ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and China are expected to reach a vital agreement on nuclear energy cooperation soon under which Beijing will help and support Islamabad to set up at least four new power plants to meet its fast growing energy needs.
President Pervez Musharraf, who leaves today (Wednesday) for China to attend the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics scheduled for August 8, will also have meetings with top Chinese leadership on the important issue of nuclear energy cooperation and other bilateral matters.
"Not only the President would talk to the Chinese leaders on cooperation in nuclear energy field and an agreement in this regard but Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who is likely to visit China in a month or so, would also carry forward the discussions on vital matters," said a senior official here on Tuesday requesting anonymity.
He said the signs from Beijing were positive and if things continued to move on the same track, the agreement on nuclear energy cooperation for civilian purposes would be made soon.
The official said that under the agreement China would help Pakistan in the establishment of four new nuclear power plants to meet its ever growing energy demands.
Another official here when contacted confirmed that talks hitherto held between Islamabad and Beijing had been on a positive note and it was expected that results too would be what the two sides were looking for.
The official, who also desired not to be named, said that Pakistan's request for more Chinese nuclear power reactors was meant to bridge the widening gap between the demand and supply of energy. He said the friendly neighbouring States had been engaged in nuclear energy cooperation for many years.
It was back in 2000 when the first reactor of Chashma Nuclear Power Complex was commissioned, he said adding that a Chinese company had also been working on the second phase of that plant after the two sides signed a contract to jointly launch the project in 2004.
2. President signs notification for restoration of 8 judges
President Pervez Musharraf Wednesday signed notification, reinstating five regular and three additional judges of Sindh High Court. The summary is being forwarded to Attorney General's office after the signature, sources said. A summary is also being reviewed for restatement of some of deposed judges of Lahore High Court, sources added.
3. Indian-made arms seized
Source: OUR STAFF REPORTER submitted 16 hours 56 minutes ago
PESHAWAR - The country's security agencies have submitted a report to both central and provincial governments in which they revealed that majority of weapons being used in the terrorist activities in parts of NWFP are of Indian-made, TheNation has learnt reliably on Tuesday.
The revelation came in fore at the time when President Pervez Musharraf, few days back during his visit to Balochistan, also accused India of helping terrorists in the province.
Security forces have recovered Indian-made arms from the possession of miscreants in the restive Swat district. These weapons are similar in structure with weapons being used for the security of Indian Embassy in Kabul. It is also said that explosive packed car recovered by security forces in Charsada was allegedly having an Indian label. These latest developments confirmed that weapons come to Pakistan from India through Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, a person was killed and 11 others sustained critical injuries on Tuesday amidst the security forces continuous firing on the hideouts of the militants with gunship helicopter in Tehsil Kabal and Tehisl Matta.
During the daylong curfew from 6:00am to 7:00pm, the security forces targeted the position of militants in Fewchar, Numal, Gut Showar and Kabal area where one person identified as Sher Afzal was killed while 11 others sustained serious injuries. All the injured persons were rushed to Saidu Sharif hospital.
Moreover, Taliban spokesman Haji Mulsim Khan contradicted the killing of their 94 colleagues and confirmed that only 10 of their colleagues were killed so far and eight others were injured during the last five days of operation. He claimed that they had destroyed two official vehicles in Sijband area of Matta Tehsil.
Taliban also threatened that they would attack Ghaligi police station, where heavy contingent of police and FC had already been deployed.
Meanwhile, two persons were killed and five houses collapsed as a result of heavy rain and thunderstorm in Rori Negar and Pashtoni area of Thesil Matta.
Those killed were identified as Ajab Khan and Jamhir Khan, residents of Pashtoni. Besides this the heavy rain severely damaged standing crops and dozens of cattle of the area dwellers.
Online adds: Unidentified militants have fired five rockets at Army Colony and three at a nearby airport in South Waziristan on Tuesday.
4. ISI issue dominates debate in Senate
By KHALID AZIZ submitted 16 hours 57 minutes ago
ISLAMABAD - The question whether Inter Services Intelligence is under Prime Minister or reporting to the Interior Ministry dominated the ongoing law and order debate in the Upper House on Tuesday.
The issue of placing ISI under the Minister of Interior dominated the discussion over the law and order situation in the Senate. The joint Opposition also staged token walkout against the statement of Leader of the House, Mian Raza Rabbani, in which he had said that the secret agency was still functioning under the Prime Minister.
Senator Javed Ashraf Qazi of PML-Q said that the notification regarding placing ISI under the Interior Minister had not so far been cancelled, therefore, he said, the statement of the Leader of the House was misleading and an attempt to hide the facts.
Senator Wasim Sajjad said that the spy agency should not be destroyed, by placing the same under Ministry of Interior. Instead, he suggested, intelligence committees of the Cabinet and Parliament should be constituted to look after the affairs of ISI.
Federal Law Minister, Farooq H Naek Tuesday told the Senate that the government was sincere in restoration of judges and freedom of press. Responding to the allegations levelled by Senator Tariq Azeem, who accused the government of blocking out transmission during a private TV's talk show, Naek said that the government was committed to ensuring the freedom of expression. He said that the coalition government had presented a bill in National Assembly to abolish PEMRA's black laws, which he said was a sign of the present government's respect for freedom of media.
The Law Minister refuted that he had ever given the statement that the deposed judges would have to take fresh oath from President Musharraf and said that he was misquoted. He said that the government was sincere in restoration of all the deposed judges.
Senator Haji Adeel said that the US government always preferred dictators and offered them red-carpet reception because it was easy for them to deal with a single person. He said US government never supported democratically elected governments in Pakistan and said that White House had a number of times rejected Quaid-e-Azam'
He said the US may not give military aid to Pakistan, but should help us to improve our economy by opening its markets for Pakistani exports. Regarding ISI, Senator Adeel said that the secret agency should function as subordinate and obedient organization and follow whatever instructions were given by the government.
Haji Adeel Ahmed, Senator ANP on Tuesday strongly criticized President Pervez Musharraf for strangling the country under the label of war against terror. He stressed the need for using routine flights rather than special planes to slash expenses when PM and his delegation are visiting abroad and refrain from staying in big hotels thus avoiding prolific expenditures. He demanded of the government to take pragmatic steps to come to the expectations of the masses and avoid misusing funds from the National Exchequer.
Senator Abdur Raheem, while referring to the Prime Minister's statement that another 9/11 was being planned in the tribal areas of Pakistan, said that the Premier had rightly diagnosed the problem before its emergence. He said ISI was not following government's instructions and had devised a policy of its own. He criticized Taliban for burning female education institutes and said they were taking the nation back to the dark ages.
5. Govt assures World Bank of gas subsidy withdrawal
By MONEM FAROOQI submitted 17 hours 1 minute ago
LAHORE - The government has assured the World Bank that it would change the existing gas formula and take step in phasing out the gas subsidy for the first slab of domestic consumers, sources concerned told The Nation here Tuesday
A highly-placed petroleum ministry official confirmed that the Bank came up with its harsh stance underscoring the need for abolishing the subsidy from the first slab of domestic consumers, which was the Bank's longstanding demand.
The sources said though the government has been resisting vis-a-vis gas pricing mechanism, it has now assured the World Bank that it would change the existing formula.
As per the sources, elimination of subsidy would require an increase in the average gas tariff of about 65 percent. If 70 percent of consumers are cross subsidised, the bottom 30 percent and the subsidy for the household sector as a whole would be eliminated. These users will face an average increase of about 70 percent in their bills, which would be eliminated in different phases and the government would be taking this first step in the near future.
As the exiting formula provides for gas supply to the low-income group at concessional rates, the World Bank has been demanding its withdrawal in phases. Before yielding to the Bank demand, the government was of the view that protecting the low-income group's interests by giving subsidy on gas rates was necessary and the same policy would remain in vogue in future.
The World Bank had been demanding a cut in the size of the fist slab of consumers so as to do away with its subsidy-based gas pricing system. The Bank was of the view that the existing gas pricing system was causing domestic fuel disparity and hurting the low-income gas consumers.
It estimated gas subsidy at Rs 9 billion annually and cautioned that continuation of the exiting gas pricing system could disturb the economy.
According to the Bank's demand, the gas price subsidy benefits higher income urban families disproportionately, creating pro-rich subsidy inequalities. It noted, in addition to this situation the cost of alternative hydrocarbon fuels is considerably higher. The Bank strongly recommended that reduction in the size of the first slab would help the SSGC and SNGPL get out of problematic pricing system.
The WB was of the view that Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) does not have the authority to determine retail tariffs. It sets prescribed rates, which represent the price of gas.
It added the difference between retail tariffs for each category of consumers and prescribed rates accrues to the government as gas development surcharge (GDS).
6. 'Q' agrees with PPP's package
By IRFAN BUKHARI submitted 17 hours 2 minutes ago
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Muslim League Q's constitutional committee met here on Tuesday and decided to support the restoration of deposed judiciary through a constitutional package while retaining sitting judges.
The constitutional committee of the PML-Q that met here to overview the PPP-proposed constitutional package suggested the restoration of deposed judiciary by an act of parliament without terminating sitting judges. Senator Anwar Bhinder headed the important meeting while other members, Wasim Sajjad, SM Zafar, and Khalid Ranjha, participated in it. PML-Q MNA Ghaus Bux Mehar could not attend the meeting due to his activities in his flood stricken constituency.
The committee studied the PPP-proposed package thoroughly and listed a few proposals for the party leadership. It is pertinent to mention here that PPP has not yet handed over the package draft to PML-Q for consideration. In the said meeting, the committee also decided that PML-Q would oppose the restoration of deposed judiciary through resolution.
During the meeting, Senator SM Zafar said that the ruling coalition should immediately address constitutional package as unnecessary delay in settling the issue was creating many problems and the masses were forced to think that the government was not willing to restore the judges. "The existing constitutional crisis can not be solved till the judges' issue remains unresolved in the country", he observed.
Talking to TheNation, Senator Wasim Sajjad said that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss various legal options for settling the persistent judicial deadlock. "In the meeting, we also reviewed the PPP-proposed constitutional package though PPP has not yet handed the draft package to us formally for our input", he further added. He noted that deposed judiciary should be restored through constitutional amendment and 'sitting judges should also be retained'.
Senator Khalid Ranjha said that in Tuesday's meeting the committee reviewed 50 to 60 clauses of the PPP-proposed constitutional package and had no objection over the majority proposals of the said package
7. Iran hangs two 'Sunni rebels': report
submitted 1 day ago
Iran has hanged two "rebels" accused of links to a Sunni militant group in a restive southeastern province, including a man who worked as a journalist in the region, a press report said on Tuesday. Yaghoub Mehrnahad and Abdolnasser Taherisadr were hanged after being convicted of "cooperating with so-called Jundallah group" headed by Abdolmalek Rigi, the reformist Etemad Melli daily reported. Reports have also said he worked in the region for the Tehran reformist newspaper Mardomsalari (Democracy).
8. Motorway Police recover nine vehicles
Source: OUR STAFF REPORTER submitted 18 hours 49 minutes ago
ISLAMABAD - Motorway Police have recovered nine vehicles, which were either stolen or snatched from different cities of country, and arrested 12 car-lifters, illegal arms & ammunitions have also been recovered from their custody.
As per details, in first incident Motorway Police recovered a car on GT Road near Multan, which was snatched on gunpoint from Islamabad and was being shifted to Karachi after installing fake number plate. Three culprits named Riaz Ahmed, Ashiq Ali and Muhammad Yousaf were also arrested along with one 30-bore pistol, two magazines and many live rounds.
Similarly, a white pick-up number IDS-8989, which was stolen from Mandra and the same, was recovered on M-1 while the car-lifter managed to escape the scene. Another Suzuki pick-up number W-146 was also recovered on M-1 and one culprit named Juma Gul was arrested on the spot.
In another incident a Suzuki Mehran car No LWQ-5328, which was snatched on gunpoint from Lahore was recovered on M-1 in the area of Burhan and two culprits named Muhammad younas and Muhammad Daud were arrested. Another Suzuki Cultus car No LRF-9360, which was also snatched from Lahore was recovered in the area of Rashakai on M-1 and three dacoits named Muhammad Sajid, Muhammad Arshad and Muhammad Ashraf were arrested.
In another episode a Suzuki pick-up car No FDS-1330 that was stolen from Faisalabad was recovered on M-2 near Bhera and one culprit named Ghulam Muhammad who was driving the said car with fake number plate was arrested. Similarly, Suzuki mehran car number RLC-1715, which was snatched from Hassanabdal on gun-point was recovered on National Highway near Taxila, the culprit was escaped from the scene.
Another Suzuki Mehran car No ACH-103, that was stolen from the jurisdiction of Margalla Police Station was also recovered in the area of Taxila. A Corolla car No ALL-604 that was snatched on gunpoint from Okara was recovered on GT road near Jehangira and two car lifters named Mubashir and Pervez Khan were arrested by motorway police.
Later on, the Motorway Police handed over the arrested Car-lifters along with the recovered cars and arms & ammunitions to the concerned Local Police for further legal action and investigation in the presence of the owners of cars.
The Inspector General, National Highways & Motorway Police, Muhammad Raffat Pasha, has appreciated the performance of the officers who took part in these episodes and announced cash rewards and commendation certificates for them.
9. African countries wish to import Pak tractors: EDB
submitted 18 hours 42 minutes ago
ISLAMABAD (APP) - South Africa and surrounding countries are interested in importing Pakistani tractors and their parts, officials in the Engineering Development Board said here on Tuesday.
The Pakistani Trade Office in South Asia has been receiving queries in this regard on daily basis, this was revealed in a meeting of sub-committee on fiscal issues-indigenizati
However, the committee felt that the progress on export front was very slow and the industry should take remedial measures to increase it in order to offset trade deficit. It requested its sister committee on exports to thoroughly analyze the situation and recommend measures.
The auto industry expressed its concern on new tax measures introduced in the current budget and described these as detrimental to their growth. The industry is preparing a working paper on adverse affects of the current budget, which will be submitted to EDB shortly. Representatives of Ministry of Industries and Production will be involved in the preparation of the paper.
The participants of the meeting stressed that EDB needed to play an active role in reducing communication gap between industry and government for effective policy implementation.
The committee also expressed its dissatisfaction on speed of indigenization in the industry and advised EDB to collect data in order to judge whether Tariff Based System (TBS) has given impetus to indigenization programme or not. It also underlined the need of planning a substitute system, which could replace TBS after 2012.
10. Hubco to set up first hydropower project in private sector
Source: OUR STAFF REPORTER submitted 1 day 19 hours ago
KARACHI - The Hub Power Company Limited (HUBCO) on Monday announced that it has acquired 75 per cent controlling interests in Laraib Energy Limited (LARAIB) and will be setting up the first hydropower project in Pakistan by an IPP. The project is an 84 MW, run of the river hydropower generating complex being set up about 8 KM downstream of Mangla Dam, a statement issued at KSE said.
"HUBCO has always believed in safeguarding the environment and its strong commitment to environment is reflected by continual improvement to the environmental management systems and procedures.
Its existing 1,292 MW power station is compliant with World Bank Guidelines on Environment and the plant has been successfully accredited under ISO 14001 Standard for the last several years." stated Javed Mahmood, the Chief Executive of HUBCO.
He further added that "Acquisition of the 84 MW renewable energy project goes further to demonstrate HUBCO's commitment to safer environment. Implementation of the project will also contribute towards Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol."
The Laraib project has been under progress for a long time and Hubco has now acquired it with the objective of doing everything necessary to ensure its timely completion.
HUBCO plans to commence construction activity before the end of the year.
The electricity to be generated from this renewable energy project will be supplied to the National Transmission and Dispatch Company Limited (NTDC).
Speaking about Hubco's continuing investment in the energy sector, Javed Mahmood pointed out that Hubco was the first IPP to set up a thermal power plant at Hub and now it will be the first IPP to establish a hydel power project.
This, he emphasized, clearly demonstrated Hubco's commitment to Pakistan. He went on to say that for several years Hubco's motto was Partners in Progress and the company fully lived up to this by supplying at times up to 10 percent of the country's total electricity generation.
Now the Company's motto is Growth through Energy and this is reflected in Hubco contributing to the country's growth by enhancing its generation capacity through new energy projects.
11. Building human capital: a hallmark of 21st century
By Dr Talib Lashari submitted 18 hours 40 minutes ago
PAKISTAN has entered the phase of demographic dividends, whereby, human capital is at the mainstay of development and a crucial determinant of achieving the objectives of developed society. To be precise, around half of the population is at productive age. Such an enormous human capital has the potential to transform the pace of socio-economic growth in positive direction. Traditional approach towards building the capacity of the human capital and utilizing it for social change has been major obstacle.
Majority of the developed and developing countries have adopted new dimensions toward human resource development. However, in Pakistan there has been an ongoing debate which overwhelmingly is tilted towards keeping the status quo with regarding to recruitment, promotions and training. Unfortunately this old age approach has discouraged young people from entering into the mode of work and more specifically, it has discouraged parents from sending their children to schools because they feel it is of no use. Brain drain is yet another issue, where country budding professionals are opting for other shores instead of staying back in Pakistan, whenever or wherever they get an opportunity.
Despite this depressing picture, the Constitution of 1973 provides a ray of hope for the young generation. Article 37 of the constitution ensures promotion of social evils and states: make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work, ensuring that children and women are not employed in vocations unsuited to their age or sex, and for maternity benefits for women in employment. It also pledges to enable the people of different areas, through education, training, agricultural and industrial development and other methods, to participate fully in all forms of national activities, including employment in the service of Pakistan.
Similarly, article 38 of the statute book envisages to secure the well-being of the people, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race by raising their standard of living, by preventing the concentration of wealth and means of production and distribution in the hands of a few to the detriment of general interest and by ensuring equitable adjustment of rights between employers and employees, and landlords and tenants. It further ensures to provide for all citizens, within the available resources of the country, facilities for work and adequate livelihood with reasonable rest and leisure.
Contrary to the provisions of the constitution a general attitude towards human development is quite redundant way of thinking. It's also contrary to the contemporary international practices. In today's world, access to information and opportunities is deemed as necessary part of seeking jobs and skill development. Hence, numerous developed and developing countries have set up human development Commissions. United Nation's International Labor Organization has developed a Youth and Employment Network. There are many examples of international experience whereby different countries have set up Commissions on Human Development. Few of those include European Commission on Human Development; India's Commission on Employment, UK Commission, Canadian Commission, Commissions of different states of USA. There are such commissions in different states of India as well. These commissions have their websites to facilitate qualified youth to get jobs in public as well as private sector in accordance with their qualification.
Keeping in view all this, the present democratic government has taken a bold decision to set up a Task Force on Employment and skill development. Under the directives of Prime Minister, the Task Force on Employment was created vide Establishment Division's notification dated May 28, 08. The Task Force is headed by Director General. The Task Force started its work immediately after its notification on May 28. One of the major job of this Task Force was liaison with various ministries to identify existing vacancies, compile it and to subsequently advertise these jobs.
In a short span of time, the Task Force so far has achieved tremendous results. In fact the first consolidated advertisement of vacancies of different ministries appeared on June 3, 08 or hardly a week after it was set up. Since then the consolidated advertisements carrying vacancy positions of various ministries are appearing in national and regional press on almost daily basis. Out of 37,559 vacancies that the Task Force was able to identify, 20,000 vacancies have already been advertised, while the rest of the jobs are in the process of being advertised.
Furthermore, a National Commission for Employment and Human Resource Development (NCEHRD) is in the offing which would ultimately replace the Task Force. The Commission shall be a body corporate and the Prime Minister shall be its patron-in-chief. The idea of setting up NCEHRD is to take up the task on the war footing basis and to use the country's human resource at the maximum.
The Commission shall comprise of a Chairman, a Vice Chairman and six members including a representative from the ministry of Finance. The headquarter of the Commission will be located in Islamabad, while may set up offices in provinces.
Some of the major functions of the Commission will include:
[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
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