Ep13june2013

Rs3.591 trn deficit Federal Budget Budget focusses on economic growth No increase in salary of govt employees Pensions increased by 10 pc GST raised from 16 to 17 pc Fiscal deficit 8.8 pc GDP growth rate projected at 4.4 pc Inflation 9.5 pc Defence allocation Rs 627b Rs 75b for income support programme Rs 185b power subsidy STAFF REPORTER

NEPRA ups power tariff by 74 paisa ISLAMABAD—The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has notified an increase in electricity tariff by 74 paisa per unit for all distribution companies of Wapda.

A notification was issued Wednesday which will be applicable across the country except Karachi.

Through a series of orders, the regulator notified tariff adjustments under the monthly fuel mechanism for the month of April.

However‚ the consumers will pay the amount in the bill for the month of November.— INP

Qarz-e-Hasna, new laptop scheme planned ISLAMABAD—The Finance Minister Ishaq Dar Wednesday said it has been decided to launch a new scheme to provide laptops to the students pursuing degree program from one of the HEC recognized universities or institution.

Ishaq Dar said the scheme for reimbursement of tuition fee at Masters and doctorate levels which is available for the students of Balochistan‚ FATA and Gilgit Baltistan is being expanded to Interior Sindh‚ Multan‚ Bahawalpur and D. G Khan division which are equally less developed.

He said it has been decided to allocate five billion rupees to launch a scheme of “Qarz-eHasna” so that young people could establish their own businesses. Fifty percent of the beneficiaries of this scheme will be women.

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IG Motorways removed over congratulatory ad ISLAMABAD—The government on Wednesday removed Inspector General Motorways for issuing congratulatory advertisement on state expenses. The Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has already barred ministries and autonomous bodies from issuing such advertisements.

Few days back, the government had issued showcase notices to President National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and IG Motorway Zafar Abbas over congratulatory advertisements on Nawaz Sharif’s election as PM. However, on Wednesday, the IG was formally removed from his office and ordered him to report the Establishment Division.

The PM has warned of strict action against those violating these directions, saying that the head of the department concerned would have to pay the amount spent on such advertisements. —INP

ISLAMABAD—The Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday unveiled Rs 3.591 trillion Federal Budget 2013-14 focusing on economic growth, resolving energy crisis, reducing fiscal deficit and tackling public debt for putting economy back on track.

he said, had not looked after the national interests. The Minister better accountability by reject- past five years. He said that GDP economy in accordance with the said that the nation has made ing those who did not deliver in growth remained below 3 percent and if compared with the population growth of about two percent, the real growth would stand at just one percent.

He said that inflation has remained at 13 percent which is highest during the past 4 decades while the foreign exchange reserves have fallen from $11.1 billion to $6.3 billion. He said that the newlyelected government would fulfill all its promises it had made during the election campaign, saying that the budget for fiscal year 2013-14 was the manifestation of the same pledges.

He introduced Economic Vision that would lead the country towards sustainable economic growth.

Finance Minister during his speech did not announced any increase in salary of government employees

Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar while delivering budget speech at the National Assembly here also announced improvement in tax collections and reduction in non-development expenditures.

“We are starting our journey from very precarious situation, however the bad condition of economy has boosted our courage to lead it towards its desired heights of sustainability,” he ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif signing the budget documents ISLAMABAD—The trade deficit said. narrowed down to $12.5 billion The previous government, for the year 2013-14. in July-April 2012-13 as against about $ 12.9 billion over the corresponding period of last year.

According to the Annual Out of the total amount Rs However, during the fiscal ISLAMABAD—The government Plan 2012-13, decline in trade has allocated Rs 45.8 billion for 45.841 million, the government year of 2012-2013 the governdeficit by 2.5 percent is due to development of less developed has allocated an amount of Rs ment had allocated an amount of higher growth in exports as areas particularly in the field of 44,057 million for special areas Rs 34,211 million which include compared to imports. and Rs 1784 million for narcotRs 16,000 million for Federally ISLAMABAD —The governinfrastructure development and The document further rehuman development for the year ics control division and interior Administrated Tribal Areas, Rs ment has earmarked Rs veals that export(gross) during division.

7137 million for Gilgit-Baltistan 295,518 million for 41 federal July- April of 2012-13 stood at 2013-14.

A total amount of Rs 18,500 while Rs 9547 million for Azad ministries / divisions in the $20.5 billion against $20.5 bilAccording to the Annual Plan 2013-2014,the federal gov- million has been allocated for Jammu and Kashmir and Rs 507 PSDP for the year 2013-14. ernment in fiscal year 2013-14 Federally Administrated Tribal million for other projects in the  According to highlights of the Public Sector Developwould provide fundamental ne- Areas and Rs 8200 million for special areas.

In the last fiscal year the ment Programme (PSDP), cessities of the life to the inhab- Gilgit-Baltistan while Rs 10,500 itants and make these regions million for Azad Jammu and government had allocated an the Defence Division has economically active to bring Kashmir and Rs 6857 million amount of Rs 831 million for in- been allocated Rs 3,545.5 sustainability and self-depen- for other projects in the special terior division and Rs 189 mil- million as compared to Rs areas. lion for narcotics division.—APP 1,238.1 million last year. dency.  Likewise, the Water and Power Division (Water Sec- ISLAMABAD—Federal Finance tor) has been allocated Rs Minister Ishaque Dar Wednesday 57,840.2 million, the Cabinet said energy crisis has badly afDivision Rs 2,179.8 million, fected life of common man and the Capital Administration & economy.

ISLAMABAD—The following are the salient features of the Development Division federal budget presented on Wednesday.

Presenting the budget before (CADD) Rs 1,505.7 million house‚ Finance Minister Ishaq  Minimum pension raised from Rs 3000 to Rs 5000  PM house expenditure to be decreased by up to 44 ISLAMABAD—The balance of and the Commerce Division Dar said that the government has percent: Dar decided to launch new hydel‚ payments will remain under pres- Rs 841 million.  VIPs will not be allowed to import vehicles without sure due to external debt repay-  Rs 109.3 million has been nuclear and coal power projects paying duty and taxes ments including payments to earmarked for the Commu- besides shifting the hydel  All organizations and autonomous bodies have asked IMF and weak financial inflows. nication Division (other than projects on coal. to freeze secret funds He said measures will also Allowing for other capital NHA) and Rs 2,300 million  Micro-finance scheme to be launched for youths and inflows, the Annual Plan 2012- for the Defence Production be taken to reduce line losses and mark-up loans will be provided to them improve transmission system 13 reveals that the overall bal- Division.  Youths below the age of 25 and holding a masters degree ance is likely to be in deficit by  The Economic Affairs which will help overcome energy will receive a stipend of 10,000 per month during a one $0.5 billion in 2013-14 com- Division has been allocated crisis. year training program. PM Youth Skill development pared to an estimated deficit of Rs 104.5 million while the program will be launched $1.8 billion in 2012-13. Gross Education and Training Di Hybrid cars up to 1200cc will not have any duty, sales reserves of SBP are likely to be vision has been given Rs tax or income tax. Duty on Hybrid Vehicles 1200 to around $1.3 billion in 2013-14 5,237.1 million.

1800 to be reduced by 25 percent compared to a level of $ 4.7 bil-  The Establishment Division has been allocated Rs  Sales tax to be increased from 16 to 17 percent: Dar lion estimated for 2012-13.  Commercial and industrial electricity account holders Similarly, on account of 79.4 million and the Federal will be charged an additional five percent sales tax if improvement in energy supply Tax Ombudsman Rs 31.3 they are not registered tax payers. When they are and in the security situation, ex- million.

STAFF REPORTERS registered this increase will be withdrawn ports for 2013-14 are projected  The Finance Division  Nominal levy of 0.5 percent should be imposed to to grow by 5.1 percent to $26.6 has been given Rs 13074.2 ISLAMABAD/KARACHI—Govmovable assets of wealth persons to support income billion from $25.3 billion esti- million while the Foreign Af- ernment employees have ansupport fund mated for 2012- 13. While im- fairs Division has been ear- nounced a strike on June 21 after their salaries were not increased  Merchant and traders tax rate to be set at 25 percent ports during 2013-14 are pro- marked Rs255.2 million.  New adjustable withholding tax on foreign films and jected to increase by 7.0 percent,  The Higher Education in the Federal Budget 2013-2014.

For the first time in the hisdramas hence the trade amount is pro- Commission (HEC) has been tory of the country no increase jected to be in deficit by $16.7 Continued on Page 6 Continued on Page 6 has been made in the salaries of billion in 2013-14.—APP

which is first time in the history of the country that government employees salary has not been increased in the budget, but taking a lenient view of pensioners

ten per cent increase in pension was announced. Further, the minimum pension of an employee has been enhanced to Rs

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No new tax ISLAMABAD—Referring to tax He said capacity of tax machinproposals in the National Assembly Wednesday‚ the Finance Minister Ishaque Dar said being a nation we will have to take decisions to help make Pakistan self-reliant through off-loading debt and concentration of national economic priorities.

He said the government has decided to not to impose any new tax on those who are already paying their share of tax.

However‚ those who are not paying tax will be brought into tax net and for this purpose new tax reforms will be introduced.

ery will be enhanced by making tax system easy and expand its scope. Steps will also be taken to overcome corruption and facilitate tax payers.

Ishaque Dar said it has been proposed in the next budget to decrease corporate tax by one percent each year and bring it to 30 percent in the next five years from the existing thirty-five percent. He said tax exemption in special economic zones will be extended upto 10 years. He said two percent adjustable withhold-

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Trade deficit shrinks by 2.5pc

Rs 45.8b for special areas uplift

Salient features

Allocations for 41 ministries, divisions

lion in the corresponding period of the previous year, showing no increase.

While imports during the same period decreased by 0.9 percent to $33.04 billion over the corresponding period of the last year which was $33.3 billion.

Thus, the import bill is low due to decrease import bill from food, transport, petroleum, agriculture and other chemicals group.

Similarly, the workers’ re-

mittances have continuously witnessed a increasing trend during the last year few years and during July-April 2012-13 it reached a level of $11.6 billion as against $10.9 billion in the corresponding period of the last year, registering an increase of 6.4 percent.

Monthly average remittances during this period stood at $1.16 billion as compared to $1.09 billion during the same period of previous year.—APP

Energy crisis badly affect common man, economy

No discretionary funds of ministers

PR to be made independent corp

I SLAMABAD —The federal

Balance of payments likely to mount pressure

He said to give a boost to economic activities it has been decided to expand road network and link it to Gwadar port. He said work on three sections of Motorway including FaisalabadKhanewal‚ Karachi-Hyderabad and Gwadar-Ratodero will be expedited. He said the Motorway network will be completed by the government in its tenure which will help give new dimension to the economic growth.

He said the Prime Minister has established initial contact with China for construction of a

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cabinet on Wednesday decided in principle to abolish the annual discretionary funds of the federal ministers.

Decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the federal cabinet headed by Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif to approve the annual budget for the financial year 2013-14, official sources said.

According to sources, all the federal ministers used to get Rs600,000 annually as discretionary funds, but now these funds have been abolished.

The sources said this practice will save Rs20 million for

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Budget disappoints Govt employees, to observe strike on June 21

A balanced budget: Businessmen AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHI—Under the prevailing tough economic conditions, the federal budget presented by finance minister Ishaque Dar, was generally described as a Balanced Budget, by the senior business houses and trade and industry leaders assembled at at various trade bodies offices to listen the first budget of the newly elected government, here today.

The President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)

Zubair Ahmed Malik said that the business community is figuring out the impact of the government’s decision to raise sales tax from 16 per cent to 17 per cent and it is inevitable that increasing sales tax across the board will adversely affect the common man.

He welcomed the reduction in corporate tax rate from35 to 30 per cent. He said that FPCCI has demanded in its budget proposals to eliminate SRO culture and government’s intention in this regard is encouraging. He

said that government has announced various big allocations in the budget but did not explain how this money would be generated.

He said that some measures announced in the budget speech are welcome steps and if the austerity drive at PM House and other government departments would be implemented the FPCCI would not only welcome it but extend its full support to the government. He said that allocations for higher education, Qarz-e-Hasna Scheme, increase

in pensions and similar announcements are welcome steps but slapping Rs400 per tonne customs duty on canola seed would increase the prices of edible oils.

Former President FPCCI and Vice President Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Tariq Sayeed while talking to media said that the budget is quite ambitious but the revenue generation is not clearly mentioned in the budget speech. He said that reducing the tax on corporate sector is a welcome step.

government employees. Government employees did receive a ten percent increase in their pensions in the budget.

The minimum pension was also increased from Rs3,000 to Rs5,000 in the budget.

Meanwhile, sources privy to the cabinet meeting which approved the fiscal budget on

Wednesday say that the federal cabinet was undecided over the matter of increasing government employees’ salaries.

Sources further said that despite being in a struggling fiscal situation, authorities were considering an increase in the salaries of federal government em-

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Budget not a people-friendly: Oppo Increase in Sales Tax rejected STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Shortly after the budget was presented, members of the opposition in the assembly spoke to media outside the National Assembly to give their reactions. Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Farooq Sattar said that as per tradition no lasting solution to the country’s economic woes had been presented.

Sattar, whose party won a

majority of seats from the financial hub of Pakistan, said that after the 18th Amendment, most of the constitutional subjects have been devolved to the provinces.

In light of this, the federal budget should have been reduced.

“It means that as per tradition only a symptomatic treatment has been done, a permament solution has not been proposed.” Sattar also criticised the new government’s plan to

increase sales tax by one per cent.

“Sales tax should have been reduced from 16% to 10%, instead, it was increased to 17%.”

This, Sattar said, would only further burden the poor. “An increase of one per cent in sales tax will be an increase of five per cent in inflation.” He said that sales tax was an indirect tax that is paid directly by the people while the feudalists and landown-

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PRCS activates apparatus to cope with monsoon challenge ISLAMABAD—In view of the areas in case of floods. This shelters all over the country discussions are being held

PESHAWAR:A youngster passing through flood water while carrying a goat on the way to safer place at Mian Gujar Charbela.

Law Ministry cut 30pc expenditures I SLAMABAD —Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid on Wednesday directed the ministry officials to cut down its expenses to minimum 30 percent and should adopt strict austerity measures in light of the orders of the Prime Minister.

The Minister said this while chairing the meeting of senior officials here at Ministry of law and justice. Senior officials briefed the minister about the working of different wings of the ministry. Speaking on the occasion, Law minister emphasized on the expeditious disposal of official work and advised the officials to dispose of pending work on priority basis.—APP

Mehdi Hassan’s death anniversary today ISLAMABAD—First death anniversary of legendry ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan Khan will be observed tomorrow.

Mehdi Hassan was born on July 18, 1927 in a village called Luna, in the Indian state of Rajasthan into a family of traditional musicians, PTV reported. He remained a leading singer of the Pakistani film industry along with Ahmed Rushdi. The highest civilian award of Pakistan, ‘Nishan-e-Imtiaz’, was also conferred on him.

In 1957, Mehdi Hassan was given the opportunity to sing on Radio Pakistan, which earned him recognition within the musical fraternity. He had a passion for Urdu poetry, and therefore, he began to experiment by singing ghazals on a part-time basis. His first song was ‘Jis ne mere dil ko dard diya’ from film ‘Susral’ in 1962 and popular ghazal ‘Insha ji utho ab kooch karo is shaharr me dil ko lagana kia’ made him immortal. Legendary Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar complimented him, by saying that “Bhagwan talks in his throat.”—APP

Electronic MO service launched in 83 cities

Pakistan Post plans swift services for remote areas RAO ATIQ M IRPUR —Pakistan Postal Services Department is acting upon the broad-based plan for the delivery of its most swift services, to the people across AJK, GilgitBaltistan, besides rest of the country, including those dwelling in the remote areas, harmonious to the need of the modern age.

This was disclosed by Dr. Naseer Ahmed Khan, Postmaster General, Federal Capital, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Giglit-Baltistan Circle, while inaugurating the electronic Money Order Service in General Post Office Mirpur on Wednesday.

The PMG continued that the fast-paced electronic money order service has been provided in 83 General Post Offices of all major cit-

ies and towns across Pakistan and AJK to ensure the swift delivery of the money order to the concerned recipient. The EMO service, he pointed out would benefit the

people in general and students and business community people in particular.

Dr. Khan later also inaugurated the newly established Post Office at Postal Plaza in densely populated Sector F/1 in the city. Addressing the

upcoming monsoon season, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has stepped up its preparations from district to national level to cope with the challenge. According to PRCS, the society has prepared a comprehensive plan for thousands of families in case of any disaster and is holding meetings with other disaster related agencies for better coordination and an effective response in case of floods.

PRCS has recently trained hundreds of volunteers to deal with challenges and sensitized communities in their respective

Balochistan nationalist parties hailed ISLAMABAD—Senior analyst Shahzada Zulfiqar has said that Mian Nawaz Sharif has fulfilled the promise by accommodating two major nationalist political parties of Balochistan. Talking to a private news channel, he said that Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party has been given governorship while National Party has been bestowed with Chief Ministership.

He said that it is now up to these nationalist parties to prove their worth by managing the affairs of province.

Zulfiqar said that the education of the province need proper attention and added that most of the teachers of Balochistan are involved in these national political parties.—APP

officials of the Postal Services, the PMG said that his organization was bent upon to provide every possible swift postal service to the masses in nook and corner of the country including AJK. He advised on this occasion for the immediate establishment of an independent post office in New Mirpur city, the newly established township exclusively meant for the Mangla dam affectees. Mirpur GPO Chief Post Master and Divisional Superintendent Muhammad Iqbal briefed the regional top bass of the department of the introduction of the recently launched different type of about 36 swift post services to the clients in the district in the light of the swift services introduced across the nation, including AJK and GB, by the Pakistan Postal Ser- F AISALABAD —The Univervices Department. sity of Faisalabad (TUF) and National Institute for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration in academics and research. The MoU was signed

by Prof Dr Abdul Kareem Baloch Pro-Rector TUF and a special cell at the FATA Dr Sohail Hameed Director Secretariat to ensure efficient NIBGE at Saleem Campus of and prompt response to the TUF here on Wednesday. quarries from standing comThe signing ceremony mittees of both Senate and was attended by Prof Dr National Assembly. The pro- Mohammad Iqbal Tahir Adposed cell, the Governor said, visor to Chairman Board of would act as a bridge be- Governors (BoG) TUF, Prof tween Fata secretariat and the Dr Abdul Majeed Director parliamentarians providing QEC TUF, Prof Dr Syed them satisfactory reply to all Akhtar Hussain Bokhari Dithe queries. rector Advanced Studies All the administrative TUF and Dr Abdul Haque. secretaries and the heads of Other scientists and deattached departments at- partmental heads from tended the meeting wherein NIBGE who participated in the Governor was also ap- the ceremony were Dr Afzal prised about the prevailing Ghauri, Dr Shahid Baig, Dr state of working of the na- Sajjad Mirza, Dr Qaisar Khan tion building departments; and Aftab Bashir. Both instisalient features of their tutions agreed to collaborate achievements and the future for promotion of research targets. The Governor took and development by devishighly keen interest in vari- ing sandwich programs for ous stages of approval as MS, MPhil and PhD in the well as implementation pro- areas of health biotechnolcess of development ogy, industrial technology, schemes. soil.—APP

was shared by the PRCS Chairman Major General (Retd) Ch Muhammad Nawaz Khan while chairing the meeting of the Managing Board, the highest policy making body, here at the National Headquarters on Wednesday. General Nawaz told the participants of the meeting that the PRCS with a proactive approach is all set to respond actively to the monsoon related disaster in a best possible way to minimize the suffering of the vulnerable.

He said that PRCS has already a capacity to cater to 35000 families with food and

especially in disaster prone districts. He said the PRCS is committed to its motto ‘First to Reach and Last to Leave,” and being the leading humanitarian organization of the country, would use all its human and material resources to support the victims.

PRCS Secretary General Dr Mahboob Sardar while briefing the board members said that PRCS as a first step has geared up its coordination and planning efforts with the movement partners, international federation of red cross and red crescent societies and committees and sister national societies, and

to frame a mechanism for effective response and secure proper funding in case of massive disaster. The Secretary General said that our 92 district branches, 43 Disaster Management Cells, medical units and thousands of volunteers along with 443 Trained Disaster Relief Training Members have started monsoon preparations in their respective areas.

He said that the provincial secretaries of the PRCS have been directed to fully coordinate with the local agencies for a better and effective response.—APP

SC expresses concern over schools situation in country I SLAMABAD—The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that education was the most neglected area in the country which was gross violation of Article 25 (A) of the Constitution of Pakistan. The court also observed that the provision of education was included as the fundamental right of every child under the said article which was not being followed in its true letter and spirit.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Gulzar Ahmed re-

sumed hearing in a suo-motu case regarding ghost schools through out the country.

During the course of proceeding, inquiry reports on the conditions of schools from the District and Session Judges, as directed by the apex court during the last proceeding, were presented before the bench. The court took report from one district each from all the four provinces as a token check on the condition of schools.

In the district of Tharparker, Sindh, the court noted that there were total

3307 schools out of which 2898 were boys schools while 409 were girls. The report stated that the ratio of school going children was 50 per cent and not 70 per cent as claimed by the education department.

In the report of Rajanpur district in Punjab, there were 19 non-functional schools through out the district.

In district Chaghi of Balochistan, there were total 12388 schools out of which 12082 were functional, 274 were non-functional 25 were under occupation while 7 were ghost schools.—APP

TUF, NIBGE ink MoU

Compensation for IDPs in ADP assured STAFF REPORTER P ESHAWA R —The Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Governor, Engineer Shaukatullah, while declaring in categorical terms that he would not tolerate corruption any longer, has directed officials to ensure complete transparency in working of nation building departments; efficient management of resources and strictly observer merit in the implementation and prosecution of development projects in FATA right from secretariat to root level in tribal agencies; and frontier regions.

Presiding over a follow up meeting at FATA Secretariat here on Wednesday as a first step to materialize the directives of the Prime Minister, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz

Sharif which he has delivered while presiding over the National Economic Council at Islamabad the other day, the KP Governor said he had a fruitful meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who has assured all out support in resolving the financial and other issues confronting Federally Administration Tribal Areas (FATA) on priority basis He said, honest, capable and efficient functionaries have to be posted at every level and let us make FATA a role model for rest of the country. Simultaneously, he added, we also need to ensure that all stakeholders have to be taken along while materializing the projects of bigger magnitude. The Governor also ordered to create

QUETTA: FC soldiers checking the suspect people on entrance of the city near Bulaili.

One dies in road mishap

Four commit suicide K ASUR —A newly-married couple and two young sisters committed suicide over financial issue in and around the city during last 24 hours.

Muhammad Shafiq (26) of Milad Gate, Sahbaz Khan Road, had contracted marriage to 20-year-old Aafia Bibi few months ago. The couple was upset over financial condition due to which they

ended their lives after taking poisonous pills.

Quetta: A man was killed in a road mishap in Pir Umar Jan area of Panjgur district, Levies force said on Wednesday.

Majid Ali was on way to home riding in a vehicle when it overturned due to over speeding, Levies force added. As a result, he died on the spot. The body was handed over to the heirs

after legal formalities.

Dera Murad Jamali: A dacoit was killed by the owner of a house in Dera Murad Jamali between Tuesday and Wednesday night, police sources said. Three armed dacoits barged into the house of Mian Khan on late Tuesday night, police said adding owner resisted the bid by opening fire at them.—APP

Girls in domestic child work outnumber boys: ILO ISLAMABAD—Girls in child other than their years. Of and pursue his dream to at- continue to be vigilant and try to fight child labour includdomestic work far outnumber boys, although boys also feature in significant numbers and are exposed to similar problems and vulnerability. This was stated by the Country Director, ILO Pakistan, Mr. Francesco d’Ovidio, at an event organized here Monday on the occasion of World day against Child Labour.

On the occasion, new global data on child domestic works was also announced which says that 15.5 million of children around the world mainly HYDERABAD: Children participating in a rally in connection with World Day against girls are in paid or unpaid domestic work in house hold child labour organized by local NGO.

these children, around 10.5 million children are estimated to be in an unacceptable situation, either because they are below the legal minimum working age, or are working under hazardous conditions, or in circumstances that are tantamount to slavery.

In this event, a large number of children and community members reaffirmed their commitment to say no to child labour especially child domestic labour. Bilal Usman, 22 years, who was an ex-child labourer, eloquently spoke in English language about his personal struggle to breakaway from being a child labour

tain higher education.

He attributed his success to the efforts of his teacher Ms Farzana Hassan, principal of the community college, and the ILO intervention to show him the educational path to success. Ms Shaheen Attiquur-Rehman vice Chairperson of Bunyad NGO highlighted the role of ILO in helping the stakeholders in Sialkot to address the issue of Child labour.

She said “the valuable interventions that ILO has started in Sialkot to help address the child labour, 15 years on have now become self-sustained where community and Sialkot Chamber of Commerce

to keep child in schools”. ` Khawaja Zaka, Chairman, Independent Monitoring Agency on Child Labour, while speaking to the gathering of more than two hundred children and community elders said, “We are thankful to the ILO as it guided us and taught us ways and means how to address child labour.

ILO project has completed ten years ago but we are stillreaping its fruits, as we see many children like Bilal Usam who have transformed into highle educated young men and women. He assured that Sailkot Chamber and community will continue

ing the Child labour in domestic work”. Later, the ILO Country Director, Mr Francesco d’Ovidio, visited village Mehtpur, a project of Baidaire and “Promoting Gender Equality for Decent Employment” GE4DE-ILO Project, to meet group of home-based workers who with support GE4DE-ILO and NGO Baidarie have organized themselves to realize their rights.The Home based Workers have received training under the ILO project GE4DE CIDA funded Project, on collective bargaining, gender equality and social protection.—APP

Sustainable economic growth ISLAMABAD—Minister of State for Science and Technology Khurram Dastagir Khan Wednesday hailed the federal budget 2013-14 and said it would help to make scientific and innovative research for the production and exploitation of knowledge for sustainable economic growth. The Minister said one of the major challenges being faced today was energy shortage, adding scientific research might play an important role to focus on alternative energy resources to bridge the supply gap. “ An amount of Rs 2172.583 million has been allocated in PSDP 2013-14 for the projects of Ministry of Science and Technology, as objective of the incumbent government is to make S & T at the service of people in all spheres of life, eventually leading to economic growth and prosperity”. The Minister said establishment of S & T parks with the technical assistance of Iranian institutes was the priority of the government, as scientific research was considered one of the most important tools for achieving economic prosperity. He said PC-1 for establishment of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Science centers and museum at university of Karachi and Balochistan are under preparation. Around 15 collaborative proposals with counterpart organizations in Turkey, Argentina, European Union Uzbekistan, Mexico and Russia submitted to Ministry for approval. “Approval of these projects will lead to strengthening of scientific cooperation and collaborative activities”.—APP

‘Quality education’ F AISALABAD —Speakers at a seminar stressed the need for taking more steps to ensure quality culture in higher education institutions by mapping out a comprehensive plan to produce tangible researches, promoting improved teaching practices and maintaining good educational management at par with international standards. The one-day seminar on ‘Strategies for developing quality culture in Higher Education Institutions’ was arranged by Quality Enhancement Cell GCUF which was presided over by GCUF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zakir Hussain. The Vice Chancellor said that secret of the development of any county is lying in the quality education and trained manpower. He stressed upon the teaching community to take all tangible steps to sharpen the skills of the students keeping in view international standards. Terming the youth as engine for future development, he said Pakistan is fortunate enough to have 90 million youths, around half of the population. He said that in the today’s’ world, the young generation needs more access to quality education more than ever to compete in the global market. By equipping the youth with the modern knowledge, the new horizon for the development of country can be opened up. He urged the students to ensure their 100 percent presence at the classrooms and get the maximum knowledge of their chosen field. Prof Dr Naureen Aziz Qureshi said literacy rate in Pakistan is very low compared to the developed nations.

She said GCUF was committed to ensure quality education at the campus to produce a trained manpower keeping in view the need of the industry. Prof Dr Zubair Siddique said that at present, there are 87 universities in the Quality Assurance Network of Higher Education Commission.—APP

Measures to avert flood damages PESHAWAR —Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister, Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao Wednesday directed the commissioners of Malakand, Peshawar divisions, deputy commissioners of Charsadda and Nowshera districts and Secretary Irrigation to remain vigilant and take precautionary to avert expected flood damages. He issued these directives during telephonic conversation about reports of high floods in the rivers Kabul and Swat. Sikandar Sherpao said, he would soon visit to the affected areas to review the safety measures and directed Secretary Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Secretary Irrigation department to remain take preventive measures to minimize flood damages. He also stressed to create awareness about flood situation amongst the people living near the river banks.

The senior minister said that the government would leave no stone unturned to protect the people and their properties from flood. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has setup a flood emergency centre at Irrigation Division Peshawar, which will commence 24 hours information service from June 15. A spokesman of Irrigation Department told APP here on Wednesday, the Cell has been setup at the office of Executive Engineer Hydrology Irrigation Division, Peshawar to share information about water situation and floods with all stakeholders. He said Executive Engineer Hydrology, Inyatullah Khan Wazir has already been nominated as Focal Person of the Cell.—APP

Active prosecution, probe liaison enhance conviction ratio

Five cops suspended for torturing women FAISALABAD—Higher police and in return they pelted authorities took serious ac- stones at police. Protestors

P ESHAWAR —A high level cision were also made to innocent individuals at early Prosecution thoroughly high- tion and suspended five po- also burnt tyres and blocked meeting of the Police Department KPK decided that investigation and prosecution officers would keep close liaison and hold regular meetings on monthly basis to discuss mutual issues with an objective to ensure quality investigation and prosecution. The meeting was held between Investigation and Prosecution Departments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wherein scores of other de-

streamline the working of the prosecution and investigation branches of the police.

Both the Additional Inspector General Police Investigation and Director General Prosecution were in agreement that by working with cooperation and coordination the result would be in getting culprits convicted. Further, full implementation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prosecution Act, 2005, will facilitate the

stage as cases registered on mala-fide basis together with cases being weak from evidentiary point of view will not be recommended for the purpose of trial.

The Additional IG showed his full satisfaction on improved performance of prosecutors of the Province and assured his full cooperation and commitment for the improvement of liaison between Police and Prosecution. The Director General

lighted the steps taken so far, for the improvements in various categories as a result of liaison established in between investigating agency of police and prosecution.

He discussed that the scrutiny of cases has been converted to early stage with the idea that evidence will be collected well in time and fit cases be forwarded to court in the light of section 173-Cr.PC without any delay.—APP

licemen who entered the houses and tortured women in the city after protests against load shedding. It should be mentioned that frustrated with the unannounced and prolonged loadshedding residents of various areas of Faisalabad took to streets and held violent protests.

The police to disperse the enraged protestors, fired tear shells which led to clashes

several roads of Faisalabad while police used baton charging to disperse them.

Police also entered houses of several residents of the city with the intention to make arrests. The police also assaulted women and used profanity.

When the matter was raised at the highest level, the authorities suspended five personnel for entering houses illegally.—INP

Rain, thundershowers with gusty winds likely PESHAWAR—The Met office with gusty winds is expected here Wednesday predicted widespread rain-thundershowers with gusty winds in next 24 hours that will bring temperature down. In GilgitBaltistan, South Punjab and Upper Sindh, rain is also expected. Isolated heavy falls may occur in upper/central Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Multan divisions), central KP (Bannu, Peshawar, Kohat divisions) during next 24 hours, he added. Rain is also expected in Abbottabad, DI Khan, Kohat, Peshawar and Parachinar Kurram Agency in the same peroid.

A Spokesman of Met Office here told APP that pre-monsoon currents from Arabian Sea are reaching most parts of the country including MULTAN: Members of wholesale Chemists Council protesting against killing of Muslims in Burma at Ghanta Ghar Chowk. Khyber Pakthunkhwa and a fresh westerly wave is also expected to approach upper parts on Wednesday.

He said widespread rainthundershower associated

MPs committee reviews Quetta water scarcity issue QUETTA —A committee led by newly elect Balochistan MPAs on Wednesday reviewed progress on the resolution of the issue of water shortage faced by the people in the provincial capital.

MPAs including Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai, Nasrullah Zairay, Tahir Mehmood Khan, Raza Mohammad Barech, Willium Barkat, Manzoor Ahmed Kakar and others were briefed on uplift water schemes and current situation during a meeting held with the officials of WASA and other aligned depart-

ments here.

Meeting expressing concern over the water scarcity in the provincial capital decided to restore closed tube wells within 48 hours. Besides, they also decided to hold regular meetings with WASA, Water and Sewerage Project to improve the situation and resolving the issues on permanent basis.

They warned stern action against the usage of tube wells for the commercial and tanker mafia. Meanwhile, it is also reported that Senior Citizen Association of Balochistan (SCAB) welcomed elected leg-

islators of Balochistan urging practical steps for restoration of peace, reforms in education, health and other prime sectors.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Secretary General SCAB Mohammad Anwar and members of governing bodies hailed newly elected members of Balochistan Assembly.

Speech of CM Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch contained much hope for the suppressed segment of the society with his emphasize in bringing tangible change in the political scenario of the disturbed province of the country, they said.—APP

Protestants have significant influence on US foreign policy

PESHAWAR—The evangelicals Protestants in the US have a significant influence on the US foreign policy, especially after the 9/11, said Ph. D scholar Minhas Majeed on Wednesday. They have a far reaching impact on the US relations with the outside world and particularly with Pakistan since September 2001, This has brought visible changes in Pakistan‘s political, economic and social spheres since, she added. The topic of her research was, “ Evangelicals Influence on US Foreign Policy: Impact on PakUS Relations (September 2001November 2007.

The scholar was of the view that the main point in understanding Evangelical faith is that all aspects of its influence on the US foreign policy, whether political or religious, are interrelated. The situation went to a level that presidential candidates used OUR CORRESPONDENT religion as a major tool in campaign and the same was WAH CANTT—At least 400 as major decisive factor in Sikh yatrees from India and their victory.—APP other parts of the world arrived here at Gurdwara Panja Sahib on early hours of Wednesday to offer their religious rituals in connection with 407th death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru of Sikh religion.

This event is also called Jor Mela. Soon after their arrival the yatrees offered their religious rituals including Matha Taek and Ashnan (Holy bath). Later, they also visit shrine of Baba Wali Qandhari at the hilltop.

Strict security arrangements have been made for the safety of the yatrees. All the roads leading to Gurdwara sealed and barracudas were installed with deployment of QUETTA: A woman begger with her children secking some police commandos to meet money from the passers-by. any untoward incident.

Indian Sikh yatrees arrive for Jor Mela

‘Kashmiris soon to throw away Indian yoke’ ISLAMABAD—General Secretary of Tehreek-e-Hurriyet Jammu and Kashmir, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai has said that Kashmiris have rendered unprecedented sacrifices for securing selfdetermination and to take this movement to its logical conclusion at all costs.

Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai in a statement issued in Srinagar said that the day was not far away when Kashmiris would get rid of Indian rule, reported KMS.

He appealed to the world community and international human rights organisations to take notice of rights abuses and put pressure on New Delhi to settle the lingering Kashmir dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations.

Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai criticised the puppet regime for its unconstitutional restrictions on a seminar, scheduled to be held at Hyderpora in Srinagar, a day ago.

“In every civilized society political opponents are

allowed to work freely but political traditions are quite different in the occupied territory as legal and moral rights of expression are denied and defied,” he added.

Meanwhile, veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that India is planning to set up a town for nonKashmiris in the name of Amarnath Nagar in and around Amarnath Cave in a bid to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir.—APP

in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in scattered places of Kashmir, upper /central Punjab, Eastern Balochistan and southern Sindh. In next 48 hours, widespread rain-thundershower

associated with gusty winds is expected in KP and scattered places of Kashmir, upper /central Punjab, Eastern Balochistan, southern Sindh and at isolated places in GilgitBaltistan, South Punjab and Upper Sindh.

Scattered rain-thunderstorm associated with gusty winds occurred in Kashmir, Upper Punjab including Islamabad, Upper KP and Northeast Balochistan in last 24 hours.—APP

Mepco starts radio events on energy MULTAN—The Multan Elec- electric appliances bearing tric Power Company’s (Mepco) Public Relations department in collaboration with the USAID has started a programme on “Roshani ka safer” on FM-101 to create awareness among the masses about energy. According to sources, the initiative has been taken to provide information to the masses about energy issue. The programme will be broadcasted from the radio at 3.30pm every Thursday in which high officials of the Mepco would also participate.

Introduction of energy efficient electric appliances can be handy in reducing electricity consumption burden on the national grid and give more breathing space to power sector management in shaping up a better load management plan. Saleem Khan, a regional sales manager of a multinational electronics company, said that home

decades old technology were being marketed and utilized in the country resulting in extra electricity consumption that could have been saved with the introduction of energy efficient appliances.

He said that most of the air-conditioners being marketed in the country do not give cooling effect equal to 18000 BTU as per the international standard and consume extra electricity. He said that extreme hot weather conditions dominate most parts of the country and in such circumstances, air-conditioners becomes a necessity not a luxury.

He said that his company was going to launch an airconditioner with 1.5 ton cooling capacity soon that will consume only two to three Ampere that was below the electricity consumption of an air cooler.—APP

IAF jets dampen MNS’ fondness for India

MEDIA WATCH

Surveillance: A threat to democracy

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IOLATION of Pakistan’s airspace by two Indian fighter jets in Attari, Fazilka sector Tuesday morning was provocation of ex treme nature and that is why the muted response of the Foreign Office conveying mere concerns to the Indian High Commission through a telephone call has been viewed by analysts as wanting. Seen in the backdrop of other provocative actions emanating from New Delhi, this grave incident seems to be well thought out and needs to be taken up seriously with the Indian Government.

The timing of the violation is very unfortunate as it comes immediately after assumption of office by the new Government in Pakistan and it seems to be part of the campaign to increase difficulties for the elected Government. The fact that similar violations took place recently on the Western border as well where drone strikes trampled Pakistan’s sovereignty, confirms apprehensions being expressed by analysts that some powers are trying to cause inconvenience to the new Government with which people of Pakistan have attached great hopes and expectations. There is definitely a plan to cut the new Government as well as expectations of the people to size and therefore, the policy-makers should give a serious thought to these and similar other developments and come out with a matching response. Airspace violation was not an act in isolation as previously Indians manhandled Pakistani diplomats and also did not reciprocate the goodwill sentiments expressed repeatedly by Mian Nawaz Sharif ever since his electoral victory. The new Government in Pakistan has expressed its resolve on more than one occasion to take measures to improve relations between the two countries but such blatant provocations would dampen the spirit of the leadership in Islamabad. It is also a source of personal anguish for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who genuinely wants normalization of relations with India so that resources, time and energy is focused on addressing issues like poverty, backwardness, ignorance and disease. We hope that Indian leadership would review its stance and avoid taking steps that could raise tension in the region and mar prospects for peace and tranquillity.

Dar to perform miracle of retiring circular debt I

T is now known even to a layman that the vicious circular debt, which has assumed alarming proportions, is at the centre of the energy crisis and that its resolution is one of the pre-requisites to address the energy problem on sustainable basis. Therefore, the announcement of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, during release of the Economic Survey on Tuesday, to retire Rs. 500 billion worth of circular debt in one go just within 60 days is a welcome development.

We have been hearing since the days of Shaukat Aziz-led Government to retire the circular debt but regrettably both the previous governments miserably failed to address the problem and as a consequence the debt continued to pile up. Given enormity of the amount, one wonders how the new Finance Minister intends to perform the miracle but given the professional competence and vision of Ishaq Dar one is sure that he means it and would be able to fulfill his pledge.

If he succeeds and there is no reason he should not, it would create the right kind of atmosphere for taking further complementary measures to resolve the problem of load-shedding. It would also send positive message to people of Pakistan that the new Government was determined to mitigate their sufferings not just by addressing the energy crisis but also improving conditions in other sectors of the economy besides sending right kind of signal to local and foreign investors. PML(N) Government has no time to waste as patience of the people has already exhausted because of five year lollipop by the PPP Government and it will have to start delivering forthwith.

Whatever is left being burnt by angry mob P

ROTESTS by people across the country against load shedding are on the rise as the power shortfall continues to increase due to higher demand in the face of hike in temperature. According to reports people in Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Sukkur, Swat and other areas blocked roads, went on rampage and ransacked offices of WAPDA and FESCO offices on Tuesday.

While peaceful protests are the right of people but the culture of shutter down strikes and agitation blocking routine business of life on daily basis amounts to be a suicidal tendency, would not resolve the issues but further aggravate the situation. State owned power infrastructure is already in a mess due to non-availability of funds for maintenance and damages to whatever is available including transformers and transmission lines, are like self-inflicted wounds. We would call it a psychological problem and there is dire need to check this suicidal tendency. One agrees that people are facing extreme difficulties as businesses are closed and even water, the basic necessity of life, is not available, as the tube wells cannot operate without electricity. But the ransacking of offices and machinery of the distribution companies would further complicate the situation as their replacement and installation would require resources and time. Whatever is happening is worst disorder in the society and while the government is in the midst of taking corrective steps, yet it would require sometime as it has no magic wand to resolve the grave energy crisis. In this scenario, it is the supreme responsibility of the leadership of political parties and other groups to feel concerned about the national losses and persuade the masses to act like a civilized society instead of inciting people to indulge in burning and looting.

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Kick-starting Pakistan’s economy But as in the case of IMF there are no free lunches in Ali Ashraf Khan Saudi Arabia either. The strings attached to those loans might inEmail:balti@super.net.pk terfere with our plans to fight ideological militancy and then there is the Saudi-US axis that inance Minister Ishaq Dar has will bring American influence presented a budget for the fi through the backdoor. How will we nancial year 2013/14. Budget be able to go ahead with the Iranian making under PPP government was pipeline? Will the Saudi-American more of a theoretical exercise when combine tolerate the Gwadarthe budget was taken as a piece of Khunjerab-Kashgar rail network? A paper at best and nobody would third option is of course our allkeep it in mind when spending. The weather friend China. But China, as PPP has left behind an economy a matter of principle, finances neither and a fiscal situation that is budgetary deficit nor provides funds unprecedentedly dismal. Staring for balance of payment crisis. They from the power sector all other sec- will help us with projects and investtors of economy are down and ment into our infrastructure and other bringing them back to life will need parts of economy but even with re— among others-money. That is gard to China we should not forget why all economic kickstart plans that there are no free lunches.

That means basically that all that have a financial basis that will have we are left with is to procure the to be provided.

PPP during its five-year stint in money ourselves by reforming, repower and especially during the last structuring and fiscal consolidation months and even days of their min- and discipline. Here are some sugisters’ rule have plundered the ex- gestions about how to tackle this chequer so that the debt on the newly problem. In the first place the statefounded government has surged owned enterprise sector, if reformed, from Rs3 trillion to Rs14 trillion and can save us Rs500 billion a year. PIA, the Nawaz Sharif is not only bound Steel Mill and many more have been to pay back the loans but also pay used as fountains of robberies for rulinterests according to the schedule. ing party stooges in the past. This has That is why the budget that the Fi- not only to be changed but those renance Minister announced has a tril- sponsible should be taken to task. lion rupee hole; that’s Secondly, it is a good sign that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already Rs1,000,000,000,000!

The first and foremost question announced an austerity drive of his thus is where from to get the money government. The Rs27 billion in the for bringing our economy back on PM’s discretionary fund (additional track. There are the usual sources of billions in the CMs’ discretionary IMF and World Bank which have funds) have to go.

There are at least Rs4 billion in proven in the past to demand measures from us that do not suit our secret funds of various ministries that economy. And as we should have have to be abolished. A long-standlearnt the hard way also there are no ing demand is a tax reform and a free lunches. Back into the IMF’s lap broadening of the tax basis; a central we will have to do things that will piece being the introduction of an increase poverty instead of fighting agricultural tax. But even before we it. Another traditional source of start putting new taxes we have to money is the oil-rich Saudi Arabia improve the tax and revenue collecand rumours were already heard that tion of what is already there. Paying they have been approached to give taxes has to be declared a national money for managing the circular duty and instead of singing national songs on 23rd March tax payment debt of the power sector.

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should be made a national service first and foremost for the MNAs and MPAs. All quotas and licenses given under discretionary powers by previous rulers to individuals and companies in oil and gas sector should be cancelled including JJV and its beneficiaries who are making hey while the gas resources of our country are depleting and allied extracting plants and bottling plants have been flourishing. De-notify all the Amnesty schemes announced by the last government and abolish all SRO’s giving exemptions to companies.

The power sector needs reforms very urgently. The circular debt has to be taken care of in the first place.

Mian Mansha the new ‘secret weapon’ of Nawaz Sharif for bringing the economy back on track in his recent speech in Karachi confirmed that the government is indeed planning on issuing treasury bills to the tune of Rs. 500 billion to raise money needed to free the energy sector from circular debt. But there is more to do; the structure and conditions of power productions have to be adjusted by amending, for instance, the IPP’s and rental power agreements who are already charging exorbitantly high tariffs and capacity payment so as to put the onus of procuring furnace oil for running their plant on those companies and relieve the government to provide oil to them and put heavy penalty clause on those companies who do not run their plants to full load capacity in peak load time.

There should be a move to make up for the wrongs that have been deprived the nation of its assets under previous governments. Order a transparent scrutiny of privatization of PTCL and KESC that were given for a laugh to foreign companies during Shoukat Aziz tenure by Privatization Minister Hafeez Sheikh in highly shady manner in which the successful bidders have not honored their commitments of paying the bid amounts in foreign exchange and injecting promised funds from abroad thereby deceit the very purpose of privatization. Another area of large

scale plunder was done under the umbrella of SBP circulars by unlawfully writing-off of outstanding dues by allowing principal + 10% payment to settle default thereby giving back assets given in collateral which had highly increased market value and none of these projects were revived for which the loan was sanctioned, since no undertaking was called all these projects machinery were sold and land converted into plots to fetch high profits and deprive the state. Second corrupt practice was those defaulters who were absconders, their properties pledged as collateral were sold through court liquidators to some favourites thereby depriving the NCB’s of receivable funds.

And there is a last advice also.

Mian Mansha in his talk in Karachi pleaded forcefully in favour of opening trade with India as a means to kick-start our economy. This might be right to a certain extend. But in whatever the government decides and does – the first and foremost item that needs to be kept in mind is Pakistan’s national interest. Good relations with India as with all our neighbours are an essential item in our economic well-being but priorities have to be set. The Kashmir conflict in the case of relations with India should not be sold for a price.

And if the Pakistani industry can stand Indian competition if trade is opened up unconditionally should be decided by those industrialists who will be ruined if the opposite turns out to be true.

If the newly elected government that was elected with the promise of change but is unable to take stock of these economic and financial loopholes that mar the Pakistani economy and make the life of the nation miserable then it will be presumed that this government is only a further extension of the status quo and a continuation of NRO from PPP to PML (N). God give courage to our rulers to be on the right path and lead the nation by their hand till their feet are sure and they know there way. God bless Pakistan.

India’s anti-China manoeuvring continue round the clock patrolling in Chumar Sector.

Sajjad Shaukat Indian aggressive approach Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com against China cannot be seen in isolation. Similarly, Indian soldiers crossed over the Line of Control (LoC) in uring his recent visit to Kashmir on January 6, 2012 and atNew Delhi, and after meet tacked a Pakistani check post, killing Indian Prime Minister ing one Pakistani soldier. Afterwards, Manmohan Singh, Chinese Prime Indian troops shot dead more PakiMinister Li Keqiang said that the stani soldiers on the LoC. Then New two emerging Asian economies Delhi concocted a fabricated story were going to enhance coopera- blaming Pakistan for killing and betion. No doubt, Beijing wants cor- heading its two soldiers. Notably, in dial relationship with New Delhi. the mid of May, 2013, the first Blue But India which apparently empha- Book, published by a Chinese think sizes mutual cooperation with tank said, “India’s large increase in China, showing lethargic approach troops at the borders near China and in the solution of border dispute, Pakistan and upgradation of border has been increasing military build forces with new weapons and equipnear the Chinese border, coupled ments are part of Indian with secret support to the Tibetan strategy which includes the possibilinsurgents as part of its overt and ity of a two-front war with Pakistan and China.” covert maneuvering.

It is mentionable that under the Recently, tension arose between India and China when In- Pak-China pretext, Indian ex-Army dian army erected a military camp Chief, General Deepak Kapoor, rein Chumar Sector of Ladakh at the vealed on December 29, 2010 that Line of Actual Control (LAC)-dis- the Indian army “is now revising its puted border, situated between the five-year old doctrine” and is pretwo countries. As Chinese with- paring for a “possible two-front war drew from Depsang, Indian troops with China and Pakistan.” On Noconstructed fortifications in there. vember 2, 2010, US agreed to sell At the same time, India accused India the most expensive—the new Chinese troops of intrusion into In- F-35 fighter jets including F-16 and dian area. But reality was exposed F-18 fighters, C-17 and C-130 airwhen New Delhi requested for flag craft, radar systems etc. Besides, meeting to resolve the issue, after India has also been getting arms and Beijing put pressure on Indian weapons from other western counArmy which dismantled the con- tries including Russia, and espestructed fortifications and to dis- cially Israel including Russia. US

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signed a deal of civil energy technology with India in 2008, and lifted sanctions on New Delhi to import nuclear technology.

Particularly, US has been helping India in various fields because fast growing economic power of China coupled with her rising strategic relationship with the Third World has irked the eyes of Americans and Indians. Owing to jealousy, America desires to make India a major power to counterbalance China in Asia. It is also due to the fact that Balochistan’s geo-strategic location with deep Gwadar seaport, connecting rest of the world with Central Asia has further annoyed the US and India because Beijing has already invested billion of dollars to develop this seaport. It is owing to multiple strategic designs that the US and India seeks to dismember both Pakistan and Iran. Notably, by rejecting US growing pressure, on March 11, 2013 Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari inaugurated the gas pipeline project with Iran. Meanwhile, Pakistan has handed over the control of Gwader seaport to China.

During the trip of Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang to Islamabad, Pakistan and China signed several agreements on May 22, this year to strengthen and diversify cooperation in various fields. Beijing would also provide financial aid to Islamabad to complete the Gwader seaport.

Premier Li Keqiang supported Pakistan’s proposal of China-Pakistan economic corridor to improve connectivity between Pakistan and

China, saying that both sides decided on a long term programme— a strategic idea, He also assured that Beijing was also ready to upgrade Karrakuram Highway and to sign Sino-Pak civilian nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, a day before Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Islamabad; Chinese engineers being driven through Clifton Block1 in Karachi escaped a major bomb attack. As regards anti-China diplomacy, Afghanistan has become a hub from where external secret agencies like American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad have been assisting subversive activities in other parts of Pakistan—especially in Balochistan through their affiliated militant groups at the cost of Pakistan, China and Iran. In the past few years, they abducted and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan.

It is of particular attention that in May 1998, when India detonated five nuclear tests, the then Defense Minister George Fernandes had declared publicly that “China is India’s potential threat No. 1.” New Delhi which successfully tested missile, Agni-111in May 2007, has been extending its range to target all Chinese cities. Nevertheless, New Delhi’s ambitious defence policy leaves even less for what India needs most to lift millions of its citizens from abject poverty. In fact, India’s anti-China maneuvering is aimed at destroying regional peace and stability, and it gives a wake up call to other Asian powers.

new Washington PostPew Research Centre poll found that a majority of Americans are untroubled by revelations about the National Security Agency’s dragnet collection of the phone records of millions of citizens, without any individual suspicion and regardless of any connection to a counter-terrorism investigation. Perhaps the lack of a broader sense of alarm is not all that surprising when President Obama, Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Democratic chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee, and intelligence officials insist that such surveillance is crucial to the nation’s anti-terrorism efforts.

But Americans should not be fooled by political leaders putting forward a false choice. The issue is not whether the government should vigorously pursue terrorists. The question is whether the security goals can be achieved by less-intrusive or sweeping means, without trampling on democratic freedoms and basic rights. Far too little has been said on this question by the White House or Congress in their defence of the NSA’s dragnet. The surreptitious collection of “metadata” — every bit of information about every phone call except the wordby-word content of conversations — fundamentally alters the relationship between individuals and their government. Tracking whom Americans are calling, for how long they speak, and from where, can reveal deeply personal information about an individual.

Using such data, the government can discover intimate details about a person’s lifestyle and beliefs — political leanings and associations, medical issues, sexual orientation, habits of religious worship, and even marital infidelities. Daniel Solove, a professor at George Washington University Law School and a privacy expert, likens this program to a Seurat painting. A single dot may seem like no big deal, but many together create a nuanced portrait.

The effect is to undermine constitutional principles of personal privacy and freedom from constant government monitoring.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, challenging the program’s constitutionality, and it was right to do so. The government’s capacity to build extensive, secret digital dossiers on such a mass scale is totally at odds with the vision and intention of the nation’s framers who crafted the Fourth Amendment precisely to outlaw indiscriminate searches that cast a wide net to see what can be caught. It also attacks First Amendment values of free speech and association. In a democracy, people are entitled to know what techniques are being used by the government to spy on them, how the records are being held and for how long, who will have access to them, and the safeguards in place to prevent abuse. Only then can they evaluate official claims that the correct balance between fighting terrorism and preserving individual liberty has been struck, and decide if they are willing to accept diminished privacy and liberty. If Americans have been slow to recognize the dangerous overreach of the NSA’s phone surveillance, it is largely because they have scant information to judge the government’s conduct.

Even if most Americans trust President Obama not to abuse their personal data, no one knows who will occupy the White House or lead intelligence operations in the future. The government’s capacity to assemble, keep and share information on its citizens has grown exponentially since the days when J. Edgar Hoover, as director of the FBI, collected files on political leaders and activists to enhance his own power and chill dissent. Protections against different abuses in this digital age of genuine terrorist threats need to catch up.

— The New York Times To bear many children is considered not only a religious blessings but also an investment. The greater their number, some Indians reason, the more alms they can beg.

—Indira Gandhi Indian stateswoman

Implications of Karzai’s visit to India Voice of the People provides limited military assistance to Afghanistan, mainly in Muhammad Munir the form of training Afghan security personnel, under the biEmail: munirwarsi@yahoo.com lateral strategic partnership agreement of 2011.

Although Pakistan is not amid Karzai, President of Af against constructive Indian involveghanistan visited India from ment in Afghanistan especially in re20th to the 22nd May 2013. construction and economic developInterestingly his visit coincided with ment, however, Pakistan is extremely Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to In- sensitive to India’s involvement in dia. It was his second visit to India military and security fields. Pakistan during the last six months. The visit will never accept any military presbecame critical due to various rea- ence of India even for the purpose of sons. First the visit took place side training of Afghan National Security by side the visit of Chinese premier Forces. Secondly, Pakistan is very that make it more significant to un- much concerned on arms supply to derstand the connection between the Afghanistan by India when the Aftwo visits. Second, the visit came at ghan Security forces are in conflict a time when relations between Af- with Pakistan. There is an apprehenghanistan and Pakistan were tense sion in Pakistan that the weapons due to border clashes between the supplied by India would be utilized security forces of the two countries. against Pakistan rather than the Third the visit became more critical Taliban. Many in Pakistan believe in terms of its motives- to enhance that India’s expanding role in AfIndia’s military role in Afghanistan ghanistan is aimed at destabilizing under the cover of strategic partner- Pakistan from the rear. ship agreement of 2011.

Afghan security forces have The two main demands in since asked for better equipment to Kabul’s “wish list” to India were to deal with the border threat w. An ofget military assistance in the shape ficial said that during the trip to New supply of defence equipments /weap- Delhi the Afghan delegation would ons as well as training of the Afghan explore the possibility of equipping National Security Forces (ANSF) by the army with Indian artillery. A the Indian Armed Forces. According NATO diplomat in Kabul said Afto media reports Mr Karzai in his ghanistan was also seeking to build wish list has sought 105 mm artillery, up its air force and had sought airmedium-lift aircraft, bridge-laying craft to beef up border defenses, “The equipment and trucks. India already Afghans are taking the border prob-

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lem very seriously. They have asked us for equipment ... emotions are very high,” the diplomat said. The fresh strains in Pakistan’s ties with Afghanistan come at a time when hopes for an improvement in its relations with India have risen following the election of the businessfriendly Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He is a strong supporter of having good relations with India. In one of his recent statements he emphasized that the mistrust that has long dogged relations with India over a range of issues including Afghanistan must be tackled.

Pakistan also proposed a strategic partnership with Afghanistan and offered military training to the Afghanistan national army, but Kabul has been cool to the idea. Although Pakistan is very important for Afghanistan being immediate neighbor, major trading partner and having 2.5 Afghan refugees. Every day about 50,000 Afghans cross border in view of Afghanistan‘s dependence on Pakistan.One thing that should be clear to both Pakistan and Afghanistan is that the good relations between the two countries are a prerequisite for the success of peace process in Afghanistan.

Both the countries should sincerely consider each other’s concerns and try to settle the issues through talks. The only condition to settle the conflict lies in Afghan led reconciliation and peace process in which the neighboring countries of Afghani-

stan who have stakes in Afghanistan must be given a leading role .Pakistan is the key country that has more stakes than any other country and can play a critical role in reconciliation process with Pushtoon militant groups including Taliban by using tribal elders and religious leaders.

Seeking military aid from India by the Afghan government shows a main shift in her attitude towards the future role of India in Afghanistan .The major implication of this shift would be the continuation of war with Taliban resulting in regional stability. It also shows that Afghan government is not sincere for talks Taliban. The best option for peace in Afghanistan beyond 2014 is negotiated settlement before the withdrawal of NATO/ISAF forces from Afghanistan. To implement this option Afghan Government, instead of preparing for war with Taliban, may initiate an intra Afghan dialogue that should be supported by all the regional countries particularly by the immediate neighbours of Afghanistan. The prospects of the settlement of the Afghan conflict lie in building trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan on one hand and Pakistan and USA on the other hand. Pakistan’s good relations with India will also contribute positively in bringing peace in Afghanistan.

—The writer is working as Research Fellow at IPRI.

Tackling power crisis Waheed Hamid Email:khan007_feroz@yahoo.com

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ower outages of 12 to 20 hours a day have crippled industry and made life miserable for business and households. The previous government poured billions into the sector without eliminating the debt or significantly increasing the supply of electricity. The industry is riddled with corruption and professional losses and depends extensively on oil for power generation, instead of coal, wind or other alternate energy generation power sources. Gas another cheap alternative is presently being misused with losses resulting in huge differences in gas input and electricity output of the power plants.

Pakistan is a unique God gifted country with natural opportunities but lacks direction to fully utilize them.

The quality gas which should be provided to the industries to enhance productivity is being burnt as fuel in vehicles. According to a USAID re-

port, Pakistan has the potential of producing 150,000 megawatts of wind energy, of which only the Sindh corridor can produce 40,000 megawatts. Jhampir, Gharo and Keti Bander are the three areas where Sindh has a huge potential for wind energy. The government sector has failed to enhance electricity generation through increase in water reservoirs for last many decades.

There has been no worthwhile breakthrough in generation through wind or solar energy despite having them in abundance in this part of the world. Water is the cheapest and the best source but the procedures and feasibility require not only heavy budget but a significant time ranging between 8 to 10 years therefore short and mid term measures is what the nation is looking at. However Pakistan does not function only at the mercy of government pursuits, it has proud people, vibrant business community and a dynamic corporate sector. The research and analyses which usually is the domain of government due to its expensive and uncertain

nature has been taken over by a corporate sector leading company in Pakistan.

A leading Fertilizer Company of Pakistan has successfully established and commissioned a 50 MW wind power project at Jhampir in Sindh a few days back. The company with the vision has set a pace for a forward looking, a self sufficient and a power crisis free Pakistan. The work was started as back as 2006 and has just been commissioned to the national grid system. The accomplishment is not that of 50 MW but the fact that this has lead the Turkish and Chinese companies to also invest in the area.

The company also succeeded in construction of 25 out of 33 windmill towers in Pakistan. Reportedly Chinese company is establishing a factory in same area to manufacture and assemble the windmill towers and other accessories.

The windmill has the unique capability to start functioning within one year. Despite being an expensive venture to start with a windmill with life of 20 to 25 years runs almost free

through second half of its life. Pakistan currently subsidizes electricity and charges consumers around 9 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity that costs 12 to 14 cents to produce. The wind may start with 16 cents but is expected to reduce to almost 5 cents or less after 7-8 years of commission. Pakistan is getting support from friendly countries in improving its energy requirements.

Since October 2009, the U.S. has spent $225 million on energy projects in Pakistan, adding more than 900 megawatts to the country’s generation, with schemes for upgrading power plants and dams but the leap of the corporate sector is giant and has much far reaching effects for future of a prosperous Pakistan. Pakistan has all natural indicators to support with a robust workforce which has proved itself when working in foreign environment but at end of day its none else than will and direction of a sincere and selfless leadership which will make the difference and help the Nation overcome the power crisis.

Views From Abroad

A smarter way to deal with China Joseph S Nye Jr

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hina will almost certainly pass the United States in the total size of its economy within a decade or so. But if one looks also at military and “soft power” resources, the US is likely to remain more powerful than China for at least the next few decades. Does it matter? When nations worry too much about power transitions, their leaders may overreact or follow strategies that are dangerous. As Thucydides described it, the Peloponnesian War — in which the Greek city-state system tore itself apart — was caused by the rise in the power of Athens and the fear that created in Sparta. Similarly, World War I, which destroyed the centrality of the European state system in the world, is often said to have been caused by the rise in power of Germany and the fear that created in Britain. (Though the causes of both wars were also much more complex.)

Some analysts predict that a similar scenario will be the story of power in the 21st century: The rise of China

will create fear in the US, which will lead to a great conflict. But that is bad history. By 1900, Germany had already passed Britain in industrial strength. In other words, the United States has more time to deal with China’s growing power than Britain had to deal with Germany’s, and the US does not have to be as fearful. If it were to be too fearful, both sides might overreact. The Chinese, thinking America was in decline, would push too hard, and Americans, worrying about the rise of China, would go too far.

The best way to avoid that is by having a very clear-eyed view of all dimensions of power and how they are changing. The recent Sunnylands summit between President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping was a step in this direction. Another reason it is important not to be too fearful is the diffusion of power. China and the United States — as well as Europe, Japan and other nations — will be facing new transnational challenges on issues such as climate change, terrorism, cyber security and pandemics. These issues, which will only become more urgent, will re-

quire cooperation, including help in many cases from nongovernmental agencies. Obama’s 2010 National Security Strategy referred to the fact that the US has to think of power as positive-sum, not just zero-sum. In other words, there may be times when it is good for the United States (and the world) if Chinese power increases.

Take, for example, China’s power to control and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, the one area where China is undoubtedly a superpower. We should be eager to see China increase its capacities here, including the development of its shale gas reserves.

This is a win-win.

In meeting many of the new transnational challenges, the US has to get away from thinking just about power over others and think about power with others. We do not want to become so fearful that we are not able to find ways to cooperate with China. World politics today is different from that of the last two centuries. It is now like a three-dimensional chess game in which interstate military power is highly concentrated in the United States, interstate economic power is distributed in a multipolar

manner and power over transnational issues such as climate change, terrorism and pandemics is highly diffused. The structure of power is not unipolar, multipolar or chaotic; it is all three at the same time. Thus, a smart strategy must handle different distributions of power in different domains and understand the trade-offs among them.

It makes no more sense to see the world through a purely realist lens — that focuses only on the top chessboard and predicts conflict with China — than it does to see through a liberal lens that looks primarily at a single board and predicts only cooperation. In a tri-level game, a player who focuses on only one board is bound to lose in the long run. Fortunately, China and the United States have more to gain from the cooperation dimension of their relationship than from the conflict one. Both just need to recognize that. The writer is a professor at Harvard University and the author, most recently, of “Presidential Leadership and the Creation of the American Era.” — Courtesy: Los Angeles Times

Easy way out..!

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retty Jiah Khan dead. Hang ing, dangling like a fragile doll from the ceiling fan!

What a terrible sight for those who found her thus. A few miles away, on the same day, in the same city, another girl, as pretty, just nineteen years old was also found hanging by her father who in total horror committed suicide by jumping from the building.

How easy to end your life, but what a waste of opportunity, an opportunity called life.

Most of us dream of a life without problems: A life when there is only peace and calm, a life without turmoil, but do you know the truth? Such a life could be so boring it could lead to depression and despair. Can you imagine sitting at the beach and watching the waves coming at you?

The sound of breakers. How beautiful it sounds!

The first wave you see is spectacular, so also the second, not so much the third and even less the subsequent ones. Slowly the spectacular becomes ordinary and then

boring. For some it may happen in a day, others a few weeks and then comes the longing to get back into the real world.

And what is the real world? A world of problems that need to be solved. Your breakup with your loved one is a problem, the solution to be worked out is either to bring him or her back into your life or to move on.

Your losing a job has the same challenge, find another one or fight for the same one.

Everyday there are dozens of such situations begging for solutions.

And you are the solution giver. Solve a problem and watch yourself becoming stronger. My heart goes out to

the families of both the girls who decided to end their lives, but I have no sympathy for the two.

Remember when you are facing a problem the world watches to see how you succeed in overcoming and when you do, you have not just become a hero but you have shown many the way to fight and win. Most of us dream of a life without problems!

How boring it would be, wave after wave after wave, hour after hour, day by day, killing you gently with boredom. Instead fight the problem, win against challenges and make life interesting and exciting..!

—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Need of social reforms ASIF MEHMOOD Modern inventions have made our life luxurious. But, it is right that we have lost our social values. Each of us wants to get power. As a consequence, we are losing social culture. Lack of education is one major cause of social imbalance.

If we think about previous societies, one can know easily that love, mutual cooperation; justice have been an essential element of our society. Nowadays, there is deficiency of these things. Have we ever thought why these values are diminishing? Why our society has become a victim of injustice and why people do not think about others? Everyone wants power, wealth and high status by hook or by crook whereas Allah has given equal status to all human beings.

There are many reasons behind the hurdle we are facing in making an exemplary society. Role of educational institutes, social welfare institutes, and political leaders’ interest towards nation building is very much necessary. The problem is that, in recent age, neither educational nor social welfare institutions are paying their due role in society. It is said that teacher is the builder of the nation. There is lack of teachers’ interest in spiritual training of their pupil. Then students start their practical life, they do the same.

Similarly, social welfare institution can bring reform for the society but they do not work for awareness. One can examine these institutions then it would be easy to understand that whether these institutions are fulfilling their duties or not. Likewise, there is lack of leadership support. Owing to this, starting program for the betterment of society seems a herculean task.

Newly elected government should pay special attention towards betterment of society and should take measure for the social reforms.

—Attock

Fake mineral water HALLAR HARYANI Today the topic, I want to share with you is “Fake Mineral Water”.As it is time of summer now, it’s soon going to be business time for the water mafia that controls the supply and distribution network of bottled water. A few days back while travelling by bus, when a hawker entered with mineral water bottles; I purchased one and drank it. The water did not taste good. Being doubtful I kept the bottle to get it tested later.

Soon I felt sick and thought to get it tested from laboratory. After getting it tested, I learned that the water was unhygienic. It contained unhealthy bacteria. These swindlers should not be allowed to play with lives of simple and trusting people.

I would like to request government to take serious action against these people by putting an end to this dangerous practice once and for all.

—Via email

Energy crisis NASEER HASHMI The most challenging problem for the newly elected Government is to solve crippling energy crisis specially natural Gas, Numerous Industries in Pakistan have been shutdown due to lack of Natural Gas availability. As a Result Textile Industry has suffered a lot and many of the business have been shifted to other countries. Nowadays we can observe gas load shedding in various cities.

One major reason behind this could be the use of CNG as fuel, more than 7.7 per cent of natural gas is being used for CNG and more than 3.4 million vehicles are converted on CNG. Only public transport and vehicles less than 1000 cc should be allowed on CNG so that House-hold consumers and Industries can get proper supply of gas, Therefore I request the Government to solve this Issue as earliest as possible.

—Karachi

Target killings SANA ADIL I wish to draw readers’ attention to the fact that, every day, we read and see through the media how many innocent people in Karachi are being killed by ‘unknown’ forces. The people who have been killed have done nothing wrong. Their crime — if we can call it that — is that they want their voices to be heard so that they can enjoy freedom in their own city. The government and

The pick for a slot M AHMED

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eople were eagerly looking forward to a great change in the 25member Federal Cabinet which took oath here on Friday that included 16 ministers 9 minister of states. The selection was expected to be free from all type of nepotism, favoritism, sifarish and comprising clean people. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has set aside his own criteria while appointing Capt. Shujaat Azeem as Advisor on aviation. Firstly, the advisor on aviation is not a retired captain but a retired Flight Lieutenant of Pakistan Air Force. Second, he is a big business tycoon and is the CEO of Royal Airport Services at Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar airports. Additionally, he also owns Apollo Telecommunications Pvt Ltd. Will it make any difference having resigned from Royal Airport Services to become advisor? It is just a formality. His appointment is in conflict with his business while he will also be at a disadvantage in discharging his duties when inter-acting with Air Marshals and Air Vice Marshals particularly in the Civil Aviation Authority. There is no dearth of good people in PML-N and it would have been more appropriate to pick up a neutral person for this slot —Karachi law enforcement agencies cannot pretend to be blind and keep quiet without taking drastic measures and serious action against the target killings in Karachi. How long can we wait before action is taken to stop this once and for all? Action is needed now and not tomorrow.

Hence, law enforcement agencies should do their job to restore peace in Karachi.

—Karachi

Five steps to prosperity B A MALIK Pakistan is only five steps away from becoming one of the greatest nations of the world. The proposed steps are not easy but they are indispensable for a poverty free Pakistan and a tension free South Asia. Terrorism, corruption, energy shortage, church state conflict and conflict prone South Asian region are the principal stumbling blocks on the rough road to peace and progress. Religious scholars from across the board must take on the scourge of extremism without ifs and buts. Corruption free government can set the tone for a society embedded in honesty.

Energy shortage can be overcome by the rich by shedding extra fat they have accumulated since independence. If we have to join the developed democratic world the relations between the church and the state must be settled on the basis of August 11/47 speech of the founder of Pakistan. South Asia including Iran must be developed into an economic community on the pattern of European Union .The nation must rally behind Nawaz Sharif to turn dreams into reality without delay. If we want our endangered sovereignty to be respected by the world this is the time to move forward after wasting 66 years in wilderness.

—Islamabad

Rise of Oprah Winfrey AHMED ZIA Her real name was Orpah Winfrey (named after the Biblical character in the book of Ruth) but people pronounced it with difficulty so she changed it to Oprah. Oprah was born to a single mother in rural Mississippi in extreme poverty but later raised in Milwaukee. She and her mother lived with her grandmother who taught her to read the bible, hence she was nicknamed “the preacher” by her fellows. She and her mother later moved to Milwaukee but her mother could not afford to keep her so she was sent to live with her biological father at 8. This was a very miserable period of her life.

She claims to be molested by her cousin, uncle and a friend of her father’s. Owing to these circumstances she ran away and went back to her mother when she was 13. She was enrolled in Lincoln High School but soon won a scholarship and was transferred to an elite Nicolet High School. There she fell in the hands of some bad company which had a negative impact on her personality.

She started arguing with her mother and stealing from her, so her mother sent her back to her father in Nashville, Tennessee. Even though her father was a strict person, he did not compromise on education; he enrolled her in East Magnet High School. She was a brilliant student and after graduating high school she joined Tennessee State University.

In order to pay for her fees and other expenses she had to work along with her education. She started with a couple of odd jobs, which included working at different grocery stores. She then joined a local radio station (WVOL) and started doing evening news. From there she became the first ever black television news anchor at WLAC-TV. After sometime she moved to Chicago and was given the opportunity to host AM-Chicago, a morning talk show, for a week. During that week

she was able to boost its ratings from the lowest to the highest which gave her a position to negotiate for her own show.

The Oprah Winfrey Show was aired for the first time in 1986 and remained on air for the next 25 years! She became a beloved personality in millions of hearts and her talk show remained the highest rated talk show throughout its run for 25 years, and used to get at least 10 million views per show, from the U.S alone.

This is what Time magazine wrote about her show: “Few people would have bet on Oprah Winfrey’s swift rise to host of the most popular talk show on TV. In a field dominated by white males, she is a black female of ample bulk. As interviewers go, she is no match for, say, Phil Donahue [...] What she lacks in journalistic toughness, she makes up for in plainspoken curiosity, robust humor and, above all empathy. Guests with sad stories to tell are apt to rouse a tear in Oprah’s eye [...] They, in turn, often find themselves revealing things they would not imagine telling anyone, much less a national TV audience. It is the talk show as a group therapy session.”

She is an extremely influential personality and the ability of her opinion to affect the opinion of the general public has been known as the Oprah Effect. Her open support for Barrack Obama in 2008 delivered over 1.5 million votes in his favor.

Within a month of the September 11 attacks, she aired an episode of her talk show named Islam 101, in which she portrayed Islam as the religion of peace and one of the least understood religions of the world.

From 2004 to 2006 she was the only black billionaire in the world and was also the first black female billionaire. She now owns many huge estates and lives an extremely luxurious life and to imagine from what she has grown is truly inspirational.

—Karachi

Fame and death BAILA RIAZ What we usually think? Celebrities, famous people, people who are always are on the top of the sizzling news are the happiest creature on earth. Right? But the incident describes something else here. According to the news: Jiah Khan, a bollywood actress who performed opposite Amitabh Bachan and Amir Khan in different movies was found breathless in her room, hanging.

Daughter of Michael Jackson, Paris Jackson tried killing herself by cutting her wrist. Two very famous celebrities are not happy with their life? Why? They have money, fans, luxury etc. Why they want to get rid of such an amazing life?

“Money cannot buy you happiness”, A says a very famous saying.

Fame and death, two totally different things. This is what I am talking about. Life is a story of up’s and down’s. No creature on this is earth is just happy or sad. God has blended our lives in the sweetness of happiness and bitterness of sorrows. The strongest and the auspicious person is one who intelligently deals with his happiness and sorrows and does let them affect his life in a wrong way. Ending up your life on basis of continuous failures or not being able to attend some concert, like Jiah Khan and Paris Jackson did, is totally worth less. Life is of course precious and it is not meant to be overwhelmed without accomplishing the mission you are given by God. Killing yourself is not more than an absurdity. Humans need to be strong enough to manage with all types of situations.

—Karachi

READERS are requested to type their letters legibly with double spacing and only on one side of the paper.

—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

5,000 new doctors, 4,500 nurses to be inducted during 2013-14 ISLAMABAD—The government has planned to induct 5,000 new doctors, 500 dentists, 4,500 nurses, 5,500 paramedics and 500 traditional birth attendants in various hospitals.

According to government’s Annual Plan for health sector (2013-14), 10 rural health centres (RHC) and 45 basic health units (BHU) will be established besides upgrading 15 existing RHCs and 40 BHUs. Under the preventive program, about eight million children will be immunized and 23 million packets of ORS will be distributed during 2013-14 throughout the country.

The government will consolidate the existing health facilities instead of creating new infrastructure and focus would be on strengthening primary health care facilities based on the recommended yardsticks.

During the year, the emphasis will be to upgrade THQ and DHQ hospitals as well as establishment of new ones besides provision of equipment in BHUs and rehabilitation of rural health centres.

The government has proposed social health insurance schemes in KhyberPakhtunkhwa with the financial assistance of german development partners that would initially cover four districts.

Multi-sector strategy has been adopted in provinces and federal territories to reduce malnutrition based on provincial nutrition guidance note, an integrated national nutrition policy will be developed.

Universal Salt iodization (USI) will be expanded further in eight salt producing districts of Sindh, taking the total number of districts with USI to 110 and covering 100% salt production in the country.

Food security and social safety net measures such as Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and Pakistan Baitul-Mall will continue through cash incentives to the poorest.

Micronutrient supplementation, nutrition counseling and awareness programs through LHWs in primary health care system will continue across the country to raise awareness of women of child bearing age.—APP

Qarz-e-Hasna From Page 1 Referring to the programmes for good governance‚ the finance minister said Parliamentarians Works Program-1 will continue and an amount of five billion rupees is being allocated for this program to ensure development activities at the grassroots level‚ while the Public Works Programmes-II is being stopped forthwith.

Ishaq Dar said the ministry of finance has issued necessary instructions for immediate ceasing of secret service expenditures and return of unspent balances. Similarly‚ the proposed allocations for next year are being cancelled. However‚ such secret service expenditures will be made only to the agencies connected with the national security.

The finance minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had withdrawn exemption on tax free imports of luxury vehicles for VVIPs. However‚ the previous governments allowed such vehicles without duty. —NNI

Federal Budget unveiled 5,000 from Rs 3,000.

GDP growth rate target for FY 2013-14 has been projected at 4.8 percent and revenue target at Rs2.475 trillion. The nontax income will be Rs800 billion Customs duty on water filtration equipment is proposed to be decreased while the people’s works program renamed as Tamir-e-Watan Pakistan program. Dar said that the auction for 3G technology will be held soon and the borrowing from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will be reduced.

The defence department has been allocated Rs 627 billion.

The rate of inflation will be kept under single digit and its targeted rate for FY 2013-14 has been fixed at 9.5 percent.

The finance minister said the government will take strict measures to bring down fiscal deficit which will definitely lead to control in inflation. The fiscal deficit which is 8.8 percent of the GDP will be brought down to 4 percent in the next three years.

He said that the first priority of the government would be to make the country self-reliant, saying, “We need self-reliant economy to run the affairs of the country.” He said that the government would not involve in over-spending as the previous government has miserably failed to follow this policy which caused huge damage to the economy. He was of the view that doing business was not the job of the government so it would make the private sector center of economic activities and introduce reforms in the market system.

He said that the government would not involve in business, however, it would only intervene in sectors where private sector has limitation particularly in education, health, population and huge infrastructure development sectors. He said that the government would also improve infrastructure particularly in the energy sector.

The Finance Minister said the government introduced the concept of a medium term plan for improvement of economy.

According to Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework (MTMF), by 2015-16, Gross

From Page 1 Domestic Product (GDP) rate would be increased to 7 percent, inflation will be brought down to single digit, investment to GDP will be increased to 20 percent and fiscal deficit will be reduced to 4 percent. While describing the salient features of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), he said Pakistan has abundant water resources and it inherited a countrywide system of irrigation and dams at the time of partition, followed by building of Mangla and Tarbela dams which are lifeline of economy.

The government has allocated Rs59 billion for water projects including expansion of Mangla and Tarbela dams, Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Gomal Zam Dam and various other dams and irrigation projects, he added. The Minister informed the House that Rs225 billion have been allocated for energy sector in which Rs160 billion was allocated in the PSDP and Rs65 billion revenue would be generated by Gencos and Discos.

Funds have been allocated for Neelum Jhelum Dam, Thar coal, Chashma nuclear power plant, modernization of power stations and building of grid stations, he added.

The Minister said the federal government would provide Rs21 billion to the health sector for programmes of immunization, mother child care, family planning, reduction of blindness, and other national programmes.

The federal government, he said, would also assist the provinces in population welfare projects.

Ishaq Dar expressed disappointment that during the last five years, investment in industrial sector decreased and the sector grew on average only 1.8 percent.

The industrial sector is the mainstay of the economy and engine of economic growth and job creation, he said adding, laws would be improved to make the export processing zones more attractive for investors and Special Industrial Zone in Gwadar would be given more incentives.

Calling human resource development vital for the national

economy, he said total allocations for development of human capital would be Rs57 billion and Rs18 billion is allocated for higher education. According to a study, number of students in higher education will increase from one million to 1.2 million and 6200 scholarships would be provided to bright students. Referring to the building of unprecedented Islamabad-Lahore Motorway by the PML-N government in 1997-99, the Finance Minister said Rs63 billion have been allocated for building of highways and roads. He said roads in far flung areas, link roads and farms to market roads are essential to create economic opportunities and alleviate poverty.

One of the government’s main strategic project would be to link Gwadar Port to the Northern Areas making Gwadar a gateway to Central Asia and access point for markets of Europe, the Minister said. He said Rs31 billion was allocated for railway to improve a mode of transportation, which was remarkable at the time of partition, but now it is in shambles. “Destruction of railway is not acceptable for us,” he remarked.

He said governments around the world were making investments in railway as it was considered environment friendly but here in Pakistan, railway affairs were in a bad state due to lack of resources, falling revenues and absence of double tracks.

The minister said the state of affairs is so bad that government allocates Rs34 billion for pay and pension of the railway employees every year.

Pakistan Railways is not a poor department and it connects the far flung areas of the country but there is a need to considerably improve its working, he added. He said the railway employees were disappointed but the problem was not of resources and things could be changed through leadership and vision.

“We are determined to restructure railway and rebuild it as a grand department.” With a law of Parliament, Pakistan Railways would be turned into a corporation run by a board of directors, comprising professionals and experts.

Rs 18490 mln allocated for Education, Training Division ISLAMABAD—The government has earmarked Rs. 18490 million for the projects of Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the year 2013-14.

According to the budgetary document issued here Wednesday, a total of Rs 15928.627 has been allocated for ongoing schemes while Rs. 2561.373 has been allocated for the new schemes.

Among the ongoing schemes, Rs. 1400 million has been allocated for Overseas Scholarships for MS/ M Phil leading to Ph.D in selected fields while Rs. 740 million has been allocated for Human Resource Development Initiative MS leading to Ph.D Programme of Faculty development for Engineering Universities.

An amount of Rs. 739 million has been allocated for Indigenous PhD Fellowships for 5000 scholars while Rs 700 million has been earmarked for Establishment of New Campus of Jalozai Khyber Pakhtunkhwa University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar. An amount of Rs.650 million has been allocated for Strengthening of University of

Engineering and Technology, Lahore while Rs.550 million has been earmarked for PhD Scholarships for 5000 scholars.

An amount of Rs. 450 million has been allocated for Infrastructure Development of COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology, Islamabad campus, while Rs. 350 million for Development of Imminent Academic and Support Facilities at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad and Strengthening of NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi each.

An amount of Rs 250 million has been allocated for Upgradation of University College of Engineering and Technology Mirpur while Rs. 215 million has been allocated for Strengthening and Development of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro.

An amount of Rs 200 million has been allocated for Construction of 3-Hostel Blocks at International Islamic University Islamabad, Establishment of Grid Station at sector H-12 Islamabad for National University of Science and Technology, Establishment of

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Benazirabad, Sindh and Strengthening and Upgradation of UET Taxila each.

Among the new schemes, Rs.350 million has been earmarked for Youth Laptop Scheme for ICT, AJK, GB and FATA while an amount of Rs 200 million has been allocated for Construction of UET Lahore Campus at Narowal and Strengthening Faculties of Lahore College for Women University each.—APP

Discretionary From Page 1 the national kitty annually.

It merits mentioning here that the discretionary funds of the prime minister for development projects have also been abolished. —INP

Velayati eyes Iran’s presidency DUBAI—With the ear of Iran’s supreme leader as the “real foreign minister” behind the scenes, Ali Akbar Velayati has long tended to the Islamic Republic’s prickly relations with the West and now hopes to put his diplomacy to use as president.

Although a loyal conservative, the 67-year-old foreign affairs adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he wants to soften the confrontational tone taken by outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since 2005, if not the policies.

Khamenei says he backs no candidate in Friday’s election.

But with Iran needing relief through negotiations from crippling sanctions imposed over its nuclear activities, Velayati offers deep experience without presenting a threat to Khamenei’s grip.

“Velayati can act with more elegance, grace and experience,” said a Western diplomat based in Tehran. “Ultimately, the leader doesn’t want a strong president who acts independently and Velayati has no power base of his own.”

Leaked U.S. diplomatic cables say Velayati has presided over attempts to establish direct relations between Khamenei with France and Saudi Arabia in recent years to “counter-balance President Ahmadinejad’s hard line”. Other cables foresee him in a central role in any future en-

Energy crisis From Page 1 modern express way from Gwadar to Kashgar which will be modern version of Karakoram highway. It will open a new era of development in the region.

The Finance Minister said Railways which will the most reliable mode of transportation was also destroyed but the new government has decided to rehabilitate and upgrade railway network and its infrastructure. He said a comprehensive plan is being chalked out under which railway will be made a independent corporation which will be governed by a board of governors.

He said under this plan all railway assets will be utilised through public-private partnership. He said signalling system of railway will also be modernised. He said feasibility study to link Pakistan with Afghanistan and China through rail will worked out. He said similarly Karachi circular railway project will be launched through Japanese technical and financial assistance. —NNI

Salient From Page 1  Adjustable taxes will be levied on small businesses  Adjustable withholding tax is being introduced for wedding ceremonies  Special economic zones will be launched  From the next fiscal year corporate tax should be decreased to 30 percent  Steps should be taken to set up a system which collects taxes from those who do not pay them  10 percent increase in pension has been approved  Trade ties will be enchased with our neighbours  Rs 8 billion allocated for social welfare  Ashiana Housing scheme would also be launched in other provinces like Punjab  Work on Karachi Circular Railway is underway with the assistance of Japan and it will be completed soon  Rs 31 billion have been earmarked for Railways  The problem of Pakistan Railways is mismanagement. On the advise of the prime minister, the Railways Minister is working on a revival program  Arrangements to link Gawadar to northern areas of the country  Rs 225 billion of the development budget has been allocated for the energy sector  Rs 340 billion earmarked for development projects  Income Support Fund will continue. The amount will be increase to Rs 75 billion which is an 80 percent increase.  There will reforms in state owned enterprises. The first step is to appoint professional managers who will be appointed on the basis of merit  Employment opportunities will be created in the private sector  3G licenses will be sold in a transparent manner within the current fiscal year  Nadipur project to be completed in 1.5 years  Sales tax increased from 16 to 17 percent  Prime Minister’ office expenses reduced by 45 percent. Ban on purchase of new vehicles for Prime Minister office  Pension increased to 10 percent. The minimum pension will be Rs5000 from Rs 3000.  Growth rate remained 1 percent  Circular debt increased to 250 percent in past five years  The average rate of inflation remained 13 percent in past five years.—APP

Budget From Page 1 ers escaped taxation. Sattar was also critical over the lack of agricultural tax.

“The sales tax on the people, we reject it and we will oppose it.” Sattar, who had presented his party’s shadow budget on Tuesday, said there was no scheme listed that would bring 30 million potential tax payers into the fold. “FBR and NADRA should have been made to answer on this” “There was no increase in earnings nor the rich were asked to give sacrifices.”

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Shireen Mazari said that this was not a social welfare budget, rather it was a “businessman’s budget.”

Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Pakistan People’s Party’s Khursheed Shah also criticised the increase in sales tax saying it would affect not only the poor man living in the villages, but also in the cities.

Allocations for 41 ministries From Page 1 allocated Rs 18,490 million as compared to Rs 15,052 million last year.  The Housing & Works Division has got Rs 3,779.7 million this year while the Human Rights Division has been allocated Rs 78 million.  The Industries Division has been given Rs 779.8 million.

The Information & Broadcasting Division has been allocated Rs 492.8 million as compared to Rs 422.3 million last year.  The Information Technology & Telecommunication Division has been allocated Rs 927.1 million while the Interprovincial Coordination (IPC) has been given Rs 437.6 million.  The Interior Division has been given Rs 6,259.2 million as compared to Rs 6,349.8 million last year.  The Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit Baltistan Division has been allocated Rs 29,590 million while Law Justice & Parliamentary Affairs Division has been given Rs 2,364 million.  The Narcotics Control Division has been alloacted Rs 326.3 million while National

Food Security & Research Division has been given Rs 750 million.  The National Heritage & Integration Division has been earmarked Rs 12 million while National Health Services Regulations & Coordination Division has been allocated Rs 25,739.2 million.  The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has been allocated Rs 52,300 million while the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority has got Rs 316 million.  The Petroleum & Natural Resources Division has been allocated Rs 50 million while the Planing & Development Division has been given Rs 10,658.6 million.  The Ports & Shipping Division has been earmarked Rs 500 million and the Production Division has got Rs 1,100 million.  The Railways Division has been earmarked Rs 30,964.9 million as compared to Rs 20,707.3 million last year.  The Revenue Division has been allocated Rs 533.3 million while the Science & Technologi-

cal Research Division has been given Rs 2,172.6 million.  The States & Frontier Regions Division has been earmarked Rs 18,500 million while Statistics Division has got Rs 220 million.  SUPARCO has been earmarked Rs 700 million while Textiles Industries Division has been allocated Rs 315 million.  Rs 114,482 million has been earmarked for WAPDA and NHA corporations. Out of the total amount, WAPDA will get Rs 51,443.4 million and NHA Rs 63,038.6 million.  Another Rs 540,000 million has been earmarked for Special Programmes, New Development Initiatives and ERRA. Out of the total amount, Rs 5,000 million has been allocated for special programmes and Rs 115,000 for new development initiatives. Both are new heads as no amount had been earmarked for any of the two last year.  ERRA has also been allocated Rs 10,000 million this year.  Rs 615,000 million has been dedicated for the four provinces also.—APP

Political transition more concerning than security transition: Fahim Saira signs singing KABUL—The first Vice-President of Afghanistan, Marshall Mohammad Qasim Fahim while speaking at the National Governors’ Conference on Tuesday, informed that he had spoken to President Karzai about changing the political system of Afghanistan. He reminded Karzai about the creation of a political system in the country which is accountable for fulfilling the needs of the countrymen.

Marshall Mohammad Qasim Fahim warned that for the residents of the country, political transition is more concerning than security transition. Fahim also mentioned that these concerns are further aggravated by some pro-US elements.

“The other day, Isaf Commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Dunford came to me and we talked for two hours. In the end, he asked me - people are concerned about the security transition, how can we address their concern? I told him the people are not concerned about the security transition they are more concerned about the political

transition and the seeds for such concerns are sown by those who have connections with you,” Qasim Fahim said.

Considering the current situation of Afghanistan, changing its political system is also being considered as a solution. Marshall Fahim said that he had talked to President Karzai about it.

Regarding changing the political system, Marshall Mohammad Qasim Fahim said, “I talked to President Karzai and asked him to set up a political system in which nobody insults the system. The system should also have a Prime Minister, elected by the people.”

The first Vice-President also emphasized on the issue of weapons possessed by the Mujahideens and said that if the next government is formed without the Mujahideen’s support and it tries to investigate the past activities of the Mujahideens, they might fight back as they are still armed. Previously, several political experts had suggested changing the political system of the country.—NNI

Rain adds to Australia’s anguish BIRMINGHAM—Rain provided further frustration for Australia, on a day when they dropped David Warner for a bar-room attack on England’s Joe Root, as their Champions Trophy match against New Zealand ended in a no result.

Yesterday’s wash-out at Edgbaston left defending champions Australia facing a tough battle to qualify for the semi-finals. New Zealand, chasing 244 to win, were on 51 for two off 15 overs when rain stopped play in the Group A clash.

Under the Duckworth/Lewis system for rain-affected matches, a minimum of 20 overs had to be bowled in the second innings for either side to win this fixture. But the umpires decided no further play was possible.

The first no result of the tournament saw both sides take a point apiece. That left New Zealand with three points after their one-wicket win over Sri Lanka and gave Australia their first point of this event after a 48run loss to hosts England at Edgbaston last week. Australia, already without captain Michael Clarke because of a recurrence

agreement with Bhurbun Hotel STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Famous singer Saira Arshad is on tour here in connection with lots of offers from different companies to perform.

The management of Bhurbun Hotel signed an agreement with her for one year and a function is going to be held on 15th of June in hotel premises.

A f t e r agreement with the hotel management, lots of companies are approaching her to sign agreement with them. Her second album is also near completion and she is working hard day and night on it for early launching.

World Blood Donor Day 2013 STAFF REPORTER

I SLAMABAD —World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on 14th June in the world.

In this regard, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences is also celebrating on June 13, 2013 at MCH Auditorium.

German Funding Donoras (GIZ, KFW), Secretary CADD, other officers from M/O CADD, will also attend the seminar.

Programme will be hosted by Prof Hasan Abbas Zaheer, Incharge Blood Transfusion Services, PIMS and Head of Safe blood Transfusion Programme.

Prof Iqbal Memon, Administrator PMKS, Dr Aysha Esani Majeed Deputy Executive Director, Members of Hospital Transfusion Committee, Members of Joint Action Committee Muhammad Hanif, Tanveer Naushahi, Shahid Khattak, Malik Tahir Awan, Ch Tahir Wirk, Pervaiz Pitris, Mirza Muhammad Akmal, M Iqbal Khurshhal, Rabnawaz Rabban, Sharif Khattak, Malik Naseer Awan, Naz Perveen, Azra Shaheen, Nusrat Shaheen, Farzana and Anwar Masih and other respected members will also attend the seminar and donate the blood.

of his longstanding back problem, suffered a fresh blow before play started when opening batsman Warner was dropped as a disciplinary measure.

Warner was left out following allegations he had physically assaulted Root in a Birmingham bar in the early hours of Sunday morning following the defeat by England. Adam Voges top-scored with 71 in a total of 243 for eight with George Bailey, Australia’s stand-in captain, making 55.

New Zealand left-arm quick Mitchell McClenaghan took four for 65. Australia collapsed to 10 for two in what was a repeat of the 2009 Champions Trophy final they won in South Africa.

Shane Watson was caught behind and Phillip Hughes was run out for nought. But coming in at 10 for two, Bailey calmly repaired the early damage.

New Zealand off-spinner Nathan McCullum (two for 46) checked Australia’s progress with the wickets of Matthew Wade and Bailey. In reply, New Zealand were 26 for two but Kane Williamson and Ross TayFrom Page 1 lor settled things before the match was halted.—Agencies ing tax has been proposed on the function held in hotels‚ clubs‚ marriage halls and restaurants.

He said minimum tax rate is being enhanced from 0.5 percent to one percent of the annual income.

From Page 1 He said tax system for salaployees from 7.5 to 10 per cent Deputy General Secretary of ried persons is being rationalised but later the idea was put aside National Trade Union Federation according to the salaries they rein favour of pensioners.

Pakistan has termed the budget ceive. He said to rationalise tax The finance ministry had ‘IMF-dictated’ to appease the in- on the business persons two primed two proposals for the ternational lenders to get more slabs are being created under government on the matter, loans. which tax rate from 25 percent sources added.

In a statement Wednesday, he will be increased upto 35 perThe first proposal was to link said the new government has at- cent on the income of six milthe increase in salaries with the tacked working people of Paki- lion rupees. annualised rate of inflation, stan with economic drones New ratio of withholding tax which was expected to remain in loaded with withdrawing of sub- on business imports agreements the range of 7.5%. sidies and increase in electricity supplies and services is being Subject to approval, this pro- tariff which would multiply the imposed to promote posal would have increased the miseries many fold of already corporatization. federal government’s expendi- suppressed working class.

To ensure receipt of agriculture by almost Rs15 billion.

“We strongly condemned the ture tax‚ it has been proposed that Had the proposal been ap- anti-people intention of new gov- agriculture credit will only be isproved, over half of ernment policy to increase the sued to those growers who pay government’s estimated expendi- sales tax and increase the fee on provincial agriculture tax. He tures for the next fiscal year education while award enormous said five percent additional sales would have gone in the payment incentives to big businesses and tax is proposed to impose on unof salaries. corporate circles by slashing the registered industrial and comThe second proposal was to tax slab for them.” mercial electricity connections. increase the salaries by 10%, He said it was a cruel joke Ishaque Dar said to overwhich would have increased the with millions of salaried employ- come revenue shortage it is proamount of expenditure on federal ees who have been facing the posed to increase stranded rate of salaries by Rs20 billion, sources ever-growing inflation but didn’t sales tax from sixteen to sevensaid. Meanwhile, Nasir Mansoor, get any increase in their salaries. teen percent.— NNI

Budget disappoints

No new tax

Pakistan women beat India to win maiden BFAME bridge crown KARACHI—Pakistan women’s team created history on Tuesday night when they won their first-ever title in 17th Bridge Federation of Asia and Middle East (BFAME) by beating favourites India 94-53 International Match Points (IMPs) in the final in Ahmedabad.

Rubina Agha’s Pakistan team maintained their sterling show by whipping experienced India team in 17th edition of the championship and thus qualified for Venice Cup to be held in Bali (Indonesia) in September, according to details made available by Mind Sports Association of

Punjab wins national netball title L AHORE —Punjab outshone Sindh 21-14 goals to claim the title of National Inter Provincial Netball Championship on Wednesday at Mini Sports Complex, Nazimabad, Karachi.

Pakistan Netball Federation, in collaboration with Sindh Netball Association organized the event ,said the information made available here.

Yasir Mehmood (GS) and Shahzad Sultan (GA) from Punjab showed the outstanding performance.

In a classification match Khyber PakthoonKhaw (KPK) outplayed Fata 16-12 to secure the third place.

The technical officials namely Khalid Parvez, Qudsia Raja, Shazia Yousaf, Uzma Waqar, Farheen, Anwar Ahmed, Jamal Ahmed & Yasir Javed supervised the matches.—APP

Pakistan on Wednesday.

It was history making performance as Pakistan women team was consisted of three generations Grand mother Qudsia Doosa, daughter Rubina Hai and grand daughter Fatima Raza.Other members of the team included Roshan Ara Bokhari and Zeenat Azwer.

Pakistan team enjoying the carryover of eight Victory Points won both their segment in the final.In the opening segment they beat India 49-28 and chalked out 37-25 triumph in the second segment.

Pakistan women team

dominated the 32-board final against India team comprising of Hema Deora, Marianne Karmarkar, Rita Choski, Bharati Dey, Tutu Narula and Asha Surana.

Pakistan women’s team by virtue of their triumph grabbed winning the Vinodini Goenka Trophy.

India won the open title by defeating Bahrain by 11756 IMPs while India also won the seniors cup.

Finalist in the open event India and Bahrain also qualified for the Bermuda BowlWorld Bridge Championship schedule to be held in Indonesia.

In the meantime former

Presidents of Pakistan Bridge Federation Khurshid Hadi and Tariq Rasheed Khan have congratulated Pakistan women team for achieving great triumph against archrival.

“Its historic triumph and big boost for Pakistan women’s bridge in the country”, Tariq Rasheed commented.

Pakistan team will be returning to Karachi on Thursday afternoon after taking part in the championship.

National Open and Seniors were unable to give any notable performance in the BFAME championship.—APP

Asif loses match-fixing appeal L ONDON (United King- was detained for six months lenged the ICC bans at the dom)—Three Court of Appeal judges in London on Wednesday rejected an appeal by Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif against his conviction for spot-fixing.

In their ruling, the judges said they were “not persuaded that there are any grounds, arguable or otherwise, for attacking the safety of the convictions of this applicant (Asif)”.

“The renewed applications are accordingly dismissed,” they added.

Fast bowler Asif, 30, was released from jail in May last year after serving half of a 12month sentence for his part in a plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in a Test match against England at Lord’s in 2010.

Former captain Salman Butt was jailed for 30 months, while promising young bowler Mohammad Aamer

in a young offenders’ institution.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) governing

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but the Lausannebased body in April rejected their appeals.

The spot-fixing plot, which was uncovered by the now-defunct News of the World newspaper, was one of the biggest scandals to hit cricket in years and also led to the conviction of their London-based agent.

The Court of Appeal rejected challenges by Butt and Aamer against their sentences in November 2011.

In his ruling Lord Chief Justice Igor Judge, the head of the judiciary in England and Wales, said the players had “betrayed the country which they had the honour to represent and betrayed the sport that had given them their distinction—and of course bebody also banned the trio trayed all the very many folfrom cricket for five years. lowers of the game throughAsif and Butt both chal- out the world”.—AFP

Rain stops play in Australia-New Zealand match BIRMINGHAM—New

Zealand were 51 for two, needing a further 193 runs to reach their victory target of 244, when rain stopped play at 3.40pm local time (1440GMT) in their Champions Trophy Group A match against Australia at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Kane Williamson was 18 not out and Ross Taylor unbeaten on nine.

Only 15 overs had been bowled in New Zealand’s inSean St. Ledger found the Mata sealed the victory left post and sliding a shot nings thus far, with a mininet, but teammate Simon Cox in the 88th, collecting a pass past substitute goalkeeper mum of 20 required to allow either side to win this match. was adjudged offside. from Santi Cazorla toward the Darren Randolph.—AFP Defending champions Australia made 243 for eight with Adam Voges top-scoring with 71 and stand-in captain George Bailey, who won the toss, 55.

Australia were without both captain Michael Clarke, following a recurrence of the star batsman’s back injury, and opener David Warner, dropped as a disciplinary measure for a bar-room attack on England’s Joe Root in the early hours of Sunday morning following their 48-run loss to England at Edgbaston on Saturday.—AFP

Spain beat Ireland in Confed Cup build up

NEW YORK—World Cup and European champions Spain defeated Ireland 2-0 on Tuesday in a friendly football match at Yankee Stadium that served as Spain’s last tuneup for the Confederations Cup. Roberto Soldado in the 69th minute and Juan Mata in the 88th scored for Spain, while goalkeeper Iker Casillas contributed two stellar saves in the second half.

Although Spain controlled the contest, played before 39,368 at the home of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, they had nothing to show for it until the 69th minute.

A poor clearance by Darren O’Dea was picked up

by Alvaro Arbeloa and substitute Soldado fired it past David Forde.

A dogged Ireland had chances to equalize, most impressively in the 81st minute when James McClean got through on the left and fired off a shot that Casillas NEW YORK: Spainish celebrate at the end of an international friendly soccer match at Yankee Stadium. deflected.

Cricket team’s poor, defensive strategy cost another event I S L A M A B A D —Stumbling, out of the park in sheer frus- batsman also known as crumbling and shaky batting technique of the batsmen has once again let down the whole nation shattering the expectations of many, who like always, were keeping high hopes with the national side.

The defensive batting technique of Pakistani players has not only cost champions trophy but also raised many questions, like in the past, on the ability of the batsmen to perform on seaming and bouncy tracks.

What is the logic behind blocking, blocking and blocking, even poor deliveries at the start of the inning, helping the required run rate to soar to almost 9 runs per over, like in the match against South Africa, and then try to hit every ball

EDGBASTON: George Bailey plays a sweep shot during Australia vs New Zealand Champions Trophy Group A match on Wednesday.

tration losing wickets in regular intervals.

It was evident that the national side participated in the event without any homework. Poor team selection, poor and defensive captaincy and irresponsible batting lead to the disastrous champions trophy campaign.

The absence of genuine all-rounders like Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Hammad Azam was also felt whose presence could help balancing team combination.

“It is not for the first time that the batting line-up has collapsed. It has happened on a number of occasions in the past too, but what did the Pakistan Cricket Board has done to rectify the problem,” said Zaheer Abbas, a veteran

Asian Bradman.

Zaheer said the cricket board should hire a batting coach at Under-19 level to groom the players for the national side.

The problem with our players was that they did not know how to adjust with different formats of the game with bat as most of them try to play ODIs in test cricket fashion and vice versa, he added.

Cricket, now a days, has become so fast that old defensive technique is no more useful. Margin of error has reduced to a great extent and that the cricketers have to adopt different playing conditions immediately, otherwise, the result would be no different as witnessed in the recent champions trophy by Pakistan.—APP

KP bt Karachi in National U-16 football L

A H O R E — K h y b e r Pakhtunkhwa scored a narrow 2-1 defeat to Karachi in the national U16 football championship at Kunj Football Stadium, Abbottabad on Wednesday.

KP shot into lead late in the second half as the first half failed to produce any goal.

Aminullah was the scorer in the 67th minutes. They doubled the lead in the 81st minute through Mohammad Ali, said the information made available here.

Karachi scored the face saving goal in the dying stages of the play when Rashid Raza crowed solo efforts.

Youth scored the only goal in the 90+3 minutes of the second half by Rashid Raza. KPK has qualified for the quarter final and so did Karachi despite their loss because of their better position on the points table.—APP

ICC to investigate India’s tri-series

Former SLC chief confirms unknown woman’s presence in hotel-room of team India’s bachelor BIPIN DANI OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT M U M B A I —The

Indian cricket board and the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) may have denied the media report which suggested the presence of a woman sent by a bookmaker in the hotel room of one of the members of Team India during 2010 tri-series (Sri Lanka, India and New Zealand) tour, the former SLC president, Sumathipala has backed I.S.Bindra’s claim.

Speaking exclusively over his mobile from Colombo, he said, “yes, the story was right and the woman stayed in Indian player’s room whole night”.

“I am taking this issue in the Parliament here”, he further added.

The 49-year-old

Thilanga Sumathipala is a Member of Parliament from Colombo district representing UPFA, the ruling Party in Sri Lanka. He presided the Asian Cricket Council (1997/ 1998) and the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (1997/’98, 2000/’01and 2003/ ’04).

“The ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) are likely to take appropriate steps to investigate the matter further”, he revealed.

The incident, which has been caught in the CCTV, is reported to have taken place in Hotel Kandalama, Dambulla, when a woman spent a night prior to the game in one of the player’s room from 10.45 pm to 6.00 am.

The Indian player, whose identity has been withheld to avoid legal issues, is also a prominent member of CSK

team for last six seasons.

The matter was reported

by Lawrence Fernando, the retired Maj Gen, who was attached as a security advisor for the teams. The video footage has also been studied by Sri Lanka police and some senior investigation officers.

Team India manager (Ranjib Biswal) also brought the incident to the notice of BCCI’s N. Srinivasan, who is reported to have suggested the SLC to wrap the matter under carpet.

Two other copies of Fernando’s report were retained by Srinivasan and SLC secretary, Nishantha Ranatunga, for some time, it is also learnt here.

One of the top SLC officials is said to be a local agent for Srini’s cement company, though the same could not be confirmed.

Shahbaz assures people of good governance SALIM AHMED

Tarbela extension project signed ISLAMABAD—A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Ministry of Water and Power for the Tarbela 4 Ex- KARACHI: Members and office-bearers of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry listening to the National Budget tension Project. According to a speech by Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar. spokesman for the ministry‚ the project will be completed in four years in collaboration with international companies. The project upon completion will help generate 1410 megawatts of electricity. World Bank will provide 840 million dollars for STAFF REPORTER the project. —INP

SC declares caretaker govt’s appointments, transfers void

Gas cylinder explosion kills 4

Govt to appointment commission for recruitments in corporations I SLAMABAD —The Supreme Court on Wednesday declared

NAROWAL—Four members of the appointments and transfers a family including two children were killed due to fire in a house a result of gas cylinder explosion here late Tuesday night.

According to rescue sources, the incident took place in a house located in Zafarwal Chowk of tehsil Zafarwal, Narowal district where a gas cylinder exploded with big bang. The three-storey house caught fire after the blast resulting in death of four people including a man, his wife and two daughters. The rescue personnel reached the scene and extinguished the fire in assistance with the dwellers of the area. The bodies were shifted to hospital for medico-legal requirements. —INP

Lawyer’s membership suspended L AHORE —The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Wednesday suspended membership of a bar member on charges of misconduct. According to a LHCBA notice, numerous complains were filed against advocate Muhammad Afaq of misbehaviour, viewing objectionable sites at bar room and others.

The notice further stated that he submitted an apology to the president Lahore High Court Bar Association and made promise to refrain from such acts in future besides confessing involvement in the aforementioned allegations. In violation of his commitment, Advocate Afaq displayed number of notices containing false and frivolous allegation against office bearers of the Bar, LHC Judges and Registrar LHC, it added.—APP

Deployment of wardens KARACHI—The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has given approval of deployment of city wardens in the city before Ramazan under which KMC city wardens along with traffic police would play an active role in order to maintain traffic flow on almost 50 traffic jam locations. According to details, it was decided in the meetings chaired by KMC Metropolitan Commissioner Matanat Ali Khan to utilise the services of city wardens during Ramazan with recommendations and opinions of concerned departments under which city wardens on 50 locations in five districts of the city would perform their services.—APP

Akhtar Mengal’s letter delivered to PM

order by Mir Hazar Khan Khoso in his capacity as caretaker prime minister as void.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, issued the ruling during hearing here on Wednesday.

The Apez Court said that the caretaker Prime Minister and Cabinet were responsible to run day to day affairs. However the caretakers made record 442 appointments, transfers and dismissals. It further said in future there would be no appointment and transfer on personal consideration. However Provincial Chief Secretaries and Inspectors

General Police would be exempt from this verdict.

The court ordered for taking a decision within fifteen days for retention of the transfers and appointments and appointment of a three member commission for transparet appointments of heads of Corporations. The Commission can be headed by Chairman or Federal Ombudsman. The court left at the discretion of the new government the issue of deputation of 100 officers from Balochistan to the Federation.

The Federal government was asked to submit its report with the Registrar Office about its decision.

Moreover, the court said that the federal government had the

ISLAMABAD—Dr. Sajid Tareen, Mr. Sana Baloch, Mr. Abdul Rauf Mengal and Mr. Essa Noori of Balochistan National Party (Mengal) met Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on behalf of the party President Sardar Akhtar Mengal at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif urged the representatives of BNP (M) to play their active role in the national mainstream and lauded their party’s participation in the recently held general elections.

The Prime Minister said that his party offered the post of the Chief Minister Balochistan to Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch despite winning majority seats in the province.

The decision, he said, was taken in the greater interest of the province and the country.

The Prime Minister said that restoring peace and achieving happen if the United States-led economic prosperity was on the allies lose the conflict in Af- top of his government’s agenda. ghanistan, the military officer cited a number of possible implications. “Well, the region will become unstable. Our—I think there will be problems on Pakistan’s border. Iran will be encouraged to become even more regionally aggressive —— we could find a re-emergence of TEL AVIV—Israel has categorically denied media reports of it violent extremist groups.”

However, he stressed that exporting defence equipment to the US is winning in Afghani- Pakistan, Press Trust of India stan. Dempsey noted that the reported on Wednesday.

“Israel does not export dedifference between winning and losing is certainly what the US- fence equipment to Pakistan. led allies do between now and That is our stated policy and is the end of 2014 “but also, I implemented completely,” a sethink, the commitment we make nior foreign ministry official told the PTI. beyond.”—APP

authority to review and retain the appointments and postings ordered by the caretaker government.

It should be mentioned that Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) leader Khawaja Asif, who is now a federal minister for water and power, had moved a petition against the transfers, postings and deputations of senior government officers.

The bench had earlier reserved its ruling on the petition filed by the senior PML-N leader.

The court was informed that 442 officers had been posted out, transferred, promoted, terminated or deputed in different departments by Khoso’s caretaker government.—INP

Pakistan-US ties on the mend: Dempsey WASHINGTON —The United priations, Dempsey acknowlStates is gradually rebuilding its bilateral relationship with Pakistan in the wake of tensions that brewed in 2011, the top American military officer said on Wednesday.

“We are gradually rebuilding our relationship as reflected in the recent signing of a tripartite border document to standardise complementary cross-border operations and will continue to do so with Pakistan’s new leadership following its historic election last month,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Staff of the US military Gen. Martin Dempsey said.

Appearing before the US Senate Committee on Appro-

edged that a defeat in Afghanistan would have fallout for Pakistan and the region.

The General recalled that when he appeared for a testimony last year, the effects of the November 2011 border incident with Pakistan were still fresh, and tensions were as high as any time since the Osama bin Laden raid but things improved through bilateral engagement.

“Measured, but steady civilian-military engagement with Pakistani leadership led to the reopening of the Ground Lines of Communication in July 2012,” he noted.

When Senator Lindsey Graham asked Dempsey what would

Israel denies exporting arms to Pakistan

Myanmar must do more to curb abuses against Rohingya Muslims: UN expert UNITED NATIONS—The fa- Quintana. tal shooting of three Rohingya Muslim women is the latest example of law enforcement officials operating with complete impunity in western Myanmar, a UN expert said Tuesday, while calling on Government authorities to investigate the incident.

The human rights violations being committed against the Rohingya in Rakhine State are widespread and systematic and there continues to be absolutely no accountability for what is occurring there, said the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea

Calling for authorities to investigate all reported violations of human rights against the minority group, he added that there is no way of glossing over this state of affairs with the genuine progress that is being made in other areas. The police reportedly fired indiscriminately on 4 June into a crowd of Rohingyas protesting peacefully against the proposed location of new shelters in Pa Rein village.

Their homes had been destroyed last year during intercommunal violence. In addition to the three women killed, at least five other people were re-

portedly injured. Ojea Quintana said Government authorities have an obligation to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into such accidents and hold those responsible to account.

Since the violence in Rakhine State erupted last June, I have seen absolutely no evidence that the Government is fulfilling this obligation, he added. In his report to the Human Rights Council in March, the Special Rapporteur said he had received consistent and credible allegations of a wide range of human rights violations being committed against the Rohingya and wider Muslim

population in Rakhine State.

These include sweeps against Muslim villages, arbitrary detentions, sexual assault and torture.

Restating the offer he made in the report, Ojea Quintana said that if the Rakhine Investigation Commission fails to properly address such allegations of human rights violations, he will offer his support to the Government to pursue further investigations.

The President of the Human Rights Council, Remigiusz Henczel, is expected this week to make a statement on Myanmar. —APP

serve the people sincerely. He vowed that neither corruption was tolerated earlier nor will be tolerated in future.

He was addressing the first meeting of Punjab cabinet at Committee Room of Civil Secretariat Wednesday. Provincial Ministers, Special Assistants, Advisor, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development, Acting Inspector General Police and Secretaries of various departments attended the meeting.

Congratulating the cabinet members, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that we also bow before Almighty Allah Who bestowed us respect and historic mandate once again. He said he has no hesitation in saying that his previous provincial govern-

ment made sincere efforts for resolution of problems being faced by the people, promotion of merit, elimination of corruption, poverty and unemployment in the province. He said that there are more problems than the resources but his government took concrete measures for resolution of these problems.

Shahbaz Sharif said that our service, transparency and policy of simplicity was before the people and they have given us excellent victory in the elections through their vote keeping in view our best performance. He said that negative propaganda was launched against us through billions of rupees looted through corruption, particularly, he was targeted in person.

Kabul River floods Nowshera, red alert issued

4 US embassy officials detained at airport

LAHORE—Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that due to politics of public service, Pakistan Muslim League-N has got historic mandate and now it has to set new records of public service.

He said that we have to set example of good governance and ensure the rule of law. He said that new examples of hardworking, trust, honesty and simplicity have to be set. The Chief Minister said that we have to come up to the expectations of the people of Pakistan as they have reposed confidence in the leadership and policies of PMLN. He said that the excellent success of PML-N in general elections is unprecedented in the history of the country. Shahbaz Sharif said that due to exemplary performance during the last five years, people have given full mandate to PML-N. He said that if we decide to fully implement the agenda of progress and prosperity of the masses, no hurdle can stop to change the destiny of the province. He said that he will march forward in consultation with the members of Punjab cabinet and serve the masses round the clock. He said that the performance of provincial ministers will be reviewed on monthly basis and only those ministers will remain in cabinet who will show best performance and

PESHAWAR—Water levels of their inundated houses and be- KARACHI—Airport officials Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kabul River rose beyond normal levels in Nowshera and inundated at least 150 houses situated on its banks, prompting the authorities to issue a red alert warning in the area on Wednesday.

The rise in the water levels made more homes near the riverbanks susceptible to being inundated and the locals began to move to safer areas.

In the Hussain Kheli and Mulla Khel localities of KP’s Nowshera district, the residents of the area had spent the previous night on the rooftops of

gan to move out of the affected areas on Wednesday.

According to a report issued by the Flood Cell Peshawar, Kabul River was in medium flood at Warsak with the water flow there being measured at 93,430 cusecs, while the water flow was 1,302,200 cusecs at Nowshera.

Similarly, Indus River was in low flood at Tarbela with a water flow of 272,500 cusecs, while at Attock, the river was at normal levels with its water flow measured at 1,800,059 cusecs.—AP

briefly detained four US embassy officials at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport Wednesday morning who were then sent back to Islamabad.

There was no verbal spat or scuffle. Airport officials confirmed the incident but did not elaborate why the officials were sent back.

A US embassy spokesman confirmed the incident and told media that four embassy officials had reached Karachi from Islamabad on Wednesday morning to meet with officials from the US consulate in Karachi.

Kids’ repeat concussions may mean longer recovery

Y

OUNG people may take longer to recover after their second or third concussion, a new study sug-

gests.

Researchers typically believe the average athlete needs up to two weeks to stop having symptoms - such as headaches and memory problems - after a concussion.

But in the new study, children and young adults who had just suffered their second concussion in the last year took an average of 35 days to get back to normal.

“We have to be cautious in terms of after two weeks, if you still have symptomatic athletes, that you’re not trying to hurry them back,” said Dr. Paul Comper, a concussion researcher from the University of Toronto.“The most important piece of information that comes out of this study is, if you’ve had prior concussions, the 10to 14-day (recovery) thing may be completely out the window,” Comper, who wasn’t involved in the new study, told Reuters Health.He said the findings aren’t totally surprising - it’s clear that multiple head injuries are a bad thing - but they give doctors more information to pass on to their young patients after a concussion.

Studies have been piling up showing the potential harms of concussions among kids (see Reuters Health story of

March 4, 2012 here: reut.rs/yKlv85).

And the apparent suicides of Junior Seau and other professional football and hockey players, some of whose brains showed damage from multiple head injuries, have raised concerns about depression tied to repeat concussions.

The new study included 280 youth, age 11 to 22, who came to the emergency room within a few days of having a concussion. About two-thirds of them were injured playing sports, most commonly hockey, soccer, football and basketball.

After going home, kids filled out up to six questionnaires about their symptoms over the next 12 weeks, and reported the last day they had any concussion-related problems.

Of the 235 kids who completed the study, 68 had a history of concussion.

On average, participants who had never had a concussion before took 12 days to recover from their head injury.

That compared to 24 days among those with at least one past concussion, and 35 days if that prior concussion had been within the last year, the study team reported Monday in Pediatrics.

That finding, the lead author said, gives parents and doctors “even more reason for caution” when deciding how long a child should be kept out of sports or school after a head injury.

ISLAMABAD: A view of encroachments at Faizabad, hampering pedestrian movement.

Airport’s security tightened CITY REPORTER ISLAMABAD—In order to ensure foolproof security at Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad, a trench has been dug on the apron side of the airport.

Moreover, prior to the advent of monsoon, the desalination of the nullahs running in the airport area have also been started on war footings.

According to sources, the security arrangements in and around the airport have been geared up and contingents of Rawalpindi police and Elite Force petrol outside the boundary of the airport, while Airport Security Force (ASF) also petrol inside the boundary of the airport.

According to officials of the ASF, the security has been tightened to avoid any untoward incident in and around the airport.

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani inaugurating a recently constructed branch of Army Public School, Fort Road.

Severe shortage of water R AWA L P I N D I — S e v e r e shortage of water has griped various areas of the city including Dheri Hassanabad, Shamsabad, Sadiqabad, Shah Khalid Colony and Airport Housing Society.

Residents of the areas said that not only tube-wells in the locality are out of order but the underground water level has also lowered and they have to fetch water from far-off areas.

They said they could not afford to buy water tanker at inflated rates.

The residents demanded of the higher officials of WASA to take notice of the situation and ensure smooth supply of water to the areas.—INP

Education plays pivotal role in nation building: COAS CITY REPORTER R AWALPINDI —Chief

of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Wednesday said that Education was the bedrock of any society as it played a pivotal role in nation building. He made these remarks while inaugurating a recently constructed Branch of Army Public School, Fort Road Rawalpindi.

With a huge campus, the school has the capacity to accommodate 3700 students, providing a much needed relief to the pindiite parents, who had to wait for months to admit their children in

school, said an ISPR press release issued here.

It may be mentioned here that there are a total of 126 Army Public Schools and Colleges throughout the Country which are contributing significantly towards imparting quality education for the Youth of the Country.

Besides education, Schools being run under Army Public Schools and Colleges System are laying greater emphasis on character development and grooming of young children. Lieutenant General Sajjad Ghani, Quarter Master General Pakistan Army was also present on the occasion.

IIUI welcomes restored VP CITY REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Vice President International Islamic University (IIU), Professor Sahibzada Sajid-ur-Rehman joined his office on Wednesday after his restoration as Vice President, granted by Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Vice President IIUI,on his arrival,was warmly welcomed by a large number of officers, Deans of Faculties and other university employees.

Later, addressing the university employees Sahibazada Sajid-ur-Rehman thanked all for his remarkable welcome after his restoration.

He stressed on the employees to devote their selves for the betterment of IIUI and advised them to refrain from personal differences and biasness.

13 outlaws nabbed ISLAMABAD —Islamabad Police have arrested 13 outlaws from various areas of the city and recovered cash, wine, weapons and stolen valuables from their possession, a police spokesman said on Wednesday.

According details, Subinspector Shah Nazir from Golra police station along with police team arrested Fahim Shahzad, Faisal, and Zeshan for their alleged involvement in theft activities.

Police tam also recovered ISLAMABAD: Girls busy in their studies under the light of emergency lamp due to stolen valuables from their loadshedding. possession.—INP

Turkdy is Pakistan’s trusted friend: Speaker STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Mr. Babur Hizlan, Ambassador of Turkey called on Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Parliament House, on Wednesday. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that Pakistan considers Turkey its brother and a trusted friend who has always stood by in times of need. He said that religion, history and culture bind both the nations in fraternal bonds.

He lauded the unwavering Turkish support to Pakistan at regional and international level. He appreciated Turk assistance in socio-economic sectors in Pakistan especially the Mass transit project in the provincial metropolis.

He said that enhanced interaction between business communities of both the coun-

tries would boost economic activities for mutual benefit of both the nations. Referring to the existing warm parliamentary relations between parliaments of both the countries, the Speaker desired for further cementing those relations through enhanced interaction at parliamentarians as well as secretarial level.

He termed it a befitting way for exchanging views and learning from each others experiences. He said that PakTurk Friendship Group in National Assembly would soon be activated so that it could start its activities.

He was convinced that Pakistan and Turkey could play their role at PAECO level for enhancing cooperation between OIC members’ states. The Ambassador reaffirmed his government’s

continued support to the government and people of Pakistan.

He said that Turkish business community was keen to grab the huge economic potential in Pakistan for which Turkish Mission in Islamabad had arranged interaction between businessmen from both sides.

He said that Pak-Turk parliamentary friendship group in Turkish Grand National Assembly exists and its Members were keen to interact with their Pakistan counterparts.

He was confident that such interaction would further cement ties between both the brotherly countries. He informed the Speaker that his Turkish Counterpart was keenly looking forward to his visit to Turkey.

New filtration plants, tubewells to be installed S TAFF REPORTER I S L A M A B A D —The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to install 10 new water filtration plants and 10 new tubewells in the federal capital in the in the financial year 20132014.

According to the officials of the civic authority, the decision has been made to lessen the water shortage in Islamabad. The project would cost Rs50 million, they added.

The officials said that

the filtration plants would be installed in sectors G10, G-7, I-9, G-11 and F-11 to ensure smooth supply of water to the residents and the project would cost Rs20 million. They said that earlier there were 37 filtration plants in various sectors of the federal capital, adding that out of order filtration plants would also be repaired and funds will be allocated for the purpose.

The officials further said that there were 187 tubewells in the federal

Music evening today I SLAMABAD —Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Ministry of National Heritage and Integration has planned to arrange a musical evening for promoting musical heritage of the country.

Renowned folk singers Shaukat Ali, Mohsin Abbas and Nirmal Shah would perform at the event titled “Future & Tradition” here at Pakistan National Council Arts Auditorium at 7:30 pm.

The event is a part of PNCA’s programme “Mehfile-Mausiqi” for promoting musical heritage of the country and providing high quality of entertainment to the audience of the Federal Capital.

In addition to this, Pakistan National Council Arts has been arranging programmes for promoting both the visual and performing arts for the residents of the Federal Capital who in the past had yearned for getting such opportunities to enjoy themselves.—APP

capital and the new addition would increase the number to 197, as 10 new tubewells would be installed during the new fiscal year.

The officials hoped that the civic authority would succeed in controlling the water crisis in Islamabad during next one year.

It is pertinent to mention here that the residents face severe water shortage, especially in summer season and the Capital Development Authority has so far failed to resolve the issue.

Streamlining of medical education stressed C ITY REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Ministry of National Health Regulations Services and Coordination [NHRSD & C] MRs Saira Afzal Tarar has said that Government would move forward for necessary legislation in medical education for the PM&DC, adding that a positive balance in legislation is needed both in the sphere of medical education and health management in PM&DC and fair sharing of power between the officials and legislature [executive committee and council] of the PM&DC.

She added that zero tolerance would be showed over corruption and mismanagement that has surpassed Pakistan Medical and Dental Council for the past few years and shrink its good reputation of medical education at global level in particular and at national level in general.

She stated this while visiting Pakistan Medical and Dental Council [PM&DC] Secretariat along with Secretary NHRSD & C, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi. It is pertinent to mention here that Mrs Saira Afzal Tarar has paid her maiden visit of the Council after the formation

of new government.

Mrs Saira Tarar expressed her grief over the state of affairs encompasses the once renowned medical and dental Council bringing-in a good name and fortune in the healthsector.

She stressed that a fair and transparent system shall be ensured at every cost and all the resources and talent must be used to streamline the medical education in Pakistan.

She added that the ongoing enquiries, once completed, shall be implemented in letter and spirit so that black sheep in the noble profession may be exposed and they be made

accountable before the law.

Mrs Saira Tarar was given a briefing at the occasion by the Administrator Dr. Raja Amjad Mehmood regarding recent actions on various loose-pools and to curb the menace of quackery, corruption and fake registrations of doctors and medical colleges.

He added that a new electronic data gathering system is already on hold for working and more sophisticated database would be launched inlines with the need of the trends of medical education in international market.

KCCI delegation calls on CM Sindh KARACHI—A 10-member delegation of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) led by Siraj Kassem Teli called on Sindh Chief Minister (CM), Syed Qaim Ali Shah at the CM House here on Wednesday.

The delegation consisted of Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, Shujaat Shakeel and Qasim Memon.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh and chief of CPLC, Ahmed Chinoy were also present on the occasion.

The delegation apprised the CM of the problems being faced by the traders and businessmen in the metropolis. The members of the delegation were of the view that the law and order situation was deteriorating with the passage of time and that the traders do not consider themselves safe.

They said that police should be active for providing protection to the traders and businessmen. The CM assured the delegation that the problems of traders and businessmen would be resolved. He also asked the IGP to devise a comprehensive strategy for controlling law and order in the province especially in Karachi and every step would be taken in this direction. The CM said that maintenance of the law and order would be ensured.—APP

USAID assures support to power sector STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —A four member delegation of USAID lead by Jonathan M. Conly called on the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Muhammad Asif here today and discussed various matters of mutual cooperation in power sector and technical assistance initiatives for power projects.

The Minister while welcoming the delegation appreciated US cooperation and assistance being extended to the power sector and said that it would help to improve the efficiency of the public sector power entities. The Minister observed that construction of dams, run of river hydel projects and coal energy generation projects are so-

lution to energy crisis on sustainable basis .He said it was priority of the government to reduce load shedding on priority and increase in the generation.

The government has planned to change the energy mix and to convert the existing thermal power plants on imported coal. Run of river projects have also been identified. He said that reduction in line losses and eradication of power theft are also the major targets.

The Discos would be given autonomy and reforms process would be continue. Mr. Asif said that the circular debt issue would alos be resolved on permanent basis.

He also agreed the proposal to make one Disco as Model Disco.

Mr. Jonathan Conley,

USAID Country Head said that United States and Pakistan together are carrying out large-scale energy projects. These projects include renovating the power plant at the Tarbela Dam: modernizing the generators of the Mangla Dam: upgrading the Guddu, Jamshoro and Muzafargarh power plants and construction of Gomal Zam Dam and Satpara dam, Kurram Tangi and Diamer Basha dam projects.

He informed that 1700 capacitors and 130 energy pumps and 4900 meters for advanced metering system for real time data have been installed. The reforms are focused both on reducing technical losses on the power grid and on increasing receivables.

TCL to explore India OBSERVER REPORT LAHORE—Treet Corporation

Chief Financial Officer Amir Zia has said that TCL is expanding its business with a view to explore trade with India. Amir Zia was speaking at the corporate programme organized Sugar industry to pay briefing

by Lahore Stock Exchange while Company Secretary, Ayaz tax on capacity Ahmad also spoke on the ocObserver Report ISLAMABAD—The Federal casion.

He briefed the particiBoard of Revenue is seriously considering a new pants about the company’s kind of taxation on sugar industry to collect sales tax/ excise duty on capacity basis of the sugar mills to STAFF REPORTER check evasion in next fiscal year. Till finalisation of the K ARACHI —Tea traders are proposal of collecting duty/ learnt to have urged the govsales tax on the capacity ernment to exempt sales tax on basis of the sugar mills, the the import of black tea in the FBR has proposed to charge new budget to curb the standard rate of 16 percent commodity’s smuggling. Pakisales tax replacing the stan Tea Association (PTA) existing 8 percent federal submitted a set of proposals excise duty (FED) on the to the government for incorcommodity in budget (2013- poration in the new budget 14). In case the proposal of document, which proposed to charging taxes on capacity the federal government to enbasis has been finalized, the force a quantitative restriction same would be implemented on the import of tea via Afghan through a notification under Transit Trade. section 3(3)(a) of the Federal They insisted that 15,000 Excise Act, 2005 which ton of ‘Green and Black Tea’ empowers the Board to was being imported through charge FED on any good on Afghan Transit Trade (ATT), production capacity basis through a notification.

performance and said that energy shortage is a worrisome issue for which Treet Corporation Limited is already planning to launch alternate sources of power generation to meet the energy shortage. Lahore Stock Exchange Managing Director Aftab Ahmad Chaudhry while addressing the participants stated that the purpose of the corporate briefing programme is to provide an opportunity to the compa-

nies to brief investors and the broker community on the updated operational, financial and strategic positioning of the companies.

He said that an opportunity of periodical communication through the corporate briefing programme would enable the companies to create a strong investors following, besides, providing the investors an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge from a company’s management.

Sales tax exemption on tea import sought saying that green tea was the foremost beverage served in Afghanistan. “Therefore, a quantitative restriction will be more than sufficient for them”.

Members of the tea association also advised the federal finance minister to levy and collect the same amount of CD/ST/IT from Afghan importers at entry point in Karachi and passing it on to Afghan government.

“This practice is in vogue in various landlocked countries.” In a letter sent to the prime minister, federal finance minister and FBR, tea traders called for declaring tea a zerorated item, freeing it from the Sales Tax regime for at least a

year to discourage smuggling and protect government revenue. The letter said that as much as 240,000 tons of tea was consumed in Pakistan, more than half of which was smuggled into the country via the Afghan Transit Trade. This practice, they said, was being encouraged because of “poor physical controls by customs and substantial high incentive to evade import duty and Sales Tax”. Chairman of Pakistan Tea Association Hamid S Khwaja said that the outgoing government in the last budget in June last year had reduced Sales Tax from 16 percent to 5 percent, besides imposing stiffer checks and control.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawja Asif meeting with Jonathan Conly, USAID Mission Director in Pakistan.

Livestock sector to grow by 3.9pc ISLAMABAD—Pakistan’s performance in livestock sector has been relatively better over the past decade and it is projected to grow by 3.9% in the year 2013-14, said Annual Plan 2013-14 released on Wednesday.

There is also a huge potential for growth both in dairy development and meat production. The most attractive areas in this regard are value added milk and meat products.

The poultry sector of the country is also very progressive and is contributing high percentage in livestock sector ’s growth. Moreover, there exist very large international market for ‘Halal’ food and Pakistan’s contribution is negligible.

Pakistan can capture sizable portion of this market by adopting international food safety standards and ‘Halal’ certification.—APP

Surveillance of manufacturing units STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The govern-

ment has decided to introduce a new concept of installing video monitoring system at manufacturers’ premises to check actual sales/production of goods for improving sales tax and federal excise duty collection.

A new section has been proposed in Sales Tax Act, 1990 through new Finance Bill in this regard.

It is general perception that neither the revenue collected is commensurate to NFHE, KESC organise the actual sales/production of goods nor there is any beach cleaning exercise system in place to check KARACHI—National Forum under-reporting of producfor Health and Environment tion by registered persons.

(NFEH), in its efforts to In order to check the pheprotect the ocean from nomenon of under-reportpollution, organised a beach ing, it has been decided that cleaning exercise in coordinamonitoring with the help of tion with Karachi Electric modern technological tools Supply Corporation. like electronic monitoring, Students from different video monitoring, tax schools of the city particistamps, labels etc. may be pated in the exercise divided introduced. themselves into groups to According to proposed clean various tracts of the section 40C in the Sales Tax coastline. They on the Act, after section 40B, the occasion were also assisted following new sub-section by members of civil society shall be added, namely:– and different professional “40C: Monitoring by elecbodies. The participants tronic or other means. pledged to continue to be Subject to such condienthusiastic volunteers for tions and restrictions and the cause and protect the Bank Alfalah’s President Atif Bajwa and Buksh Energy’s CEO Asim Buksh exchanging procedures, as deemed fit to coastline from pollution. impose. documents.

KESC’s Director of Energy Conservation Department, Asif Siddiqui addressing participants of the campaign, also a component of World Environment Day and World Oceans Day programme, said raising awareness about Department SECP and Session corporate governance in Paki- porting should be included in STAFF REPORTER environment among youth chairman ICAP Past President stan is the brain child of ICAP. the Code. The Legal Director was the best investment for KARACHI —The Securities Mr. Ebrahim Yacoob Sidat.

He also spoke on the rela- and Company Secretary future.—APP Exchange Commission of PaThe Commissioner SECP tionship of SECP and ICAP cit- Unilever Pakistan Mr. Amar kistan (SECP) conducted an Mr. Asif Arif graced the session ing it to be vital promoting Naseer gave the industry perawareness session on the re- as the Chief Guest he spoke on good corporate governance in spective of the Code and critivised Code of Corporate Gov- the importance of implementing the country. The Chairman cized the separation of dual ernance at the Institute of the Code in true letter and CPD and past President Mr. titles of CEO and Chairman , he Chartered Accountants of Pa- spirit. He highlighted that the Abdul Rahim Suriya in his re- also pointed out that recording “If you had to identify, kistan (ICAP) Karachi re- process is an evolutionary one marks spoke of the hurdle cre- of meetings with video and aucently. and the SECP encourages the ated for CAs by putting condi- dio is not important and mere in one word, the The session comprised of stakeholders to come forward tion of 5 years’ experience of minutes should suffice. reason why the presentations and panel dis- with their comments and issues handling financial or corporate Deputy Director Strategy, human race has not cussion by the Commissioner which would ensure a better affairs of listed company or Development and External Reachieved, and never SECP, President ICAP, Legal governance system, The Presi- bank or financial institution .He lations Department SECP will achieve, its full Director and Company Secre- dent ICAP Mr. Ahmed Saeed said that ICAP has approached Mirza Shoaib Baig presented potential, that word tary Unilever Pakistan, Deputy thanked SECP for conducting SECP for exempting this experi- a comparison of the Codes and would be ‘meetings.” Director Strategy, Develop- the session at the ICAP and ence condition for CAs, he also highlighted the changes. Folment and External Relations highlighted that the code of pointed out that Corporate re- lowing the presentation the —Dave Barry

Owners of Swat silk units supported STAFF CORRESPONDENT PESHAWAR—Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) distributed more cheques worth Rs 10 million among the owners of the silk units who affected in terrorism and flood in district Swat.

The authority so far has distributed cheque worth more than Rs 50 million under the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) funded Economic Revitalization of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata project in the owners of silk units of

Swat. Furthermore, Smeda has also facilitated the installation of a Common Facilitation Centre (CFC) for pressing and washing of the shawls manufactured in Islampur and while work on honey processing unit is also in progress for the development of the honey sector in the district.

In this connection, a cheque distribution ceremony was held in Saidu Sharif where the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Smeda, Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera and provincial chief, Javed Iqbal Khattak

CPI inflation increases ISLAMABAD—The Consumer 0.5% over April 2013, the Price Index (CPI) inflation for the year 2012-13 was targeted at 9.5% but during JulyMay 2012-13 it registered an increase of 7.5% against an increase of 11%. According to Annual Plan 2013-14, the Whole Price Index (WPI) and Sensitive Price Index (SPI) recorded an increase of 7.6% and 7.8% respectively during this period, against 10.8% and 6.8% during the corresponding period of last year.

The slow down in inflation has been contributed by subdued increase both in food and non-food inflation. In May 2013, the month over month (MoM) CPI inflation increased by

documents said.

In this connection it may be pointed out that MoM food inflation increased by 1.1% and non-food inflation increased by 0.1%.While year on year, CPI inflation, in May 2013 decreased by 7.2 percentage points over May 2012.

The plan said that in view of the current developments, the CPI inflation in the coming months would continue to witness decelerated increase due to high based effect, depressed global prices and slow increase witnessed in the WPI. CPI inflation for the 2012-13 is likely to be around 7.5%.—APP

Agriculture sector well placed to achieve 3.8pc growth ISLAMABAD—Pakistan’s ag- and meat production. In a riculture sector is well placed to achieve the envisaged growth of 3.8% in the year 2013-14, according to the Annual Plan 2013-14 released on Wednesday.

In the Annual Plan for next year, the agriculture sector is targeted to grow 3.8 per cent on the basis of expected contributions of important crops (3.1%), other crops (4.5%), cotton ginning (6.1%), livestock (3.9%), fishing (2.0%) and forestry (2.0%).

Pakistan’s performance in the livestock sector has been relatively better over the past decade, yet there is a huge potential for growth both in dairy development

nutshell, due to water availability and revival crops and increased productivity of livestock, agriculture sector is well placed to achieve the envisaged growth 3.8% in 2013-14.

The agriculture sector of the country is also going through a structural change.

Due to the lesser availability of water, agriculture community is switching over from water intensive crops like rice, sugarcane, to other crops which consume lesser water. This constrained can be turned into opportunity and Pakistan can save hard earned foreign exchange by increasing cultivation of oilseed.—APP

SECP conducts awareness session at ICAP floor was open for question answer session which was chaired by the ICAP Past President Mr. Ebrahim Yacoob Sidat. He with expertise and command of corporate governance conducted the two hour long question answer session putting forward the views and suggestions of the participants and the regulators.

Under the revised Code certain previously optional provisions were made mandatory and also new concepts and requirements introduced which led to increased queries from the stakeholders. As a part of SECPs efforts to reach

out to the stakeholders, Awareness sessions were held at Islamabad Lahore and Karachi Stock Exchanges last year targeted towards CEOs, CFOs, company secretaries and internal auditors of the listed companies. This year owing to the robust ICAP membership and the fact that ICAP members are actively involved in implementing revised code in their roles as CFOs, Company Secretaries, Internal Auditors, External Auditors, Board members and CEO’s SECP conducted the session at the awareness sessions at ICAP Karachi.

handed over the cheques to the owners of the crisis affected silk units. The ceremony was attended by chairman, Swat Silk Unit Owners Associations, Khalid Khan, president, Mohammad Ishaq and general secretary Ali Mohammad Khan.

Addressing the ceremony, CEO Smeda, Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera said that the authority is taking measures for the promotion and revival of the silk units, marble units, honey and Shawal manufacturing units in Islampur.

Tax evasion, resented STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The government has admitted that massive tax evasion and administrative weaknesses in the tax system has resulted in lowest tax-to-GDP ratio in the region as well as developing countries. According to the Economic Survey (2012-13), a well designed tax structure of the country not only improves the economic and industrial competitiveness but also contributes toward stimulating industrial activity and accordingly growth in the economy.

The strong base of a tax system provides a more stable source of income needed to finance the public expenditure with an aim to relieve poverty and deliver public services. Historically, Pakistan’s tax system undermined due to structural weaknesses like narrow tax base, massive tax evasion and administrative weaknesses etc.

These structural weaknesses have taken a toll on overall tax collection as the country has witnessed a lowest tax-to GDP ratio not only in the developing countries but also within the region.

Despite the increase in tax revenues, FBR tax to GDP ratio varied between 8.5 to 9.6 percent during the past 12 years. During July-April, 2012-13 FBR tax to GDP ratio stood at 6.6 percent against 7.1 percent recorded in the same period last year. Present tax structure of Pakistan is distortionary and incentivising massive tax evasion. Additionally, some sectors are under taxed and some are not taxed at all which reflects the narrow tax base. In particular, there is a least contribution in taxes from the major sectors of our economy (agriculture and services), as agriculture is contributing 2.5 percent in tax against its 21 .4 percent share in GDP, while services sector is contributing 36.7 percent against its major share in GDP i.e. 57.7 percent.

There is a broad consensus that tax to GDP ratio can only be enhanced if all sectors of economy contribute proportionately toward tax revenue.

Tax structure in Pakistan has witnessed substantial changes over the years as the share of direct tax increased from 35.3 percent in 2001-02 to 39.2 percent in 2011-12 and is expected to increase further by 39.1 percent in 2012-13.

USA

98.40

98.20

UK

152.75

152.44

EURO

129.87

129.60

Canada

96.40

96.20

Switzerland

105.01

104.80

Australia

92.63

92.44

Sweden

14.97

14.94

Japan

1.0017

1.9996

Norway

17.04

17.00

Singapore

78.43

78.27

Denmark

17.42

17.38

Omani Riyal

250.50

248.50

Saudi Arabia

26.24

26.18

Hong Kong

12.68

12.65

Kuwait

345.26

344.56

Malaysia

31.52

31.46

Newzeland

77.15

76.99

Qatar

27.03

26.97

UAE

26.79

26.74

KR WON

0.0875

0.0873

Thailand

3.205

3.198

KARACHI—Following were the bullion rates in major cities yesterday.

KARACHI: Gold Tezab Silver Tezabi

45000.00 741.42

Govt to revive railways sector: Saad ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government would take all important decisions for bring improvement in the Railway sector. He said that federal government will allocate Rs. 64 billion for bringing stability in the railway.

He said that railway is showing bleak picture, adding no solid steps were taken by the past regime to make it profitable organization. Talking to a private television channel, he said Pakistan Railway is giving negative result for the last many years.

He said that billions of rupees had been lost due to mismanagement in the railway sector.

He said that there is serious need to revive the railway. The Minister said that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government is determined to bring the country on path of speedy progress.

He added that all important and difficult decisions would be taken to achieve the results in all fields of life.

Khawaja Saad Rafique said that all out measures would be taken to halt the losses being reported in different national institutions like Pakistan Railway, Pakistan Steel Mill and PIA. Replying to a question he said that Pakistan Railway is responsible to pay back the loan borrowed from the State Bank of Pakistan.

He said that a model from

the neighboring country had taken to streamline the affair in this sector. To another question he said that increasing the fare in the Railway was not the solution to address the issue. He, however said that railway employees would resolve the problems regarding the issue.

Replying to another question he said that secret funds should be abolished.

He said that those involved in ransacking the WAPDA office at Faisalabad would be ISLAMABAD: USAID delegation headed by Richard T. Drennan called on Federal Minister for National Food Secugiven punishment according rity and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan. to law. He added that those policemen who are involved in breaking the law during protest demonstration, action would also be taken against them.—APP

Bank AL Habib offers free life insurance

Germany to help women entrepreneurship

MULTAN: Gold Tezabi (24-Ct) 44900.00 Gold 22 Ct 41060.00 SilverTezabi 690.00 Silver Thobi 630.00

Gas supply to 17 CNG stations disconnected STAFF REPORTER I S L A M A B A D —The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has decided to disconnect gas supply to 17 CNG stations immediately for violating the rules by filling the uncertified cylinders in the public service vehicles. The Enforcement Department of the Ogra conducted surprise inspections in the areas of Khushab, Mianwali, Jhang, Chinot, Sargodha, Gujjar Khan, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, stated a spokesperson of the Authority, adding the inspection drive would cover all the CNG stations across the country.

Consequent upon the inspections, the Ogra asked the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) to immediately disconnect the gas supply connection to the CNG stations those were found violating the law, the spokesperson said.

“During the inspection it was observed that most of the public service vehicles were having fake certification stickers of the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP),” the spokesperson said.

Therefore, the Ogra has also written a letter to the HDIP requesting it to inspect vehicles carrying fake stickers of cylinder certification, he added. The Ogra has asked the HDIP to immediately direct its Karachi, Quetta, Multan, Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar based officers to conduct periodic inspections/visits of the respective area’s CNG stations and ensure compliance of Ogra earlier letter to ban filling of uncertified cylinders in PSVs. The Authority has asked the HDIP to intimate CNG stations violating the Ogra directions for further necessary actions. According to the statement, the officers that conducted the surprise inspections have found following malpractices and irregularities on part of the CNG stations; CNG were being filled in uncertified Public Service Vehicles; HDIP authorised CNG conversion workshops were found closed/non-operational and PSVs were not getting certification stickers; Bogus/fake stickers were found on PSVs; Certified PSVs by HDIP authorised CNG conversion workshops were not as per SOP developed; CNG cylinders were found beneath seats of passengers in certified PSVs.

STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The Consul General of Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Tilo Klinner gas asked the apex trade body – Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to provide him the concrete proposals required for promoting and strengthening women entrepreneurship in Pakistan. The German diplomat was talking to the acting President FPCCI Rukhsana Jehangir along with Vice Presidents, Gulzar Firoz, Abdul Khaliq and Chairman Standing Committee on Foreign Investment Shaikh Humayun Saeed, and Mir Nasir Abbas D.G International Affairs in a meeting held here the CG also discussed matters of mutual interests.

The CG also informed the

Tusdec launches training programme STAFF REPORTER L A H O R E — Te c h n o l o g y Upgradation and Skill Development Company (Tusdec) has launched ‘Master Training of the Trainers Programme’ in Lahore for the capacity building of NGOs based in Punjab under a contract with Punjab Social Services Board (PSSB), Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal, Government of Punjab. The training session will continue till June 25 in which 120 candidates from various NGOs will be trained as the master trainers so that they could further impart the acquired skills to the next tier of trainers; thus infiltrating the processes and framework of improved organizational management among their respective NGOs. A session of two days training has been arranged in the areas of governance and office administration while 10 days will be consecrated to administer the trainings of strategic planning.

business representatives that he would also hold one more session in FPCCI where he will bring the visa officer to streamline the visa issuance which is mentioned at every step.

The CG advised Rukhsana Jehangir to present all those proposals which require strengthening and support to women entrepreneurial projects from German agencies. He said that database of women stakeholders would be collected so as to progress forward and take up the matter in Berlin.

The Consul General Dr. Klinner was joined by Mian Abrar and Mr. Qazi Managing Director BSAF, and President of Pakistan German Business Forum. The acting President emphasized the need for close collaboration with the German Consulate for enhancing bilat-

eral trade and investment in Pakistan. She further added that being a woman Vice President of apex trade body her prime objective is to give support to women entrepreneurs who are mostly small and medium, and require full support in the field of product development and capacity building on order to attract international buyers and suppliers. She requested the CG to get support for Agencies such as GIZ and other prominent organizations and government agencies who can provide support in the field of fairs and exhibitions, value addition, etc.

Vice President FPCCI, Gulzar Firoz pointed out that there were very little German delegations visiting Pakistan and emphasized the need for getting more trade and investment delegations.

PUMA launches new outlet in Karachi STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI —PUMA, a leading International Sports brand today launched a new outlet in Dolmen Mall, Karachi. This outlet is so far the biggest one in Pakistan out of a total of four in the major cities of the country, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

PUMA Pakistan’s inception was in 2010 and the brand is incorporated under the leadership of Mr. Atif Husain and Mr. Shahid Choudhary with a vision to develop international retail landscape in Pakistan.

PUMA designs and develops footwear, apparel and accessories. It is committed to working in ways that contribute to the world by supporting Creativity, Sustainability and Peace, and by staying true to the principles of being Fair, Honest, Positive and Creative in de-

cisions made and actions taken.

Present at the occasion, Mr. Atif Husain, CEO of PUMA Pakistan said, “We are proud to have been the ones bringing a world renowned brand to Pakistan, especially in the current situation our people are facing.

PUMA Pakistan caters to the youth which is not entirely exposed to international brands and we hope that we are given more opportunities to make this platform even bigger and better for them.”

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Shahid Choudhary, Director, PUMA Pakistan stated, “Our mission is to become the most desirable and most sutainable Sportlifestyle company in Pakistan. As a brand for young and young-at-heart, PUMA is innovative, daring, rebellious, future-oriented and equally inspires the world of sports and lifestyle.”

PSO upgrades its SAP system OBSERVER REPORT K ARACHI —With an ideology of continuous self-improvement and as part of its ongoing efforts to streamline its operational efficiency, Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the nation’s leading public sector company has successfully upgraded its internal SAP system to the latest ECC 6.0 version.

The upgrading process involved seamless integration of 12 SAP modules, a database of over 1500 GB of data and the profiles and access protocols of over 500 SAP users. The entire sys-

tem enhancement process was carried out jointly by the PSO-Information Communication & Technology (ICT) and Finance Departments in a period of just 5 days with minimum disruption in the Company’s business operations.

This revamp will allow PSO to provide business support at par with international standards to its employees and business partners. This initiative has been undertaken by the management keeping in view the role such system improvements play as success factors for the organization’s develop-

ment.

With this technical upgrade, new horizons in business innovation, cost reduction and functional capacity improvements have opened up at PSO. Furthermore, the Company can now fully utilize the functional improvements provided in ECC 6.0 like enhanced reporting through New General Ledger features; enhanced management of Internal Controls for Corporate Governance; improvements to credit management and introduction of Treasury Risk Management techniques.

Federal Minister holds meeting with US officials

STAFF REPORTER

STAFF REPORTER

K ARACHI —Bank AL Habib has introduced AL Habib APNA Current Account for individuals & professionals looking for a personal account to fulfill all their modern-day banking needs with convenience and a host of free facilities including Free Life Insurance, ATM Card, Online Banking, SMS Alerts, Pay Orders (upto 3 per month), EStatement, and Internet Banking with no minimum balance requirement.

At present, Bank AL Habib has a network of 403 branches and sub-branches in 114 cities including a Wholesale Branch in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

I SLAMABAD —The Federal

Workshop on PPRA rules OBSERVER REPORT

Minister for National Food Security & Research (NFSR) Mr. Sikandar Hayat Bosan while presiding over a meeting of USDA delegation headed by Richard T. Drennan & Asmat Raza with Mr. Tamoor Azmat, Secretary (MNSFS) and Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, Chairman PARC and other senior officers at Ministry has said that the present Government gives special emphasis for promotion and development agriculture sector in Pakistan to boost up production to achieve self-sufficiency in food security as well as for economic development.

Better Business with Visa!

OBSERVER REPORT

ISLAMABAD—The Institute of I S L A M A B A D —Businesses

Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP) organised a workshop on ‘Public Procurement Rules (commonly known as PPRA Rules).

Participants from various public sector companies and departments attended the workshop to enhance their knowledge and understanding of public procurement rules and to discuss the practical issues faced by them in application of the said rules, says a press release issued here on Tuesday.

Muhammad Imran, Secretary Islamabad Branch Council of ICMAP, highlighted the contributions of the institution during the last 62 years in capacity building of human resource of the country. He opined that the workshop would pave the way for greater transparency, fairness and efficiency thereby mitigating corruption and malpractices. Waqar Ali Khan, Chairman Islamabad Branch Council of ICMAP, said that the institution had been contributing substantially in the economic development of Pakistan by providing high quality professionals in the fields of accounts, finance, audit, costing, tax and financial management.

Development of women entrepreneurship STAFF REPORTER

He appreciated the role of USAID/USDA and other donor agencies such as CIMMYT, ICARDA, ARS), FAO, etc. for support in different areas of agriculture through launching of various programmmes such as Pakistan Agricultural Innovation Programme (AIP) with US$ 30 Million, Wheat Productivity Enhancement Programme (W-PEP) – a US, Pakistan and CG Centres Partnership focused on mitigating the Threat of Ug99 causing wheat diseases stem rusts with US $ 8.19 Million, Agricutlural Linkages Programme (ALP) and Waterhsed Rehabilitation & Improvement: Demonstration in Pakistan and Dissemi-

looking for better ways to manage their time and money can now enjoy benefits and savings on essential business services and products in the new 2013 Visa Commercial Offers Program.

Designed to enhance the efficiency of small businesses’ processes and improve their bottom line, the program encompasses more than 60 special deals across business travel and accommodation, travel-related services and business support services and is available to Visa Business, Visa Corporate and Visa Purchasing cardholders in Asia Pacific, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa . (APCEMEA) Cardholders can enjoy best-available hotel rates with perks such as access to

private areas in hotels and resorts, complimentary WiFi, complimentary breakfast and late checkout. For those travelling on a budget, Visa has partnered with Hertz for special rental packages offering free day rentals. Small businesses can also make day-to-day business operations a little more enjoyable with discounts for client gifting services and subscriptions to essential news publications like The Economist.

“Cards business in Pakistan is thriving with each passing day but at the same time it is becoming very competitive. Today’s cardholders need a reason for using a card and I think Visa through their commercial offers program provides a complete solution to all cardholders need,” said Kamil Khan, Country Manager, Visa Pakistan and Afghanistan.

nation the Basic Technologies to help rural farmers.

These initiatives will surely increase crop productivity and production value of livestock, horticultural and cereal crops, thus increasing income for Pakistani farmers.

He said that the Ministry acknowledged the role of said international agencies in Pakistan and fully committed to extend all possible cooperation to all international agriculture development agencies for their support for the development of agriculture sector of Pakistan especially selfsufficiency in wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane crops and livestock to improve economy as well as living standard of country’ small farmers.

Heavy fees on imports licence STAFF REPORTER PESHAWAR—President Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Imtiaz Ahmad has expressed strong reservation over fixing of heavy fees by Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) on import licence for pharmaceutical products, issuance of pharmaceutical and GMB certificates.

He said the step by DRA would have very negative impact on pharmaceutical industry of the country. Imtiaz Ahmad said DRA was issuing SROs on daily basis which was very improper and unhealthy act for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Earlier, he said fee of every pharmaceutical item was Rs 250 which had now been increased by 20 times to Rs 5,000. Similarly, he added.

Rule of law key to attract foreign investment: Sarwar STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD —The Pakistani origin first elected Muslim Member of British Parliament from Glasgow Muhammad Sarwar visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and addressing the business community said that Overseas Pakistanis have deep love & affection for Pakistan. They are very much interested to invest in Pakistan, but factors like security problems, corruption, lack of rule of law and bureaucratic approach were keeping them away.

He said Overseas Pakistanis have huge investment potential and can bring billions of dollars into their country of origin, so much so that Pakistan will have no

need of any foreign investment. But for this to happen, establishing rule of law, fair legal system, good governance etc. were the key requirements.

He said government should prepare feasibility studies of projects and share such studies with Overseas Pakistanis so that they could explore investment opportunities in their country. He said Pakistan Embassies in foreign countries should have full information and database about trade, commerce & export potential for Pakistani products in their host countries and they should facilitate Pakistani entrepreneurs to tap such opportunities for promoting Pakistan’s trade and exports.

Mr. Muhammad Sarwar

said it is not the job of government to run commercial organizations and advised that government should privatize loss making public sector enterprises. For this purpose, government should make a consortium to evaluate the potential of local and overseas Pakistani investors to purchase PSEs. In his welcome address, Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry appreciated the services of Muhammad Sarwar for Pakistan and Pakistani community. He said people like Muhammad Sarwar have rich experience as he has served as public representative in a developed democracy. Therefore, Pakistan should benefit from such experienced people.

PESHAWAR—Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peshawar (WCCIP) asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to take steps for development of entrepreneurship under a concrete policy. “The government should need to focus on development of entrepreneurship, which could be helpful to create maximum job opportunities for youth in micro, small and medium enterprises in the province, said the WCCIP president”, Nuzhat Rauf, while exchanging of views with provincial legislators during a meeting.

Ms Rauf informed that the women chamber has initiated a policy discussions with the support of Centre for International Enterprise (CIPE) on “Entrepreneurship Development Policy for the Women of KPK” to improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region to increase the start-up opportunities for the women entrepreneurs. Fitrat Ilyas Bilour leader of the group said women have great potential and abilities to compete at national and international level belonging to this region, which need to provide maximum opportunities for ex- ISLAMABAD: President ICCI Zafar Bakhtawari presenting shield to Ch. Muhammad ploiting their aptitude.

Sarwar Member British Parliament.

Kids’ repeat concussions may mean longer recovery

Y

OUNG people may take longer to recover after their second or third concussion, a new study suggests.

Researchers typically believe the average

athlete needs up to two weeks to stop having symptoms - such as headaches and memory problems - after a concussion.

But in the new study, children and young adults who had just suffered their second concussion in the last year took an average of 35 days to get back to normal.

“We have to be cautious in terms of after two weeks, if you still have symptomatic athletes, that you’re not trying to hurry them back,” said Dr. Paul Comper, a concussion researcher from the University of Toronto.

“The most important piece of information that comes out of this study is, if you’ve had prior concussions, the 10- to 14-day (recovery) thing may be completely out the window,” Comper, who wasn’t involved in the new study, told Reuters Health.

He said the findings aren’t totally surprising - it’s clear that multiple head injuries are a bad thing - but they give doctors more information to pass on to their young patients after a concussion.

Studies have been piling up showing the potential harms of concussions among kids (see Reuters Health story of March 4, 2012

here: reut.rs/yKlv85).

And the apparent suicides of Junior Seau and other professional football and hockey players, some of whose brains showed damage from multiple head injuries, have raised concerns about depression tied to repeat concussions.

The new study included 280 youth, age 11 to 22, who came to the emergency room within a few days of having a concussion. About two-thirds of them were injured playing sports, most commonly hockey, soccer, football and basketball.

After going home, kids filled out up to six questionnaires about their symptoms over the next 12 weeks, and reported the last day they had any concussion-related problems. Of the 235 kids who completed the study, 68 had a history of concussion.

On average, participants who had never had a concussion before took 12 days to recover from their head injury. That compared to 24 days among those with at least one past concussion, and 35 days if that prior concussion had been within the last year, the study team reported Monday in Pediatrics.

That finding, the lead author said, gives parents and doctors “even more reason for caution” when deciding how long a child should be kept out of sports or school after a head injury.

KARACHI: Faisal Ejaz Khan addressing during Annual Learning Conference of Pakistan Society for Training & Development. Salman Burney, Waqar Malik, Zaffar Khan, Asif Saad, and Leon B. Menezes are seen in the picture.—PO photo by Sultan Chaki

Barjees blames Sindh govt of patronizing criminals STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI — Acting Ameer Jamaat-e Islami (JI) Karachi Barjees Ahmed Khan demanded of the government to take serious steps to restore lasting peace in Lyari.

He expressed his deep concern over the deteriorated law and order situation of Lyari for last few years. Lyari had become the safe haven for criminal elements, adding that life and property of the people was not safe in Lyari area. Gun-battle between the criminal groups has become the routine in Lyari, which plunge the residents of the area in mental

agony, he said adding that the residents of Lyari were facing untoward law and order situation and long hours load shedding, which increased miseries of the inhabitants. He said that the elected representatives from the Lyari constituency, despite getting votes did not resolve the grievances of the people. The elected representatives attended the dinner of those against whom they had launched operation, which hinted that the government was patronizing those criminal elements.

Meanwhile, Former Jamaate Islami (JI) lawmakers demanded of the newly elected fed-

eral government to refrain by decreasing 350 megawatt of electricity to Karachi.

The former legislators including Muzaffar Ahmed Hashmi, Laeeq Khan, Nusrullah Shaji, Hameedullah Khan Advocate and Younus Barai had expressed their deep concern over the decrease of 350-MW electricity out of total 650-MW to Karachi. Curtailing the allocated share of electricity to Karachi, is an unjustified act with the city and its people, as the city is an economical hub of the country and generating 70 percent of the total revenue, they said.

KARACHI: Police beating a teacher who was protesting against nonpayment of salaries in front of Sindh Assembly building.

Provincial budget aims welfare, relief to poor: Qaim KARACHI—Sindh Chief Minister (CM), Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2013-14 would be a welfare one with provision of relief to the poor section of the society.

He was addressing a high level meeting held at the CM House here on Wednesday.

Meeting was attended by the Adviser to Chief Minister on Finance, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Chief Secretary, Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry, and high officials of the Departments of Finance and Planning and Development.

The matters pertaining to the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2013-14 and other issues came up for discussion.

On the occasion, the CM was also given a briefing regarding the Sindh budget, the development funds and administrative expenses.—APP

Police to improve behaviour towards people K ARACHI — A former chief justice of Pakistan, Justice (Retd) Rana Baghwandas has exhorted the police to improve their behaviour towards the people.

He was delivering a lecture at the Salim Wahidi Auditorium here, said a police statement on Tuesday.

It said that the lecture was organised to help enhance the capacity of the officers and policemen especially those associated with the Investigation Branch.

The series of lectures in this regard has been initiated on the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh, Shahid Nadeem Baloch, it added.

In his lecture, Baghwandas said that the policemen should perform their duties with the spirit of tolerance, impartiality, positive attitude.—APP

NFHE, KESC organise beach cleaning exercise KARACHI— National Forum for Health and Environment (NFEH), in its efforts to protect the ocean from pollution, organised a beach cleaning exercise in coordination with Karachi Electric Supply Corporation.

Students from different schools of the city participated in the exercise divided themselves into groups to clean various tracts of the coastline.

They on the occasion were also assisted by members of civil society and different professional bodies.

The participants pledged to continue to be enthusiastic volunteers for the cause and protect the coastline from polluKARACHI: Unknown terrorist injured a student by firing in Agrataj Colony, Lyari.—PO photo tion.—APP

CM directs irrigation secretary to ensure water supply to tail-enders STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah gave stern directives to the Secretary Irrigation to ensure that water would reach at the tail-end growers of Khairpur Gambo and other areas within 24 hours.

He said that there was shortage of water and water was also wasted. Therefore, steps should be taken to ensure availability of water to tail-end growers for which the Irrigation officials should evolve an effective and comprehensive strategy.

He issued these directives during meeting with a delegation of Sindh Chamber of Agri-

culture which called on him at CM House Tuesday night. The delegation comprised President Dr Nadeem Qamar, General Secretary Nabi Bux Sathio, Mir Zafarullah Talpur, Hameer Soomro, Abdul Jabbar Memon and others.

The CM stressed upon the irrigation officials to ensure justified distribution of water as province was facing shortage of water.

He warned the officials of the Irrigation department to take matter of shortage of water seriously because negligence on part of any official would not be tolerated and action will be initiated against him.

He informed the delegation that construction of Darwat Dam, initiated on the special directives of President Asif Ali Zardari was on the verge of completion through which 36000-acre barren land would be rendered fertile for crops.

He said that in order to meet the shortage of water more small water storages would be constructed.

He said that on the keen interest of President Asif Ali Zardari drip irrigation system was introduced in the province and incumbent provincial government will take steps to improve and strengthen the system in the province.

Baldia residents without electricity STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) disconnected electricity supply to consumers that were connected to the electricity supply system of the KESC through more than 24 pole mounted transformers (PMT). Thus a very large number of residential consumers were rendered without electricity amid scorching heat.

The KESC while defending its stance on disconnecting the electricity supply to the resident of Baldia said that the power utility was receiving electricity

bills from the consumers in areas of disconnected areas below 8 percent.

According to KESC, the residents of Singo Goth and Faqir Muhammad Goth, Muhammad Ali Goth Aur Mustafa Goth owed dues of Rs 6.2 millionto the utility while Rs 3.3 million were due from the residents of Ramzan Goth, Rs 600000 from the residents of Kato Goth, Rs 14 million from the residents of Nawab Colony.

Further, the residents of ANP Chowk were asked to pay the outstanding dues of Rs 11.2 million while residents of Itehad

Town had also defaulted to the KESC due to which the power utility had disconnected the power supply.

The power disconnection move by the KESC might lead to riots and street protest amid the deteriorated law and order situation in areas that came under the power disconnection move.

The KESC had also failed to improve its supply and distribution sustem and reduce the line losses through installing tariff meters and cables from which the power supply could not be stolen.

KWSB appeals to residents to vacate 247 dangerous buildings KARACHI—The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has warned the residents of the delapidated buildings, declared dangerous, to immediately vacate these and avert any possible casualty or loss during fast approaching monsoons.

A senior KWSB official said the buildings declared dangerous are those that have been surveyed by a team of Sindh Building Control Authority’s Technical Committee comprising senior architects and engineers.

He said there are 247 such buildings identified to be delapidated and unfit for residence as the basic structure of their construction has been damaged..—APP

15 thoroughfares in city to be model roads K ARACHI — As many as 15 thoroughfares in the city have been selected to be made model roads under the traffic management System.

This was announced by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh, Shahid Nadeem Baloch.

He was visiting the office of the Overseas Investors’ Chambers of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) here on Wednesday, KARACHI: A large number of people seen enjoying themselves at seaside during hot weather says a police statement.—APP in the port city.

JAMA apprises Commissioner of security issues KARACHI—A delegation of Jamia Alliance of Market Association (JAMA), comprising shopkeepers of 36 different markets, located around M.A Jinnah Road apprised the Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui of issues casting severe consequences on their business.

The delegation led by JAMA President, Mohammad Irshad in a meeting with the Commissioner on Wednesday said the problems that have turned to a nuisance for them range from encroachments, illegal parking on M.A Jinnah road, to frequent power breakdowns and lack of security.

The Commissioner taking prompt note of the grievances of the shopkeepers, belonging to one of the city’s oldest business centres, said the administration which is keen to perform its responsibilities towards all sections of the society and citizens of the city would ensure that security is further beefed up and the issues of unauthorized parking and encroachments are settled for good.

Shoaib told the Deputy Commissioner of Karachi-East, Mustafa Jamal Qazi present on the occasion, to visit the site and make a detailed report, on urgent basis, as how the problems faced by the shopkeepers and traders

of M.A Jinnah road are to be addressed on a lasting basis.

He advised the DC-East to present him with his report on urgent basis with plausible recommendations that must also be duly implemented.

“This is extremely important as it would help the governemnt to develop a linkage based on mutual respect and confidence with the traders,” said Shoaib.

“It would again help to develop a respect for the administration among the business community as well as the masses,” he added.

Shoaib urged the JAMA members to also realise their

responsibility and ensure that they neither themselves overstep the allocated space of their shops nor illegally rent it out to others or even allow anyone to occupy the space with impunity.

About the problems faced

by JAMA members due to frequent power breakdowns the Commissioner said KESC has adopted a carrot and stick policy and residents of the areas who promptly pay their bills are little inconvenienced.

He appealed to the JAMA leaders and members to see that bills of electricity are duly paid and that illegal connections is discouraged.—APP

Kids’ repeat concussions may mean longer recovery

Y

OUNG people may take longer to recover after their second or third concussion, a new study sug-

gests.

Researchers typically believe the average athlete needs up to two weeks to stop having symptoms such as headaches and memory problems - after a concussion.

But in the new study, children and young adults who had just suffered their second concussion in the last year took an average of 35 days to get back to normal.

“We have to be cautious in terms of after two weeks, if you still have symptomatic athletes, that you’re not trying to hurry them back,” said Dr. Paul Comper, a concussion researcher from the University of Toronto.

“The most important piece of information that comes out of this study is, if you’ve had prior concussions, the 10- to 14-day (recovery) thing may be completely out the window,” Comper, who wasn’t involved in the new study, told Reuters Health.

He said the findings aren’t totally surprising - it’s clear that multiple head injuries are a bad thing - but they give doctors more information to pass on to their young patients after a concussion.

Studies have been piling up showing the potential harms of concussions among kids (see Reuters Health story of

March 4, 2012 here: reut.rs/yKlv85).

And the apparent suicides of Junior Seau and other professional football and hockey players, some of whose brains showed damage from multiple head injuries, have raised concerns about depression tied to repeat concussions.

The new study included 280 youth, age 11 to 22, who came to the emergency room within a few days of having a concussion. About two-thirds of them were injured playing sports, most commonly hockey, soccer, football and basketball.

After going home, kids filled out up to six questionnaires about their symptoms over the next 12 weeks, and reported the last day they had any concussion-related problems.

Of the 235 kids who completed the study, 68 had a history of concussion.

On average, participants who had never had a concussion before took 12 days to recover from their head injury.

That compared to 24 days among those with at least one past concussion, and 35 days if that prior concussion had been within the last year, the study team reported Monday in Pediatrics.

That finding, the lead author said, gives parents and doctors “even more reason for caution” when deciding how long a child should be kept out of sports or school after a head injury.

LAHORE: A young boy is busy in his work to earn living for his family, oblivious of International Day against Child Labour.

Comprehensive flood emergency plan prepared L AHORE —Punjab

Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer reviewed flood arrangements and preparedness of flood prone districts.

The director general chaired a meeting of senior rescue officials at Rescue 1122’s Headquarters here on Wednesday and discussed the flood action plan.

The DG was appraised by the Disaster Response Wing that around 180 boats with engines would be deployed in flood prone areas along with rescue staff.

He enquired about the recruitment of contingent paid staff in the flood prone

Sanitation of Madhu Lal darbar area sought

districts and status of mock exercises.

The District Emergency officers have prepared contingency plans in their respective districts and assured that all necessary arrangements in compliance of the PDMA, Home Department and the Punjab government had already been made in consultation with the district coordination officers.

The DG Rescue Punjab was briefed that the Punjab Emergency Service’s Headquarters had also developed communication links with the Flood Forecasting Division and Pakistan Meteorological Department for early warning

LHC notices of acid throwing incident STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—The Lahore High Court Wednesday took no-

LAHORE—Chairman of Reli- tice of the news published in gious Affairs Committee of Darbar Hazrat Madhu Lal Hussain has called to improve affairs at this heavily visited public site.

Muhammad Abbas Butt, chairman of the committee has urged the district government to make arrangements for cleaning the place as well as regular disposal of filth that has collected around the place.

Talking to APP on Wednesday, he said foul stench from heaps of garbage constantly perturbed the visitors as well as the residents.—APP

system and a mechanism had been devised through which the Provincial Monitoring Cell of the service would operate round-the-clock.

Similarly, in order to ensure necessary testing/ full functionality of water rescue equipment, preparedness mock flood exercises had already been arranged at Head Baloki, Head Marala, Head Trimmu, Dhurabi Lake and Kallar Kahar by the Water and Flood Rescue Wing of the service.

The meeting was attended

by Director Administration Brigadier (retd) Dr Arshad Zia, Provincial Monitoring Officer Dr Yaya Butt and other senior officers.—APP

a section of press highlighting an episode that step-son threw acid on his mother and aunt in suburban area of Jampur.

District & Sessions Judge, Multan has been directed to probe into the matter and submit a detailed report regarding steps taken by the local police alongwith his own comments.

According to details, brother of Zahida Bibi, a resident of Tatarwala in Jampur told police that her sister’s step-son, Ahmad used mis-

treat her. Once on refusal to give money, he left home and returned with two unidentified men. They beat Zahida Bibi and her sister Anila Bibi, who was visiting her, and threw acid on them and fled.

The injured women were taken to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital from where they were sent to Nishtar Hospital Multan. Both the women had 50 percent burn wounds.

Police registered the case but the accused have not been arrested so far. According to police, accused Ahmad is a drug addict and the incident happened due to property dispute between the assailant and the stepmother.

Measles kill two more children L AHORE —Two more children died of measles on Wednesday raising total number of deaths to 151 in the province during the last six months.

According to health department officials, deaths were reported, one each, from district headquarter hospitals (DHQ) of Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar. During the last 24-hours as many as 208 new cases of measles were reported in Punjab, including 39 in Lahore hospitals. A total of 17, 246 cases were reported during the last six months in the province.

A focal person of Extended Programme for Immunization (EPI), Dr. Younas while talking to APP said that after the anti-measles drive in high risk districts from June 13, the situation regarding measles would come under control.—APP LAHORE: Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif travelling in Metro Bus to attend first meeting of Punjab Cabinet at Civil Secretariat on Wednesday.

World Day against Child Labour marked

L AHORE —World

day against Child Labour was observed here on Wednesday with a renewed pledge to make all-out efforts to control the child labour in the province.

Besides programmes, including speeches, tableaus and songs, to highlight the plight of children a seminar and a walk was held on the occasion.

The Provincial Child Labour Unit Punjab organized the seminar in which hundreds of children, parents of working children, teachers, civil society representatives, trade unions and employers participated.

The seminar was presided over by Capt (retd) Muhammad Yousaf, Secretary Labour and Human Resource Department and stated that the Punjab government was fully committed to eradicate the child labour particularly its hazardous forms.—APP

All-out measures to curb energy crisis: Shahbaz STAFF REPORTER

Sharif said, Pakistan and India are neighbouring countries and by acting upon the principle of peaceful co-existence they will have to move forward on the road to progress and prosperity.

He said, cooperation in economic sector is the key to development of the two countries. He said trade cooperation between Pakistan and India is essential for peace, progress and prosperity in the region.

He said both the countries can benefit from each other’s experiences in trade, investment, industries, education, health and other sectors. He said the goal of progress and development of India and Pakistan cannot be achieved without giving a chance to peace.

He said the economic, industrial, agriculture and other sectors have been badly affected by energy crises in Pakistan besides routine life has also been disturbed. Shahbaz Sharif said PML-N government will take all necessary measures to overcome energy crisis and this challenge will be turned

into opportunities.

The Chief Minister thanked Indian delegation for visiting Pakistan and said that it is a matter of satisfaction that an Indian delegation of energy sector is in Lahore and soon a delegation of Pakistani experts in energy sector will visit India so that further progress could be made for promotion of cooperation between the two countries in energy sector.

He said the proposals put forward in the meeting will be presented to the Prime Minister. He said India and Pakistan will have to take practicable measures for the promotion of bilateral trade.

The Indian delegation gave a briefing to the Chief Minister on details of the proposed project of laying a power transmission line from Amritsar to Lahore and a gas pipeline from Jalandhar to Jallo.

Pakistani experts also submitted their proposals regarding the proposed project.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Baglay said the Indian government

has also expressed good wishes for the new government of Pakistan Muslim League-N in Pakistan.

He expressed the hope that bilateral relations between India and Pakistan will improve under the new government of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He also thanked Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for his warm hospitality.

L AHORE —Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said Pakistan was facing serious energy crisis which has adversely affected its economy.

“The government will take all possible steps to cope with the challenge of energy shortage so as the people’s problems can be resolved and economy is put on the right track,” he said while talking to a high level Indian delegation of power and gas sector led by Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay which called him on at Model Town here.

He said efforts will be LAHORE—A week long celmade on war footing to conebration of ‘Colour day’ trol load-shedding and prackicked off at Kinnaird College tical measures will be taken for girls here on Wednesday to seek cooperation of India to make last days of students for this purpose. memorable before they He welcomed the interest graduate and leave. Stushown by India to cooperate dents followed the theme set with Pakistan in energy secby their departments and tor saying India and Pakistan dressed up accordingly. can move ahead by promotThe theme was to act ing trade and economic relalike mock dacoits and loot tions which will be beneficial fellow students. Rest of the to the peoples of the two days have been given the L AHORE —The pre-mon- countries. themes Gypsy and Holi soon rain would minimise the (colour play).The celebration cases of sun-stroke and fewill continue till the final exver incidence among the chilams. dren during summer with Talking to APP, some stuconsiderable fall of the merdents expressed their joy in cury. Prof Dr Khalid Masood celebrating the week long of Mayo Hospital, while talkactivities. They said that ing to APP, said that the heat they would never forget their wave had given rise to the academic years and the incidence of sun-stroke and colour week will seal the fever among the children as memories perfectly.—APP a large number of cases were registered every day during the past month. To a query, he said the rainy season has its own dangers and certain precautions must be adopted in order to avoid complicaLAHORE—Cloth worth thoutions among children. sands of rupees was reduced “Gastro, hepatitis-A, and to ashes when fire broke out typhoid are the common disin a shop at Azam cloth mareases which the children may ket here on Wednesday. catch during the rainy season”, According to a spokeshe responded. Regarding preman of Rescue 1122 their cautions against gastro, he said teams reached the spot and that frequent hand-washing controlled the fire at first should be made a habit while LAHORE: Families bathing in canal to get some relief from hot weather in provincial storey of a plaza. water should be boiled before capital.

No loss of life was rebeing used, adding that even ported in the incident. The the bottled water must be boiled cause behind the fire was before being served to the chilstated to be short circuitdren.—APP ing.—APP

Rain to minimise sun-stroke, fever incidences

Colour day kicks off at Kinnaird

Fire at Azam cloth market

Rescue recovers drowned boy body L AHORE —Water

rescue teams of Rescue-1122 recovered the body of drowned boy after two days from Lal Pully Canal Road here on Wednesday.

A Rescue-1122 spokesman said Farhan ,6, along with his family had visited the canal at Icchra for a picnic and fell into it.

Rescue teams recovered the body and handed over it to his parents.—APP

Merit based appointment of women against reserved seats stressed

L AHORE —Women politi- day. cians have demanded the political parties to make appointment on reserved seats for women in the national and provincial assemblies on merit.

The demand was raised by representatives of almost all the national and regional political parties in Fourth WILL Leadership Forum which was jointly organized

by Search for Common Ground Pakistan, Insan Foundation Trust and Women’s Initiative for Learning and Leadership (WILL)’ at a local hotel on Wednes-

They also demanded 30 percent allocation of general seats in elections for women with funds for contesting elections.

Speakers said that women political leaders from different political parties face many challenges and discrimination at all levels in the parliament and outside. They recognized the need of training focused on media messaging, legislation and advocacy.

Ex-MPAs demanded that they should not be ignored by their parties and adjusted

in the new political setup so that they can continue delivering with the same zeal and zest.

Later, question and answer session was held.

MPA’s PML-N Raheela Khadim Hussain, Shamela Aslam, Nighat Nasir Sheikh, MPA MQM Naheed Begum, Amina Ulfat and other representatives of different parties Sabrina Javed, Sumaira Khan, Nasim Nasir Khwaja, Amna Zaidi, Bushra Sarfaraz, Zarrin Majid, Tayyaba Khatoon attended the forum.—APP