emphasized the value of information technology and how to embed it in a news story. They elaborated that the information should be gathered from reliable sources and counter checked with different sources before it is published or aired.
Minister counselor Embassy of Indonesia B. Dharmawan distributed the certificates among the participants. He appreciated the organizers for spreading awareness and equipping the journalists’ community with the latest techniques and ethics of journalism.
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