The new arrivals for BS, BSS and M.Sc first semester were given a welcome lunch at the Bahria University, Stadium Road Campus on the 7th of November 2007. The lunch was honored by the presence of the Rector Bahria University; Dr. Islam; Director BIMCS; and guests. The occasion became very interactive and auspicious as the Rector talked with the students and faculty during the lunch. The students got a chance to introduce themselves, asked questions and shared their concerns.

The welcome party for the Post Magistral Diploma and the PhD students was held at the CO hut PNS Himalaya on the 24rth of November 2007. The event included a boating trip and arrangements were made for sea shore swimming.
The professors and visiting faculty were also present and joined in with the picnic spirit of singing and having fun playing games on the beach.

Professor Dr. Khalida Shafi presented her views on the Mental Health Ordinance 2001 at the 17th National Psychiatric Conference held at Indus Hotel; Hyderabad. It was organized by the Pakistan Psychiatric Society and scheduled on the 8th and 9th of December 2007. Dr. Shafi stated that the ordinance neglected the role of Psychologists in the treatment and evaluation of mental health in Pakistan which is an evident fact. She suggested valuable alterations and comments which were duly accepted and welcomed by the committee members who gave this reassurance that these views will be included in the revision of the Ordinance and welcomed her critical analysis on it. The Conference was attended by the Director Dr. Zainab F. Zadeh, faculty members and PhD students.

On the 15th of December, the BIMCS auditorium voiced so many emotions; dialogues from the adaptations of classic plays; songs that signified events and the creativity of the Institute’s maiden class of B.S and B.S.S. This was an evaluative process for these young artists – students as they fulfilled the requirement of communication skills; expressing appropriate tone and body language as is needed for the Essentials of English course taught by Kiran Bashir Ahmad.
The plays included “The Intimidation Game” by The Enders focusing on the war between the good and evil; the angel and the devil on intimidating a student to study or not to study; where the devil wins n the end. The “Desi Pygmalion” by the Innovators was an adaptation of Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion” according to the cultural and language differences in Pakistan, although English Language was used it included the common mistakes that are made in pronunciations and context; then came “Bang Bang !! You are dead” by The Obrians it was a psychological thriller which showed the internal conflicts of an anti-social young man; based on the shootings at American schools. Finally; the play “Peace and Quiet” by The Dominators focused on the shenanigans of a quack Dr Gales who fooled people by selling them peace and quiet.

The Association for Play Therapy held its International conference and workshop at Hollywood; California. Sabiha Alwy; a Lecturer at the Institute of Professional Psychology attended this 6 days conference from the 9th to 14th October 2007.
She exclaimed that it was a very informative and auspicious event as 900 people from all over the world attended it. She got the opportunity to meet some of the pioneering researchers and Play therapists; learnt new and challenging play techniques being implemented all over the globe by trained professionals. Sabiha being a member of the Association for Play Therapy also received 20 educational / continuing hours as credits along with the opportunity to introduce the Institute of professional Psychology; Bahria University to the International forum focusing on the existing trends followed in Pakistan.

Kiran Bashir Ahmad, a lecturer at the Institute of Professional Psychology, recently had her short story “Plans in Pink” published in a collection of short stories titled Neither Night Nor Day. The book, published in New Delhi by HarperCollins India and edited by Rakhshanda Jalil contains ’13 Stories by Women Writers from Pakistan’ and is expected to attract an international audience; especially those engaged in Women’s Studies and those interested in South Asian English literature. Prominent Pakistani writers whose stories have been included in the book include Zaheda Hina, Maniza Naqvi, Khaleda Hussain, Bina Shah, Qaisra Shahraz and Muneeza Shamsie.’