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Sunday, 29 January, 2012
ForeIgn newS
ArTS & enTerTAInMenT
SPorTS
Resurgent Romney regains momentum in florida
Unrepentant Maya Khan fired!
australia end india’s humiliation with whitewash
News 03 CoMMenT Simply inexcusable: An attack on an army installation. Yet again.
extending exile: Musharraf has much to answer for.
Humayun gauhar says: The ten pillars of justice: Due process must get due respect.
M j akbar says: India’s tortured XI: Ignominy Down Under.
taimoor ashraf says: On the Lotus principle: Respecting international laws.
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Articles on Page 12-13
Senators take on Asim over fuel hike announcement ISLAMABAD
P
Staff RepORt
EtROLEUM Minister Dr asim Hussain came under fire in the senate on saturday as the Upper House took strong exception to the minister’s announcement about increase in the prices of petroleum products four days before the Oil and Gas Regulatory authority (OGRa)’s determination of the rates for the next month. While it is OGRa’s mandate to determine the prices of petroleum products at the end of every month, the minister announced the increase in fuel prices before time ostensibly to favour the oil marketing companies which would surely reduce the supply to earn billions of rupees when the prices jump. though the oil marketing companies monitor the fluctuation of price in the international market and control the supply accordingly, the minister’s announcement that the prices would increase by Rs 5 per litre
risk to global financial stability increases: IMF ISLAMABAD: With intensifying strains in the Eurozone weighing on the global outlook, the international Monetary Fund (iMF) sharply cut its forecast for world growth this year, saying that prospects have dimmed and risks to financial stability have increased. in an update to its World Economic Outlook (WEO), the iMF said that the Eurozone would fall into a mild recession this year after the crisis entered a “perilous new phase” toward the end of last year, affecting other parts of the world, including the Us, emerging markets and developing countries. Online
will certainly benefit them and further burden the consumers particularly in the areas where compressed natural gas (CnG) is not available. apart from the scathing criticism from senators from both the treasury and opposition benches, Law Minister Maula Bakhsh Chandio termed Hussain’s announcement “illegal”. talking to reporters outside the Parliament House, Chandio said the petroleum minister’s statement about the proposed increase in petroleum products’ prices would benefit hoarders. He said it was not the government that was empowered to increase the prices of petroleum products, it was OGRa’s authority to take decisions in this regard. the law minister said Hussain should not have made the announcement before time. “i cannot endorse the statement of the petroleum minister about increase in the POL prices,” he said. Chandio said the joint sitting of parliament could be called in the first week of February, adding that the accountability bill would be brought in
consultation with all political parties. Earlier, speaking on a point of order, senator ishaq Dar of the PML-n said the petroleum minister’s statement about hike in POL prices five days before the scheduled announcement would help hoarders of petroleum products. Dar said it was OGRa’s job to announce the POL prices every month. the PML-n parliamentarian said the petroleum minister should be asked to explain his statement. Meanwhile, the senate deferred the Private Power and infrastructure Board Bill, 2011 until January 31 for further deliberation. the bill was moved by Minister for Water and Power naveed Qamar for establishment of the Private Power and infrastructure Board. senator ahmed said the bill had not been drafted by keeping the 18th amendment in mind. He was of the view that objectives of the 18th amendment were not taken into consideration before moving the bill.
TIP finds violation of PPRA rules in PSM’s award of consulting contract ISLAMABAD Staff RepORt
the transparency international Pakistan (tiP) has objected to the government’s decision of awarding a $350 million consulting contract to M/s VO tyazhpromexport in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory authority (PPRa) Rules 2004. in his letter to the chairman of the Pakistan steel Mills (PsM), a copy of which is available with Pakistan today, tiP adviser adil Gilani said the PsM had requested the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) a waiver from the PPRa rules to award its technical audit contract worth $0.15 million (Rs 135 million) without withholding tax to the Russian state-owned firm VO tyazhpromexport. “tyazhpromexport is the original designer and manufacturer of Pakistan steel, which expressed interest in the technical audit of the politi-
cally controlled and financially undisciplined entity. the matter of expansion of Pakistan steel’s production capacity came up for discussion during the visit of the Pakistani president to Russia on May 11-13, 2011,” the letter stated. the tiP informed the PsM chairman that such an effort was also tried in 2010, but the tiP raised an objection in its letter on May 31, 2010, and the PsM managing director in his letter dated June 10, 2010 had clarified that no such agreement was in process with one single party, and that if and when such a scheme was finalised, it would be processed further, the letter added. the tiP adviser said that during the second meeting of the expansion committee in islamabad on May 20, 2010, the PsM was directed to work out its comprehensive requirements, including the financing aspect to carry out the expansion plan. “the committee also advised Pakistan steel to contact renowned steel plant
manufacturers. Once approval is accorded by the government to the firmed-up proposal, only then further process will be followed,” Gilani said. the tiP sought clarification from the PsM chairman on how the Russian company could be awarded a consulting contract for making the estimates for PsM’s expansion, as the steel producer was itself being considered for the award of a Us$350 million contract. “is it not a conflict of interest, and collusive practice under the Public Procurement Rules 2004, Rule 2(f), which prohibits collusive practices among bidders (prior to or after bid submission) designed to establish bid prices at artificial, non-competitive levels and to deprive the procuring agencies of the benefits of free and open competition,” Gilani argued. Who has given the PsM the authority to request an exemption from PPRa Rules 2004 in the presence of the PPRa Ordinance 2002, he asked.
PIA to convince Saudis on easing passenger flow at Haj terminals ISLAMABAD taHiR niaz
the Pia management will visit saudi arabia in February to meet saudi authorities and convince them to take a number of measures, which, it believes, would ease passenger flow at Haj terminals in the next Haj season. according to sources in the Ministry of Religious affairs, in the last week of august 2011, a joint delegation of the ministry and Pia had visited saudi arabia and held a meeting with the director of saudi General intelligence Directorate (GiD), the main saudi foreign intelligence serv-
ice, at king abdulaziz international airport in Jeddah. the delegation was briefed that the major source of congestion and inconvenience to passengers was the limited number of security checkpoints, which was 14 compared to around 100 immigration counters. this disparity disturbed the passenger flow, as immigration took about a minute to clear approximately 10 passengers, while the limited number of counters meant that GiD took about 10 minutes to clear a single passenger. this situation ultimately disturbed the entire passenger flow and overcrowded
the Haj terminals. arrangements of security counters with a new security setup were proposed and the GiD director asked the delegation to submit it in writing. accordingly, a proposal had been sent through the Religious affairs Ministry. However, it could not be materialised last year owing to saudi arabia’s hesitation in allocating additional funds and resources. after long deliberation, Pia was successful in getting a dedicated bay out the 14 available bays. the sources said with regard to the acquisition of separate terminal for Pia
flights, Pia had requested saudi authorities to allocate the West terminal, which is opposite to the existing Haj terminal but the request was not acceded to because the infrastructure of the West terminal was not sufficient to cater to pilgrims, as there were no restaurants, the seating capacity was insufficient and there were no checkin arrangements. the saudi authorities did not agree because they did not want to discriminate between Pia and pilgrims boarding other airlines. However, the Pia management would again be meeting the saudi authorities in February in this regard.
Firdous urges US media to portray balanced image of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD app
Federal information Minister Dr Firdous aashiq awan on saturday urged the Us media to help present an accurate and balanced image of Pakistan by highlighting its difficulties and concerns. she was talking to a delegation of american journalists. Firdous said that the Us media enjoyed unprecedented outreach and influence across the world and it should portray a positive image of the country. the minister desired persistent media exchange programmes between the two countries, adding that such exchanges helped to provide an opportunity to learn from each others expertise. she said that Pakistan was a democratic, progressive country and there was no bar on freedom of expression. Firdous said that Pakistan highly valued it relations with the Us but the relationship would be redefined on new terms of engagement after getting endorsement of parliament. the delegation appreciated the PPP government’s role in granting media freedom.