Allaying concerns of the United States over

the $7.5billion Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline

project, President Asif Ali Zardari said on

Monday that Pakistan did not intend to offend

anyone by pursuing this project of national

importance.

“Let ...me tell you, Pakistan

does not want to offend anyone. It is a

sovereign country and has every right to

pursue projects in its national interest,” the

president said at the Governor’s House after

inaugurating two recently completed projects

— Allai Khwar and Jinnah hydroelectric

power projects of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and

Punjab and a dry port at Premnagar.

The US has warned that the pipeline deal, if

finalised, would raise serious concerns.

President Zardari made it clear that the

project should not be seen as “against any

specific country”.

He asked PPP leaders to inform people about

the “bold initiative” of the government.

“Since it is a big achievement of the PPP

government despite US pressure, President

Zardari wants us to rather build our election

campaign on it,” one PPP insider told Dawn.

He said the president had also conveyed to

the US that Pakistan could not abandon the

project which was aimed at meeting its

energy needs.

Canadian Pakistani Times Thursday March7, 2013 Volume 1, 48

CONSULATE GENERAL OF PAKISTAN

PRESS RELEASE

DUA (PRAYERS)

TORONTO: The terrorist attacks in Pakistan

have killed thousands of innocent Pakistani

citizens. Alamdar Road, Hazara Town and

Abbas Town incidents are the latest in this

context.

The Consulate General

of Pakistan, Toronto is arranging Quran

Khawani and Dua (Prayers) on Friday, 8th

March 2013 at 2:45 pm at the Consulate

premises (7880 Keel Street, Vaughan,

Ontario L4K 4G7) to pray for those

innocents who have lost their lives that

Allah Almighty rest their souls in eternal

peace and to express solidarity with the

bereaved families.

T h e C o m m u n i t y

Members are requested to participate in the

Mixed reactions on Chavez death echo worldwide Seen as a hero by some for his anti-US

rhetoric and gifts of cut-rate oil, others

considered him a bully.

A teary-eyed Bolivian

President Evo Morales, one of Chavez’s

closest allies and most loyal disciples,

declared that “Chavez is more alive than

ever”.

“Chavez will continue to

be an inspiration for all peoples who fight

for their liberation,” Morales said Tuesday

in a televised speech. “Chavez will always

be present in all the regions of the world and

all social sectors. Hugo Chavez will always

be with us, accompanying us.”

In Cuba, President Raul

Castro’s government declared two days of

national mourning and ordered the flag to

fly at half-staff.

“It is with deep and

excruciating sorrow that our people and the

revolutionary government have learned of

President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias’

decease,” it said in a statement read on the

nightly state TV newscast. “The Cuban

people view him as one of their most

outstanding sons.”

Some islanders worried

that the loss of the country’s No. 1 ally, who

has sent billions of dollars of oil to Cuba at

preferential terms, could have a negative

ripple effect there.

“It’s a very tough blow…

now I wonder, what is to become of us?”

said Maite Sierra, a 72-year-old Havana

resident.

“It’s troubling what could

come now, first for Venezuela but also for

Cuba,” said Sergio Duran, a Havana

resident. “Everything will depend on what

This file picture shows Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pointing in the distance as he waits for Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, 23 February 2007. Chavez passed away on March 5, 2013 in Caracas after a long fight with cancer. — Photo by AFP

Reactions to the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez were as mixed, polemical and outsized as the leader was in life, with some saying his passing was a tragic loss and others calling it an opportunity for Venezuela to escape his long shadow.

happens in Venezuela, but in any case it will

never be the same as with Chavez, even if

Chavez’s party wins” in upcoming elections.

In the United States,

where relations with Venezuela were strained

under Chavez, President Barack Obama

issued a statement reaffirming Washington’s

support for the “Venezuelan people and its

interest in developing a constructive

relationship with the Venezuelan

government”.

“As Venezuela begins a

new chapter in its history, the United States

remains committed to policies that promote

democratic principles, the rule of law, and

respect for human rights,” the statement read.

Filmmaker Oliver Stone,

who produced a film about Chavez and his

leftist allies, wrote in his Twitter account, “I

mourn a great hero to the majority of his

people and those who struggle throughout the

world…hated by the entrenched classes,

Hugo Chavez will live forever in history. My

friend, rest finally in a peace long earned.”

– Continued on page 04

You’ll face ‘consequences’ from Canada if you take Israel to

International Criminal Court: Baird to Palestinians (National Post)

Helping Protect the Great Lakes

March 6, 2013

New Ontario Government Supports Local

Action

The new Ontario government is working

with communities to help protect and

enhance the Great Lakes.

T he Grea t Lakes

Guardian Community Fund provides grants

to community groups for grassroots

activities such as cleaning up a beach or

shoreline, or restoring a wetland. Not-for-

profit groups such as service clubs,

environmental groups, Aboriginal groups,

and Scouts Canada troops are eligible.

Protecting and restoring

the Great Lakes is part of the new Ontario

government's plan to enhance quality of life

for families and ensure a strong, green

economy for future generations.

The scandal over a plan by the Liberal

Party of B.C. to woo the "ethnic vote"

using taxpayer-funded resources has

claimed a provincial cabinet minister. John

Yap, B.C.'s multiculturalism minister, is

leaving his cabinet post while an

invest...igation is conducted into the

Early this week, Primer Christy Clark

apologized yet again, but this time in the

legislature, for the creation of the strategy by

government staffers who proposed to entice

ethnic voters in the forthcoming May

provincial election.

02 March 07, 2013

OTTAWA, March 5, 2013 – The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, and the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced increased efforts to keep our streets and communities safe by keeping contraband tobacco off Canadian markets and out of the hands of Canadian children.

These changes will advance the Government’s efforts to combat the trafficking and cross border smuggling of contraband tobacco by establishing a 50-officer RCMP Anti-Contraband Tobacco Force and by creating a new Criminal Code offence with mandatory penalties of imprisonment for repeat offenders, many of whom are affiliated with other serious organized criminal activity such as weapons and illegal drug trafficking.

“Our Government is committed to keeping our streets and communities safe. Tobacco trafficking is a serious threat to the public safety of Canadians, our communities and our economy,” said Minister Toews. “Contraband tobacco fuels the growth of organized criminal networks, contributing to the increased availability of illegal drugs and guns in our communities.

The goal of the RCMP Anti-Contraband Tobacco Force is to have a measurable impact on reducing the contraband tobacco market and on combating organized criminal networks. The new 50-officer Anti-Contraband Tobacco Force will target organized crime groups engaged in the

production and distribution of contraband tobacco, to reduce the contraband tobacco market, and combat organized criminal networks. This initiative aligns with the RCMP

Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy and builds on existing federal enforcement measures.

“Our government is committed to keeping contraband tobacco off our streets.

Baggies of cheap, illegal tobacco can make it easier for children and teens to get cigarettes into their hands and start smoking, which obviously has a negative impact on their health,” said

Minister Aglukkaq. “Tobacco use continues to be the most preventable cause of premature death in Canada, and we are committed to helping all Canadians in their fight against smoking. There is no place for contraband tobacco in our

communities, and today is an important step in the fight against illegal tobacco, and the impact it's having on young Canadians in particular.”

This Bill targets individuals whose activities involve the sale, offer of sale, possession for the purpose of sale, transportation, distribution or delivery of contraband tobacco including high volume amounts of contraband tobacco. The maximum penalty for a first offence would be 6 months imprisonment on summary conviction and 5 years imprisonment if prosecuted on indictment.

This Bill also proposes mandatory minimum penalties of imprisonment for repeat offenders where a high volume of tobacco products is involved. The threshold to be considered “high volume” would be 10,000 cigarettes or 10 kilograms of other tobacco products.

The mandatory minimum penalties on indictment would be as follows:

90 days incarceration on a second conviction; 180 days incarceration on third conviction; and 2 years less a day on subsequent convictions.

The introduction of this legislation is part of the Harper Government’s Plan for Safe Streets and Communities, which is one of four priorities identified by the Prime Minister. This Plan focuses on tackling crime, victims’ rights, and fair and efficient justice.

Harper Government takes action to keep contraband tobacco off Canadian streets and out of Canadian communities

Pakistan’s federal minister who

once (upon a time) volunteered to ensure

recovery of the entire electricity dues from

defaulters has turned out to be one of the

biggest defaulters and has not paid a single

penny on this account over the pas...t 56

months – Now this is the real Pakistan of

today run by pure “shameless” crooks oops

(leaders) I meant.

But unlike other domestic

consumers who face disconnection if they

do not pay their electricity bills on time, this

gentleman who lives in the ‘Ministers’

Enclave’ continues to enjoy uninterrupted

power supply.

According to electricity bills issued

by the Islamabad Electric Supply Company

(Iesco), Interior Minister Rehman Malik

tops the list of federal ministers who have

failed to clear their dues with amounting to

Rs4.9 million. He has not paid his bills since

moving to House 34 in the capital’s

Ministers’ Enclave.

Till Feb 13 this year, arrears against

his official residence stood at Rs4.75

million. His monthly bill for February alone

is Rs153,788 which also is unpaid. The

outstanding amount increased to Rs4.92

million which included an Rs12, 000 late

payment surcharge.

Under perks and privileges enjoyed

by federal ministers and advisers, the federal

government provides a monthly allowance

of Rs24, 000 and any excess has to be paid

by the minister or adviser. But it appears that

several ministers take the allowance but do

not clear electricity bills.

Mr. Malik’s average monthly bill for 56

months works out at about Rs89, 000.

Therefore, it is not surprising that

the total amount owned by government

departments to distribution companies

hovers around Rs170 billion.

On June 15, 2012, Mr. Malik

offered to a nine-member cabinet committee

to give him an opportunity to recover all

electricity arrears. “Leave it to me, I will

sort them (discos) out and correct their

system. I will ensure 100 per cent recovery

and reduction in load shedding”, he had told

the committee headed by then finance

minister Hafeez Shaikh.

Perhaps the committee was aware of

Mr. Malik’s record and, therefore, did not

accept his offer.

But Mr. Malik is not the only minister

among electricity bill defaulters. According to

Iesco record, Bangalow-20, the residence of

Hajji Khuda Bakhsh, Minister for Narcotics

Control, has not cleared electricity bills

amounting to Rs1.07 million for 49 months.

Minister for Postal Services Umar

Gorgeij who lives in House-33 has an

outstanding amount of Rs1.96 million and he

has not paid the bills for 38 months.

Sardar Bahadur Sher who lives in House-15

owes Rs677, 357, but he has been making

partial payments.

An amount of Rs587, 259 is outstanding

against the House No-30 where Mir Hazar Khan

Bijrani lives, although he is making partial

payments.

Dr Fahmida Mirza, the Speaker of

National Assembly, has an outstanding amount

of Rs381, 266 against her residence No-28. She

has not paid her bills for 13 months and made a

partial payment of Rs69, 227 in June last year.

An amount of Rs369, 794 has been

outstanding against Residence-19 of Deputy

Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi for 13 months.

Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin owes

Rs271, 726 to Iesco and has not made any

Abbas Town tragedy: MQM calls for indefinite shutdown over government inaction

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday called for an

indefinite shutdown of business and commerce as part of its “peaceful protest” in

Sindh and especially in Karachi over the government’s inaction to arrest and

prosecute the perpetrators of the recent bombing in Abbas Town.

Addressing reporters at a press conference, MQM leader Raza Haroon appealed that businesses and

public transport remain shut in the city until those responsible for the attack were taken to task. This is the

first time in many years that MQM has given a call of such indefinite closure of business in Karachi.

Justifying the move, Haroon said his party had no other way but to launch

a “peaceful, democratic protest” against the government’s failure to act in

the wake of the tragedy which claimed at least 48 lives.

He said it was futile to expect the government to act and added that

the protest would continue until action was taken against those responsible.

The MQM leader said the government had left the people of Karachi to

fend for themselves, adding that people would have to display exemplary

unity in the situation.

There was a mixed reaction in the trader and business community

with at least one organisation announcing its support for MQM’s call for

indefinite shutdown, and others saying they were weighing the options.

A spokesman for the Pakistan People’s Party described the

shutdown decision as unfortunate, and appealed to the MQM to review its

decision in the interest of trade and business in the country’s biggest

industrial city.

In a related development a spokesman for the association of private

schools announced closure of all privately-run schools in Karachi until

further notice.

03 March 07, 2013

– Continued from page 01

Some of the estimated 189,219 Venezuelan

immigrants living in the United States —

about half of them in Florida — turned out

cheering and waving their country’s flag and

expressed hope Tuesday that change would

come to their homeland.

“He’s gone!” dozens in a largely anti-

Chavez community chanted after word spread

of the socialist’s death

“We are not celebrating death,” Ana San

Jorge, 37, said amid a jubilant crowd in the

Miami suburb of Doral. “We are celebrating

the opening of a new door, of hope and

change.”

Wearing caps and T-shirts in the

Venezuelan colours of yellow, blue and red,

many expressed cautious optimism and

concern.

“Although we might all be united here

celebrating today, we don’t know what the

future holds,” said Francisco Gamez, 18, at El

Arepazo, a popular Venezuelan restaurant in

Doral.

“I always knew that for things to get better

they had to get worse,” said Mario Di

Giovanni, a Venezuelan student activist in

Miami who helped organise voters for last

October’s election. “So I guess this is the first

step toward real change in Venezuela.”

Republican US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-

Lehtinen of Florida called Chavez’s death “an

opportunity for democracy in Venezuela.”

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez,

another Chavez ally, declared three days of

mourning nationwide.

She and President Jose Mujica of

neighbouring Uruguay also prepared to travel

to Venezuela for the funeral.

In Nicaragua, another nation that broadly

benefited from Venezuelan cut-rate oil,

Rosario Murillo, the wife and spokeswoman

of President Daniel Ortega, said Chavez is

“one of the dead who never die”.

“We are all Chavez,” she said in televised

comments.

But Raul Martinez, a leader of the

leftist, pro-government Sandinista Youth

group, acknowledged in an interview with a

local television station that “it is a hard

blow”.

“Hugo Chavez was our best ally, but we are

confident that the Venezuelans will continue

their support,” Martinez.

Former US President Jimmy Carter

released a statement saying Chavez “will be

remembered for his bold assertion of

autonomy and independence for Latin

American governments”.

“We came to know a man who expressed a

vision to bring profound changes to his

country to benefit especially those people

who had felt neglected and marginalised,”

Carter wrote.

“Although we have not agreed with all of the

methods followed by his government, we

have never doubted Hugo Chavez’s

committment to improving the lives of

millions of his fellow countrymen.”

At the United Nations, Russian UN

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called the death a

tragedy.

“He was a great politician for his country,

Latin America and the world. He played a

very important role in the development of

relations between Venezuela and Russia, so

we feel very badly about it,” Churkin said.

British Foreign Secretary William

Hague sent condolences to Venezuela and the

family of Chavez, who he said “left a lasting

impression on the country and more widely”

during his 14 years as president.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen

Harper offered condolences to Venezuela’s

people and said he hopes Chavez’s death

brings hope of a better future.

“At this key juncture, I hope the people of

Venezuela can now build for themselves a

better, brighter future based on the principles

of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and

respect for human rights,” Harper said in a

statement.

A wistful Rafael Correa, president of

Ecuador and another of Chavez’s closest

allies, predicted Chavez would have a lasting

influence. “We have lost a revolutionary, but

millions of us remain inspired.”

For good or ill, Chavez’s influence

was felt across Latin America. Alfonso

Astorga, 65, a math teacher, was holding back

tears as he walked into a store in a wealthy

neighbourhood of Santiago, Chile.

“He was an example of courage, struggle and

passion for Latin America’s integration,”

Astorga said. “The world loses a great man.”

In China, which has provided tens of

billions of dollars in loans that helped

bankroll Chavez’s social programs in

exchange for oil, Chinese leaders did not

immediately comment. But the Internet, the

freest court of public opinion in China,

crackled with praise for Chavez for standing

up to the US and for his socialist policies.

“Chavez and the ’21st century socialism’ he

advocated was a big bright spot after drastic

changes in the Soviet Union and Eastern

Europe sunk the world socialist movement in

a low ebb, and he was known as an ‘anti -

American standard-bearer,” Zhu Jidong of the

Chinese Academy of Sciences’ World

Socialism Research Center wrote on his feed

on Sina Corporation’s Twitter -like microblog

service. “Mourn this great fighter.”

There was no shortage of emotional

farewells to a socialist hero who some feel

rivalled the revolutionaries of the 1960s.

Cuban folk singer Silvio Rodriguez, whose

ode to revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara

became famous, used the song’s title words to

bid farewell to Chavez on his blog.

Mixed reactions on Chavez death echo worldwide

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka: China’s Export-Import Bank will provide a loan of $278.2 million

to Sri Lanka to help lay a rail track to a key port which Beijing is building that has stoked

concern in neighbouring India.

The port of Hambantota on the southern tip of the Indian Ocean island nation is

envisioned as a refueling and service point for cargo ships, which pass a few kilometres

away on one of the... world’s busiest East-West shipping lanes.

Sri Lanka’s finance ministry said on Tuesday that the Chinese loan will be used to construct

a 27 km single-line track connecting Hambantota to Matara, the biggest coastal town in the

south.

“The demand for transport between the Southern Province and other provinces of

the country will increase due to developments in the Southern region and operations of the

Hambantota Port,” the finance ministry said.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been pushing for development of

infrastructure projects in the south since the end of the civil war in May 2009.

The $59 billion economy has been increasingly relying on China, both for financing

and technical expertise for reconstruction projects.

Under the new railway loan, $200 million will be provided under a preferential buyer’s

credit facility and the balance $78.2 million will be a Chinese government concessional loan

facility, the Sri Lankan finance ministry said in a statement.

The loan will be offered at a 2 per cent annual interest rate with a repayment period

of 20 years, including a five year grace period.

China has loaned $1.5 billion for construction of the Hambantota port and $209 million for a

nearby airport, which will be launched on March 18.

Beijing’s expanding influence in Sri Lanka has caused concern in India, which feels

hemmed in by a string of similar port developments stretching from Myanmar to Pakistan and

that it fears give the Chinese navy a strategic boost in the region.

ajapaksa has rejected New Delhi’s concerns and said China’s presence was strictly for

business reasons, not political.

BAGHDAD - Iraq: Three separate attacks in Shia-dominated areas on Sunday in central

Iraq have killed at least four people and wounded 14, officials said.

The deadliest was in the Husseiniya area northeast of Baghdad, where three

roadside bombs went off simultaneously, killing three civilians, a police officer said. He

said 11 others, including three policemen, were wounded.

Another police o...fficer said a soldier was killed when a bomb attached to his car exploded

in the northern Utaifiya neighborhood of Baghdad.

Two health officials confirmed the causality figures. All officials spoke on

condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to release information to reporters.

In Karbala, 90 kilometers south of Baghdad, a suicide bomber set off his

explosives-laden belt near the two revered Shia shrines and wounded three people, Gov

Amal-Din al-Hir said.

Violence has ebbed across Iraq in recent years, but insurgents frequently attack

security forces and civilians in an attempt to undermine the country’s Shiite-led

government.

04 March 07, 2013

05 March 07, 2013

KARACHI: Pakistan and India early this

week postponed their snooker series

planned for this week over security fears

in host city Karachi, following a bomb

attack that killed 48 people.

The four-day series – the first between

the arch-rivals in almost eight years – was due to

start on Thursday but the visitors voiced concerns

after Sunday’s blast and asked for the series to be

played later.

Pakistan Snooker and Billiards

Association president Alamgeer Shaikh said it was

a mutual decision to postpone the clash.

“It was not possible for any country to play in

Karachi after the deadly blast and we accepted

India’s request to hold the series until the

situation gets better in the city,” Shaikh told AFP.

The neighbours have not played a

snooker series since 2005, when India visited. All

sporting ties were frozen after the deadly attacks

on Mumbai in 2008, which were blamed on

Pakistan-based militants.

Cricketing ties were revived after a gap

of five years when Pakistan toured India in

December-January for a short limited-overs

series.

Despite the interruption, Shaikh praised

India for agreeing to the series.

“India had shown a great gesture to agree on the

series and four of their players were due to arrive

on Wednesday, but it’s disappointing that the

situation forced us to put the series on hold,” said

Shaikh.

Snooker and billiards are fast-growing

sports in the sub-continent, and Pakistan’s

Mohammad Asif won the world amateur snooker

title last year.

SPORTS

Indo-Pak snooker series postponed due to security fears

06 March 07, 2013

LOS ANGELES: British actor Richard Burton finally received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next to that of his two-

time wife, Elizabeth Taylor, on Friday, nearly 30 years after his death.

07 March 07, 2013

The tribute paid to the ‘legend’..

KARACHI, March 3: The tribute paid

to the legendary Hazrat Amir Khusrau by students and faculty of the music department of the National Academy of Performing Arts at Napa’s auditorium on Saturday evening impressed music and poetry lovers to a reasonable extent. There were minor hiccups but the praiseworthy points easily outweighed the shortcomings.

The show got off to a steady

start with Khusrau’s ‘Ay ri sakhi’

performed by Napa students. The second

item was a Persian ghazal sung by

Ahsan Shabbir. It is not fair to

discourage the young artist for the

simple reason that he does have the

voice to sing a ghazal. But the fact is

that he looked and sounded nervous and

shaky because of which he occasionally

missed the beat and had pitching issues.

It was a little harsh on the young

man to have made him sung a

composition one of whose constituents

was pure Persian poetry.

Next up was Iram Nafees. She

sang two of Khusrau’s famous songs,

including ‘Goondho ri maalan’. The girl

has a crystalline voice and only needs to

work hard to polish her ability. There

were moments in her performance when

she sounded quite professional and

rendered the songs with the right feel.

However, towards the end of her act she

appeared to be working a tad too hard

which affected her singing. Make no

mistake, she can sing. A special item

followed in which sitar player Ustad

Nafees Ahmed and tabla nawaz Ustad

Bashir Khan played a ragini. The recital,

as expected, was lovely to listen to since

both musicians played .

Canadian music icon Stompin' Tom

Connors passed away Wednesday

evening of natural causes @ his

home at the age of 77.

08 March 07, 2013

Indian railway network is one of the world’s largest. Its 11,000 passenger and freight trains carry some 14 million passengers and transport large shipments daily. With 64,000 kilometers of railway tracks that cut through some of the most densely populated cities.

It is also the country’s largest employer with around 1.4 million people on its payroll.

Indian Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s presentation of the country’s rail budget for next fiscal year in the parliament, will no doubt affect India’s economy as a whole. —Photos

KARACHI: Providing any relief or taking any measures to control prices of food items, both at provincial and federal levels, remained an issue of least interest during the PPP coalition government which completes its five-year term on March 16.

The government’s five years proved a boon for manufacturing companies and market forces and a bane for consumers as many of them, hit by cash crunch, literally reduced the practice of bulk purchases owing to other burgeoning expenses, like rising utility and transportation charges and education expenses of their children. Coalition partners, like MQM, ANP and friendly opposition PML-N, hardly took out any rally or protest march against sky-rocketing prices of essential items, petroleum prices and utility bills, leaving consumers at the mercy of market forces and manufacturers of goods.

Even civil society and consumer associations paid a lip-service to sensitive issues relating to food inflation. The government never bothered to check the profit margin of manufacturers who continued to push up prices, knowing that no authority would take any action.Traders and commodity investors played havoc with prices on demand and supply situation. No one can deny the negative impact of rupee’s losing strength against the dollar, high transportation charges on account of hike in diesel, CNG and LPG prices, changes in duties and taxes and demand and supply position of local crop. The government literally gave a free hand to market players and manufacturers who kept on increasing prices in the absence of any check or monitoring.

Even good wheat crop failed to lower flour prices as flour millers kept on pushing up prices owing to rising wheat prices in open market, delay in getting wheat from provincial departments and hike in support price. The dollar was equal to Rs62 in March 2008 which is now nearly Rs100, thus making an adverse impact on import of finished products and raw material. When the PPP assumed power, 10kg flour bag, fine atta, atta no 25 and chakki flour were available at Rs150, Rs23, Rs16 and

Rs24 per kg as compared to their current rate of Rs420-440, Rs40, Rs40 and Rs44 per kg, respectively. Basin was available at Rs45 per kg and now it is quoted at Rs100-115 per kg. Five kg Dalda ghee and five litre Dalda cooking oil were sold at Rs720 and Rs780 as compared to their current rate of Rs995 and Rs1,049, respectively.

One kg ghee pouch of Dalda is now quoted at Rs199 as compared to Rs144 in March 2008. High quality Kernal Basmati Super was selling at Rs90 per kg in March 2008 as against Rs160 per kg now. Kernal Shaheen variety sells at Rs135 as compared to Rs80 per kg. Basmati 85 is priced at Rs95 as compared to Rs55 per kg. Irri 6’s current price is Rs50 as compared to Rs35 per kg. Fresh milk sells at Rs75 per litre as compared to Rs40. Nido one kg pack carries a retail price of Rs625 as compared to Rs310, while Everyday tea whitener is now available at Rs560 as compared to Rs285. One litre Tetra Milk is selling at Rs44 as compared to current rate of Rs90.

High quality mutton is now selling at Rs600-620 per kg as compared to Rs300 per kg in 2008 while veal beef meat with bones is available at Rs320-360 per kg as compared to Rs170 per kg. Veal without bones is priced at Rs420-460 per kg as compared to Rs200. Live poultry bird meat was Rs112 per kg as compared to current rate of Rs170 per kg. Tapal Danedar tea (200 gram) now sells at Rs125 as compared to Rs63. Lipton Yellow tea pack is available at Rs137 as compared to Rs70.

Either a political tactic or pre-election move, the government reduced petroleum products rates on Saturday to win masses’ support which were increased two days back. However, when government came into power, petrol and diesel were carrying prices of Rs62.81 and Rs44.59 per litre as compared to Rs103.70 and Rs109.21 per litre. CNG and LPG were selling at Rs37 and Rs53 as compared to current rate of Rs99 and Rs120 per kg, respectively.

Sugar price more than doubled as it is now quoted at Rs55

as compared to 25. In pulses, high quality masur is available at Rs90-100 per kg as compared to Rs85 per kg in March 2008. Good quality moong, mash, arhar and gram pulse prices were Rs110-120, Rs95-105, Rs145-160 and Rs100-105 per kg as compared to Rs50, Rs62, Rs82 and Rs48 per kg. Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA) Chairman Anis Majeed claimed that food prices had surged by at least 40 to 200 per cent in the last five years due to impact of currency devaluation and high petroleum prices. He said inflation had hit many economies of the world but in Pakistan our economy did not grow due to lack of policies. He said the government raised water, gas and electricity charges and did not focus on making dams, power plants and tapping solar and wind energy resources.

Anis said no serious effort was made on research and development to raise production of various crops. With no check on essential items prices, manufacturers of other items also utilized the situation. For example, Mitchell’s jam and jelly packs are now selling at Rs120 as compared to Rs68, while tomato ketch-up of Mitchell’s and National (big bottle) is priced at Rs170 as compared to Rs85. General Secretary, Karachi Retail Grocers Group (KRGG), Farid Qureishi, said many items being produced by big companies are selling without any price tag and even weight of many products have also been reduced.

The government did not take any action against the producers. He recalled that tea packers reduced prices after cut in sales tax to five from 16 per cent on imports after two months they raised the prices. He said rise in gas, power, petroleum prices and dollar appreciation made a direct impact on domestic product prices. In soaps and detergents, Surf Excel and Ariel one kg pack are now available at Rs240 each as compared to Rs150 in March 2008. Lux 125 gram soap is priced at Rs55 as compared to Rs24. Safeguard big size toilet soap is tagged at Rs45 as compared to Rs30. One Sufi detergent bar was Rs20 as compared to Rs36 now.

Prices in Pakistan double in government’s five years….

New Ontario Government Attracting Investments, Improving Health Outcomes

The new Ontario government is investing in world-leading brain research to improve health care and create new jobs for the people of Ontario. Keeping the province on the cutting edge of research and innovation, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced the Ontario government will provide $100 million over five years to support patient-focused neuroscience research. The Province's support will help the Ontario Brain Institute expand its research into the areas of neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease, and depression and continue its important research on cerebral palsy, autism and epilepsy.

It will also allow the institute to leverage additional investments from various partners including industry, philanthropic, federal and international sources. Investing in innovation and

improving health care are part of the new Ontario government's efforts to build a strong economy and a fair society for the benefit of all.

QUICK FACTS

1. The Ontario Brain Institute was launched in November 2010 with the support of a $15-million provincial grant, which helped leverage an additional $26 million in funding from other sources.

2. One in three Canadians will be affected by a neurological or psychiatric disease, disorder or injury at some point in their lives.

3. Ontario is home to one of North America’s leading concentrations of biomedical research and development, with universities and teaching hospitals investing $1.7 billion a year in health research.

Ontario Leading Brain Research….

09 March 07, 2013

ISLAMABAD: United States Ambassador Richard Olson Wednesday said his country was in partnership with Pakistan for promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and both sides were cooperating in curbing terrorism.

Speaking at the a two-day international conference on “US -Nato Exit from Afghanistan: Challenges and Options Beyond 2014” at National University of Modern Languages (NUML), here he stressed the need to achieve the twin objectives in Afghanistan. The conference has been arranged by the Department of International Relations, Conflict and Peace Studies. The ambassador said there had been a lot of progress towards building of national institutions in Afghanistan over the past several years. He expressed the hope that Afghanistan will be able to preserve the gains and maintain stability after the withdrawal of US-Nato Forces from there, said a NUML news release.

He pointed out that Afghans were enjoying more civic amenities now then ever. Eight times as many children are enrolled in

schools, one third of them are girls and more than ten times as many students attend university education in Afghanistan now. Olson said in a way it would not be an exit in 2014 as his country would continue its engagement with Afghanistan beyond 2014 in pursuit of Kabul’s objectives of peace, security, and stability.

He also said that the US will not disengage from the region as it did in 1989 which was a mistake. He quoted President Obama saying “We will build an enduring partnership with Afghanistan, so that it is never again a source of attacks against America.” The Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani in his presidential address said that Pakistan had been working closely at bilateral, trilateral and multilateral levels to support intra-Afghan reconciliation.

Pakistan is keenly looking forward to restoration of peace and normalcy in Afghanistan. Peace in Afghanistan is not only in its own interest but also in the interest of the

regional countries particularly Pakistan. Pakistan despite its financial difficulties, he said, was contributing towards Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development. Pakistan provided assistance of $ 330 million to Afghanistan for projects in the infrastructure, health, and education sectors. Jilani said Pakistan and Afghanistan were linked by historic ties and the sky was the limit as far as the potential of the two countries was concerned as a land bridge, between the vast regions of South and Central Asia as well as East and West Asia.

He sa id Pakis tan respected Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and it will continue to extend every possible assistance to Afghanistan for the achievement of shared goals of peace and stability. In his address to the conference, ambassador Mohammad Omer Daoudzai of Afghanistan highlighted Pakistan’s role in promoting peace in Afghanistan. He said his country will like to sign a strategic agreement

with Pakistan to institutionalize partnership between the twocountries in areas of peace and security. He said Afghanistan believed in establishing good relations with all regional countries. He dispelled the fear being expressed by certain circles that Taliban might overrun Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US-NATO forces. He said that situation now is quite different from that which obtained in the past.

Prof. Dr Tahir Amin, Director National Institute Pakistan Studies, Quai-i-Azam University, in his key note address stressed the need for understanding and conciliation among various world orders explaining that US perceived world order was not the only one such order. He also called for promoting a culture of dialogue for the resolution of world issues, avoiding use of force. Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Excutive Director Higher Education Commission, in his address said the education was a key to promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. He said the HEC has offered a large number of scholarships to Afghan

US, Pakistan work together for peace in Afghanistan: Richard

Pakistan will complete the $7.5 billion gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan despite pressure

from the United States, a spokesman for the Pakistan foreign office said Thursday in

Islamabad.

10 March 07, 2013

Increasing competition to promote better

prices and more choices for Canadian families

Ottawa, March 7, 2013—The

Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of

Industry, today announced new measures that

the Government is taking to increase

competition in the wireless sector, providing

Canadians with more choices and access to the

latest technology at better prices.

"Canadian families work hard for

their money, and our government wants them

to keep more of it," said Minister Paradis.

"Through better use of existing cellphone

towers and by taking action to promote at least

four wireless providers in every region of the

country, our government is making it possible

for all Canadians to have access to world-class

wireless service they can afford, no matter

where they live."

Through increased competition in

every region, the Government is working to

provide more choices at better prices to

Canadian consumers. This will be achieved

by: reviewing the policy on spectrum licence

transfer requests with the objective of

promoting a competitive environment;

expanding and extending the requirement for

companies to provide roaming to competitors,

thereby increasing competition;

strengthening cell tower sharing rules

to further reduce proliferation and deliver

better services;

ensuring at least four providers in every region

can acquire spectrum in the upcoming 700

MHz spectrum auction, to start on November

19, 2013, as part of the Licensing Framework

for this spectrum.

"Wireless services are changing our

families, our work, and our economy," said

Minister Paradis. "Our government's priority

is to provide greater wireless coverage at

better rates for consumers."

The Government also released the

Commercial Mobile Spectrum Outlook study,

ahead of the 700 and 2500 MHz spectrum

auctions. This study outlines the Government's

plan to make spectrum available to meet the

consumer demand of a growing digital

economy and ensure that Canadians have

access to next generation services and

technologies. Canadians are world leaders in

Internet use, and the government is putting a

plan in place to ensure companies can

continue to grow and meet the needs of

Canadians in all parts of the country.

Harper Government Puts Consumers First in Telecommunications

New Ontario Government Introducing Ban on Tanning Beds for Youth Under 18

The new Ontario government is taking action to help prevent skin cancer among young people

by proposing legislation to ban those under 18 from using tanning beds. The legislation, to be

introduced later today, would, if passed:

Prohibit the sale of tanning services to youth under 18

Require tanning bed operators to request identification from anyone who appears under

25

Ban advertising and marketing of tanning services targeted at youth under 18

Require tanning bed operators to post signs about the ban and the health risks

associated with the use of tanning beds

Set fines for tanning bed operators who fail to comply with the legislation

Authorize inspectors to inspect and enforce these requirements

11 March 07, 2013

Helping Families Care for Sick Loved Ones

March 5, 2013

New Ontario Government to Strengthen Job

Security for Family Caregivers

The new Ontario government is taking steps

to protect the jobs of working men and

women in the province who need to care for

seriously ill or injured loved ones or deal

with a crime-related loss or disappearance of

a child.

The proposed Employment

Standards Amendment Act (Leaves to Help

Families), 2013 introduced today would, if

passed, recognize the importance of family

and job security, and would build on the

existing Family Medical Leave by creating

three new job-protected leaves:

Family Caregiver Leave: up to 8

weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for

employees to provide care and support to a

family member with a serious medical

condition.

Critically Ill Child Care Leave: up to

37 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to

provide care to a critically ill child.

Crime-Related Child Death and

Disappearance Leave: up to 52 weeks of

unpaid, job-protected leave for parents of a

missing child and up to 104 weeks of unpaid,

job-protected leave for parents of a child that

has died as a result of a crime.

If passed, the legislation would allow

caregivers to focus their attention on what

matters most -- providing care and support to

their loved ones -- without the fear of losing

their job.

The proposed legislation is part of the

new Ontario government's commitment to

building a fair society and ensuring that

families across Ontario have the support they

need.

QUICK FACTS

The leaves that would be created by the

proposed legislation would be separate from

the current Family Medical Leave, which is

available when a family member has a

serious medical condition with a significant

risk of death occurring within 26 weeks.

A doctor’s note would be required to

qualify for Family Caregiver Leave and

Critically Ill Child Care Leave.

The Critically Ill Child Care Leave

and Crime-Related Child Death and

Disappearance Leave would complement

new benefits created under the federal

Helping Families in Need Act.

NEW DELHI: A school bus collided with a truck laden with bricks in northern India on Monday, killing 12 children and their driver, police said. The crash happened as the children were

on their way to school on the outskirts of Jalandhar, said police officer Harmeet Singh.

The city is nearly 400 kilometres north of the Indian capital. Singh said seven children and the bus driver died on t...he spot and another five children succumbed to their injuries in

a hospital. Police were looking for the truck driver, who fled after the accident, Singh said. India has the world’s deadliest roads, with more than 110,000 people killed every year.

Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles.

12 March 07, 2013

4th March 2013 Brampton City'sTown Hall to discuss a Developer's Proposal for the construction of 432 Town House

units, the project got defeated and is shelved for now. As the general public along with Brampton City Councillor

Vicky Dhillon simply won’t let it happen, Councillor did act like a mature leader tonight and made his voice heard.

The City of Brampton overall needs a better job in ---- "Hiring employees from all communities & furthermore those

who actually live in Brampton".