Nurturing Our Alma Mater

78 Pages·2016·7.19 MB·English

12TH ANNUAL
NED Alumni
I
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 2016
SEPTEMBER 2-4, 2016 HOUSTON, TEXAS
Nurturing Our Alma Mater
#NEDConvention2016
12TH ANNUAL
NED Alumni
INTERNATIONAIL CONVENTION 2016
This magazine has been created by the Publication Committee of the 2016 Annual
Convention under the leadership of Javaid Iqbal. Sincere thanks are given to members
of the committee, including Rashid Ali Baig, Syed Mehdi Kamal, Aslam Siddiqui, and
Zahid Babar. The contents of this magazine have been submitted by various NEDian
alumni, and colleagues of NEDians. A very special thanks to Sommer Iqbal, who designed
every single page of this magazine with dedication and skill. Gracious thanks are also
given to Manjeeta Sitaula and Roshan Thapa, who kindly edited articles after long days
at work. We hope you enjoy this magazine. After reading the magazine, please keep
it as a momento to remember the wonderful time you had at the convention. Should
you decide to discard the magazine, please recycle it so as to sustain our environment.
IThank you.
#NEDConvention 2016 12th Annual NED Alumni International Convention 2016
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About the Convention
Written by Javaid Iqbal
It is déjà vu all over again. In 2005, the tradition of hosting the annual NED Alumni Conventions started here in
Houston, Texas as the very first NED Convention ever held in the USA. The difference between now and then is that
we are eleven conventions richer in experience, and we have not only one, but two organizations hosting the event this
time – NEDA Houston and NEDA Dallas, under the umbrella of NEDIAN-NA. Let’s take a quick look at the program
below:
Friday Evening:
The program starts with a Meet and Greet at 6:00 pm. Sometimes a short walk down memory lane is all it takes to
appreciate where you are today. This informal program is designed to give you and your families just that feeling
in a very relaxed atmosphere. After a delicious dinner, you will enjoy a light entertainment program which will be
performed by fellow NEDians who profess to be comedians, poets, or bathroom singers.
Saturday Day Program:
Saturday morning starts with a continental breakfast at 7:30 AM. The day program is a series of conferences and focus
group sessions. The conference deliberations will be on the following themes:
• Fostering Innovation Culture and Entrepreneurial Spirit
• Nurturing our Alma Mater
This conference will examine research and development both locally and internationally through interactive discussions
with our distinguished panelists who are making a significant difference in the field of technology, education, business,
and in the social welfare sector. The conference will then zero in on synergizing our local resources and expertise in
nurturing our alma mater. These forums will be capped off by a keynote speech by a distinguished speaker.
The day program will also feature achievements and the visions of our alumni organizations all across North America
and how these organizations are making a difference in the community here and back home. After lunch, we have
organized a focus group meeting that will allow the audiences to meet one-on-one with our distinguished panelists.
While NEDians are busy attending professional forums, their families can visit the Galleria Mall – the most popular
retail and tourist destination in Houston. It is only a few minutes’ drive from the convention center. We have arranged
a bus for pickup and drop-off for our guest’s convenience.
Saturday Evening Program:
The main feature of this program will be the ‘Grand Dinner’ which will be inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor of
NED University. The keynote speaker of the dinner program is NED Alumnus Mr. Ashraf Habibullah, a charismatic
speaker and the Founder and CEO of Computers & Structures, Inc. There will be an award ceremony where our
alumni dedicated to our cause will be acknowledged. The program will also feature a comedy show as well as musical
entertainment by Ali Haider, a renowned singer who is also a NED Alumnus!
In between the events, plenty of food and drinks will be served. You and your families can also shop around at
the vendor booths placed in the hallway of the hotel. Lastly, there will be free giveaways for all the attendees. We are
very honored to host this event and heartily welcome you and your family. We hope you enjoy your time at the 12th
Annual NED Alumni Convention in Houston, Texas!
12th Annual NED Alumni International Convention 2016 #NEDConvention 2016
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01
PROGRAM
PG 6 Full Agenda
PG 8 Keynote Speakers
PG 9 Panelist Profiles
PG 14 Convention Steering Committee Members
PG 17 Thanks to Our Sponsors
PG 74 Our Hosting Committee
02
MESSAGES
PG 21 A Message from the Senator of Texas
PG 22 A Message from the U.S. Representative of Houston
PG 23 A Message from the Mayor of Houston
PG 24 A Message from the Chief Minister of Sindh
PG 25 A Message from the Vice Chancellor of NEDUET
PG 26 A Message from the Chairman of NEDIAN-NA
PG 27 A Message from the Chairman of NEDEAN-Dallas
PG 28 A Message from the Steering Committee Chairman
PG 29 A Message from a Local Engineer and Attorney
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03
NED IN AMERICA
PG 30 A Look at NED Alumni Associations
PG 31 NEDIAN-NA
PG 32 NEDAANE
PG 33 NEDA-DC
PG 34 NEDATS
PG 35 NEDEAN
PG 36 NEDA-TEXAS
PG 37 NEDAASV
PG 38 NEDAASC
PG 39 NEDAC
PG 39 NEDAAAB
04
LITERATURE
PG 40 Welcome to Texas!
PG 42 Nurturing our Alma Mater
PG 44 NED’s Past and Future: A Message from the Vice Chancellor
PG 48 Why an Alumni Association is Necessary
PG 52 NED’s 3D Printer Used to Make a Pediatric Prosthetic Arm
PG 54 Lead the Way!
PG 58 A Tribute to Abdul Sattar Edhi
PG 60 Scholars Recognized at NASA’s Global Innovation Challenge
PG 61 FOG NETS: Opportunity for Research and Entrepreneurship
PG 64 The Role of Academia in Networks
PG 68 Bhooli Bisri Yaadon Ki Barat at NED 1964-68
PG 72 Sawayra: Engineering Solutions for a Better World!
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Full Agenda
Friday, September 2nd: Evening Meet and Greet
6:00—7:00PM REGISTRATION

7:00—7:05PM OPENING STATEMENT

7:05—8:00PM INTRODUCTION OF ATTENDEES AND NETWORKING
8:00—8:30PM DINNER
8:30—10:30PM ENTERTAINMENT BY NEDIAN ARTISTS: Stand-up comedy, Urdu shairee, Bazme-e-
Ghazal, Desi pop music

10:30—10:35PM VOTE OF THANKS
Saturday, September 3rd: Day Program
7:30—8:45AM REGISTRATION/MEET AND GREET (COFFEE AND REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED)

8:45—9:00AM INAUGURATION OF THE DAY PROGRAM: Javaid Iqbal, Program Manager, MCM
Global
9:00—10:00AM FIRST SESSION: FOSTERING INNOVATIVE CULTURE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
•MODERATOR: Omar Farooq
•PANELISTS:
Ø Rashad Ali, Founder & CEO, MYX Corp
Ø Tabbassum Mumtaz, CEO, Ampex Brands
Ø Harry Leach, Director of Business Development, Capital Certified
Development Corp (CDC)
Ø Marlon Mitchell, President & CEO, Houston Business Development, Inc.
Ø Nasrullah Khan, Executive Vice President & Chief Lending Officer/
Director, Wallis State Bank
Ø Kaniz Mahdi, Vice President/Head of Architecture, Ericsson
10:00—10:15AM COFFEE BREAK
10:15—11:15AM SECOND SESSION: NURTURING OUR ALMA MATER
•MODERATOR: Mukhtar Zaidi
•PANELISTS:
Ø Asif Ansari, Executive Adviser to the Board & Mgmt., Morgan Solar
Ø Dr. Khurshid Qureshi, President & Chairman, DICE Foundation
Ø Sabahat Rafiq, President & Executive Director, United We REACH
Ø Dr. Osama Khan, Research Scholar, University of California, Berkley
Ø Omar Hasan, Founding Member of Sawarya, PhD M.E., MIT
11:15—11:30PM KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Yahia Rahman, Chairman & CEO, LARIBA-Bank of Whittier
#NEDConvention 2016 12th Annual NED Alumni International Convention 2016
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Saturday, September 3rd: Day Program (Cont.)
11:30—12:30PM NED INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI NETWORK OF NORTH AMERICAN (NEDIAN-NA)
•MODERATOR: Dr. Asma Ali, Secretary of NEDIAN-NA
Ø Introduction of NEDIAN-NA by Amir Ulislam
Ø Presentation by Association Representatives
Ø Presentation on NED ALEF
Ø Award Ceremony
Ø NYC Infrastructure Renewal Challenges by Ali Akbar Mallick
12:30—1:30PM LUNCH
1:30—2:00PM NETWORKING AND ZUHR PRAYER
2:00—3:00PM MENTORING FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS: Energy, Entrepreneurship, Education, and
Technology
Saturday, September 3rd: Evening Program
5:45—6:30PM REGISTRATION/NETWORKING RECEPTION
6:30—6:45PM INAUGURATION OF THE EVENING PROGRAM:
•Recitation and Translation of Quran
•National Anthems
•Inauguration by Dr. Muhammad Afzal Haque, Vice Chancellor, NEDUET
6:45—7:00PM WELCOME ADDRESS AND INTRODUCTION OF THE CONVENTION STEERING
COMMITTEE: Javaid Iqbal, Chairman of NED Alumni of Texas, Dallas
7:00—7:05PM NURTURING OUR ALMA MATER: Murtaza Hussain

7:05—7:10PM CONVENTION STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ADDRESS: Afzaal Hafeez
7:10—7:15PM NEDIAN-NA CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS: Amir Ulislam
7:15—7:25PM DIGNITARY ADDRESS: Honorable Congressman Al Green (D TX-9)
•Introduction by Zafar “Zaf” Tahir, J.D., P.E.
7:25—7:35PM DIGNITARY ADDRESS: Dr. Maliha Lodhi, Representative of Pakistan to the United
Nations (Subject to Change)
7:35—7:50PM AWARDS CEREMONY
7:50—8:40PM MAGHRIB PRAYER AND DINNER
8:40—9:00PM INTRODUCTION TO NEDIAN-NA AND ALEF
9:00—9:50PM KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Ashraf Habibullah
9:50—1:30AM ENTERTAINMENT: Ali Haider and Stand-up Comedy/VOTE OF THANKS
12th Annual NED Alumni International Convention 2016 #NEDConvention 2016
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Keynote Speakers
Ashraf Habibullah
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashraf_Habibullah),
Structural Engineer, is President and CEO of Computers and Structures, Inc.
Ashraf graduated from the NED College, Karachi, Pakistan in 1969 with a
bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and from the University of California at
Berkeley in 1970 with a master’s degree in structural engineering. He founded
Computers & Structures, Inc. (CSI) in 1975.
Today, CSI is recognized globally as the pioneering leader in the development
of software tools for structural and earthquake engineering. The software is
used by thousands of engineering firms in over 160 countries for the design of
landmark projects such as the Freedom Tower in New York City, the Burj Khalifa
Ashraf Habibullah, Tower in Dubai and the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing.
President and CEO
CSI products are also recognized as the standard tools for research and
of Computers and
education worldwide and CSI has donated software to thousands of universities
Structures, Inc.
for teaching purposes. Through these donations, CSI has helped to ensure that
the technology necessary to produce seismically-sound structures reaches
everyone.
Ashraf also has a keen passion for the arts. He is a co-founder of the Diablo
Ballet and the founder of the Engineering Alliance for the Arts, an organization
that involves school children with technology, focusing on the artistic aspects
of bridge engineering.
Dr. Yahia Rahman
was born in Cairo, Egypt and immigrated to the
US in 1968. He studied Chemical Engineering (M.S. & Ph.D., U. Of Wisconsin,
Madison, 1971) and International Finance (MA, U. Of Texas, Dallas, 1976) with
an emphasis on International Monetary Theory.
Dr. Yahia is known as the Father of Islamic Banking in North America. He started
LARIBA in 1987. Now, and since 1998, the LARIBA shareholders also own the
first full service RF (Riba-Free) National Bank in America’s history: LARIBA Bank
of Whittier, NA. The LARIBA effort - capital and assets – are from the American
community. He invested 18 years (1986 – 2003) in the investment banking
industry with CitiGroup / Smith Barney where he started (1988) and managed
Dr. Yahia Rahman the first ever Shari’aa compliant stock portfolio ($250 million) that achieved
Chairman/CEO and superior performance.
Shari’aa Supervisor,
Dr. Yahia is also a distinguished Imam and Community leader in North America.
LARIBA-Bank of
He was an invited Jum’aa Imam in most US states, Canada, India, Singapore,
Whittier
South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Trinidad-Tobago and the UK. Please
visit his site: www.Islam-In-America.com.
He is also a prolific speaker, lecturer, and Amazon.com bestselling author of
two books. Please visit: www.LARIBA.com and www.WhittierBank.com.
#NEDConvention 2016 12th Annual NED Alumni International Convention 2016
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Panelist Profiles
First Session: Fostering Innovative Culture and Entrepreneurial Spirit
As Commercial Sales Agent, Mr. Omar Farooq has been employed by Verde
Energy USA, Texas LLC in sales/marketing of power to business & industry.
In addition, he has worked for GRW Engineers, Inc, Jacksonville Public Works
Department, and Ohio Department of Development. His professional expertise
includes legislative/regulatory monitoring of deregulation of electricity markets
in the US and construction engineering inspections. His professional academics
include a MBA degree from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree in civil
engineering from NED University of Engineering & Technology in 1984. Mr.
Farooq lives in Cypress, Texas with his wife and son of 15 years age. When not
playing leisure golf, he keeps a tab on American College Football and Cricket.
Omar Farooq, His pass time also includes reading literary works of Urdu ghazal poets.
Panel Moderator
Rashad is serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of startups with successful
venture exits in Wireless Internet. Rashad is Founder & CEO of MYX inc. and
is bringing a new class of Mobile Commerce App to the market by merging
messaging, AI and e-commerce into a personalized shopping experience where
buyers discover, chat and engage directly with brands. Rashad is the founding
investor and board member from iTime Fund LLC in Phazr Inc. which is developing
cutting edge 5G Wireless Internet. He also founded Mavenir Systems, in 2005 Inc.
to address IP multimedia services opportunity for mobile operators. Previously,
he co-founded the IPmobile Inc., which was acquired by Cisco Systems. Rashad
also founded Entrata Systems, and holds several patents in Wireless and
Rashad Ali Internet technologies. Rashad has also worked in Nortel Networks, Ericsson, and
Cisco Systems. He did his B.S in Electrical Engineering from NED University of
Engineering & Technology and M.S in Electrical Engineering from the University
of Kansas.
Tabbassum Mumtaz is the proud President and CEO of APEX Restaurant
Management, which is a grand Franchisee of Long John Silver’s, A&W, Kentucky
Fried Chicken and Taco Bell Restaurants. With over 18 years of experience in
the QSR industry and a former Wendy’s Franchisee, Tabbassum believes that
operating with a “Family Atmosphere” is what makes APEX Brands such a
successful organization. Their success includes several awards such as: the
Franchise Star Award, Franchise of the Year, and three Presidential Awards. For
the last three years, APEX Restaurant Management has also been featured in
the “Restaurant Monitor” which names the Top 100 most successful Franchise
organizations in the entire United States. Tabbassum currently serves on the Long
Tabbassum Mumtaz John Silver’s Franchise Advisory Board, and recently, Tabbassum was named on
the International Franchise Association Board of Directors. Tabbassum has also
served on a variety of corporate, civic and non-profit boards. Mr. Tabbassum
graduated from NED University of Engineering and Technology in 1993 in
Electronic Engineering.
12th Annual NED Alumni International Convention 2016 #NEDConvention 2016
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Panelist Profiles
First Session: Fostering Innovative Culture and Entrepreneurial Spirit
Mr. Harry S. Leach, Jr. is currently the Director of Business Development in
the Houston area for Capital Certified Development Corp. He joined Capital
in January 2000 and is responsible for Capital’s SBA 504 lending program
primarily in Southeast and South Texas. In this capacity he works with borrowers,
lenders and the local offices of the Small Business Administration to finance
owner occupied real estate and equipment. Prior to joining Capital CDC, he
was a community banker in the Houston area for 27 years during which time he
worked in commercial lending, information services and credit administration.
He earned a BBA and MBA from the University of Houston with majors in finance
and operations management. Mr. Leach is also active in the local community
serving on the Houston SCORE Advisory Board and as a member of the Houston
Harry Leach Area Government Guaranteed Lenders Association. Mr. Leach lives with his wife
outside Waller, Texas where they raise cattle, horses and grandkids.
Marlon Mitchell is the President and CEO at Houston Business Development, Inc.,
a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, Houston Business Development, Inc. (HBD) that
serves as a catalyst in stimulating economic growth and revitalizing communities
throughout the city of Houston, empowering small businesses to grow and
create jobs, which in turn help building strong neighborhoods and communities.
HBD assist micro-enterprise and small business owners by providing flexible
and affordable loans to expand their businesses and work closely with banks
and commercial lenders to provide bridge financing. Prospective borrowers, as
well as aspiring entrepreneurs, can also take advantage of an array of support
services and management assistance at HBD Business Technology Center.
Marlon D. Mitchell
With over thirty years of banking experience and seventeen years in the Small
Business Administration Lending, Nasrullah Khan is an expert in his field. He is
a leader in marketing, compliance, public relations, management and customer
service. Khan has been the forerunner in facilitating business development in
States all over the South, East Coast, and Midwest. He is the founder and ex-
president of the Houston Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, and
served as a Loan Committee member for the Certified Development Corporations
(CDC) in both Houston and Washington D.C. He earned the “Emerging Lender of
the Year Award.” Mr. Khan served as the Chairperson of Houston - SBA Advisory
Council and currently serves as the Advisory Board Member of Mass Mutual
Insurance Co. Nasrullah Khan is presently working with Wallis State Bank (WSB)
Nasrullah Khan as the Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer/Director. Under his
leadership WSB is now ranked as the #1 SBA lender in Houston District Office.
#NEDConvention 2016 12th Annual NED Alumni International Convention 2016
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