All-out help to make PIA best airlines: PM

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on Sunday that all-out help would be extended to make the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) the best airlines.

He visited the newly-acquired A-320 aircraft by the PIA that could start the renaissanceof the national flag carrier. Nawaz expressed joy over the deal and said it was pleasing to see the new aircraft being inducted into the PIA fleet. He said with the present initiatives being taken, PIA shall soon be revived to its past glory.


Nawaz took a round of the aircraft that was parked at the Islamabad International Airport. It is the first of the 14 most sophisticated aircraft being acquired by the PIA.The French-made A-320 is the first aircraft that the PIA has acquired in 10 years as the last purchase was the wide-bodied Boeing 777 in 2004, which had ruined the economy of the airline as it wasn’t cost effective. There are allegations that the then president and prime minister got heavy commissions in that deal. The airline is still paying heavy installments of that plane.


Sources said Boeing 777 was bought against the experts advice by allegedly changing the decision of the PIA board overnight by the then president. Nawaz was greeted by the PIA employees when he arrived at the airport. Interestingly, the prime minister had approved the inclusion of 14 new aircraft into the PIA fleet.


Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem, Managing Director PIA Muhammad Junaid Yunus and Director Flight Operations PIA Captain Qasim Hayat accompanied the prime minister.


Shujaat Azeem briefed the prime minister that the airline was also in the process of inducting 14 aircraft into its fleet, including the narrow body, wide body and turbo-prop aircraft. The airline has placed an order for three A320 aircraft with GECAS of which one aircraft had been received while the remaining two will be delivered next month and in September. The remaining aircraft will be inducted in the near future.


The Airbus A320 has a seating capacity of 180. The aircraft will be in operation immediately. Visiting the aircraft, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he would like to see more Pakistanis traveling with the national flag carrier, which should be the preferred choice of passengers.

‘Plastic-eating’ microbes help marine debris sink: study

PERTH: Microscopic creatures could be helping reduce marine garbage on the ocean surface, not only by "eating" plastics but by causing tiny pieces to sink to the seafloor, Australian researchers said Thursday.

The plastic-dwellers appear to be biodegrading the millions of tonnes of debris floating on waters worldwide, according to oceanographers at the University of Western Australia.

They analysed more than 1,000 images of material drifting along Australia´s coast in a study published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

The study is the first to document the biological communities living on the tiny particles of debris known as microplastics, and recorded many new types of microbe and invertebrate for the first time.

"Plastic biodegradation seems to happen at sea," oceanographer Julia Reisser said.

"I am excited about this because the ´plastic-eating´ microbes could provide solutions for better waste disposal practices on land."

Scientists have warned that microplastics -- particles smaller than five millimetres (0.2 of an inch) -- are threatening to alter the open ocean´s natural environment.

The United Nations Environment Programme estimated in 2012 that around 13,000 pieces of microplastic litter were found in every square kilometre of sea, with the North Pacific most badly affected.

While there has been previous research on microbes eating plastic at landfills, Reisser said her research found early indications that their marine counterparts could be just as effective on ocean garbage.

"If you use terrestrial microbes, you need fresh water to grow them and the process can be very expensive," she told AFP. "But if you find marine microbes, they are growing in saltwater and that might be a cheaper way (to reduce landfills)."

Reisser said the research showed diatoms -- tiny algae that were the most commonly found microbe living on the microplastics -- were using the little pieces as a "boat" to move around on the surface of the ocean.

As more and more diatoms -- which are made of silica -- gathered on a plastic piece, they appeared to make it sink to the bottom of the ocean floor, she said.

The actions of the microbes could explain why the amount of plastic floating on the seas has not been expanding as fast as scientists expected, Reisser added.

But the researchers also found evidence of possible tiny bite marks on the microplastics, raising concerns that other small organisms could be consuming toxins found in the litter.

"It seems we have tiny animals grazing on these plastic inhabitants -- but we are not sure if this is good or bad," Reisser said.

"That´s a hazard that we are very worried about, but we need far more research to see how big this problem is." (AFP)

Obama: US will help but Iraq must mend divisions

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said Friday that he is examining options short of sending ground troops to help Iraq counter a extremist offensive, but warned the country must heal its own divisions.

"We will not be sending US troops back into combat in Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of other options that could help support Iraqi security forces," Obama said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki´s government has asked the United States to provide military assistance to counter a stunning advance by ISIL, an extremist movement.

But, in brief remarks to reporters at the White House, Obama warned the Baghdad government that it had brought disaster on itself by failing to heal the divides between Sunni and Shiite camps in the country.

"The United States will not involve itself in military action in the absence of a political plan by the Iraqis that gives us some assurance that they´re prepared to work together," he said.

"We won´t allow ourselves to be dragged back into a situation in which while we´re there we´re keeping a lid on things and, after enormous sacrifices by us, as soon as we´re not there, suddenly people end up acting in ways that are not conducive to the long-term stability of the country.

"The United States withdrew the last of its occupation forces from Iraq in 2011, eight years after they overthrew the then dictator Saddam Hussein, but Obama said he was studying options to increase ongoing support for the Iraqi military.

He added, however, that "any action that we may take to provide assistance to Iraqi security forces has to be joined by a serious and sincere effort by Iraq´s leaders to set aside sectarian differences.

"Nobody has an interest in seeing terrorists gain a foothold inside of Iraq and nobody is going to benefit from seeing Iraq descend into chaos," he said.
"So the United States will do our part, but understand that ultimately it´s up to the Iraqis as a sovereign nation to solve their problems."

Obama: US will help but Iraq must mend divisions

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said Friday that he is examining options short of sending ground troops to help Iraq counter a extremist offensive, but warned the country must heal its own divisions.

"We will not be sending US troops back into combat in Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of other options that could help support Iraqi security forces," Obama said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki´s government has asked the United States to provide military assistance to counter a stunning advance by ISIL, an extremist movement.

But, in brief remarks to reporters at the White House, Obama warned the Baghdad government that it had brought disaster on itself by failing to heal the divides between Sunni and Shiite camps in the country.

"The United States will not involve itself in military action in the absence of a political plan by the Iraqis that gives us some assurance that they´re prepared to work together," he said.

"We won´t allow ourselves to be dragged back into a situation in which while we´re there we´re keeping a lid on things and, after enormous sacrifices by us, as soon as we´re not there, suddenly people end up acting in ways that are not conducive to the long-term stability of the country.

"The United States withdrew the last of its occupation forces from Iraq in 2011, eight years after they overthrew the then dictator Saddam Hussein, but Obama said he was studying options to increase ongoing support for the Iraqi military.

He added, however, that "any action that we may take to provide assistance to Iraqi security forces has to be joined by a serious and sincere effort by Iraq´s leaders to set aside sectarian differences.

"Nobody has an interest in seeing terrorists gain a foothold inside of Iraq and nobody is going to benefit from seeing Iraq descend into chaos," he said.
"So the United States will do our part, but understand that ultimately it´s up to the Iraqis as a sovereign nation to solve their problems."

Seminaries to help Taliban attack Islamabad, say police

 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Taliban will coordinate with Islamist activists at major seminaries in or near the capital, Islamabad, to launch attacks if the peace talks with the government fail, police said in a report obtained by Reuters.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took power last year promising to end the insurgency through negotiations. Talks got going in February but have achieved little.The Pakistani Taliban, allied with but separate from the Afghan Taliban, are fighting to overthrow the government and impose a strict version of Islam on the 180 million people.

They called a ceasefire beginning on March 1 to facilitate the talks but it officially ended on Thursday. It is unclear if the ceasefire will be extended.

Police said in the report that two well-known seminaries would support the attacks in the capital and its twin city of Rawalpindi if the talks break down and the military moves against the Taliban bases in areas bordering Afghanistan.

“If talks between the government and the Taliban fail ...like-minded religious seminaries and mosques have been given the target of fully contributing in carrying out attacks,” police said in the report, which was prepared last month.

Police identified two well-known seminaries, or madrasas, on the outskirts of Islamabad. They said the two had already helped launch several attacks, including a 2009 assault on the army´s headquarters in Rawalpindi. One provides “brainwashing courses and lessons on sacrificing oneself for Jihad,” police said in the report.

In the other seminary, commanders provide “Jihadi weapons training classes” to students from the ethnic Pashtun tribal areas which have long been militant recruiting grounds, police said. The two seminaries also host fighters who come to carry out attacks and help with “all last minute preparations”, they said.

Militant fighters have set themselves up with activists at hardline mosques in Islamabad before.Police and government spokesmen declined to comment on the report but security officials who requested not to be identified said the information was correct. One police officer said 20 seminaries in Rawalpindi were being investigated for similar Taliban links.

Head of one seminary denied any connection with the Taliban and said his seminary was being threatened by insurgents for being pro-government.“We openly believe that any attacks against Pakistan are wrong and against Islam,” he told Reuters. “Ask the police to show me one arrested person who is linked to my seminary.”

The head of the other seminary identified in the report was not available for comment.The Pakistani Taliban spokesman was also not available to comment but a member of the Taliban leadership council said fighters were present in all major cities and would be “unstoppable” if the talks with the government broke down.

“If the government attacks us in the tribal areas, we will kill them in the cities,” he said. “By the grace of Allah, the Taliban today are more united and present everywhere.”A bomb in a market on the outskirts of Islamabad on Wednesday killed 24 people. The Taliban denied responsibility.

Muneebur Rehman, the chairman of an alliance of seminaries (religious madaris), dismissed the findings of the police report and asked, if it were true, why had the authorities not done anything?“If this report carries evidence of seminaries collaborating with Taliban for attacks, the government must go ahead and take action,” Rehman said.

ETA will help boost tourism in India: Tourism Secretary

 

 

The Hindu A file picture of Secretary, Tourism Mr. Parvez Dewan. Photo: Nagara Gopal.

The move to grant in principle approval for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travellers from 180 countries to India will boost tourism in the country, Tourism Secretary Parvez Dewan said on Tuesday.

“Travelling to India will be made easy once the ETA to visit the country becomes operational,” he said.

ETA, which will allow foreign travellers to apply for a visa from home and receive an online confirmation in five working days, is expected to become operational by October. Barring eight prior reference countries, which include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, government has decided to give e-visa to all the 180 countries.

Mr. Dewan added that during the past year, India had considerably relaxed its visa regime and expanded the Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) scheme.

India launched the VoA scheme in January 2010 for citizens of five countries – Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore — visiting India for tourism purposes. The scheme was later extended to six more countries in January 2011.

Further, the secretary said that a dedicated helpline for inbound tourists will be launched in a year. "Tourism Infoline in 12 languages will become operational in about a year," he said.

The Infoline – a dedicated call centre -- will provide information regarding tourist-related facilities and services available in the country.

Katrina Kaif’s sister steps into acting with Salman Khan’s help

Slow and steady seems to be the course of Katrina Kaif’s younger sister Isabel’s career.

She has been signed for the second lead opposite British Indian actor Kunal Nayyar in French director Jean-Francois Pouliot’s Dr Cabbie. The film co-produced by Salman Khan,features Vinay Virmani who played one of the title roles in Bejoy Nambiar’s undervalued David.

The story goes that Salman wanted to cast Isabel opposite Virmani. But by the time the decision was taken to cast her,it was too late.

Says a source close to the project,”The G I Joe actress Adriane Palicki had already been signed opposite Vinay. So Isabel stepped in to co-star with the film’s second lead Kunal Nayyar who has worked in the hit British series The Big Bang Theory.”

Sources from Canada where the film is being shot say co-producer Salman Khan is taking a keen interest in the project and in Isabel’s role.

According to sources,Isabelle would make her full-fledged Bollywood debut in 2014 in a film that may be jointly co-produced by Salman and Katrina.

Speaking from Canada,the film’s leading man Vinay Virmani said,”Isabel has joined our project. She’s a really sweet girl,very easy-going and fun to work with.”

Iran seeks UN’s help for release of border guards

 

TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has urged the United Nations to help secure the release of Iranian border soldiers abducted by extremists, the media reported on Thursday.
Zarif sent a message to UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday evening demanding action from the international community, saying “mere condemnation of acts of terrorism is not enough.” His urgent plea to the UN chief came after Jaish-ul Adl, the rebel group operating in southeast Iran, claimed to have killed one of the five abducted soldiers and threatened further executions. Ban had on Tuesday condemned the reported killing as an “appalling act” and urged that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

The young soldiers, who were serving their 24-month mandatory military service, are believed to have been taken into neighbouring Pakistan after being kidnapped in February. Zarif linked the abduction to what he termed a series of “terrorist atrocities against Iranian citizens, including diplomats and other officials”, according to a copy of his letter to Ban posted on his Facebook page.

He decried action against Iran by “state-sponsored extremist groups, with similar patterns of funding, coordination, support and direction”. Zarif did not name any countries but Iranian officials have pointed the finger of blame at regional rivals for a number of attacks against Iranian diplomatic missions in Lebanon, Pakistan and Yemen.

A diplomatic source in Tehran said the letter could pave the way for a debate within the UN as “state-sponsored terrorism” was a regional issue. Jaish-ul Adl warned of further executions should Tehran refuse to release their prisoners. It claimed responsibility for killing a local prosecutor and 14 Iranian border guards in an ambush in 2013.

Ties with Islamabad have taken hit since the abduction, with Iran criticising what it calls Pakistan’s inability to secure its borders and purge its soil of militants. In a phone call with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani demanded “serious and swift action” to free the soldiers.

Our correspondent adds: Meanwhile, Pakistan categorically denied that the recent killing of an Iranian Border Guard took place on the Pakistan territory and said that managing any border was the responsibility of both the sides.

“We are neither apologetic nor we are expected to be aggressive. As both the sides have repeatedly said, we have a very strong relationship and we will continue to work together with Iran to further strengthen it,” said the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson.

Five Iranian Border Guards disappeared 10-15 kilometres inside the Iranian territory in the Sistan-Baluchestan province, but Pakistani authorities, after thorough investigations, could not find them nor were there any signs that they were brought inside Pakistan, the FO spokesperson said.

About the recent Iranian rhetoric mostly for domestic consumption, Pakistan says it does not want to take up a very sensitive issue using the media.“We have condemned the killing of the Iranian guard and we have full sympathy with the families and with the Iranian government. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We stand ready, as we have done in the past, to help Iran locate them but we have no indication that they are in the Pakistani territory,” said the spokesperson.

US cuts Pak aid by $10m to help Ukraine

WASHINGTON: A key US congressional committee passed a legislation for new financial assistance to Ukraine, by reducing a small portion of the US aid to Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill.

The $10 million taken from the annual $1.5 billion to Pakistan would be used to carry out programming in the Ukrainian, Balkan, Russian, and Tatar language services of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty and Voice of America, the house bill said.

The legislation — HR 4278, the Ukraine Support Act — was passed on Tuesday by an overwhelming bipartisan support of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee.Introduced last week by the Committee Chairman Ed Royce and ranking member Eliot Engel, it promotes Ukraine’s sovereignty and democratic institutions while sanctioning those who have sought to undermine its independence and stability.

The issue of moving funds from the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill, officially known as the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, was raised during the mark up of the bill by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“My reading of the bill (HR 4278) is that we’re actually taking money from the Pakistani aid budget and putting it into the Ukraine aid budget instead,” Congressman Alan Grayson said.

“In terms of that portion of the budget, I think it’s broadcasting in Pakistan that we’re taking the funds and applying it here,” Congressman Ed Royce said. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for further action.

“Russia’s armed intervention in Ukraine and its illegal annexation of Crimea have created an international crisis. The danger is far from over. If we wish to deter Putin from further aggression, the US and our allies must take immediate action to strengthen Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence and target Russian officials and others who are responsible for those actions,” Royce said.

US cuts Pak aid by $10 million to help Ukraine

WASHINGTON: The United States cut $10 million in aid given to Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill and diverted it Ukraine.

Under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill Pakistan receives $1.5 billion in US aid.

Pakistan’s aid was cut when a key congressional committee passed a legislation of new financial assistance to Ukraine. The $10 million will be used to initiate radio programming in local languages used in Ukraine.

According to Congressman Alan Grayson, the aid cut will come from funds allocated towards broadcasting projects in Pakistan.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for further action.

China deploys 10 satellites to help in search for Malaysia Airlines

China has urged Malaysia to speed up the search for the Malaysian plane Flight MH370. (Reuters)

China has deployed 10 satellites to help in the massive air and sea search for a missing Malaysian airliner, the People’s Liberation Army Daily said on Tuesday.
The satellites will use high-resolution earth imaging capabilities, visible light imaging and other technologies to “support and assist in the search and rescue operations for the Malaysian Airlines aircraft”, the newspaper said in an article that was also carried on the defence ministry’s website.
Dozens of ships and aircraft from 10 countries scoured the seas around Malaysia and south of Vietnam as questions mounted over possible security lapses and whether a bomb or hijacking attempt could have brought down the Boeing 777-200ER which took off from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
China has urged Malaysia to speed up the search for the plane. About two-thirds of the 227 passengers and 12 crew now presumed to have died aboard the plane were Chinese.
The Chinese satellites will also help in weather monitoring, communication and search operations in the area where the plane disappeared, the newspaper said.
China will also strengthen the Beidou navigation system’s satellite monitoring capabilities to “provide reliable navigation for the rescue operations and communication support”.

US investigators en route to help in Malaysia Airlines probe

WASHINGTON: The US National Transportation Safety Board said that a team of investigators traveled to Asia late Saturday to help in the missing Malaysia Airlines jet probe.
The team will be "ready to assist with the investigation of the March 8 Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 event," the NTSB said in a brief statement.
"Because of the lengthy travel time from the United States, the NTSB has sent a team of investigators, accompanied by technical advisers from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, to the area so they will be positioned to offer US assistance," the statement read.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished from the radar early Saturday somewhere between Malaysia's east coast and southern Vietnam after departing Kuala Lumpur for Beijing with 239 people aboard.
"Once the location of the airplane is determined, International Civil Aviation Organization protocols will determine which country will lead the investigation," the US statement read.
The statement added that the country "that leads the investigation will release all information about it."

Govt to provide every help to drought-affected people: Pervaiz

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid has said that federal government will extend every possible help to drought-affected people of Thar.
In a statement, he said helicopters have been provided for the assistance of the affected people. Pervaiz Rashid said the Prime Minister will visit Thar tomorrow cancelling all his engagements.
He said long-term measures are also being taken to help the people of Thar. The Minister said Thar is part of Pakistan and it is our obligation to help the people of the area.

TSX rises as jobs help offset mining retreat

TORONTO: Toronto's main stock index rose on Friday following better-than-expected US jobs data, with gains in energy stocks offsetting a decline in mining.
US jobs growth picked up sharply in February despite an unusually cold winter, with 175,000 new jobs created, compared with a loss of 7,000 in Canada. Sentiment in Canada is often influenced by news out of the United States, the country's largest trading partner.
"The US jobs number was the big positive driver for the markets today. I think there was enough there to even offset the job losses in Canada. So yeah, it's been a good day that way," said Brian Pow, vice president, research and equity analyst at Acumen Capital Partners in Calgary.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index closed 27.16 points, or 0.2 percent higher, to end the session at 14,299.08. Nine of the 10 main groups were in positive territory.
The index, which rose in four of the last five sessions, gained close to 0.7 percent on the week. It has gained 6 percent since it last troughed at the beginning of February.
Energy stocks were helped by stronger crude prices, which rose to $108 a barrel on supply concerns from the crisis in Ukraine and the US jobs number.
Canadian Natural Resources was up 1.9 percent at C$41.59, while Suncor Energy Inc rose 1.1 percent to C$36.91. The overall group climbed nearly 1 percent.
The heavily weighted financial group was up a modest 0.1 percent.
"Our index has the barbell between financials and resources that makes our markets somewhat less volatile, in terms of what's going on," said Paul Hand, managing director at RBC Capital Markets.
The materials group, comprised of mining stocks, capped some of the positive gains, with a 1.7 percent retreat, as gold and copper prices fell.
Goldcorp Inc was off 1.7 percent at C$29.97, while Barrick Gold Corp was down 1.1 percent at C$22.08.
Gold prices fell 1 percent as US jobs data helped soothe fears of an abrupt slowdown in the world's biggest economy.
Base-metals miner First Quantum Minerals Ltd led the decliners with a 5.4 percent drop to C$20.10 as copper hit a seven-month low on China growth worries. Teck Resources Ltd also slumped 3.4 percent to C$24.40.
In company news, Constellation Software Inc was also one of the biggest drivers on the positive side, jumping 12.2 percent to C$265.48. The company reported better-than-expected results after markets on Thursday and at least two analysts raise its price target on the company.
The overall technology group gained 1.7 percent. March 8, 2014

Help offered to Sindh to assist people of Thar: Bosan

MULTAN: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan said on Friday that the federal government had contacted Sindh to offer help for the poor people of Thar facing food and water shortage problem.
Talking to media persons at the local circuit house, he said that the federal government and Sindh have ample stocks of wheat, however, centre can provide food to the Sindh province for people of Thar if they sought our help.
To a question, he said that a summary has been sent to the Prime Minister for procurement of wheat this year hoping that the procurement target for current year would exceed the previous year figure.
Responding to another question, Bosan said that the summary sent to the PM also covers the issue of wheat support price, however, added that in his personal opinion, wheat should be procured at Rs 1,200 per maund.

South Africa can help Pakistan in coal, power industry: Envoy

KARACHI: High Commissioner of South Africa in Pakistan Mpenduio here on Thursday said his country can assist Pakistan in coal mining and coal-based power generation.
" We can provide Pakistan coal to gas technology for power generation to meet its energy challenges ," the High Commissioner said during his interactive session with members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here. He was accompanied by Deputy Head of African mission in Karachi, Sarel van Zyl and its Honorary Consul General here, Ghulam Muhammad.
The High Commissioner said that during meetings with Punjab and Sindh Chief Ministers he had held detailed discussion on energy of Pakistan and offered his country's technical support especially in coal based power generation.
He informed the business community that three trade delegation from South Africa were scheduled to visit Pakistan before the end of this year and they would visit Karachi as well. He underlined the need for more exchange of business delegations and enhanced economic cooperation including entering into more joint ventures in different potential sectors on both sides. " We should benefit from our mutual potential trade and investment opportunities.
There is much scope in this economic relationship for improvement. It is my role and that of my High Commission to promote and enhance this relationship," he added. South African diplomat said the economic diplomacy has become the buzz word in modern diplomacy.
The mandate that he has received from his Government is to increase exports from South Africa to Pakistan and to promote South Africa as a safe environment for investments from Pakistan. Of course, the ultimate goal is to increase the level of total bilateral trade between our two friendly countries.
He said that a number of Pakistani companies have already invested successfully in various parts of South Africa and discussions on several new investment opportunities are in progress. South Africa is rich in mineral and other natural resources, and its government wishes to encourage foreign investors to set up their manufacturing plants there.
" We offer many incentives to investors and, more importantly, South Africa is regarded as a gateway to Africa," he remarked. South Africa also offers excellent transport facilities including ports and international airports for the exports of goods manufactured there. The High Commissioner informed the KCCI members that African continent is the second fastest growing region after Asia.
" We are ready to assist you with your inquiries regarding investment opportunities in South Africa, whatever sector you may wish to target," he said.
He said that the total trade between South Africa and Pakistan in 2012 figured $ 510 million. South Africa exports mainly iron and steel, aluminum and coal to Pakistan and imports cotton and yarn, textiles and leather goods from Pakistan. There are many other sectors that could be targeted for South African export to Pakistan. "We wish to invite members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry to approach us in this matter", he said.
South Africa and Pakistan share a history dating back many years when Pakistan was supporting the liberation struggle against apartheid. " Let me use the opportunity to thank the Pakistani people for their support, which led to freedom for all South Africans in 1994," he said. South African diplomat said that he had already visited several chambers of commerce and industry in major cities of Pakistan to share information on trade and investment existing in both the countries.
South African Deputy Head of the mission here, Serel van Zyl also stressed on increased people to people contacts especially school groups of both the countries. Pakistani sports goods are popular in South Africa. To a query, he said the delay in issue of visa was already under discussion. To another query, he said that more work is needed to be done on both sides to decide about warehouses facility in South Africa for Pakistani exporters. " We want some more details from you in this regard," he said.
President KCCI Aamir Abdullah Zaki briefed the visiting diplomats about the role of Karachi Chamber in promoting trade and industry within and outside the country.