Continued on Page 6

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari receiving British Prime Minister David Cameronat Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday.Continued on Page 6

PM: High level task forceto expand Pak-China coopFriendship policy being pursued with India

SHARAFAT KAZMI

ISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif has said that ahigh level task force has been setup to explore avenues to en-hance economic cooperationwith China.

He was talking to ChineseAmbassador Sun Weidong inIslamabad on Saturday.

The Prime Minister said thatfriendship with China is and willremain the corner stone ofPakistan’s foreign policy and ithas been a factor of peace andstability in the region.

Continued on Page 6

Rouhani: Iranians wantpath of moderation

DUBAI—Iran’s president-electHassan Rouhani said on Satur-day he would appoint ministersfrom across its political spec-trum as Iranian voters had cho-sen a path of moderation overextremism.

His victory in the June 14vote has lifted hopes of a thawin Iran’s antagonistic relationswith the West that might createopenings for defusing its nucleardispute with world powers.Rouhani has pledged a moreconciliatory approach thanMahmoud Ahmadinejad, under

whose belligerent presidencythe Islamic Republic drew evermore punishing internationalsanctions.

Rouhani’s pledge of an in-clusive cabinet could reassureconservative hardliners wholook askance at the endorsementhe was granted by reformists inthe election.

In turn, reformists will hopeto regain some political influ-ence - with the aim of easing re-pression at home and Iran’s iso-lation abroad - after being side-

Continued on Page 6

Drugs, cell phones, arms, laptopsseized from Karachi Central Jail

KARACHI—Hundreds of po-lice and Rangers personnel sur-rounded the Central Jail,Karachi to conduct a search op-eration and confiscated drugs,laptops, mobile phones and armsfrom prisoners’ possession.

Acting on a tip off, morethan 200 security personnel sur-rounded the Central Jail vicin-ity to conduct the search andclearance operation. Police had

received information that in-mates at the prison were in pos-session of arms, drugs, cellphones and other items prohib-ited to use inside the jail.

Police and Rangers jointlyconducted the raid and recov-ered a large quantity of drugs,mobile phones and 12 laptopsfrom the inmates.

Sources also revealed thatbanned outfits had warned that

they would launch an attack onKarachi Central Jail Saturday,following which the crackdownwas initiated.

Police had received infor-mation that inmates at the prisonwere in possession of arms,drugs, cell phones and otheritems prohibited to use inside thejail.

According to police sources,Continued on Page 6

Salman Khurshidwarns against

Kashmir meddling

NEW DELHI—Asserting thatKashmir problem is an internalissue of India, External AffairsMinister Salman Khurshid hassaid there is a mechanism withinthe country to address all issuesand outside forces need notmeddle with them.

“There is no need for anyoutsider to point fingers at us onwhat we have to do or if we havedone something wrong. It is anissue within the family.

“We may have discussionsContinued on Page 6

GCC tofinalize curbson HezbollahRIYADH—The Gulf Coopera-tion Council will hold ameeting in Riyadh onThursday to agree themechanisms for imposingsanctions on members ofLebanese Shiite movementHezbollah, its head AbdullatifAl-Zayani said.

GCC decided on June 10to impose sanctions onmembers of Hezbollahtargeting their residencypermits and their financial andbusiness activities in reprisalfor the group’s armed

Pak wants regional stability basedon balance of power: Gen KayaniSri Lankan army seeks officers’ training in Pakistan

COLOMBO—Chief of ArmyStaff General Ashfaq ParvezKayani has said Pakistan ear-nestly desires regional stabilitybased on a balance of power thatpromotes respect for eachother’s sovereignty and discour-ages any form of quest for domi-nance and hegemony.

Speaking at the passing outparade of Sri Lanka MilitaryAcademy here on Saturday,General Kayani said Pakistanand Sri Lanka are both peaceloving countries and regardlessof internal and external chal-lenges, their armed forces per-sistently seek peace within the

region and beyond. He pointedout that it is an established factthat armed forces draw their in-spiration from respective na-tional ethos and sentiments.“Desire for peace is our great-

est strength, which places us ata high moral ground and affordsus the poise and confidence toexercise restraint, even once in-cited or provoked,” the COASsaid.

He highly praised the SriLankan Army saying it provedits mettle under the most trying

circumstances and has emergedvictorious not only in the con-text of purging the menace ofmilitancy and violence but alsoin pursuit of post conflict peaceand stability.

The COAS said during thisentire period i.e. approximatelythree decades of conflict and theensuing rebuilding phase, Paki-stan always stood by and whole-heartedly supported the greatSri Lankan nation and its armedforces, both in moral as well asmaterial realm.

“Pakistan has proved to bea true friend of Sri Lanka in your

Continued on Page 6

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—President AsifAli Zardari Saturday said Paki-stan was a staunch supporter ofpeace and stability in Afghani-stan and would support everyeffort aimed at restoring sustain-able and long-term peace to thewar-torn country.

The President was talking toBritish Prime Minister DavidCameron, soon after his arrivalhere. The British Prime Minis-ter is in Pakistan on a two-dayvisit, after meeting his troops atHelmand, Afghanistan andmeeting President HamidKarzai.

Cameron discussed the Af-ghan-led peace process and thescenario in the backdrop ofwithdrawal of NATO-led Inter-national Security AssistanceForce (ISAF) mission from Af-ghanistan, by the end of 2014.Spokesperson to the President

Pakistan staunch supporterof Afghan peace: PresidentZardari, Cameron discuss bilateral ties, regional situation

Continued on Page 6

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif ina meeting with the Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong onSaturday.

Picture on Back Page

Syrian army,backed by jets,launch Homs

assaultBEIRUT—Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad’s forceslaunched a major offensive onSaturday against rebels inHoms, a centre of the two-yearuprising, in their latest drive tosecure an axis linking Damascusto the Mediterranean.

Activists said jets and mor-tars pounded rebel-held areas ofthe city which have been undersiege by Assad’s troops for ayear, and soldiers fought battleswith rebel fighters in several dis-tricts.

“Government forces are try-

SALAHUDDIN HAIDER

THE British high commission in Islamabad hascleared the smog over

its visa policy for UK, clari-fying in clearterms thatpolicy nowbeing con-s i d e r e d“does notcut acrossthe Uk”swish to beopen for busi-ness, students, and tourists”The complete answer sub-mitted to this scribe on en-quiry is as follows: “The UK

government remains commit-ted to tackling immigrationabuse and ilooking at a rangeof options. One of those op-tions is a financial bond.

“The government intendsto run a pilot scheme for suchbonds, tightly targeted at asmall number of visa appli-cants assessed to pose a highrisk of overstaying. But nodecisions have been takenon the detail of how such apilot scheme would work inpractice. Any such schemewill be designed in a way thatdoes not cut across the UK’swish to be open for business,students and tourists’ Thestatement in wordage and in-

tent is absolutely transparentand clear that the Britishgovernment does not wish topunish the genuine Paki-stanis, going for businesses,for education in British insti-tutions or for tourism.

It seems worried, andquite naturally, of habitualoffenders, and those abusingtheir visas to overstay in Brit-ain and create social andother problems for their Brit-ish society. Journalists andthose going for genuine pur-poses, restrictions will notapply, the statement is abun-dantly plain and simple Theclarification sought by thiscorrespondent, and replied

to by head of the communi-cation section in BritishHigh Commision inIslamabad removes many anapprehensions that had be-gun to worry people as tohow those intending to visitBritish for genuine reasons,can afford to deposit ofbond of 3000 Pounds ster-ling as a guarantee for theircoming back.

It is a restrictive policywhich every country has theright to protect its interestfrom those involved in abuseof visa or immigration facili-ties. No such condition willapply to bonfire visitors, itwas clear from the statement.

British HC clears smog over visa policy

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minis-ter for Petroleum and NaturalResources Shahid KhaqanAbbasi has said thatBaluchistan Government hasthe free hand to take its deci-sion in the matters relating tothe natural resources of theProvince, the Federal Gov-ernment and the Ministry ofPetroleum will provide sup-port and facilitation to theProvincial Government. Hestated this while chairing ameeting with a visiting del-egation of Baluchistan Gov-ernment led by Chief Minis-ter Baluchistan, Dr. AbdulMalik Baluch.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasisaid that all decisions relatedto the Minerals and other

Balochistan free to take decisions,Centre will cooperate: Shahid

Natural Resources ofBaluchistan are to be takenby the Baluchistan Govern-ment. The constitution isclear in this regard and theMinistry desires to facilitiesthe Baluchistan Government.“It is now the responsibilityof the Baluchistan Govern-ment to take wise and long-term policy decisions in thebest interest of the people of

Baluchistan and the Federa-tion of Pakistan as a whole”,The Minister continued.

Prominent lawyer andformer Caretaker Law Minis-ter, Ahmer Bilal Sufi gave adetailed presentation to the

meeting on the legal issuesrelating to the Reko Diqproject. Chief MinisterBaluchistan, Dr. Abdul MalikBaluch said, “We will not gointo the past. We have a rela-tionship of trust with thepresent Federal Governmentof PML (N) and Prime Minis-ter, Mian Muhammad NawazShareef”. “We will go aheadwith this mutual trust for thebetterment of the people ofBaluchistan and will protectthe interests of the Prov-ince.” he pledged.

He shared with the Min-ister for Petroleum the prob-lems and constraints faced bythe people of Baluchistan andthe provincial Government onvarious issues. He also pro-

posed the establishment of ajoint working group compris-ing highly technical and legalexperts both from Federal andProvincial Governments. Thisjoint working group will helpand advise the ProvincialGovernment in legal and tech-nical matters of the project.

While responding to theChief Minister Baluchistan’sobservations, the Minister saidthat the Reko Diq project is vitalfor the country. He said thatthis project is highly technicaland it should be taken up on acommercial basis. He advisedthat legal and technical con-sultants of international reputebe hired to address the detailsof the terms of the agreementof the project.—INP

20 criminalsheld

MULTAN—City police claimedon Saturday to have arrested16 proclaimed offenders andfour court absconders duringa clampdown. Police arrestedHaji Muhammad, IbrahimKhalil, Sajid, Sajjad, HabibuzZaman, Ghulam Abbas, Ejaz,Ghulam Shabbir, Najeebullah,Imran, Umer Hayat, Sadiq,Akbar, Shahbaz, and GhulamMustafa.

Police also arrested fourcourt absconders- Arif, Rafiq,Saleem and Abid.—APP

PESHAWAR—Chief JusticePeshawar High Court (PHC)Dost Muhammad Khan saidon Saturday that corruptionwas rampant from Patwarkhana to the PresidentHouse. Addressing a cer-emony here, the PHC chiefjustice said a high-level in-stitution must be establishedwhich should bring all thepeople, including the presi-dent and the prime minister,under the ambit of the law.

Corruption rampant from PatwarKhana to President House: PHC CJ

He lamented that an af-fective system for the elimi-nation of corruption underthe constitution could beformed so far. He said sucha constitutional bodyshould be established in thecountry which could bringeveryone, including thepresident and the prime min-ister, under the accountabil-ity.

Justice Dost MuhammadKhan said consumer and

mobile courts will be estab-lished in KhyberPakhtunkhwa. He said theprovincial assembly mustpass the act from the houseon immediate basis. Thechief justice said the coun-try is bestowed with all natu-ral resources but then too therulers are wandering here andthere with a begging bowl intheir hands. He said the rul-ers need to reform them-selves. —INP

SEHWAN: Devotees performing Dhamal during 761st Urs celebrations of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qaladar.

Picture on Page 11

Free emergency services in KP hospitalsPESHAWA R—Khyber PakhtunkhwaMinister for Health Shaukat AliYusafzai has said that emergency ser-vices including CT scan, MRI, X-Rayand laboratory tests would be madeavailable to the patients free of costsin all hospitals of the province. More-over, deficiency of doctors, Para-med-ics, nurses and other work force in dis-trict hospitals would be made up onemergency basis in order to ensure

provision of specialized health services in all districts ofthe province. This, he said, while talking to a delegationof young doctors that called on him in Peshawar on Sat-urday. The Health minister said that indoor patients wouldget CT scan in big hospitals in Rs 700 instead Rs of 3500.Shaukat Yousafzai said that the deficiency of doctorsand other manpower would be made up through adhocappointments. Regarding problems of young doctors, theminister said that he himself would sit with them andsolve their problems on priority basis. All specialized ser-vices would be provided in all district hospitals of theprovince in order to reduce burden on big hospitals ofthe province. These steps, he said, aimed at improvingthe health delivery services all over the province. He saidthat some healthcare units of the province were over-loaded and others were underutilized which would bemade proportionate to the work load.—APP

Textile sector problemsFAISALABAD—Provincial Minister forLocal Government and Community De-velopment, Law and Parliamentary Af-fairs Rana Sanaullah has assured thevalue added textile sector to resolve itsissues on top priority basis asFaisalabad can play a vital role in theeconomic revival of the country. He wastalking to a delegation of value addedtextile sector from Faisalabad that ap-prised him of their reservations over

non-availability of gas. The minister said that he wouldtake Chief Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif into confi-dence and request him to take personal interest in resolv-ing the problems confronted by value added textile sector.Earlier, a delegation of value added textile sector fromFaisalabad met the provincial minister in Lahore and con-veyed their reservations about non-availability of gas.Among the members of delegation include former chair-man Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA)Khurram Mukhtar, former chairman PTEA Sohail Pasha,vice-chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Associa-tion Faisalabad Region Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain. Mean-while it is also reported that Provincial Minister for Zakatand Ushar Malik Nadeem Kamran has ordered for depart-mental action against nine officials of District Zakat Officeincluding Deputy Administator Zakat Fakhar Iqbal Sheikhand District Zakat Officer Afzal Saleem Jappa. The Minis-ter conducted a surprise visit to Divisional and DistrictZakat Office here and found nine officials including deputyadministrator and district officer Zakat absent from theirduty without informing the concerned department prop-erly. The Minister also checked the record and found mis-appropriation of millions of rupees in the official Zakatfunds made by field clerk of tehsil Jaranwala in conniv-ance of chairman local Zakat committee. Taking notice ofhuge embezzlement in Zakat Fund, the Minister directedthe Provincial Secretary for Zakat to probe into the matterand submit a comprehensive audit report regarding allZakat committees of the province within eight days.—APP

IHK environmental degradationISLAMABAD—Chairman of All PartiesHurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz UmarFarooq has expressed serious concernover the environmental degradation dueto human interference in ecologicallysensitive areas in the territory. Accord-ing to KMS, addressing a gathering inSrinagar, the APHC Chairman warnedthat there was every possibility that tensof thousands of people could lose theirlives if the puppet regime continued to

remain careless towards the environmental concerns inJammu and Kashmir. He referred to the devastation causedby flashfloods and rains in the northern Indian state ofUttarakhand. “Such natural calamities are direct fallout ofthe ecological imbalance caused by the environmentaldegradation by humans,” he said. The Mirwaiz castigatedthe puppet administration for lacking a policy on AmarnathYatra. He said that Uttarakhand tragedy had become acause of worry in occupied Kashmir. “Like Uttrakhand,Kashmir too is a mountainous terrain and needs a carefulattention towards preserving its pristine environs,” headded. The APHC Chairman pointed out that instead ofdevising an effective policy to preserve the fragile ecol-ogy of Kashmir, the puppet regime was hell bent to dete-riorate it under a well-planned conspiracy. The Mirwaizsaid that Kashmiris had always exhibited communal bon-homie by facilitating the Amarnathji Yatra. He said that2008 and 2010 were the glorious testimonies to the factthat how Kashmiris safely transported the Amarnathpiligirms to the destiny and treated them as their guests.Urging that all the Kashmiri political prisoners should bereleased on the eve of holy month of Ramadan, the Mirwaizdeplored that the puppet administration had taken everystep which was anti-movement and anti-people.—APP

Dev review meetingLARKANA—Commissioner Larkana Di-vision Ghulam Mustafa Phull has di-rected the officers of Works and Ser-vices and various other departments torealise their responsibilities, redoubletheir efforts to complete the develop-ment schemes on time without any de-lay Any slackness in this regard will notbe tolerated at any cost, he said. Thishe said while presiding over a high levelmeeting of officers of different nation

building departments to review the progress of develop-ment schemes in Larkana Division in various sectors at hisoffice here. The Commissioner directed the Superintend-ing Engineer Works and Services Larkana to complete thedevelopment schemes under the Annual DevelopmentProgramme (ADP) in time. During the meeting the officersof various development departments briefed the partici-pants about the progress of development schemes in de-tail. The Commissioner also directed the officials of PublicHealth Engineering Department and Buildings Departmentto redouble their efforts to complete the developmentsschemes in time so that the people could benefit from suchschemes. The meeting was also attended by AdditionalCommissioner-I Larkana Division Assadullah Abro, Divi-sional Heads of various Departments. Meanwhile, a con-dolence meeting was held here on Friday at Regional In-formation Department Larkana, to express profound griefand deep sorrow over the demises of the father of DirectorInformation-Electronic Media, Karachi Ms Zeenat Jahan.The meeting was attended by Information Officers andother staff members. The meeting prayed to Almighty Al-lah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and givecourage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear theirreparable loss with patience.—APP

THIS will go down asan unique face to facebetween the ancient

and modern. When re-nowned humanitarian andfounder of the Art of livingSri Sri Ravi Shankar took toFacebook with a live eventon Sunday, the modern so-cial network turned into alively global platform forseeking solace, guidanceand action from the ancientIndian spiritual wisdom.Lakhs of people also partici-pated in a meditation led bySri Sri.

The interaction focusedon issues ranging from love,relationships, maintainingfaith in times of calamities,addictions, depression,success and societal vio-lence. Live stream reportedthat 148 countries were

logged in to chat for Facewith Sri Sri. In his pragmaticstyle, Sri Sri offered solutionsthat were universal and far-sighted. To a question froma civil society group in Paki-stan on how to eliminate ter-rorism from Pakistan, he em-phasized the need for educat-ing the masses about theoneness of the creation. ‘’weare a one world family. Ourfirst and foremost identity isthat we are part of life. Therest of our identities are sec-ondary,’’ he hold.

On a question from agroup of Art f Living volun-teers engaged in relief mis-sions in Uttarakhand on howto instill faith in people whohave lost everything on a pil-grimage, he advised them tosee the calamities in a holis-tic while on a pilgrimage, he

advised them to see the ca-lamities in a hoslistic way andkeep faith.“ God and Natureare always impartial. God is

not only in Kedarnath; he iseverywhere.’’ Sri Sri regrettedthat pilgrim centres in indiahave been neglected for longand emphasized on having a

better infrastructure. He alsovoiced his concern his con-cern on the negligence ofenvironment at these places.

He shared how Art Liv-ing volunteers have sponta-neously responded to thesituation, by rushing in allpossible aids. ‘’these are the

Lakhs connect online with Sri Sri

DERA GHAZI KHAN—Com-missioner Muhammad AminChaudhary said 24 Ramadanbazaars and 46 dastarkhawans would be set up inthe district. Presiding over ameeting to review arrange-ments of bazaars, he said di-rections had been issued toensure availability of com-

modities on cheap rates.DCOs Ali Bahadr Qazi, FarasatIqbal, Ikramullah and otherofficers were also present.

Meanwhile, it is reportedfrom Faisalabad that as manyas 25 special Ramzan Bazaarswould be set up in the dis-trict to provide daily useitems on cheaper rate to con-

sumers during the holymonth of Ramzan-ul-Mubarak.

Giving details, the DCOinformed that in the area ofTMA Iqbal Town six Ramzanbazaars would be establishedat Fawara Chowk BatalaColony, Iron Market nearSamundri road.—APP

DG Khan to have 24 Ramzan bazaars

ISLAMABAD—Federal Min-ister for Interior and Narcot-ics Control, Chaudhry NisarAli Khan has said the fed-eral government wants toensure development, goodgovernance and peace inGilgit-Baltistan. He was talk-ing to the newly appointedChief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, Mr. YounusDhagha who made a cour-tesy call on him here on Sat-urday.

He asked the Chief Sec-retary to fast-track the inves-tigation into the recent mur-der of 11 tourists and keephim informed about theprogress made in this regard.The Minister said visit of for-

eign tourists to the scenicGilgit-Baltistan regionshould be encouraged notonly by ensuring fool-proofsecurity for them but also byfacilitating them throughgood packages with tour op-erators.

He said two days ago agroup of 25 foreign touristswent to Skardu which willgive confidence to other as-piring tourists as well. He saidvisits such as these must behighlighted in the media. Mr.Dhagha thanked the govern-ment for reposing confidencein him and assured that hewould do his best to comeup to the expectations of thegovernment.—INP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—A total of 137Naval Officers graduated to-day at an impressive cer-emony held at Pakistan Na-

val Academy. Chief of theNaval Staff AdmiralMuhammad Asif Sandila wasthe chief guest on the occa-sion. The graduating classcomprised 104 midshipmenincluding 16 from allied coun-tries, and 33 Short ServiceCommission officers includ-ing 10 females.

Addressing the cer-emony, Admiral Sandila saidthat today as a nation we arecautiously navigatingthrough many of challengesand Pakistan Navy is no ex-

Tech knowledge of new ageweapons, precision use essential

ception to it. He said that wehave to be mindful of the grow-ing maritime capability in ourregion. We have to be gearedup and ever ready to counterpiracy, terrorism and extrem-

ism in the ocean region of ourinterest and for maintenanceof global peace on the highseas. Most importantly, hecontinued, we must guardagainst the internal threat,which perhaps is the mostchallenging at the moment. Hereaffirmed that Insha Allah wewould not let a weaknesscreep in our resolve to defendour motherland.

The Naval Chief was ofthe view that Art and Scienceof warfare are easily taughtand learnt but harnessing the

mantle of leadership is not aclassroom subject. “Theremay be born leaders, but thereis none amongst you wholacks the essential makeup ofa leader. The inherent prereq-

uisite of your brand of leader-ship mandates that those whofollow you need to trust youto the extent of putting theirlives at risk when required.Your calling is leading fromthe front and this implieswearing an invisible badge ofhonor that is all too visible toyour followers through theprism of your confidence,calmness and competence”,he added.

The chief guest urged thepassing out officers to keepabreast of the emerging tech-

nologies, new age weaponsand concepts of technologydriven warfare. He also ex-tended his felicitations to theofficers and their parents. Ear-lier in his welcome address,

Commandant Pakistan NavalAcademy apprised the audi-ence of salient features oftraining the officers had gonethrough. He added that youngcadets of brotherly countriesof Bahrain, Saudi Arabia,Maldives, Nigeria, Palestine,Sudan and Yemen are alsobeing trained at Pakistan Na-val Academy.

Later, the chief guestawarded prizes to the cadetswho displayed outstandingperformances and earneddistinctions.

KARACHI: Naval cadets during Pakistan Navy’s 99th Midshipmen Commissioning Parade at Pakistan Naval Academy.

Nisar asks GB CSfor fast probe intotourists slaughter

RAZA NAQVI

ATTOCK—The district Po-lice officer (DPO) on Fridaysetup a police investigationteam to trace the unknownkillers involved in brutal kill-ing of a four-year girl twodays ago.

The team, which wassetup under the supervisionof SP Investigation, wasasked by the DPO to take allmeasures to trace the in-volved killers as soon as pos-sible. Moreover, the DPOAbdul Kadir Qamar alongwith others police officialshas also visited the house ofvictim girl to express his sym-pathies with the aggrievedparents and others familymembers on such tragic inci-dent. He also assured themfor provision of justice to

Investigation team to probebrutal killing of a minor girl

them. Earlier a four old girlFatima Noor daughter ofMuhammad Sabir was foundseriously injured in a agricul-ture field at Jehanabad villagetwo days back.

The injured girl wasrushed to the local hospitalbut died due to her criticalcondition as some unknowncruel outlaws had inserted asharp wooden piece in hersensitive body part. Suchtragic killing incident hasjolted the local people andpolice too. The HasanbadalSaddar Police station has al-ready registered a murdercase against the unidentifiedaccused killers and furtherinvestigation is underway.

Two persons weredrowned in two separate inci-dents at different areas of thedistrict.

ISLAMABAD—Upper parts ofthe country includingIslamabad, Rawalpindi andLahore received widespreadrain early Saturday morning.Rawalpindi received sixty-eight millimeters of rain‚Saidu Sharif fifty-five andMalamjabba thirty-eightmilimeters.

According to Meteoro-logical department, wellmarked seasonal low lies overnorth Balochistan and ad-joining areas. Monsoonalcurrents are reaching intoupper and eastern parts ofthe country. A western dis-turbance is also affectingupper parts of the countryand expected to persist dur-ing next 02 days.

As a result, scattered

More rains forecastrain-thundershower is ex-pected in upper/centralPunjab, while at isolatedplaces of D.G.Khan andMultan divisions during next24 hours.

Isolated heavy falls mayalso occur at a few places ofupper Punjab. Scattered rain-thundershower, with isolated

heavy falls at a few places, isexpected in KP and AzadKashmir during next 24hours. —INP

SWAT: Doctor checking the patients at a free medical camp organized by PakistanArmy at Girls School Mangote.

UPPER DIR—AT least twopersons were swept awaywhile three others rescuedwhen the wire of a chairlift car-rying people across PankoraRiver broke down at 09:30 a.mhere on Saturday. Accordingto area police, five people wereonboard a chairlift nearSahibabad area of tehsil Waraiin Upper Dir to cross PanjkoraRiver however, the wire ofchairlift could not sustain theweight and broke down.

All the five onboardpersons fell into the riveramong which three wererescued by the local peoplewhile two perished in theraging river water. Thebody of one victim identi-fied as Islam s/o NoorMuhammad of Warai was

Four killed many injured in road mishap

2 drown, 3 rescued as chairliftbreaks into Panjkora river

later retrieved from the wa-ter. The rescued personswere shifted to Warai Hos-pital where their conditionwas stated to be stable. Po-lice said yesterday’s down-pour in Upper Dir hadcaused a surge in RiverPanjkora’s water, hamperingthe efforts for search of thetwo missing persons.

Pakpattan: Two personswere killed, while two womencritically injured when aspeedy Truck collided withtwo motorcyclist here on Sat-urday. According to the po-lice sources, deceased, iden-tified as Basharat Ali Dogar,Muhammad Ali Dogar wereheading to Chicha WatniChak no 95-EB riding twomotorcycles when a speedy

truck Bearing No. SLS-2077hit them as a result two per-sons killed on the spot. TheInjured Kusar Bibi and AmnaBibi shifted to the DHQ hos-pital. Police have registereda case and started investiga-tion.

Rawalakot—Two policepersons were killed and 2other critically injured whena speedy passenger van col-lided with car and fell intodeep ravine on Saturday. Ac-cording to Police sources, de-ceased, identified as ZahidHussain, ChudaryMuhammad Bashir were go-ing home and when theyreached Dar Galla, a speedypassenger van rammed intothe car which fell into a deepravine.—APP

4.1-magnitudequake jolts NAsISLAMABAD—A moderateearthquake measuring 4.1 onRichter Scale struck Chitral,Swat, Dir, and adjoining ar-eas Saturday morning. Thereis no immediate report of anycasualty or damages, PTVreported. The tremors sent awave of fear and panicamong the people. However,there is no immediate reportof any casualty or dam-ages.—APP

times that test our human-ness. We must extend ourhand to those who need us.’’He also lauded the effort ofdefence personnel and vol-unteers of other NGOs whoare doing a tremendous workof providing relief and solaceto stranded people.

Talking about social upris-ings in different parts of theworld, Sri Sri called for makingnon-violence as the guidingprinciple for any agitation andmovement. ‘’We need to seethat the demonstrations arepeaceful, because they areagainst a cause not a person.’’he said responding to a ques-tion from Marcelo Freixo, Con-gressman from Brazil. Ques-tions poured in from variousquarters of the globe from emi-nent people such as MonikaGriefahn, Former Member of

the German parliament andco-founder of GreenpeaceGermany; Ricardo E Harvey,Coordinator of the program ofSecurity, Corraentes, Argen-tina; Women’s union and civilsociety members from coun-tries like Korea, Turkey andIran. in several cities, peoplehosted local events to watchthe programme in groups.‘’We have always seenFacebook as casual mediumfor fun and time pass.Today’s event made me real-ize it could well be a powerfultool for social transforma-tion,’’ said Shweta Vyas, aviewer from Mumbai.ZarminaDurrani the local representa-tive based in Lahore is upbeatabout the impact and out-come of the mega event andenthusiastically talking aboutit.

Naval officers graduation ceremony

Nawaz visit to deepenPak-China ties

THE announcement that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would makeChina his first foreign destination is reflective of not only the importance that the new Government attaches to further strengthen rela-

tions with time-tested friend and strategic partner but also shows foreignpolicy directions and economic priorities of the PML-N Government. Weare sure that this is a visionary approach and if followed with the requiredzeal, spirit and aggressive follow up could bring unimaginable economicand strategic gains for the country.

The visit assumes special significance as it comes in the wake of dis-play of arrogance by India despite peace and goodwill overtures repeatedlymade by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and wild comments being offeredby some commentators after Nanga Parbat tragedy in which Chinese na-tionals also lost their lives. These analysts were apprehending that the inci-dent would negatively affect the warmth on both side and hopefully thevisit would help put things in right perspective. Foreign Office has alreadyannounced that the two countries would sign several agreements and MoUson the occasion yet did not specify the nature of these accords. However, asMinister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has already under-taken a visit to China to prepare groundwork, it is expected that the visitwould lead to concrete outcome. The fantastic idea of linking Gwadar andKashghar with rail link and expressway has widely been hailed by all thosewho have the ability to look into the future except, of course, likes of ShRashid who are criticising the proposal, no one knows for what reasons.The projects of economic corridor would immensely benefit people of Pa-kistan especially backward areas both during construction and operationalphases besides promoting regional trade beyond imagination and there-fore, these needed to be implemented on fast track as exhorted by SenatorMushahid Hussain Sayed. Pakistan is energy starved country but unfortu-nately the country could not learn or get meaningful cooperation from Chinadespite nine visits that President Zardari boastfully mentions on every oc-casion, apparently due to lack of vision and determination on our part.PML-N Government has demonstrated its seriousness to address the powercrisis and as part of the strategy it has already retired major portions of thevicious circular debt and with this seriousness in view we hope multipleoptions would be explored to benefit from Chinese experience in hydel,solar, and nuclear power. Trade between the two countries is increasingrapidly but urgent measures are needed to rectify the imbalance.

Zero tolerance to display of armsFOR the first time in many years there are hopes of genuine improve

ment in the law and order situation as the new Interior Minister ChNisar Ali Khan is laying more emphasis on practical implementation thanmere making of hollow claims and slogans as we saw during the last fiveyears. He is determinedly pulling up all concerned to bring about a positivechange and for this purpose holds regular meetings to get feedback of suchmeasures. Chairing a similar meeting on Friday, he directed relevant au-thorities to ensure zero tolerance to display of arms in Islamabad.

Ch Nisar is sending loud and clear message that he means businessand therefore, his warning about display of arms should also yield posi-tive results. His mention of Islamabad is understandable as law and orderis a provincial subject and the federation is not supposed to interfere inthe provincial domain. But we may point out that display of arms is moreserious a problem in Sindh, KP, Balochistan and even in Punjab thanIslamabad and as Federal Minister, Ch Nisar is expected to coordinatewith and persuade the provinces to take steps to discourage display ofarms throughout Pakistan, followed by a coherent drive against illegalweapons. This is because the agenda of economic progress of the newGovernment would remain unfulfilled until and unless there is peace andtranquility throughout the country to attract local and foreign investment.Similarly, focus on terrorism is OK but we would also urge the InteriorMinister not to lose sight of the miseries and insecurity of the peoplestemming from street and other crimes as citizens are neither safe at theirhomes nor on roads, streets and bazaars. Some known criminal elementshave reportedly assigned different areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi totheir gunmen, bandits, marauders and muggers for carrying out criminalactivities and action is needed against them.

How these gangstersbecome monsters

IT was shocking that for a considerable long time criminal elements continued firing in Kharadar and Lyari areas of Karachi on Friday and the

whole locality looked like a war theatre. The exchange of firing betweenthe criminals and the law enforcement agencies began when over a dozensuspected gangsters riding motorcycles resorted to indiscriminate firing inKharadar in what appeared to be ‘Turf war’. It culminated into the killingof Saqib Boxer, who is a confirmed leader of gangsters.

The question arises how these gangsters become monsters as they startlike an ordinary street criminal? The general impression is that the policeleave them off after some give and take and that encourages them to go formajor crimes by forming their own groups with the passage of time. If theordinary criminals are dealt with severely by the police, taken to the courtsand awarded due punishment, one is certain that majority of new criminalswould return to normal life. Whatever happened in Lyari the other day wasnot a new thing for the Karachiites. The Mega city has become a haven for allsorts of criminals ranging from drug peddlers and smugglers of arms to ex-tortion mafia. They have established their areas of influence and if any othergroup tries to sneak in their jurisdiction, then there is open confrontation aswas witnessed in Kharadar and Machhi Miani Market. Most of these groupsof gangsters are backed by political parties for the attainment of their objec-tives and due to animosity, political activists also become target of the oppos-ing group. Now that the government appears to be firm for restoration of ruleof law, we strongly believe that there is no alternative but to eliminate all thedens of criminals through inputs by the intelligence agencies.

Musharraf’s trial for treason!

If someone tells youhe is going to makea realistic decision,you immediatelyunderstand that hehas resolved to dosomething bad.

Restlessnations

While the protests in Brazil, despite PresidentDilma Vana Rousseff’s

conciliatory tone and actions, ap-pear to show no signs of dissipat-ing, there’s another Latin Ameri-can nation that’s venting its an-ger on the streets. Chile has beenhit by a powerful student move-ment. The students of public edu-cational institutions, who startedtheir demonstrations in 2011 todemand free and better education,have recently become more force-ful in their demands.

During the course of their pow-erful movement, the students —mostly from poor working-classbackgrounds — have occupiedschool and university campuses.Their main contention is the lackof equal educational opportunitiesin Chile; according to them, stu-dents from middle-class back-grounds have better access to edu-cation than their counterparts inunder-funded public institutions.But the Chilean authorities havestepped up action against the ren-egade youth before the forthcom-ing presidential elections. In whathas been described as the worst vio-lence that the country has experi-enced since the demonstrations be-gan in 2011, the police have clashedwith students after a nationwide rallyon Wednesday became violent. Thepolice have arrested 122 students inthe capital city of Santiago after raid-ing secondary schools occupiedmostly by teenagers. The raid fol-lowed a night of violence and tur-moil on the streets, when over a 100people were arrested and maskedyouth hurled Molotov cocktails andstones at the police.

Judging from these develop-ments in Brazil and Chile, it seemslike these Latin American coun-tries are going through the kind ofturmoil that led to democratisationin the continent two decades ago.During the 1980s, most LatinAmerican countries under militaryrule faced widespread proteststhat ultimately brought in repre-sentative governments. EvenAugusto Pinochet’s ultra-repres-sive regime in Chile could notcontain the widespread protests in1989-1990. So given that the con-tinent has a strong history ofpopular dissent, leaders will haveto pay heed to the people’s de-mands if peace and order has tobe restored. — Khaleej Times

*****

Stop abuseof maids

There have been a number ofrecent cases of heinouscrimes committed by do-

mestic helps in Gulf states. In thepast week alone, cases in Kuwaitand Saudi Arabia have caused up-roar. In Kuwait, a maid struck abride-to-be with a cleaver in aplanned murder. In Saudi Arabia,a maid slit the throat of a six-year-old girl when her parents and sib-lings were out. Her father latertweeted that he had imagined see-ing her as a bride, but had to in-stead carry her to grave. In bothcases, the domestic helps cited re-venge as their motivations. Theyclaimed to have been abused bytheir employers and decided to ex-act revenge on them in return.

As deplorable as the crimesmay have been, they beg the ques-tion: Would they have taken placehad the maids been treated in a waythat was acceptable to them? It isdifficult to imagine the state of des-peration they must have reachedwhere the only outlet for their frus-trations came in the form of grue-some crimes. In the case of thebride-killer, the murder wasplanned a month in advance, anindicator of a deep desire for re-venge. Unfortunately, stories ofabuse of maids are all too commonin the region. These women, whooften leave their poverty-strickenfamilies to make a living, rarelyhave a channel to express them-selves. Such incidents serve as areminder that we, as a society, needto take a long, hard look at our-selves and ask how we can allowcases of abuse to happen. Perhapsmore pragmatically, they also serveas a reminder that it is in our inter-est that we treat well those we leaveour children with.— Gulf News

MEDIA WATCH

Mary McCarthy—US novelist

The Prime Minister NawazSharif declared from thefloor of the House that Gen-

eral Musharraf would be tried “fortreason for his act of 3 November2007, and not for 1999, to provethat there was no vendetta.” Thisdecision, in fact is an escape fromreality. It is not so simply a matter,which could serve the cause of de-mocracy, but it would rather pro-tect those who collaborated with thepast military dictators and sharedpower with them. Let us, thereforebe honest to our people and to thecause of democracy and put thecivil-military relationship perspec-tive right. By that I mean that wemust investigate into the guilt com-mitted by Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan,Ziaul Haq and Musharraf and allthose who collaborated with them,such as the honourable judges, poli-ticians, bureaucrats, the opportun-ists, abettors and the instigators.

The present judges of the Su-preme Court were the main targetof 3 November 2007 actions, andthemselves they may not be able tosit on judgment for Musharraf’strial. Sagacity, therefore demandsthat a Truth and ReconciliationCommission was appointed to in-vestigate into the military take overof 1958, 1968, 1977 and 1999 toidentify the perpetrators, collabo-rators, abettors, the instigators andremove their names from the rollof honour, they occupy, so that ourfuture generations could differen-tiate between the Black and White.While the memory serves, let us ex-amine the happenings of 12th Oc-

Inefficient institutions and policies?

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Sunday Magazine

Sadia Zahid MalikEditor

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

The time has come for rechecking the ways of life ingovernment institutions and

the manner of their performance.Did the ministries have a vision ordid they have a road map [bothAmerican concepts that mean littleto Pakistanis]. I once asked a Fed-eral Secretary how things were. Hisreply in chaste Punjabi was‘Khukha reha hoon’. I am giving itwhat it deserves but it is impossibleto translate what has been stated bythe Fed Sec in Punjabi. It means acareless attitude, no new interven-tion and pushing paper up and downthe line without taking any dicta-tion. This is another alternate to theinvisible hand of Adam Smith butthis is much more for it speaks ofthe invisible and non existentmind. The new government has adifficult job ahead. The democraticprocess that Pakistani have beenso loud at acclaiming does not havethe wherewithal to deal with themultiple issues. The bureaucracyis in turmoil and the few that canhelp the political system are alsonot willing to do that. As a resultPakistan is thrown in to an arenaof personal loyalty. This will onlywork if the loyal are also compe-tent. By definition this is possible.

Economic governance in sucha state as Pakistan requires in depthknowledge of the various situationsthat are operating in Pakistan. Thereare more destabilization organiza-tion in the country then the otherway round. There are more rental

tober 1999, whenMusharraf wasonboard the PIAflight 805 and was along distance awayfrom Pakistan, havingno contact with his

command, on the ground:(i) At 1600 hrs on 12 October

1999, the Prime Minister NawazSharif wrote-out the retirement or-der of Musharraf, in the presence ofthe DGISI, Lt Gen Ziauddin, hisMilitary Secretary Brigadier JavedIqbal and his Principal SecretarySaeed Mehdi, and left for the Presi-dency. The retirement order was“Seen” by the President, but he didnot sign it. The PM returned to PMHouse and the retirement order ofMusharraf and the appointment ofthe new COAS was announced onthe national TV, by about 1730 hrs.

(ii) Soon after Brig Javed Iqbalgot the disturbing news that 111 Bri-gade was in action and that theIslamabad TV Station was occupiedby Army personnel. He picked uphis weapon and rushed to the TVStation but returned to inform thePM that the “game was over.” ThePM House Guards Battalion, whichwas part of 111 Brigade, already hadsecured the PM House. In the ab-sence of the COAS, his subordinateshad acted on their own, and had im-posed the military rule. The PM andthe President were placed underhouse arrest.

(iii) By 1900 hrs, whenMusharraf was some distance awayfrom the country, he was informedby the pilot that he had received in-structions from the ground control,that his aircraft was to be divertedto a remote airfield, but he did not.Musharraf landed at the Karachi air-port by about 1950 hrs. The CorpsCommander at Karachi briefed himabout the situation, and Musharraf

preferred to stay overnight atKarachi. It was a fait-accompli forMusharraf and he chose to followthe lead given by his subordinatesand preferred not to reverse the de-cision. He took control of the situa-tion and completed the process oftake-over. The judiciary supportedhim, the politicians and the oppor-tunists rallied around him.

Musharraf was appointed ArmyChief, after General Jahangir

Karamat was removed from com-mand, simply because the generalhad his own views on the role andfunctions of the National SecurityCouncil. After the Kargil episode,the PM was very unhappy withMusharraf, and he chose to removehim from command in a manner,which gave the impression of a “ci-vilian coup against the COAS”, andthe military high command acted onits own to protect the name of theirChief, because Army is like a fam-ily and the family honour was, thusprotected by such an action, whichis called “honour killing” in our rus-

tic culture. Pakistan is facingmyriad problems, demanding totalattention of the government and thepeople to face the challenges andfind the way-out. It is unwise to getembroiled with Musharraf’s trialand leave the corrupt and the un-scrupulous to their nefarious de-signs. Our apex courts also are bur-dened with thousands of pendingcases to be decided. Therefore, thebest option would be to form theTruth and Reconciliation Commis-sion to investigate into all the pastmisdeeds, “without digging the oldgraves” and correct the civil-mili-tary relationship perspective for theposterity. We have a distorted his-tory which needs to be corrected.

Why the PM is in such an un-due haste for Musharraf’s trial,when people are gasping for breathof life and desperately want him tohonour the oath he has taken, to befair, impartial and beyond personalvendetta? Why the Supreme Courtis in such a hurry for Musharraf’strial to allow only three days to theAttorney General, for the advice fortrial under Article-6.The SupremeCourt being the aggrieved party,cannot sit on judgment for this trial.

The Pakistani nation has hadenough of entertainment throughthe NRO and Swiss Case soap op-eras. Fortunately, the Swiss casesoap opera, has once again comealive to keep the nation entertained,la courtesy our social media and theSwiss Court, which prefers tohonour the fake letter of Govern-ment of Pakistan and not the Su-preme Court letter seeking clarifi-cations. These are very challeng-ing times for Nawaz Sharif. In factthis is his rendezvous with history.He has to rise above the ordinaryand deliver.—The writer is former COAS,Pakistan.

organizations that want all thebenefits than what can be pro-vided by the government or thesystem that is in vogue. Ap-peals in newspapers are an in-dication of interest groupstrying to make extra profit by

stating that the heavens will fall ifpolicy decisions as they seek are notprovided. Under such circumstancesit is difficult to differentiate betweenthe doable and other wise.

The subjective aspects of wellbeing are the motivational factors be-hind such actions. Psychologicallythis is for making the economic situ-ation operate more efficiently.Whether they achieve this or not isyet to be seen. In an economy that iscontracting and that has many aspectsthat require urgent action the depres-sive element is serious. An incomeconstriction is dangerous at suchtimes. The two systems regress andreinforce negative factors in aneconomy. Pakistan is in the throes ofquantity or growth reduction whilethe motivation towards quality re-quires a different set of skills in theeconomic. No amount of sugar coat-ing of the economic surveys will en-able the government to improve itscredibility. That the facts ordained inthe economic survey cannot be takenfor granted is known to the majority.There being no other source the au-thenticity or otherwise of the eco-nomic survey has to be taken for whatever is its worth.

The current situation isemboldened by the GST and thewithholding tax that the current gov-ernment has imposed. By increas-ing the tax base nothing worthwhileis done for the tax machinery andthey are allowed a laid back situa-tion. No effort has to be made if theGST is increased by one percent

while in effect it is increased by 4 or5%. The tax machinery does nothave to exert itself. The rich remainout of the tax net and the poor sufferthe consequences. All that they haveto do in such a situation is to moni-tor and see that there is no leakage.This is passive action at best.

Pakistan’s tax machinery re-quires a bolt from the power struc-tures just as President Truman dodmin 1948 when he removed the en-tire machinery for corrupt practicesand recruited the inland tax machin-ery a new. It came to pass that eventhe Vice president of the USA SpiroAgnew fell foul of the Inland Rev-enue. Such a situation cannot arrivein Pakistan simply because we arefixed on the power house that cando no wrong and woe begone to theone that takes them on. To bringabout a balance between the powerof the political system and the pow-erful and the bureaucracy a new kindof institutional paradigm will haveto be determined. To believe that thiscan happen in Pakistan is akin todelivering an impossibility theorem.Chaos and confusion will rule Paki-stan for a long time in which hon-esty and truth will suffer. In Physicschaos theorem explains the unex-plainable but in the social systemsnothing like this happens.

Take the next consequence ofbudget and that has to do with prices.The price rise in food items has hotthe common person and will takeaway whatever little disposable in-come he has. Since this is the era ofbusinessmen and traders is there acase for making the inefficient policesthat help these traders in effect rea-sonably good for the poor person.Inefficient polices seldom if ever helpthe poor. You might talk of the be-nign hand of Adam Smith but given

the current situation we might findthat the hand is not so benign. Themighty seldom have the poor in theirsight. Policy makers may feel thatthe unfettered pursuit of self-inter-est always promotes societies in-terest is to forget the simple lessonsthat we have had when we look atthe marginal and fragile area ofPakistan and see what myopic po-lices have done in the past.

This leads one to surmise thattaxes are necessary evil in societybut then the cost of indirect taxesversus direct taxes has to be deter-mined if only to bring a balance insociety. Since our coverage of poli-cies is never examined the irresist-ible conclusion is that the costs tosociety of various actions of thepowerful can ever be conducive toefficient costs to society. One doesnot have to go very far in seeingthat agriculture and food prices donot ever reflect the efficiency of asystem. The colonial system is upfor grabs and has been for some-time but the local mafias have de-cided to take it in their own realm.The district council chairmen didwhat the gora did to us.

If and when market prices re-flect accurately the prices the in-visible hand promotes the commongood. Till such time as that happensthe word is that Adam smith is ir-relevant to the system that is bereftwith all kinds of economic ills.Please loom at the invisible handmore closely if only to ensure thatthe institutional elements in thegovernment of Pakistan look at thesystem more closely and more in-vestigative manner. Is this askingfor the moon? But with the newgovernment there are certain indi-viduals who are capable of doinggood. Take good care of prices.

Gen Mirza Aslam BegEmail: friendsfoundation @live.co.uk

Dr Zafar AltafEmail:dr_altaf@hotmail.com

The best optionwould be to form

the Truth andReconciliationCommission to

investigate into allthe past misdeeds,

“without digging theold graves” andcorrect the civil-

military relationshipperspective for the

posterity. We have adistorted history

which needs to becorrected.

Voice of the PeopleSwiss casesMUKHTAR AHMED

With reference to your editorial”Swiss accounts: Another distor-tion” (June 28) has certainly sur-prised the entire nation on the dis-closure of the facts that it was ba-sically to complete the formalitiesand satisfy the Apex Court con-firming that letter has been writ-ten to Swiss authorities to open thegraft cases against PresidentZardari. But after few days anotherletter was written to Swiss authori-ties to close the matter quietly ismatter of grave concern and hasto be taken seriously and bring itto its logical conclusion

Writing another letter at thisstage to Swiss authorities would bemaking a fun of our selves becauseSwiss authorities are not going totake any action on this matter be-cause the case stands closed by theSwiss authorities on the instruc-tions by the government. Accord-ing to sources and latest communi-cation the Swiss authorities madeit clear the money laundering casesagainst President Asif Ali Zardariand others could not be reopenedas they have died down foreverbeing ‘time-barred’.

It is time to divert our atten-tion towards pressing problems aslisted in the editorial instead ofcrying over on old cases thatwould serve no purpose and takethe government away from theirmain objectives. Let Apex Courttakes care of this grave violationby the law ministry and proceedaccordingly, and governmentshould concentrate on major issueslike law and order and energy.People are eagerly watching theperformance of present govern-ment in the light of the promisesmade during election campaign. Itis not going to be smooth sailing,the government must deliver be-fore mass agitation begins—Via email

Electricity theftin LarkanaDR SAJID HAMEED

To end load shedding, innumeratesuggestions are given from tax freesolar panels, building dams to bor-rowing gas and oil. But many don’trealize that these steps are superfi-cial. Our infrastructure is toowrecked and corrupted to functionproperly. I am quoting an exampleof Larkana. 1. Electricity theft is atits peak. More than 50% of homesare stealing the electricity with theaid of concerned officials.

Many homes do not havemeters. 2. Free stolen electricity isused recklessly. In these homes, airconditioners remain on throughoutthe day. People use quilts but donot turn off the ACs. 3. The richand influential have illegally in-stalled the electrical lines fromdouble feeders. When one feederis off, they turn on the other one.Hence, the purpose of load shed-ding is lost. 4. The person payingthe bills honestly is burdened withprice hikes and taxes. To makethings worse, the lineman asks forthousand rupees just for the correctreading of the units. 5. Our coun-try has capability to produce the re-quired electricity but whatever en-ergy will be installed into the sys-tem, by whatever source, it wouldbe stolen. It’s not about producingmore energy; it’s about controllingthe situation.

The solution is strict actionagainst these corrupt governmentservants. Nobody can do anythingwithout their illegal assistance. Ifgovernment can’t handle it, thenthey should privatize the institu-tion. KESC has shown that thethings are controllable and profit-able. In short, honest man paysbills, more units than actual, hasone line and suffers. The dishonestman uses free electricity, pays nobill, has dual lines and enjoys. Ourbeloved Pakistan!—Larkana

US left-oversin Afghanistan

HASAN EHTISHAM

Facing a tight withdrawal deadlineand rough terrain, the U.S. mili-tary has destroyed more than 170million pounds of vehicles andother military equipment as USA’seconomy could not burden moreadventurism in Afghanistan.Meanwhile a million of dollars’worth military equipment has beendestroyed by USA because bring-ing it back is too expensive. TheUS says the transportation costsfor the equipment are too high toship them back home. But econo-mist Lew Rockwell tells RussiaToday it is because of a corrup-tion scheme by the “US militaryleadership”. Most of the equip-ment continues to be torn, cut and

Mush’s trialDR A P SANGDIL

Everyone thought former strongman Pervez Musharraf was tooclever to return from his self-exile. His cleverness left him when

the great Reaper above ordained him to return and face trial for hisheinous crimes against his own people. Recall his arrogance steepedin unbridled power when he boasted: “they wouldn’t know whathit them”. In fact, one should be lucky for not knowing what hithim than the one being dragged in courts, ridiculed and humili-ated. Perhaps that’s Almighty’s way of showing the mortals whathappens to the arrogant and ignorant pharaohs. Those who thinknothing could happen to Mush do not realize that times havechanged. Other than a handful of his beneficiaries, nobody sympa-thizes with him. His beneficiaries are armchair talking heads whowould never come out on the roads to save their leader. Seeing Mushin the dock has reaffirmed my faith in the just law of nature.—Oslo, Norway

READERS

Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

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

—Editor

Five myths about NSA

When the NSA (National Security Agency) was created through a top secret

memorandum signed by US Presi-dent Harry Truman in 1952, theagency was so secret that only a fewmembers of Congress knew aboutit. While the NSA gradually becameknown over the decades, its innerworkings remain extremely hidden,even with the recent leaks about itsgathering of Americans’ phonerecords and tapping into data fromthe nine largest Internet companies.

Let’s pull back the shroud a bitto demystify this agency. (1) TheNSA is allowed to spy on everyone,everywhere. After his release ofdocuments to The Guardian and TheWashington Post, former NSA con-tractor Edward Snowden said, “I, sit-ting at my desk, certainly had theauthorities to wiretap anyone, fromyou or your accountant to a federaljudge to even the president if I had apersonal e-mail.”

But Snowden probably couldn’teavesdrop on just about anyone, in-cluding the president, without break-ing the law. The Foreign IntelligenceSurveillance Act forbids the NSAfrom targeting US citizens or legalresidents without an order issued bythe Foreign Intelligence Surveil-lance Court. This applies whetherthe person is in the United States oroverseas.

According to documents fromSnowden published last week byThe Post and The Guardian, ifagency employees pick up the com-munications of Americans inciden-tally while monitoring foreign tar-

gets, they are supposed to destroythe information unless it contains“significant foreign intelligence” orevidence of a crime.

What’s technically feasible is adifferent matter. Since 2003, theNSA has been able to monitor muchof the Internet and telephone com-munication entering, leaving andtravelling through the US with se-cret eavesdropping hardware andsoftware installed at major AT&Tswitches, and probably those ofother companies, around the coun-try. (2) The courts make sure thatwhat the NSA does is legal. This ispart of the NSA’s mantra. Becauseboth the surveillance court and theactivities it monitors are secret, it’shard to contradict. Yet we knowabout at least one transgression sinceCongress created the court in 1978in response to the NSA’s previousabuses. Under the court’s originalcharter, the NSA was required toprovide it with the names of all UScitizens and residents it wished tomonitor. Yet the George W. Bush ad-ministration issued a presidentialorder in 2002 authorizing the NSAto eavesdrop without court-approvedwarrants.

After the New York Times ex-posed the warrantless wiretappingprogram in 2005, Congress amendedthe law to weaken the court’s over-sight and incorporate many of theformerly illegal eavesdropping ac-tivities conducted during the Bushyears. Rather than individual war-rants, the court can now approvevast, dragnet-style warrants, or or-ders, as they’re called.

For example, the first documentreleased by The Guardian was a top-secret order from the court requir-ing Verizon to hand over the daily

telephone records of all its custom-ers, including local calls. (3) Con-gress has a lot of oversight over theNSA. This is the second part of themantra from NSA Director KeithAlexander and other senior agencyofficials. Indeed, when the congres-sional intelligence committees wereformed in 1976 and 1977, their em-phasis was on protecting the publicfrom the intelligence agencies,which were rife with abuses.

Today, however, the intelligencecommittees are more dedicated toprotecting the agencies from budgetcuts than safeguarding the publicfrom their transgressions. Hencetheir failure to discover the Bushadministration’s warrantless wire-tapping activity and their failure totake action against the NSA’s gath-ering of telephone and Internetrecords.

(4) NSA agents break into for-eign locations to steal codes andplant bugs. According to intelligencesources, a number of years ago therewas a large debate between the NSAand the CIA over who was respon-sible for conducting “black-bagjobs” — breaking into foreign loca-tions to plant bugs and steal harddrives, or recruiting local agents todo the same. The NSA argued that itwas in charge of eavesdropping oncommunications, known as signalsintelligence, and that the data onhard drives counts. But the CIA ar-gued that the NSA had responsibil-ity only for information “in motion,”while the CIA was responsible forinformation “at rest.” It was even-tually decided that the CIA’s Na-tional Clandestine Service wouldfocus on stealing hard drives andplanting bugs, and the NSA, througha highly secret unit known as Tai-

Views From Abroad

lored Access Operations, wouldsteal foreign data through cyber-techniques.

(5) Snowden could have airedhis concerns internally rather thanleaking the documents. I’ve inter-viewed many NSA whistleblowers,and the common denominator isthat they felt ignored when attempt-ing to bring illegal or unethical op-erations to the attention of higher-ranking officials.

For example, William Binneyand several other senior NSA staff-ers protested the agency’s domes-tic collection programs up the chainof command, and even attemptedto bring the operations to the atten-tion of the attorney general, but theywere ignored. Only then did Binneyspeak publicly to me for an articlein Wired magazine. In a Q&A onThe Guardian website, Snowdencited Binney as an example of “howoverly-harsh responses to public-interest whistleblowing only esca-late the scale, scope, and skill in-volved in future disclosures. Citi-zens with a conscience are not go-ing to ignore wrongdoing simplybecause they’ll be destroyed for it:The conscience forbids it.”

And even when whistleblowersbring their concerns to the newsmedia, the NSA usually denies thatthe activity is taking place. Theagency denied Binney’s chargesthat it was obtaining all consumermetadata from Verizon and had ac-cess to virtually all Internet traffic.It was only when Snowden leakedthe documents revealing the phone-log program and showing howPRISM works that the NSA had tocome clean. The writer is the au-thor of three books on the NSA.— Courtesy: The Japan Times

India’s nuclear amateurism

Secretary of State John Kerryreminded New Delhi that theUnited States expects India to

toe its line on non-proliferation andget a move on in signing the Mis-sile Technology Control Regime,Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty(CTBT) and the Fissile MaterialCut-off Treaty. One hopes NewDelhi will not give way on any ofthese issues even if membership ofthe Nuclear Suppliers Group is theprize because, as it is, the Indiannuclear deterrent is grievouslyhandicapped. First, by untestedthermonuclear weapons with de-sign flaws no amount of simulationcan correct, whence resumption oftesting becomes imperative, andsecondly, matching this hardwaredeficiency are the “software” prob-lems — doctrinal weaknesses andinadequate understanding in gov-ernment circles of nuclear weaponsand strategy.

The latter aspect was illustratedby Shyam Saran, convenor of theNational Security Advisory Board(NSAB) and former foreign secre-tary, holding forth on May 3 onnuclear issues and, predictably,making a hash of it. Considering aChinese military unit was holdingLadakhi real estate then, Saran wentoff on an anti-Pakistan tangent in-stead! It confirmed the suspicionthat the government is unable to dif-ferentiate issues of strategic impor-tance from lesser concerns and, asregards nuclear security, is all atsea. Informed Pakistanis promptlydismissed it as “bluster”, deemingIndia “a blundering nuclear power”.

At the heart of Saran’s talkwas a wrong take on nuclear mat-ters that has calcified into a stra-tegic gospel in official quarters,courtesy the late K

Subrahmanyam, starting with thebelief that nuclear testing is inci-dental to the credibility of the de-terrent, evident in his canvassingfor India’s signature on CTBT in1995-96 which Saran rightly said“would have permanently fore-closed (development of) a cred-ible and fully tested nuclear de-terrent”. Except, the problem ofuntested hydrogen weapons per-sists owing to the no-testingpredicate of the India-US nucleardeal supported by Subrahmanyamand Co, and negotiated by Saran.It reflects the cavalier disregardfor nuclear testing which is starkin the context of the field direc-tor of the 1998 tests , KSanthanam, recommending there-testing of a rectified thermo-nuclear weapon design becausethe one that was tested failed.

Saran’s plea to “make public”the official nuclear doctrine, whichhe said was virtually the draft pro-duced by NSAB in 1998, was of apiece with his asking for an annualnumerical accounting of thecountry’s nuclear forces. He didn’tpause to wonder why no othernuclear weapon state to-date hasdisclosed its nuclear doctrine, andwhy China and Pakistan are un-likely ever to reveal their weaponsinventory details. The public re-lease of the draft-doctrine to winpoints for transparency withAmerica and gain traction for theNext Steps in Strategic Partnership(NSSP), was an appalling mistakeby the BJP government that theCongress regime converted into thewrecking ball of the Indo-USnuclear deal, which destroyed theintegrity of the country’s dual-usenuclear energy programme.

Ambiguity is at the core ofnuclear deterrence and dissuasion.It isn’t advanced by making thedoctrine an open document, evenless by revealing weapons strength.

Having disclosed the doctrine,however, the strategic initiativepassed to the adversary states withthe good sense to divulge nothing.China increased the “daunting un-certainties” for India by bringingconventional missiles under thecontrol of its Second Artillerynuclear forces, and Pakistan devel-oped the 60km Nasr (Hatf IX)guided rocket.

The dense fog of ignorance ofnuclear deterrence matters blan-keting Indian government circleshas eventuated in a hollow strat-egy emphasising “massive retali-ation” as response to tactical firstuse of nuclear weapon by Pakistan(on Indian armour, say, inside Pa-kistani territory). Promising mas-sive nuclear destruction as retal-iatory action, in the circumstances,only undermines the credibility ofthe Indian deterrent as it violatesthe principle of proportionality —the essence of “flexible response”.A version of this concept — “pu-nitive response” — was central tothe original NSAB draft-doctrine.Owing to the usual mix of abomi-nable advice and mindlessattitudinising lashed with deep il-literacy on these issues, “punitiveresponse” was replaced by “mas-sive retaliation”. All it did wasspur accelerated production ofweapons-grade plutonium, war-heads, and missiles by Pakistanwhich an India, fixated on Paki-stan and “minimum” deterrence,finds unable to match, what to talkof China! Truth is massive retali-ation cannot doctrinally coexistwith the “minimum deterrence”notion the Indian governmentseems wedded to. That is commonsense but try telling it to the glibtalkers in official quarters.

Much was also made by him ofcommentaries concluding India ac-quired nuclear weapons for statusand prestige, not for security. But

why is this conclusion wrong, con-sidering India reached the weap-ons threshold with its plutoniumreprocessing capability in early1964 but did not weaponise afterChina exploded an atomic devicein October that year, and with themilitary humiliation of 1962 asbackdrop? Contrast this with thesingle-minded, no-nonsense,threat-propelled Chinese and Pa-kistani programmes to obtainmeaningful nuclear arsenals fast,even as the Indian weaponsprogramme meandered, itsprogress hampered by dreams ofdisarmament last manifested in the1988 Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan.

That the Indian governmenthas time and again veered off intothe murk of nuclear power poli-tics without being equipped for thetask is due to the generalist diplo-mats and civil servants playing atnuclear strategists. Saran admittedthat the country had suffered frombad advice to “defer the acquisi-tion of a nuclear weapon arsenalas long as there was still hope thatthe world would eventually movetowards a complete elimination ofthese weapons”, and that it was“undeniable” that “mistakes(were) made, sometimes opportu-nities (were) missed or our judge-ments were misplaced”.

The cumulative debilitatingeffect of such rank bad, and ama-teurish, counsel is reflected in themanner India is strategicallyhandicapped today. It indicates afool’s world our diplomats (espe-cially, denizens of MEA’s Disar-mament Division that Saranserved in), senior civil servants,political leaders and increasinglysenior military officers hewing tothe government line, live in. Elimi-nation of nuclear weapons, really?—The writer is Professor atCentre for Policy Research andblogs at www.bharatkarnad.com.

James Bamford

How often we pray for peaceof mind, but keep worrying: A story that has long

fascinated me, is that of an oldcouple in the Second World War.They lived in London, during thetime when Hitler decided to bom-bard the city everyday. Day afterday hundreds of German planesdropped bombs all over the cityand flattened building after build-ing. Thousands of people died.

This couple had decided to puttheir lives into God’s hands yearsbefore, even before the war andhad lived their lives trusting thatGod would look after every mo-

ment. When the bombs fell, theylaughed. They actually laughed andtheir neighbours wondered whetherthe effect of the continuous bomb-ing had unsettled them and decidedto ask them the cause of their merri-ment in the face of such danger.

“The same God,” they said,“who looked after us day after dayduring times of peace is still look-ing after us during war. God hasn’tchanged, why should we?” Like Isaid, this is one story that has alwaysfascinated me.

There once was a king who of-fered a prize to the artist who wouldpaint the best picture of peace. Manyartists tried. The king looked at allthe pictures. But there were only twohe really liked, and he had to choosebetween them.

One picture was of a calm lake.The lake was a perfect mirror forpeaceful towering mountains all

around it. Overhead was a blue skywith fluffy white clouds. All whosaw this picture thought that it wasa perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had moun-tains, too. But these were rugged andbare. Above was an angry sky, fromwhich rain fell and in which light-ning played. Down the side of themountain tumbled a foaming water-fall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king lookedclosely, he saw behind the waterfalla tiny bush growing in a crack in therock. In the bush a mother bird hadbuilt her nest. There, in the midst ofthe rush of angry water, sat themother bird on her nest - in perfectpeace. Which picture do you thinkwon the prize?

The king chose the second pic-ture. Do you know why? “Because,”explained the king, “peace does notmean being in a place where there

We anxious human beings..!is no noise, trouble, or hard work.Peace means to be in the midst ofall those things and still being calmin your heart. That is the real mean-ing of peace.”

That couple who sat andlaughed in the middle of the bomb-ing were like that bird in the pic-ture. The bombs came down in tor-rents, fire flashed across the sky,but they sat unperturbed, securein the truth that nothing could harmher. I’d like to end with this littlepoem by Elizabeth Cheney thatused to hang on a plaque in my liv-ing room as a child: Said the Robinto the sparrow, “I should really liketo know why these anxious humanbeings Rush about and worry so,”Said the sparrow to the Robin:“Friend I feel that it could be Theythink they have no God above Suchas cares for you and me..!—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Bharat Karnad

crushed and to be sold for penniesper pound on the Afghan scrap mar-ket. If we equate Iraq and Afghani-stan then Afghanistan is not aliketo Iraq. Iraq shared a border withKuwait, which already accommo-dated US military hardware. It wasjust a matter of driving south intothe neighboring country and leav-ing the equipment there until it wasreassigned. To drive the MRAPsout of Afghanistan would meantraveling south through Pakistan.According to Maj Gen Kurt Stein,who is overseeing the drawdown inAfghanistan, corruption, taxes,bribes and tariffs make it an expen-sive trip. Pakistan could see that ithas the U.S. over a barrel, and willmake the most of the opportunity.Islamabad may seek an agreementwith Washington for the purchaseof the leftover military equipment.As US official elaborated that theydo not believe the Afghan armycould maintain such vehicles orother sophisticated equipment.

Just similar to Iraq where the UStroops had to experience high costsof transporting the used militaryequipment, which even surpassedtheir genuine value, the US authori-ties could face the same conditionin Afghanistan. Such situation in Af-ghanistan is likely to induce the USto seek alternatives and one such al-ternative could be to sell the leftovermilitary equipment to Islamabad.Despite this a US lawmaker said thatinstead of wasting million dollarsequipment the US should sell it tofriendly countries like India andUzbekistan.

New York Congressman DanaRohrabacher has written in a letterto Secretary of State John Kerry thatthe United States should not wasteperfectly good military equipmentand articulated that USA have alliesand friends in Uzbekistan and Indiawho have very real security concernsand could put this equipment to gooduse. By doing this USA will againsignal the discrimination to Pakistan.How USA can designate India as herally in war on terror? Which indica-tors show USA policy makers thatIndia has more security concernsthen Pakistan? USA must keep inmind that Pakistan is crucial for thematerialization of exit strategy fromAfghanistan. USA will need fourtimes more funds to withdrawthrough the route of Uzbekistan thanthe rout follow through Pakistan.USA must restrain herself to provideshoulder to India for playing activerole in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has the first right to anyincentives which can be given byUSA during her withdrawal becausePakistan is the frontline ally of USAin war on terror and USA need Pa-kistan more than any country to ma-terialize her exit strategy. Remem-ber all these weapons were trans-ported to Afghanistan mostlythrough Pakistan. Is it going to be a“boot sale”? We appreciate friendsnot merchants!—Via email

Grant specialallowance

RAJA GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN

The Secretary Finance is requestedfor immediately issuing of notifica-tion after recent judgment ofIslamabad High Court. I think thatit is genuine request of all the fed-eral employees and necessary noti-fication should be issued by the Sec-retary Ministry of the finance with-out any further delay for redressingthe genuine grievances of all the fed-eral govt employees of Islamabad.—Via email

Nuclearsecurity & PRP

YASIR HUSSAIN

Recently security of a UK nuclearplant has been questioned. As thepolice officers who sentinel the UK’snuclear power stations have beencaught drunk and taking drugs. Thiscan raised the question about secu-rity and personal Reliability Pro-gram (PRP) for the nuclear securityof the P5 nuclear State. It has raisedquestion regarding safety ofBritain’s radioactive material and

nuclear plants. PRP is the program,designed to permit only the mosttrustworthy individuals to have ac-cess to nuclear Plants. This type ofincident can question the security ofthe nuclear power plant.

Nuclear Personnel ReliabilityProgram (PRP) selects and main-tains only the most reliable peopleto perform duties associated withnuclear weapons. Nuclear weaponsrequire special consideration be-cause of their implications and mili-tary importance, their destructivepower, and the political conse-quences of an accident, loss of aweapon, or an unauthorized act.While there have been dozens ofaccidents involving nuclear weap-ons, not one has resulted in even apartial nuclear detonation. So thereis need to review the PRR programso as these incident not be happenagain. Individuals involved in adrunk and drug-related incident shallbe suspended from PRP duties. Sus-pension under these circumstancesshall only be used when reliabilityis not in question.—Via email

Religious valuesJESÚS SANCHO BIELSA

There are no children without par-ents and there are no parents with-out children. A marriage withoutchildren does not enjoy the title ofpaternity, they are spouses (husbandand wife) but they are not parents.And in case of abandonment or de-nial of family ties with parents, thegreatest injustice to human feelingsis committed.

With God, author of our exist-ence and our life, occurs the samein an eminent degree. Greek thought,with its great representatives: Plato,Aristotle, Socrates... is the Westerncivilization cradle, as the story rec-ognize it, formulated clear principleswhich force us to recognize the re-lationship with God (religion) as acause and foundation of our exist-ence. Greeks said that we are con-tingent beings and we must rise to anecessary being, a first unmovedmotor, because there is no effectwithout cause and no one gives whathe does not have.

We have not given our lives, noone gives life to himself, a life thatno one has and therefore it cannotbe given. We say: my parents gaveme life. That is true, but with helpof God in the order of Providence.Who has given them? We can not bedelaying the answer until infinityand we have to put an origin thatagrees with the principle: I am whoI am (Ex 3, 14), God said to Mosesin the bush of Sinai that burned with-out being consumed, attracting hisattention when he grazed the flockof his father-in-law in order to givethe commission to deliver Israel thatlived as a slave in Egypt and bringhim to the promised land.

Therefore, religion is the ex-pression of transcendental act thatcauses the birth of all beings andparticularly the man (the privilegedcreature by his intelligence, willand freedom that recognizes the in-alienable rights of God and thegreatness of the dignity given tohim by the Author of his being andhis life). Religious gives reasonabout life and everything that hap-pens in the world and in the societyof men. Truth and loyalty are basedin religious values needed to formthe moral conscience of man andbuild a new world. A better world,a more humane society in whichmen admit to be brothers and helpand want each other so in life thereis less pain, hunger, ignorance, lies,sin, loneliness, sadness, hatred,envy, selfishness, arrogant and de-sire for power, ambition and vainglory. A world where the dignity offree and intelligent man shines. AsGod made and wants.—Teruel, Spain

SA approves Budget; MQMwalks out on hike in taxes

From Back Pageonly if it does not affect the com-mon man.

“In this regard Revenue Re-source Mobilization has beenembarked upon in strict compli-ance of the government direc-tives”, said Sindh InformationMinister Sharjeel InnamMemon.

During the session, it waspointed out that Sales Tax is apass on tax on sales of servicesprovided and should not be con-fused with Income Tax which istax on profits of the operationof a business.

As per Finance Bill 2013-14 passed by Sindh Assemblythe relief measures taken by theSindh Government encom-passes non enhancement in STrate which is to remain @ 16%despite Federation and otherProvinces increasing it to 17percent thus bringing a financialimpact Rs. (-) 1.34 billion on theprovincial budget; abolition ofBed Tax on hotels with an im-pact Rs. (-) Rs.140 million,

According to Finance Bill,the tax on Utility Bills(NADRA) is being abolished toremove the anomaly of taxingutility bill collection service byNADRA as other providers ofthis service are not taxed. Thiswill result in an impact of Rs. (-) 10 million on provincial exche-quer.

The Finance Bill indicatesnew sectors for ST services asproposed in the budget at 16%.This includes tax on advertisingagents

According to InformationMinister this Tax is introducedto remove an anomaly as Adver-tising service is taxed but not theagents. By introducing this taxthe advertising agents will betaxed which will remove theanomaly, help in taxing the ser-vice provider and increase thetax. It will result in a positiveimpact of Rs.3m million

Beauty Parlours & BeautyClinics, Gyms, Body MassageCenters, Pedicure & ManicureCenters are other areas havingbeen included as service provid-ers for the purpose ST Services

with Hair cutting, Hair dyeing,Shaving, Plastic or CosmeticSurgery, Therapeutic Massageand non-air-conditionedparlours and shops as being ex-ceptions. This will bring anotherpositive financial impact of Rs30 million.

Besides, ST services tax onRace Clubs will result in posi-tive impact of Rs.20 million,Security Agencies Rs.100 mil-lion, Freight Forwarding AgentsRs.20 million), CommodityBrokers Rs.100 million, Mar-riage Halls & Lawns with theexception of Lawns under andup to 800 Sq. Yards Rs.300 mil-lion), Public bonded warehousesRs.100 million,

Event Management Ser-vices, Event PhotographyVideography services, andPindal and Shamiana servicesRs.300 Million), Tax on Ser-vices at Standard rate on Spon-sorship Services, BusinessSupport Services, ManagementConsultants, Software and ITbased Development Consult-ants, Market Research Agency,Surveyors, Management Con-sultants , Auto Workshops hav-ing annual turnover of more thanRs.3.6 Million, Workshops ofIndustrial and Construction Ma-chineries, Exhibition and Con-vention Services, Labour&Manpower Supply Services,Services provided in the matterof manufacturing or processingfor others on toll basis bringinga positive impact of Rs.100 mil-lion, Internet Services with theexception for billing up toRs.1500 per month, in order toprovide relief to home users andstudents using the Internet re-sulting in a positive impact ofRs.300 million.

As per Finance Bill the rateof Infrastructure Cess has beenchanged to 0.90% to 0.95%from 0 .80% to 0.85% whichwas adjusted in 2008. It will re-sult in a positive impact of Rs.2 Billion

As on Property Tax, theAnnual Rental Value (ARV) ratehas been changed to 25% from20% which was last revised in

2001 and will result in a posi-tive impact of Rs. 370 million.

The Trade and Import ofPotable Liquor License Fee isincreased from Rs 6 to Rs 8 lacsand Retail Off Liquor Licensefee changed from Rs 3.5 lac toRs. 5 lacs. The last revision inthis license fee was carried outin 2008. This was result in apositive impact of Rs 23.3 mil-lion.

The Finance Bill also showsthe following taxes at reducedrate of 4%

Information Minister said itis the endeavor of our govern-ment to make, Sindh financiallyindependent and increase its rev-enues by taking advantage of thedevolution of power in the 7thNFC Award.

“At the same time we do notwant to burden our people andbusinesses to suffer from nega-tive impact of taxation. We havetherefore decided to tax the fol-lowing services at a lower rateof 4% after listening to the rep-resentations of the stakehold-ers”.

Construction Services at therate of 4 percent. This tax hadbeen reduced as a result of ourpolicy of continued discussionswith the stakeholders, which inthis case is Constructions Asso-ciation of Pakistan (CAP).

It said that in order not toburden constructors and con-struction industry which is pro-vides stimulus for economicgrowth the tax rate will be at areduced rate of 4 percent withno input adjustment. It will re-sult in a positive impact ofRs.300 million. Tax on Servicesof Legal Practitioners and Con-sultants, Accountants and Audi-tors and Tax Consultants at therate of 4 percent. Based on ourpolicy increasing the tax net andto incorporate sales tax recom-mendation of our consultants ithas been decided that this sec-tor will be taxed at reduced rateof 4% with no input adjust-ments. It has to be understoodthat this tax is a pass on tax forpeople and businesses using theservices provider. Impact (+)Rs.900 million.

ISLAMABAD—Oil and Gas De-velopment Company Ltd(OGDCL) is to provide fundsfor the construction of a hostelfor 300 female students in thecampus of Quaid-i-Azam Uni-versity (QAU).

An MoU to this affect wassigned here on Friday by theVice Chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) ProfDr Masoom Yasinzai and Man-aging Director OGDCL MrMasood Siddiqui.

Speaking on the occasion DrMasoom Yasinzai lauded thenoble step of OGDCL and urgedthe Corporate Sector of thecountry to come forward andsupport the premier institutions.

“I truly appreciate theOGDCL’s generous donationand hope that this gesture willserve as a signal to other largecorporations to invest in the edu-cational institutions. He saiddonor support is crucial for pub-lic sector universities as philan-thropic support will be helpfulincreasing awareness amongcommunity about fund raisingfor Higher Education andAchieving the goal of an edu-cated Pakistan” he added.

The Vice Chancellor saidthat QAU is a federally chartereduniversity devoted to teaching &

research. At QAU students areadmitted from all over Pakistanaccording to regional quota butpurely on merit. Therefore, hesaid the requirement for hostelaccommodation is much more

than any other university. Hepraised the step of OGDCL andhoped that shortage of hostel ac-commodation will be tackledsuccessfully with the completionof the new hostel.

Dr Masoom said that todayuniversities do not simply passon knowledge; they are also ex-pected to be the hubs of innova-tion. Our Universities have to beat the cutting edge of knowledge

to be able to compete globallyand contribute to society pro-ductively. If our universities cansuccessfully take on this role,then they can be the drivers ofgrowth in the currently limited

science and technology sectorsof Pakistan. Universities nowhave the chance to break theirtraditional image and interactwith communities around themto produce research that is ben-eficial to society.

Managing DirectorOGDCL, Mr Masood Siddiquiwhile addressing the ceremonycongratulated the university asit has been recently ranked

among top 200 Universities ofAsia. He said that his organiza-tion values the linkage of indus-try and academia a lot. Promot-ing Industry-Academia Linkageis decisive for developing a

knowledge based economy.“Unfortunately, right now thereis an ocean between the aca-demic world and the industrialworld, a gap which needs to beovercome if university researchis to be useful for the privatesector” said the MD.

Deans of the faculties, offic-ers and senior faculty membersattended the signing cer-emony.—PR

OGDCL to fund QAU hostel constructionand altercations within thefamily in our home and saythat justice has not been donewith us.

But this is an internal is-sue and we have mechanism ofdiscussions and talks throughwhich we can comfortablysolve every issue, and we willdo that,” Khurshid said ad-dressing Congress party work-ers in Srinagar.

“Jammu and Kashmir is notthe only place where there areproblems. There are issues in ev-ery nook and corner of the coun-try — there are issues of reser-vation, of opportunities to begiven to those who are down-trodden, of unemployment, ofwomen issues and their securityand issues of health. There areissues, but there are solutions aswell,” he said.—INP

lined under Ahmadinejad, whoby law could not run for a thirdconsecutive term.

“The future governmentmust operate in the frameworkof moderation ...(and it) mustavoid extremism, and this mes-sage is for everyone,” Rouhani,a former chief nuclear negotia-tor, said in a speech carried liveon state television.

“The next cabinet will betrans-factional ... This govern-ment is not obligated to anyparty or faction, and will workto choose the most qualifiedpeople from all sides and fac-tions, under conditions of mod-eration and temperance.”

Analysts say Rouhani, amid-ranking Shi’ite Muslimcleric who has held sensitivesecurity posts since the 1980s,enjoys an insider status andclose relationship with theo-cratic Supreme Leader Ayatol-lah Ali Khamenei, and may beable to build bridges betweenfactions to yield reforms.

But Khamenei will retainthe final say on policies thatmost concern world powers, in-cluding Iran’s nuclear programand its support for Syrian Presi-dent Bashar al-Assad againstrebels trying to overthrow him.

Rouhani also urged modera-tion in Iranian policies towardsthe rest of the world and calledfor a balance between “realism”and pursuing the ideals of theIslamic Republic.

“Moderation in foreignpolicy is neither submission norantagonism, neither passivitynor confrontation. Moderation iseffective and constructive inter-action with the world,” he said.

“The Islamic Republic ofIran, as a major regional poweror the biggest regional power...,must play its role and for thiswe need moderation.”

Western powers suspect Iranof seeking to develop a nuclearweapons capability, whichTehran denies. The Islamic Re-public is now languishing underincreasingly tough sanctionslimiting its oil sales, a crucialsource of revenue, obstructingits foreign trade and stokinghigher inflation and unemploy-ment.—Reuters

SalmanKhurshid

From Page 1

RouhaniFrom Page 1

He conveyed his deepestcondolences to the Chinese gov-ernment‚ Chinese people and theaffected families of the victimsrecently shot dead in Gilgit. Hereaffirmed that perpetratorswould be brought to justice.

The Prime Minister said thathe was looking forward to hisvisit to China in the first weekof next month and the visitwould help further strengthenthe bilateral ties. The PrimeMinister said that Gwadar PortProject is the hallmark of Pak-China strategic partnership andit will bring economic dividendsfor both Pakistan and China.

PM: High level task force to expand Pak-China coopFrom Page 1

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif talking to students departing for Europe on study tour at airport.

The Prime Minister ex-pressed his satisfaction that boththe countries’ shared vision ofestablishment of Long term Eco-nomic Corridor is moving for-ward. Mian Nawaz Sharif saidthat Pakistan is committed to takePakistan’s relations with Chinato an even higher level and itgreatly values China’s economicsupport and cooperation.

Earlier‚ talking to a Chinesemedia delegation‚ the PrimeMinister said Pak-China friend-ship is an important pillar of ourforeign policy.

He said friendship between

the two countries is not directedagainst any country but in theinterest of the whole region.

He said we particularly de-sire to further strengthen rela-tions with China in energy‚ in-frastructure and textile sectors.He said the creation of Pak-China trade corridor will be ben-eficial for the whole region in-cluding the central Asian states.

Information Minister PervezRashid and Planning and Devel-opment Minister Ahsan Iqbalwere also present on the occa-sion.

intervention in Syria.The meeting, in which

deputy interior ministers fromGCC member states will takepart, would “develop the appro-priate mechanisms for apply-ing” the June 10 decision, Al-Zayani said in commentsquoted by Saudi news agencySPA.

The sanctions would beimplemented “in coordination...with ministers of commerce andthe central banks of the GCC,”he added, without giving furtherdetails about the precise natureof the mechanisms. Qatari au-thorities expelled 18 Lebanesecitizens from the state on June20, a government source inBeirut told AFP.

An estimated 360,000Lebanese work in the Gulf, ac-cording to Lebanese daily An-Nahar, transferring some $4 bil-lion dollars (three billion euros)annually back to the country,which has a population of just4.1 million. A staunch ally ofSyrian President Bashar Assad,Hezbollah has backed him sinceprotests erupted in March 2011,openly declaring its military in-volvement in the war lastmonth.

GCC tofinalize curbs

From Page 1

hour of need. I believe this pro-vides a very strong foundationfor a sincere friendship andgenuine goodwill that exists be-tween our two nations andarmed forces.” he said.

The Sri Lankan army hassought more training opportuni-ties for its officers in Pakistan, inaddition to the ongoing training.

The matter was discussed asvisiting Pakistan army chiefAshfaq Parvez Kayani met hisSri Lankan counterpart GeneralJagath Jayasuriya at the armyheadquarters, said Sri Lankanarmy’ media unit.

Discussions between boththe army chiefs centred largelyon military related matters ofmutual interest, training andpossibilities to further enhancebond of goodwill and coopera-tion, according to media reports.

The request for training wasmade in the wake of Sri Lankawithdrawing two army officerswhile undergoing training in theIndian state of Tamil Nadu.

The two officers, who were

Pak wants regional stabilityFrom Page 1

the forces also recovered a mo-bile phone which was used inplanning to attack Sindh HighCourt Judge, Justice MaqboolBaqar.—INP

Drugs, cellphones, arms

From Page 1

following the Defense ServicesStaff Course (DSSC) in TamilNadu’s Wellington town, re-turned prematurely this weekfollowing stiff opposition in thesouth Indian state over the train-ing being given to them.

The Sri Lanka army hadturned down an offer by Indiato train the two officers at an-other location in place of theDefense Services Staff Course(DSSC) in that town.

The army said that due tosome security concerns the In-dian government had offeredtransfering the two officers fromDSSC Wellington to the HigherDefense Management Course inthe College of Defense Manage-ment in Andhra Pradesh state.

However the Sri Lankanauthorities declined to accept itas it was observed that theHDMC was not in line with theinitial purpose of sending thetwo officers for training in In-dia.—Online

Senator Farhatullah Babar whilebriefing about the meeting saidtwo rounds of talks were held atthe President House, includinga delegation-level and a one-on-one meeting.

Pak-UK bilateral relationsand the regional situation werediscussed during the meetingswith special reference to somerecent developments aimed atbringing peace in theneighbouring Afghanistan.

“Regional situation with ref-erence to peace and reconcilia-tion efforts in neighbouring Af-ghanistan and economic coop-eration between Britain and Pa-kistan and other matters of mu-tual interests were discussedduring the talks,” an officialsaid.

During his two-day stay inIslamabad, Cameron will hold“wide-ranging” talks with thetop Pakistani leadership, he said.

Another government offi-cial said Cameron will also holdtalks with his Pakistani counter-part Nawaz Sharif on Sunday.

Discussing regional situa-tion, the President recalled thethree Trilateral Summits, facili-tated by the United Kingdomand appreciated its role towardspromoting reconciliation in Af-ghanistan.

He reiterated that Pakistanconsiders regional peace andsecurity vital for its own socio-economic interests and it wouldcontinue to support every effortaimed at restoring peace, stabil-ity and development in Afghani-stan and in the region.

The President emphasizedthat Pakistan all along has main-tained a constructive approachand believes that dialogue andreconciliation were the only wayforward towards ensuring du-rable peace in Afghanistan.

The President welcomed ef-forts being made for finding apeaceful solution to the longdrawn conflict in Afghanistan.He expressed the hope that ef-forts made would also take intoaccount legitimate concerns ofall the stakeholders.

Spokesperson FarhatullahBabar said the British PrimeMinister at the very outset of themeeting congratulated the Presi-dent for overseeing a smoothtransition from a democracy toanother.

He observed that the smoothtransition of the government re-

Pakistan staunch supporterFrom Page 1

flected a measure of maturityachieved by the country and saidit augurs well for furtherstrengthening of democratic tra-ditions in the country.

President Zardari said thecredit for smooth transition wentto all political parties, the Par-liament and above all the peopleof Pakistan for participation inthe electoral process despitethreats from militants and anti-democratic elements.

He said that the smooth tran-sition of the government as aresult of the electoral processwas a clear demonstration thatthe ethos of Pakistani peoplewere democratic and was one ofthe reasons that dictatorshipfailed to take roots in the coun-try.

Discussing bilateral rela-tions, the President said Pakistanconsiders UK as a friend andgenuine development partner.He said that it was a matter ofgreat satisfaction that Pak-UKEnhanced Strategic Dialogue(ESD) that covers entire spec-trum of bilateral relations hasinstitutionalized the consultationprocess in all areas of mutualconcern and interest.

The President also appreci-ated UK assistance to the coun-try especially in the educationsector and poverty alleviationprogram.

The President expressed sat-isfaction over the fact that themutual trade between the twocountries was following an up-ward trajectory. He said that sus-tained efforts should continue togo beyond the target of PoundSterling 2.5 billion set under2012 Pakistan-UK Trade andInvestment Roadmap.

Calling for expanding thescope of UK Foreign Direct In-vestment in the fields of energy,infrastructure development, ag-riculture, agro-based industryand mining, the President saidPakistan looks forwards to Brit-ish investment especially in theenergy sector.

Highlighting the invest-ment-friendly regime of thecountry, the President said Pa-kistan would welcome both in-vestors from the UK, who wantpartnerships and those who wantto operate independently.

The President said Pakistanwas working simultaneously oncoal mining and coal-generated

power plants and would wel-come expertise of the UK in thisregard.

While thanking the BritishPrime Minister for his personalefforts in securing trade conces-sions for Pakistan in the EU andUK’s advocacy for AutonomousTrade Preferences for Pakistan,the President said Pakistan waskeen to be included in the GSPPlus Scheme in 2014.

He said Pakistan wouldgreatly welcome assistance ofthe UK for early considerationof its request by EU. The Presi-dent said that GSP Plus wouldcreate jobs and economic oppor-tunities for Pakistan’s unem-ployed youth. He said it was themost effective tool to neutralizethe threat posed by the militantsand extremists.

The meeting was attendedby Ms Saeeda Warsi, Sir KimDarroch, National Security Ad-visor, British High Commis-sioner Adam Thomson, and EdLewellyn. While the Pakistanside included Sartaj Aziz, Advi-sor on National Security andForeign Affairs, Spokespersonto the President SenatorFarhatullah Babar, Foreign Sec-retary Jalil Abbas Jilani and oth-ers.

Agencies add: Earlier, Brit-ish Prime Minister DavidCameron made a surprise visitto Afghanistan backing talkswith the Taliban.

Cameron visited troops inthe southern province ofHelmand and met PresidentHamid Karzai as the Afghangovernment and internationalpowers try to revive peace ef-forts that recently collapsed inignominy. “There is a windowof opportunity and I would urgeall those who renounce violence,who respect the constitution,who want to have a voice in thefuture prosperity of this coun-try to seize it,” Cameron toldreporters in Kabul.

“The Taliban... are begin-ning to realise that they are notgoing to secure a role inAfghanistan’s future throughterror and violence, but by giv-ing up their arms and engagingin a political process.”

“We want to talk peace...because that is what the countryneeds, that is what also theTaliban need,” Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai told the jointpress conference with Cameron.

ing to storm (Homs) from allfronts,” said an activist using thename Abu Mohammad.

There were no immediatedetails on casualties but videouploaded by activists showedheavy explosions and whiteclouds of smoke rising fromwhat they said were rebel dis-tricts. Loud, concentratedrounds of gunfire could also beheard. Syrian state media saidthe army was “achieving greatprogress” in Khalidiyah neigh-borhood.

The attack on Homs city fol-lows steady military gains byAssad’s forces, backed by Leba-nese Hezbollah militants, in pro-vincial Homs villages and townsclose to the Lebanese border.—Reuters

Syrian armyFrom Page 1

Pak-China tradecorridor tobenefit 3b

people: PMISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterMuhammad Nawaz Sharif Sat-urday said that the envisagedPak-China Trade Corridorwould open vistas of develop-ment and prosperity to about 3billion people inhabiting thisregion. During his interactionwith the visiting Chinese mediadelegation, the Prime Ministersaid that both the countries en-joyed deep ties in all fields andspheres. “We will pursue coop-eration in all spheres of nationalactivity; we have cooperation inthe strategic and economic fieldsand of course, there is great po-tential. Pakistan and China haveto extend this economic coop-eration and collaboration intothe Central Asia countries andinto the SAARC countries, ofcourse with the SAARC, wherePakistan is also a member,” heopined.

The Prime Minister said “Ithink there is cooperation of 3billion people of the region andthey will benefit from such co-operation and I think, this thebig, huge population in this re-gion which is going to benefitfrom this cooperation.”

Terming this cooperation as‘game changer’ for the wholeregion, the Prime Minister fur-ther said that it would bring ineconomic development andprosperity to the region.

About handing over of theGwadar port to China, the PrimeMinister shared that they viewedit as the significant economichub and important port in theArabian Sea which of coursewould be beneficial for China aswell as for Pakistan, ‘I’m talk-ing of Pak China interests’.

He said that during his forth-coming visit to China, he wouldbe discussing all these initiativeswith the Chinese leadership sothat the steps could be material-ized.

He said that a high levelteam headed by a federal minis-ter Ahsan Iqbal with the secre-tary Economic Affairs Divisionhad just returned from Chinaafter holding positive talks withtheir counterparts.

There was good news forboth the countries as both sideswere keen on accomplishingsuch projects, he said.—APP

BIPIN DANI

OBSERVER

CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI—It took 1035days after the conclusionof the Lords Test, the sus-pended Pakistani skipperSalman Butt to apologise tothe nation of Pakistan forcheating.

Another disgracedplayer, Mohammad Asif iswaiting to have his meet-ing with the Pakistancricket Board (PCB) chair-man before deciding hisline of action.

Speaking exclusivelyover telephone fromLahore, he said, “I shalldecide about it (apology)once I get an opportunityto meet the new chairman”.

“Yes, Salman Butt hasapologised so that he canreturn to the game after

Asif seeks meeting with PCBchairman : His lawyer advises

him against apologisingserving the compulsory 5-year ban period. The ICC hasimposed the remaining fiveyears of 10-year ban as sus-pension”.

Asif has been barred forseven years, with two sus-pension. However, his law-yer would not advise him toapologise.

Speaking exclusivelyfrom Guyana, the UK-basedlawyer, Ravi Sukul says, “thefact that Muhammad Asifhas not succeeded in his ap-peals is not conclusive proofthat he was involved in aspot-fixing conspiracy.

The evidence againstboth Amir and Butt is over-whelming so it is no surpriseto me that the former pleadedguilty and the latter has ap-parently accepted some de-gree of guilt”.

“It remains an enigmathat the courts have seem-

ingly not recognised thatthe case against Asif is evi-dentially different from thatof his two former team-mates. I would not advisehim to accept guilt”, headded.

Mohammad Amir, thethird of the tainted trio hadalready admitted to his guiltand didn’t appeal againstthe ICC at CAS (Court ofArbitration of Sports).

The PCB’s interimchairman, Najam Sethi, saidearlier in the week that hewould request the authori-ties to consider reducingAmir’s ban. It is not clearwhether he actually madethe request as Najam Sethiand Intikhab Alam, whowent to London to attendthe ICC week had checkedout their hotel rooms twodays before the conclusionof the week, it is learnt here.

ISLAMABAD: A view of hockey match between Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Airforce during the first day of 32nd National Games.

Waheed surges totop in lucrative

CNS GolfKARACHI—Brilliant WaheedBaloch surged to the top of theleaderboard after thepenultimate round in Rs.5.1 mil-lion 18th Chief of Naval Staff(CNS) Golf Championship atKarachi Golf Club on Saturdy.

Playing in his home con-ditions under sweltering heatWaheed produced a consis-tent driving, chipping andputting at KGC fairways andgreen to shot three-under-par 69 to end three aggregateto 213. Senior pro Waheedplayed par rounds 72 on thefirst two days. But he was athis best laced with few bird-ies in third round.

Second day leaderAhmed Saeed must be dis-appointed with his four-over-par 76 third round to slipto joint second with total of215 with Afsar Ali.—APP

LONDON: Laura Robson of Britain celebrates match point during the Ladies’ Singlesthird round match against Marina Erakovic of New Zealand.

LONDON—Laura Robson’s“biggest dream” came a stepcloser as she secured herselfa place in the final 16 atWimbledon.

The teenager battledthrough to the fourth roundfollowing a tense match onCourt Two – a lawn oncedubbed the “graveyard ofchampions”.

Her win, over NewZealand’s Marina Erakovic,was met with a standing ova-tion from an evidently parti-san crowd.

It is the first time a Britishwoman has got through to thesecond week of the grandslam since 1998.

Robson, 19, appearedtroubled at times during thetie and, on one occasion,threw her towel onto a chairin apparent frustration afterlosing a point.

But she eventually tri-umphed 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 and ap-peared to mouth “yes” in evi-dent delight before waving tothe crowd with a broad smileon her face.

Crowds gathered outsidethe court and cheered asRobson was escorted follow-ing the match.

Robson admitted to beingnervous at the start of her lastmatch, and it was clear thatwas the case again this after-noon against the world num-ber 71.

Erakovic took less than twominutes to wrap up the firstgame and Robson was brokenin the second, not being helped

Wimbledon: Laura Robson powersthrough to last 16 after comeback

by the slippery surface.One of Robson’s most

powerful assets, her fore-hand, was proving wayward.

Erakovic had two breakpoints in the sixth game andRobson put a backhand widefrom deep, and soon the set

was over.Robson began the sec-

ond set with far greater con-viction, dropping just onepoint in her opening two ser-vice games. Frustration atfailing to break Erakovic’sserve became clear when

she lashed the ball into thenet in frustration shortly af-ter losing a rally.

Erakovic never looked likebeing broken at that point andher movement was far supe-rior to Robson’s, although shedid slip at one point.—AFP

JOHOR BAHRU—Pakistanopened their World HockeyLeague campaign with afighting 4-4 draw againsthosts Malaysia on the open-ing day of the 8-nation eventwhich serves a qualifier forthe 2014 World Cup in theNetherlands.

Malaysia, ranked 13th inthe world, produced a stun-ning first-half performance topin Pakistan right from thestart of the match in JohorBahru. It was once again acase of Muhammad Imran’sside not being alert to theoccasion and the hosts madefull use of it, netting threegoals within 20 minutes ofthe game. Muhammad RazieAbdul Rahim fired in twopower penalty-corners while

Hockey: Pakistan holdMalaysia to 4-4 draw

Muhammad Marhan MohdJalil followed with anothermuch to the delight of thepartisan crowd. Pakistanwere clearly off the mark andtheir decision to put ImranShah in goal instead of themore self-assured Imran Buttclearly backfired. AbdulHaseem Khan provided theGreenshirts with some re-spite, scoring in the 26thminute to make it 1-3 goinginto the break.

But Malaysia continuedin the same vein when thesecond-half begun, requiringjust three minutes to scoretheir fourth goal throughTengku Tajudin Abdul Jalil’sdeflection from close range.Pakistan hit back almost im-mediately through a low

Muhammad Tousiq penaltycorner. Star forwad ShakeelAbbasi scored a 56th minutepenalty stroke to put seriouspressure on the home teamand captain MuhammadImran equalised in the 61stminute to cap a great come-back from Pakistan.

The result, however,could have been a lot betterfor Pakistan had they heldtheir nerve in front of goalfrom the several opportuni-ties they created. And whilethe 5th ranked side would berelieved to take at least theone point from the game, itwas a match that Pakistanreally should have won.

Pakistan will now take ona formidable England side onJune 30.—AFP

Sabiha winsGold Medal inwomen cyclist

eventISLAMABAD—Sabiha Zahidof Pakistan Army won thefirst gold medal in womencyclist event of NationalGames being held at PakistanSports Complex in Islamabad.

The second position in thewomen cyclists competitionwas also obtained by the Paki-stan Army’s Rajia while thethird position went to Anamof Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In men’s event‚ ImranKhan of Pakistan Army wonthe gold medal. Naimat Ali ofSindh remained runner upwhile Habibullah ofBalochistan secured thethird position.—PPI

LONDON—Shane Watsonhas denied any role in forcingAustralia cricket chiefs to takeaction against David Warnerfor the opener’s attack onEngland’s Joe Root.

Earlier this month, Warnerwas fined Aus$11,500($11,000) and suspended un-til the start of the Ashes inNottingham on July 10 byCricket Australia. The sanc-tions were for punching Rootin a Birmingham bar followingAustralia’s Champions Tro-phy loss to their arch-rivals.

The fall-out from the sagathen took a shock turn whencoach Mickey Arthur wassacked on Monday, just 16days out from the Ashes.

Following Warner’s sus-pension, there were reports inthe Australian media that of-ficials had only decided todiscipline Warner afterWatson had complainedabout double standards.

Watson was one of fourplayers dropped from the Test

Watson denies forcingWarner issue

side during a 4-0 series lossin India earlier this year forfailing to hand in a writtenfeedback requested by team

management.Watson told the Cricinfo

website on Friday thatArthur’s actions in India hadset a “dangerous precedent”and lauded new coach DarrenLehmann.

But he insisted he had notdone anything to make offi-cials suspend Warner. “Ab-

solutely not,” Watson saidwhen asked if he had informedArthur of events at theWalkabout bar in Birming-ham. “In the end, the coach-ing staff and Mickey and theleadership group found outabout Dave’s incident off theirown bat. “It had absolutelynothing to do with me in anyway shape or form and I’m notsure why that was brought outin the media because it cer-tainly wasn’t the truth. “Theyobviously found out, therewere some people who werein and around the incident atthe time who had relayed theinformation, so it certainly hadnothing to do with me.”

Watson has been told byformer Australia batsmanLehmann he will be one ofAustralia’s openers in theAshes and scored 90 in theongoing tour match againstSomerset in Taunton. “Theway Darren operates is a morelight-hearted way (thanArthur),” Watson said.—AFP

Aslam MemorialBridge on July 6

KARACHI—The 18th editionof Aslam Memorial BridgeTournament next week,Karachi Bridge Association(KBA) announced on Satur-day. The event is held annu-ally since 1996 to pay hom-age to the founder memberof KBA and former Secretaryof Pakistan Bridge FederationAslam Shaikh.

Two-day tournament willcommence on July 6 AslamBridge Hall. It would beplayed on Swiss Movement,spread over 7 rounds, sub-ject to the number of compet-ing teams. Century Insur-ance won this tournamentlast year. Data Steel was therunners-up team.—APP

Islamabad: Athletes are busy in practice for 32nd National Games at Sports Complex.

Australia easeto morale

boosting winLONDON—Usman Khawaja,Phil Hughes and Brad Haddinscored half-centuries as Aus-tralia put a difficult week be-hind them to notch a six-wicket win over Somerset intheir four-day tour match onSaturday.

Having axed coachMickey Arthur on Mondayfollowing a poor ChampionsTrophy, the tourists werekeen to make a statement inthe first of two warm-upmatches ahead of the firstAshes Test against Englandstarting at Trent Bridge onJuly 10.

They began the final dayon 36 without loss, requiringa further 224 runs to win.

Ed Cowan and Khawajaadded 86 for the first wicketbefore Cowan fell to GemaalHussain for the second timein the match when on 46.

Khawaja top-scored with73 and Hughes made his sec-ond half-century of thematch.

LAHORE—Inzamam-ul-Haq,the former Pakistan captain,has shown his interest inworking with the nationalteam as a batting coach butmade it clear that he has notreceived any such offer fromthe Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) as yet.

The PCB appointed TrentWoodhill, an Australian, asPakistan’s batting coach ear-lier this year. However, theGreen Shirts miserably failedto deliver the goods with thebat in the recently-concludedICC Champions Trophy 2013in England.

Inzamam ready to workas batting coach

It is highly likely thatWoodhill will not be a part ofthe team management in nearfuture and there are someunconfirmed reports that theofficials are consideringInzamam for the importantpost.

While talking toPakpassion, the former crick-eter from Multan said that hewould be willing to acceptthe offer if the PCB contactshim. The former skipper, whoworked with the team beforethe tour of India last year, isconfident that he can help thePakistani batsmen overcometheir deficiencies.

Inzamam said, “I’m readyto serve my country again. Ifthe PCB wants me to work asthe batting coach then Iwould be interested in work-ing with the boys. I workedwith the batsmen ahead ofthe tour of India and I felt itwent well. We have somevery good players who justneed some guidance andhelp.”

However, the 43-year-oldformer player further addedthat some of his friends havebeen informing him about thereports but he is yet to be con-tacted by any official of thecricket board.—Agencies

1st Ramazanexpected on July 11ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Meteo-rological Department has pre-dicted that first Ramazan wouldbe on July 11. According toPMD, Ramazan moon wouldemerge at 12pm, July 08, there-fore there is least chance ofsighting of moon on July 09 asit needed 31 hours for the cres-cent to become visible. The of-ficials said that after sunset itneeded 41 minutes to sight newmoon. Therefore they said therewere chances of sightingRamazan moon on July 10 andfasting month would beginfrom July 11.—INP

Three deadbodies recoveredQUETTA—Police recoveredthree dead bodies in Quetta, thecapital of Balochistan on Satur-day morning. Police sources saidthat dead bodies were found inSatellite Town graveyard area ofthe city. All the bodies werebrought to civil hospital Quettafor postmortem and identifica-tion. Police said the victims hadreceived multiple bullets. Mo-tive behind killing of three mencould not be confirmed.—INP

Earthquake joltsparts of KPPESHAWAR—An earthquake ofmoderate intensity jolted differ-ent areas of KhyberPakhunkhawa on Saturdaymorning but no loss was re-ported. According to geologicalwing of Pakistan Meteorologi-cal Department (PMD) an earth-quake of magnitude 4.1 on Rich-ter scale was felt in Chitral, Dirand Swat of Malakand Division.The epicenter of the quake was43 kilometer north of Mingoraat a depth of 10 kilometer insideearth crust, the department said.The panic stricken peoplerushed out of their houses, butno loss of life and property wasreported.—INP

2 schoolsblown upLAKKI MARWAT—Unidenti-fied miscreants Saturday blewup two government primaryschools in Par Khel Pakka areahere. No casualty occurred asthe school buildings were va-cant at the time of blasts. Po-lice cordoned of the area afterthe blasts and started search forthe miscreants.—INP

COLOMBO: Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani giving Sword of Honour to a cadet during passing out parade of SriLanka armed forces on Saturday.

BEIJING—China’s state me-dia warned on Saturday that a“counterstrike” against thePhilippines was inevitable if itcontinues to provoke Beijingin the South China Sea, poten-tially Asia’s biggest militarytroublespot.

The warning comes asministers from both countriesattend an Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations meet-ing in Brunei, starting Satur-day, which hopes to reach alegally binding code of con-

duct to manage maritime con-duct in disputed areas.

At stake are potentiallymassive offshore oil reserves.The seas also lie on shippinglanes and fishing grounds. BothChina and the Philippines havebeen locked in a decades-oldterritorial squabble over theSouth China Sea, with tensionsflaring after the Philippinesmoved new soldiers and sup-plies last week to a disputedcoral reef, prompting Beijing tocondemn Manila’s “illegal oc-

cupation”.The overseas edition of the

People’s Daily, the officialnewspaper of the Chinese Com-munist Party, said in a front-page commentary that the Phil-ippines had committed “sevensins” in the South China Sea.

These include the “illegaloccupation” of the Spratly Is-lands, inviting foreign capital toengage in oil and gas develop-ment in the disputed waters andpromoting the “international-ization” of the waters, said the

commentary.The Philippines has called

on the United States to act as a“patron”, while ASEAN has be-come an “accomplice,” said thecommentary, which does notamount to official policy but canreflect the government’s think-ing.

“The Philippines, knowingthat it’s weak, believes that ‘acrying child will have milk todrink’,” the People’s Daily said,accusing Manila of resorting tomany “unscrupulous” tricks in

the disputed waters.Beijing’s assertion of sov-

ereignty over a vast stretch ofthe South China Sea has set itdirectly against Vietnam andthe Philippines, while Brunei,Taiwan and Malaysia also layclaim to other parts of the sea.

The 10-member ASEANhopes to reach a legally bind-ing Code of Conduct to man-age maritime conduct in dis-puted areas. For now a watered-down “Declaration of Conduct”is in place.

On Thursday, China’s For-eign Minister Wang Yi warnedthat countries with territorialclaims in the South China Seathat look for help from thirdparties will find their efforts“futile”, adding that the path ofconfrontation would be“doomed”.

Last week, China vowed toprotect its sovereignty over theSecond Thomas Shoal, knownin China as the Ren’ai reef.

The Philippines is accusingChina of encroachment after

three Chinese ships, includinga naval frigate, converged justfive nautical miles (nine km)from an old transport ship thatManila ran aground on a reefin 1999 to mark its territory.

Last year, China and thePhilippines were locked in atense two-month standoff at theScarborough Shoal, which isonly about 124 nautical milesoff the Philippine coast.

Chinese ships now controlthe shoal, often chasing awayFilipino fishermen.—Reuters

Beijing to Manila: Hands off South seas

Sindh budget approvedamid opposition boycott

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Muttahida QaumiMovement walked out fromSindh Assembly while the ses-sion was in full swing after thetreasury benches approvedSindh Finance Bill-2013-14.

The MQM announced thatit would initiate political andlegal procedures against the in-crease in property tax and othertaxes especially the taxes on ser-vices. The struggle against thelevy and increase in taxes wouldcontinue until the governmentwould announce withdrawal ofthem.

Other political parties in theprovincial assembly had alsojoined the MQM including Pa-kistan Muslim League (PMLN),PMLF) and Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI).

The MQM Parliamentaryleader in the provincial assem-bly while addressing press con-ference outside the assemblyalong with leaders of other op-position parties said that theMQM had rejected the idea ofimposing taxes but the treasurybenches had approved them ontheir own. The increase in prop-erty tax rate by 20-25 percentwas totally unjust and was un-called for.

MQM leader Syed SardarAhmed said that the increase inproperty and infrastructure taxeswould only affect the urbanpopulation. The agriculture sec-tor earned more revenue thanany other sector in the provinceand in the country but the col-lection of taxes from agriculturesector was very low.

Pakistan Muslim League

Functional (PMLF) leaderImtiaz Ahmed Shaikh said thatthe government’s claim for pre-senting a tax free budget werefalse and the PMLF rejected theincrease in taxes rates in the vastinterest of the people of theprovince.

PMLN leader Irfan UllahKhan Marwat said that the in-tentions of the provincial gov-ernment were not fair and theincrease in taxes would invite aTsunami of price-hike andwould lead to increase in pov-erty by manifold.

PTI leader Syed Hafeez UdDin said that the burden of taxeswas directly put on the shoul-ders oif the poor people by thefederal and provincial govern-ments. On the other hand,

Continued on Page 6

THE HAGUE—Two US-basedrights organisations have lodgeda complaint against Prime Min-ister Sheikh Hasina and 24 oth-ers with International CriminalCourt (ICC) in The Hague forallegedly violating human rightsin Bangladesh, BBC Bangla ra-dio reports.

The report on Saturday iden-tified the two organisations asHuman Rights and Developmentfor Bangladesh and GreaterWashington DC Bangladeshi-Americans. Details about the al-legations could not be learnt im-mediately. The BBC report men-tioned neither the names of allthe accused nor the time whenthe complaint was lodged nor

According to the report, theBangladesh home minister, in-formation minister, state minis-ter for home, state minister forlaw and justice and the high-upsof the police were on the list ofaccused. Asked about the nextstep in this regard, Ahmed

Rights violations case filedagainst Hasina at ICC

Ziauddin, a Bangladeshi legalexpert in Belgium, told the BBCthat the ICC will only give a for-mal go-ahead for investigationwhen it concludes that the topicis of a grave concern for theworld.

The ICC will have to fulfilla number of formalities beforetaking the charges into cogni-sance, he added, terming it as along process. “It is not so easythat two organisations or a sec-tion of people of Washingtonsend a letter and the court be-gins trial (on the basis of that).”

“It will be a big mistake ifwe assume so,” Ziauddin said.The ICC is not a court whichdeals with human rights viola-tion issue, he said, “It is an in-ternational criminal court. Spe-cific proofs and evidence haveto be submitted here.”

What he made from reportsin this regard that the compliantrepeatedly mentioned the viola-tion of human rights.—Star

JERUSALEM—U.S. Secretary ofState John Kerry extended hisMiddle East peace mission onSaturday, shuttling betweenJerusalem and Amman for moretalks with Israeli and Palestin-ian leaders on reviving theirstalled negotiations.

But officials on both thefeuding sides played down pros-pects of the bustle bringing aboutany imminent diplomatic break-through. Cancelling a trip to AbuDhabi, Kerry flew from Jerusa-lem to the Jordanian capital for asecond meeting with PalestinianPresident Mahmoud Abbas. Hethen returned to Jerusalem to seeIsraeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu for a third time.

Early in the day, an Israeliofficial said Kerry’s visit couldyield an announcement that Is-raeli and Palestinian delegateswould meet under U.S. and Jor-danian auspices. “There is sucha possibility, but it is not certain,”the official told Reuters.

But as Kerry headed for hisevening meeting withNetanyahu, a member of thelatter’s inner circle, Civil DefenseMinister Gilad Erdan, soundedless upbeat in a television inter-

Israelis, Palestinians downbeatas Kerry extends peace bid

view. Asked whether new directtalks with the Palestinians mightbe imminent, Erdan told Israel’sChannel Two: “To my regret, no,as of now.”

“To the best of my under-standing, Abu Mazen (Abbas) isstill demanding the same precon-ditions, which we have no inten-tion of meeting,” Erdan said.Peacemaking broke down in2010 in a dispute over Israeli

settlement building in the occu-pied West Bank and East Jerusa-lem, which the Palestinians wantfor a future independent state.

Abbas has said that, for newtalks to be held, Netanyahu mustfreeze the ettlements and rec-ognize the West Bank’s bound-ary before its capture by Israelin the 1967 Middle East war asthe basis for the futurePalestine’s border.—Reuters

KABUL—The West should havenegotiated with the Taliban morethan a decade ago, soon afterthey were toppled, Britain’s se-nior general in Afghanistan saidon Saturday after recent effortsto start peace talks collapsed inignominy.

General Nick Carter told theLondon-based Guardian news-paper that an opportunity tobring peace to Afghanistan wasmissed when the Taliban wereon the defensive in 2002 afterthey were ousted following theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks.

“The Taliban were on therun,” he said. “At that stage, ifwe had been very prescient, wemight have spotted that a finalpolitical solution... would have

West should have talked to Taliban10 years ago: British general

involved getting all Afghans tosit at the table and talk abouttheir future.”

Carter, deputy commanderof the Nato-led coalition, ac-knowledged it was “easy to bewise with the benefit of hind-sight” but that Afghanistan’sproblems were political issuesthat “are only ever solved bypeople talking to each other”.

The search for a peacesettlement with the Taliban isnow a priority for the Afghangovernment and internationalpowers as the insurgency stillrages across many parts of thecountry and US-led troops pre-pare to exit next year.

A Taliban office in Qatarthat opened on June 18 was

meant to foster talks but insteadtriggered a diplomatic bust-upwhen the insurgents used thetitle of the “Islamic Emirate ofAfghanistan” from their 1996-2001 reign.

President Hamid Karzai,furious that the office was be-ing styled as an embassy for agovernment-in-exile, broke offseparate security talks with theAmericans and threatened toboycott any peace process alto-gether.

US President BarackObama recently said he antici-pated “a lot of bumps in theroad” during the peace pro-cess but that it was the onlyway to end the violence in Af-ghanistan.—Agencies

Musharrafchallenges his

disqualificationISLAMABAD—Former presidentGeneral (Retd) Pervez Musharrafon Saturday challenged his dis-qualification for life to hold a pub-lic office, in the Supreme Court.

Musharraf also submitted anappeal in the apex court for releasein the judges’ detention case.

The former president filedthese two appeals in the SupremeCourt through his lawyer IlyasSiddiqui. The Peshawar HighCourt in April this year placed alifetime ban on the former mili-tary ruler for contesting elections.

During the hearing, the courtremarked that Pervez Musharrafcould not be allowed to contestelections as he had abrogated theconstitution twice.—INP

ALEXANDRIA/CAIRO—Twopeople, one an American student,were killed when protestersstormed an office of Egypt’s rul-ing Muslim Brotherhood in Al-exandria, adding to growing ten-sion ahead of mass rallies aimedat unseating the Islamist presi-dent.

A third man was killed and10 injured in an explosion dur-ing a protest in Port Said, at themouth of the Suez Canal. Policeon Saturday said the cause wasunclear but protesters, believingit was a bomb, attacked an Islam-ist party office in the city.

Egypt’s leading religious au-thority warned of “civil war” af-ter violence in the past week that

Nighat likely tolose PA seatLAHORE—Torture to bus hostessduring her travel from Sargodha toLahore, member of Punjab Assem-bly Nighat Sheikh is likely to costher assembly seat on registeringfake complaint against the hostess,media quoting officials reported onSaturday. According to police of-ficials, the local police have takenaction against the legislator of Pa-kistan Muslim League Nawaz whoslapped and abused a bus hostess,Iqra, for delaying giving water toher Nighat may lose her seat of theprovincial assembly under article63 of the constitution. —Online

President givesapproval to

federal budgetSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The President,on the advice of the prime min-ister, on Saturday approved theFederal Finance Bill 2013.

The president signed his as-sent to the bill, just over 24 hoursbefore the new fiscal year be-gins. The Finance Bill waspassed in the National Assem-bly on Thursday.

With the signing of the bill‚it has become a law and giveseffect to the financial proposalsof the federal government for thefinancial year beginning on thefirst July 2013.

Egypt violence builds,American among dead

had already left several dead andhundreds injured. They backedPresident Mohamed Mursi’s of-fer to talk to opposition groupsahead of Sunday’s protests.

The United Nations, Euro-pean Union and United Stateshave appealed for restraint andurged Egypt’s deadlocked politi-cal leaders to step back from aconfrontation threatening thenew democracy that emergedfrom the Arab Spring revolutionof 2011.

“The U.S. embassy said in astatement it was evacuating non-essential staff and family mem-bers and renewed a warning toAmericans not to travel to Egyptunless they had to.—AP

India to testAgni-V twice

this yearNEW DELHI—India’s mostformidable strategic missile,the over 5,000-km Agni-V,will be tested twice before thisyear ends to ensure it is readyfor full-scale induction in thearmed forces towards end-2015, Indian media quoting of-ficials reported on Saturday.

Interestingly, the latter ofthe two tests will see the 50-tonne Agni-V being fired froma hermetically-sealed canistermounted on a launcher truck.

A canister-launch systemwill give the forces the requi-site operational flexibility toswiftly transport the ballisticmissile and launch it from aplace of their choosing.—AP

Ban on all fresharms licences

ISLAMABAD—The Ministry ofInterior has banned issuance ofall fresh arms licenses.

A notification issued by theMinistry in Islamabad howeversays that all cases duly approvedand where fees are depositedbefore June 20 this year, will beprocessed.—Online

CJ takes noticeof multi billionscam in EOBI

ISLAMABAD—Chief Justice ofPakistan Iftikhar MohammadChaudhry taking notice of themultibillion scam in the Em-ployees Old Age Benefit Insti-tute (EOBI) has ordered to is-sue notices to Attorney Generalfor Pakistan, Secretary, Minis-try of Human Resource Devel-opment, DG, FIA, Chairman,EOBI and Mr. Zafar IqbalGondal, former Chairman,EOBI to appear before court onMonday.

The Chief Justice took no-tice on note of the Registrar,Supreme Court of Pakistan con-taining the details of a TVprogramme televised recentlyrevealing the corruption scandalof more than 40 billion rupeesin the EOBI.

The note further stated that theprogramme alleged multibillionrupees corruption in EmployeesOld Age Benefit Institute in thelast three years.—INP

PEOPLE suffering from posttraumaticstress disorder (PTSD) may also be atincreased risk of heart attacks and

strokes, according to a new study of VietnamWar veterans.

After following nearly300 pairs of male twins, allVietnam vets, for more thana decade, researchers foundthat almost a quarter of themen diagnosed with PTSDalso had heart disease, com-pared to less than a tenth ofthe men without the combat-related stress disorder.

“As time goes by, it’sbecome more and moreclear that PTSD is not justsomething that impacts psy-chological health. It hasbroad repercussionsthroughout the body,” saidDr. Viola Vaccarino from theEmory University School ofPublic Health in Atlanta, thestudy’s lead author.

Behavioral symptoms of PTSD includereliving the traumatic event in memories ornightmares, avoiding situations that may trig-ger those memories and feelings of paranoia,fearfulness and guilt, according to the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs.

The symptoms tend to start shortly aftera person experiences a traumatic event, suchas combat, terrorist attacks, serious accidents,natural disasters and personal violence orabuse.

Physically, Vaccarino’s team notes, PTSDsufferers are known to often have raised lev-els of stress hormones and other chemicalssignaling overactivation in the fight-or-flight

pathways of the nervous system.Previous research, including one study

examining U.S. veterans from Iraq and Af-ghanistan, have found that people diagnosedwith PTSD and other stress disorders are

more likely to develop hearttroubles (see Reuters Healthstory of August 5, 2009 here:).

Vaccarino said, however,that other studies found con-flicting results and some reliedon data from interviews andquestionnaires, which mayprovide inaccurate informa-tion.

For its study, Vaccarino’sgroup used data from a studyof twins who were all VietnamWar veterans born between1946 and 1956. None of themen in the new analysis hadheart disease when the studystarted, between 1987 and1992.

The 281 twin pairs wereasked to return for follow-up

exams and interviews between 2002 and2010 - about 13 years later - and were testedto see how many of the men had developedheart disease.

Overall, 137 participants had met thediagnostic criteria for PTSD at the start ofthe study and 69 men developed heart dis-ease by the time of their follow-up exam.

About 23 percent of those with PTSDhad heart disease, compared to about 9 per-cent of those without the stress disorder.

The results translated to those withPTSD at the outset being twice as likely asmen without the disorder to develop heartdisease by the end of the study.

PTSD tied to raisedheart disease risk

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, Andrey Budnik Ambassador of Russian Federation and others on the occasion of celebrationof 65 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Russia.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

Continues

THE Embassy of Brazil ispresenting Brazilian Docu-mentaries, which will hap-pen upto June 30, startingat 6 pm at the Embassy(House 1, Street 72, F-8/3).

RAWALPINDI—At least threepeople were killed and four in-jured when roofs of two build-ings caved in during heavy rainsin Rawalpindi early Saturdaymorning.

At least two persons died

Heavy rains leave 3 dead in Rawalpindiwhile four others were injuredas a roof of a housed collapsedhere on Saturday.

According to reports, athree-story building’s roof wascollapsed due to heavy rain lastnight in which two persons died

Encouragingunderprivileged

kids to dream, soarSANA JAMAL

ISLAMABAD—It was a differentday, a day filled with fun activi-ties, for kids whose usual daysare spent working on streets orat places to help meet their fami-lies’ needs.

The kids were not only en-tertained by country’s amiablepuppet ‘Uncle Sargam’ but alsohad a chance to learn some oflife’s important lessons such asmaking a positive difference toother people’s lives. FarooqQaiser, the artist better known asUncle Sargam, emphasized onthe message of serving human-ity through his puppet show in-cluding Uncle Sargam and MaasiMuseebty.

He told the kids that as theywere lucky enough to have finan-cial, educational and non-educa-tional support, now they mustwork hard to achieve big goalsin real life.

Organised by Muslim Aid,the event aimed to facilitate theunderprivileged children of thecity in their struggle of becom-ing confident and dynamic mem-bers of the society.

Apart from the fun-filled ac-tivities, kids also received sev-eral gifts including bicycles,study tables and sewing ma-chines.

Ch Nisar pledgesfull cooperation

ISLAMABAD—Federal Ministerfor Interior and Narcotics Con-trol, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khanhas assured complete supportand cooperation to UK on theissues of illegal emigration, drugtrafficking, money launderingand terrorism.

He made the assurance inhis meeting with the High Com-missioner of United KingdomAdam M. Thomson who calledon the Minister here Saturdayafternoon.The meeting dis-cussed matters of mutual inter-est including Prime MinisterDavid Cameron’s visit to Paki-stan and welfare of Pakistanisliving in the UK.

The High Commissionerthanked the Ministry of Interiorfor making excellent arrange-ments for British PrimeMinister’s visit.The Minister as-sured the High Commissioner ofGovernment of Pakistan’s com-plete support and cooperation onthe issues of illegal emigration,drug trafficking, money launder-ing and terrorism.—Online

ISLAMABAD—Speakers at thelaunching ceremony of ‘S.M.Zafar Ki KahaniunkippniZabani’ paid tributes tothe author S.M. Zafar for histruthful and objective account inthe book.

Renowned scientist Dr. A.QKhan presided over the functionand Leader of House, Senate ofPakistan, Raja Zafar-ul-Haq wasthe Chief Guest.Dr. A. Q. Khan in his presiden-tial address said S.M. Zafar hasbeen a person of character inhis varied positions namely

SM Zafar’s book launch

Speakers admire truthful account of ZafarDr A Q Khan, Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Waseem Sajjad highlight importance of book

Minister, Lawyer and Politician.He recalled Zafar’sprominentrole in the recent lawyers’ move-ment and his appearances in his-toric legal cases of the country.The lawyer at all occasionsproved equal to the tasks.

Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said hehas had close association withSM Zafar over past several yearsand he always found him a per-son of high qualities of heart andmind. He said SM Zafar haswon repute of being a philoso-pher and a positive thinker. Inpolitics, his contribution has al-ways been positive and fruitful.

Former Chairman Senate ofPakistan, WaseemSajjad saidSM Zafar has been very coura-geous in writing about politicalepisodes of the country in objec-tive manner without mincing

words. He said SM Zafar’s bookcan serve as a guide for the poli-ticians as well as other peopleof the country who believed inthe well-being of the nation.

Senior Journalist, ZahidMalik paying tributes to SMZafar highly appreciated his ef-fort in writing a book on politi-cal history of Pakistan. He saidthe book encompasses the po-litical events of the country inhistoric perspective.

Prominent Journalist,Hamid Meer, in his speech, saidSM Zafar has unveiled bitterrealities of Pakistan politics andhe has pointed out that mistakescommitted in the past should notbe repeated. He stressed theneed to learn lesson from thebook to pull Pakistan out of cur-rent crisis.

Senator RazinaAlam saidthe book by SM Zafar is sym-bol of truth which narratesevents in a very objective man-ner. She was of the view thatthe book should be studied bythe young politicians as textbook. She said the book willalso be very useful for the jour-nalist and students.

Senior Lawyer, SupremeCourt of Pakistan, Hafziz S.A.Rehman paid rich tribute to SMZafar for writing a monumentalbook on political events of thecountry. He said that the bookbrings to light the hidden factsof Pakistani politics. He saidSM Zafar lamented in his bookthat the politicians and govern-ments of the country had ignoredimportance of the national lan-guage.

and four others injured.The injured people were

shifted to PIMS Hospital fortreatment. Isolated heavy fallsare also likely in upper Punjaband upper KhyberPakhtunkhwa.—Online

ISLAMABAD: Mr Zahid Malik, Editor-in-Chief Pakistan Observer addressing launchingceremony of the book ‘SM Zafar Ki Kahani un ki apni Zabani’ Sitting on stage (from L to R)are Dr Abdul Basit, Chancellor Preston University, Senator Razina Alam, Dr AQ Khan,Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Mr SM Zafar and Mr Waseem Sajjad.—PO photo

Briefs

LARKANA: Farmers busy in work in their field of seasonal fruit (Dodi).

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Microsoft Pakistanand HEC recently commemo-rated the three-year achieve-ments of their Education Alli-ance Agreement. The alliancewas made in 2010 and since then73 public sector universities haveseen various Microsoft programsbeing implemented on their cam-puses.

The Education AllianceAgreement guides HEC’s vi-sion of broadening access to

education, enabling student-cen-tric learning, enhancing educa-tion with powerful softwaretools and improving the effi-ciency of education systems.Under the agreement, MicrosoftPakistan provides some of itsmore core services to help HECachieve its target of growth andprosperity. The alliance includesprograms such as:

Faculty Connection codeshave been distributed in morethan 60 public universities acrossPakistan, a total of 514 codes

have been distributed among thefaculty of 60 universities. TheElectronic License ManagementService Portal is a part of theMSDN Subscription which isprovided to all 73 public sectoruniversities in Pakistan and pro-vides licensed software to thegeneral student population.

Dr. Javaid R. Laghari, chair-man, Higher Education Com-mission said, “Information andCommunication Technologies(ICT) have become the corner-stone of development in any sec-

tor of society, whether in appliedor natural sciences, social andhealth sciences, arts and hu-manities, agriculture and engi-neering. One of the key pillarsof knowledge economy is ICTs.The HEC – Microsoft EducationAlliance Agreement is a longterm partnership providing li-censed, updated and state-of-the-art software, tools and ser-vices to all higher education in-stitutions. HEC’s vision to serveas an engine of socio-economicdevelopment is thus best served,

amongst others, through suchpartnerships, and will help ouryouth face future challenges andfind appropriate solutionsthrough the use of ICTs.”

Amir Rao, country manager,Microsoft Pakistan reiterated thecompany’s commitment to pro-moting education in the countryby saying:“Microsoft works to-gether with HEC to help localuniversities gain better access totechnology, develop teachingskills, provide students withtools to enhance their learning

and equip the administrationwith tools to implement andmanage change. The educationalliance framework was devel-oped through careful planningand choosing the best programagreements out of the many of-fered by Microsoft. This partner-ship is what allows public insti-tutions like HEC to truly realizethe transformational value oftheir investment, and industry-leading partnership is whatMicrosoft brings to the table. Noone is as committed to serving

the needs of the education spaceas we are. Together with HEC,we have a vision to create a pros-perous Pakistan by honing theskills of today’s enthusiasticyouth and imparting to themnecessary skills which will helpthem face the future challengeswith a broader mind set.”

The Education Alliance isanother example of MicrosoftPakistan playing a significantpart in leading the IT innova-tions across different areas ofgovernment, health and educa-

“You can celebrateaccomplishments, but

after a while, you need tostart celebrating the

speed at which you’retravelling instead of the

destination you’vereached.”

—Max Guinn

Microsoft, HEC commemorate a milestone in promoting education

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chairing a meeting of Pak-India Joint Business Council.

tion sectors. The company’scommitment towards mobiliz-ing resources around the worldto create opportunities in thecommunities where they dobusiness and to strengthentheir ties with partners acrossthe globe has always been itspriority. By making genuineMicrosoft software and train-ing programs more accessible,the HEC-Microsoft partner-ship is helping several studentsreap its benefits and will con-tinue to do so in the future.

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Pakistan’s tradewith Sri Lanka has grown signifi-cantly after the free trade agree-ment (FTA) that was signed in2005, thereby making it one ofPakistan’s most successful bilat-eral trade agreements.

This was stated by Mr.Gulzar Firoz, Acting President ofthe Federation of Pakistan Cham-bers of Commerce and Industry(FPCCI), while welcoming Mr.D.W. Jinadasa, the Consul Gen-eral of Sri Lanka in Karachi.

Mr. Gulzar Firoz noted thatPakistan’s exports to Sri Lankahad grown noticeably over thepast few years, which was com-mendable.

He laid stress on the morefrequent exchange of delegationsand reciprocal participation inexhibitions in order to take thetrade volume beyond the level ofthe existing $380 million. At the

same time, he said that Pakistaniexporters should try to promotetextiles more actively in the SriLankan market, because Paki-stani textiles were top quality.

Furthermore, he suggestedthat Sri Lanka may consider in-creasing the quota for rice exportto Pakistan which was currently6,000 metric tons.

He also asked the Sri LankanConsul General about what prod-ucts Pakistan could buy from SriLanka, besides tea and coconuts,which were already being im-ported.

Mr. Shaheen Ilyas Sarwana,Vice President FPCCI pointedout that India was among SriLanka’s leading sources of im-ports and suggested that SriLanka may consider buying moreproducts from Pakistan, whichhad the advantage of more com-petitive prices.

He also asked Sri Lankan ex-hibitors to participate actively in

the upcoming Expo 2013. Whileresponding to the businessmen’squeries, Mr. Jinadasa said thatthere was the need to organize anawareness session on the Pak-SriLanka FTA to educate the busi-ness community about whatproducts they could get preferen-tial access for in Sri Lanka.

He said that the Pak-SriLanka FTA had moved a longway forward since it was signed,but there was still some lack ofawareness about how the busi-nessmen of both countries couldbenefit from the FTA.

He said that Sri Lankan ex-hibitors would be participating inthe Expo 2013, because theywere eager to increase trade withPakistan.

The meeting was attendedby Mr. Nasir Shaikh,Mohammad Siddique Shaikh,Ms. Farhana Iqbal, Mr. MushtaqNoorwala, Mr. Nasir Abbas andMr. Zaman Ahmed.

Pak-Lanka FTA hasgiven big boost to trade

17pc Sales Tax toaffect business:

IshaqueFAISAL KHAWER BUTT

SIALKOT—Mohammad IshaqueButt, Chairman All Pakistan DryPort Association and ChairmanSialkot Dry Port showed seriousconcern over levy of 17 % PunjabSales Tax by Punjab RevenueAuthority, Finance Department,Govt. of Punjab by makingamendments in Second Scheduleof Punjab Sales on Services Act2012 on Port Operators includ-ing Dry Ports w.e.f. 22nd May,2013.

He said that it will severallyaffect the volume of the businessbeing carried out through these dryports. Due to levy of this tax, theservices of the dry ports will be-come dearer and exporters of therespective regions will prefer tomove their cargo to Karachi.

He explained that diversion ofbusiness to Karachi will cause re-duction of revenue in the form ofduties and tax to Punjab. More-over, congestion at mother portsat Karachi will also be increased.

He inquired why services ofdry ports be subjected to Salestax when five zero-rated export-ing sectors i.e. Textile, Leather,Carpets, Surgical and Sportsgoods are exempted from SalesTax. He added that these portsare providing ancillary servicesto these five zero rated sectorsand Punjab Sales Tax on suchservices should not be levied.

Mr. Butt was distressed thatrole of up-country dry ports werenot understood in the truest sense.

CNG sector betaken on board:

FPCCISTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—An emergent meet-ing of CNG was presided byMr.Gulzar Firoz Acting PresidentFederation of Pakistan Chambersof Commerce and Industry(FPCCI), held on Friday, 28thJune 2013 at Federation House.

The meeting was attended byhuge number of CNG memberand presented their apprehensionto the energy policy that in the newenergy policy Government willeither stop Gas supply to the CNGbusiness or will raise price exor-bitantly.

FPCCI while supporting theapprehension of CNG appeals tothe Prime Minister and con-cerned authorities that beforetaking any decision the repre-sentative of CNG Associationmay be given opportunity topresent their case.

TARIQ KHATTAK

ISLAMABAD—The PakistanCredit Rating Agency (PACRA)has upgraded the long-term andshort-term entity ratings of TheBank of Khyber to “A” (SingleA)[previous: A-] and “A1” (AOne) [previous: A2] respectively.These ratings denote a low ex-pectation of credit risk emanat-ing from strong capacity fortimely payment of financial com-mitments.

The ratings reflect BoK’simproved relative positioningamongst peers emanating frombetter performance, sound liquid-ity, and supporting capital struc-

ture. The management, while fol-lowing a well conceived strategy,has gradually expanded thebank’s outreach, deposits, andcredit book.

The ratings incorporateBoK’s ability to arrest infectionin its lending portfolio as reflectedin its controlled asset quality.However, given tough economicfundamentals, a careful monitor-ing of related risks would requireactive attention.

The bank is eyeing branch ex-pansion with focus on low-costdeposit mobilization, while ap-proach toward credit expansionstays cautious. The ratings con-tinue to draw comfort from the

association of the bank with Gov-ernment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,wherein the management plansinroads into financial servicesneeds of the government.

The ratings are dependent onbank’s ability to hold its overallrisk profile, while expanding itssize. Improvement in the technol-ogy platform is critical to fosterthe control environment includ-ing reporting framework. Mean-while, any significant infectionin asset quality, thereby weak-ening the bank’s risk absorptioncapacity, and/or political inter-vention compromising the gov-ernance standards would impactnegatively.

PACRA upgrades ratings ofThe Bank of Khyber

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—The Secretary Indus-tries Punjab Irfan Ali has said thatthe development of Small andMedium Enterprises (SMEs)through a well-coordinated andwell-tailored mechanism wouldbe given priority as they have akey role in economic turnaround.

He said this while speakingat the Lahore Chamber of Com-merce and Industry on Saturday.LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar,Senior Vice President Irfan IqbalSheikh, Vice President MianAbuzar Shad, President Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate BoardM I Khurram, former PresidentsSheikh Muhammad Asif,Muhammad Ali Mian, formerVice President Saeeda Nazar andExecutive Committee memberMian Zahid Javaid Ahmad alsospoke on the occasion. The newlyappointed Secretary said that de-

velopment of local brands andHuman Resource would be theingredients of the recipe forstrengthening the SME sectorthat had been facing multiplechallenges for the last five years.

The Secretary said that liai-son with the Lahore Chamber ofCommerce and Industry wouldfurther be improved and hewould have monthly meeting atthe LCCI to listen to the prob-lems being faced by the businesscommunity.

He said that the present gov-ernment was alive to the issuesbeing faced by the private sectorand is doing the needful at jetspeed to overcome them. He saidthat there was no doubt in it thatan acute energy shortage and lawand order situation kept theeconomy hostage in the last fiveyears but since the Chief Minis-ter Punjab has a clear vision oneconomic issues therefore their

solution would be there soonerthan later.

The Secretary Industries,however, urged the businesscommunity to prepare collectiverecommendations to give boostto economic activities in this partof the country and the govern-ment would not make any delayin implementation of all doableproposals.

Speaking on the occasion,the LCCI President FarooqIftikhar called for revolutionaryreforms to put the economy backon rails. He urged the SecretaryIndustries that all the stakehold-ers should be taken onboardwhile preparing industry- relatedpolicies. He said that the Indus-trial Estates should be exemptedfrom load-shedding of gas andelectricity completely as the in-dustrialists are unable to meettargets for the local market letalone meeting export targets.

SMEs to be promotedthrough a mechanism

Shares rise, gold up butplunges for quarterNEW YORK—World equitymarkets rose for a fourth dayon Friday but the quarter wasset to finish in the red for agauge of world stocks and otherassets as fears of an earlywithdrawal of U.S. monetarystimulus spiked volatility andweighed on markets. The broadS&P 500 index was flat, whilebetter economic data fromJapan and efforts by China’scentral bank to ease creditconcerns gave other equitymarkets support. MSCI’s worldequity index rose 0.3 percent.The Dow Jones industrialaverage fell 60.98 points or0.41 percent, to 14,963.51, theS&P 500 lost 1.56 points or 0.1percent, to 1,611.64 and theNasdaq Composite added 9.91points or 0.29 percent, to3,411.77. Markets were volatileas the second quarter drew to aclose as investors pondered thelikely impact of an end to theera of easy money from theFederal Reserve and othercentral banks that has beeninstrumental for rallies invarious markets.—APP

PQ shipping activityKarachi—Four ships arrivedat the Port to load/ off loadcontainers at QICT, cement atMW-3 and diesel oil atFOTCO on June 28, Portsources said here Saturday.Berth occupancy wasmaintained at 50% at the Porton Friday where a total ofseven ships namely M.V Kps-IAlican Bey - Powership, M.VVindo Nissa, M.V MscLevina, M.V Saigon Express,M.T Al Salam-II, M.V ZeaHai 505, M.V Alitis arecurrently occupying berths toload/ offload cement, rice,containers, soyabean seed,diesel oil. Cargo handlingoperations were carried outsmoothly at the Port where acargo volume of 92829 tonnescomprising 58258 tonnesimport and 34571 tonnesexport— 3381 (TUES) washandled at the Port during last24 hours. —APP

SBP facilitatestaxpayersSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—In order tofacilitate the taxpayers indepositing their duties andtaxes during the last few daysof the current financial year,the State Bank of Pakistan, onrequest of FBR, has decided tokeep the designated branchesof SBP, National Bank ofPakistan, major branches ofCommercial Banks andnational Institute of Facilita-tion Technologies (Nift) openfor extended hours as under:on Friday the 28th andSaturday the 29th June, until10:00 pm, while on Sunday the30th June, until 12:00midnight.Accordinglyarrangements have been madeto facilitate taxpayers inpayment of taxes/duties andfulfil their national obligation.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Manual Amal,General Manager Addex, a build-ing material export company andAlIa Maxim, Export Manager atLa Platera, ceramics tiles manu-facturers visited Pakistan to seekinvestment in the constructionindustry of Pakistan.

At media press lounge orga-nized by Future Designers,Manual Arnal said, “The con-struction company in Pakistanhas immense potential to pro-mote its market globally. Espe-cially in reference to home con-

struction and business, custom-ers are always looking for supe-rior quality products.

There is a growing demandfor ceramic tiles, sanitary wareand bathroom fittings with chicdesigns and trendy colors. Webelieve in collaboration with Fu-ture Designers, we will be ableto provide innovative designs andquality.”

AlIa Maxim further added,“We plan to introduce some ofthe leading brands from abroadin collaboration with Future De-signers. Currently, we havebrought in Noken Porcelanosa,

specialist in sanitary ware andbathroom fittings, and Vives andLa Platera that are ceramicbrands. We hope to seek tradeopportunities in Pakistan throughthis investment”

Future Designers, thoughrecently established, are knownfor modifying sanitary andbathroom designs. Future De-signers deal in imported sani-tary ware, tiles and bathroomaccessories. By importingequipments from Spain, Italyand China, the company hopesto build better business oppor-tunities for the local market.

Spanish ceramics manufacturersinvest in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD—An informalthink tank has been establishedin the Competitive commissionof Pakistan (CCP) to solicit feed-back on competition related mat-ters from business communityand other social sectors.

Think tank has been estab-lished in the 18th meeting of CCPwhich was chaired by Dr. JosephWilson, senior Member CCP, andalso attended by Mueen Batlay,CCP Member, and Ikram ulHaque Qureshi, Director Gen-eral/Registrar of the Commis-sion. This think tank will getfeedback and suggestions fromlegal community, academia, me-

dia, regulatory bodies and thegovernment.

Dr. Joseph Wilson briefedthe participants of the meeting onvarious initiatives, actions, andachievements of CCP. He in-formed that CCP has recentlybeen awarded fair rating with‘’arrow up’’ by the Global Com-petition Review (GCR), a Lon-don-based leading anti-trust jour-nal, in its latest annual survey ofthe world’s leading competitionauthorities. The rating is statedby GCR itself to be a perfor-mance indicator recognizing that‘an agency is considered to makeexcellent use of its resources and

has surpassed its previous ac-complishments.’

Dr. Wilson quoted GCR asstating that CCP keeps movingfrom strength to strength. He saidthat GCR in its survey has laudedthe dedication of CCP’s enforce-ment staff, termed the orders ofCCP as “well reasoned and in-formed”, appreciated the le-niency decision of CCP, and ac-credited CCP’s continued suc-cess to its Chairperson, RahatKaunain Hassan, “who hasworked hard to improve the corecompetencies of the authority andguard its precious indepen-dence.”—Online

CCP establishes think-tankto interact with businessmen

DIYATALAWA—Chief of ArmyStaff (COAS) Gen Parvez AshrafKayani has said Sri Lanka andPakistan are both peace lovingcountries and regardless of inter-nal and external challenges, ourarmed forces persistently seekpeace within the region and be-yond.

He said this while address-ing passing out parade at SriLankan military academy hereSaturday.

He held that the impressivemilitary bearing, immaculateturnout and outstanding standardof drill, displayed here today, notonly bear testament to the qual-

ity of training imparted in thisinstitution but also indicate theurge to pursue excellence, whichis the hallmark of Sri Lankannation and its valiant armedforces.

He underlined that SriLankan Army has proved itsmettle under the most trying cir-cumstances and has emergedvictorious not only in the con-text of purging the menace ofmilitancy and violence but alsoin pursuit of post conflict peaceand stability.

He went on to say that dur-ing this entire period i.e. ap-proximately three decades of

conflict and the ensuing rebuild-ing phase, Pakistan always stoodby and wholeheartedly sup-ported your great nation and itsarmed forces, both in moral aswell as material realm. Pakistanhas proved to be a true friend ofSri Lanka in your hour of need,he added.

The Armies of Sri Lanka andPakistan have enjoyed the high-est degree of mutual trust andcooperation and have proved ascommitted partners in the face ofchallenges; for the larger causeof preserving peace in our respec-tive countries and the region atlarge, he stated. —Online

Sri Lanka, Pakistan both peaceloving countries: COAS

ISLAMABAD: President ICCI Zafar Bakhtawari exchanging views with Rober Dresen,Head of Economic Affairs The Netherlands Embassy.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chairing a meeting withdelegation of Balochistan led by Chief Minister Dr Abdul Maalik.

Gold Tezab 45000.00Silver Tezabi 737.14

Gold Tezabi (24-Ct) 44580.00Gold 22 Ct 40750.00SilverTezabi 690.00Silver Thobi 630.00

USA 98.70 98.50

UK 153.04 152.73

EURO 130.66 130.39

Canada 95.12 94.93

Switzerland 106.66 106.44

Australia 91.02 90.83

Sweden 15.07 15.04

Japan 1.0149 1.0128

Norway 16.50 16.46

Singapore 77.43 77.27

Denmark 17.52 17.48

Omani Riyal 256.00 253.00

Saudi Arabia 26.32 26.26

Hong Kong 12.72 12.70

Kuwait 348.52 347.81

Malaysia 30.77 30.71

Newzeland 76.79 76.63

Qatar 27.10 26.05

UAE 26.87 26.82

KR WON 0.0854 0.0852

Thailand 3.159 3.153

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

KARACHI:

MULTAN:

Currency Selling Buying

Bullion Rates

RS PER 10 GRAMS

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Canadian HighCommissioner to Pakistan GregGiokas has said here thatCanada can offer Pakistan loco-motives for the railway besidestechnical help.

The Canadian High Com-missioner was exchangingviews with President

Karachi Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (KCCI)Muhammad Haroon Agar, ac-cording to a statement of KCCI.

Greg Giokas who was ac-companied by Honorary ConsulGeneral of Canada in KarachiByram D. Avari, said theCanada Pacific Railway can ten-

der for locomotives required byPakistan Railway. Canada canalso provide expertise in agricul-ture to Pakistan, he said. Heopined that regional trade is cru-cial to uplift economy and ex-plore market access in the coun-tries worldwide, Pakistan has toachieve a quantum leap in re-gional trade. He appreciatedsmooth and peaceful transition ofgovernment through electionsand was of the view that the newGovernment should accord pri-ority to economic developmentand revise its policies as per theircommitments.

A vibrant reciprocal trade ispre-requisite to Preferential orFree Trade Agreement without

which such an arrangement is notpossible, he said. He apprised thatCanada gave financial assistanceof $20 million for Polio cam-paign, $ 170 million for Educa-tional Reforms and $ 8 millionto support the electoral processin the recent elections.

High Commissioner Gregstated that Canada is supportiveto Pakistan and sees it as a landof immense natural resources,potential and strength. He was ofthe view that the world is alsowell aware about the potentialsof the country.Both countriesmaintain friendly political rela-tions, he said. He informed thatthe Canadian High Commissionhosted a roundtable with the fac-

ulty of Faisalabad AgricultureUniversity to explore possibili-ties of cooperation in agriculture,dairy and livestock. CanadianHigh Commissioner stated thatthe prime concern for Canadianinvestors is the legal protectionof investment.

The concerns of Canadianinvestors are primarily transpar-ency, legal protection of invest-ment, predictability and security,he added.

President KCCI urged theHigh Commissioner of Canadato invite fresh Canadian invest-ment in Pakistan.He said Paki-stan is the most promising landin the region for investment andmany multi-national corporations

are operating successfully andexpanding their businesses acrossPakistan and beyond.

The trade volume betweenthe two countries is impressiveand there is further room to en-hance it to significantlevels.During FY12, Pakistanexported commodities worth $225.8 million while imports fromCanada stood at $ 365.1million.Both countries are desir-ous of increasing bilateral tradeand investment in Pakistan toboost the economy, Agar said.

Agar hoped that Pakistan-Canada bilateral Foreign Invest-ment Promotion and ProtectionAgreement (FIPA) will providegreater predictability and consid-

eration for Canadian investors toinvest in Pakistan. He was of theview that FIPA will provide amechanism to protect investorsthrough the establishment of alegal framework. Key sectors ofinterest and joint ventures be-tween two countries are miner-als, information technology andinfrastructure.The livestock andagriculture are the two areas inwhich cooperation could lead toa win-win situation for the twocountries, he said.

He was of the view that Pa-kistani exporters should take ad-vantage of the recently imple-mented tariff cut in Canada. Heunderscored need to have fre-quent exchange of business del-

Canada offers technical help to Pakistan: Envoy

US-Pakistan relations neednew dimensions: S M Muneer

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—US is a good friendand important country for Paki-stan, which play a significant rolein socio-economic developmentof Pakistan. This was stated by SM Muneer, President India Paki-stan Chamber of Commerce andIndustry and former President ofthe Federation of Pakistan Cham-bers of Commerce and Industrywhile addressing the two daysconference on Pak-US Businessopportunities organized by USADepartment of State and Minis-try of Commerce, Government ofPakistan in Dubai.

The conference was attendedby large number of governmentofficials and businessmen fromUSA and Pakistan to discuss thenew business opportunities be-tween Pakistan and USA.

Mr Muneer thanked the or-ganizers of the conference andsaid that this conference was or-ganized at very appropriate timewhen new government of Paki-stan has taken charge of office ofthe Prime Minister, who is veryoptimistic for strengthening Pa-kistan economic and trade rela-tions with USA. He added thatUSA is the largest trading part-

ner of Pakistan during the lastmany decades in addition to pro-vide economic and financial as-sistance to Pakistan on differentoccasions. At present, the tradebetween Pakistan and USA is infavor of Pakistan with Pakistan’sexport volume US$ 3.8 billion toUSA and import volume US$ 1.7billion.

He further stated that besidetrade, Pakistan is also largest re-cipient of USA investment. Pa-kistan is very much keen tostrengthen the trade and invest-ment relationship with USA andin this context, Pakistan offersvarious joint ventures investmentopportunities in the areas ofpower sector, mineral resources,high-tech machinery, infrastruc-ture, engineering, telecommuni-cation, iron and steel, railways,construction etc. He furtherstressed on the signing of bilat-eral investment treaty, which isunder consideration since manyyears between the governmentsof both countries.

On the expansion of trade, hesaid that there is still a lot of scopeof Pakistani textile in USA, butthe high tariff rate from USA side(in between 13 percent to 22 per-cent) make us uncompetitive in

USA market. He strongly urgedthe American government to re-duce tariff rates equal to our re-gional competitors and to providebetter market access to Pakistaniproducts in the US market, inparticular our textiles, in order tostrengthen the Pakistani economywhich has suffered massivelosses due to war on terrorism.He added that Pakistan is a frontally of USA in war against ter-rorism and this war caused lossesto Pakistan economy to US$ 100billion in term of social, eco-nomic and physical infrastructurelosses and also affect sovereigntyof Pakistan.

He further stated that Paki-stani textile products have pre-mium quality, and have servedwell the American market overthe years, will not disappoint theAmerican consumer, if bettermarket access is allowed. On theissues of GSP status, he said thatPakistani businessmen do not getfull benefits of this due to lack ofknowledge and information. Healso quoted the figures of officialsof US Consulate that Pakistan isonly utilizing 5.7 percent benefitsof GSP, while through thisscheme Pakistan can export 3500items to USA.

egations and organising of ex-hibitions to further explore bi-lateral trade prospects. Agar ob-served that bilateral relations ofPakistan with Canada are basedon development cooperation;people-to-people links; regionalsecurity and defence; gover-nance and human rights; tradeand investment.

Canadian Trade Commis-sioner in Karachi, Ather MoinKhan, former president KCCIMajyd Aziz, Senior Vice Presi-dent KCCI Shamim Firpo, VicePresident KCCI NasirMehmood and Managing Com-mittee Members also partici-pated in the meeting and ex-changed views.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Chief MinsterSindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah hasannounced that it was raising theworkers’ minimum wages toRs10, 000. During the budgetdebate in the Sindh Assembly,held under Speaker Agha SirajKhan Durrani, he expressed thefear that the province might loseits capacity to raise finances andsaid that the Federal Excise Duty(FED) engrafted in the FederalFinance Bill 2013-14 “will hitSindh’s collection as far as Gen-eral Sales Tax on services, add-ing that the province was aimingto collect Rs42 billion during thenext fiscal year.

Terming the FED in the Fed-eral Finance Bill against provin-cial autonomy, which provinceshad attained through the 18thAmendment, he said that the im-position of excise duty amountedto sabotaging the National Fi-nance Commission Award. Hesaid that FED had been proposedto be imposed on all taxes on ser-

vices which Sindh is collectingvia GST, adding that ultimately,it would affect the province’sannual revenue targets.

Subsequently, he said that thepeople of the province would suf-fer. He pointed out that the fed-eral government still owed Rs80billion to Sindh, adding that thelack of disbursement of funds tothe provincial government hadlargely disturbed the budget. Thisstate of affairs, he said, had forcedthe provincial government to scaleback its commitments, but vowedthat his cabinet would meet the re-quirements of various upliftprojects that had already beenmapped out in the financial plan.

The Chief Minister ex-pressed the hope that theprovince’s tax collection wouldgrow 23 percent, and pointed outthat the centre had pledged toprovide it with seven percentmore funds during this fiscalyear,. Pledging to take swift ac-tion against criminals, he said thatit was crucial to correct the poorlaw and order situation, insisting

that the allocation of Rs48 billionin the budget would help restorepeace in the province. He saidthat the government was plan-ning to provide better training topolice and officials of intelli-gence agencies.

He acknowledged that thepolice personnel lacked properanti-terrorism training. Respond-ing on reservations expressed byopposition members on the bud-get, Qaim Ali Shah said that sucha financial plan always helpedboost development projects andprovided economic stimulus. Asmany as 200,000 policemenwould be recruited to boost thepolice department’s existingstrength to facilitate 20 millionpeople in the city, he said. Hesaid that the government wouldwork on a seven-point agenda,and improving the law and or-der situation was one of its pri-orities. He said that former mili-tary ruler General PervezMusharraf (retired) had de-stroyed the police department,which needed rehabilitation.

Workers minimum wagesto Rs10,000 in Sindh

TARIQ KHATTAK

ISLAMABAD—The UnitedStates Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) PowerDistribution Program today suc-cessfully implemented the LoadData Improvement (LDI) pro-gram at Gujranwala ElectricPower Company (GEPCO) toassist in minimizing unscheduledload shedding.

The USAID technical teaminitiated operation in the PowerDistribution Center establishedby USAID for GEPCO of moni-toring screens presenting con-tinuous actual live load data fromthe 51 GEPCO grid stations and674 GEPCO feeders, providingGEPCO Power DistributionCenter operators for the first timean immediate display of near realtime actual load and load shed-ding status of GEPCOs system.This information will enableGEPCO to monitor its plannedload shedding to stay within al-

location and avoid the need forunscheduled load shedding. TheLDI system and Power Distribu-tion Center (PDC) has been es-tablished by USAID for GEPCO.

Currently, Pakistan is in aserious power crisis which isgravely affecting its economyand having a detrimental impacton various segments of society.With each passing day, the coun-try is plunging deeper and deeperinto the crisis – already, the elec-tricity shortfall has hit record lev-els. This situation has resulted inthe citizens of Pakistan bearingthe burden of heavy daily loadshedding of 12 to 16 hours, withthe expectation that it might in-crease in the future.

In view of the high shortfallof power currently prevailing,government-owned power distri-bution companies (DISCOs) lackthe capacity to manage plannedload shedding, mainly due to thelack of current near real time in-formation to enable monitoring

of unpredictable loading usingbelow-par communications sys-tems, manual implementationand ineffective monitoring sys-tems due to the non-availabilityof information regarding real-time loading conditions.

To mitigate load shedding, inparticular unplanned load shed-ding, the United States Agencyof International Development(USAID) Power DistributionProgram has launched the LoadData Improvement program.This project is installing Auto-matic Meter Reading (AMR)devices at all incoming and out-going feeders of the grid stationsin all nine DISCOs across Paki-stan to provide operators imme-diate information on total loaddata compliance with nationalallocations and visibility of indi-vidual GEPCO feeder load shed-ding performance to insure com-pliance with planned load shed-ding targets and avoid the needfor unscheduled load shedding.

USAID completes installation to reduceunscheduled load-shedding in GEPCO

KESC blamesKWSB forwater woes

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Karachi ElectricitySupply Company (KESC) hasalleged that there were many in-ternal cable faults in KarachiWater and Sewerage Board(KWSB) system due to whichpeople are facing water supplyproblems, as KESC is supplyingelectricity to the water utility’spumping stations without anyinterruption.

A KESC official, AdilMurtaza, said that interruption insupply of electricity to KWSBwas due to their own failure asthey had internal cable faults andold installations.

He said that there was a faultin a bulk station of KWSB whichthey had to repair not the KESC.But on KWSB’s request, a teamof KESC repaired the fault, hesaid, adding that electricity wasrestored through back feedingimmediately after cable fault atKDA pumping station.

He said that KWSB had noalternate to supply water to thecitizens of Karachi when therewas tripping or other technicalfaults in their electricity supplyinstallations.

He said that the broad wasnot focusing on rehabilitationof its internal cable system andother installations. He urgedthe board to take serious mea-sures regarding proper repairof their internal electricity in-stallations.

Naanbai bodydemands raise in

roti priceRAWALPINDI—Naanbai Wel-fare Association of Rawalpindidistrict has demanded an increasein the prices of Roti, Naan andParathas.

The office-bearers of the as-sociation including General Sec-retary Malik Saleem Awan,Chairman Gul Muhammad,ViceChairman Sarfraz Abbasi, Addi-tional Secretary Sharif Qureshitold that following the hike in theprices of flour,fine flour, gas,ghee and other related items, “Wecannot run the business at oldrates.”

They said that if the govern-ment does not increase the pricessoon, they will have to raise theprices themselves.

They proposed the roti priceat Rs 10, naan as Rs 12, roghninaan Rs 18 and paratha Rs 18.They said that they can no moresell the roti and naans on oldrates.

The office-bearers also saidthat the price of fine flour hasbeen increased from Rs 3,200 toRs 4,000 per bag and of flourfrom Rs 670 to Rs 780 per bag.Moreover, with the rise in gen-eral sales tax and the prices ofPOL, monthly gas bill of theearthen ovens (tandoors) will alsoincrease, they said.—APP

SCCI concerned overimplementation of

sales tax orderFAISAL KHAWER BUTT

SIALKOT—Commenting onthe news that taxpayers are be-ing pressurized to pay advancesales tax in June to offset short-comings of the Federal Boardof Revenue (FBR), PresidentSialkot Chamber of Commerceand Industry Sheikh AbdulMajid expressed his concernthat such actions will only cre-ate panic and reluctance in themind of taxpayers.

He said that he in his nu-merous statements has stressedthe need for reforming Tax col-lection process and have re-corded the stance that FBR in-stead of squeezing already reg-istered Taxpayers must trackand add new legitimate taxpay-ers. He said that reason for thatis to avoid instances of fleec-ing regular taxpayers.

Moreover, he said, thismove of the federal govern-ment would add to unwar-ranted litigations among tax-payer and the governmenthence creating further pamic.He urged the concerned au-thorities to look into the mat-ter so that relief can be pro-vided to already tax burdenedtaxpayers.

Call to save cottonfrom pest attacksSTAFF CORRESPONDENT

MULTAN—Former Speaker ofNational Assembly and aleader of PML-N Syed FakharImam stressed upon the Fed-eral as well as Provincial Gov-ernments to hold a NationalConference to evolve a strat-egy to save the cotton from theravages of pest attacks and dis-eases which may cause loss ofbillions of dollars.

In a press statement issuedhere today Syed Fakhar Imamsaid Agricultural Scientists, re-searchers, cotton growers, gin-ners, spinners, representativesof pest warning and chemical/pesticides/insecticides compa-nies be invited to frame apolicy to protect the cotton cropon permanent basis.

Fakhar Imam said Ameri-can Boll worm attacked thecotton crop in this zone and thiscrop is under severe threat.Since the introduction of BTcotton varieties a few yearsback, it was assumed that thesevarieties, on account of BTgene factor would be immuneor resistant to attack of Ameri-can Boll worm pest. In effect,for the past few years this hasbeen the case as these BT vari-eties have shown resistance toAmerican Boll worm pest.

This is the first season ofcotton growing that the seri-ousness of attack on the cottonis damaging the fruiting andflowering which may causelowering the yield of the crop.

Syed Fakhar Imam warnedthat the size and scale of dam-age to cotton crop may behigher than fear if not checkedimmediately. He said it is ap-propriate to say that Pakistan’scotton production in 2012-13was merely 13 million baleswith Punjab’s production being9.5 million.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—KMC is facing asevere financial crunch becauseof the Sindh government’s indif-ference in releasing its pendingfunds of Rs 585 million.

The sources said thatKMC’s finance department hadsent a summery to the Sindhgovernment, demanding Rs 585million under the head of grant-in-aid, which was still pendingat the Chief Minister’s Houseawaiting approval. “KMC needsRs 4 billion by July 10 for mak-ing payments to contractors andpending salaries to employees ofthe corporation,” an official atKMC said. KMC employeeshave not been paid salaries forthe past two months because offinancial constraints.

Sources said that contractorshad been visiting KMC offices,seeking payments, adding that

they were also being asked to‘wait’. Sources said bureaucraticbottlenecks were also amongother factors affecting the timelyrelease of salaries. They accusedofficials concerned of the Sindhgovernment paid less heed togrievances of KMC employeesand said that KMC also lacked acompetent officer who could ef-fectively pursue the workers’ casein a forceful manner before theSindh government to quicklyobtain funds.

Official said that Sindh gov-ernment had release just Rs 326million which was insufficient topay salaries to the corporation’sentire staff. “We have releasedone month’s salary to workersfalling under 1-5 grades, KMCdoes not have money to pay sala-ries of workers in grade 6 andabove,” he said.

Sources said that KMCneeded Rs 1 billion every month

to pay salaries of its staff, but thecorporation managed to receivejust Rs 32.6 million from theSindh government, intensifyingthe financial crisis being faced byKMC. Meanwhile, pensioners ofKMC and KDA were also fac-ing the same financial ordeals:their dues remained unpaid forthe past several months.

Sources said that KMC de-partments providing essentialservices were running out of fuelsupply, and it is feared that thesedepartments would not be ableto continue their operations if thesame situation persisted. Ac-cording to sources in KMC,petrol pumps had stopped sup-plying fuel to fire departmentbecause of the issue of non-pay-ments. Sources said that em-ployees of District MunicipalCorporations (DMCs) had alsonot been paid their dues for thepast many months.

KMC in grip of financial crisis

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Taxpayers are beingpressurised to pay advance salestax in June to offset shortcomingsof the Federal Board of Revenue(FBR), which is likely to miss itsrevenue collection target of morethan Rs 1900 billion by the endof the current fiscal year.

The revenue arms of FBR –Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) andLarge Taxpayers Units (LTUs) –have started directing taxpayersfalling in their respective juris-dictions to make July’s sales tax

payments in June. “The move isaimed at artificially boosting rev-enue collection figures till Juneto meet FBR’s annual budgetarytarget, which was revised to Rs2050 billion, down from Rs 2381billion,” sources said.

They said that data showedthat the provisional revenue col-lection for the current fiscal yearstood at around Rs 1870 billion,adding that FBR needed to col-lect an additional Rs 180 billionin the last two days o the outgo-ing fiscal year to achieve its re-vised revenue mark. They said

that taxpayers were not only be-ing pressed to pay in advancesales tax, but their tax adjust-ments and refund payments werealso being deferred till the end ofthe current fiscal year. On theother hand, taxpayers are con-fused about how to compute salestax for July in view of thechanges in sales tax rates.

Adnan Mufti FCA, Partnerof Shekha & Mufti said that, theSupreme Court had annulled theimposition of sales tax at 17 percent from June 13 this year un-

Advance sales tax beingfleeced from taxpayers

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Pakistan Industrialand Traders Associations Front(PIAF) appealed to the PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif to con-vene a business community’sRoundtable to finalise plan forimplementation of hisgovernment’s recommendationsfor economic revival.

Chairman PIAF Malik TahirJaved in a statement said the eco-nomic challenges are fast increas-ing with every passing day forwant of due attention from theconcerned quarters and there is aneed to take urgent measures inconsultation with concerned sec-tor specialists from the private

sector. He said that the govern-ment could get rid of external debt;ensure uninterrupted supply ofelectricity and expansion in indus-trial activities only with the con-sultation of the private sector thatis the main stakeholder.

He was of the view that a con-sistent liaison between private sec-tor and government circles couldhelp overcome gas and electricityshortages. He said the countrycould improve its growth ratewithout any foreign assistance ifunwarranted wastages such aselectricity transmission losses andgas losses due to inefficient ap-pliances are controlled. He saidPakistan Muslim League–N in itsmanifesto has promised to bring

the country out of economic mireand it would only be possiblewhen the government would besharing its economic plans withthe private sector that is consid-ered to be engine of growth aroundthe globe.

The PIAF Chairman said Fi-nance Minister Ishaq Dar wouldhave to come up with some pack-age of incentives for the business-men who have suffered heavylosses during the last five yearsdue to shortage of gas, electricityand rampant corruption. MalikTahir Javed said the business com-munity understands and believesthat the Prime Minister wouldmake all-out efforts to make thecountry a corruption free land.

Roundtable on economy demanded

KARACHI: Director General Rangers, Sindh, Maj Gen Rizwan Akhtar called on ChiefMinister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

KARACHI: Opposition members of Sindh Assembly walking out to protest imposition of taxes.

PTSD tied to raisedheart disease risk

PEOPLE suffering from posttraumatic stressdisorder (PTSD) may also be at increasedrisk of heart attacks and strokes, accordingto a new study of Vietnam War veterans.

After following nearly 300 pairs of maletwins, all Vietnam vets, formore than a decade, re-searchers found that almosta quarter of the men diag-nosed with PTSD also hadheart disease, compared toless than a tenth of the menwithout the combat-relatedstress disorder. “As timegoes by, it’s become moreand more clear that PTSD isnot just something that im-pacts psychological health.It has broad repercussionsthroughout the body,” saidDr. Viola Vaccarino from theEmory University School ofPublic Health in Atlanta, thestudy’s lead author.

Behavioral symptomsof PTSD include reliving thetraumatic event in memoriesor nightmares, avoiding situations that maytrigger those memories and feelings of para-noia, fearfulness and guilt, according to theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The symptoms tend to start shortly af-ter a person experiences a traumatic event,such as combat, terrorist attacks, seriousaccidents, natural disasters and personal vio-lence or abuse. Physically, Vaccarino’s teamnotes, PTSD sufferers are known to oftenhave raised levels of stress hormones andother chemicals signaling overactivation inthe fight-or-flight pathways of the nervoussystem.

Previous research, including one studyexamining U.S. veterans from Iraq and Af-ghanistan, have found that people diagnosedwith PTSD and other stress disorders aremore likely to develop heart troubles (see

Reuters Health story of Au-gust 5, 2009 here:).Vaccarino said, however,that other studies found con-flicting results and some re-lied on data from interviewsand questionnaires, whichmay provide inaccurate in-formation.

For its study,Vaccarino’s group used datafrom a study of twins whowere all Vietnam War veter-ans born between 1946 and1956. None of the men in thenew analysis had heart dis-ease when the study started,between 1987 and 1992.

The 281 twin pairswere asked to return for fol-low-up exams and inter-views between 2002 and

2010 - about 13 years later - and were testedto see how many of the men had developedheart disease. Overall, 137 participants hadmet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD at thestart of the study and 69 men developedheart disease by the time of their follow-upexam.

About 23 percent of those with PTSDhad heart disease, compared to about 9 per-cent of those without the stress disorder.

The results translated to those withPTSD at the outset being twice as likelyas men without the disorder to developheart disease by the end of the study. STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Muttahida QaumiMovement (MQM) stronglycondemned raids on houses ofworkers of the MQM and theirarrests by the law enforcers in-cluding Rangers and Police.

In this regard, the Coordi-nation Committee of the MQMsaid that’s dozens of MQMworkers had so far been killedin the city by the terrorists andhardened criminals includingMQM MPA Sajid Qureshi and

MQM condemns LEAs for raidson workers houses, arrests

his son Waqas Qureshi. How-ever, the LEAs despite makingtheir efforts for arresting the kill-ers of the innocent workers andthe MPA and his son, Rangersand Police had started conduct-ing raids on the houses of MQMworkers and arrested them. TheLEAs had taken into custody therelative of workers whom theLEAs could not arrest.

The Coordination Commit-tee said that on Thursday June27, the LEAs had arrested MQMactivists Muhammad Naveed

and Atiq Abbasi fromQayyumabad. They belonged toMQM Unit 69 in Korangi.

Likewise, the LEAs had ina raid they had conducted inLines Area, Liaquatabad andLandhi on Friday June 28 andhad held 7 workers of the MQM.Those arrested included Imran,Kamran, Ghulam Fareed andAbdul Hameed, Naseer Ahmed,Shoaib Khan and Zeeshan.

The Coordination Commit-tee said that the LEAs had alsoarrested Ayub Khawar, Javed

DG Rangers briefsCM on steps taken toimprove law, order

KARACHI—Director GeneralRangers (Sindh) Maj. GeneralRizwan Akhtar called on SindhChief Minister Syed Qaim AliShah and briefed him about themeasures taken for the improve-ment of law and order inKarachi.

According to a handout is-sued here on Saturday, the ChiefMinister discussed law and or-der situation in the metropoliswith the DG Rangers and askedhim to continue indiscriminatetargeted actions against crimi-nals, target killers and anti-so-cial elements involved in creat-ing law and order situation.

The Chief Minister directedhim to utilise all resources forimprovement of law and orderin the metropolis and protectionof lives and property of the citi-zens.

He also directed him tostrength the system of snapchecking and patrolling to con-trol the activities of criminals.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah re-marked that the provincial gov-ernment has been pursuing “zerotolerance” policy for mainte-nance of peace.—APP

KARACHI—Some of the Ma-laysian universities are offer-ing scholarships to the Paki-stani students to pursue highereducation in that country.

This was stated by theConsul General of Malaysia inKarachi, Abu Bakar Mamat,here on Saturday.

He was talking to mediapersons after inaugurating the‘10th Study Malaysia Educa-tion Exhibition’ at a hotel here.

The event is being held un-der the auspices of the NorthPole International Limited.

As many as 13 universities

Malaysian universities offeringscholarships to Pakistani students

from Malaysia are taking part inthe two-day show which willlater be organised at Islamabadon July 2 and at Lahore on July4 and 5.

A number of youngsters vis-ited the exhibition to explorehigher education options avail-able in Malaysia.

Abu Bakar Mamat said onthe occasion that Malaysia wasserious and committed to thecause of education.

He said that the programmesoffered by the Malaysian univer-sities and institution of higherlearning meet the international

standards.The Consul General was of

the view that the world class fa-cilities for acquiring higher edu-cation are available in Malaysia.There is conducive environmentfor the Pakistani students be-sides high quality and affordablefees.

Some of the universities inMalaysia are also offering schol-arships to the Pakistani students.

Abu Bakar Mamat alsospoke of the Malaysian NationalHigher Education Strategic Planbeyond 2020 and added thatMalaysia is targeting 200,000

foreign students enrolled in theuniversities there by the year2020. He said that currently theenrollment is around 93,000and will soon increase to about100,000.

‘We are targeting to be thesixth biggest education export-ing country in the world fromthe current 9th ranking’, headded.

He said that his country ispromoting ‘Iskandar Edu City’in the southern part of Malay-sia. Nine foreign universitieshave agreed to be the part ofthis venture.—APP

11 perish in freshkilling spree

KARACHI—Target killing con-tinues in Karachi and elevenmore people were gunned downin firing incidents in differentparts of the city.

Some unidentified personsopened fire near Lee market andshot dead a man while somemiscreants, riding on motor-cycles, gunned down three per-sons in Kharadar area. The de-ceased were identified as FazalMola, Faisal and Fatima.

In Machar Colony, twopeople were killed in firing in-cident while another man wasshot dead near Sarjani BabaMore.

Police have also recoveredthree dead bodies from AdamKhan Road, Veta Chorangi andMaripur while a man was shotdead in Baldia Town area.

Meanwhile, Rangers andpolice launched a joint operationin Lyari on Friday night duringwhich exchange of fire betweenraiding party and miscreantstook place in which a key figureinvolved in gang war, SaqibBoxer, was killed.—Online

Angry protestersblock KorangiRoad against

murder in KarachiKARACHI—A large number ofangry protesters blockedKorangi Road while agitatingagainst a murder in RailwayColony near Kalapul area ofKarachi.

A youth, Irfan, was shotinjured about 17 days ago byrivals after brief argumentover a petty issue in RailwayColony and he succumbed toinjuries this day. Youth’sdeath enraged local residentsand they blocked mainKorangi Road while protest-ing against murder.

Aggrieved mother of thekilled youth said on the occa-sion that his son has beenmurdered on a tiny quarreland now who would serve jus-tice to her.

The protests caused severetraffic jam on Korangi Road andmotorists trapped in long queuesat both sides of very busy roadfor some time.

The police informed theangry protesters that theyhave arrested four accom-plices of the killer and verysoon, he would be taken intocustody as well.

After getting assurance fromthe police of arresting killer ofthe boy on priority basis, theangry agitators turned calm andagreed to quit protest and openthe road.—Online

Five vehiclesmysteriously

catch fireKARACHI—Five vehicles wereengulfed by a fire in the parkingarea of a residential apartmentcomplex in Gulshan Iqbal areaof the city in early hours of Sat-urday.

The incident took place latenight when some residents of anapartment in Gulshan Iqbal’sblock VI area noticed smoke com-ing from ground floor.—NNI

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI— Measures for pro-tecting the consumers of waterfrom the sole water utility, theKarachi Water and sewerageBoard (KW&SB) seemed mean-ingless especially from theNeglaria virus. The water util-ity had around 2 months agoannounced extended measuresfor the prevention of the virusso as to ensure safety of the wa-ter consumers.

However, the Neglaria virushad claimed third life in the city.The recent victim of theNeglaria virus was identified asMuhammad Tahir, who wastaken to a hospital for medicaltreatment. However, the out-come of the attack of the virus

Non-Chlorinated water containingNeglaria virus claim third life

was said to be fatal as there wasno treatment available for thevirus attack.

The chlorination of potablewater was the sole available pre-ventive mechanism against theNeglaria virus that used to settlein the brain of the victim reach-ing there through nose in casethe victim took the non-chlori-nated water inside the nose.

In recent days, the EDOhealth of the Karachi Metropoli-tan Corporation Dr Attur DasSanjnani had criticised the wa-ter utility, which had promptedthe Board’s higher managementto enter the fury over his state-ment and said that the EDO wasmisleading the people.

The presence of potablewater is caused when the water

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—After theMuttahida Qaumi Movement(MQM), the Pakistan People’sParty Parliamentarian (PPPP)now stare appealing the ChiefJustice of Pakistan, JusticeIftikhar Muhammad Chaudhryfor taking the Suo Motto noticeof its worker’s extra-judicialkilling.

He was addressing a press

Patel urges CJP to take suo Moto noticeof extra-judicial killing of Lyari’s boxer

conference at the Karachi PressClub Saturday.

In this regard, PPPP mem-ber national assembly and PPPPKarachi Division PresidentAbdul Qadir Patel drew the at-tention of the CJP toward theextra-judicial killing of a boxerand footballer Saquib.

The MNA alleged the Rang-ers had first picked him and laterdropped him form Rangers vanand shot him. Saquib was a

boxer of international repute andhad died on the spot.Patel asked the Director Generalof Sindh Rangers to review theirpolicy. The Chief Minister ofSindh was also helpless beforeRangers, he commented.

`He said that the PPPP didnot support any criminal and ifwe were alleged of being the pa-tron of Lyari gang war then theyshould also tell us as who wasthe patron of Karachi gang war.

was not properly treated with thechlorination and in this regard,the KW&SB managing directorMisbahuddin Fareed had re-cently admitted that it was notpossible for the board to ensuresupply of chlorinated water tothe water consumers at the tailend of the city.

The sole water utility alsosuffered severe financial crunchand had no system for chlorinat-ing water mid way to the supplyso as to ensure the tail end userswould get the well-chlorinatedwater from the utility.

The deteriorated water linesand admixture of the sewageinto the water lines also was agreat threat to the consumers ofthe city, which required heftyfunds for the replacement.

KARACHI: PPP Leader Qadir Patel speaks during a press conference regarding the situa-tion of Lyari at Karachi.

KARACHI: Rangers soldiers entering the building of Central Jail for a search operation.—PO photo by Sultan Chaki

PTSD tied to raisedheart disease risk

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif talking to students departing for Europe on study tour at airport.

PEOPLE suffering from posttraumaticstress disorder (PTSD) may also beat increased risk of heart attacks and

strokes, according to a new study of Viet-nam War veterans.

After following nearly 300 pairs ofmale twins, all Vietnamvets, for more than a de-cade, researchers foundthat almost a quarter of themen diagnosed withPTSD also had heart dis-ease, compared to lessthan a tenth of the menwithout the combat-re-lated stress disorder.

“As time goes by, it’sbecome more and moreclear that PTSD is not justsomething that impactspsychological health. Ithas broad repercussionsthroughout the body,”said Dr. Viola Vaccarinofrom the Emory UniversitySchool of Public Healthin Atlanta, the study’slead author.

Behavioral symptoms of PTSD in-clude reliving the traumatic event inmemories or nightmares, avoiding situa-tions that may trigger those memories andfeelings of paranoia, fearfulness and guilt,according to the U.S. Department of Vet-erans Affairs.

The symptoms tend to start shortlyafter a person experiences a traumaticevent, such as combat, terrorist attacks,serious accidents, natural disasters andpersonal violence or abuse.

Physically, Vaccarino’s team notes,PTSD sufferers are known to often have

raised levels of stress hormones andother chemicals signaling overactivationin the fight-or-flight pathways of the ner-vous system.

Previous research, including onestudy examining U.S. veterans from Iraq

and Afghanistan, havefound that people diag-nosed with PTSD and otherstress disorders are morelikely to develop hearttroubles (see ReutersHealth story of August 5,2009 here:).

Vaccarino said, how-ever, that other studiesfound conflicting resultsand some relied on datafrom interviews and ques-tionnaires, which may pro-vide inaccurate informa-tion.

For its study,Vaccarino’s group useddata from a study of twinswho were all Vietnam Warveterans born between

1946 and 1956. None of the men in thenew analysis had heart disease whenthe study started, between 1987 and1992.

The 281 twin pairs were asked toreturn for follow-up exams and inter-views between 2002 and 2010 - about13 years later - and were tested to seehow many of the men had developedheart disease.

Overall, 137 participants had met thediagnostic criteria for PTSD at the startof the study and 69 men developed heartdisease by the time of their follow-upexam.

LAHORE: Chief Justice Supreme Court of Mauritania, Justice Sidi Yahefdhou andChief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Umar Ata Bandial and others at LHC.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Former MinisterInformation, Qamar ZamanKaira, has said here todaythat democracy was winningas he warmly welcomed thedecision of the BaluchistanNational Party (Mengal) toend the boycott ofBaluchistan Assembly andstrive for the rights of theBaluch people through par-liamentary politics.

He said the Party’s reit-eration in the veracity of thedemocratic ethos as the bestand civilized way for the at-tainment of legitimate rightswas very reassuring.

He said that it was verygood news for democracy, forBaluchistan and indeed forPakistan that would alsoembolden other estrangedBaluchs to join the main-stream politics as the prevail-ing enabling political envi-

Kaira hails BNP (M)decision to end BA boycott

ronment, created during thelast five years of democraticrule, provided the legitimateopportunity address theirgrievances.

Mr. Kaira said that theprocess of winning of thehearts and minds of theBaluch people was initiatedby President Azef AliZardari when he sought un-conditional apology of thepeople of Baluchistan in2008 for the injustices in-flicted on them during thesuccessive governments inthe past.

He further said that the18th amendment ensuredprovincial autonomy and 7thNational Finance Award fi-nancial autonomy. Aghaz-i-Haqooq Balochistan was aconcerted effort to address

the political and economicdeprivations of the people ofthe province, he added.

He firmly projected thatthe political solution was theonly sustainable solution ofthe Baluchistan problemsadding all other prescriptionshad failed miserably and mustbe abandoned for all times tocome as the nation cannotafford to pay any more for thepoor judgments of the man-darins .

He expressed the hopethat the Baluchistan govern-ment would continue the pro-cess of reconciliation acrossthe board as the collectivewisdom and its sincere appli-cation would definitely leadto extricate the province fromthe evils of terrorism, pov-erty, illiteracy and disease.

Maulana AbulAla Maududi’s

grandson robbedLAHORE—Armed dacoitsrobbed Hashim Maududi,grandson of Maulana AbulAla Maududi, here on Satur-day.

Hashim was going homefrom Gulberg Gymkhana.Some persons in police uni-forms stopped him on thepretext of checking andsnatched expensive mobilephone and laptop from himand fled the scene.

An FIR of the incidentwas registered in Ichra policestation.Jamat-e-Islami Ameer SyedMunnawar Hassan, Secre-tary General Liaquat Balochand other leaders stronglycondemned the incident anddemanded of the administra-tion to take strict actionagainst the culprits.—INP

LAHORE—Punjab Law Minis-ter Rana Sanaullah said onSaturday that the excessiveuse of mobile phones is notgood and is indulgence.

Talking to media personsoutside the Punjab Assembly,he said that those who talk onmobile phones for hours in thenights can also pay tax.

The provincial ministersaid taxes are being collectedto draw the country out of thepresent crisis. He said the gov-ernment is taxing the rich. Hesaid the government will haveto take steps for ending elec-

tricity loadshedding and otherproblems being faced by thecountry.

To a question, RanaSanaullah said the MQMchief Altaf Hussain could notbe declared responsible forthe murder of Imran Farooquntil the British Police com-plete the investigations. Hesaid there is no doubt thatAltaf Hussain is a British citi-zen, not a Pakistani citizen.He said the responsibility ofthe law and order in Sindhrests with the provincial gov-ernment.—INP

Those who talk forhours on mobile phones

can pay tax: SanaullahOne month

salary for PAemployees

LAHORE—Punjab FinanceMinister Mian MujtabaShujaur Rehman announcedone month honourary salaryfor employees of the PunjabAssembly on Saturday.

The minister appreciatedhardwork and services of theemployees during the bud-get proceedings.—APP

Makhdum laudsrole of President

ZardariLAHORE—Punjab GovernorMakhdum Syed AhmadMahmud has lauded the roleof President Asif Ali Zardariin the continuity of democ-racy in the country.

During a meeting withOpposition Leader in thePunjab Assembly MianMehmoodur Rashid whocalled on the Punjab gover-nor at latter’s Model Townresidence here Saturday, hesaid President Zardari hadfulfilled his constitutional re-sponsibilities ably.

The Punjab governorsaid it was the responsibilityof the PML-N government toensure continuity of democ-racy and resolved people’sproblems on a priority.

He said democratic systemwas necessary for the solidar-ity of the country.—APP

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab ChiefMinister MuhammadShahbaz Sharif saw off a 40-member delegation of tal-ented students from all overthe country who have ob-tained prominent positionsin the examinations proceed-ing on a study tour to re-nowned universities of Euro-pean countries at Allama IqbalInternational Airport. Provin-cial Education Minister RanaMashhood Ahmad Khan,Minister for Social WelfareBegum Zakiya Shahnawaz,Secretary Higher Education,Vice Chairman Punjab Educa-tional Endowment Fund Dr.Amjad Saqib, ChairmanBoard of Intermediate & Sec-ondary Education Lahoreand the parents of the stu-dents were also present onthe occasion.

Addressing the function,Muhammad Shahbaz Sharifsaid that the process of send-ing intelligent students toprominent educational insti-tutions of various countrieson study tours started byPunjab government of Paki-stan Muslim League-N dur-

Shahbaz vows to end load sheddinging its previous tenure willcontinue in future as well. Hesaid that the first delegationof the brilliant students fromPunjab, Sindh, KPK,Balochistan and Azad Kash-mir is going to visit promi-nent universities of Germany,Sweden and UK.

The Chief Minister saidthat imparting training andeducation to the bright starsof the nation, enhancing in-formation and providing re-sources for equipping themwith modern knowledge issuch a useful investment dueto which country and thenation would be able toachieve the goals of devel-opment and prosperity.

Shahbaz Sharif said thatthe male and female studentshad been selected on meritfor visiting prominent uni-versities of the world andthis is the reward of theirhardworking and abilities. Hesaid that the students goingabroad are ambassadors ofPakistan and they have toimprove the image of Paki-stan through their character,act and hardworking. He said

that the students visitingprominent universities ofEuropean countries wouldget an opportunity to seeeducational environmentand culture there and theirknowledge will increase.

The Chief Minister saidthat he, ministers and hispolitical colleagues bearthemselves their expenses offoreign tours and the amountthus saved is spent for send-ing the builders of the nationon a visit to foreign universi-ties. He said that Punjab gov-ernment is taking solid stepsfor the promotion of qualityeducation and uplift of edu-cation sector. He said thatdue to the untiring efforts ofPunjab government, Punjabwould become an importantcenter of education in theeducational field on the mapof the world. Addressing thestudents, Shahbaz Sharif saidthat they are being sent tostudy tours of the universi-ties of European countriesthrough the hard-earnedmoney of the nation and cer-tainly they deserve it butthey have to change their

Mauritanianteam calls on

LHC CJLAHORE—A three-memberdelegation headed by JusticeSadi Yahefdhou, Chief Jus-tice of Islamic Republic ofMauritania, called on LahoreHigh Court Chief JusticeUmar Ata Bandial here Sat-urday.

The delegation also in-cluded Justice Ba Moukhtarand Justice Cheikh AtihCheikh Ahmad Mahmoud,judges of the Supreme Courtof Mauritania.

The dignitaries from bothIslamic countries exchangedviews on dispensation of jus-tice. The LHC chief justicebriefed the Mauritanian del-egation about the judicialsystem and different phasesof justice dispensation in Pa-kistan.

The chief justice ofMauritania also explained thejudicial system of his coun-try and the working of theSupreme Court ofMauritania.

Chief Justice Umar AtaBandial led the distinguishedguests to various parts of thesplendid Lahore High Courtbuilding and said that thestructure was an amalgam-ation of various Asian cul-tures with minarets of Mus-lim, Hindu and Christian wor-ship places.

The visiting judgesasked questions about thehistory of the Lahore HighCourt and its majestic build-ing which were answered bythe chief justice.

The chief justice also toldthem about the two living leg-ends of 125 years old on thepremises of Lahore HighCourt - a fountain of goldenmarble of Rajasthan and fivebunyan trees.

Later, the chief justicepresented a shield and giftsto the delegates as a tokenof respect and a gesture ofgoodwill.

Chief Just ice FederalShariat Court Aga RafiqAhmad Khan, Just ice ShAhmad Farooq of FSC andjudges of the Lahore HighCourt were also present.—APP

Former advocategeneral Punjab

escapes narrowlyin attack

LAHORE—Former advocategeneral Punjab Ashtar AusafAli escaped narrowly whenmotorcyclists opened fire athis vehicle here on Saturday.

According to DIG Opera-tions’ spokesman, the formerAGP was going to his officeat Garden Town when hespotted two women were be-ing robbed of by two armedmotorcyclists at 10:30 am atModel Town. He challengedthe outlaws who opened fireat him. Luckily, Ashtar AusafAli escaped narrowly and abullet hit his vehilce.

His squad chased therobbers and opened fire atthem.

In a panic, the robbers lefttheir motorcycle, cell phonesand fled.

Garden Town police havestarted investigations.

DIG Operations Rai Tahirvisited the scene and metAshtar Ausaf Ali and as-sured him that robbers wouldsoon be arrested.—APP

Position holders leave for Europe on study tour

visit into hardworking andtrust.

He advised them to ob-serve punctuality and takeinterest in the scheduledprogrammes and on return tomotherland, share their infor-mation and knowledge withtheir colleagues. He ex-pressed his desire that be-sides Punjab, all provinces ofthe country and the centershould start suchprogrammes for the encour-agement of the students sothat our country could getprominent position in educa-tion. Replying tothe questions of media,Shahbaz Sharif said that elimi-nation of electricity criseshas been given priority in themanifesto of PML-N. He saidthat load-shedding has be-come a big problem which hasruined the socio-economiccondition of the nation. In-dustry and agriculture havebeen destroyed, he added.The Chief Minister said thatPML-N is making efforts forovercoming energy crisis ac-cording to its manifesto.