Zarb-e-Azb: North Waziristan IDPs persistently face difficulties

BANNU: The internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan who left their houses due to the on-going military operation against the terrorists are constantly facing difficulties, Geo News reported on Monday.

A large number of displaces families are still devoid of ration provided by the government while the month of Ramzan is another test of their patience. Thousands of IDPs reach the Sports Complex in Bannu to receive the daily supplies but they remain empty handed as they had not been provided with the ration card that could entitle them to receive the provisions.

Expressing their disappointment with the prevalent situation, the displaced families told that they are being treated unjustly.

It may be mentioned that the IDPs are fasting for the second day today and according to the affected families, they broke their fast with water on the first day as they did not have anything to eat.

The displaced persons also staged a protest against the administration during which they observed a sit-in at Bannu-Kohat road and blocked the traffic for one hour.

Urban areas to face five hours, rural areas seven hours loadshedding

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Sunday approved the release of funds for enhanced power generation during Ramazan so that the masses would not have to face six-hour loadshedding during Sehri, Iftar and Traveeh prayers.
According to official sources, the Ministry of Water and Power will provide the maximum relief to consumers during the three times that has been calculated to be six hours during the holy month.

In urban areas, loadshedding of up to five hours and in rural areas of up to seven hours during the remaining 18 hours has been planned so that the people may not face difficulties while they are fasting.

The government has already approved maximum electricity generation during Ramazan and the same has been lined up by the ministry by taking all necessary steps. The prime minister has already accorded approval to provision of necessary funds for enhanced generation during these days.

The sources pointed out that better generation from hydel and thermal power plants and addition of new plants like the Uch II, Guddu, will reduce loadshedding during the month. Oil supplies have also been enhanced and their stocks are being built at different points.

Fuel stocks at various power plants combined with continued daily fuel supply have been planned to ensure smooth operation of power plants during the holy month.

The load management plan will be tightly monitored and the Ministry of Water and Power Secretary Ms Nargis Sethi and all distribution companies chiefs along with their officers at their headquarters will be available during Sehr and Iftar the whole month besides their daily routine timings.

They will remain on video link during these hours. Each Disco and the ministry has installed dedicated landlines and mobile numbers at their respective control centers so that in case of a fault, it can be rectified immediately.

At the distribution level, down the line duties of the staff have been assigned and necessary equipment and their replacements have been provided so that prompt action could be taken in case of technical faults, the sources added.

The sources pointed out that due to transmission system constraints, there exists a demand and supply gap. The ministry is making all out efforts to reduce loadshedding during Ramazan. The ministry has appealed to consumers to curtail consumption of electricity so that the maximum number of people could get power. The sources said the plan has also been put up to Prime Minister Nawaz, who has asked the ministry to adhere to its commitment to facilitate the people to the maximum.

High state of preparedness required to face threats, says COAS

 

RAWALPINDI: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, has said that the multidimensional security threats faced by the country require a high state of preparedness at all times.
General Raheel was interacting with the troops during his visit to the Sonmiani Ranges on Friday where he witnessed air defence firing exercises, says a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The full range of air defence weapons, including guns and surface to air missiles, were used in the exercise. The COAS greatly appreciated the professionalism of participating units and standards achieved in engaging aerial targets.

Gen Raheel emphasised that the highest standard of training and professionalism must remain our hallmark to accomplish the mission.Earlier, on arrival at the Range, the COAS was received by Commander Army Air Defence Command Lieutenant General Muhammad Zahid Latif Mirza.

Commodities face rollercoaster week on Ukraine crisis

LONDON: Global commodities experienced volatile trade this week on worries over Ukraine, with oil spiking before sliding on receding tensions, while gold sparkled as investors sought shelter from the crisis.
Sentiment was also hit by demand concerns after more weak data from the Asian powerhouse China, a top consumer of raw materials.
Elsewhere, drought conditions in Brazil sent coffee and sugar prices soaring to major peaks on supply concerns.
Traders drew some strength on Friday from better-than-expected US non-farm payrolls data in the world's biggest economy.
- Crude oil prices bounce -
OIL: The oil market spiked on Monday to the highest levels this year as the Ukraine crisis raised concerns about disruptions to energy supplies.
But prices then fell back on Tuesday as Russian President Vladimir Putin declared there was "no need" yet to send troops into Ukraine.
Crude futures retreated as fears of an immediate armed conflict in Ukraine receded, but analysts said the presence of Russian-backed troops in the Crimean peninsula continued to support prices.
Russia faces sanctions from the US and Europeans which potentially could wreak turmoil in markets -- especially as Russia is a crucial global energy producer and exporter of natural gas to Western Europe.
More than 70 percent of its gas and oil exports to Europe pass through Ukraine.
Markets were also hit on Wednesday by fresh concerns over growth in China, which is the world's second biggest crude consuming nation.
China's National People's Congress began its annual meeting on Wednesday, with Premier Li Keqiang saying the government was targeting 7.5 growth in 2014, unchanged from last year's forecast.
The figure is below the 7.7 percent recorded in 2013 and 2012, and is the lowest growth rate since 1999.
The market took another knock on Wednesday after the US Department of Energy said commercial crude-oil inventories rose by 1.4 million barrels in the week ending February 28.
That was more than expectations of a 1.0 million barrel gain, indicating demand that was weaker than expected for the world's largest crude-oil consumer.
By Friday on London's Intercontinental Exchange, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April dipped to $108.54 a barrel from $108.99 a week earlier.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate or light sweet crude for April eased to $102.52 per barrel from $102.59.
- Haven investment gold shines -
PRECIOUS METALS: Gold touched a four-month high at $1,354.87 an ounce as investors sought safety amid the Ukraine crisis.
"The price rise came on the back of the increasing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which sparked greater demand for gold as a safe haven," said Commerzbank analyst Daniel Briesemann.
Gold is regarded as a safe investment in times of economic or political uncertainty.
By late Friday on the London Bullion Market, the price of gold grew to $1,335.25 an ounce from $1,326.50 a week earlier.
Silver rose to $21.38 an ounce from $21.27.
On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum increased to $1,474 an ounce from $1,447.
Palladium climbed to $776 an ounce from $743.
BASE METALS: Aluminium, copper and lead struck multi-month lows, partly because of poor data in key consumer China.
"The prices of many of the key industrial metals have continued to fall since the beginning of this year amid concerns about the risk of a slowdown in Chinese demand after disappointing PMI readings in both January and February," said Capital Economics research group.
Chinese manufacturing activity contracted in February at its worst rate in seven months, British banking giant HSBC said Monday, the latest data indicating trouble in the world's number two economy.
HSBC said its final purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China, which tracks manufacturing activity in factories and workshops, fell to 48.5 last month.
It was a slight increase on the flash PMI of 48.3 but it remained the weakest reading since July. A reading above 50 indicates growth, while anything below signals contraction.
By Friday on the London Metal Exchange, copper for delivery in three months fell to $6,854 a tonne from $7,009 week earlier.
Three-month aluminium rose to $1,766.75 a tonne from $1,762.
Three-month lead dipped to $2,108 a tonne from $2,134.
Three-month tin decreased to $23,100 a tonne from $23,499.
Three-month nickel gained to $15,388 a tonne from $14,550.
Three-month zinc grew to $2,070.75 a tonne from $2,064.75.
- Coffee, sugar hit heights -
COFFEE: Prices spiked to a two-year pinnacle in New York, as traders fretted once more over drought conditions in key producer Brazil.
"Arabica coffee now costs more than 200 US cents per pound again for the first time in two years," said Commerzbank analyst Michaela Kuhl.
"The dry weather in the Brazilian growing areas is still keeping the markets on tenterhooks."
Arabica-quality coffee, which has surged close to 80 percent in value since the start of the year, reached 204.10 US cents a pound on Wednesday, the highest level since early March 2012.
Robusta meanwhile hit a near one-year peak at $2,136 a tonne on Tuesday.
"The main focus of the market is still on Brazil," added Price Futures Group analyst Jack Scoville.
"The lack of rain in coffee producing areas over the last month has hurt coffee production potential.
"Traders also keep waiting for more coffee to appear from Vietnam. Exports so far this year from Vietnam have been disappointing."
By Friday on ICE Futures US, Arabica for delivery in May leapt to 196.05 US cents a pound from 179.25 cents a week earlier.
On LIFFE, Robusta for May jumped to $2,076 a tonne from $2,038.
SUGAR: Prices scaled more four-month highs on drought conditions in Brazil.
"Weather conditions in key production areas around the world are rated as mostly good except for the dry weather in Brazil," added Scoville.
"Traders are watching Ukraine and Russia as both are important sugarbeet producers, although this production stays at home.
"Any losses in either country could increase world demand."
By Friday on LIFFE, the price of a tonne of white sugar for delivery in May increased to $484.70 from $476.30 a week earlier.
On ICE Futures US, the price of unrefined sugar for delivery in May gained to 18.31 US cents a pound from 17.74 US cents.
COCOA: Prices steadied after striking recent 2.5 year highs on the back of stretched global supplies.
By Friday on LIFFE, London's futures exchange, cocoa for delivery in May rose to £1,845 a tonne from £1,838 a week earlier.
On the ICE Futures US exchange, cocoa for May eased to $2,962 a tonne from $2,969.
RUBBER: Prices in Kuala Lumpur rebounded as low production from leading rubber producers squeezed global supplies.
The Malaysian Rubber Board's benchmark SMR20 advanced to 195.40 US cents a kilo from 188.70 cents a week earlier.

Europe tells Russia to reverse course or face consequences

BRUSSELS: Europe's leaders on Thursday sharply condemned Russia's stand on Ukraine and warned it was readying targeted sanctions within days if Moscow failed to back off and join peace efforts.
Winding up six hours of tough talks to decide a joint response, the European Union's 28 leaders agreed a three-step series of sanctions beginning with the immediate halt of talks on easing visas for Russians as well as discussions over a new economic accord.
A statement demanded that Russia begin negotiations with Ukraine in the next few days, which must "produce results within a limited timeframe," it said.
"In the absence of such results the European Union will decide on additional measures, such as travel bans, asset freezes and the cancellation of the EU-Russia summit" in June.
In a third stage, any steps by Russia "to destabilise the situation in Ukraine would lead to severe and far-reaching consequences for relations... which will include a broad range of economic areas."
"We have got to make sure we get Russia and Ukraine talking to each other," said British Prime Minister David Cameron.
"The Russians will be able to see very clearly the consequences," said Cameron, adding that Britain for its part would look at reviewing its arms sales to Russia.
"I would urge others to do the same," he added. "No area should be off the table"
Ukraine's interim premier Arseniy Yatsenyuk was present at the talks to discuss what EU president Herman Van Rompuy dubbed "perhaps the most serious challenge to security on our continent since the Balkans wars" in the 1990s.
Europe's leaders praised Yatsenyuk and his government for their "measured response" to Moscow's military threat and pledged to unlock a huge aid package of 11 billion euros as rapidly as possible
They also pledged to sign an association accord with Ukraine before the ex-Soviet state holds early elections at the end of May, despite earlier reservations on striking any deals with the interim authorities.
It was the sudden rejection of this pact, years in the making, by ousted president Viktor Yanukovych that triggered pro-EU protests that eventually swept him from power last month.
- Crimea seals EU divisions -
EU nations have been divided on how to respond to Russia's stand on Ukraine, with members from eastern Europe once in the Soviet sphere far tougher than France and Germany, mindful of economic ties with Russia.
When Europe's G8 members, Britain, France, Germany and Italy agreed to suspend preparations for a June summit to be hosted by Putin in Sochi, Berlin and Rome had to be prodded to go along.
"We can't do business as usual," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel on arrival.
"There has to be a return to international law, and that means securing the territorial integrity of every country."
Agreeing with Ukraine's interim Prime Minister, the leaders also dubbed as "illegitimate" a request Thursday by the local parliament in Crimea to become part of Russia.
"We urge the Russian government not to support those who advocate separatism," Yatsenyuk had said.
Pro-Moscow lawmakers in Crimea made the request to Russian President Vladimir Putin and said they would put the question to a referendum on March 16.
Putin has been building up "a new wall of intimidation, of military aggression," Yatsenyuk said, calling on the Russian president instead to pull that wall down and to build a "new relationship".
French President Francois Hollande said the developments in Crimea had created "a climate that justified us beefing up our level of response."
Leaders of the EU's four G8 nations first met alone with Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland, who has been a strong proponent of a harsher response.
Alongside Poland is Lithuania, whose head of state Dalia Grybauskaite warned that a "dangerous" Russia is trying to redraw Europe's borders.
"Russia today is dangerous. Russia today is unpredictable."
Warning of a domino effect, Grybauskaite said Russia's muscular approach in Ukraine now posed a direct threat to former Soviet states and others.