Continued on Page 6

ATTOCK: Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, Imran Khan addressing a public gathering at Liaquat HockeyStadium.

SC disposesof overseas

Pakistanis rightto vote case

ISLAMABAD—Attorney Gen-eral (AG) told Supreme Court(SC) that it is impossible for caretaker government to extend elec-toral facilities to the overseasPakistanis as its mandate is tohold transparent election.

A 3-member bench of SCheaded by the Chief Justice ofPakistan (CJP) IftikharMuhammad Chaudhry took upoverseas Pakistanis right to votecase Monday.

AG said before the benchthat caretaker government hasbeen mandated to hold transpar-ent election. Providing electoralfacilities to the overseas Paki-stanis is impossible for caretakergovernment during the upcoming

President briefedabout situation

in SyriaKARACHI—A Special Envoy ofthe Syrian President, FaisalMeqdad, Monday, called on thePresident of Pakistan here to briefhim on the current situation inSyria. The President, while reaf-firming the sovereignty and terri-torial integrity of the Syrian ArabRepublic, emphasized the need forrespecting the democratic aspira-tions of the Syrian people.

The President also expressedconcern on the deteriorating hu-manitarian situation in Syria andstressed the need for a broad na-tional dialogue and political rec-onciliation.—Online

Sarabjit not to besent abroad: PakistanISLAMABAD—Pakistan on Mon-day ruled out the possibility thatIndian death row prisonerSarabjit Singh could be sentabroad for his treatment.

In a statement on Monday, theForeign Office said that Singh,who is under treatment in Lahore’sJinnah Hospital after being beatenup by fellow inmates in KotLakhpat Jail, is nor being sentabroad for the treatment neitherIndian doctors be given access tohim. It said that a panel of Paki-stani experts has been formed formedical treatment of the Indianterrorist convicted for bomb blastin Pakistan killing many Paki-stanis 23 years ago.—Online

Deploymentof securitypersonnel forelection dutyQUETTA—Balochistangovernment on Monday starteddeployment of 70,000 securityforces in all districts of theprovince to perform dutiesduring the upcoming generalelections. The contingents ofPakistan Army, FrontierConstabulary, BalochistanConstabulary, Levies forcesand police were dispatched todifferent areas of Balochistanfrom Quetta on Monday.

Balochistan InteriorSecretary Akbar HussainDurrani said that the armywould be deployed in all 30districts and 92 tehsils of theprovince to cope up with anyuntoward situation.—NNI

Action against IG

IHC seeksreport frominterior secyISLAMABAD—Islamabad HighCourt (IHC) has sought reportfrom interior secretary tillToday (Tuesday) on the actiontaken against IG Islamabad inMusharraf escape case.

The court has also directedadditional interior secretary toexplain his position till todayfor soliciting legal opinion fromlaw ministry in connection withinitiation of action against IGIslamabad.

Justice Shaukat AzizSiddiqui of IHC took upMusharraf escape case for hear-

Benazir murder case

FIA includesElahi ininvestigationSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Former Punjabchief minister Pervez Elahi hasnow been included in theinvestigation of BenazirBhutto’s assassination

Elahi’s statement will berecorded this week while astatement from former primeminister Shaukat Aziz will alsobe recorded.

The Federal InvestigationAgency (FIA) had earlierinvestigated former presidentPervez Musharraf in relation tothe case, who pointed towardsRehman Malik. “RehmanMalik was responsible for

Continued on Page 6KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari exchanging views with Syrian Deputy Foreign Min-ister Faisal Mekdad during meeting at Bilawal House on Monday.

TARIQ SAEED

PESHAWAR—Provincial me-tropolis Peshawar continued tobleed on the second consecu-tive day when a deadly suicideexplosion, apparently missingthe target, ripped through ahighly congested public placekilling at least a dozen peopleand seriously wounding sev-enty others. Two employees ofthe Afghan consulate inPeshawar, son of a former Af-

ghan minister and a free-lancejournalist are among the dead.

Officials claim the target ofthe blast was CommissionerPeshawar whose official vehiclecrossed the spot of the explosionmoments before. Number of in-jured in the city’s major hospi-tal were stated to be in criticalcondition and the medics appre-hended the death toll may gohigher.

On Sunday too, it may berecalled, three cities of the KP

including provincial capitalwere rocked by powerful explo-sions targeting the election of-fices of the ANP and other can-didates killing around 10 per-sons and seriously woundingseventy others.

An election office set up forIDPs by an independent candi-date contesting elections fromNA-46, Nasir Khan, was tar-geted on Charsadda road inPeshawar killing at least threepersons and injuring 20 others

Sunday morning while twopeople were killed 23 woundedtargeted poll office in Swabiand five succumbed to terror-ism and 25 others wounded inexplosions closed to the elec-tion offices of ANP and an in-dependent candidate in Kohatthe same day.

The Police and the eye wit-ness said a suicide bomberriding on a motor bike deto-nated explosives at a bus stop

10 killed, 70 injured in Peshawar blastCommissioner escapes narrowly Two

Afghan nationals among the dead

Continued on Page 6

Imran sees battle between‘Noon’ and ‘Junoon’

NEW MURREE—PakistanTehreek Insaf PTI chief ImranKhan has predicted battle be-tween, what he called ‘Noon’(PML N) and ‘Junoon’ (Passion)in the upcoming elections.

Addressing a public gather-ing here on Monday, he saidPresident Zardari has now pre-pared his son to run the party who

does not even know to speakUrdu. Imran Khan said PML Ntook its turn 5 times in govern-ment in last 25 years but did noth-ing for the betterment of thepeople. He said 70,000 peoplewere kidnapped in Punjab dur-ing last five years and provincialgovernment completely failed tocurb the crime.

Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf has announced that if votedto power, his party would arrangelocal bodies elections within the first90 days. He said the decades oldpolice, development, education andhealth problems would be easilyaddressed by the people of the con-cerned villages where these facili-ties will be built.—Online

PPP-MQM-ANP say...

Terrorists are wingsof right-wingersIRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Liberal politicalparties had joined hands togetherto defeat the ongoing wave of ter-rorism that had greatly intimi-

dated them and their electoralcanvassing were sidelinedthrough high-grade threats andbomb blasts on their electionscamps and public gathering.

Although the liberal politicalparties had showed their firmstances not to be intimidated bythe perpetrators and to continueto staying in the race of electionscontests, it would still be waitedto see if they produce electionsrallies and hold the public gath-ering amid ever high threats oflethal attacks. The PakistanPeople’s Party (PPP), theMuttahida Qaumi Movement(MQM) and the Awami NationalParty (ANP) entered the KarachiPress Club together to address ajoint press conference Monday tomake their future political stancespublic through newspapers andelectronic medium.

The tri-party political con-sortium was led by the PPP

Continued on Page 6

PPP, MQM andANP misguidingmasses: Mahenti

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Jamaat-e Islami(JI) in reaction to the jointpress conference addressed bythe Pakistan People’s Party(PPP), the Muttahida QaumiMovement (MQM) and theAwami National Party (ANP)alleged that the three partieswere misguiding the masses

Continued on Page 6

ALI SYED

ISLAMABAD—The PlanningCommission has for the first timeshown its spine and came downheavily on the international fi-nancial institutions for being se-cretly involved in dictating theiragenda on economic policies inPakistan.

It is none other than DrNadeemul Haq, deputy chairmanof Planning Commission whofound the World Bank, USAID,and DFID in dictating theiragenda which is not in line withthe decisions of National Eco-nomic Council and Growth Strat-egy carved out by the govern-ment.

The Planning Commission ina meeting held on February 12,2013 of which the copy of theminutes available to PakistanObserver according to whichPakistan has clearly asked WorldBank, USAID, ADB and othersin plain words not to dictate onidentifying the projects for loans

Donors found secretively engaged indictating their agenda in Pakistan

Continued on Page 6

Treason charges

Musharraf’srequest for fullcourt rejected

ISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt Monday resumed hearingof five petitions seeking framingof charges against former presi-dent Pervez Musharraf underArticle six for imposing emer-gency in 2007 and abrogating theConstitution.

The three-member Bench,headed by Justice Jawwad SKhawaja, rejected request ofMusharraf’s lawyers for forma-tion of full court to hear the trea-son case.

Ibrahim Satti, the counselfor Musharraf submitted hiswritten arguments to the bench.He went on saying that his cli-ent and chief justice were thekey players of all the eventssince March 9. —NNI

Continued on Page 6

ISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterJustice (Retd) Mir HazarKhan Khoso has said that theGwadar-Ratodero is a strate-gic link of great national im-portance and the govern-ment will accelerate its paceof work so that the people ofcountry can reap benefits ofthe Gwadar Port. The PrimeMinister expressed theseviews while presiding over ahigh-level meeting held onMonday here at the PMHouse to review the progresson Gwadar-Ratodero Road.

He issued instructionsthat work on Khuzdar-Ratodero and Hoshab-Gwadar sections should becompleted during the next 12months while work on N-85Road and N-30 be prioritizedfor early completion of these

linkages with Gwadar. He saidthat the completion of thisroad was not only important

for linking Gwadar with therest of country but would alsoquicken pace of developmentin the area right from Gwadarupto Ratodero.—APP

SALAHUDDIN HAIDER

CALL it grand, warm,special or eloquent.The reception held

here to celebrate the Queen’s87th birthday, and her 61st

year of ac-cession tothe Throne,was all inone. It had anaura of maj-esty, delight-ful fragranceof equalityand justice,

the aroma of centuries-oldBritish tradition of hospital-ity, which filled the air at theActon House, the officialresidence of the BritishDeputy High Commissionerin Karachi, FrancisCampbell. He is an Irish, butcarries in him the quality ofScottish friendliness, andthe beauty of the Welsh.

To add to the charm ofthe evening, the British HighCommissioner in Islamabad,Adam Thomson, and hisnumber two, Alison Blake,the charming lady, capable ofdisarming even the oppo-nents with her charismaticsmile. Adam has been here tomix up with people for he un-derstands the importance,and capabilities of the peopleof this megapolis. Adam, alittle small in height, but tall

in character and professionalability. He has been very ac-tive ever since being postedin Pakistan, and has beenmeeting all sorts of people, toppoliticians, administrators,leading businessmen, andeven the media.

The current team of Britishdiplomats in Pakistan, whetherin Islamabad or Karachi, hasbeen one of the finest in recentyears. But Francis is leaving forhome at the end of next month.He will carry with him fondmemories of love and affectionof the people of the city, andalso an inner satisfaction ofbeing enormously successfulin his assignment. He is themost loveable personality, andhis friends, well wishers andsympathizers will all be sad atmissing him, perhaps for a longtime, for he or may not beposted to Pakistan again, buthe will carry back our bestwishes with him The vast lawnsof the DHC residence was over-crowded with guests who werea like galaxy on earth, Politi-cians, business elite, multi-na-tional chiefs, journalists, etc.

Governor Dr IshratulEbad, and caretaker chief min-ister Justice Zahid QurbanAlvi were there, alongwith DrFarooq Sattar, senatorNasreen Jalil, and HaseebKhan, S M Muneer, the wellknown business figure,Haroon Agar, the current

president of the KarachiChamber of Commerce andIndustry, but PPP leadershipwas conspicuous by its ab-sence, Perhaps they were toobusy with electioneering. DrFarooq Sattar explained to theBritish High Commission hisparty’s position on currentsituation, making it clear thatperhaps on May 11 selectionsand not elections will be pre-ferred by those designing tocheat the people of theirrights to choose their repre-sentatives for the federal andprovincial assemblies.

The local diplomaticcorps was fully represented.Russian Consul generalAndrey Demidov, USA con-sul general Michael Dodman,Swiss CG Didier Boshung.The Arab world was too infull strength. Saudi ConsulGeneral Roheli, the KuwaitiConsul General NassirMuttairi, the Bahrain CBIbrahim, and the Oman CG,the consul generals of Ma-laysia, Japan, south easterncountries, and everyone else.After national anthems ofPakistan and Great Britainwas played, the governor,and the chief minister repliedto the welcome speech ofAdam Thomson and byFrancis Campbell. The gov-ernor said some kind wordsabout Pak-UK relations, andeven a toast were proposed

for the health and life of theQueen. But chief ministershould have realized that itwas national occasion forthe British, and dress codewas essential. He came inshirt and pant, and hardlycould deliver a speech.

The chief minister cut asorry figure, and ought tohave taken care of traditionand protocol. He repre-sented not only the Sindhgovernment, but also theState and the President ofPakistan. We all felt sorry athis conduct. He is a formerhigh court judge, and oughtto know the demands of thesituation Profuse illumina-tions, coupled with a con-stant music of ScottishBand, in low tone, made it afairy evening.

Credit for this goes toFrancis and Adam Thomsonwho take so much interest inPakistan, a fact which waspublicly acknowledged by theSindh governor who had ear-lier led a team of ministers andexperts along with Francis andAdam Thomson to UK forlooking at prospects of busi-ness and investment improve-ments. The governor revealedthat a number of MOUs weresigned, but how far these wereput to execution and turnedinto reality, at least I am notaware of. The progress needto be revealed to the people.

Queen’s birthday was a special occasion

3 killed overproperty

dispute inBajour AgencyISLAMABAD—At least threepersons were killed on Mon-day over a property disputein Bajour Agency. Accordingto news channel reports,members of one clan openedfire on those of the other inBarang Tehsil of BajaurAgency, killing three per-sons. The accused ran awayfrom the scene. The policeand rescue teams rushed tothe site and cordoned off thearea. The security forcesconducted an operation toarrest the culprits. The bod-ies were shifted to a localhospital for medico-legal for-malities.

Kasur: Two buildings col-lapsed in the district 10- yearold girl was killed while 7 per-sons sustained injuries onMonday. According to Res-cue sources, in mauza PiyalKalan,a house collapsed kill-ing minor girl Asia, while herfather manzur,his teenagedson Nawaz,eight year olddaughter Munazza, and wifeKhursheed were severely in-jured.—APP

Mossarat condemnsvarsity road blast

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—The KhyberPakhtunkhwa Caretaker Min-ister for Information andPublic Relations, MossaratQadeem has expressed griefand sorrow over the loss ofinnocent lives in the suicidebomb attack at UniversityRoad Peshawar here onMonday.

While condemning thetragic incident, she said thatprovincial government hasalready prepared a securityplan which is being revisitedto remove the weaknessesand make it more result-ori-ented in connection with ex-isting law and order situationin the province. InformationMinister said that the law en-forcing agencies have beensensitized to avert such inci-dents in future. She said thatpeaceful environment is aprerequisite for holding offree, fair and transparent elec-tions.

Mossarat assured morereinforcement to strengthenthe law enforcing agenciesand appropriate readjust-ments in the overall securityplan. She directed the hospi-tal administrations for properhealthcare to the injured andsaid that the province and thewhole country are facing nu-merous security challenges.She also assured all out sup-port to the victims.

PESHAWAR: Security officials collecting the evidences from the bus on the spot after a suicide bomber blastedhimself close to the bus stop at University Road killing nine persons and 43 others injured.

PM for early completion ofGwadar-Ratodero project

I S L A M A B A D — P a k i s t a nTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chair-man Imran Khan has saidthat people would decidetheir fate through vote in theupcoming elections forimplementing just system inthe country. He said thatafter coming in to power, hisparty would hold local gov-ernment elections within 90days to transfer power atgross root level.

Talking to a private newschannel, chairman PTI saidthat his party would ensureadvancement in education,health and police system.Imran said both major politi-cal parties, the PML-N and the

PPP, failed to hold local gov-ernment elections because theydid not want to devolve powerto grass roots level. Khan saidthat good governance wouldnot possible without the localbody election, which will trans-fers powers at gross root level.

Replying to a question,Chairman PTI said that youthof the country would bringrevolution in coming elec-tions. He added that “TabdeleRazakar”(volunteer forchange) movement would beconvert in most powerful forcein coming election to play piv-otal role in PTI victory. ThePTI chairman said the peoplewould celebrate a “new Paki-

stan” on May 11 after votingfor the PTI. Explaining hisstrategy for improving the ru-ral life, Imran said he will askoverseas Pakistanis to ownone village and sponsor de-velopment projects there.

Replying to anotherquestion, Imran Khan saidthat only honest leadershipcan bring the change anderadicate the corruption fromthe country. Imran Khan saidthat his election campaignwould get more momentumnear the election days andlast show of power to placedin capital city Islamabad. Hesaid that after coming intopower,”He would choose the

best Cabinet team to deliverand change in old colonialsystem. Chairman PTI, ap-pealed to the terrorists not tosabotage the electioneeringprocess. He added that “Letthe political parties run theircampaigns during the run-upto the elections.

Multan: President PakistanTehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)Mukhdoom Javed Hashmi onMonday claimed that May 11would be the day of change inthe country as maximum peoplewould vote in favour of PTI.Addressing a corner meetingnear mausoleum of Hazrat MusaPak Shaheed organized byyouth of Gillani families, he said

that public mandate in favourof PTI would bring change inthe country. He claimed thatPTI would end darkness in thecountry.

Sargodha: PakistanTehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candi-date for NA-66 BarristerAbdullah Mumtaz Kahloonhas said that PTI will make radi-cal changes with the aim tomake the country corruption-free and build a “new Paki-stan”. Addressing a publicmeeting here on Monday heclaimed that PTI would endloadshedding in three yearsafter coming intopower,besides ending hun-ger.—APP

May 11 will be day of change: Hashmi

Imran for implementation of just system in country

Youth gives poisonto family for not

allowing marriageBADIN—An angry youthgave poison to his sevenfamily members for not al-lowing him second marriagein Badin. According to de-tails, a youth, Majid, turnedangry over his family forstopping him from secondmarriage in Shadilarge areaof Badin and mixed poisonin juice and gave to fatherAli Asghar, brothersRamzan and Aadil, grand-mother Shehnaz Bibi,younger sister Rukhsar, andwife Alia. The neighborsmoved all family members inserious condition to CivilHospital of Badin for medi-cal assistance.—Online

ISLAMABAD—A seven-dayspecial mass vaccination cam-paign against measles starttoday in Lahore and otherparts of Punjab during whichthree million children from sixmonths to 10 years of age willbe inoculated against the dis-ease, a private news channelreported. According to reporta spokesman for PunjabHealth Department said thecampaign will continue tillMay 5 and the children wouldalso be provided with facilityof vaccination againstmeasles at all governmenthospitals, basic health cen-tres and rural health centressfrom 8am to 5pm.

He said that measlesvaccination campaignwould continue for oneweek and the leave of thevaccination staff on Sundayand May 1 had been can-celled. The spokesman saidthat mobile vaccinationteams would pay visit allunion councils and theloudspeakers of themosques would be used toinform the people about it.

The students of all gov-ernment and private primaryschools of Punjab districtswill also be inoculated andthe educational institutionsrefusing to get their studentsvaccinated will be closed.

Students of all governmentand private primary schoolsof Lahore district will also beinoculated and the educa-tional institutions refusing toget their students vaccinatedwill have to face action, hewarned.

He said that childrenwould also be provided fa-cility of vaccination againstmeasles at all governmenthospitals, basic health cen-tre and rural health centersfrom 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.

The Additional Directorsaid that mobile vaccinationteams would visit all unioncouncils. The loudspeakersof the mosques would beused for informing the peopleabout their visit. Healthworkers will pay door-to-door visit at mohalla levelunder health education ses-sion programme to apprisethe women of the arrival ofthe teams in their homes.Health department has con-stituted 660 mobile teams,165other teams for schools, and265 fixed teams for vaccina-tion against measles. Dr.Nazir Hussain said that dur-ing the current drive expect-ing women would also bevaccinated against tetanusand related diseases so thatmortality rate could bebrought down.—APP

Measles vaccinationcampaign starts today

HYDERABAD—People fromdifferent segments of lifeMonday condemned the re-cent killing, firing incidentsand bomb blasts in Karachi,areas of Balochistan,Peshawar, Hyderabad, Kohatand expressed their grief overthe death of innocent per-sons in these incidents.

In separate statementsissued here, President Jamiat-e- Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP)and Ex-MNA SahabzadaAbul Khair MuhammadZubair, President Jaffaria Al-liance Sindh Rashid AliJaffery, President Ulema

Killing, blasts across country condemnedCouncil Kazim Raza Naqvi,PML (N), members of a Paki-stani Forum, Afzal Gujjar,Chairman Minorities Com-mission of Pakistan Advo-cate M. Parkash, ReverendDr Daniel Fiaz, Vice PresidentPPP Hyderabad AmanullahSiyal, President HyderabadChamber of Commerce andIndustry (HCCI) Goharullah,Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Sindhleaders Maulana AbdulWaheed Qureshi and ShaikhShoukat Ali, General Secre-tary Hyderabad (JI) Dr FawadAhmed and others havestrongly condemned the kill-

ing of innocent people.They said that shedding

blood of innocent persons istantamount to playing withthe stability of the country.They expressed their condo-lence with all the bereavedfamilies and prayed to the Al-lah Almighty to grant courageand fortitude to the heirs ofthe deceased. They urgedpeople to ensure peace forelections so that all Pakistaniscan exercise their democraticright to elect their leaders.

They said that the en-emies want to weaken thecountry to fulfill their nefari-

ous designs by promotinghatred between various seg-ments of people and somehidden hands are active inthe country to create misun-derstanding between differ-ent communities.—APP

IHRC to constructBHU in Murree

ISLAMABAD—InternationalHuman Rights Commission(IHRC) has announced toconstruct Basic Health Unit(BHU) in Murree to save theLives of Women.

BHU will cater the medi-cal facilities of women wholose their lives due to lackof Medical Care related toMaternal Problems in Re-mote Area with no quick ac-cess to basic health facili-ties.—Online

All parties united against terrorISLAMABAD—PML (N) Leader SenatorPervez Rashid has said that PML (N) iscontesting elections against politicalparties but in the war against terror, allpolitical forces are united. Talking to aprivate news channel, he said PML(N)and other parties who believe in parlia-mentary democracy and supremacy ofconstitution are all against terrorism. Hesaid in the battle between bullet andballot, we are with ballot. Pervaiz Rashid

said that although there are some difficulties in some partsof the country because of terrorist incidents, it is goodthat Pakistan is heading towards elections. He said thistime the elections will be held in free, fair, and transparentmanner. He said Pakistan is entering a democratic statefrom an authoritarian state. He said our party is also targetof terrorism. In this regard, he referred to terrorism incidentin which PML(N)’s Balochistan President was targeted andhe lost his son and brother in the incident. He said thereare also threats to PML (N). Earlier, Pakistan MuslimLeague (PML-N) senior leader, Arbab Khazir Hayat KhanMonday claimed that PML-N was the only party havingcapability to steer the country out of the current difficultsituation if voted to power. Talking to media persons hereat his residence, Arbab said PML-N had served the peoplein past and will continue to serve them irrespective of po-litical affiliation by addressing their problems at their door-step. He claimed that PML-N would emerge victorious bywining the 2013 election with overwhelming victory in thecountry. The PML-N leader lamented that there was noth-ing the past rulers to show its performance of last fiveyears rather they were bent upon character assassinationof others. Referring to the assassination of Benazir BhuttoShaheed, Arbab came hard on the Party leadership, sayingthat the workers were angry for not exposing the killers ofBB.—APP

Liberals being pushed to wallISLAMABAD—Senior Pakistan PeoplesParty leader Imtiaz Safdar Warraich hassaid that some elements wanted to keepliberal democratic parties away from theelections. He said that PPP and otherliberal political parties were pushed tothe wall as they on the hit-list of terror-ists, said the former PPP Punjab Presi-dent while talking to APP Monday. Aconspiracy has been hatched to forcethe liberal political parties to boycott

elections but this conspiracy will not succeed, Warraichadded. All political parties should unite at one platformagainst the terrorist elements, otherwise they will face thesame fate in future. Earlier, Senior Vice President of AwamiNational Party Senator Haji Adeel strongly condemningthe bomb blast at ANP election office in Orangi TownKarachi, said that some elements wanted to keep liberaldemocratic parties away from the elections. Talking to APP,he said that ANP was on the hit-list of terrorists and theywanted to force the party to boycott elections. However,Haji Adeel made it clear that ANP would not boycott theelections at any cost. He said that delay in elections wouldbe catastrophic for the country. He called upon all politicalparties to unite at one platform against the terrorist ele-ments. On Friday night terrorists targeted ANP electionoffice in Orangi Town when corner meeting was inprogress. It is second attack in two days on the offices ofpolitical party. On Thursday MQM office was attacked inwhich five people were killed and many injured. Haji Adeelsaid that ANP would continue its election campaign care-fully and would not bow down to terrorists.—APP

Afghani determined to triumphStaff Reporter

PESHAWAR—PPP candidate from NA-1, Zulfikar Afghani has claimed that theconstituency is a stronghold of theparty and all senior and present work-ers had extended full support to himand was confident of his success onMay 11. Addressing a press conferenceon the occasion of the joining of inde-pendent candidate from PK-3, JehanzebKhan, Jan Mohammad of PTI and NoorJamal of ANP into PPP, he claimed that

during last Bilour brothers had disappointed by their dis-mal performance. The PPP candidate was also flanked bycandidate from PK-3, Haji Mohammad Iqbal Mohmand,Ayub Shah and Hameedullah Zahid Zulfikar Afghaniclaimed that the popularity of PPP in the constituency isgrowing with each passing day as a large number of theactivist of ANP and PTI are joining their ranks on dailybasis. He alleged that due to the dual standard of PTIchief, the whole organizations of the party are joining them.He claimed that being an imported candidate, Imran Khanis totally unaware of the nature of the problems faced byPeshawarits. The PPP candidate said that during last fiveyears neither any mega project nor any new university hasbeen established in Peshawar. He said that they have stoodup to battle for the rights of Peshawar and ruled out anycompromise in this regard. He claimed that the whole orga-nization set up of PTI UC Andher Shehr has been joinedPPP. On this occasion, Jehanzeb Khan, an independentcandidate from PK-3 along with his family and supportersannounced joining PPP and extended full support to HajiMohammad Iqbal Mohmand. Speaking on the occasion,PPP candidate from PK-3, Haji Mohammad Iqbal Mohmandwelcomed the new entrants into the party.

India rulers keeping people in darkISLAMABAD—The Chairman of All Par-ties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz UmarFarooq, and senior APHC leader,Shabbir Ahmed Shah, have welcomedthe statement of senior Congressleader and former Indian Minister, ManiShanker Aiyar, where he stated thatpeople in Kashmir have a feeling thatthey are being ruled by Indian policeand army. According to KMS, theAPHC Chairman in a media interview

in Srinagar said that Congress had been in power in Indiafor most of the time but unfortunately their policies hadremained anti-Kashmir. “They are hoodwinking and keep-ing people in India in dark about the realities in Kash-mir,” he said, adding that Aiyar should convey his feel-ings to people in power in India. “They (Indian rulers)are more interested in safeguarding their interests thankeeping human values and rights in mind while dealingwith Kashmiris,” he said while expressing surprise overAiyar’s assertion about need for continuation of draco-nian law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the terri-tory. “It only speaks about his double speak. If on onehand he has concern for Kashmiris and their feelings,how come he advocates AFSPA in the same breath,” theMirwaiz added. Senior APHC leader and the President ofJammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, ShabbirAhmad Shah, in an interview said, the statement of Aiyarmakes it clear that Kashmir is being ruled by police andarmy. “He has also endorsed the fact that police killedyouth and young children during 2008-2010 uprisingwhich should be an eye-opener for all as Aiyar himself ispart of Congress that has been in power during the pe-riod,” Shabbir Shah added.—APP

LARKANA: A worker busy in printing the posters of can-didates participating in upcoming general elections-2013.

QUETTA—Pakistan RedCrescent Society (PRCS)dispatched relief goods tothe quake battered areaspeople of Balochistan, state-ment issued here on Mon-day said. The PRCS state-ment said that truck carrying500 tents, 500 health kits, 500kitchen appliances, and 2500mosquito net besides hugequantity of medicines haveleft for the Mashkel.

“Due to the uneven roadsfrom Quetta to Mashkel, the

access to the people of the af-fected areas is quite difficult,however, the PRCS team is en-gaged in relief operation in thearea since the calamity hit bor-dering towns of Balochistan,”it further said.

****Deputy Commissioner

Chaghi Abdul KhaliqMandokhel said Mondaythat around 1,000 personnelof Law Enforcement Agen-cies (LEAs) would be de-ployed at 73 polling stations

in the district. While talkingto APP he said that all ar-rangements pertaining topeaceful conduct of May 11polls have been finalized.

“Some 1,000 men of police,Balochistan Constabulary,Levies force and Frontiercorps would be deputed atpolling stations across thedistrict,” he noted. Besides, hesaid that 1,000 Levy men weredeployed with leaders of po-litical parties for their securityduring the campaign.—APP

PKMAP, JUIlocks horns

QUETTA—Although severalcandidates on party ticket andindependents have been par-ticipating in General Elections2013 from NA-262 QilaAbdullah Chaman, however,the final tug of contest may beheld between PKMAP andJUI. Political sources told APPhere on Monday thatPashtoonkhawa Milli AwamiParty chief Mehmood KhanAchakzai, Jamiat Ulema-e-Is-lam-Fazl candidate QariMuhammad Sher Ali and JUI-N candidate MaulanaSalahuddin Ayyubi were beingseen as the most favorite play-ers of the electoral wrestlingin this constituency.

The other candidateswho have been participatingfrom this constituency in-clude Abdul Ali Kakar (Paki-stan Muslim League-N),Abdul Jabbar Kakar (AwamiNational Party), Abdul Wali(PML-Q), Faisal Bari (Paki-stan Tehrik-e-Insaf), NazarMuhammad Kakar (PakistanPeoplesâ•™ Party) and inde-pendent candidates- Dr.Muhammad Aslam, JomaKhan Durrani, Haji AbdulRauf, Haji Waris KhanAchakzai.—APP

FAISALABAD—Huge tradeand investment potential ex-ists between Pakistan andTurkey and Dr MuhammadIqbal University will be es-tablished in Lahore withTurkish collaboration. Thiswas stated by Mr TanerKocyigit, Secretary GeneralPak-Turk Businessmen As-sociation (PTBA), while ad-dressing members of theFaisalabad Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (FCCI)on Monday. Highlighting theobjectives of the Pak,TurkBusinessmen Association,he said the associationworked for promoting busi-ness relations among bothcountries.

The association has 65members on its fold andserves 45,000 members ofTuskon, a high-level Turkishorganization, to promotebusiness opportunities for itsmembers, he added. He saidPTBA had been engaged inPakistan since 1995 and wasrunning 22 schools in differ-ent cities of Pakistan under acentralized education systemup to higher secondary level.

He said that soon a

Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) would besigned with FCCI and offeredmembership of PTBA to allmembers of FCCI from Lahoreoffice till a regular office ofthe association was func-tional at Faisalabad. He saidPTBA intended to establishTurkish Cultural Centre,Turkish Language Centreand Pak Turk School inFaisalabad in 2014 and moreprojects would be launchedin Faisalabad in collaborationwith FCCI.

He said that PTBA hadmotivated Turkish business-men to invest in Pakistan andafter the general elections inPakistan, many Turkish in-vestors might invest in Paki-stan in Halal meat, livestockand dairy sector, agriculture,textile, education and othersectors. He said that Dr IqbalUniversity would be estab-lished in Lahore on a par withCambridge University whereeducation in many disci-plines including engineeringand medical would be im-parted. He lauded investmentmade by Turkish investors inPakistan.—APP

Law, order situationISLAMABAD—Awami NationalParty leader Bushra Gohar hassaid that the caretaker govern-ment should take notice of thesituation and direct the lawenforcing agencies to improvesecurity conditions to providelevel playing field to all partiesand candidates in elections.Talking to Radio Pakistan, shesaid by the terrorists were ei-ther trying to subvert electionsor had some other ulterior mo-tives.—APP

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Me-teorological Department(PMD) has forecast rain andthunderstorm with gustywinds at few places ofIslamabad, Rawalpindi,Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar,Kohat, Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan on Tuesday duringevening and night time. Ac-cording to the synoptic situ-ation, a westerly weather sys-tem affecting NorthBalochistan will move to theupper parts of the country onWednesday and is likely tocause rain and thunderstormat upper parts of the coun-try.

Mainly hot and dryweather will prevail in mostparts of Balochistan andSindh during the next 24hours. The maximum tem-peratures recorded duringthe last 24 hours wereIslamabad 29 C, Lahore 37 C,Karachi 36 C, Peshawar 32 C,Quetta 23 C, Skardu 23 C,Murree 19 C, Muzzafarabad31 C, Gilgit Baltistan 24 C,

Faisalabad 34 C, Multan 32 Cand Hyderabad 40 C. Thehighest maximum tempera-tures recorded were Mithi 41C and Hyderabad 40 C.

The chief amount of rain-fall recorded during the last24 hours were Drosh 14 mm,Mirkhani 10, Chitral 06, Kalam04, Hunza, Barkhan and Dir02 mm. The Multan Met of-fice has forecast dry weatherfor Multan and its suburbs

during the next 24 hours. OnMonday, the maximum andminimum temperature wasrecorded as 36.2 degreescelsius and 21 degrees centi-grade, respectively. Humiditywas recorded as 54 per centat 8 am and 18 per cent at 5pm.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—A third Scien-tific Annual Symposium ofBahria University Medicaland Dental College(BUMDC) was organized atKarachi. Rector of BahriaUniversity Vice Admiral®Shahid Iqbal HI (M) gracedthe occasion with his pres-ence as a chief Guest. Thetheme of the Scientific Sym-posium was “Health carefrom bench to beside andbeyond”.

Earlier in his welcome ad-dress, Principal of BUMDC,Prof. Dr. Syed Tipu Sultansaid that a journey of man-

aging high standards of medi-cal and dental college underthe umbrella of Bahria Uni-versity in a dedicated build-ing at the Bahria UniversityKarachi Campus, is goingwith peaceful manner. He en-couraged research cultureand promotion of scientificactivities for students andfaculty members. He alsohighlighted the importanceand objective of the Scien-tific Symposium.While speaking to the audi-ence on this momentous oc-casion, University, Vice Ad-miral ® Shahid Iqbal said thatthis purpose-built medical anddental college, which will

eventually collocate its allthree sub-components – theCollege, the Teaching Hospi-tal and the Hostels - is in facta manifestation of the BahriaUniversity’s commitmentto“Excellence in Higher andProfessional Education”. Hesaid that we are progressinginto an era of evidence-basedmedicine and for this we needour medical practioners togenerate research data spe-cific for our country. He em-phasized on the significanceof the research papers andarticles in the field of medicine.

At the end, he appreci-ated the efforts of the Princi-pal of BUM&DC, Prof. Dr.

Syed Tipu Sultan and histeam for organizing this sym-posium on a very importantsubject. Guest of Honour,Prof Dr. Pirzada Qasim RazaSiddiqui, Vice Chancellor ofZiauddin University, alsoshared some views regardingthe medical education andresearch activities. Chairper-son Scientific Committee,Prof. Dr Nasim Karim briefedabout the two days programsof scientific symposium. Alarge number of faculty mem-bers and students attendedthis event. At the end voteof thanks was given by Prof.Dr. Zia ul Islam, Vice Princi-pal of BUM&DC.

Scientific annual symposium ofBahria University MDC held

PRCS dispatches reliefgoods to quake victims

Rain, thunderstorm likely

Iqbal university tobe set up in Lahore

MU LTA N —The govern-ment has launched a pro-cess of ranking schoolsevery month with the co-operation of UNICEF tocreate an atmosphere ofcompeti t ion amongschools for improvementin their performance. Offi-cial sources said that theschools’ ranking l is t ofMultan distr ict , havingaround 1400 schools,would be pasted outsidethe office of executive dis-trict officer (EDO) educa-t ion at the end of everymonth.

The schools’ rankingwould be finalized on thebasis of eighteen (18)points including teachers’at tendance, s tudents’ at-tendance (boys and girls),s tudent-teacher rat io, fa-cilities available at schoolsparticularly basic needs in-cluding water, electricity,toilet, boundary wall, atmo-sphere at schools, cleanli-ness, teachers’ pedagogictechniques, and furniture.

A Unicef team has setup i ts camp office inMultan and is engaged ina survey to document boys

and girls of the age of 5 to16 years who are not at-tending school. TheUNICEF team would alsoprovide assistance to fami-lies to enrol their children,official sources said. Thesurvey conducted so farhas revealed that around165,000 boys and girls ofthe age between 5 and 16do not go to school. Dis-tr ict monitoring officershave been tasked with fi-nalizing ranking of schoolsand they would check 25schools every month andsubmit reports . They

Govt launches school ranking system with UNICEF helpwould also check if s tu-dents were utilizing helpingmaterial like guides or testpapers.

The UN RefugeeAgency (UNHCR) and theUnited Nations Children’sFund (Unicef) earlier alsojoined hands to explore op-portunities to improve edu-cation services for childrenof Afghan refugees in Pa-kistan. A landmark studyon enhanced access toeducate children of Afghanrefugees was inauguratedat a ceremony, said a pressrelease. The initiative ex-

plored the present situationregarding the educationfor Afghan children in Pa-kistan. It also designed astrategy to enhance theeducation services avail-able to them.“The Unicef is proud topartner with the UNHCR inthis landmark study,” saidSimone Klawitter , act ingcountry representative forthe Unicef Pakistan.Klawitter said that theorganisation believed thatschools were safe spacesfor children. “After thepassage of Article 25-A by

the parliament, it was im-perative that Afghan refu-gee children be given anequal opportunity to flour-ish alongside their Paki-stani peers.”

According to UNHCRstatistics, literacy amongstAfghan refugees was aslow as 33 per cent. Femalel i teracy amongst thispopulation was just eightper cent. The study cited alack of girls’ schools, lackof female teachers andsocio-cultural barriers asreasons for limited femaleliteracy.—APP

Don’t even thinkof delaying elections

GENERAL elections are just a few days away and the nation iseagerly waiting for the fateful day but some forces are still talking about postponement of polls, no one knows, to create confu-

sion and uncertainty or to pave the way for such a catastrophic move-ment by those still at the helm of affairs. MQM supremo Altaf Hussainwas the only person besides Allama Tahirul Qadri to demand delay inelections and now one of his party leaders Raza Haroon has declared thathis party would welcome such an eventuality. Given strict discipline ofthe MQM, no one can think of speaking on such a sensitive subject with-out a nod from above and therefore, this can be construed to be the offi-cial line of the party.

In this background, telephonic talk of President Asif Ali Zardari withAltaf Hussain and ANP leader Asfandyar Wali has triggered apprehen-sions that something ominous was cooking up. Leader of the largest po-litical party of the country — Mian Nawaz Sharif has urged all parties tojoin hands to foil designs of those who want to delay elections on this orthat pretext while Maulana Ghafoor Haidri of JUI-F has categoricallystated that elections must not be delayed even for a week. JI Amir MunawarHassan has also proposed an APC to reaffirm determination to hold elec-tions on time and send a clear message to the forces that want to derailthe country from the democratic process. Of course, MQM and ANPhave grievances of being targeted by Taliban but given the fact that TTPis doing so considering elections as un-Islamic, it is all the more neces-sary to foil its designs to ensure the country’s march forward on the demo-cratic path. By delaying elections, we would be doing what TTP wants usto do. Isn’t it also strange that MQM should demand delay on the plea ofterrorist attacks whereas it is likely to retain, more or less, same seats asit won in the last elections irrespective of electioneering or no election-eering? But it is strange that proposition about postponement is beingmade only by those parties who see for themselves no other role than thatof opposition in the future set up in view of the ground realities as re-flected during electioneering. For them, status quo is the best thing asthey have their own men in Federal and Provincial Governments at themoment in the garb of caretakers. It is also pertinent to ask why PPP,ANP and MQM are castigating the Election Commission, the Govern-ment and the agencies for law and order situation when they have theirown governments at the Centre and in the provinces besides their ownPresident and Governors. Who is stopping ‘their’ Governments from tak-ing measures to improve security environment in the country? Thereshould be no escape from elections if you claim to be democrats andotherwise too people will not allow any deviation.

New budget shouldtake Pakistan forward

CHAIRMAN FBR Ansar Javed has vowed to take FPCCI on boardwhile formulating budgetary proposals for the next financial year.

Talking to a delegation of traders, he categorically stated that the Bureauwould give due weight to proposals emanating from trade bodies andwill hold meetings with them in this regard.

No doubt, the next budget would be the budget of the new Govern-ment and therefore, its guidelines and policies would be reflected in thebudgetary proposals but it is also a fact that given the time constraintsmajor input would be given by FBR and Finance Ministry and they inturn must get feedback from all concerned to make the exercise mean-ingful. We have been hearing since long about focus on development butevery year development budget became the first victim of cuts in expen-diture. Therefore, this time there should be genuine focus on develop-ment and allocations for the purpose treated as sacrosanct. It is time tofind ways and means to reduce non-developmental expenditure to sparescarce resources for industrial and agricultural development as well ashealth and education. Hopefully, innovative approaches would be adoptedby the authorities in Finance Ministry and FBR for the purpose.

KESC threatens 14hours of load-shedding

KARACHI Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC) has threatened toresort to 14-hour long load shedding in the city unless the Federal

and Provincial Governments cleared outstanding bills of Rs 71 billion.In an SOS call the KESC said it was facing a severe liquidity issue due tohuge outstanding receivables on the part of the government.

The issue of load shedding has been going on for over five years andone fails to understand why the federal and provincial governments do notrelease funds for the payment of utility bills by their departments. TheKESC is justified to give the urgent notice because it has to clear the duesto PSO and SSGCL in return for oil and gas for its generation units other-wise the two would stop supplies. The Finance Ministries of the Federaland Provincial Governments do not release the budgetary allocations dueto financial constraint as resources are diverted to other heads on the ordersof the Chief Executives. This will remain a permanent headache till fundsare released for every utility and one expects that the new governmentafter elections would look into it. It is feared that the load shedding dura-tion will go as high as 14 hours a day across Karachi and parts of Inte-rior Sindh and Balochistan if the dues are not cleared and that wouldbring the industrial production to almost a halt. Only a couple of daysback, the caretaker Prime Minister directed for the release of funds toreduce load-shedding duration by three hours a day. We hope that hewould give a serious consideration to the ongoing situation and seek areport over non-implementation of his directive. In the meantime there isneed for exploitation of alternative sources of energy with the involve-ment of private sector to get rid of this problem on permanent basis.

Musharraf treason trial

There’s many agood tune playedon an old fiddle.

UAE andBritain:

Credibilitygulf

A state visit will take placeon Monday which, not forthe first time, showcases the

very worst of British diplomacy. Thevisit involves not only the presidentof a Gulf state which is crushing apro-democracy movement, floutinginternational standards governingfair trials and breaching conventionson torture and human rights, but alsothe moral evasions of Britain’sprime minister about such issueswhen there is a large arms deal inthe offing.

The red carpet is being rolledout for Sheikh Khalifa, presidentof the United Arab Emirates. In hishonour, a state lunch is being hostedat Windsor Castle, tea is beingserved at Clarence House, a wreathis being laid at Westminster Abbeyand a meeting will take place atDowning Street. In the shadow ofall this lies a closely fought dealfor at least 60 BAE Systems-backed Eurofighter Typhoon jets,which is still not in the bag afterfive years. France’s Dassault Rafalejets are the main competitor andboth David Cameron and FrançoisHollande have been in the Gulfstate to promote rival bids. A par-allel $10bn arms deal between theUS and Israel, Saudi Arabia and theUAE is also under way in the nameof shoring up the Gulf states’ de-fences against Iran. SheikhKhalifa’s visit will be a “significantpersonal moment” in his warm re-lationship with the Queen, Britain’sambassador to the UAE has said.

To the dishonour of all in-volved, a show trial of which Stalinwould be proud is taking place inAbu Dhabi. In all, 94 people areaccused of plotting to overthrow thestate. No evidence that would standup in a court elsewhere has yet beenpresented. Accounts of the conductagainst the detainees amount to sys-tematic torture, according to a trialobservation report issued by theEmirates Centre for Human Rights.Basic trial rights, such as the rightto prepare a defence, are beingflouted. A panel of UK legal ob-servers has been denied access tothe courthouse. Publicity is discour-aged. Abdullah al-Hadidi was sen-tenced to 10 months in prison aftertweeting from the court where hisfather is being tried. Human RightsWatch, Amnesty International andReprieve have all written to DavidCameron about it. The trial has lessto do with state allegations that aconservative religious group, al-Islah, is plotting to replace the rul-ing families with a hardline Islam-ist regime, and more to do with apetition in May 2011 demandingbasic democratic rights.

The tangle between arms sales,strategic interests and the protectionof human rights is age-old. This visitdoes nothing to resolve it. MrCameron cannot be permitted to sac-rifice human rights on the altar ofthe arms trade. — The Guardian

*****

FightVitamin-Ddeficiency

There is a widespread vitaminD deficiency among womenand adolescent girls which is

a major cause of concern. Accord-ing to the Dubai Health Authority(DHA), two out of three women arevitamin D deficient and it could getworse if things don’t change.

Surprisingly, one of the mainreasons for this is lack of exposureto sunlight. Medicine specialistssays traditional dressing and fearof skin cancer help explain whywomen don’t spend too much timeunder the sun. But this has got tochange. Experts recommend 15-30minutes of exposure to the sunwithout sunscreen and an in-crease in intake of foods rich inthe vitamins. Simple lifestyle ad-justments can help significantlysuch as parking one’s car furtherthan usual to get in some exposureor making a habit of going to parksregularly. The risks associatedwith low levels of vitamin D aretoo alarming: increased risk ofvarious cancers, cardiovasculardisease, dementia, diabetes, glu-cose intolerance, and auto immunediseases to name a few. Awarenessis the first step and it must becoupled with action. — Gulf News

MEDIA WATCH

—Proverb

Last week, the caretaker government refused to putformer military ruler Pervez

Musharraf on trial for treason, tell-ing the Supreme Court that it wasbeyond its mandate. Although theConstitution is silent about whethercaretaker government is obliged toact on treason trial, the high trea-son act says: “No court shall takecognizance of an offence punish-able under this act except upon acomplaint in writing made by a per-son authorized by the Federal Gov-ernment in this behalf”. The Su-preme Court can only determineguilt or otherwise on the basis ofinvestigations to be conducted bythe government; and punishment,if any, can only be awarded by par-liament. Clause 5 of the Article 6of the Constitution states: “Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) shall by lawprovide for the punishment of per-sons found guilty of high treason”,states Clause 5 of the Article 6 ofthe Constitution. Although thePML-N and the PPP vow to con-duct trial of former presidentPervez Musharraf, but one cannotsay with certainty that once inpower they can resist the pressureif it comes from Saudi Arabia orother friends of Pakistan to releasePervez Musharraf.

Normally, foreign countries donot intervene till the time sentenceis handed down. Saudi Arabia hadintervened only after Mian Nawaz

About honesty and ameen behaviour

HURMAT GROUP OF PUBLICATIONSZahid Malik

President & Editor-in-ChiefPh: 051-2256006

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Sunday Magazine

Sadia Zahid MalikEditor

Ph: 2852027-8, Ext: 116Email: magazinesocialdiary@hotmail.com

A list highlighting 19 namesof journalists and TV anchors, some of them are

quite prominent, and the amountsof money they have been given byRiaz Malik of Bahria enterprise andwhich they seem to have acceptedhas been published in the socialmedia. Knowing well that the pur-pose of this dole-out is not for anygood consideration; this is to buytheir talent and media space for pro-moting the fulfillment of their ownprivate interests which are often notin the interest of state or even anti-national agenda. This list containsnames like the one of KamranKhan, Hamid Mir and even NajamSethi who is currently caretakerChief Minister of Punjab.

Despite the fact of this list be-ing published no response or reac-tion has been received by the pub-lic from the people named on thelist. I was watching the HamidMir’s evening talk show and thatof Kamran Khan also the sameevening; they were sitting and de-bating and accusing or judging oth-ers while no word relating to theirown conduct or behavior has comeout of their mouths. In the case ofNajam Sethi who is in a highly vul-nerable position as a caretaker ChiefMinister of Punjab these days, theleast that one could have expectedfrom an Ameen (pious and honest)man would be that he offers his res-ignation until the allegations arecleared or proven untrue. As a care-taker boss how can he take care offair elections if he himself is con-troversial? The behavior of most of

Sharif was sentenced bythe court. On TV chan-nels, one can listen tosome voices of sympathyfor the general after hewas charged for terrorism,and some commentatorsare of the view that PervezMusharraf may be pros-ecuted but should not be

humiliated. PML-Q chief ChaudhryShujaat Hussain said that the au-thorities dealing with the PervezMusharraf treason case must handlethe matter with caution and avoidtaking any hasty step, which couldget out of control afterwards. Talk-ing to media people on Sunday, hesaid: “This is a sensitive issue whichcould have wider repercussions andprove detrimental to the interests ofthe nation and democracy. Any at-tempt to humiliate an individual oran institution would prove counter-productive and dangerous”. In edi-torial of renowned national Englishdaily, the leader writer concluded:“His (Musharraf) trial, if the currentnational mood prevails, will smackof and desire for revenge – emotionsthat are best avoided”.

There is a perception thatPandora’s box haunts all stakehold-ers, as Pervez Musharraf’s lawyershave indicated that the then mem-bers of the cabinet and governmentfunctionaries would be sucked in ifthe process continues. Their line ofargument is that had the October1999 act not been legitimized by thejudiciary, November 2007 would nothave happened. Of course, the abet-tors of Musharraf’s coup or thosewho helped him in his undertakingmight not remain out of the judicialprocess, as it was alleged that lead-ing role was played by the then LtGenerals Aziz, Mehmood andUsmani. It is perhaps in this back-

drop that there is a move thatMusharraf should be given safe pas-sage this time round when the elec-tions are only two weeks away.Pervez Musharraf’s mother must besick especially because of being inadvance age, and judiciary may al-low him to visit Dubai; howeverAsifa Zardari in a twitter messagehas suggested the Musharraf shouldbe allowed to go to Dubai to see herailing mother.

Power has its own dynamics, butthere is a shocking propensity on thepart of democratically elected lead-ers, military dictators and even ju-diciary to wield more and more pow-ers. There is a perception that the ju-diciary is trying to interpret the con-stitution that gives more powers toit. Recently, Chief Justice of Paki-stan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhrysaid that Supreme Court can strikedown any amendment or law whichnegates the spirit of the Constitution.There is no denying that the respecthigher judiciary enjoys in Pakistantoday is well-deserved and well-earned as a result of the strugglewaged by the lawyers, members ofthe civil society and activists of po-litical parties. And it should be ourendeavor to protect, maintain andsustain that honor and respect. WithChief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad’scourage of challenging theexecutive’s controversial order tosuspend him, a new chapter in theevolution of country’s judicial sys-tem was written.

On one hand, public trust and con-fidence in the judiciary was restoredand enhanced, and on the other publicexpectations of the system of admin-istration of justice increased. Apartfrom the PPP leaders, participants andanalysts in the talk shows on almostevery channel have been demandingto follow up the epoch-making ruling

on Asghar Khan case. Politicians hadreceived enormous sums when IJIwas cobbled together and pittedagainst the PPP in general electionsin 1990. Supreme Court’s verdict hadthrown the ball in federalgovernment’s court to investigate thematter. In October 2012, the SupremeCourt had handed down verdict inwhich it had laid down the roadmapfor its execution. The IJI had comeinto being simply because some poli-ticians had fallen to the bait of thegenerals engaged in cobbling up thatentity to influence 1990 electionsagainst the PPP.

While the faulting generals andtheir collusive banker must be pro-ceeded against strictly as directed bythe apex court, the FIA must provetrue to the trust the honorable courthad reposed in by conducting anhonest, transparent and credible in-vestigations against the politicianswho took money from IJI founders.The Supreme Court should followit up and get its verdict implementedas it did in case of letter to the Swisscourt. Unfortunately, judiciary’s rolein Pakistan has not been very com-mendable in the past. In 1958, 1977and 1999, military overthrew electedgovernments, abrogated the Consti-tution once and put it in abeyanceon the other two occasions. Will theapex court reopen the cases, as theargument that they were validatedby the judiciary or parliament doesnot hold water? According to Ar-ticle 6 of the Constitution thosewho aided and abetted the dictatormust also be put in the dock. Thereshould be across the board account-ability, otherwise the commenta-tors, analysts, panelists would criti-cize the judiciary, and its good im-age will be tarnished.—The writer is Lahore-basedsenior journalist.

our media people is a sadstatement about the moralityof the media and the falsenessof their claim of impartiality.Newspapers, radio and TVchannels are a development ofthe age of enlightenment

when the technological developmentwas available to allow broadcastinginformation and opinions that shouldenable the broad public to take partin and form an opinion about the af-fairs of one’s town, region, countryand the world, where the public hasan arena of discussion and wherecomplaints and problems are voicedand heard. Impartial media are a mainprecondition for a functioning de-mocracy; they are supposed to be avoice of the people.

Unfortunately, even internation-ally media are today in the hands ofJewish mafia who dominate and ma-nipulate the public opinion. In Paki-stan this is done more crudely a canbe seen from the list mentioned be-fore. TV channels and print mediahave their own agenda of makingmoney by singing the song of thosewho pay for it. They give voice tothose who pay and defend the actionsof those who promote them. Evenlower rank newspapers have ceasedto give a voice to the people if thatvoice is critical and pointing fingersat malpractices of the big corporations.One example is that of our own expe-rience when a serving three star gen-eral returned after completing hiscourse in psychological warfare, hewas posted as federal secretary infor-mation in Zia regime with a specificagenda. But not only in Pakistan butinternationally also same things hap-pened. When US got to know the poorrating of their propaganda organVOA, ABC, Fox News have no cred-ibility they launched Combined Newsnetwork (CNN) to sell its own propa-ganda in Gulf War and invasion of

Kuwait, 75% people of the world wereglued and watched US brutality. ThenWhen 9/11 and Afghanistan Iraq werein the offing we saw GEO & ARYchannels emerging in Pakistan andAljazeera TV for Arab world as anorgans for US propaganda; my articlewritten then to expose this could notfind space in any daily newspaperwhen I was weekly contributor to oneEnglish and one Urdu newspaper andit was only published in monthlymagazine Pakistan Post.

The underlying value of freemedia is freedom of expression. Thisis a rarely acknowledged value in Pa-kistani society until today. Freedomof expression is denied starting fromclass one at school where the teacherwants the students to repeat what hesaid –word by word if possible- butfeels challenged when the student isvoicing an opinion of his own or isquestioning the teacher or the text.Another field where free expressionof opinion is denied is the interpreta-tion of Islam. While basic tenets ofour religion are not to be questionedthere are many fields where peopleshould think aloud about how to un-derstand and practice certain detailsin this day and time. Media duringthe whole history of Pakistan havebeen understood as a mouthpiece ofthe government and the powers of theday, PTV is a glaring example for thiswho are running day in and day outsupporting the government in powerfor keeping them in power even afterbad governance and to strengthen UShegemony over Pakistan.

Only recently media in Pakistanhave become more diversified and anumber of private TV channels havebeen allowed to function. Interest-ingly this was started by NawazSharif government and completedduring the rule of General Musharraf(R) when many more new channelscame up and the freedom of media

got a push. So much so that mediawere unregulated and in the absenceof any other values than money mak-ing they opened up their studios toeach and everybody who paid. West-ern propaganda, films and Indianmovies and dancing girls swept theTV screens and undermined the in-digenous and the Islamic culture ofPakistan. Sensational reporting withbreaking news every hour repeatingendlessly the same incident thatmight have happened has addedrather to a culture of hypocrisy thanto education or information. That iswhy the news that so many majorjournalists and media men are on thepay list of a major mafia don is notreally surprising anybody. Still, inthe face of the forthcoming electionsand scrutiny (if only partially) metedout to candidates the demand is thataccountability is a must not only forpoliticians, but for all — be theybusiness people, TV anchors, Judgesor army generals.

Only if law and accountabilityis applied equally to everybodythings can change. Otherwise fearis that our country is being pushedinto another dirty civil war as a con-sequence of free for all run in thecoming election where moneyMafias are playing their role and themedia is making hey while the sunis shining on their horizon, whetherit serves our national interest or notpeople are forced to watch paid partypropaganda for hours and hoursthere is no say of viewers on this.

The ongoing silence about themedia corruption list is a bad signfor change in Pakistan. It proves thatthose named have no honor and thepublic does not take interest becausethey have their own problems orthey have given up on Pakistan’s‘democracy’. Nothing short of arevolution can change this if at all.Who will bring the wake-up call?

Mohammad JamilEmail: mjamil1938@hotmail.com

News & ViewsNews & ViewsNews & ViewsNews & ViewsNews & Views

Ali Ashraf KhanEmail:balti@super.net.pk

Voice of the PeopleHuman Rights

KIRAN ZEHRA

Human Rights can be defined asthose basic standards withoutwhich people cannot live in dignityas human beings. Human rights arethe foundation of freedom, justiceand peace.

Their respect allows the indi-vidual and the community to fullydevelop. They are “rights and free-doms to which all humans are en-titled” Examples of rights and free-doms which have com e to be com-monly thought of as human rightsinclude civil and political rights,such as the right to life and liberty,freedom of expression , and equal-ity before the law; and economic,social and cultural rights, includ-ing the right to participate in cul-ture, the right to food, the right towork, and the right to education.All human beings are born free andequal in dignity and right. Protec-tion and maintenance of humanrights is a fundamental duty of ev-ery government.—Karachi

Recklessdriving in street

RAMSHA SAIF

Through your widely circulatednewspaper, I would like to draw theattention towards the reckless driv-ing on the streets of Karachi. Reck-less driving in the streets is goingto make us stop all our works. It isnow-a-days a matter of risk to walkalong the streets.

The drivers of most of the ve-hicles are careless. They do not ob-serve the traffic rules. Most of thedrivers are illiterate and get thedriving license by unfair means.They are fond of overtaking andhigh speed which results in a largenumber of terrible accidents andcostly lives of people are lost. Butno effective steps are reported tohave been taken. Besides, the po-lice on duty are of no help to thepedestrian. They cannot be tracedwhen an accident takes place, butare most active when it is over.

So I request the Karachi Traf-fic Police Section to take up thematter in hand immediately.—Via email

Losing faithin democracy

FAIZA AZAM

Human history has witnessedtransformation of many politicalparadigms. Among those, the para-digm shift of monarchy to democ-racy has always been consideredunequaled. It resulted in birth ofconstitutional democracy whichunleashed tremendous human en-ergy, ensured a standard of living,and guaranteed freedom and lib-erty. But in Pakistan, this blessingis losing its popularity and peopleare losing hope in it.

A recent survey, conducted byBritish council, reveals that major-ity of Pakistani youth views democ-racy with despair and it founds dic-tatorship relatively better. Suchpessimism in the young voters issomething alarming and asks for aserious check. It badly exposes thefragility of the democracy to whichyouth is accustomed. It reminds meof Hillary Clinton’s words “Theworst thing that can happen in a de-mocracy is when people becomecynical about the future and losehope “. Unfortunately, such worstcase is in Pakistan.

The reasons of this mistrust andhopelessness are many. There is amismatch between true democracyand the democracy being practicedin Pakistan. Democracy in Pakistanis an apology for the real democ-racy that requires that the will ofcommon people should be reflectedin governance. Does people’s willreflects in governance here in Pa-kistan?. Sadly not! A true democ-racy is far more than deceptive andmagical slogans for wining votes.It delivers to masses and parliamentexercise delegated authority, in ac-cordance to the constitution. Op-portunities are created and distrib-uted equally. Merit is followed andjustice is provided. In Pakistan, thecase is opposite. Democracy is nota reality here but a deception. Thegovernment has remained unable todeliver efficiently on economic, po-litical and diplomatic fronts. Peoplesee their future bleak and are suf-fering in many ways. Let it be loadshedding, illiteracy, corruption,poverty, inflation or terrorism,these all are ailing the people. Manyinternational organizations are con-tinuously rating Pakistan among themost dangerous and difficult coun-try for living. There is an atmo-sphere of uncertainty which makesdifficult for people to think wellabout such democracy.

Despite weakness of democ-racy in Pakistan, one should at least

Old pensionersCOL RIAZ JAFRI (RETD)

The Punjab Ombudsman (Muhtasib) has ordered doubling ofthe pension of all pensioners over 75 years of age (The daily

Jang 25 April 2013). He has also ordered to restore their commutedpensions to full with arrears of the annual increments as applicable.Is this policy only for the old pensioners of the Punjab provinceonly or also applicable to all government servants of the IslamicRepublic of Pakistan? Would the Federal Ombudsman please takesimilar action in respect of all government, civil and military, oldpensioners who are finding it extremely hard to keep their frail bodiesand fragile souls together in these days of extreme inflation andhigh prices. Incidentally, there are not many over 75 year old pen-sioners left alive and as such doubling of their meager pensions wouldnot cause any noticeable burden to the exchequer either comparedto the shah kharchis of our mighty rulers and powers that be!—Rawalpindi

READERS

Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

are requested to typetheir letters legibly withdouble spacing and only onone side of the paper.

—Editor

give it a benefit of doubt for its im-maturity. Democracy here is not asold as is in successful democracies.It has always been derailed. Thetransfer of power from one democ-racy to another democracy hashardly happened before, but is hap-pening now. It should be providedwith its due time, because all the illsof democracy can be cured by moredemocracy.—Karachi

Strikes renamedas ‘Youm-e-Soug’

ALI HANI

Strikes are now renamead to muchmore respectable and decent titlewhich is ‘Youm-e-Soug’. But itcouldn’t replace the package thestrike comes up with. The packageincludes closed shops, filling sta-tions, schools, offices, universities,public service offices, public trans-port, empty roads and terror.

These are some prerequisites tomake a perfect healthy and lusciousdish of strike and youm-soug thatcosts Pakistan over 10bn in a singleday by just shutting down theKarachi. I just don’t know when we(nation and politicians) start to re-act professionally and responsiblyand rupture the tradition of strikesand youm-e-soug. It is time to con-front these types of practices notonly in Karachi but in the countrymore overly.—Via email

Rebuildingquake-hit areas

ARSHMAN NASEER

I would like to draw the attention ofgovernment officials towards the re-construction work in the areas hit bythe 2005 earthquake. It’s been overseven years since the earthquake di-saster occurred. The rehabilitationprocess, no doubt, will take long;and it is not just physical rehabilita-tion that I am talking about, for itcannot come without emotional andeconomic rehabilitation.

One essential aspect of this pro-cess is that the donors keep the aidpledges that they had made soon af-ter the earthquake. The need of thehour is that the resolve of the gov-ernment must also not weaken untilthe job is over. Here, I want to drawattention to the fact that the wastageof time and resources may lead toserious consequences.

At a meeting, in the first monthafter the earthquake, it was decidedby the then government that the re-construction work would be com-pleted within the next six months. Italso appeared that the governmentis looking to settle the uprootedpeople of the quake-hit areas andsome small amount as subsistenceallowance will be given to each af-fected family for the next sixmonths. It has been six years nowand while there has been improve-ment, there is still a lot left to bedone. I request the government to putin extra efforts to help the affectedpeople to enable them to recoverfrom the losses and start rebuildingtheir lives.—Karachi

Increase inaccidents

ARSHMAN NASEER

Through your esteemed newspaper,I would like to draw the attention ofthe concerned authorities towardsthe increase in accidents on thenation’s highways. It is essential toacknowledge that the feeble trafficrules have caused an immense in-crease in accidents, especially onhighways. The core reasons behindthese accidents are ignorance of thelaw, carelessness of drivers, recklessdriving of motorists and fast driv-ing for the winning of bets. Conse-quently, numerous people are sub-jected to the likelihood of accidentswith severe casualties.

The victims suffer loss of life orbecome handicapped forever. In or-der to stop this trend of accidents, itis necessary to educate people aboutthe dangers of fast driving and traf-fic laws. Highway accidents are the

Britain may restore military bases in Gulf

The withdrawal of all Britishtroops from Afghanistan nextyear will create a unique op-

portunity to reverse the “East ofSuez” decision that formed a land-mark in Britain’s retreat from impe-rial power, the Royal United Ser-vices Institute will say in a paper tobe published today (Monday).

Harold Wilson’s government de-cided in 1968 to close a string ofmilitary bases in the Gulf, which hadserved as a linchpin of Empire formore than a century. The Britishwithdrawal was completed in 1971,allowing the Gulf States to become

independent. The think tank will saythe Armed Forces are considering apartial reversal of the “East of Suez”decision.

“The military intends to buildup a strong shadow presencearound the Gulf; not an evident im-perial-style footprint, but a smartpresence,” writes ProfessorMichael Clarke, its director. “Thismay not yet be declared govern-ment policy,” he writes. “But theUK appears to be approaching adecision point where a significantstrategic reorientation of its de-fence and security towards theGulf is both plausible and logical.”Any new British presence would befocused on the United Arab Emir-ates, where the RAF is planning to

use al-Minhad airbase, according tothe think tank. The Royal Navy hasalways kept three minesweepersand at least one frigate or destroyerin the Gulf, supported by a small per-manent staff in Bahrain.

The paper suggests this flotillacould be reinforced. The Army plansto use its links with Oman’s armedforces to base troops in the country.This would allow the use of “thou-sands of square miles of challengingterrain ideally suited to the trainingof military units in the skills of desertwarfare”. Moving equipment andpersonnel from Afghanistan to theGulf would be cheaper than bring-ing them back to Britain, says thepaper. In addition, Britain’s com-mercial links with the Gulf are in-

David Blair

Views From Abroad

Fair & free polls is a pipedream

Going through the political history of Pakistan, one is constrained to learn that till 1956,

Pakistan was without a constitution.Popularity graph of the MuslimLeague kept sliding after the birthof Pakistan because of the fact thatalmost the entire lot of leadinglights of this party had no roots inregions falling within Pakistan. In-stead of learning a lesson from itsdefeat in 1954 provincial electionsin East Pakistan and restructuringitself, Muslim league got furtherfactionalized due to infighting. Ab-sentee landlordism was not abol-ished in West Pakistan.

The first generation politiciansare responsible for laying downweak foundations of democracy.Till 1970, no general electionswere held for they knew theywould be bundled out by the elec-torates. Absence of electionsstopped the process of pruning ofthe unscrupulous politicians andreplacement by better ones. Onceprocess of elections commenced,power and money was used tochange election results. As a result,the same lot of base politiciansbelonging to select Baradariesplagued democracy and Pakistanipolitics.

Gen Ayub Khan shared Presi-dent Iskandar Mirza’s views that thesystem based on western democracywas ill-suited to the people’s psyche.He debarred 6000 politicians fromtaking part in politics under EBDOand introduced Basic Democraciesas an alternative political system.Presidential election in 1965 inwhich Mohtrama Fatima Jinnahstood against Ayub Khan and lostsaw the first instance of rigging.Political agitation together with eco-nomic and political impact of 1965war put an end to Ayub’s golden era.

Gen Yahya Khan is creditedfor holding first ever generalelections in December 1970,acknowledged as the fairestelections ever taken place thisside of Suez. However, in ac-tuality Awami League had car-

ried out massive rigging prior to andduring polling.When power was nothanded over to Sheikh Mujib be-cause of Bhutto’s obduracy andMujib creating a state within state,Yahya in his earnestness to save thesituation launched a military opera-tion on 25 March 1971. It howeverproved to be the beginning ofbreakup of Pakistan and triggered acivil war which ultimately led todivision of Pakistan and creation ofBangladesh. Elections rather thanintegrating the nation disintegratedthe country.

ZA Bhutto piloted consensus1973 Constitution but carried outseveral amendments to control ju-diciary and established political cellin ISI and FSF to control politicians.1977 general elections were riggedby Bhutto’s administration sinceBhutto was keen to win two-thirdsmajority. Complete deadlock cre-ated by the irreconcilable politiciansresulted in military takeover by GenZiaul Haq in July 1977. He intro-duced clause of ‘Sadiq and Ameen’for competing legislators.

In the 2008 elections, althoughGen Kayani forbade Army from in-terfering in elections, yet the care-taker government, PML-Q, MQMand USA used their influence to ma-nipulate the outcome of results intheir favor. Imran Khan referred thecase of bogus voting to the SupremeCourt, asserting that from among the40-45% votes polled in 2008 elec-tions, over 37 million voters werebogus. About 300 candidates gotfraudulently elected in national andprovincial assemblies who hadforged their Bachelor degrees. Largenumbers of parliamentarians withdual nationalities got elected in vio-lation of Constitution.

In contravention to SupremeCourt orders, MQM, PPP and ANP

have not abolished their militantwings. Delimitation of five dis-tricts of Karachi is being vehe-mently resisted by MQM for itsees it as an attempt to diminishits prospects of gaining total con-trol over Karachi. It has now re-ferred the case to the UN.

PPP accommodated illegal de-mands of coalition partners underthe policy of reconciliation, whichgave rise to nepotism and cronyismand sidelined merit. Consequently,corruption, inflation, price hike, job-lessness, poverty, and crimes scalednew heights. PPP government de-spite its poor performance is confi-dent that it will once again win theelections by buying the voters. In itsdying days, the PM and ministerscarried out pre-poll rigging openly.Rs 50 billion were spent to rig out-come of forthcoming elections.

Nawaz extended support toZardari because of inherent fear thatArmy may not step in. This fear psy-chosis from democracy-friendlyGen Kayani is incomprehensible.Nawaz overlooked misdeeds of PPPand earned the title of ‘friendly op-position because of his innate desireto gain two-thirds mjority and tohave a full tenure of five years.Shahbaz Sharif’s relatively betterperformance in contrast to dismalperformance of other three prov-inces has helped in catapulting thepopularity graph of PML-N.

Tehrik-e-Insaf has emerged asthe third force. Imran Khan’s slo-gan of change has appealed to thesenses of urban youth and has poseda serious challenge to the two main-stream political parties believing instatus quo. Tahirul Qadri is notwrong in saying that even hundredelections under the corrupt electoralsystem would not bring any change.The banned TTP denounces elec-tions, rejects democratic system inFATA and is resorting to propa-ganda and terrorism, which is nota good sign. However participationof Balochistan nationalist partiesincluding BNP of Akhtar Mengalis a healthy sign. Flawed electoral

system has prevented emergenceof true leaders. Chaudhris, Maliks,Waderas, Police, Patwaris, Pirs,Faqirs have yoked 85% of 34 mil-lion rural based voters. In orderto save the corrupt political sys-tem favoring a tiny elite group,feudal lords prefer sham democ-racy over true democracy. ElectionCommission, judiciary, bureau-cracy, military establishment,agencies and interim governmentsin unison have been recyclingsame lot of corrupt politicians inviolation of the constitution.

85 year old new Chief Elec-tion Commissioner (CEC) is aman of high integrity, but age fac-tor is a serious handicap. He hasbeen unable stop pre-poll riggingand other glaring illegalities. 18thAmendment has curtailed CECpowers and decision making au-thority rests with politically ap-pointed four members of ElectionCommission (EC). None meet thecriteria of Article 147 of Consti-tution. Caretakers and EC aremorally bound to ensure strictscrutiny of contestants under Ar-ticles 62 and 63 so that all bad hatsare disqualified and only righteousand truthful candidates with goodreputation enter the legislature.But with so many flaws in elec-toral system, free and fair elec-tions is a pipedream.

Democratic system is widelypopular in the world and every civi-lized society tends to boast its pro-pensity and preferences for democ-racy and its associated values.Hence, whatever the fault lines, thesystem should purge itself fromwithin over a period of time. De-mocracy is as essentially permis-sible and good for tribes of FATAas for any others in Pakistan. Pres-ently, what is urgently required iseffective screening of contestants,avoidance of rigging on polling dayand ensuring security. The onus ofelecting the right candidates is onthe voters.—The writer, a retired Brig, isdefence analyst and a columnist.

most brutal of all, for they mostlyinvolve heavy traffic such as trucks,coasters, buses and dumpers, whichare the number one killers on theroads. It is of paramount importancefor drivers to follow the rules of theroad, which include overtaking,speed limits, precaution of other carsand seatbelts. I would like to exhortall drivers to follow these rules as asafety measure. Human lives are tooprecious to be wasted in accidents. Iwould be extremely grateful to youif you would bring this dilemma totheir notice and urge the authoritiesto take prompt and positive action.—Karachi

Sewerinspections

NUZRAT FATIMA

Through the courtesy of yourwidely circulated newspaper, Iwould like to draw the attention ofthe authorities concerned towardscity manhole covers. Open man-holes in different areas of the cityare turning into death traps for theresidents who have repeatedly de-manded authorities concerned totake steps to cover these manholes.The streets of different areas of cityincluding Gulistan-e-Jouhar,Gulshan-e-Hadeed, P.E.C.H.SColony, Federal-B Area and manyother town roads are dilapidatedand broken while open manholes inthese areas are creating problemsfor the residents.

Motorist, elders and childrenare the main victims of these man-holes and many accidents are re-ported due to these open manholes.Citizen complain that no manholein these areas is safe as lids fromthese manholes have disappearedwhile authorities paid no heed tocover them. Whenever torrentialrain hits the area, these manholesare flooded.

Locals regretted that the electedrepresentatives are also silent spec-tator of the situation and are not tak-ing concrete steps to solve the issuesof masses. They demanded of thegovernment to direct concerned de-partment to take immediate steps forcovering the open manholes withlids and save the people from acci-dents. I would like to enlighten theauthorities to keep in check themaintenance and especially facilitatethe areas that are affected due toavoiding proper maintenance by ap-propriate authorities’ workers.—Karachi

FilthyenvironmentSAQIB KHAN NIAZI

Through your esteemed newspaper,I would like to draw the attention ofthe concerned authorities to the un-hygienic environment slowly devel-oping in Karachi. Keep Karachiclean is a motto everyone wants tohear but a motto that not everyoneobeys. The filth and garbage pilingup in Karachi was not always likethis — it used to be clean. However,wherever there are people who likethe system, there are also peoplewho oppose the system.

The government has taken stepsto improve the cleanliness of the citybut the citizens of the city must playtheir part. People over here are lazy;even though a dustbin may be closeby, most of the crowd throws litteronto the ground. The city cannot bekept clean until everyone plays theirpart. This particular case demandsthe cooperation of the citizens.Through this letter I would like tomake aware the people of the cityso that they make some effort toimprove the caliber of the land.Make Karachi clean and, once again,make Karachi the city of lights.—Karachi

We all know the importanceof education. It is the mostimportant aspect of any

nation’s survival. Education buildsthe nations; it determines the futureof a nation. We have to adopt oureducation policies very carefully be-cause our future depends on suchpolicies.

Islam also tells us about educa-tion and its importance. The real es-sence of education according to Is-lam is “to know Allah” but I thinkin our country we are truly lost. Nei-ther our schools nor our madrassa’s(Islamic Education Centres) are truly

educating our youth in this regard.In schools we aren’t educating themwe are just preparing “Money Ma-chines”. We are only increasing theburden of books for our children andjust enrolling them in a reputed, bigschool for what, just for social sta-tus? In our madaris we are prepar-ing people who finds very difficultto adjust in the modern society.

Sometimes it seems that they arefrom another planet. A madrassa stu-dent can’t compete even in our coun-try then the world is so far from him.He finds very difficult to even speakto a school boy. Islamic educationis necessary for Muslims but it isalso a fact that without modern edu-cation no one can compete in thisworld. There are many examples ofMuslim scholars who not only stud-

ied and carried out research in theHoly Qur’an but also mastered othersubjects like Physics, Chemistry, Bi-ology, Astronomy and many more,with the help of Holy Qur’an.

I think with the current educa-tion system we are narrowing theway for our children instead of wid-ening it. There is no doubt that ourchildren are very talented, both inschools and in madaris, we just needto give them proper ways to groom,give them the space to become re-sult oriented. We have to find a wayto bridge this gap between schooland madrassa. Robert MaynardHutchins describes it as “The objectof education is to prepare the youngto educate themselves throughouttheir lives.” We should give ouryouth the way to educate them-

Our education system

There is no day in which youcan say you’ve learnt enough,everyday is about learning

something new.The other day a friend of mine

who has converted his duplex flatinto five service apartments andgiven it on lease to a hotel, told methat only guests who were of thelevel of Vice- Presidents andCEO’s would use the premises. Ashe spoke a carload of youngstersdrove up outside with their lug-gage: “Vice Presidents!” I guf-

fawed, “they’re kids!” “Ask them?”said my friend leading me to them.“I’m a VP in charge of marketing!”said one. “Vice President sales!” saidanother as I quickly turned and cameback to my friend.

“The youth Bob,” he said with asmile, “have taken over the world!”

I congratulate the youth, but inthe same breath caution them to al-ways listen to the wisdom of the wise.As you start your take over of theworld, learn from those around! Sooften you may mistake the slownessthat comes with ageing to be a lackof knowledge or education as oncehappened to Professor Einstein:Einstein, the mathematical geniuswas traveling by train in America,when the dinner gong sounded andhe left for the dining car taking with

him the book he was reading. WhenEinstein sat at the table, he found hehad left his reading glasses in hiscompartment, but as he could man-age to read without them he decidednot to go back. As he read on, he cameto a footnote which was printed invery small type; which he couldn’tdecipher.

He called to Sam, one of the din-ing car attendants, and pointed out thefootnote, “Would you be kind enoughto read this to me?” Einstein asked.“Ah sho’ am sorry sir,’ said Sam, “butI ain’t educated either!” Or some-times you may feel that with the stringof degrees hanging to your name youknow a subject more than any oneelse and I recollect the story of a fa-mous astronomer who had a youngfifteen- year old sit next to him at a

Learn, learn and learn..!dinner. With youthful candour, shespontaneously asked, “What do youdo for a living?”

“I study astronomy!” the sci-entist replied. “Really!” gasped thewide-eyed teenager, “I finished as-tronomy last year in school!” Thereis no subject my young friendswhich you ‘finishlearning’ Sit at thefeet of those who are wise and takein what they have to offer as thestory of the two thirsty men wholived in a barren place: Becausethey were so thirsty they went tothe Niagara. Stooping down onefilled his little medicine bottle withwater and said, “I think I’ll comehere every six months and fill thisbottle!” And the other built hishouse by the river..!—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

creasingly important. About100,000 British citizens live in theUAE, with trade between the twocountries of £14 billion last year.Qatar is now Britain’s biggestsource of liquefied natural gas.Any deployment would also cre-ate a showcase for military equip-ment, it adds.

Two assumptions lay behindthe “East of Suez” decision: the oilprice, then $4 per barrel, would stayat that level, and Iran, then underthe Shah, would remain a reliableally. The demise of both certain-ties and the ever-increasing wealthof the Gulf help explain why, if theinstitute’s paper is correct, that de-cision is being quietly reviewed.— Courtesy: The Telegraph

selves. Our policy makers, it seemsare not working enough. Everyyear policy for education is re-viewed by the government but theresults are same.... Illiteracy rateis going upwards in Pakistan ac-cording to a recent survey. Some-body starting “Nai Roshni School”,somebody starting “Parha LikhaPunjab” etc. for what to educatePakistan?

Well, I don’t think so. These“People” are playing with our na-tion for the last 60 years just fortheir profits and aims. We shouldthink about our children educa-tion if we are we educating themin the right way? If not, whatshould we do? We have to actnow otherwise it’s going to be toolate for Pakistan!

Mudassir AzamEmail: azam_mudassiri@ymail.com

Asif Haroon RajaEmail: asifharoon7751@yahoo.com

Benazir Bhutto’s internalsecurity… she was assassinatedfollowing a lapse in internal se-curity,” an FIA source earlierquoted the former president assaying.

Meanwhile, the FIA joint in-vestigation team has prepared aset of 75 questions for Musharrafto answer in the case.

FIA includesFrom Page 1

ing Monday. Justice Siddiquiremarked “additional secretaryinterior should tell why he solic-ited opinion from law ministrydespite clear cut court’s orders.

Joint secretary interiorKhushdil Khan also appeared inthe court during the hearing ofthe case. He told the court re-sponsibilities were withdrawnfrom him for refusing to signthe noting worked out in con-nection with initiation of actionagainst IG Islamabad. DeputyAttorney General Tariq

IHC seeks reportFrom Page 1

Jahangiri told the courtKhushdil Khan was DG NECTAand additional charge of jointsecretary interior was assignedto him which has been with-drawn now. Joint secretary istrying to scandalize the matter.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiquiremarked “ it is a serious matter”.DG NECTA can file petitionagainst withdrawal of responsi-bilities of additional secretary in-terior from him if he wills so. Thehearing of the case was adjournedtill today.—Online

at the busiest Arbab Road onUniversity town around ninethirty in the morning whenscores of people mostly studentsand office goers were waitingfor vehicles with some gettingaboarda bus. The Mazda bus,eyewitness said destroyed com-pletely in the blast that also dam-aged nearby shops and few ve-hicles. The official sources saidthe terrorists narrowly missedthe official vehicle of Commis-sioner Peshawar divisionSahibzada Anees who passed bythe stop seconds before the ex-plosion.

“At least ten persons werekilled and over sixty five othersinjured, when a suicide bomberriding a motorcycle detonatedhis explosives vest missing theconvoy of CommissionerPeshawar andin turn playedhavoc among scores of passen-gers boarding an intercity bus onUniversity Road here onMonday”.Police officials said.University Road is a busy high-way connecting Peshawar withKhyber Agency and HayatabadTownship.

The wounded were trans-ported to closed by Khyber teach-ing hospital and later the criticalinjured were shifted toLadyReading Hospital. A Num-ber of wounded person, the doc-tors at the two major hospitals ofthe City said, were in a criticalcondition.While SP CantonmentMuhammad Faisal said that bodyparts of a bomber were discov-ered from the site of the blast,locals said the limbs of the vic-tims could be seen scattered inlarge area with some parts hang-ing over an electricity trans-former.

The security forces and Po-lice cordoned off the area andmain highway was closed fortraffic to facilitate the rescueworkers effectively conduct the

operation. The Bomb DisposalSquad (BDS) officials also ar-rived at the scene and accordingto them around 5 kilograms ofexplosives were used in the blast.Reports also suggested that mili-tants had targeted a police vanparked nearby which was alsodamaged badly. Some Policeofficials claimed the suicidebomber, apparently targeting themobile van of Tehkal Police sta-tion, blasted himself close to thebus stop at University Road inPeshawar, killing ten persons andinjuring seventy others.

“Scores of People gatheredat the bus stop where a policemobile of Tehkal Police stationwas passing through at time ofexplosion. A passenger busalso came under the attack thatincreased toll of victims”.They said.

While an employee of theAfghan consulate Peshawar andQaziBilal, son of former Afghanminister and Afghan High PeaceCouncil Qazi Amin Waqad andhis cousin Idrees also succumbedto their injuries, three policemenidentified as Mir Akbar, Abdullahand Khaista Khan sustainedwounds in the explosion thatshook the large area. Accordingto reports, the two Afghan Citi-zens were identified by theirpassports. The duo was on a visitto Pakistan in order to give in-vites to scholars for an upcom-ing religious conference in Af-ghanistan. The two were board-ing the intercity bus when theblast occurred. Reports said.

The Khyber PakhtunkhwaGovernor, EngineerShaukatullah has strongly con-demned the terrorist attack atUniversity Road in PeshawaronMonday morning and describedit a heinous crime of worst na-ture. The elements involved, hesaid, will no more remain at largeand will be brought to justice.

10 killed, 70 injuredFrom Page 1

as it is the prerogative of the gov-ernment to identify the projectpriority.

This daring response of Pa-kistan came in the meeting onfunding and implementation ofDiamer-Bhasha dam and Dasudam.

The minutes of the meetingshow that Deputy Chairman DrHaq has said that donors cannotdictate Pakistan from now on-wards and it is its prerogative toidentify the project priority.

World Bank is asking Paki-stan that it is ready to fund theDasu hydropower project not theDiamer-Bhasha dam on accountof Indian claim that Gilgit-Baltistan, wherein the Bhashadam is being constructed, is thedisputed area. The Bank is push-ing Pakistan to abandon theBhasha dam and instead insist-ing to have the credit line of Dasudam.

Dr Haq came up with boldstance saying who the donors areto dictate Pakistan on projectspriority.

Likewise, the USAID thathas made many parallel organi-zations in various ministries andin their attached departments buttheir nominal financial assistancein various projects is not show-ing the results.

Mr Shakil Durrani, advisorto Ministry of Water and Poweron Diamer-Bhahsa dam told Pa-kistan Observer that the WorldBank under Indian influence,does not want any big project inPakistan therefore prudence de-mand that Pakistan should nottake funding for Dasu, underpressure and must fully pledgeour available resources forBhasha Dam project.

The most alarming fact of thedisclosure is that Economic Af-fairs Division is also found toencourage International Finan-cial Institutions for promotingtheir agenda in Pakistan; this star-ling disclosure has been unveiledin the correspondence of DeputyChairman of Planning Commis-sion to Secretary EAD.

And to this effect, the tug ofwar between Economic AffairsDivision (EAD) and PlanningCommission over the handling ofinternational financial institu-tions (IFIs) has touched newhigh, as USAID, DFID andWorld Bank are involved in mas-sive duplication of studies andprojects which are not in line withthe projects, and Framework forEconomic Growth (FEG) ap-proved by the supreme body ofNEC (national economic coun-cil).

In a latest letter from DeputyChairman Planning Commission(PC) Dr Nadeemul Haq to thethen EAD secretary Mr JavedIqbal who is now chief secretaryof Punjab over the deterioratingEAD-PC coordination on han-dling the IFIs, donor agencies andcountries, it is clearly mentionedthat the enormous proliferation ofdonor studies and advisories isbeing noticed and it is also a bit-

ter fact that the missions and con-sultants come and go for donorsstudies on various issues that maynot be of priority or may even bea lead into a loan or an agenda orbe constructed by a poor qualityconsultant.

The letter says: “Such stud-ies create a narrative that needsto be confronted. After that they(donors) are then found to belooking for a local outfit to ownthe study and possibly convert itinto policy action. This all is hap-pening in country because of al-most zero coordination betweenEconomic Affairs Division andPlanning Commission.”

The letter of the DeputyChairman sent to Economic Af-fairs Division of which the copyis available with The Pique thatthe World Bank has done severalsuch studies of questionable qual-ity, that include studies on pov-erty, industrial policy, TARP (Pa-kistan Tax Reform Project) stud-ies, urban studies and the donorhas freely set up all manner ofparallel bodies in governmentthat can also be gauged by thatfact that close to home is Minis-try of Finance which has dupli-cated several Planning Commis-sion activities such as poverty,PRSP and reform cells.

The communication to EADsecretary also stressed for repair-ing the relations as some of thedonor agencies have also pointedto the ongoing fragmentation be-tween EAD and Planning Com-mission.

Dr Nadeemul Haq in verypolite way pointed out in the let-ter that the EAD is only in chargeof donor relations and not thesubstance of donor programs.Donor programs, initiatives andinterventions must in some waybe whetted scrutinized or influ-enced by the Planning Commis-sion for coherence and confor-mity with NEC approved plans.

“ Our review of some donorprograms shows that there is alimited donor coordination interms of programs and interven-tions, little internal coherence intheir programs, and considerablewaste (such as duplication ofwork, large overheads claimed byInternational firms, indefinableand unclear catchall called capac-

ity building) and little impact ongrowth and jobs and develop-ment in general.

The letter also discloses thatPlanning Commission has in-vited EAD to discuss the said is-sued to make effective and jointmodus operandi to handle thedonors but the level of participa-tion was junior and disinterestedas if to convey a message that itis domain of EAD alone.

In the letter to EAD secre-tary, Dr Nadeemul Haq raisedseveral issues of too much con-cern that include 1) About thedifference between project andprogram. While you may getproject concept clearance fromPlanning and often under pres-sure, the entire program of thedonor has economic implica-tions. While they do have off-budget projects and programs,there are a number of questionsto ask that include i. How doesoverall program add up to growthand jobs or are they leading tosome social capital or intellectualcapital development? ii). Whatproportion of money is beingspent internationally? Informedanalysts suggest that the ratio ofwhat comes to Pakistan is con-sidered to be as low as 20% andiii) They frequently have trustfund relationships with multilat-eral agencies which are againsubject to large overheads anddisproportionate spending onunknown international consult-ants and iv) Duplication is aproblem, for instance it is seenthat USAID, DIFD and theWorld Bank have severalprojects on Pak-India trade thatlack the is the fresh data andthere are the new questionswhich need to be answered.

Donors found secretively engagedFrom Page 1

for their vested interest by cre-ating confusion among the par-ties of rightist and leftist wings.

In this regard, the JIKarachi Chief MuhammadHussain Mahenti had while ad-dressing a press conference atthe election cell in Idara-eNoor-e Haq Monday said thatthe coalition partners in previ-ous government, the PPP, theMQM and the ANP were mis-guiding the masses for theirvested interest by creating con-fusion among the parties ofrightist and leftist wings.

Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz Karachi chapter Gen-eral Secretary Saleem ZiaAwan, Jamiat Ulema IslamFazal Karachi chapter chiefQari Usman, Jamiat Ulema Pa-kistan leaders Owais Nooraniand Mustaqeem Noorani werepresent. Mahenti said that all

PPP, MQM and ANPFrom Page 1

Sindh chapter General SecretaryTaj Haider and included SyedHaider Abbas Rizvi of the MQMand Bashir Jan of the ANP.

The leaders of the tri-partypolitical consortium reiteratedtheir resolve to contest the forth-coming polls and won’t be forcedto quit the race under any situa-tion of threat.

The terrorists had been car-rying out their lethal designsagainst the PPP, the MQM andthe ANP because the three par-ties had been severely opposingthe terrorists and their stancessince long. The terrorists werebent upon compelling the threeparties to stay out of the forth-coming polls and on witnessingtheir threats did not work; theystarted their wicked designs ofsabotaging the electoral cam-

paigns of the three parties. How-ever, the speakers at the pressconference said that they wouldnot quit the democratic path ofcontesting the polls and still theywould not accept or get intimi-dated with the threats of whatso-ever scale.

The speakers at the pressconference alleged that the ter-rorists that had been carrying outtheir sabotage activities againstthe liberal political parties werein real ‘wings’ of the so-calledright wingers.

The terrorists had in factmade their worst to influence thegeneral public but still theywould not succeed in theirwicked plans as the PPP, theMQM and the ANP would stayin electoral campaigns with fullzeal and vigor.

Terrorists are wingsFrom Page 1

parties of the country wantedsovereign Pakistan without thedivision of any rightist andleftist.

Bomb blasts, torching theparty offices and flags andkidnapping of workers of thepolitical parties were the bidto sabotage the electoral pro-cess.

Expressing his deep concernover the current law and ordersituation, he said that some anti-state elements while working onthe agenda of external powersthrough such unlawful activitieswere trying to delay the electoralprocess.

Condemning the bombblasts, JI Karachi Chief saidsuch consecutive blasts in thecity have raised many questionsin the minds of the people thatthere were forces that wanted tosabotage the electoral process.

elections. In next election suchfacilities will be provided. Leg-islation in this connection re-quires ample time while generalelections are round the corner.

Holding of elections is be-coming difficult at this junctureof time then how the facilities ofcasting of votes can be extendedto the overseas Pakistanis.—Online

SC disposesFrom Page 1

HARARE: Mushfiqur Rahim and Brendan Taylor with the trophy, after Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe in 2nd Test to levelthe series.

Bangladesh level Zimbabweseries with fourth Test victory

ISLAMABAD: Air Marshal Mohammad Hassan, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Administration) awarding All PakistanPAF Cricket Champion Trophy for the Blind to the captain of Islamabad Cricket Club at PAF Complex Cricket Ground.

HARARE—Bangladesh beatZimbabwe by 143 runs andlevelled the two-match series1-1, bringing parity througha fightback after going downmiserably in the first Test.

It was Bangladesh’s firstTest win since August 2009,and their fourth Test victory.Their maiden Test victorycame against Zimbabwe in2005 before they beat WestIndies 2-0 almost four yearsago. The victory alsobrought a winning end to aseason in which Bangladeshhave made progress as a Testside.

The last-wicket pair ofHamilton Masakadza andKyle Jarvis held upBangladesh for 11.3 overs,

but their resistance endedwhen Jarvis fell leg-before toShakib Al Hasan 20 minutesbefore the tea break.

Bangladesh made it to thefinish line in Harare with helpfrom an unlikely quarter.Debutant Ziaur Rahman washardly expected to be an in-fluence with the ball but hepicked up 4 wickets for 63runs with his medium pace,playing the role of the thirdseamer.

Forced to give up pacebowling due to a debilitatingknee condition, Rahman hasplayed a lot of his recentcricket as a batting allrounder.

The home side gave agood account of their fight-ing ability, too, but they failed

to reproduce the impressiveshowing from the first Test.They were finally bowled outon the fifth day for 257, ex-tending the game beyondlunch.

Hamilton Masakadza wassteadfast at the crease,reaching his third Test hun-dred with a massive six. Thehundred came off 212 ballsand included ten fours andfour sixes. The unbeatenknock was far better than thenumbers suggest, given thatmost of his runs came whilebatting with the tail.

For all of his effort,Masakadza could not havesaved the Test on his own.

The Bangladeshbowlers managed to get therequired wickets easily:Shingi Masakadza missed asweep shot just after thedrinks break, EltonChigumbura chipped onedown short midwicket’sthroat and RichmondMutumbami dragged the ballon to the stumps after thelunch break.

Ashraful took the wicketof the younger Masakadza,who made 24 off 90 balls. Itwas the first breakthrough ofthe morning after 18.1 overs.Soon after, Chigumbura wascaught by Robiul off SohagGazi’s bowling. Mutumbamiwas dismissed by ZiaurRahman, who later took the

wicket of Graeme Cremer,edging the ball to NasirHossain at first slip.

Cremer and Mutumbamiwere expected to be stum-bling blocks but theBangladesh bowlers did notgive in to Zimbabwe’s resis-tance.

Keegan Meth, battingwith a right knee injury, wasthe ninth wicket to fall andthe leg-before decision wentBangladesh’s way after aloud and prolonged appeal;not the first dubious deci-sion of the match.

Robiul Islam, who wasnamed Man of the Series,also reached another land-mark in the Test, becomingthe first Bangladesh pacebowler to bowl more than 100overs in a Test series, sur-passing the record previ-ously held by KhaledMahmud who bowled 99overs in a three-Test seriesagainst Pakistan in 2003.

It was perhaps apt thatthe two teams ended oneven terms, but a third Testmay have decided whichteam was better. There wereperiods of attritional cricketand, at times, both teamsmade several mistakes. Theumpiring was shoddy, too,but in the end, the serieswould be remembered forperformances from BrendanTaylor and Robiul.—AFP

Bangladesh 1st innings:391Zimbabwe 1st innings:282Bangladesh 2nd innings:291Zimbabwe 2nd innings:Sibanda c Sohag Gazib Shakib Al Hasan ........ 32Chakabva b Shakib ....... 22Masakadza not out ..... 111Taylor lbw b Ziaur ......... 10Waller b Ziaur Rahman . 15Masakadza lbwb Ashraful ...................... 24Chigumbura c Robiul Islamb Sohag Gazi .................... 2R Mutumbami b Ziaur .. 12Cremer c Nasir Hossain

b Ziaur Rahman ............... 3Meth lbw b Robiul .......... 4Jarvis lbw b ShakibAl Hasan .......................... 7Extras: (b 4, lb 7, nb 4) .. 15Total: (all out) .............. 257Fall of wickets 1-36, 2-66, 3-96, 4-118, 5-164, 6-169, 7-200,8-214, 9-219, 10-257Bowling: ........... O-M-R-WRobiul Islam ....... 20-5-53-1Sajidul Islam ........... 3-1-9-0Shakib .............. 11.3-0-52-3Sohag Gazi ....... 31-11-56-1Ziaur Rahman .... 23-8-63-4Ashraful ............... 7-1-13-1

BARCELONA—Rafael Nadalextended his record number ofBarcelona titles to eight as hebrushed off a slow start to beatSpanish compatriot NicolasAlmagro 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday.Last weekend’s Monte Carlorunner-up regained his accus-tomed position on an ATPwinner’s podium with hisfourth title of 2013 and his thirdon clay for the year.

He rallied from two breaksdown on a day of drizzle andheavy conditions, beatingAlmagro for the tenth timewithout defeat.

“I’m very happy,” saidNadal. “This has been an im-portant week for me. To winhere again is a great joy aftereverything I’ve beenthrough.

“It was a fantastic matchfor me,” he told a crowdwhich had huddled underumbrellas for the duration ofthe contest. “Thanks to thepeople who watched us.”

The world number fivehas made a storming come-

Nadal wins record eighthtitle in Barcelona

back to tennis after missingseven months from last sum-mer with knee injuries. Sincehis February return, he hasplayed finals in all six events

KA R A C H I —Litt le-knownbowler Ahmed Jamal hasvowed to make a name forhimself after winning a na-tionwide “King of Speed”competition launched bycricket chiefs to unearth anew Pakistani quick.

Pakistan boasts a proudhistory of pacemen includingthe likes of Wasim Akram,Waqar Younis and ShoaibAkhtar and Jamal showed hehas the pace to frighten bats-men with a fastest deliveryof 143 kilometres (88 miles)an hour.

The 24-year-old, whohails from Abbottabad, cameout on top in the competitionorganised by the PakistanCricket Board (PCB).

Jamal, who plays first-class cricket for Port Qasim,was delighted to scoop theone million rupee ($10,000)prize after the four-man final.

“I am thrilled and veryhappy,” Jamal said. “My feetwere on the ground before Iwon this and will remain onthe ground after winning theprize as I want to make a namefor myself.”

The PCB organised thehunt for fast bowlers afterchief selector Iqbal Qasimraised concerns about poorquality in the pace depart-ment.

Jamal was picked from

Pakistan’s new ‘King of Speed’

trials in Abbottabad earlierthis month, one of a series in10 cities to find a bowler with145km speed. The other threefinalists were Faisal Yasin,Abdul Hameed andMohammad Imran.

Former Pakistan pacemanWasim Akram said Jamal,who is six feet four inches tall(1.93 metres), has the abilityto thrive.

“I noticed him on the firstday and he looks very tal-

ented,” Wasim said of Jamal.“I think with some hard workhe can increase his pace andbecome an asset for thecountry.”

Jamal said he was inspiredto bowl fast by ShoaibAkhtar.

“The desire was inspiredby watching Shoaib,” Jamalremembered. “I want toachieve his speed and wantto bowl as fast as he usedto.”—APP

Career notover: Zanetti

MILAN—Inter Milan captainJavier Zanetti has insisted thathis career is not over despitesuffering a ruptured Achillestendon at the weekend.

Zanetti suffered the injury17 minutes into Inter’s 1-0 de-feat by Palermo, leaving the 39-year-old to be carried off thepitch on a stretcher.

The Argentine defender,who has played over 600matches since joining Inter in1995, was diagnosed with a rup-tured Achilles tendon by hos-pital doctors.

However Zanetti says hewants to “come back strongerthan before”.

“Injuries can happen andthey’re part of this profession.The most important thing is theteam,” said Zanetti.

“We’ll decide when sur-gery will take place They stillhaven’t given me the times in-volved but my career certainlyisn’t over. What matters is heal-ing well.”

Inter have slipped well offthe pace of late and currentlysit in seventh place in Serie A,one point behind Udinese andtwo behind Roma, who occupythe final Europa League place.

With four games remaining,including one away to second-placed Napoli and then at hometo Lazio, Zanetti believes Intercan fight their way back intoEuropean contention.—AFP

BARCELONA: Rafael Nadal of Spain bites the trophy af-ter his victory over Nicolas Almagro during the Barcelonafinal open tennis in Barcelona.

he has entered.Nadal went into recovery

mode after trailing Almagro0-3 in less than a quarter houron the heavy court.—AFP

Selectioncommittee agrees

to Afridi’sexclusion

LAHORE—A meeting of thenational selection committeeto finalize the names of thePakistan cricket team for theupcoming Champions Tro-phy is under way at theQaddafi Stadium Lahore. Ac-cording to sources recom-mendations of the team man-agement to exclude ShahidAfridi from the final squadhave been accepted by theselection committee.

Other members expectedto be included in the final listare Misbah ul Haq,M.Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed,Imran Farhat, Haris Sohail,Asad Shafiq, Kamran Akmal,M.Irfan, Asad Ali, ShoibMalik, Saeed Ajmal, AbdurRehman, Junaid Khan, EhsanAdil and Aizaz Cheema.

The team could be an-nounced on Monday as soonas its approved by the PCBChairman.—Agencies

Martinezunanimously

outpoints MurrayBUENOS AIRES (Argen-tina)—Sergio Martinez re-tained his WBC middle-weight title, unanimouslyoutpointing Martin Murraydespite being sent to the can-vas several times by the En-glishman.

The three judges allscored the fight 115-112 infavour of the defendingchampion in his first fight inhis hometown in 11 years af-ter fighting mostly in Europe.

Martinez has 53 victoriesin 55 fights. It was Murray’sfirst loss in 27 fights.

The bout attracted 40,000fans despite constant rain atthe soccer stadium ofBuenos Aires club VelezSarsfield. Fans got soakedthough, but the boxersfought under a canopy.

‘’Thanks Argentina.Thanks for following me. Ilove you a lot,’’’ Martinez toldthe fans from a ringside mi-crophone.

The decision likely wentthe way of Martinez becausejudges didn’t see enough inthe opening rounds from thedefensive-minded English-man.

Martinez explored foropenings in the first threerounds, dropping his handsand dancing and daringMurray to break out of hisconservative, defensivestance.

Murray stayed coveredup, but caught Martinez witha powerful right hand late inthe third round.

Murray began to go onthe offensive in the fourthround but stayed coveredup, making it difficult forMartinez to land a punchsquarely. In the sixth hepinned Martinez up againstthe ropes and seemed totaunt the champion beforethe partisan fans.—AP

Pillion ridingban extendedQUETTA—Balochistan HomeMinistry on Monday extendedthe pillion riding ban in the prov-ince for indefinite period of time.After series of attack on Shiitesin Quetta and deteriorating lawand order situation, the provin-cial government imposed the banon January 10 and extended it forseveral times. However, on Mon-day, the government issued a no-tification and said that pillionriding will remain banned tillnext order.—NNI

KARACHI—President Asif AliZardari, Monday, said that therecently launched educationalproject “Open Schooling Sys-tem” would prove a great successin empowering the people par-ticularly the women of the coun-try.

Allama Iqbal Open Univer-sity (AIOU) launched “OpenSchooling System” aimed at pro-viding parallel education to the“out of school” children speciallydropout women.

The President said this dur-ing a briefing given by ViceChancellor Allama Iqbal OpenUniversity on the “OpenSchooling System” initiative,here at the Bilawal House.

The briefing meeting was at-tended among others by ChiefMinister Sindh, Zahid QurbanAlvi, Chief Secretary Sindh, fed-eral secretary Education, ViceChancellor, Spokesperson Sena-tor Farhatullah Babar and othersenior officials.

The President said thatAllama Iqbal Open University byproviding education to peoplefrom Karachi to Khyber and fromGilgit to Gwader was makinggreat contributions to the nationbuilding process.

He said that the skills basededucation model introduced bythe University has gained great

‘Open Schooling System’ willprove great success: President

acceptability and added that newinitiative on AIOU Open School-ing System through the distancelearning was very promising.

The President, who is alsothe Chancellor of the AllamaIqbal Open University saidthat the University was estab-lished by Shaheed Zulfikar AliBhutto and nurtured byShaheed Mohtarma BenazirBhutto and also by the subse-quent governments and ex-pressed delight that over theyears the university has be-come one of the mega univer-

sities of the world. He saidthat the university was truly anational asset as over the yearsit has made great progress inproviding quality education topeople living in far off placesthrough modern distant learn-ing techniques.

Giving briefing ViceChancellor Dr. Nazir AhmedSangi said that Allama IqbalOpen University has a long his-tory of catering the educationalneeds of illiterates, semi-literatesand out of school dropout seg-ments. —Online

OKARA: PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif addressing a huge public meeting.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

OKARA—Pakistan MuslimLeague-N (PML-N) President,Nawaz Sharif Monday said itis the power of people’s votethat elected the government andnow they will make it wrap upthrough the same ballot.

Addressing a public meet-ing held here under the bannerof PML-N as part of its ongo-ing election campaign, NawazSharif vowed to bury thechronic problem of

We will bury power crisisfor good, if elected: Nawaz

loadshedding for good aftercoming to power.

“People say Nawaz Shariftook two turns on power but letme explain that our first tenurelasted only for two years whilethe other for two and a half,”he said, adding, however short-lived his government’s were heperformed great amount ofwork towards the country’s de-velopment. “We made JFThunder aircraft; executednuclear tests; established inter-national airports in Karachi and

Lahore, and; built motorwayand other highways,” he re-called, adding ‘we will do morework for the country if electedto power on May 11’. He prom-ised to eliminate unemploy-ment from the country and toprovide financial assistance tothe youth besides openingbanks in each and every townof the country.

Nawaz Sharif said he washere to ask for their vote not forhim or his party but for thecause of Pakistan.

Another contemptof court plea filed

against MalikISLAMABAD—Another con-tempt of court plea has beenfiled against the former interiorminister Rehman Malik. The pe-titioner Mehmood Akhtar Naqviwhile making secretary ElectionCommission (EC) and RehmanMalik respondents has taken theplea in his constitutional petitionthat former interior minister hascommitted flagrant breach ofcourt’s orders. The court soughtreply but Rehman Malik filedreviewed petition which waslater withdrawn.

Petition said Rehman Malikaccepted court’s decision but didnot comply with it. AttorneyGeneral also did not complywith the orders of the court,therefore, Rehman Malik beproceeded against under con-tempt of court plea. The courthad summoned government ofPakistan, chief secretary Sindh,additional chief secretary inte-rior and inspector general inKarachi target killing case. AliSher Jakhrani was punished forspeaking truth.—Online

CIA deliveredcash to Afghan

president’s officeKABUL—For more than a de-cade, wads of American dollarspacked into suitcases, backpacksand, on occasion, plastic shop-ping bags have been dropped offevery month or so at the officesof Afghanistan’s president -courtesy of the Central Intelli-gence Agency. All told, tens ofmillions of dollars have flowedfrom the C.I.A. to the office ofPresident Hamid Karzai, ac-cording to current and formeradvisers to the Afghan leader.“We called it ‘ghost money,’ “said Khalil Roman, who servedas Mr. Karzai’s deputy chief ofstaff from 2002 until 2005. “Itcame in secret, and it left in se-cret,” said a report published inNew York Times.—Online

Chemical weapons inquiry

Syria access essential: UNUNITED NATIONS—U.N. chiefBan Ki-moon said on Mondaythat investigators have beengathering and analyzing avail-able information on allegedchemical weapons attacks inSyria, but access to the war-torncountry is needed for a “cred-ible and comprehensive in-quiry.”

The issue of possible chemi-cal attacks by President Basharal-Assad’s government has be-come a crucial factor that couldlead to the United States andother western powers steppingup their involvement in the Syr-ian civil war.

Ban created a U.N. inspec-tion mission, led by Swedishscientist Ake Sellstrom, in mid-March to investigate severalclaims of chemical weapons at-tacks in Syria, where more than70,000 people have been killedin a two-year-old war. But Syria

has blocked unconditional andunfettered access by the U.N.mission, which has an advanceteam in Cyprus ready to deployto Syria within 24 to 48 hours,and it is unlikely it will gain thattype of access any time soon.

“On-site activities are essen-tial if the United Nations is tobe able to establish the facts andclear all the doubts surroundingthis issue,” Ban told reportersbefore meeting with Sellstromat the United Nations in NewYork. “A credible and com-prehensible inquiry requiresfull access to the site wherechemical weapons are al-leged to have been used,” Bansaid. “I again urge Syrian au-thorities to allow the investi-gation to proceed without de-lay and without conditions.”

Ban said that in the mean-time, the investigators weregathering.—Reuters

ROME—Five months ago,Silvio Berlusconi was in steepdecline and his party was inshambles.

His centre-left enemieslooked triumphant and sat ona 15-point opinion poll lead.Today that situation has turned180 degrees.

The centre-left is devas-tated by divisions and the 76-year-old media tycoon has anopinion poll lead ranging fromfive to eight points.

The extraordinary upset isthe result of powerful after-shocks from an electoral earth-quake in February when thepopulist 5-Star Movementswept up a huge protest voteagainst Italy’s politicians andgrabbed an unprecedented 25percent to become the thirdforce in parliament.

Now that the dust is start-ing to settle with the inaugu-ration of a new broad-basedcoalition government led bycentre-left politician EnricoLetta, it is possible to see moreclearly the winners and losersfrom one of the most turbulentperiods in recent Italian politi-cal history.

One of the winners is

Election aftermath

Italy’s politics turnedupside down

Berlusconi. He has gone froma pale, indecisive figure lastautumn to a position of stronginfluence over Letta’s govern-ment, helped greatly by the im-plosion of the centre-left andhis own astonishing resur-gence since he was forcedfrom power in November 2011as Italy faced a major financialmeltdown.

The four-times formerpremier’s unrivalled politicaland communication skills, de-spite the reputational damagefrom a string of sex and cor-ruption scandals, are in starkcontrast to the bungles of hap-less centre-left leader PierLuigi Bersani.

Berlusconi had consis-tently said since the electionthat a grand coalition was theonly way out of a vote thatended with parliament dividedthree ways and no group ableto govern alone.

He was also one of thosepushing hardest for the re-elec-tion of President GiorgioNapolitano against the 87-year-old head of state’s ownwishes, as the only way to enda two-month impasse since theelection.—Reuters

ISLAMABAD—Supreme Court(SC) has sought report fromministry of finance and Direc-tor General (DG) IntelligenceBureau (IB) of the amount spenton journalists.

A 3-member bench of SCpresided over by the Chief Jus-tice of Pakistan (CJP) IftikharMuhammad Chaudhry took upfor hearing information minis-try secret fund case Monday.

As per the petitioner AsadKharal, IB gave 3 million rupeesto a journalist in 1999. An ex-planation was sought from DGIB in this respect on January, 8,2013 but he gave no reply. CJPremarked secret funds was uti-lized to salvage political govern-ment. It is right of the people toknow their hard earned money

Secret funds can beutilized for state, not

for sake of politics: SCis being spent where.

Justice Azmat remarked “secret funds can be utilized forthe state rather than for the sakeof politics. State stays but gov-ernments come and go, there-fore, secret funds be not utilizedto salvage political govern-ments.

Justice Gulzar inquired fromAttorney General (AG) why areyou utilizing secret funds to gainpolitical ends. AG said he wasnot defending utilization of se-cret funds. If the petitioner hasevidence then he should presentit. The court allowing 10 daystime to DG IB has sought re-port on the money spent on thejournalists afresh. The hearingof the case was adjourned for10 days.—Online

Fire breaks out atammunition testing

centre in IndiaNEW DELHI—A fire broke outin an underground magazine storeof Indian Defence Research andDevelopment Organisation(DRDO) at Chandipur, about 15km from Odisha on Mondaymorning, triggering a string of ex-plosions, Indian media reported.

“The fire triggered explosionsas it erupted in the magazinestore of the Proof and Experi-mental Establishment (PXE)where shells and ammunition ofdifferent capacities and sizesare stored for test,” Officer In-Charge of Chandipur police sta-tion PK Acharya said.

No casualty was reportedso far and over a dozen fire ten-ders were pressed into serviceto control the blaze, he said, add-ing that the entire complex wassealed. —Online

Commandersmeeting finalizes

security plansfor electionsSTAFF REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—Specially con-vened meeting of corps com-manders has finalized securityplans for upcoming generalelections.

The meeting chaired byCOAS, Gen. Pervez AshfaqKayani at GHQ reviewed thesecurity plan for elections indetail, during which deploy-ment of Army for electoral se-curity was decided over theconsensus with Election Com-mission of Pakistan (ECP).

Additional consensus withfederal and Provincial govern-ments over the issue was alsodeliberated, finalizing the se-curity issue.

Earlier a meeting betweenCOAS and Chief electioncommissioner Justice (Retd)Fakharuddin Gee Ibrahim alsodeliberated over the issue,while countless rounds ofmeetings were earlier held be-tween Army and ECP also re-solved many outstanding fac-ets about the issue.

It is an accepted andagreed upon notion that ECPcould ask for and summonArmy anytime, anywhere forsafeguarding the elections.

Nato containerdriver killedJAMRUD—A driver was killedwhen unidentified men openedfire on a Nato container inKhyber Agency. Sources saidthat the assailants opened firethe container, coming from Af-ghanistan, in Jamrud area of theagency. Resultantly, the driverdied on the spot. The securityforces rushed to site soon afterthe incident and cordoned offthe area and launched searchoperation.—NNI

Blast damagesANP leader’shouseMARDAN—A bomb explodedoutside ANP leader house inMardan which damaged outerwall of the house. According todetails, some unidentified per-sons planted a bomb near thehouse of ANP leader Haji KhanDaraz Khan which exploded inthe early hours of Monday, dam-aging gate and the outer wall ofthe house. No casualty was re-ported in the incident.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt called on PrimeMinister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso at PM House.

Anti-measlesdrive beginsStaff ReporterLAHORE—A week long specialmass vaccination campaign againstmeasles started in Lahore on Mon-day district during which 30,00,000children from six months to tenyears of age will be inoculated.Talking to media persons, Addi-tional Director ExtendedProgramme for Immunization (EPI)Dr Nazir Hussain said that the cam-paign would continue till May 5.Students of all government and pri-vate primary schools of Lahore dis-trict will also be inoculated and theeducational institutions refusing toget their students vaccinated willhave to face action, he warned.

LGH new MS totake charge todayStaff ReporterLAHORE—Newly postedMedical SuperintendentLahore General Hospital Dr.Muhammad Amjad Shahzadwill take charge of his respon-sibilities today on Tuesday.About his new duties he saidthat he would keep trying hisbest to ensure maximum medi-cal facilities for masses in or-der to fulfill expectations ofthe Punjab Government aswell as general public. He saidthat up gradation of LGH andwelfare of hospital staff andpatients are his priorities.

Maryam, Imransummoned for

violatingconduct code

LAHORE—Three PML-N lead-ers, including party chief NawazSharif ’s daughter MaryamNawaz, and PTI chief ImranKhan have been told to respondto allegations that they violatedthe election code of conduct byleading a rally that obstructedtraffic . District Returning Of-ficer Nazir Ahmad Gajana is-sued notices to Maryam Nawaz,Bilal Yaseen and MianMarghoob , summoning themfor April 30. The officer hadearlier issued notices to ImranKhan and Abdul Aleem ofTehreek-i-Insaf for similar al-leged violations.

According to a report sub-mitted by the monitoring team forNA-120, some 300 PML-Nworkers gathered at Kasurpuraon April 24 and then marched ina procession to Malipura, led byNawaz, Yaseen and Marghoob.

The route of the rally was notauthorised and it was an incon-venience to the general public asit held up traffic, according to themonitoring report. The PML-Nrally allegedly violated Sections34, 38 and 39 of the ElectionCommission of Pakistan’s codeof conduct. The PML-N leadershave been asked to appear in per-son before the district returningofficer on April 30 and explainwhy legal action should not betaken against then under the Rep-resentation of the People Act1976 and other election rules,according to the notice.

PTI chief Imran Khan andPTI Lahore President AbdulAleem Khan have also been ac-cused of violating Articles 38 and39 of the code of conduct inleading a rally on The Mall onApril 20.—Online

PEOPLE can safely add a few nuts totheir diet - or replace other foods withthe high-unsaturated fat, high-fiber

snacks - without gaining weight, a newreview of past studies suggests. Research-ers combined data from 31 trials conductedacross the globe and foundthat on average, there wasvery little difference inchanges in weight or waistmeasurements betweenpeople who were put on anormal or nut-supple-mented diet.

“Most of the nut-en-riched studies don’t showthat patients gain a signifi-cant amount of weight, incontrast to what one mightthink,” said Dr. DavidBleich, head of Endocrinol-ogy, Diabetes and Metabo-lism at the University ofMedicine and Dentistry ofNew Jersey in Newark.Gemma Flores-Mateo fromthe Institut Universitarid’Investigacio en Atencio Primaria JordiGol in Tarragona, Spain and colleaguessaid previous research has tied nut-con-taining diets to a lower risk of death, dia-betes and high blood pressure.

Bleich, who wasn’t involved in the newreport, said his own work has shown mea-sures of insulin resistance - a diabetes pre-dictor - were lower when people added nutsto their diets. “One would generally thinkif you’re increasing the ‘fat content’ of thediet, you might in fact make insulin resis-tance worse,” he told Reuters Health. “Itspeaks to this issue of the quality of thefats that we consume.”

More evidence addingnuts is a healthy choice

Nuts may also suppress hunger be-cause of their unsaturated fats, fiber andprotein, the researchers noted. In the tri-als they looked at, participants were ran-domly assigned to a normal diet or onethat included extra nuts - or, more often,

nuts substituted for otherfood items - and followed foranywhere from two weeks tofive years. At the end of fol-low-up, people on nut dietshad dropped about 1.4 extrapounds and lost close to halfan inch off their waists, com-pared to those in the nut-free groups. However, thedifferences could have beendue to chance.

“Although the magni-tude of these effects wasmodest, the results allay thefear that nut consumptionmay promote obesity,”Flores-Mateo’s team wrotelast week in the AmericanJournal of Clinical Nutrition.“Our findings support the

inclusion of nuts in healthy diets for car-diovascular prevention.” However it’s notsimply a matter of “throwing additionalnuts into your already poor-quality diet,”Bleich said. He said heart protectioncomes from looking at a fuller picture ofthe diet - and adding fruits, vegetablesand olive oil, for example, in addition tonuts. Dr. Adam Gilden Tsai, an obesityresearcher from the University of Colo-rado in Denver, said he wouldn’t recom-mend people eat nuts on top of their nor-mal diet, but that substituting them forother foods may lead to some benefits,such as on cholesterol levels.

ISLAMABAD: Banners of different political parties hanging on the road light polls at Jinnah Avenue.

ISLAMABAD: President Institute of Media and Communication, Prof Qaiserah M. Alvispeaks during the inauguration of the institution at sector F-8/2, Islamabad. Chiefguest Prof Intizar Hussain and famous novelist Masood Mufti are sitting on the stage.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

STAFF REPORTER

I S L A M A B A D —Firs t - eve r‘Islamabad Literature Festival’will kick off at a local hotel to-day (Tuesday) with participa-tion of a number of literary ce-lebrities to acknowledge therole of writers community andliterary works towards the de-velopment of society.

The two-day festival will beorganized by Oxford UniversityPress (OUP) in collaborationwith different partners includ-ing Liberty Books, NIB Bankand European Union. Theprogramme is conceived anddesigned by Festival Directors

First-ever ‘Islamabad LiteratureFestival’ begins today

Ameena Saiyid and AsifFarrukhi. The festival will openwith a keynote address byIntizar Hussain, a finalist for the2013 Man Booker Prize, whoNadeem Aslam described asbeing “the greatest living writeron earth.”

The closing keynote ad-dress will be delivered by theactor, director, educator, andcultural leading light, ZiaMohyeddin. A keynote speechwill also be delivered by one ofGranta’s Best of Young Britishnovelists of 2013, Pakistan’sown Kamila Shamsie.

Famous literary personali-ties Abdullah Hussain, Zehra

Nigah will participate in the fes-tival. H.M Naqvi and IrshadAbdul Kadir will share with theaspiring writers insights onhow to write a novel. Litera-ture in languages such asPushto, Punjabi, Urdu, and Pa-kistani English will be dis-cussed and celebrated.

Nimra Bucha will concludethe Festival with her criticallyacclaimed performance ofMohammed Hanif’s play, “TheDictator’s Wife.” The booktitled `Ghazal-e-Shab’ byMustansar Hussain Tarar,`MaBaad-e-Nau Aabaadiyat: Urdukay Tanazur Mein’ by NasirAbbas Nayyar.

April 30

ON BIRTH day of HazratSyeda Fatima Zahra aceremony will be held at10:30 am, at Jamay ulKausar University H-8,Islamabad. ProminentUlema from all over thecountry will participate.

****NATIONAL Universityof Modern Languageswill hold 12th “ChineseBridge”-Chinese lan-guage proficiency com-petition on Tuesday. Thecompetition will be ar-ranged in collaborationwith Confucius Instituteat IT Auditorium, NUML.The event will also be at-tended by Liu Jian, Chi-nese Ambassador to Pa-kistan, Zhang Yingbao,Cultural Councilor ofChinese Embassy andmany others.

LIAQAT TOOR

ISLAMABAD—An Instituteof Media and Communica-tion to impart training to newentrants in the field has beenlaunched on Monday. Anon-commercial venture,the institute will offer freetraining to graduate andpost-graduate students inmedia techniques. Differentstages of news telecasting,writing letter to the Editor,feature, column and editorialwriting will be part of thetraining. Seasoned journal-ists and language experts willpolish the raw hand.

The aim of the instituteheaded by ProfessorQaiserah M Alvi is to pro-vide an opportunity to thosenew comers, who could not

get any space in mediahouse for training. Thelaunching ceremony was at-tended by senior journalists,professors, educationistsand eminent social personali-ties.

Eminent writer and col-umnist Intizar Hussain, whowas the Chief Guest on theoccasion while welcomingthe step to set up this insti-tute said it, will help the newentrants to know techniquesof media. He dwelt at lengththe work of talented colum-nists in the past, who influ-enced their readers by pow-erful writing. He also touchedupon different evolutionarystages of producing classicliterature in the country.

Professor Qaiserah Alviin her vote of thanks said the

institute has been set up af-ter thorough discussion. Itis a difficult task but our aimsare to extend services of bestfaculty to those who want tobecome journalist. It is a mod-est start. “We need coopera-tion of all to fulfill our task,”she said Zahid Malik, Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observeroffered whole hearted sup-port of his publication to theinstitute.

He said media has be-come industry and nobodyhas time to take care of newcomers. He hoped this insti-tute will become a platformfor polishing students ofmedia sciences.

Akram Zaki, a former dip-lomat and Parliamentariansaid there should be objec-tivity in writing. Journalist

should be man of integrity.Ashfaq Gondal, former In-formation Secretary said de-spite expansion of media,hard and objective news isstill a far cry. Finding truthshould be the objective ofthe Mediaman. ZafarBakhtawari, President ofIslamabad Chamber of Com-merce and Industry said hisbody will extend full supportto this institute. He said jour-nalists should bring forthtruth and present rue pictureof social and economic or-der.

Shamim Rizvi, Mrs.Abida Shamim, AshfaqMirza and Liaqat Toor alsospoke on the occasion.Masood Mufti introducedIntizar Hussain to the audi-ence in literary terms.

Media institute to impart training launched

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Chief Commis-sioner, Islamabad, JawadPaul said that holding of free,fair and impartial elections inCapital is the top priority ofIslamabad Capital TerritoryAdministration and thewhole administration is im-partial in this regard. Duringan introductory meeting withthe officials of the adminis-tration, he said that adminis-tration is determined to meetchallenges and he will holdseparate meetings with thepolice and other stakehold-

ers to review the security ar-rangements for providingconducive environment forfree and fair elections in asmooth manner very shortly.

The meeting was at-tended among others by theDeputy Commissioner,Islamabad, Amer Ali Ahmed,Assistant Commissioners,Magistrates and head of theattached departments.

Jawad Paul also directedthe officials to ensure effec-tive and efficient public de-livery system and resolve theproblems of the peoples withdevotion and dedication. He

said that all the officials needto work as a team to servethe people.

He said that his doors areopen for everyone and theofficials should also feel freeto let him know about anyproblem they are confrontingduring their duties. “If anyofficial has innovative ideasto further improve the work-ing of the administration,they should come forwardand share it with me,” headded. He said that he wouldhave separate briefingsabout the working of theirdepartments shortly.

Conducive environmentto be ensured for voters

Derelict capitalroads, streets posethreat to motoristsISLAMABAD—Several roadsof the federal capital, whichhave been broken or are de-teriorating owing to heavytraffic, are causing serioustroubles for motorists. Theresidents are facing inconve-nience owing to the negli-gence of the Capital Devel-opment Authority (CDA) to-wards repairing roads andstreets of various sectorswhich are in dilapidated con-dition.

They claimed that thecivic body was least con-cerned about ensuringproper maintenance of roadsand streets, adding that mostof the manholes were alsolying open.

“The condition of theroad near the Islamabad Rail-way Station is also very bad,where many vehicles havemet accidents merely due topotholes and bumpy sec-tions,” said Ikram Faisal, aresident of I-10/2, who usesthis road to get to his officein the Blue Area every day.

“During the rain, the roadturns into a pond and the driv-ers cannot spot the `craters’,which eventually damage theirvehicles,” he added.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Capital Administration & Development Dr YounisSoomro administering oath to the representatives of Central Academic Staff Associa-tion at Islamabad College for Boys G-6/3.—PO photo

British Council,Edexcel to promoteUK qualificationsand curriculum

ISLAMABAD—British Coun-cil is committed to buildstrong cultural relationshipbetween Pakistan and theUnited Kingdom (UK) andprovide learning opportuni-ties to the youth of Pakistan.It has initiated a wide rangeof special activities for link-ing the youth of Pakistan tostudy in UK.

This initiative would in-crease the level of literacy inthe country and strengthenmutual cooperation of the twocountries in other trades also.

British Council andEdexcel organized a joint ses-sion here today, which wasattended by Imtiaz Razvi, Di-rector Operations Examina-tions Pakistan, British Coun-cil, Dr. David Davies, Direc-tor of Stakeholder Manage-ment, Edexcel, Premila PaulrajCanitius, Assistant VicePresident, Edexcel Academ-ics - Subcontinent, EdexcelInternational teams alongwith Directors/Heads of lead-ing schools of Islamabad andRawalpindi includingFroebel’s, Roots, City,Shaikzaid and other repre-sentatives of schools.—APP

Two arrestedin murder caseISLAMABAD—Crime Investi-gation Agency (CIA)Islamabad Police has arrestedtwo persons allegedly in-volved in murdering theirfriend, a police spokesmansaid on Monday.

According to details, anunknown body was foundfrom Korang Nullah in Koralpolice station area on Febru-ary 26, 2013. Koral police hadregistered a case (48/13) un-der section 302 PPC andstarted investigation. Thedeceased was later identifiedas Imtiaz Ali Khan resident ofKohat.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Roots Millen-nium Schools, German Lan-guage Department organ-ized a welcome ceremony for“Dr. Manuel Negwer, Direc-tor Goethe Institute Paki-stan” at Roots MillenniumSchools –RMS, flagshipWahid Campus, F-10/2Islamabad on Monday.

It was great a privilegeand honor for RMS GermanLanguage Department tohost a ceremony for the Di-rector of Goethe Institute,Karachi. Roots MillenniumSchools, Pakistan has devel-oped strong ties with Ger-many and is doing excellentwork in Paki-stan by promot-ing the German languageamong young Pakistaniswith the support of theGoethe institute of FederalRepublic of Germany operat-ing worldwide.

Dr. Manuel Negwer vis-ited Roots MillenniumSchools, Wahid Campus F-10/2 to ap-preciate the de-partment for promoting Ger-man Language Initiative

taken by Chaudhry Faisal,Mushtaq CEO Roots Millen-nium Schools, Pakistan.

The students from RMSflagship Wahid Campus, wel-comed the Goethe Director bypresenting a perfect culturalpanorama and transported theentertained audience on amagic carpet ride to visit vari-ous parts of Germany as wellas on a wondrous journeythrough all the provinces ofPakistan. The whole perfor-mance had a complete Germanflavor to it with studentsdressed in German attire, wav-ing German flags, fluentlyspeaking German languageand collectively singing Ger-man folk songs.

Speaking at the ceremony,an accomplished and inspiredCEO – Roots MillenniumSchools, Chaudhry FaisalMushtaq TI said, “We, theRMS German Language De-partment and team, are verycommitted to render our allsupport and to take an activepart in any initiatives aimed atfurthering this great nationalcause and promoting edu-cat-ion and literacy in Pakistan.

RMS welcome ceremonyfor Dr. Manuel Negwer

CDA to establishmore water

filtration plantsSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Chairman Capi-tal Development Authority(CDA) Syed Tahir Shahbaz onMonday said that the Author-ity will establish more water fil-tration plants and will con-struct service roads in SectorG-11. While inaugurating‘Clean and Green Islamabad’campaign in sector G-11, hesaid that the plazas in MarkazG-11 would be linked throughinterconnected road networkand parking lots to facilitatethe traders and commuters.

Chairman CDA said thatMarkaz G-11 would be up-graded on the pattern of otherMarakiz of the city. He di-rected the concerned forma-tions of the authority to ini-tiate work on smooth supplyof water to the residents ofSector G-11.

He also directed for repairmaintenance sewerage systemand footpaths in the sector,adding that all kinds of en-croachments would also beeradicated from the sector with-out any discrimination.

Professionalism is aframe of mind, not a

paycheck.

— Cecil Castle

TARIQ KHATTAK

ISLAMABAD—The amnestyscheme to legitimize smuggledvehicles through duties andtaxes has in fact given a hugepush to smuggling as total50852 vehicles have been le-galized in just one month.

According to the data,from March 5th to April 6th,total 50844 vehicles of morethan 3 years old and total 8 ve-hicles of up to 3 years old havebeen legitimized by Federal

Amnesty scheme: 50,852 vehicles legalized in one monthBoard of Revenue to earn Rs16.03 billion.

Interestingly, more than 17thousand vehicles each fromQuetta and Peshawar have beenlegitimized which shows thatpeople there imported vehiclesafter the announcement of theamnesty scheme. 17950 vehiclesof more than 3 years old fromQuetta while 17330 vehicles ofmore than 3 years old fromPeshawar have been legalized tocollect Rs 10453.25 million interms of duties/taxes.

In contrast, 1563 more than3 years old vehicles fromHyderabad, 2885 from Gwadar,632 from Lahore, 1108 fromMultan, 1154 from Sambrial,1247 from Faisalabad, 1081from Islamabad, and 5894 fromKarachi have been legalized.

On the other hand, totalseized/confiscated vehiclescleared under amnesty schemeduring the said period are 7324including 4393 vehicles of up to1800cc and 2931 vehicles ofabove 1800cc. This is another

proof that more than 40 thou-sand vehicles have been im-ported after this scheme.

According to the break-upof these confiscated vehicles ofboth 1800cc power and above,1854 vehicles from Quetta, 955from Hyderabad, 883 fromPeshawar, 830 from Islamabad,766 from Karachi, 667 fromMultan, 526 from Lahore, 460from Gwadar, 237 fromSambrial, and 146 fromFaisalabad were cleared underthis scheme.

This whole amnesty thinghas put the future prospects oflocal auto industry in jeopardy,as they cannot place effectivelong term policies fearing anti-industry schemes like this toharm their returns.

This whole amnesty thinghas put the future prospects oflocal auto industry in jeopardy,as they cannot place effectivelong term policies fearing anti-industry schemes like this toharm their returns.

This whole amnesty thing

has put the future prospects oflocal auto industry in jeopardy,as they cannot place effectivelong term policies fearing anti-industry schemes like this toharm their returns.

The decision makers in thegovernments have failed to real-ize that the schemes like amnestyis eroding the benefits of lowpriced cars to the consumer. It isalso causing the loss of billionsof rupees to national exchequer,’said a top official of a local automanufacturing company.

Sources in the aftermarketsuggest that once these cars startlanding in the market for resalethe consumer who cannot differ-entiate will be made a fool eas-ily as most of the cars will besold with tempered mileages andsnatched out gadgets. Sincemost of the cars have been rig-orously used on off road tracksthey are likely to give these cus-tomers a hard time.

The decision makers in thegovernments have failed to re-alize that the schemes like am-

Bank holidayObserver ReportKARACHI—The State Bank ofPakistan and all offices of SBPBanking Services Corporation,including the Public DebtOffices, will remain closed on1st May, 2013 (Wednesday)being Public Holiday declaredby the Government of Pakistanon the occasion of LabourDay.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—InternationalMonetary Fund has said thatAsia is set to grow at 5.7 per-cent in 2013 (with growth inemerging Asia reaching 7.2percent), leading the globalthree-speed recovery.

According to its latest re-port Regional economic out-look for Asia and Pacifichere on Monday the IMFsaid that consumption andprivate investment will besupported by favourablelabour market conditions,with unemployment atmultiyear lows in severaleconomies. Relatively easyfinancial conditions, whichinclude accommodativemonetary policies, rapidcredit growth particularly inChina and some ASEAN

Asia leads globalrecovery: IMF’s

economies, and the rebound ofcapital inflows since the latterhalf of 2012, are also key fac-tors behind this expansion.

Chinese demand and Japa-nese stimulus should also pro-vide a boost to the region. Infact, for some of the more ad-vanced open economies, directand indirect demand from Chinaand Japan is as important as de-mand from the United States andEurope. In the case of ASEANeconomies, growing integrationin final consumer goods tradeshould further contribute to fa-vorable intraregional demanddynamics.

The Regional economicoutlook report says that theexternal risk of severe eco-nomic fallout from an acuteeuro area crisis has reduced,regional risks are coming intoclearer focus. Other risks in-

clude an unexpected slow-down in China, weaker-than-expected effects from ongo-ing stimulus in Japan, ortrade disruptions from anatural disaster or geopoliti-cal tensions.

Policy makers in the regionface a delicate balancing act inthe near term: guarding againstthe potential buildup of finan-cial imbalances while deliver-ing appropriate support forgrowth.

Report further explains thatmonetary policy makers shouldstand ready to respond earlyand decisively to any prospec-tive risks of overheating, andwith macro prudential mea-sures playing an increasingrole, especially where creditgrowth is too rapid and accom-panied by strong capital in-flows.

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Zubair MotiwalaChairman Sindh InvestmentBoard while pointing out avail-able opportunities in Afghani-stan specifically in the field ofconstruction; cement and alliedmaterial, fresh fruits and its pro-cessing, minerals and mining etcha said that not only Pakistan butBritish companies being the partof UK-Pakistan, Afghanistancan benefit of the available busi-ness opportunities.

This was discussed at ameeting to strengthen ties be-tween UK-Pakistan Chamber ofCommerce & Industry(UKPCCI) and Pakistan Af-ghanistan Joint Chamber ofCommerce & Industry(PAJCCI) was discussed in acalled on meeting between Mr.Razi Khan, President - UKPCCI

Business opportunitiesin Afghanistan

and Mr. Muhammad ZubairMotiwala, President PAJCCI.Mr. Junaid Makda, Director -PAJCCI, Ms. Faiza, SecretaryGeneral - PAJCCI and Mr.Faisal Khan, GSL South Asiawere also present at the meet-ing.

Mr. Motiwala elaborated onthe background of establishmentof this unique Chamber and ob-jectives of this entity to facilitatebi-lateral trade between the twonations. He also briefed aboutinitiatives taken by PAJCCI in ashort span of time and informedMr. Razi regarding achievementof PAJCCI in amicably resolv-ing issues related to APTTAwhich were pending since longbetween the two countries. Withthe foresight to sort out concernsof business communities acrossthe border, the board in its meet-ing unanimously agreed on 8

most important resolutions whichwere also presented as a jointdocument in the APTTCA meet-ing held in October 2012.

Mr. Razi showed immenseinterest in Chamber’s achieve-ments in form of reciprocal tradedelegation between the two coun-tries, business perception tradesurvey, Economic CooperationConference and PAJCCI’s effec-tive role in the area of advocacypertaining to Afghan TransitTrade specifically. He also ac-knowledged interest of both Tur-key and Tajikistan in PAJCCI tohave tripartite engagements withthem for better regional co-op-eration and enhanced economicactivities.

Mr. Razi stated that Pakistanhas immense potentials and ef-fective plans and policies but theissues are faced at the executionor implementation level. He be-

lieved that there are lots of un-tapped opportunities available inAfghanistan and UK would liketo collaborate with PAJCCI inorder to penetrate in thisunexploited segment.

He further stated that areasmay be identified where Britishcompanies can penetrate, in bothPakistan and Afghanistan, toobtain mutual benefits

As Chairman Sindh Boardof investment (SBoI) ZubairMotiwala also elaborated on theavailable investment opportuni-ties in Sindh where UK compa-nies can invest or can do jointventures for mutual benefits.

Mr. Razi extended invitationto President PAJCCI for a meet-ing during his visit to UK to fur-ther discuss opportunities of col-laboration for strengthening therelationship between UK, Paki-stan and Afghanistan.

nesty is eroding the benefits oflow priced cars to the con-sumer. It is also causing the lossof billions of rupees to nationalexchequer,’ said a top officialof a local auto manufacturingcompany.

The amnesty scheme isbenefiting only few influentialand tax evading citizens at thetime when the country requiresa level playing field where the‘protected stakeholders’ arealso taxed similar to a commonman.

ZONG has launched a brand new postpaid service named BizXcess. Picture shows FengTuxian, Chief Financial Officer, ZONG along with senior management at the launch cer-emony.

ISLAMABAD: Delegations of Pakistan and Sri Lanka attending 5th technical level meetingon Free Trade Agreement.

PQ activityKARACHI—Two shipscarrying containers andfurnace oil were berthed atQasim International Contain-ers Terminal and FOTCOTerminal on Sunday, portsources said here Monday.Three more ships carryingcontainers and chemical alsoarrived at the outor anchorageof Port Qasim during the last24 hours. Berth occupancywas 55% at the Port onMonday where a total six shipsnamely Maersk Georgia,Inlaco Accord, Diamkond Sea,Sofia, Norgas Challenger andM.T Karachi are currentlyoccupying berths to load/offload containers, wheat, rice,cement, chemical and furnaceoil respectively. A cargovolume of 31969 tonnescomprising 14953 tonnesimports and 17016 tonnesexports inclusive ofcontainerised cargo carried in801 containers (TEUs) washandled at the Port during thelast 24 hours.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan has im-ported around US $ 4.377 bil-lion mobile phone handsets andother telecom apparatus duringlast five years with telecom im-ports of US $ 1.331 billion onlyin 2007-08, the most promisingyear for the sector.

Pakistan Telecommunica-tion Authority (PTA) in its year2012 report has revealed that thecountry imported mobile phonehandsets with battery of US $Dollar 1.428 billion and othertelecom apparatus worth USDollar 2.949 billion.

It said during 2012, totaltelecom imports in the countryreached US $ 954 million, show-ing a sharp rise of 24.5 percentover the previous year.

This increase in totaltelecom imports is due to a sharprise in imports of cellular mo-

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Despite the challeng-ing operating environment, MCBBank has posted highest quarterlyprofit before tax in its history ofRs. 8.677 billion and declared cashdividend of Rs.3.5 for the first quar-ter ended March 31, 2013.

This was stated in a pressrelease issued by MCB Bank af-ter the Board of Directors ofMCB Bank met under the chair-manship of Mr. MianMohammad Mansha to reviewthe performance of the bank forthe quarter ended March 31,2013.

The Bank, in contrast withthe industry results, posted anincrease of 2% and 4% in profitbefore tax and profit after tax re-spectively. Net markup income

MCB Bank posts highest ever profitbefore tax, Rs3.5 dividend in Q1

of the Bank was reported at Rs.9.723billion whereas non-markup income was reported atRs. 2.350 billion. Administra-tive expenses (before pensionfund reversal) of Rs. 4.338 bil-lion witnessed a decrease of 2%over the corresponding periodlast year. Due to strengthenedrisk management frameworkand policies adopted by theBank, a reversal in provisioningcharge of Rs. 840 million wasreported for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2013 as compared toa provision charge of Rs. 75million for corresponding periodlast year.

MCB Bank’s Earnings pershare (EPS) for the period un-der review came to Rs. 5.70compared to Rs. 5.51 for March31, 2012. Return on assets im-

proved to 3.02% whereas returnon equity was recorded at25.51% with book value pershare improving to Rs.90.95.

The Bank’s total asset basewas reported at Rs. 759.116 bil-lion which decreased by 1%over Rs. 767.075 billion as ofDecember 31, 2012. Net invest-ments increased by Rs. 664 mil-lion to Rs. 402.733 billion.Gross advances were reported atRs. 262.360 billion while the in-fection ratio of the Bank furtherimproved to 9.41% (Dec 2012:9.74%).On the deposit front, theBank continued with its strategyof shifting its base to low costcurrent and saving accounts,each growing by 5% over De-cember 31, 2012 and taking thetotal CASA base to an all-timehigh of 86%.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Keeping in linewith its vision of an emergingenergy company, BycoGroup’s two oil refineries, the35,000 barrels per day BycoPetroleum Pakistan Limited(BPPL) and the 120,000 bar-rels per day Byco Oil PakistanLimited (BOPL) continue toexpand their industry leader-ship and delivery of refinedpetroleum products remain ontrack.

Byco continues to meetits commitments

Part and Parcel to the de-livery of products is the ongo-ing and standard maintenanceof both refineries. At present,the smaller refinery, operatedby Byco Petroleum Pakistan, isundergoing a customary main-tenance check from April 26,2012 and as planned shall re-sume production on May 5,2013, with no effect onPakistan’s current supplyneeds.

In the interim, BycoGroup’s substantial refined pe-

troleum product reserves are atfull inventory enjoying a stor-age capacity of 1 million bar-rels. Speaking to the media,Mr. Qaiser Jamal, CEO, OilRefining Business, Byco, re-iterated the company’s resolveto meeting its commitments,“The reserves onsite are sub-stantial and we shall fulfillcommitments towards allOMC’s without any need foradditional import, despite thecurrent maintenance at thesmaller Byco refinery.”

Pakistan spends $4.377b ontelecom imports in five years

bile handsets in the country,which have reached US $ 465.3million in 2012 compared to218.2 million in 2011, register-ing a growth of 113 percent.

This fresh rise in the importof cell phones is due to an in-creasing demand for less costlyChinese mobile handsets whilecellular subscribers havereached 120 million and an in-creasing demand for expensivesmart phones in the country.

The report said this importdemand is at the back of attrac-tive mobile Internet packagesand upcoming 3G services.

A huge import bill of almosthalf a billion dollar for cellphones is not desirable undercurrent economic situation whencountry’s trade deficit hasreached US $ 15.4 billion andcountry is facing a current ac-count deficit of US$ 4.5 billion.

The Authority is encourag-

ing existing and new companiesto initiate telecom manufactur-ing in the country. The govern-ment and PTA are willing toprovide all possible cooperationto facilitate the process.

It said to begin with, assem-bly lines can be established forselected telecom equipmentswith the help of country’s closetrading partners.

During year 2007-08, thecountry imported mobile phonehandsets with battery worth US$ 445.9 million, in 2008-09 US$ 129.7 million, in 2009-10 US$ 169.23 million, in 2010-11 US$ 218.2 and during 2011-12, thecountry spent US $ 465.3 mil-lion on handsets import.

Similarly, on other telecomapparatus, the country spent US$ 885.1 in 2007-08, US $ 570.4in 2008-09, US $ 556.45 in2009-10, US $ 548.1 in 2010-11 and US $ 488.7 in 2011-12.

PARC asksfarmers toadopt new

technologiesSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Dr IftikharAhmad, Chairman, PARC whilespeaking as chief guest at inaugu-ral session of two day “Consulta-tive Workshop on UnderstandingDrivers of Ecosystem Change andLivelihoods in the Upper IndusBasin, Pakistan” said that PARCis working together with interna-tional organizations likeICIMOD, ICARDA, FAO andCIMMYT to provide platform inthe region for agriculture devel-opment and research activities.

The community live in theupper Indus Basin is well awareof the crop pattern. He alsobriefed the drivers on the part ofcommunity and Govt. pushing thecommunity to adopt new technol-ogy and innovations. He alsourged the scientists to work forutilization of waste land into pro-ductive land.

Rates for conversionKARACHI—The followingrates will be applicable forconversion into rupees ofForeign Currency Deposits,Dollar Bearer Certificates,Foreign Currency BearerCertificates, Special U.S.Dollar Bonds and profitsthereon by all banks and forproviding Forward Cover onForeign Currency Deposits(excluding F.E. 25 deposits) bythe State Bank on April 30,2013. The rates are U.S.Dollar Rs 98.4757, JapaneseYen Rs 1.0072, Pound SterlingRs 152.9820 and Euro Rs128.8161.—APP

Budget proposalsStaff ReporterLAHORE—Federal Board ofRevenue (FBR) Mondaysought proposals from theFederation of PakistanChambers of Commerce andIndustry (FPCCI) and itsaffiliated chambers for thenational annual budget 2013-2014. Chairman FBR AnsarJaved told media here thatFPCCI and all its affiliatedchambers have been asked tosubmit viable suggestions andproposals for considerationbefore the presentation ofannual budget in the NationalAssembly. President FPCCIZubair Ahmad Malik told APPthat FPCCI would finalise itsbudget proposals for the nextfiscal year in the light ofsuggestions of the “affiliatedchambers”. “Federation Chiefand VPs, in this regard, wouldhold meetings at its all regionaloffices with the presidents ofaffiliated chambers, registeredtrade bodies and associations tocome up with viable proposalsand future strategy”, he said.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The Fifth Tech-nical Level Meeting on Paki-stan-Sri Lanka Free TradeAgreement (PSFTA) was held atIslamabad from 29-30 April,2013.

The Meeting was co-chairedby Mr. Munir Qureshi, Secre-tary, Ministry of Commerce,Government of Islamic Repub-lic of Pakistan and Mr. AnuraSiriwardena, Secretary, Ministryof Industry and Commerce,Government of Democratic So-cialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Munir Qureshi attributedsuccessful working of PSFTA asa result of dedication, hard work

and spirit of accommodationdisplayed by both sides. He,however, noted that the presenttrade figures are far below thetrade potential of the two coun-tries. He emphasized upon theneed to enhance the existinglevel of trade and commercethrough greater interaction. Hefurther evinced keen desire tobroaden and deepen the PSFTAby including Investment andServices in its ambit. The Sec-retary hoped that 5th TechnicalLevel PSFTA Meeting inIslamabad would play a vitalrole in devising ways and meansto give a much needed boost toexisting volume of trade.

Anura Siriwardena ex-

Pak-Sri Lanka FTAmeeting held

pressed gratitude for the warmwelcome and excellent hospi-tality extended to him and hisdelegation since their arrivalin Pakistan, and shared theviews of the Commerce Sec-retary of Pakistan relating todeepening of PSFTA. He saidthat there was a strong urgefor augmenting bilateraltrade. He, however, was alsoof the view that much remainsto be done to realize the ac-tual potential of bilateraltrade. He said that the key tomove forward would be tocreate a high level of aware-ness of the opportunities pro-vided by the Agreement to thebusiness community.

NAB probesinto missingcontainers

AMANULLAH KHAN

KA R A C H I —National Ac-countability Bureau (NAB)Sindh is probing into 7922 Af-ghanistan-bound missingtransit containers with thebusinessmen directly or indi-rectly related to missing con-tainers.

This was stated by Wajid AliDurrani, Director General NABSindh in a meeting with KarachiChamber of Commerce and In-dustry here today.

With this affirmative actionand NABs well-founded in-quiry, a large number of busi-ness community members weresaved from baseless accusationby the probe committee.

So far notices were issuedby NAB to the businessmenhaving direct or indirect indul-gence with those 7922 contain-ers

Wajid Durrani, referringcases of Steel Mill and contain-ers case, reiterated the fact thatNAB believes to provide a fairand proper chance to the accusedbusinessmen to clarify their po-sitions and plead in the court.The NAB will ensure compli-ance of instructions of the Su-preme Court of Pakistan to holdinquiries, take statements andfile reference in the court ac-cordingly.

Gold Tezab 48985.00Silver Tezabi 831.42

Gold Tezabi (24-Ct) 50420.00Gold 22 Ct 46010.00SilverTezabi 895.00Silver Thobi 815.00

USA 98.30 98.10

UK 152.58 152.27

EURO 128.26 128.00

Canada 96.83 96.63

Switzerland 104.37 104.16

Australia 101.45 101.24

Sweden 15.00 14.97

Japan 1.0081 1.0060

Norway 16.81 16.78

Singapore 79.61 79.45

Denmark 17.20 17.17

Omani Riyal 255.00 245.00

Saudi Arabia 26.21 26.16

Hong Kong 12.66 12.64

Kuwait 345.30 344.60

Malaysia 32.44 32.37

Newzeland 83.83 83.66

Qatar 27.00 26.95

UAE 26.76 26.71

KR WON 0.0886 0.0886

Thailand 3.360 3.353

Govt to paysubsidy on

urea importsSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The govern-ment will pay approximatelyRs 14,500 per ton subsidy onimported urea to match thedomestic price.

Although presently ureaprices were on lower side inthe world market, however,despite that the import ofurea would put a huge bur-den on the national kitty onaccount of foreign exchangeand subsidy.

Anticipating some short-age in the local market, Eco-nomic Coordination Com-mittee (ECC) of the cabinethas asked Trading Corpora-tion of Pakistan (TCP) toimport 130,000 tons of ureafrom international suppliersto avoid any shortfall duringthe current crop season. TCPis already engaged to importurea from Saudi Basic Indus-tries Corporation (SABIC) asagainst $100 million creditfacility being provided bySaudi Fund for Development(SFD).

Following the directiveof the federal government thestate run grain trader floateda urea import tender onMarch 21 which was openedon April 24, 2013. Some 13responsive bidders submittedbids. Later on April 25, TCPfinalized a urea import dealof 80,000 tons with lowestbidder M/s. HelmDungemittel, GMBH at aprice of $374.73 per metricton C&F.

Although the current im-port deal is at a very reason-able rate, however despitethat this is much expansivethan locally produced ureaand will require to be subsi-dized when will be suppliedto the farmers, sources said.

The federal governmenthas already fixed a price ofRs 1,600 per 50-kg bag forimported urea to the farmersto facilitate them. The priceof imported urea is even lessthan locally produced urea,which is being sold at a priceof Rs 1,650-1,675 per 50-kgbag by the domestic ureamanufacturers in the domes-tic market.

The industry expertshave estimated that importunder the current deal, final-ized by TCP, will cost aboutRs 2,300-2,350 per 50-kgbag including handing/ trans-portation/other charges andGeneral Sales Tax (GST).While, as per governmentpolicy the imported urea willbe sold at subsidized rate ofRs 1,600 per 50-kg bag to thedealers.

It has been estimatedthat federal government mayrequire to pay subsidy ofsome Rs 700-750 per 50-kgbag on the imported urea,which is likely to arrive Pa-kistan during next month,they added.

Cumulatively, nationalexchequer will require some$30 million for opening ofLetter of Credits (LCs) for80,000 tons urea while anamount of over one billionwill be spent to subsidies theimported urea.

KARACHI—Follow-ing were the bullionrates in major citiesyesterday.

KARACHI:

MULTAN:

APTMA policystatement on

CPPs supportedSTAFF CORRESPONDENT

MULTAN—Former Punjab Min-ister for Industries KhawajaJalaluddin Roomi has endorsedthe policy statement of All Paki-stan Textile Mills Association(APTMA) with respect to the cap-tive power to generate in-houseelectricity alleging the govern-ment of hatching a conspiracyagainst Punjab-based textile in-dustry to sell it expensive electric-ity (Rs 12 per unit) by deprivingit of electricity generated by itsown efficient captive power plants(CPPs) and push it to the failedWater and Power DevelopmentAuthority (Wapda) system and fi-nally to bankruptcies. Roomi saidthe textile industry has investedbillions of dollars on the installa-tion of CPPs in order to meet en-ergy requirements to safeguard itfrom electricity shortages.

He said the industry has in-stalled a total capacity of 3,000megawatts CPPs on both the SuiSouthern Gas Company and theSui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltdnetworks, resulting into achiev-ing record $ 14 billion exports.However, the industry couldhave been ruined terribly in theabsence of CPPs, as the electric-ity shortage had already playedhavoc with the industry inPunjab.

Pakistaniselected as YaleWorld Fellow

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Doha Bank execu-tive Raheela Khan has beennamed a 2013 Yale World Fel-low, announced Yale UniversityPresident Richard C. Levin.

Khan is Assistant Managerof Treasury and Investments forDoha Bank, a major Qatari fi-nancial institution. A Pakistaninational born and raised inDubai, Khan currently managesa portfolio in excess of US$600million. She is an experiencedand knowledgeable professionalwith a deep understanding of thefinancial markets of Pakistan,UAE and Qatar.

Previously, Khan was in-strumental in transforming theinvestment culture in Pakistanthrough senior leadership rolesat institutions such as the Paki-stan Mercantile Exchange.

Jamal wins Ufonegrand prizeSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Ahmed Jamalfrom Abbottabad won the Ufone– ‘King of Speed’ of Rs.1 Mil-lion grand prize after clockingthe highest speed of 143 km/hhere on Monday on the final dayat Ufone – PCB fast bowlerscamp.

Other fast bowling contes-tants Muhammad Imran fromKarachi marked the speed of136 km/h, whereas, AbdulAmeer and, Faisal Yaseen fromFaisalabad managed to bowl atthe speed of 135 km/h.

The recent Ufone “King ofSpeed” trials held across thecountry managed to bring inmore than four thousand fastbowlers, each wanting to find aplace at the National Bowlingcamp and trying his best to win aprize of Rs.1 Million.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Xpress Money, themost dependable global moneytransfer brand, has partneredwith KASB Bank to offer in-stant Inter-Bank Fund Transfer(IBFT) remittance serviceacross 17 banks in Pakistanwith a combined nationwidenetwork of over 6000 locations.With this pioneering initiative,Xpress Money through KASBBank, will be the first to pro-vide the IBFT service instantlyto customers, which until nowtook at least 24 hours to getcredited.

By virtue of being the leaderin the remittance industry inPakistan, Xpress Money is con-stantly ideating on innovativemoney transfer services; withconsumer convenience and sat-isfaction, being their sole objec-tive. This strategic tie-up withKASB Bank will empowerXpress Money’s customers tocredit money instantly into theaccounts of their loved onesback home within seconds of thetransaction.

The remitter simply needsto visit any of Xpress Money’s

Xpress Money joinshands with KASB Bank

170,000 agent locations acrossthe globe and provide thebeneficiary’s Account Title andAccount Number, upon whichthe agent will be able to pull upall related details of the accountholder and the transfer will bedone immediately. Back homein Pakistan, the beneficiary’saccount will reflect an imme-diate credit once the transactionis through, and they can thenenjoy a hassle free withdrawalanytime from an ATM. Thismakes it the most efficient wayto receive money, where a visitto an agent location is not nec-essary.

With attributes like conve-nience, speed and accuracy, in-stant IBFT is an innovativeproposition for expatriates andis sure to become the most pre-ferred way to transfer money toPakistan.

“Remittance is one of themost important factors of ourcountry’s socio-economic devel-opment making it imperative formoney transfer companies suchas ours to offer an instant, safeand secure means of moneytransfer service available to ourcustomers.

TARIQ KHATTAK

ISLAMABAD—The Board ofDirectors of Engro Corpora-tion Limited today announcedthe financial results for the firstquarter ended, March 31, 2013.

Engro’s consolidated rev-enues surged by 36% to Rs.31,301 million whilst net profit(attributable to the equity hold-ers of the holding company)was Rs. 1,786 million as com-pared to a net loss of Rs. 649million during the sameperiodlast year. The return toprofitability is mainly attribut-able to the fertilizer business,where the transfer of Mari gasto the new urea plant helpedthe company post healthy re-sults. The Company an-nounced an EPS of Rs. 3.49 for

Engro Corp posts Rs1,786m profit in Q1the quarter ended March 31,2013 as opposed to an LPS (lossper share ) of Rs. 1.27 duringthe same period last year.

Our Fertilizers businesscontinued to experience 86%gas curtailment on the SNGPLnetwork. However, theCompany’s production duringthe quarter was 296 KT as com-pared to 255 KT during the sameperiod last year mainly due toincremental efficiencies by di-verting Mari gas to the Envenplant. Higher production alongwith lower availability of com-petitive imported urea increasedEFert’s urea sales to 298 KT in1Q 2013 from 77 KT in 1Q 2012and improved its market shareto 23% in 1Q 2013 from 8% in2012. Resultantly, Engro Fertil-izers posted a net profit of Rs.

646 million during the periodended March 31, 2013 vs. a lossof Rs. 1,420 million during thesameperiod last year.

Despite stable revenues,Engro Foods’ profitability washigher than 1Q 2012 by 34% dueto lower costs of sales. The busi-ness closed the quarter with aprofit of Rs. 653 million vs. aprofit of Rs. 486 million in thecorresponding period of 2012.The Company’s investments inthe Halal Foods business inCanada, Al Safa, achieved salesrevenue of Canadian Dollars 2.2million during 1Q 2013 as com-pared to Canadian Dollars 2.5million in the same period of lastyear.

Engro’s Rice business’s rev-enues increased to Rs. 1,218million in 1Q 2013 from Rs. 161

million in 1Q 2012 and loss af-ter tax reduced to Rs. 319 mil-lion in 1Q 2013 versus loss ofRs. 390 million in 1Q 2012.

Engro Polymers showed arobust performance in 1Q 2013with the company producing itshighest ever monthly VCM andPVC volumes in the month ofMarch. Engro Polymers revenuegrew by 17% in 1Q 2013 ascompared to the same period lastyear. Growth was mainly attrib-utable to higher PVC and Caus-tic prices versus last year. EngroPolymer posted a profit after taxof Rs. 263 million in 1Q 2013as compared to a profit after taxof Rs. 414 million in the sameperiod last year.Profit excludingthe extraordinary item increasedby about Rs. 100Mn as com-pared to the same period last

year.Engro Vopak registered a

profit after tax of Rs. 271 mil-lion as compared to Rs. 340 mil-lion in 1Q 2012. Lower tariffson paraxylene and acetic acidled to a dip in profitability.

Engro PowerGenQadirpur’s power plant im-proved its operational perfor-mance in 1Q 2013 over the sameperiod last year. The businessposted a profit of Rs.592millionversus a profit of Rs.561 millionin the same period last year. Thehigher electrical generation in-creased its revenue by nearly6%. This along with better op-erational efficiencies increasedits profit after tax in 1Q 2013 ascompared to 1Q 2012.

Pursuant to the decisionstaken at the Thar Coal Energy

Board meeting, the EconomicCoordination Committee of theCabinet (ECC) approved Sover-eign Guarantee for financing thedebt portion of Thar Block IImining project amounting toUSD 700 million.

SECMC is actively pursu-ing the Coal Off-take Agree-ment with GENCO for its en-visaged conversion of HSFObased Jamshoro power plants toblended coal as well as a new600 MW power plant atJamshoro. ADB / GENCO haveinitiated the feasibility study forthe new power plant whichwould be based on blendedCoal (combination of importedand Thar coal) as per CCI de-cision.

Engro Corporation, throughits subsidiary ELENGY submit-

ted a bid to setup an integratedLNG terminal for supply of400 mmcfd of RLNG. How-ever, the first bid was cancelleddue to some short comings onthe part of other bidders; con-sequently, the subsidiary com-pany submitted its second bidto SSGC. However, the Su-preme Court has taken a suomoto action on the bidding pro-cess and served notices to allbidders. It has also stayed theaward of the LNG contractuntil the final decision of thecase.

For the remaining year, theCompany expects to consoli-date performance across thesubsidiaries and continueworking with stakeholders topursue growth and value cre-ation across the board.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—South Asian Federa-tion of Exchanges (SAFE) heldthe third ‘Pakistan IPO Summit2013’ in the series of IPO Sum-mit events here on Monday un-der the auspices of Securitiesand Exchange Commission ofPakistan (SECP) as lead patronand in collaboration with all thecapital market institutions of thecountry like Karachi Stock Ex-change Limited (KSE), LahoreStock Exchange Limited (LSE),National Clearing Company ofPakistan Limited (NCCPL),Shajar Capital Pakistan (Private)Limited, AKD Securities Lim-ited and National Bank of Paki-stan (NBP).

The purpose of the summitwas to share broader knowledgeabout the IPO market and othertechnical aspects related to theIPO process. “SAFE has beeninvolved with the initiative ofthe IPO Summit for the last threeyears”, said Mr. Aftab AhmadCh., Secretary General SAFEand Managing Director LahoreStock Exchange. “For us, orga-

SAFE holds third ‘PakistanIPO Summit 2013’

nizing events such as the IPOSummits is just another effort inmany dedicated efforts that wemake to broaden the scope of ourdomestic and regional capitalmarkets”, he said. The eventprovided a unique platform tobuild cooperation between therepresentatives of the companieswhich are considering publicofferings and the investment/fi-nancial services industry.

The event was very muchappreciated by the financial andcorporate sector of Pakistan andattracted representations from27 potential issuers along with50 entities from the corporatefinance fraternity includingregulators, stock exchanges, in-vestment banks, accountingfirms, legal practitioners, un-derwriters, the brokerage indus-try and other institutions etc.thus, making the event a pre-mier networking and informa-tion exchange platform. As perthe track record of the last IPOSummits, about two dozen po-tential companies had beenidentified out of which few areknown to be in the process of

due diligence from the financialadvisors. They are now weigh-ing their options for the idealtime frame for listing.

Mr. Aftab further expressedthat the ultimate success of theseefforts by SAFE would dependupon the active role of the finan-cial advisory companies who arein the business of enabling andpreparing potential companiesfor the IPO market.

He also thanked all the pa-trons involved in making thissummit a success. “We are verythankful that the Securities andExchange Commission of Paki-stan (SECP) continues to be ourlead patron in the effort to enlistmore and more companies at ourExchanges. Besides this, thehelp from our other capital mar-ket institutions, financial advi-sory firms and other notable cor-porations in the shape of thesponsorships has also been vi-tal” he said. Other sponsoringcorporations included HASCOLPetroleum Limited, Fauji Fertil-izers Company Limited, MughalSteel, Treet Corporation andEden Housing Limited.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—The Lahore Cham-ber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI) on Monday said that thebusiness community as a wholeis fully tax compliant and to in-crease the number of assesseesis the responsibility of the Fed-eral Board of Revenue (FBR).

In response to the remarksby Mr. Asad Omar, Finance ex-pert of one of the mainstreampolitical parties that most of thebusinessmen do not pay taxes,the LCCI President FarooqIftikhar said that the remarks areuncalled for and reflects lack ofinsight.

The LCCI President saidthat a very large number of busi-nessmen pay taxes honestlywhile a small fraction either payless tax or no tax and that too isin the knowledge of tax officials.

“The revenues shortfall isbecause of exemptions andSROs provided to certain sec-tors.

“The FBR must enlarge itstax base and until they do it, theymust set realistic revenue tar-

Biz community is fullytax compliant

gets. You cannot further tax theexisting tax payers that contrib-ute over sixty per cent to the to-tal tax revenue despite being 25per cent of the GDP.”

Farooq Iftikhar said that ser-vices sector has tremendousscope and must be brought intothe tax net to enhance much-needed Tax-to-GDP ratio.

He said that all sectors of theeconomy must be taxed. He saidthat the agriculture having20.1% share in GDP is contrib-uting only 1.2% to the nationaltaxes. On the other hand, manu-facturing sector share in GDP is25.5% and is contributing 62.2%to the national taxes. Servicessector share is 54.4% in GDP butis paying only one third of itsshare in the national taxes.

He said that the LahoreChamber of Commerce and In-dustry had already pinpointedthat the revenue target of Rs.2381 billion was unrealistic be-cause of energy crisis whichkept industrial productions lowbesides global recession whichadversely badly impacted onexports.

“It is not fair to make gen-eralized statements and label theentire business community asnon-tax payer. Obviously blacksheep are everywhere but goodgovernance is the main areapoliticians must focus on.”

LCCI president furtherstated that Federal Board ofRevenue collection target of Rs.200 billion per month must besupported by decisions to sup-port such targets.

“But unfortunately no sup-port was extended to the privateby the government departmentswhen it came to removal of im-pediments and improving gov-ernance. It was not the energycrisis alone, but law and orderand issuances of SROs are notconducive to growth in eco-nomic activity in the country.”

The LCCI President hopedthat the Federal Board of Rev-enue would set all future targetsstrictly in consultation with thestakeholders to get the desiredresults. He also urged the poli-ticians to avoid issuing baselessstatement in larger national in-terests.

Circular debtswells

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The circulardebt has increased to Rs 537billion in 2012 from Rs 144billion in 2008, reflecting anincrease of 272 per cent dur-ing the last five year largelydue to the previousgovernment’s inability totackle the problem.

The stock of power sectordebt was Rs 144.99 billion in2008, which increased to Rs161 billion in 2009, Rs 235 bil-lion in 2010, Rs 365 billion in2011 and Rs 537 billion in2012.

Non-collection has in-creased to Rs 100 billion in2012 from Rs52 billion in2008. The report also listedfactors for circular debt whichincluded; (a) the differencebetween the actual cost ofproviding electricity in rela-tion to revenues realised bythe power distribution compa-nies (Discos) from sales tocustomers plus subsidies; and(b) insufficient payments bythe Discos to CPPA out ofrealised revenue as they givepriority to their own cash flowneeds.

NIB Bank’s Q1 2013 resultsshow a record profit of Rs549m

LAHORE: Chairperson TEVTA Rashida Malik inaugurat-ing the building of Architecture Department sponsored byJICA Japan, at Govt College of Technology Railway Road.

ISLAMABAD: Additional Secretary for National Food Security and Research Abdul BasitKhan meeting with the foreign delegation from USAID led by Barry Burnett.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Saima Sadiq,resident of Dhoke Elahi Bux,Rawalpindi, found herself backat square one with two kids andthe small society stigma of be-ing a divorced woman when herhusband left her stranded withno financial or emotional main-stay.

Married at 20, she had noeducation and no means of earn-ing a respectable livelihood insight. Under the crushing bur-den of having to support her twochildren and her resolve to makeno compromise on the qualityof their upbringing, she had totake some life altering decisions

Khushhalibankempowers woman

in the immediate future.Saima was fully aware of the

value education adds to life. Hav-ing gone to school only uptil the10th grade, she lived with a deepseeded sense of ineptitude all herlife and she did not want her chil-dren to live the same degradationshe had to. Fired with the resolveto create a better tomorrow evenif the past was marred with pain,she decided to start up a smallbeauty establishment.

The reason behind this de-cision was simple. There was noquality ladies parlor in the areashe had set her sight on. Herewas a market which was notbeing catered to, and being anintelligent woman powered by

the urgency of being on theedge, she leaped. The requisiteskills of such a venture werewithin her reach to learn, andshe could leverage the supportof the good women of herneighborhood to support herendeavors.

With her goal clear in hermind, she approachedKhushhalibank Limited for fi-nancial support to facilitate theexecution of her vision. She metwith eager support by individu-als with far more experience insmall startup ventures along withthe financial consultation a thusfar stay at home mother couldnot have dreamed of; and sheflourished.

Rates ofcommodities

LAHORE—Agriculture Market-ing Information Service Punjab(AMISP) issued rates of agricul-ture products in local market onMonday.

The following are 100 kgrates of different agricultureproducts in Lahore market:

Maize minimum Rs 2500and maximum 2900, Rice SuperBasmati (New) minimum Rs10500 and maximum Rs 12000,Rice Basmati (old) minimum Rs12000 and maximum Rs 13500,white sugar minimum Rs 5120and maximum Rs 5120, whitegram (local) minimum Rs 8000and maximum Rs 8000, RedChili Whole (Dry) minimum Rs11000 maximum Rs 13000,Cauliflower minimum Rs 1000and maximum Rs 1500, Onionminimum Rs 3000 and maxi-mum Rs 3200, Tomato mini-mum Rs 3000 and maximum Rs3600, Ginger (china) minimumRs 10000 and maximum Rs11000, Peas minimum Rs 4500and maximum Rs 5000, Brinjalminimum Rs 1500 and maxi-mum Rs 2000, Potato Freshminimum Rs 1000 and maxi-mum Rs 1200, Apple Kala Kullu(Pahari) minimum Rs 8000 andmaximum Rs 9000, Banana(Dozen) minimum Rs 30 andmaximum Rs 40.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Takehiko NakaoMonday assumed the office asthe ninth President of the AsianDevelopment Bank (ADB).

“I am honored to take on theleadership of ADB at a challeng-ing and exciting time. I look for-ward to working with sharehold-ers and all of our developmentpartners to continue our criticalmission of fighting poverty andsustaining growth in the Asia-Pacific region,” Nakao said in astatement after assuming the of-

New ADB presidentTakehiko assumes office

fice.According to ADB press

statement received here, Nakaosucceeds Haruhiko Kuroda, whostepped down in March. Nakaohas held several senior positionsin the Ministry of Finance of Ja-pan, which he joined in 1978.Prior to his appointment at ADB,Nakao was Vice Minister of Fi-nance for International Affairs,where he gained significant ex-perience in international financeand development, and estab-lished close ties with Asia-Pacific’s leading figures.

Bomb blasts,every strikes add

to economicturmoil

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—The ghastly inci-dents of bomb blasts in differ-ent parts of the city unleashed awave of terror across the cityparalyzing the trade and indus-try on one hand while those whocan afford are leaving for saferzones with in the city, Punjab orabroad.

Reacting sharply on whatthey called the total failure of thelaw enforcing agencies to pro-vide protection to the life andproperty of the citizens, the tradeand industry has condemned thewave of terror and bomb blastsin the city.

S M Muneer a prominentbusiness leader, MohammadZubair Chhaya PresidentKorangi Association of Tradeand Industry and Vice Chair-men Najmul Arfeen and NiazAhmed said that frequent inci-dents of bomb blasts and at-tacks on political parties’ campsand election offices apparentlywell designed to sabotage elec-tion process.

Apart from paralyzing thecity life while the trade and in-dustry suffers the most due toclosure of business and mas-sive loss of production and in-dustrial wheel comes to a halt.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—NIB Bank an-nounced Financial Results forthe Q1 2013 on Friday, 19April 2013. Importantly, theBank has posted a Q1 2013revenue of Rs. 1.42 billion,representing not only a 21%growth over Q1 2012 but animpressive revenue growth inthe last five quarters. Thistranslated into a record profitbefore tax of Rs. 549 million,compared to a loss before taxof Rs. 98 million in Q1 2012.

The increase in current ac-counts and pro-active man-agement of cost of funds in adeclining interest rate envi-ronment led to a substantialreduction in gross interest ex-pense. As a consequence, net

interest income between thetwo first quarters of 2012 and2013 increased by 53%.

The Bank has restrictedexpenses to an increase of 2%between Q1 2012 and Q12013. Its presence in 59 cit-ies in Pakistan with a networkof 179 branches provides itwith a formidable distributionfootprint.

Commenting on the re-sults Mr. Badar Kazmi, Presi-dent & CEO, NIB Bank, said,“The Bank has shown a con-sistently improving trend inrevenue and profitability in adifficult external environ-ment. We are now in a uniqueposition to sustain growth anddirectionally move towardsbecoming a High Perfor-mance Bank.”

PEOPLE can safely add a few nuts totheir diet - or replace other foods withthe high-unsaturated fat, high-fiber

snacks - without gaining weight, a newreview of past studies suggests. Research-ers combined data from 31trials conducted acrossthe globe and found thaton average, there was verylittle difference in changesin weight or waist measure-ments between people whowere put on a normal ornut-supplemented diet.

“Most of the nut-en-riched studies don’t showthat patients gain a signifi-cant amount of weight, incontrast to what one mightthink,” said Dr. DavidBleich, head of Endocrinol-ogy, Diabetes and Metabo-lism at the University ofMedicine and Dentistry ofNew Jersey in Newark.Gemma Flores-Mateo fromthe Institut Universitari d’Investigacio enAtencio Primaria Jordi Gol in Tarragona,Spain and colleagues said previous re-search has tied nut-containing diets to alower risk of death, diabetes and high bloodpressure.

Bleich, who wasn’t involved in the newreport, said his own work has shown mea-sures of insulin resistance - a diabetes predic-tor - were lower when people added nuts totheir diets. “One would generally think ifyou’re increasing the ‘fat content’ of the diet,you might in fact make insulin resistanceworse,” he told Reuters Health. “It speaks tothis issue of the quality of the fats that we

More evidence addingnuts is a healthy choice

consume.”Nuts may also suppress hungerbecause of their unsaturated fats, fiber andprotein, the researchers noted. In the trialsthey looked at, participants were randomlyassigned to a normal diet or one that in-

cluded extra nuts - or, moreoften, nuts substituted forother food items - and fol-lowed for anywhere from twoweeks to five years. At theend of follow-up, people onnut diets had dropped about1.4 extra pounds and lostclose to half an inch off theirwaists, compared to those inthe nut-free groups. How-ever, the differences couldhave been due to chance.

“Although the magni-tude of these effects wasmodest, the results allay thefear that nut consumptionmay promote obesity,”Flores-Mateo’s team wrotelast week in the AmericanJournal of Clinical Nutrition.“Our findings support the in-

clusion of nuts in healthy diets for cardio-vascular prevention.” However it’s not sim-ply a matter of “throwing additional nutsinto your already poor-quality diet,” Bleichsaid. He said heart protection comes fromlooking at a fuller picture of the diet - andadding fruits, vegetables and olive oil, forexample, in addition to nuts. Dr. AdamGilden Tsai, an obesity researcher from theUniversity of Colorado in Denver, said hewouldn’t recommend people eat nuts ontop of their normal diet, but that substitut-ing them for other foods may lead to somebenefits, such as on cholesterol levels.

KARACHI: A delegation of Toyota Indus Motor Company (Ltd) called on Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Zahid Kurban Alvi.

KARACHI: Taj Haider, President PPP Sindh, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Raza Haroonleaders of MQM, Bashir Jan leader of ANP addressing a joint press conference.—POphoto by Sultan Chaki

KARACHI: Dalda launched new campaign ‘Vote Aap Ka’. People of Karachi participatedin Mamta March on Monday.—PO photo

KARACHI: Group photograph of Chief Secretary Sindh Ejaz Chaudhry, Chairman OGRA Saeed Ahmed Khan,Secretary Petroleum Naheem Malik, MD SSGC Zohair Siddiqui, Faisal Zahid Malik Editor Pakistan Observer,Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui, Dr. Zahid Ansari, Humayun Ishtiaq, Waseem Qadri and others taken on theoccasion of a reception hosted by Chairman Pakistan Petroleum & CNG Dealers Association Abdul Sami Khan at hisresidence.—PO photo

CM for effectivetraffic management

systemSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—A delegation ofManagement of ToyotaIndus Motor company Ltd.led by Islamuddin M ZafarCalled on Chief MinisterSindh Justice (Retd) ZahidKurban Alavi at CM HouseMonday. The delegation dis-cussed various matters ofmutual interest and apprisedthe caretaker CM about theproblems arising due to traf-fic jams, encroachment andillegal road cuts.

They said that due to vio-lation of traffic rules not onlycommuters were sufferingbut the economic activities inthe city were hampered.

The caretaker CM as-sured the delegation forredressal of traffic problemsand said that the authoritiesconcerned would be asked toevolve an effective trafficmanagement system and theywould be made boundforstrict implementation of traf-fic laws.

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Sindh ChiefMinister Justice (Retd)Zahid Kurban Alavi reiter-ated his resolve to maintainlaw and order situationacross the province with es-pecial forces on Karachi.

This he said while talkingto former High Commissionerof United Kingdom (UK)Abdul Kaddar Jaffar, whocalled on him Monday at CMHouse. Matters related tomutual interest were dis-cussed during meeting.

Talking about the present

Alvi reiterates holdingof polls on time

law and order situation andelections on May 11, thecaretaker CM said that Rang-ers, Police and other law en-forcement agencies had beendirected to utilize all re-sources and man-power toensure the peacefulandconducive atmospherefor general elections.

Expressing his concernover the yesterday blasts onrailway tracks at different lo-cations and firing incidentsin Hyderabad,Kotri andDadu, the caretaker CM saidthat Deputy Inspector Gen-eral (DIG) Police Hyderabad

had been directed to presentreport about those incidentsimmediately. He added that tocurb the terrorists, activitiesintelligence sharing networkhad been put on high alert.

He condemned suchcowardly attacks on livesand property of people andsaid that those were the tac-tics employed by miscreantelements terrorize and scarethe public.

The criminals involved insuch criminal activities wouldbe dealt with iron hands andthey would be brought to jus-tice, he said.

Lawyers go on strike

KARACHI—The legal frater-nity observed strike in theHigher and lower courtsMonday against killing ofseveral lawyers and abduc-tion of Balochistan’s formeradvocate general.

Lawyers are observing astrike on the appeal of thePakistan Bar Council.

The lawyer of Sindh HighCourt, City Court, Malir courtand subordinate courtshaves boycotted work due towhich scores of proceedingcases are pending causingdififuclties for litigates.

A senior lawyer said thatformer advocate general MirSalahuddin Mengal was kid-napped from Quetta on April16 and his whereabouts arestill unknown.—Online

KA R A C H I—Former HighCommissioner of UnitedKingdom (UK) Mr. AbdulKaddar Jaffar cal led onCaretaker Chief MinisterSindh Justice (Retd) ZahidKurban Alavi this after-noon at CM House. Mat-ters related to mutual inter-est were discussed duringmeeting.

Talking about thepresent law and order situ-ation and May 11th pollsJustice ( R ) Zahid Kurban

Ex-UK HC calls on CMAlavi reiterated his firm re-solve to maintain law andorder situation across theprovince with especial fo-cus on Karachi.

He said that Rangers ,Police and other law en-forcement agencies havebeen directed to utilize allresources and man-powerto ensure the peaceful &conducive atmosphere forgeneral elections. He saidthat present interim gov-ernment will ensure free,

fair and transparent elec-tions at any cast.

Talking about the edu-cational act ivi t ies in theSindh province, he in-formed the former UK HighCommissioner that besidesbig cities better educationalfacilities were being pro-vided to small towns andremote areas of the prov-ince. He added that privatesector should also playtheir role for promotion ofeducation in Sindh.—NNI

Police SI amongfour killed

KARACHI—Four people, in-cluding a Sub Inspector,were killed in the ongoingwave of violence acrossKarachi city on Monday.

The police Sub Inspec-tor, identified asMohammad Khan Abro,was killed in Orangi town’sChistinagar area while hewas on his motorbike todrop his daughter to school.His daughter was also in-jured in the gun attack.

He was stationed at AramBagh Police Station. A deadbody was found fromKorangi industrial area, an-other one was found dumpednear Natha Khan Goth.—NNI

KARACHI—CommissionerKarachi, Shoaib AhmadSiddiqui has asked the pro-vincial Home Department forearly notification of coordi-nation committees to be con-stituted at divisional, districtand sub-divisional levels tocounter incidents of terrorismin the city.

Chairing a meeting in hisoffice on Monday he saidthese three tier committeeswill also contribute towardsfree, fair and transparent elec-tions in Karachi.

The divisional level coor-dination committee com-prises CommissionerKarachi, Deputy Commis-sioners, Additional Inspector

Fool proof securityarrangements for city needed

General of Police and DG ofPakistan Rangers.

The district level coordi-nation committee includesDCs, Senior SPs, DistrictCommanding Officer of Rang-ers while the sub-divisionalcommittee includes assistantcommissioners, DSPs andDSRs of Pakistan Rangers.

The meeting was also at-tended by Additional Com-missioner (I) KamranShamshad, Additional Com-missioner (II) Rubina Arif,DC-South, Mustafa JamalQazi, DC-East, Sami Siddiqui,DC-Central Dr. Syed Saif- ur-Rehman, DC- West, GanwharKhan Laghari and DC - Malir,Kazi Jan Mohammad.

Commissioner Karachi,Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui saidfool proof security arrange-ments are needed in the cityand for the purpose close co-ordination between districtadministration and law en-forcing agencies was crucial.

He mentioned that a com-prehensive strategy has al-ready been developed tocombat growing instances ofterrorism in the city.

Sharing details of his let-ter to Sindh Home Deport-ment, Siddiqui said that hehas insisted early notifica-tion of the coordination com-mittees comprising districtadministration and law en-forcing agencies.—APP

KARACHI—The Govern-ment of Japan has announcedthe foreign recipients of 2013Spring Imperial Decorations.

An announcement hereon Monday said that amongthe 40 recipients is formerprofessor of the Departmentof Urdu, University ofKarachi, Prof. Dr. MoinuddinAqeel.

He will receive the ‘Orderof the Rising Sun, Gold Rayswith Neck Ribbon’, in recog-nition of his significant con-tributions to the friendshipand mutual understandingbetween Pakistan and Japan.

Prof. Aqeel has made sig-

Japan Spring ImperialDecorations announced

nificant efforts for promotingthe education of Urdu lan-guage in Japan.

From 1993 to 2000, he wasa visiting professor at TokyoUniversity of Foreign Stud-ies and Daito Bunka Univer-sity, and afterwards engagedas research fellow at two uni-versities: Osaka Universityand Kyoto University in Ja-pan.

He has not only pub-lished Urdu language text-books in Japan, but has alsowritten several research pa-pers and articles on studiesof Islam, Pakistan and Urdulanguage and literature in Ja-

pan, which can also be readin his recently-publishedbook Mashriq-e-Taban(Shining East)”.

He has also been a pro-fessor at the University ofKarachi until 2006, and aDean of Faculty of Lan-guages and Literature at theInternational Islamic Univer-sity, Islamabad, from 2008 to2010. Also, as a founder mem-ber of Pakistan-Japan Cul-tural Association, Sindh hehas been engaged in promot-ing cultural and academic ex-changes between Pakistanand Japan, it was furtherstated.—APP

10-party alliancedemands armysupervision on

polling dayKARACHI—A 10-party grandalliance has demanded thatKarachi should be declared asensitive city to ensure freeand fair elections.

Addressing a joint pressconference at Idara Noor ulHaq here on Monday, leadersof Jamaat-e-Islami, PML-N,JUI-F and other parties calledfor the deployment of army inKarachi for 10 days. JI KarachiAmir M Hussain Mehnti saidthat there was deliberate at-tempt to create a situation toprevent holding of free and fairelections. PML-N leader SalimZia said that army should bedeployed on every polling sta-tion in Karachi.—NNI

Imran trustworthyleader for nation

K A R A C H I — P a k i s t a nTehreek-e-Insaf representa-tive and candidate from NA-239 Subhan Ali Sahil said thatthe people of Pakistan havegot Imran Khan as a realleader who is consistentenough to face the chal-lenges and is trusted by thenation.

11th May is the day ofchange when the votes infavor of BAT (PTI’s symbol)would thrash out the corruptpoliticians. Subhan Ali Sahilwas addressing a massivecrowd at Keyamari.

He said that the testedpoliticians, instead of serv-ing the nation, benefitedthemselves on expense ofcitizen’s distress. Poorpeople of the country arefrustrated enough to thinkabout committing suicideand the culprits are takingpleasures.—NNI

RESEARCHERS in the US have developed a high-tech camera youcan swallow that takes detailed im-

ages of the insides of the gullet (esopha-gus) and stomach. Promising results of asmall study in 13 people suggest the de-vice may offer a quicker,cheaper, safer, more com-fortable way to detect theearly signs of cancer of theesophagus than endos-copy, where a camera andlight on the end of a thintube is pushed down thegullet, often under seda-tion.

The researchers, fromthe Wellman Center forPhotomedicine, at Massa-chusetts General Hospital(MGH) and Harvard Medi-cal School, report thestudy in the 13 Januaryonline issue of NatureMedicine.

For their study, the re-searchers tested the de-vice as a potential screen-ing tool for Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition usually caused byrepeated exposure to stomach acid.

Barrett’s esophagus is uncommon inwomen, and current recommendations callfor endoscopic screening of men withchronic, frequent heartburn and othersymptoms of gastroesophageal reflux dis-ease (GERD).

The hope is that the capsule camerawill offer a much quicker, easier, and morecomfortable way of screening for the con-dition. A way that does not require an en-doscope specialist and equipment,

Pill-camera promising alternativeto endoscopy for cancer diagnosis

thereby making it more affordable as amass screening tool.

Co-author Norman Nishioka, a Gas-troenterology, Internal Medicine doctorat MGH, says in a statement:

“An inexpensive, low-risk devicecould be used to screenlarger groups of patients,with the hope that close sur-veillance of patients foundto have Barrett’s could al-low us to prevent esoph-ageal cancer or to discoverit at an earlier, potentiallycurable stage.”

“But we need morestudies to see if that hopewould be fulfilled,” headds.

The camera, which isabout the size of a large vi-tamin pill, uses optical la-sers to take detailed, micro-scopic images of theesophageal wall.

It “doesn’t require pa-tient sedation, a specializedsetting and equipment, or a

physician who has been trained in en-doscopy,” says corresponding authorGary Tearney, a professor of Pathologyat Harvard Medical School and a Re-search Scholar at MGH.

“By showing the three-dimensional,microscopic structure of the esophageallining, it reveals much more detail thancan be seen with even high-resolutionendoscopy,” he adds.

The camera contains OFDI (opticalfrequency domain imaging) technologycomprising a rapidly rotating tip thatemits a laser beam of near-infrared light.

LAHORE: Interior Minister Malik Mohammad Habib Khan meeting with PunjabChief Minister Najam Sethi.

LAHORE: Patients of measles are being treated at Ganga Ram Hospital.

LAHORE: Senator A Rehman Malik addressing PPP ticket holders from Lahore.

ConvocationSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—University ofEducation is holding its thirdconvocation for passing outgraduates of sessions 2008,2009, 2010 and 2011 on 4thMay at Bank Road Campus.

In this regard, a full dressrehearsal will be held on May03 at 2:00 p.m in campus au-ditorium. All the relevant can-didates have been askedthrough registered letters togive their consent to attendthe convocation as no can-didate will be admitted with-out attending rehearsal. Forany information studentsmay contact University ex-amination department onphone numbers: 042-99262216, 35216655.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Pakistan MuslimLeague-Nawaz (PML-N) se-nior leader Khawaja SaadRafique Monday said thatpeople of Pakistan wouldvote PML-N on May 11, asthey consider that only thePML-N President MianNawaz Sharif has vision andteam, which can steer thecountry out of manifold prob-lems.

While addressing cornermeetings in ConstituencyNA-125 Lahore, Saad Rafiquemaintained that people arelooking towards Nawaz Sharifto put the country’s economyback on track apart from re-solving manifold issuesposed to the countrymen.“Today, our youth are practi-cal and matured enough whowould vote only on the basisof merit and ability of candi-dates instead of mere hollowslogans,” he said, adding:“The country does not needany hunter or inexperiencedperson.”

People looking towards Nawazfor resolution of problems

Khawaja Saad Rafiquesaid the PML-N is the partywhich whole heartedlyserved the masses in the pastand would vote the PML-Non May 11, 2013. He also criti-cized PTI Chief Imran Khanfor his loose remarks againsthis political opponents. Hesaid the PML-N can reply inthe same tone but we areshowing decency, tolerancefor ushering in a new politi-cal culture in the country.

The PML-N leader fur-ther said, “One of the mostimportant pre-conditions foreconomic revival is the res-toration of confidence of thebusiness community andother stakeholders in the fu-ture of the country. Toachieve this important objec-tive, PML-N, after cominginto power will engage thebusiness community in deci-sion making, ensure steadysupply of energy, provide fis-cal incentives to improvecompetitiveness, reduce thecost of doing business andaccord high priority to the

export sector and small andmedium enterprises in ruralareas.”

He further said that pro-motion of IT, tourism andother knowledge-based sub-sectors will be accorded highpriority. To ensure closerconsultation and coopera-tion with the business com-munity, various mechanismsand institutions will also bestrengthened, he added.“We are determined to cre-ate a secure environment forinvestment and economicactivities by minimizing theserisks through concerted poli-cies and actions in

consultation with all thestakeholders,” he said. Tobuild confidence of privatesector, Pakistan Businessand Economic Council shallbe established, chaired bythe Prime Minister, withequal membership of publicand private sector for moni-toring performance ofeconomy, he added.

Saad further said the PML(N)’s preferred policy will be

to develop infrastructureprojects through private sec-tor on BOO / BOT (BuildOwn Operate/Build OperateTransfer) basis. In additionto the Public Sector Devel-opment Program (PSDP), wewill encourage infrastructurebuilding and financing insti-tutions through public-pri-vate partnership to expediteinfrastructure development.A Bureau of InfrastructureDevelopment (BID) will beestablished to coordinateand oversee the programmefor private sector participa-tion in infrastructure devel-opment and develop financ-ing schemes. BID will be asingle window for the devel-opment of infrastructureprojects, and will provide amechanism for mobilizingcommercial equity and debtfinancing. An important ob-jective of BID will be to im-prove transport and commu-nication by constructing na-tional trade corridors andproviding mass transit facili-ties in all major cities, he said.

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—The Lahore HighCourt took notice of the newspublished in a section ofpress regarding police tor-ture on orphan students byNarang Mandi Police.

District and SessionsJudge, Sheikhupura has beendirected to probe into thematter and submit a detailedreport regarding steps takenby the local police along withhis own comments.

According to details,Syed Muhammad Hafeez

LHC notices tortureon orphan students

Shah, resident of villageMangtanwala of NarangMandi, told that he droppedhis brother at an examinationcenter for matriculation ex-ams.

He was waiting for him atroad outside near examinationcenter. When SHO of PoliceStation Narang Mandi, RanaMuhammad Iqbal appearedover there with his squad.Police picked both the broth-ers and kept at Police Stationfor five hours.

Hafeez Shah further toldthat in police station, Sub-

Inspector Akbar Bala andother officials severely beatthem and abused them likeheinous criminals.

Both the brothers keptbegging to leave them. Vic-tim brothers had appealedthe higher authorities toprobe into the matter and ac-tion against the said policeofficials.

LHC Complaint Cell tookserious notice of the newsand directed the concernedD&SJ to look into the matterand submit report within aweek positively.

STAFF REPORTER

L A H O R E — C h a i r p e r s o nTechnical Education and Vo-cational Training Authority(TEVTA) Rashida Malik hassaid that availability ofskilled manpower is notonly a key to success forindustrial development inPakistan but also for indi-vidual socio-economic pros-perity and poverty allevia-tion in the society.

Close and effective liai-son with the industry canhelp TEVTA for training theyouth in demand driven andemployable trades. She wasaddressing on the occasionof inauguration ceremony ofnew building of Architecture

Department at Govt. Collegeof Technology, Railway Roadhere yesterday.

JICA of Japan has pro-vided Rs. 850 million grant-in-aid for the construction ofthis building and provisionof machinery and equipmentto run the courses. The cer-emony was attended by FirstSecretary Embassy of JapanMr. Kuroda, JICA Chief inIslamabad Mr. Kawasaki,TEVTA Officers, Principal,teachers and students of saidCollege.

Chairperson TEVTA saidthat curricula of DAE Me-chanical and ArchitectureTechnologies, with the col-laboration of JICA, have beenrevised and implemented in

all TEVTA Institutes offeringthese technologies. JICAhas trained 46 TEVTA teach-ers local & abroad to meetthe latest teaching method-ology requirements.

TEVTA, in consultationwith the private sector, woulddevelop an elaboratedroadmap in line with theTEVTA vision and policyguidelines of the Govt. of thePunjab. Collaboration withforeign donor agencies likeJICA, UNIDO, GTZ, DFIDand UNESCO would be mademore effective to modernizethe TEVTA Institutes fortraining manpower accordingto the requirement of localemployers and global needs.

Chairperson while elabo-

Skilled manpower a keyto success: Rashida

rating her vision said thatTEVTA must plan to intro-duce market oriented coursesat its Institutes to train theyouth in employable skills. Ascientific system must bedeveloped for the placementof TEVTA pass-outs accord-ing to their level of skills atlocal and foreign job market.In this way, TEVTA wouldhelp skilled youth to becomea useful member of the soci-ety.

The TEVTA Chairpersonurged to make full coordina-tion with the members of busi-ness community to identifytheir needs and requirementsfor bringing revolutionarychanges in the functioning ofTEVTA.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—A meeting of Gen-der Election Monitoring(GEM) Cell of Aurat Founda-tion (AF) was held to reviewthe arrangements for thegeneral election 2013.

The meeting appreciatedthe measures adopted by theECP to increase the numberof polling stations for womenvoters and also for keepingthe turn-out of female intactby counting them separatelyfrom men.

The meeting had ex-pressed concern that the fig-ures pertaining to womenwere previously made part ofmen’s turnout deprivingwomen to express their nu-merical strength explicitly.

During previous generalelections viz 1970, 1977, 1985,

ECP increases number of pollingstations for women voters

1988, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2008,male and female votes werecounted after mixing them assingle figures. By segrega-tion, the compilation of resultwill be taking less time whichwould enhance credibility ofelection process. AF says bysegregating gender figures;ECP has taken a positive stepto improve the election resultmanagement system. Thewomen –specific electoralstatistics thus developedwould help pollsters outlinevoting patterns and electiontrends. The segregated datawould be used in socio-po-litical research.

Ms Nasreen Zehra appre-ciated the Election Commis-sion of Pakistan for takinginitiative on female enumera-tion in election. The women’stop NGO hoped that gender-

segregated measures ofcounting votes are in linewith the objective onwomen’s political empower-ment as enunciated in theBeijing Conference andCEDAW accord. They ex-pressed that putting womenon electoral map was a quan-tum leap in this regard. Thiswould give more accuracy toGallup and exit polls in voguefor research.

Although there havebeen separate polling boothsfor women voters, yet thecounting at the culminationof polling was all male-phe-nomena. The female and maleballot papers were mixed to-gether and then counted can-didate-wise with hardly a fe-male polling agent feelingcomfortable on such occa-sions.

Anti-measlesdrive beginsSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—A week long specialmass vaccination campaignagainst measles started inLahore on Monday districtduring which 30,00,000 childrenfrom six months to ten years ofage will be inoculated. Talkingto media persons, AdditionalDirector Extended Programmefor Immunization (EPI) Dr NazirHussain said that the campaignwould continue till May 5.

Students of all governmentand private primary schools ofLahore district will also be in-oculated and the educationalinstitutions refusing to get theirstudents vaccinated will haveto face action, he warned. Hesaid that children would alsobe provided facility of vaccina-tion against measles at all gov-ernment hospitals, basic healthcentre and rural health centresfrom 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.

The Additional Directorsaid that mobile vaccinationteams would visit all unioncouncils.The loudspeakers of themosques would be used for in-forming the people about theirvisit. Health workers will paydoor-to-door visit at Mohallalevel under health educationsession programme to apprisethe women of the arrival of theteams in their homes.

LWMC’s LitterWardens complete

5000 symbolicchallans over littering

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Lahore WasteManagement Company(LWMC) deployed some 500volunteer Litter Wardens onbusy roads, markets and im-portant signals in the city todisseminate awareness amonggeneral public and speciallytravellers on avoiding litteringto keep the city clean.

The objective was to warnpeople against the ill practiceof littering while travelling inthe cars or other vehicles.Some 500 students fromPunjab University, Universityof Engineering & Technology,University of Central Punjab,Superior College, DivisionalPublic School and Cathedral.

The keen and vigilantwardens symbolically gavewarning based chalans to thecitizens throwing variouskinds of solid waste on roadsand other important publicplaces in last two days.

LGH new MSto take charge

todaySTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Newly postedMedical SuperintendentLahore General Hospital Dr.Muhammad Amjad Shahzadwill take charge of his re-sponsibilities today on Tues-day.

About his new duties hesaid that he would keep try-ing his best to ensure maxi-mum medical facilities formasses in order to fulfill ex-pectations of the Punjab Gov-ernment as well as generalpublic.

He said that up gradationof LGH and welfare of hospi-tal staff and patients are hispriorities. He said that he be-lieves in good working rela-tionship among staff mem-bers and strict merit to be pre-vailed in all official matters.