I am very pleased to be in Karachi: United States Consulate General

Karachi, July 22, 2012 (PPI-OT): The United States Consulate General is pleased to welcome Consul General Michael Dodman to Karachi. CG Dodman’s prior State Department assignments include Economic Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and Political and Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Prague. He has also served in Ankara and Warsaw, as well as in Washington, DC.

“I am very pleased to be here in Karachi,” CG Dodman said. “I look forward to getting to know this vibrant city and the people of Sindh and Balochistan provinces as I work to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.”

CG Dodman graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and has Masters degrees from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School and Boston University.

William Martin, the previous Consul General, recently departed Karachi after a successful two year posting and is en route to his next diplomatic assignment.

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

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation completes 70 per cent drains cleaning work

Karachi, July 22, 2012 (PPI-OT): KMC Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed said 60 to 70 percent of work of cleaning of storm water drains in the city was completed. These include 13 major and over 300 small and big arteries in the city and the process was continuing. He said this on Sunday during the visit of PECHS drain, Zeri House drain, Urdu Bazar drain and the under construction Shahra-e-Quaideen drain.

Senior Director Municipal Services Dr. Shoukat Zaman, D.G Works and Services, Director Machine Pool Nauman Arshad, Chief Engineers of concerned departments and other officers accompanied him on this visit.

Administrator Karachi said the municipal staff had troubles in cleaning of some drains due to the existence of encroachments including residential houses, government and private offices, markets, flats and shopping centers at these drains which had made it quite hard to induct machinery or manpower for cleaning of drains.

He said the city was expected to receive 20 to 25 percent more rains this year and the subsequent years due to the global warming and environmental changes. The inhabitants of Katchi Abadies drop all of their garbage and waste into these drains that had caused the raising of their level.

Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed stressed the need of adopting a comprehensive and effective strategy to deal with these encroachments in the city.

He said the cleaning of Urdu Bazar Drain has been done first time in 40 years which had saved the shopkeepers of this market from heavy losses during the monsoon season.

Administrator Karachi also went to the Central Rain Emergency Camp setup beneath the FTC Flyover where the Senior Director Municipal Services briefed him about the setting up of rain emergency centers at different locations in the city.

He further informed that city wide extensive fumigation campaign was also planned after rains in the city.

For more information, contact:
Administrator Secretariat
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC)
City District Government Complex, 1st Floor, Civic Centre,
Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
Tel: +9221 9923 2400 -01
Fax: +9221 9923 2406
Email: administrator@karachicity.gov.pk

Qaim Ali Shah presides meeting of Sindh Cabinet at Kandhkot

Karachi, July 22, 2012 (PPI-OT): Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim presided a meeting of Special Sindh Cabinet at D.C complex Kandhkot today. The meeting was also attended by notables of area, elected representatives, leaders of Hindu panchayat and office bearers of PPP district Kandhkot- Kashmore.

` Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that during the floods of 2010, majority of small towns and villages were badly affected. He said that the Government of Sindh had allocated an amount of Rs: 6 crore to each MPA, while during current year every MPA has been allocated an amount of Rs: 8 Crore.

He said that various development schemes worth Rs: 8.20 Billion are under completion in Kandhkot-Kashmore district. He announced a package of Rs: 30 crore for rehabilitation of various towns of district.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that Cadet College is being established in the district aimed at to enhance education there, for which an amount of Rs: 15 crore has been allocated, while he announced Rs; 1 crore for the welfare Hindu community of the district.

Chief Minister Sindh said that the elected representatives have informed that the law and order has improved, which is an encouragement for Sindh Government. With regard to health services the Chief Minister Sindh informed that 3 ambulances are being given to District Health Officer and added that a summary being sent to Sindh Public Service Commission for recruitment of lady doctors (Women Medical Officer).

He further said that work is going on for drainage schmes Ghousper and Kandhkot, which will help in cleanliness of those towns. Syed Qaim Ali Shah informed that the Federal Government has assigned task to National Highway Authority to construct a bridge on River Indus between Ghotki and Kandhkot, for which he will also talk to the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, as there will be improvement of Law and Order due to that bridge.

He added that for improvement of Law and Order, new Police Stations will be established at Shabirabad and jamal Village, With regard to complaints of PPL and Qadirpur gas bunds inside the River Indus, the Chief Minister Sindh said that the matter will be raised before Indus River Authority that there is danger to the people due to such bunds, as such the same should be demolished.

He said that there is Sindh Government outstanding of Rs: 35 billion towards federal government, and on receipt of such, more development schemes will be initiated. He directed all MNA’s and MPA’s to visit and monitor all development schemes in their respective constituencies. Chief Minister Sindh announced that Circuit House will be constructed at Kandhkot and a complex of offices will be soon constructed at Tagwani.

Earlier, Mr. Nand Lal, Abdul Hakeem Bijarani, Dr. Mahar Chand, Dr. Suresh and other highlighted and apprised the Chief Minister Sindh about problems faced to Kandhkot. Mir Mehboob Bijarani MPA, Federal minster Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani MNA, Mr. Gul Muhammad Jakhrani MNA, Sindh Minister for Excise and Taxation Mr. Mukesh Kumar Chawla, and other public representatives briefed that Chief Minister Sindh about development schemes of the district and efforts so far made far solution of problems of people.

On the complaint of public representative and notales, the Chief Minster Sindh issued directives to suspend transition officer Ansar Ali Memon. The meeting was attended among others by Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani MNA, Gul Muhammad Jakhrani MNA, Minister Local Government Agha Siraj Khan Durrani, Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Food Minister Mir Nadir Khan Magsi, Information Minister Sharjeel Enam Memon, Minister for Housing and anti- Narcotics Agha Taimoor Khan Pathan, Minister Irrigation Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Minister Excise and Taxation Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Minister for Rehabilitation Haji Muzaffar Shujra, Mir Mehboob Ali Bijrani MPA, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Syed Sohail Akbar Shah and Secretary Information Qazi Shahid Pervaiz.

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

From Heavy Industries Taxila no police person died while performing duties inside Mohafiz vehicle

Islamabad, July 22, 2012 (PPI-OT): Consequent to the news item appearing in a section of press dated 20 Jul 2012 in which it has been reported that at least 13 Policemen lost their lives while they were in Mohafiz Vehicles is false and the facts have been distorted with definite mala -fide intentions to misguide the readers. Some of the facts are highlighted as under:

a. Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) is an establishment of Ministry of Defence Production, Govt of Pakistan and not a Private Company.

b. The operational capability of Mohafiz vehicle has been undermined in the report and therefore requires clear understanding that Mohafiz Vehicle provided to Sindh Police is according to the specifications laid down in the contract signed with Sindh Police. The performance of the Vehicle in Lyari operation is according to the claimed protection levels.

c. The specification of the vehicle as per claimed protection levels have been tested by Sindh Police on a hull of Mohafiz manufactured as per the actual vehicle on 15 Nov 2011 at Police Academy Razzaq Abad prior to delivery of these vehicles. The firing test was conducted in the presence of Honourable Home Minister, Mr. Manzoor Wassan, IG Police and DIG Operations. More than 200 bullets were fired and the protection levels were verified.

d. No low-caliber standard bullets penetrated Mohafiz vehicle in Lyari Operation and the Joint Investigation Report prepared by HIT and Sindh Police verifies the facts.

e. All 18 Vehicles (10 Mohafiz, 8 Talha) which have been used and fired upon in Lyari Operations have been thoroughly inspected and claimed protection levels are verified. No police person died while performing duties inside Mohafiz Vehicle.

f. The materials used in manufacture of Mohafiz are according to the specifications laid down internationally for the desired protection levels. All materials used are Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified and further tested by HIT before manufacturing. Each product of HIT is backed by proper Warranty/ Guarantee as laid down in the contract with users including Sindh Police.

g. Mohafiz has saved the lives of Police and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) personnel throughout Pakistan in any operations where it has been effectively utilized according to its capabilities.

h. Report published therefore is ambiguous, as the reporter has no knowledge of Armoured Vehicles, APCs and Tanks and neither has an understanding of protection levels of these Vehicles. HIT produces various types of Armoured Vehicles, according to requirements of the users, meeting international protection standards. Technology utilized in product manufacturing has been acquired directly from the OEMs. There is no role of traders in the production of the Armoured Vehicles.

i. All the Mohafiz supplied to Sindh Police have been manufactured based on Aluminum Armour and ballistic steel which is in accordance to contracted specifications. The damaged Vehicles of the Lyari Operation will be repaired according to well engineered practices and also upgraded, if Sindh Police so desires.

j. HIT has full capability of manufacturing Armoured Vehicles for LEAs according to the requirements whether it is B6, B7 or other levels of protection. Comparing the HIT products with Luxury Cars or Vehicles is a complete misperception on part of the reporter.

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

Chief Justice Peshawar Court administers oath to the newly inducted Additional Judges of the court

Peshawar, July 22, 2012 (PPI-OT): Chief Justice Peshawar Court, Mr. Justice Dost Muhammad Khan in a simple but impressive ceremony held at Peshawar High Court, Peshawar Friday has administered oath to the newly inducted Additional Judges of the court. They include Mr. Justice Rooh-ul-Amin Khan, Mr. Justice Asadullah Khan Chamkani, Mr. Justice Shah Jehan Khan Akhunzada and Justice Irshad Qaiser.

Among others, the ceremony was attended by Honourable Judges of Peshawar High Court and Lower Judiciary besides lawyers of Peshawar High Court and District Bar, Peshawar in large number.

For more information, contact:
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Tel: 091 921 1789
Email: info@khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Technical Education Peshawar notifies examination schedule

Peshawar, July 22, 2012 (PPI-OT): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Technical Education Peshawar has notified for information of all concerned that the D.COM Part-I and II (Ex-Revised New Course) and D.COM Part-I Revised Course (2006) /DBA Part-I and II. (New Course) Supplementary Examination 2012 of the Board shall commence from 26-9-2012 (Wednesday).

According to details, the examination admission forms and fee for the above mentioned exams: can be submitted in the office of the Assistant Controller of Examination Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Technical Education Peshawar without late examination fee upto 31-7-2012, with late exam: fee of Rs. 180/- upto 7-8-2012, with double exam: fee upto 15-8-2012 and with triple exam: fee upto 27-8-2012.

For more information, contact:
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Tel: 091 921 1789
Email: info@khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announces Ramazan Timings

Peshawar, July 22, 2012 (PPI-OT): The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced the official timings for the provincial government offices during the Holy Month of Ramazan. According to details, from Monday to Thursday all provincial offices will remain open from 08:00 AM to 02:00 PM while on Friday they will work from 08:00 AM to 01:00 PM. It was notified here by Administration Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar.

For more information, contact:
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Tel: 091 921 1789
Email: info@khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk