United States Offers Concern, Assistance for Pakistani Avalanche Victims

Islamabad: The United States expresses its deep concern for the brave Pakistani soldiers that are currently trapped as a result of an avalanche in Gayari Sector of the Siachen Glacier. We offer our condolences for those who have lost their lives as a result of the avalanche. Our thoughts and prayers are with the soldiers and their families and loved ones.

The United States is ready to assist Pakistan in search, rescue, and recovery operations. We stand by to offer any assistance that Pakistan requires in the aftermath of this tragedy.

For more information, contact:
Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov

Capital Development Authority to partner with Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in all future expos: Farkhand Iqbal

Islamabad: Chairman CDA Mr Farkhand Iqbal on Sunday said that CDA will partner with Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) in all future events aimed at empowerment of women.

We will join forces to improve lives of women by enhancing duration and boosting effectiveness of all the future expositions, he said.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of 2-day Islamabad Expo 2012, he said that CDA believes in gender equity and provision of equal opportunities.

CEO PASDEC Ehsanullah, Member Engineering CDA Sanaullah Aman, National Program Coordinator UNIDO Shahina Waheed, founder president IWCCI Samina Fazil, President IWCCI Alia Akram, business leaders, government officials as well as representatives of private sectors were also present on the occasion.

Farkhand Iqbal said that every adult member of society should have financial freedom and should be able to play his or her role in the process of national development.

Despite the popular stereotype that women entrepreneurs want to keep their companies small or have inclination towards some particular businesses the fact is that women have shown exceptional performance in some sectors considered to be domain of men, he said.

The Chairman CDA said that some women entrepreneurs think that they could grow their business without hiring. This is because they fear giving up control, not making payroll or that working alone make businesses more manageable while the opposite is true.
“Delegating duties will provide you time to focus on long-term strategy and truly grow your business,” he advised.

The city father said that some women are found unwilling to reach out and get help from others to succeed. “You have to change mind-set, pursue and achieve success for yourself,” he stressed.

Farkhand Iqbal said that women have to struggle more to make their businesses successful therefore CDA has planned to play its role in empowering women by employing various plans.

He said that Government is influencing the lives of millions of women by supporting them to enhance quality of life and become architects of their prosperous future.

Government believes that more opportunities for education and economic transformation will strengthen families and make Pakistan a better place to live.

At the occasion Samina Fazil lauded the role of CDA. She said that women are far less likely than their male counterparts to reach top leadership positions.

She said that women are paid less for a job for which men are paid more adding that society need to pay attention to close our pay gap with men.

In the current economic situation, top goal of many business women is just to survive which is discouraging, said Samina Fazil adding that more steps are required to bailout business women.

For more information, contact:
Samina Fazil
President
Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Mobile: +92323 5343199
Tel: +9251 2252256

Rs. 84 million to be saved in purchase of Golen Gol equipment

Lahore: Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) will save about Rs. 84 million in procurement of electro-mechanical equipments for the 106-MW Golen Gol Hydropower Project by awarding the contract to the lowest technical responsive bidder.

This was stated by WAPDA Chairman Shakil Durrani in a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Water and Power, presided over by Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman said that WAPDA Authority had already recommended the bid in the wake of its evaluation as per rules by the offices concerned. The matter has been sent to the donor agency for approval, while the contract will formally be awarded after approval of the donor agency, he said.

National Assembly Standing Committee on Water and Power directed WAPDA to intimate them once the approval was granted by the donor agency.

Earlier, WAPDA Member (Water) Syed Raghib Abbas Shah apprised the Committee on the process relating to procurement and evaluation of bids in WAPDA.

It is pertinent to mention that Golen Gol Hydropower Project is being constructed on the River Golen Gol, a major tributary of the River Mastuj in Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province about 380 kilometres from Islamabad. On its completion, Golen Gol Hydropower Project will generate about 436 million units of electricity (Gwh) to earn revenue of about Rs. 3.7 billion annually.

Responding to a question, WAPDA Chairman said that WAPDA was implementing 18 projects under its least-cost energy generation plan to increase the ratio of hydel electricity in the National Grid, and help stabilise electricity tariff in the country. Under the plan, the 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum, 4500 MW-Diamer Basha Dam, 1410 MW-Tarbela 4th Extension, 740 MW-Multipurpose Munda Dam and 84 MW-Kurram Tangi Dam are under implementation to name a few, he added.

For more information, contact:
Muhammad Abid Rana
Director Public Relations
Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA)
G-32, WAPDA House, Lahore
Tel: +9242 9920 2633 and +9242 9920 2211 -2033 -2029
Cell: +92333 445 8293
Email: mabidrana@gmail.com

Chief Minister Punjab Should Curb Crimes In Punjab – Sharmila Faruqui

Karachi: Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Media, Sharmila Faruqui has said that the presence of poetess in the society is like a pleasant breeze and holding Mushairas ends suffocation in the society. Poetry is the name of rare feelings and those who are engage in this lofty segment are admirable. This she said while addressing as chief guest at International Women Musharia here at local hotel. The occasion was presided over by well known poetess Ghazal Jafri.

She said that present democratic government had taken many important steps to empower women and to give them their due status in the society. Approval of Harassment bill against working places, Benazir Income support Program, Behen Benazir Basti, distribution of agriculture land to landless women free of cost, were some glaring examples of present democratic government’s achievements. She said that President Asif Ali Zardari was the symbol of Federation and unhealthy criticism on him by Chief Minister Punjab was regrettable and Chief Minister Punjab should pay concentration on the plight of the people of his province.

She said, ‘Pakistan People’s Party has roots in all four provinces and Gilgit / Baldistan and Azad Kashmir as well. She advised Chief Minister Punjab to focus to curb crimes rate in Punjab and to stop the incidents of criminal assault on women’. Sharmila Faruqui said that it was also a big achievement of the government that it had increased number of seats for minority in Senate. Seema Ghazal, Rehana Berelvi and other poetess read out their poetry.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Allah Bachayo Memon
Press Secretary
Chief Minister House
Tel: +9221 99202019
Cell: +92300-3524057 (Ext: 336)

Thar treasures shouldn’t be compromised: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Progress, national security tied to Thar coal Rapid coalfield development of only survival option Coal key to energy self-reliance, prosperity

Islamabad: Government should pay proper attention to exploit treasure buried in Thar to contain energy crisis, cut oil import bill, provide jobs and boost economy, FPCCI said Sunday.

This project is a must for revenue generation, future progress and national security of the country; it is the only option for survival, it said.

Lack of coordination between provincial and federal governments has been keeping Thar Coal from alleviate sufferings of people and economy, said Tariq Mehmood, Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Health and Director Pak-UK Business Council, FPCCI.

He said that Pakistan cannot afford to delay exploitation of one of the world’s largest lignite deposits spread over more than 9,000 km.

175 billion tonnes of coal matching oil reserves of Saudi Arabia and Qatar can ensure energy security for centuries by providing around 100000 MW of electricity, he said.

Tariq Mahmood who is also President Attock Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan can provide affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity to consumers and earn huge foreign exchange by exporting power.

Presently, around 30 per cent of energy is being imported disturbing budget; the oil import bill will swell to 120-130 billion dollars in eight years when we will require 26000 MW to keep the economy moving, he added.

He said that the situation calls for urgent and decisive action as the business community and economists have never approved unplanned and short-term measures.

Government should not waste the skills of Dr Samar Mubarkmand and funds should be immediately released for Thar coal project otherwise the project may collapse, he warned.

Germany, China and India are generating 80 per cent, 73 per cent and 63 per cent of electricity on coal while we have only one small 20MV unit working in the country which will be shut soon.

Government’s non-serious attitude, credibility, dearth of infrastructure, want of incentives, low coordination, failure to resolve tariff and coal pricing issues are some problems that need to be addressed, he demanded.

Tariq Mehmood asked the Chief Justice to look personally into the matter, bring to book the lobbies disrupting relations between government and investors, inquire the role of influential oil lobby and investigate the reasons behind underutilisation of reserves discovered back in 1991.

For more information, contact:
Syed Masood Alam Rizvi
Secretary General
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)
B-1, Federation House, Main Clifton Road, Shahra-e-Firdousi,
Karachi-75600, Pakistan
Tel: +9221 3587 3691
Fax: +9221 3587 4332
Email: info@fpcci.com.pk

National Assembly Speaker Condoles the Death of Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz Leader Bashir Qureshi

Islamabad: Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Speaker National Assembly and Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza have expressed their deep grief and sorrow over sudden death of Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz Leader Bashir Qureshi.

In their condolence messages to the family of the deceased leader and his followers, the Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza and Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to fortitude to the members of the bereaved family and his followers to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.

For more information, contact:
Karamat Hussain Niazi
Secretary
National Assembly of Pakistan
Parliament House, Islamabad
Tel: +9251 922 1082 -83
Fax: +9251 922 1106

President to address Pakistan’s Leaders of Tomorrow – PakLOT participants

Islamabad: In order to create an environment of debate and self-responsibility amongst the youth, the government has initiated a strategy to encourage dialogue amongst the youth. In this connection an event entitled “Pakistan’s Leaders of Tomorrow – PakLOT” will be held tomorrow at Islamabad. President Asif Ali Zardari, who has always wholeheartedly supported initiatives to empower the youth of Pakistan, will preside over the event.

The purpose of the event is to mobilize the youth for creating a culture of constructive engagement, which promotes participation and individual responsibility in dealing with issues of personal and democratic security.

A group of around 100 – 120 outstanding students with leadership skills have been selected from various schools, colleges and universities who will take on the role of “Pakistan Leaders of Tomorrow – PakLOT”. These students will assist the Government by engaging with the public primarily through Social Media Networking – one of the most effective modes of communication today.

In the inaugural event the President is expected to highlight rationale and purpose behind the initiative. During the event, students will debate on selected issues and, as a result of the brainstorming process, a resolution on all core issues of counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, energy and international relations will be passed by the “PakLOT” at the end of the event. Once finalized, the resolutions will also be available to the public.

The initiative will serve as an effective means of communicating directly with the general public, to strengthen direct links and trust between the youth and the Government of Pakistan. Furthermore, it will not only make the youth realize that security and stability cannot be gained through extremism, but also give them a sense of responsibility to participate effectively in combating major issues that plague our country, like terrorism, narcotics and other criminal activities.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
Fax: +9251 925 2325 and +9251 925 2326
Email: piopid@gmail.com