300 CNG stations closed down in Punjab due to non-supply of gas

Islamabad: The All-Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) has said that more than 300 compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations have been closed in Punjab, while thousands are on the verge of economic failure due to partial supply of natural gas and irrational pricing.

The number of closed down CNG stations have been increasing creating problems for the masses, increasing unemployment and decreasing the income of the government, said APCNGA Supreme Council Chairman Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha.

In a statement issued here, he said that the natural gas allocated for CNG industry is being diverted to other sectors so that their profits could increase. He said that CNG industry is being deprived of natural gas despite the fact that it is the only sector which has no other alternative while other sectors have substitutes.

Malala Yousafzai wins 2014 Liberty Medal

NEW YORK: Young Pakistani education advocate Malala Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt in Mingora, Swat (Pakistan), some two years ago, has won the 2014 Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia, the largest city in the US State of Pennsylvania.

Malala, 17, will be honoured for “her continued demonstration of courage and resilience in the face of adversity and for serving as a powerful voice for those who have been denied their basic human rights and liberties,” the National Constitution Centre said in a statement. “It’s an honour to be awarded the Liberty Medal,” she said on Sunday. “I accept this award on behalf of all the children around the world who are struggling to get an education.”

The prestigious medal has been awarded annually since 1989, when Polish Solidarity founder Lech Walesa received it first. Since then, recipients have included legendry boxer Muhammad Ali, former President Jimmy Carter, South African leader Nelson Mandela, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and, last year, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Malala, the youngest recipient in the medal’s 25-year history, will receive the award at a ceremony at the centre in Philadelphia, on October 21. After surviving the Taliban attack, Malala continued to be an outspoken advocate on education, prompting Gordon Brown, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, to petition the agency to recommit to a goal of universal primary education for children around the world. The petition gained more than three million signatures and helped lead Pakistan to pass a Right to Education bill, a first in the country.

Malala is also the youngest person ever nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and was one of four runners-up for Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2013. Addressing the UN on her 16th birthday, she told the audience that “one child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” She was awarded the 2013 United Nations Human Rights Prize, which is given every five years and has previously been bestowed on such notable recipients as Nelson Mandela, former US President Jimmy Carter, and Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

She continues to champion universal access to education through the Malala Fund (malalafund.org), a non-profit organization that empowers girls through education to achieve their potential and change their communities.

ECP extends duration of Election Tribunals

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday extended the duration of Election Tribunals from three to six months.

Eleven tribunals are working in the whole of the country currently and contract duration of these tribunals was one year, which ended on Monday on which the ECP decided to extend the contract.

The duration of Election Tribunal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has been extended by three months while Election Tribunal duration of the other three provinces has been extended by six months.Ministry approved the expenditures of Election Tribunals as ECP had sent the summary to the ministry. Notification of extension in duration of tribunals will be issued within one or two days.

Dr Arsalan announces open global tender for Reko Diq

 

DUBAI: The son of the ex-chief justice of Pakistan, now at the centre of a huge controversy over his appointment, says the multi-billion dollar Reko Diq gold mines will be awarded through an open global tender to the highest bidder.
Dr Arsalan Iftikhar Chaudhry, now vice chairman of the Balochistan Board of Investment, told me in a telephone talk that his father came to know about his new job through the media but then asked him to serve the people with full responsibility.

He dismissed the conspiracy theories about his appointment to sell multi-billion dollars gold mine Reko Diq through a backdoor deal as rubbish.“I would ensure that Reko Diq was given through an international tender, with maximum transparency, to ensure the rights of the Balochistan people,” he stated categorically several times during the talk.

PTI leader Imran Khan had stated at a huge rally in Bahawalpur that Arsalan was appointed VC of the BOI to repay ex-chief justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry for his complicity in rigging the 2013 elections in favour of Nawaz Sharif.

In an upbeat mood and dismissing his critics as just politicians playing politics, Arsalan emphasised repeatedly that neither Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, nor his sons or anyone in the federal government had any role in his appointment.

“I am a Baloch and now my fourth generation lives in this province. I have a right to serve it. The federal government has nothing to do with my appointment. The CM has said on the floor of the house that it was his personal decision. He is an honourable, clean and a nationalist person. He wanted to bring a team which could do something and deliver for the province.”

Arsalan revealed that he had in the past two years brought investments of millions of dollars into Balochistan. “Since 2007, I have been doing my independent business and I am an entrepreneur, everything is my own, my business, social life, everything is my own thing. I have contacts with people in Balochistan from my childhood and we have been living here for four generations now. My father came to know about this through the media. He knew nothing but when he heard it the only thing he told me was that I have a heavy responsibility and I will have to serve the people in any capacity.”

Asked wheter this meant his father had approved of the appointment, he said: “He never interferes in my matters, He never approves or disapproves anything concerning my matters. He has kept it like this. Neither I will interfere in his matters and nor he will do so in my matters.”

Asked about Reko Diq and how would he respond to criticism that he, Dr Malik, Hasil Bizenjo, the PM’s family and some old ousted companies had ganged up to give Reko Diq to them through a deal, Dr Arsalan said: “I laugh at political leaders who say things and make allegations on hearsay. In BOI our work is to channelise things. There are other opportunities and projects in Balochistan. We are there to project it and then put up to the govt, cabinet and provincial assembly. Our job is limited. Whatever project it is, we will ensure transparency and interests of the people of Balochistan. We will not compromise that in any case, come what may. We have been stopping corruption. To expect anything out of the way for anyone would be wrong. Whatever will be in the interest of the people, for their good, we will do. No favourtism will be done.”

Dr Arsalan has already made plans for the road forward. “Our first presentation to the chief minister will be given soon and we will place two core things before the CM. First will be the law and order and security for investors and the second would be complete transparency in projects, including Reko Diq.

“Before starting anything, we will hold external audits, from 2010 to-date. Every year an external audit by international companies will be done. It will be as crystal clear as a glass.”

On Reko Diq, Dr Arsalan is very clear. “It would be an international open tender. That’s how it should be done. The best bid and the option should be accepted. It would be open for all and advertised in international magazines, newspapers. We will see what the people get and the major share comes to the locals”.

“And let me tell you the father I represent, I can assure that with me around nothing like a backdoor deal is possible. The way forward will be given in a presentation within a week or 10 days as everyone was busy in the budget. The way forward will be opened to the public.”

Worst power outages on first day of Ramazan

 

 ISLAMABAD: All the claims of the federal government on reduced electricity loadshedding during Ramazan and zero loadshedding during Sehr, Iftar and Taraveeh prayers fell flat as the people across the country had to face the worst power outages on the first day of the holy month, making it hard for them to make preparations for Sehr and Iftar.
In the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the people had to suffer almost 12-hour-long power outages. Before the start of Ramazan, the situation was better as there was only six-hour to eight-hour loadshedding. With the commencement of fasting, the situation got aggravated and the power outages had gone up to 12 hours.

In the adjoining areas of the twin cities like Taxila, Attock, Chakwal, Gujjar Khan, Mandra, Jhelum and others, loadshedding had made the lives of people miserable.In Lahore, power outages during Sehri, Iftar and Taraveeh timings continued, making people’s lives miserable on the first day of Ramazan.

In addition to the curse of erratic power supply, people complained about power failure after every hour throughout the day. They said they felt intensity of outages had increased during the last couple of days. Since 4:00am on the first day of Ramazan, the power supply became disrupted after every hour till 7:00pm, said Khalid Khan, a resident of Bhatti Gate. This type of loadshedding had not been done before Ramazan during the daytime, he said adding that such ‘constant’ power failures also led to water shortages in their area.

The data of Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) indicates that power availability during Sehri, Iftar and Taraveeh is not in accordance with the claims made by the Ministry of Water and Power. Against the demand of over 4,500MWs, Lesco is getting just 3,400MWs during Iftar and Taraveeh timings.

Throughout the day, as per the official data, people living in Lesco areas were made to suffer from over 50 percent shortfall in electricity supply. Against the peak demand of about 4,500MWs, Lesco is getting jut 2,400MWs of electricity during the rest of the day. The menace of unannounced loadshedding is in addition to the power suspensions made under the load management plan.

Lesco said on Monday some variations might occur in the revised load management plan for Ramazan due to system overloading issues, especially on grid stations being fed from 220KV New Kot Lakhpat grid station.

Under the revised load management plan, the industry faces the biggest brunt of outages. As many as 12 hours of outages are being observed in textile industry, furnace, continuous process industry and steel re-rolling mills.

Meanwhile, power shortfall was recorded at 4,500MWs on Monday. Power generation was recorded at 13,500MWs while the demand for electricity hovered around 18,000MWs. Hydropower generation was recorded at 5,100MWs.

Other districts of the Punjab, including Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Multan, Bhawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, were also the hit by loadshedding.The situation in rural areas of the Punjab was all the more serious as the people had to suffer more than 18 to 20 hours of loadshedding.

The power supply situation in other provinces was no different as in Sindh,particularly in the rural areas, the power outages had gone beyond the limit of human endurance. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the loadshedding issue had become so ugly that around 12 hours of prolonged and unscheduled power loadshedding was being carried out in the province.

In the upper parts of Hazara division, loadshedding added to the woes of the people who were fasting in sweltering heat.The local people complained that they were facing power outages at Sehr and Iftar. “The government had announced to reduce the duration of power outages during Ramazan,” said Mohammad Riaz, a shopkeeper.

He said the government should provide relief to the people in Ramazan and reduce the duration of power outages as the people were braving the scorching heat.“The people are fasting in scorching heat, so the government should provide them some relief,” he said.

Faiz, the leader of a traders body, said that they would take to the streets if the duration of power cuts was not reduced to less than five hours a day.“The government should provide relief to the people as they are fasting in sizzling heat without electricity that is out for hours at a stretch,” he said.

KWSB takes back notice to Fatima Jinnah’s residence

KARACHI: Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) says no consumer is exempt from payment and that the residence of the late Fatima Jinnah — Flag Staff House Museum — has paid Rs75,000 and assured of clearing the outstanding amount following which the notice has been taken back.It said all national personalities were respectable for the organisation; however, no one was exempt from paying bills.The board further said as per law it was its responsibility to bill the consumers. It said exemption from paying the water bill needed an amendment to the law.

“No officer enjoys the prerogative to excuse someone from paying the bill, as the organisation also regularly receives bills from all the mosques, Imambargahs, churches and other worship places of the city.”

Deputy Managing Director Resource Revenue Generation of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board Muhammad Aslam Khan said under the Act bills for provision of water and sewerage services were received from all the institutions and residential and commercial units.

He said the Management Board of the Quaid’s Mausoleum paid bills regularly in addition to the Governor’s House and the CM House.Khan said the government also allocates amounts in the budget for payment of utility bills. He said Fatima Jinnah House came under the PWD.“They were sent a notice of Rs245,000 out of which Rs75,000 has already been paid. The organisation has been assured of paying the remaining amount in writing.”

Rs 50.8 bn earmarked for irrigation uplift under ADP

MULTAN: The Punjab government has allocated Rs 50.8 billion for irrigation in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2014-15 against an allocation of Rs 23 billion last year, giving a massive boost to the agriculture sector.

The Punjab Directorate of Agriculture Information officials said that the huge amount had been earmarked for the uplift of irrigation system, rehabilitation of watercourses and upgradation of water resources. They said that Rs 7.9 billion had been allocated for the uplift of agriculture and provision of agriculture equipment at subsidised rates, crop insurance and agriculture loans to increase per acre yield.

They added that the Punjab government had planned to shift 20,000 tube-wells on biogas and allocate Rs 18 million for the purpose. “It would save Rs 4 billion from fuel.” The officials disclosed that 62 schemes, including 47 ongoing schemes and 15 new schemes, were included in the irrigation sector during 2013-14 that covered a wide range of water conservation, drainage, flood management, interventions along with programs envisaging irrigation system rehabilitation and development, and institutional reforms.

The Punjab Irrigation System Improvement (PISIP) projects entail extensive irrigation canals and secondary channels re-modelling projects to address irrigation water demand in 25 per cent of province’s overall irrigated command area in addition to province-wise selective lining of distributaries and minors in number of canal commands in saline ground water and high seepage zones.

Development of nine small dams serving for irrigation supplies to over 25,400 acres of rain-fed (barani) farm lands in Pothohar are also included in the ADP. In addition, 100 per cent completion of flood dispersion and structures management to harness and channelize hill torrents in DG Khan and Rajanpur districts to avoid floods in vast areas of southern Punjab are also in the projects.

The agriculture officials said the Lower Bari Doab Canal Improvement Project (estimated cost of Rs 2.98 billion has been included in the ADP). The projects will include the construction of flood embankments and protection works along left and right bank of river Indus for Miranpur Bridge (estimated cost of Rs 1.5 billion). The re-modelling and extension of Tayyab Drain, Rajanpur (estimated cost of Rs 915 million) have been included in the schemes. The details of the other ongoing projects are New Khanki Barrage Construction Project (estimated cost of Rs 2.34 billion on rehabilitation and upgradation of Trimmu Barrage and Punjnad Head Works (estimated cost of Rs 1.81 billion) are also included in Punjab Barrages Improvement Phase-II Project (PBIP-II, Jinnah Barrage (estimated cost Rs 1.267 billion), rehabilitation of LCC System Part-B (estimated cost Rs 1.245 billion) and Punjab Irrigation System Improvement Project (estimated cost Rs 1.153 billion).

Senate approves PPO with thumping majority

 

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday passed the amended Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO) with thumping majority as no political party opposed it.
However, the opposition expressed annoyance at the absence of Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan from the upper house of parliament.The bill sought to provide protection against waging war against Pakistan and prevention of acts threatening its security. The bill will now be taken up and adopted by the National Assembly in its session summoned for July 02 and would become a law after the president gives his assent to it.

Leader of the Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan accused the government of not being able to comprehend the seriousness of the prevailing situation with regard to the plight of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and said there was need to make every possible bid to ensure comfort to the displaced people. He proposed to the government to freeze the mega projects such as metro bus and divert maximum funds for the IDPs.

Aitzaz said the army was waging a war against an enemy in North Waziristan to make Pakistan a secure place and the government needed to show seriousness in handling the related issues, particularly the humanitarian crisis of IDPs.

Opposition senators took the government to task for not taking due care of the people displaced by the Zarb-e-Azb operation in North Waziristan. They alleged the government had other priorities to focus on, and Prime Minister was criticised for taking out time to inspect a plane taken on lease and showing no interest or concern over the Karachi airport attack and firing on a plane at Peshawar Airport.

Among other things with regard to the bill, the government agreed to reduce the period of the law’s enforcement from three to two years. Moreover, the bill also binds the government to order a judicial inquiry instead of a departmental inquiry, in case a law-enforcement agency opens against suspected terrorists.

The bill has also been amended, which mandates the order to shoot a person on suspicion should come only from a law-enforcement agency official or police officer of grade-15 or above.

Over a dozen amendments proposed by the opposition parties in the House were made part of the piece of legislation through the Senate’s standing committee on interior.The amended bill defines a militant as a state enemy and anyone found sheltering the enemy would also be considered an enemy. Now, the convicted persons would also have the right to appeal their convictions before a high court.

The Protection of Pakistan Ordinance had already completed its extended life earlier this month after the government’s bid to get it through the Senate failed to make it an act of Parliament within the constitutional timeline.

Mian Raza Rabbani of Pakistan People’s Party strongly protested over the absence of interior minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, as on his behalf minister Zahid Hamid rose to move a motion for the laying of the House committee report and then move the bill for its passage.

Acting chairman Senate Sabir Baloch also said, “Are you Ch Nisar Ali Khan”, as Zahid Hamid got up. On the orders of the day also, the name of the federal minister for interior was mentioned.

Rabbani said the government’s seriousness could be gauged from the fact such an important bill was being passed and the minister was not around. “The Senate can’t be taken for granted,” he asserted. He added they agreed to cooperate with the government on this bill only for the sake of the particular conditions Pakistan was in today.

PML Senator Kamil Ali Agha, referring to some media reports, claimed during his Bannu visit Prime Minister had not visited any genuine IDP camp. He said this would have sent a very disturbing message to the displaced persons, who were in dire need of the nation’s support and help at this difficult juncture.

Federal Minister for the IDPs Abdul Qadri Baloch rose to explain the measures the government had taken so far and was taking for the well being of the IDPs but he preferred not to touch upon the point raised by Senator Agha.

Similarly, federal minister for information and broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid also threw light on the government’s steps vis-à-vis IDPs and said every positive suggestion in this regard would be welcomed.

Opposition senators including Afrasiab Khattak, Muhammad Zahid Khan, Aitzaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani and Kamil Ali Agha on a call attention notice and on points of order, came hard on the government for its alleged indifference to the difficulties being faced by the affected people. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan was asked to devote funds and his men for the alleviation of sufferings of the IDPs instead of creating instability.

They pointed out that there were reports in newspapers that the Civil Aviation Authority probe had blamed no one for the recent Karachi airport terrorist assault. Rabbani said they had already demanded resignation of the CAA chief and PM’s special assistant, who was given the responsibility in disregard to the Supreme Court judgement.

The opposition senators were outraged by the government’s cold-shouldered reaction to the firing on a PIA plane in Peshawar and the world international airlines’ decision to suspend their flights to and from the provincial capital. They said this had compounded problems of the passengers most of whom worked in Gulf countries.

Parliamentary affairs minister Sh. Aftab and state minister for interior Muhammad Balighur Rehman assured the House that the government was alive to the situation and the prime minister had issued instructions in this connection. However, Aftab could not make a statement when asked how the government would prevail on the foreign airlines to resume their flights to Peshawar.

The senators also flayed federal minister for interior for not visiting the Karachi airport and Peshawar airport after the recent acts of terrorism there.Pervaiz Rashid, who is also law minister, moved a motion for authorisation of the Senate chairman to make nominations in consultations with parliamentary parties leaders in proportion to their representation in the House for the parliamentary committee being formed to evaluate shortcomings of previous elections and make recommendations for electoral reforms to ensure that polls are held in a free, fair and transparent manner. The Senate session was prorogued after less than two hours’ proceedings.

Kayani continued to postpone NWA operation: Gen Athar

 

ISLAMABAD: The former Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General (retd) Athar Abbas, on Monday disclosed that the army was ready to launch a military offensive in North Waziristan three years ago but they were unable to do so because of the-then army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s reluctance in this regard.
In an interview with the BBC, Athar said the military leadership gave the go-ahead signal for an operation in North Waziristan in 2010 and preparations for it were made for one year, but it was pulled back at the last minute due to Gen Kayani’s indecisiveness. “It had been decided in principle that preparations for the operation would take place between 2010 and 2011, and that it would be launched in 2011 to rid North Waziristan of extremists once and for all,” Athar said.

When asked whether the reason behind his reluctance to give the final approval for the operation was due to his own weaknesses, Abbas agreed, saying ‘yes’. “He was very reluctant when it came to the North Waziristan operation. Kayani thought the decision to launch the operation would reflect on his personality and people would take it as his personal decision, therefore, he kept delaying the operation.”

Athar further said the delay in launching the military offensive in North Waziristan complicated the situation as the militants had strengthened their positions in the area and also established contact with other militant groups.According to him, the decision to launch the operation was taken afterwards on the basis of intelligence reports and consultation with the military officials posted in the area.

Ground operation begins in NWA

 

PESHAWAR: Following two weeks of heavy bombing and day and night artillery shelling, security forces came out of their heavily-guarded military camp in Miranshah and started the ground offensive by demolishing suspected militants hideouts on Monday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said 15 militants were killed in exchange of fire with the troops during house-to-house search operation in Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan.

A security official in Miranshah said it was the second time during the past one week the security forces had conducted a ground operation.Pleading anonymity, he said it was a major offensive inwhich hundreds of soldiers, backed by tanks with air cover provided by helicopter gunships, took part and demolished a number of buildings that had served as sanctuaries for the local and foreign militants in the Miranshah bazaar.

“We have details of each and every place where the terrorists used to stay and make their plans,” the military official said. However, he said the troops didn’t face any significant resistance during the daylong ground operation.

“The start has been taken from Miranshah and after clearing it and adjoining villages, the ground operation would be extended to Mir Ali and other parts of North Waziristan,” he said.Though the North Waziristan tribal Jirga has been insisting that thousands of people were still stranded in various villages of North Waziristan due to a host of reasons, military officials said the ground operation was launched after the evacuation of all the civil population.

According to the ISPR, security forces recovered underground tunnels where improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were made. It said the area was cleared following a brief gunbattle with the militants that caused injuries to three soldiers.

Tribal sources in Miranshah and its adjoining villages said before the launch of the ground operation on Monday, helicopter gunships and long-range artillery heavily targetted the area where the troops later conducted house-to-house search operation.

“The army blew up several buildings and houses in Miranshah during the operation and thick smoke could be seen rising from distant places,” a tribesman told this correspondent on phone from Dossali.

Pleading anonymity, he said the people and militants had vacated Miranshah and its adjoining villages and shifted to Razmak, Shawal and Dattakhel areas in North Waziristan before the launch of the military operation. However, he said that many families had left behind some members to look after their homes and cattle head in the villages.

“Some of the people remained in their homes in the villages but they were ordered by the military to leave the area. They later came to Razmak and Dossali along with their cattle head. The residents of Razmak, Dossali and Garyoom would soon leave the area as they cannot do any business and lead normal life,” the tribesman added.

According to the ISPR, artillery, tanks and other heavy weapons were used in the action against militants.After the launch of “Zarb-e-Azb” military operation on June 15, the ISPR said 376 militants had been killed so far while 19 others surrendered to security forces. It said that 61 hideouts of terrorists were destroyed in the operation. The ISPR admitted that 17 soldiers had died fighting the militants.