MAGTIMES: 2011

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Thursday 24 November 2011

PUCIT develops better image processing software than adobe photoshop

PUCIT develops better image processing software than adobe photoshop

LAHORE: Punjab University College of Information Technology (PUCIT) faculty members and Image Processing Researchers, have developed cutting-edge software, which can be used to remove different types of bars and fences from images/pictures.

The team of researchers including Lecturers Muhammad Shahid Farid and Muhammad Hassan Khan are working under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr Arif Mahmood. This image de-fencing software has outperformed existing fence removal software by significant margins and is no doubt, currently, the best-known software in the world. Even the existing state of the art image editing softwares, such as Adobe Photoshop, do not have this feature.

The team has also worked on a novel image in-painting algorithm that can be used for the removal of unwanted objects, such as scratches, from digital images. This software is being used as a component in the fence removal software. Shahid Farid and Dr. Arif Mahmood have also worked on the Frequency Domain Image Morphing software. This software can be used to mix two images and generate a set of images containing contents from both of the original images. It is worth mentioning here that most of the work done by these researchers has been published in peer reviewed international conferences and journals.

Korean film festival concludes and talk of Korean Ambassador

Korean film festival concludes and talk of Korean Ambassador
LAHORE: South Korean Ambassador in Pakistan Choongjoo Choi has said that Korea would help pakistan to overcome the energy crises in the country. Korea would enhace its bilateral trade with Pakistan upto $ 2.5 next year.

He was talking to MagTimes at concluding ceremony of two day Korean Film Festival at Alhamra here on Friday. He said that Korean companies are all set to make investment in Pakistan’s power sector and number of Korean companies has shown their keen interest in investing in hydro power projects to over come with the energy shortage. He said that

He said that Korea’s bilateral trade with Pakistan is about $1.1 billion and Korea want this to increase upto $ 2.5 in next year. He added that Pakistan is rich with the minerals while Korea has the latest technology therefore mutual cooperation is very necessary between the two countries. He further said that there is a need for expertise sharing as both countries have a lot to learn from each other. He added that Korea is a strong ally of Pakistan and in future continue its cooperation.

Earlier while addressing the audience of film festival he said that a movie is full cultural enthusiasm and culture plays role of bridge between two countries to reduce the geographical distances. He added that just like Pakistani dramas are favorite and being watched in other countries like Afghanistan, Korean movies are being watched and liked in different countries of the world.

He added that the festival was aimed to introduce socio-cultural aspects of Korea to Pakistani people through back-to-back feature films. He said that in the past years, Korean Embassy has presented variety of Korean films in an effort to introduce some aspects of Korean culture to the people of Pakistan. The movies also provided an opportunity to the residents of Pakistan to enhance their understanding of the Korean culture and its film industry, he said.

He added that Korean language is also being taught in various educational institutions in Pakistan. He added that he feels proud to say that South Asian’s cultural hub Lahore is his homeland. www.magtimes.com

Korean Film Festival brings closer Korean and Pakistan Culture

Korean Film Festival brings closer Korean and Pakistan Culture
LAHORE: Two-day Korean Film Festival held at Alhamra here on Thursday.

The event was organized by Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Lahore Arts Council (Alhamra). Large numbers of citizens were present at the occasion.

On first day of the festival Korean film tilted “My Girlfriend is An Agent” was screened. The story of the movie rounds about to save Korea from Russian spy. Kim Ha Neul and Kang Ji Hwan who tried to save Korean land from Russian spy played leading role in the movie. Secret agent Ahn Su-Ji (Kim Ha-Neul) works undercover as a bride-to-be real estate agent. Her real life boyfriend Jae-Joon (Kang Ji-Hwan) is completely distraught over Su-Ji’s frequent absences and even harder to believe excuses. Jae-Joon then decides to leave her and for that matter the country of Korea itself. He calls Su-Ji one last time at the airport Incheon International Airport, but unfortunately Su-Ji is unable to answer his call because she is working undercover to bust an international crime organization.

Three years later, with Jae-jun long gone, but not forgotten Su-ji works on a Russian mafia case involving biological weapons. During her undercover work, Su-Ji poses as a janitor and runs into Jae-Joon while cleaning the men’s restroom. Su-Ji completely loses her composure and attacks Jae-jun for leaving her and apparently lying about his whereabouts. Meanwhile, Jae-Joon has his own secrets. Jae-Joon is also a secret agent, but works in a different department from Su-ji. When Jae-Joon left Korea three years ago, he was actually assigned to track the very same Russian organization that Su-Ji is currently working to bust.

Now that the former lovers have met again they resume their romantic relationship, while trying to keep their real identity unknown to the other person. They also have to stop the Russian mob from gaining a weapon of mass destruction ...

Second Day

Meanwhile on second day of the Korean Film festival, film titled “The Barefoot Dream” was screened which is based on the real life story of a former Korean soccer player Kim Sin-Hwan who coached the East Timorese children’s team to an unlikely international championship. Knowing that the impoverished local children on his team will not be able to pay for boots up front, he craftily devises a plan to let them pay off their debt one dollar per day, much to chagrin of the local ruffian who also happens to be the older brother of Kim’s star forward Ramos.

But despite Kim’s initially selfish intentions, he slowly comes to care for the children, and eventually decides to sign them up for the Youth Soccer Tournament in Hiroshima, Japan in the hopes of improving their otherwise miserable lives and his team of youngsters won the match against Japan.

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Thursday 24 November 2011

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Weekly inflation decreases by 1.12 percent

Thursday 17 November 2011

Sunday 13 November 2011

Thursday 3 November 2011

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Thursday 27 October 2011

Monday 24 October 2011