The Financial Daily-Epaper-10-10-2010
8
International PM Gilani says Pak to continue backing Kashmir See on Page 8 World should respect Pak sovereignty Malik See on Page 8 Work on Bhasha Dam starts from next mth See on Page 8 See on Page 8 Crude Oil (brent)$/bbl 84.03 Crude Oil (WTI)$/bbl 82.66 Cotton $/lb 107.17 Gold $/ozs 1,345.30 Silver $/ozs 23.11 Malaysian Palm $ 901.30 GOLD (NCEL) PKR 36,839 KHI Cotton 40Kg PKR 7,663 Yearly(Jul, 2010 up to 07-Oct-2010) Monthly(Oct, 2010 up to 07-Oct-2010) Daily (07-Oct-2010) Total Portfolio Invest (1 Oct-2010) 46.01 -3.21 0.15 2353 0.38 -0.94 0.12 -0.29 0.23 0.71 -0.21 SCRA(U.S $ in million) Portfolio Investment FIPI (06-Oct-2010) Local Companies (06-Oct-2010) Banks / DFI (06-Oct-2010) Mutual Funds (06-Oct-2010) NBFC (06-Oct-2010) Local Investors (06-Oct-2010) Other Organization (06-Oct-2010) (U.S $ in million) NCCPL GDR update Commodities Forex Reserves (1-Oct-10) Inflation CPI% (Jul 10-Aug 10) Exports (Jul 10-Sep 10) Imports (Jul 10-Sep 10) Trade Balance (Jul 10-Sep 10) Current A/C (Jul 10- Aug10) Remittances (Jul 10-Aug 10) Foreign Invest (Jul 10-Aug10) Revenue (Jul 10-Aug10) Foreign Debt (Jun 10) Domestic Debt (Jul 10) Repatriated Profit (Jul- Aug 10) LSM Growth (Jul 10) GDP Growth FY10E Per Capita Income FY10 Population $16.99bn 12.79% $5.18bn $9.03bn $(3.85)bn $(944)mn $1.72bn $267.10mn Rs 185bn $55.63bn Rs 4705.40bn $100.90mn 3.05% 4.10% $1,051 170.74mn Economic Indicators Symbols MCB (1 GDR= 2 Shares) OGDC (1 GDR= 10 Shares) UBL (1 GDR= 4 Shares) LUCK (1 GDR= 4 Shares) HUBC (1 GDR= 25 Shares) $.Price 2.60 18.10 2.00 1.70 9.67 PKR/Shares 111.41 155.12 42.85 36.42 33.15 T-Bills (3 Mths) T-Bills (6 Mths) T-Bills (12 Mths) Discount Rate Kibor (1 Mth) Kibor (3 Mths) Kibor (6 Mths) Kibor ( 9 Mths) Kibor (1Yr) P.I.B ( 3 Yrs) P.I.B (5 Yrs) P.I.B (10 Yrs) P.I.B (15 Yrs) P.I.B (20 Yrs) P.I.B (30 Yrs) 06-Oct-2010 06-Oct-2010 06-Oct-2010 29-Sep-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 08-Oct-2010 12.83% 13.07% 13.22% 13.50% 12.89% 13.02% 13.22% 13.61% 13.71% 13.83% 13.92% 13.99% 14.23% 14.38% 14.58% Money Market Update Symbols Buy (Rs) Sell (Rs) Australian $ 84.60 85.10 Canadian $ 84.30 84.60 Danish Krone 15.40 15.60 Euro 118.70 119.10 Hong Kong $ 11.10 11.40 Japanese Yen 1.018 1.044 Saudi Riyal 22.95 23.10 Singapore $ 65.05 65.15 Swedish Korona 12.90 13.30 Swiss Franc 88.45 89.30 U.A.E Dirham 23.40 23.60 UK Pound 135.10 136.10 US $ 86.30 86.60 Open Mkt Currency Rates Symbols Buying Selling TT Clean TT & OD Australian $ 84.33 84.52 Canadian $ 84.32 84.51 Danish Krone 16.04 16.07 Euro 119.56 119.84 Hong Kong $ 11.04 11.07 Japanese Yen 1.031 1.033 Saudi Riyal 22.84 22.89 Singapore $ 65.57 65.72 Swedish Korona 12.86 12.89 Swiss Franc 88.67 88.88 U.A.E Dirham 23.32 23.37 UK Pound 136.15 136.47 US $ 85.70 85.88 Inter-Bank Currency Rates Subscribe now Tel: 92-21-5311893-6 Fax: 92-21-5388428 Email: editor@ thefinancialdaily.com www.thefinancialdaily.com CITIES MAX-TEMP MIN ISLAMABAD 33°C 18°C KARACHI 34°C 26°C LAHORE 35°C 23°C FAISALABAD 36°C 22°C QUETTA 30°C 8°C RAWALPINDI 34°C 20°C Weather Forecast Index Close Change KSE 100 10,260.48 68.80 Nikkei 225 9,588.88 95.93 Hang Seng 22,944.18 59.86 Sensex 30 20,250.26 65.06 SSE COMP. 2,738.74 83.08 FTSE 100 5,657.61 4.52 Dow Jones 11,006.48 57.90 Global Indices Democracy is our future, says Awan Inside Karachi, Sunday, October 10, 2010, Zul-Qa’dah 1, Price Rs12 Pages 8 MURREE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani addressing on the occasion of 150th anniversary of Lawarence College. -APP ISLAMABAD: The federal government Saturday said that it is considering imposing a tax on Nato supply trucks going to Afghanistan from Pakistan routes, meanwhile it announced to reopen Torkham routes for the Nato supply trucks to travel to Afghanistan. The announcement came nine days after Nato helicopters vio- lated Pakistan's border limits. Trucks which had been strand- ed at the Pak-Afghan border were also allowed to proceed towards Afghanistan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said that the gov- ernment decided to reopen the border for Nato and ISAF forces after the US apologised for the strikes and also after the assess- ment of the security situation. Abdul Basit said that meas- ures were being taken to ensure better delivery of Nato and ISAF supplies and in order to continue the uninterrupted sup- ply, Pakistani officials at the border would be consulting Afghan officials at the other side of the border. Official sources said that the Nato supply trucks would resume their journeys on Monday as supplies normally remained suspended over the weekend. "After assessing the security situation in all its aspects, the government has decided to reopen the Nato/Isaf supply from the Pakistan-Afghanistan See # 8 Page 7 Toll tax on Nato vehicles mulled Pakistan reopens border gates for Nato supplies US apology on border strikes accepted, Malik ISLAMABAD: Chairman National Accountability Bureau Justice (Retd) Deedar Hussain Shah directing NAB authorities to ensure early completion of corruption cases in transparent manner said that he has no polit- ical agenda and he would fulfill his responsibilities in line with the constitution and law. According to NAB spokesman, chairing an intro- ductory meeting of NAB author- ities on Saturday after assuming his charge as NAB chairman, Justice (retd) Deedar Hussain Shah urged the senior officers of NAB to work diligently, honest- ly and according to law to ensure fair accountability in the country. He assured the participants that he will make all efforts to eradicate corruption from the country. He informed them that he will always be accessible to them for official work and under- scored the importance of team work and collective effort to achieve the objectives as envis- aged in the Accountability Ordinance. Sources told that the new chairman was given a compre- hensive briefing on pending cases, under trial cases and working of NAB. See # 10 Page 7 NAB head vows to root out corruption Deedar assumes charge as new chairman Appointment of Deedar Shah challenged in court ISLAMABAD/WASHING- TON: The government has decided to obtain new loans from International Monetary Funds (IMF) to return foreign loans and finance ministry is preparing a summary in this regard. The recommendations for get- ting new loans from IMF are being prepared by ministry finance as it would be used for returning previous foreign loans. Meanwhile, Minister Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said that Pakistan is focused on macroeconomic stabilisation, domestic resources mobilisation, public sector restructuring and addressing some of the structur- al issues including power sector, he expressed these views as he met with world finance leaders during annual IMF-World Bank meetings. To meet the challenges of post-floods rehabilitation and reconstruction, the government is re-prioritising its develop- ment budget and making neces- sary adjustments in the foreign assistance, he said. Besides attending IMF-WB meeting, Dr Shaikh is also heading the Pakistani delega- tion of top economic managers at Commonwealth Finance Ministers Conference, Inter- Governmental Group of 24 Meeting. Saudi Arabia has already hon- oured its pledge made at Tokyo last year and has released full amount for the first year. The finance minister also briefed the senior leaders of the United States including Deputy Secretary Treasury Neal Wolin, Special Assistant to the President on International Economics and Special Representative Ambassador Richard Holbrooke regarding ongoing tax policy and energy sector reform as well as strate- gy to deal with post-floods rehabilitation and reconstruc- tion. He highlighted that Pakistan is disbursing cash grants from its own resources for partially compensating the damages done to private properties and early recovery. The Finance Minister urged fast-track reimbursement of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) and disbursement of funds under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act committed and authorised by the US Congress earlier this year. Dr Shaikh in his meeting with the Vice President of the World See # 18 Page 7 Pakistan seeks new IMF loans Dr Shaikh focalises Pak economy in talks with IFIs Minister informs IFIs about ongoing tax reforms LONDON: Dubbing his politi- cal detractors as "cowards," Pakistan's former ruler Pervez Musharraf has said that the greatest threat his country is fac- ing today is "failure" of gover- nance, rather than India or Taliban. "I would say, failure of gover- nance is the greatest threat today," Musharraf, who has announced his return to active Pakistani politics from London where he has been living in self- imposed exile. The commando-turned-politi- cian said the immediate necessi- ty on the ground in Pakistan is a "functional governance struc- ture free of corruption". In an interview here to Indian publication 'The Week,' Musharraf said the current Pakistan Peoples Party-led gov- ernment has failed to effectively govern the country. "The PPP government has failed to do so. Nawaz Sharif came to power twice but could not do anything productive because he is actually brain- less," Musharraf said. His remarks came amid criti- cism of the PPP-led govern- ment for its inept handling of the catastrophic floods and corruption. Asked if he planned to return to Pakistan, the 67-year-old Musharraf said he would as soon as election is announced. "I will return as soon as elections are announced. In the meantime, I will focus on strengthening the party from here," he said, referring to his 'All Pakistan Muslim League' which he launched here on October 1 thousands of miles away from Pakistan. The next general election in Pakistan is scheduled for 2013. Musharraf also said he was not perturbed by reports that he will be facing trouble if he returned to Pakistan. "Let them do what- ever they want to. As far as I am concerned, there are no hindrances for my return when I want to. All those opposing me are cowards and are scared of my return," he said. "We want good relations with India, but it has to be based on See # 17 Page 7 Governance failure biggest threat: Musharraf Former ruler talks to Indian magazine, says he regrets doffing the uniform; NRO a blunder ISLAMABAD: World Bank has urged Federal Board of Revenue to clear the pending refund claims before imple- menting Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST).According to the sources, World Bank said that clearance of refund claims and Expeditious Refund System are main concerns and it is necessary to address and resolve these issues before implementing the RGST. Sources further revealed that WB review team has submitted its report regarding Tax Administration Refrom Project to the Government of Pakistan; and FBR has issued a detailed executive order in this regard to carry out the suggestions. The WB has recommended to the FBR to closely monitor the execution of the Executive Order and prepare a specific plan to extend the ERS to com- mercial exporters. The WB pointed out that the FBR has moved considerably with its reform plan, but some management issues have still to be addressed. The WB recommended the FBR to centralise the issuing of notifications and intimations as See # 14 Page 7 WB urges early repay of claims FBR told to address investors’ issues Staff Reporter / Agencies KARACHI: Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) is in deep liquidity crisis due to delay of Rs80 billion payments from Oil Refineries and Gas compa- nies, and Company now has only Rs six billion in liquid reserves. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources country's five big oil refineries and two major gas companies had to pay Rs80 bil- lion to the OGDCL but after not getting a single penny from these entities, OGCL now pondering over to borrow from banks to keep the projects running. According to the news, Company's assets that can be readily converted into cash have come down sharply from around Rs19 billion in June 2010 after payments of deferred taxes and dividends. The Company has annual cash flow of Rs93 billion from sale of oil and gas and its strong balance sheet has helped it stay away from banks during last five years. The petroleum giant has to raise between $400 and $500 million from banks in fiscal 2011/12. OGDCL has set a capital expenditure target of $800 million for next fiscal year, most of which will go to See # 15 Page 7 OGDC in deep liquidity crisis Refiners, Gas co to pay Rs80bn Duty Free Sugar FBR issues notification ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued SRO notifying zero per cent duty on import of raw sugar of cane sugar and beet sugar by the private sector, says a statement issued by the Ministry of Industries and Production. See # 11 Page 7 NAB chief appointment ‘N’ releases letters written to PM Gilani ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has released letters to media on Saturday, which were written to the Prime Minister over appointment of Chairman National Accountability Bureau. See # 12 Page 7 Govt seeks more time in NRO cases ISLAMABAD: The govern- ment Saturday filed another request in the Supreme Court seeking more time in the NRO review case, media reported. Advocate on Record Raja Abdul Ghafoor filed the plea in the SC. The government has decided to appoint another counsel in place of Kamal Azfar and need time to make the appointment, the plea said. See # 13 Page 7 Masood ready to become approver in Bugti case: Talal DERA BUGTI: Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) President Talal Bugti claimed Saturday that Brigadier Masood Malik (Retd), an ex-officer of a security agency, has agreed to become approver against former president Pervaiz Musharraf in Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case, media reported. He was addressing media men at Bugti House. PML-N leader Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasir was also See # 16 Page 7 29 more Nato tankers torched BOLAN: Unknown persons have set on fire twenty-nine oil tankers of Nato Forces in an area of Muthary, District Bolan Balochistan. Levies Forces said that oil tankers were carrying oil sup- ply for Nato forces stationed in Afghanistan. These containers left for Afghanistan from Karachi. However, on their way in an area of Muthary, Bolan some See # 9 Page 7
-
Upload
the-financial-daily -
Category
Documents
-
view
225 -
download
3
description
The Financial Daily
Transcript of The Financial Daily-Epaper-10-10-2010
International
PM Gilani says Pak to continue backing Kashmir See on Page 8
World should respect Pak sovereignty Malik See on Page 8
Work on Bhasha Dam starts from next mth See on Page 8See on Page 8
Crude Oil (brent)$/bbl 84.03
Crude Oil (WTI)$/bbl 82.66
Cotton $/lb 107.17
Gold $/ozs 1,345.30
Silver $/ozs 23.11
Malaysian Palm $ 901.30
GOLD (NCEL) PKR 36,839
KHI Cotton 40Kg PKR 7,663
Yearly(Jul, 2010 up to 07-Oct-2010)
Monthly(Oct, 2010 up to 07-Oct-2010)
Daily (07-Oct-2010)
Total Portfolio Invest (1 Oct-2010)
46.01
-3.21
0.15
2353
0.38
-0.94
0.12
-0.29
0.23
0.71
-0.21
SCRA(U.S $ in million)
Portfolio Investment
FIPI (06-Oct-2010)
Local Companies (06-Oct-2010)
Banks / DFI (06-Oct-2010)
Mutual Funds (06-Oct-2010)
NBFC (06-Oct-2010)
Local Investors (06-Oct-2010)
Other Organization (06-Oct-2010)
(U.S $ in million)
NCCPL
GDR update
Commodities
Forex Reserves (1-Oct-10)
Inflation CPI% (Jul 10-Aug 10)
Exports (Jul 10-Sep 10)
Imports (Jul 10-Sep 10)
Trade Balance (Jul 10-Sep 10)
Current A/C (Jul 10- Aug10)
Remittances (Jul 10-Aug 10)
Foreign Invest (Jul 10-Aug10)
Revenue (Jul 10-Aug10)
Foreign Debt (Jun 10)
Domestic Debt (Jul 10)
Repatriated Profit (Jul- Aug 10)
LSM Growth (Jul 10)
GDP Growth FY10EPer Capita Income FY10Population
$16.99bn
12.79%
$5.18bn
$9.03bn
$(3.85)bn
$(944)mn
$1.72bn
$267.10mn
Rs 185bn
$55.63bn
Rs 4705.40bn
$100.90mn
3.05%
4.10%
$1,051
170.74mn
Economic Indicators
Symbols
MCB (1 GDR= 2 Shares)
OGDC (1 GDR= 10 Shares)
UBL (1 GDR= 4 Shares)
LUCK (1 GDR= 4 Shares)
HUBC (1 GDR= 25 Shares)
$.Price
2.60
18.10
2.00
1.70
9.67
PKR/Shares
111.41
155.12
42.85
36.42
33.15
T-Bills (3 Mths)
T-Bills (6 Mths)
T-Bills (12 Mths)
Discount Rate
Kibor (1 Mth)
Kibor (3 Mths)
Kibor (6 Mths)
Kibor ( 9 Mths)
Kibor (1Yr)
P.I.B ( 3 Yrs)
P.I.B (5 Yrs)
P.I.B (10 Yrs)
P.I.B (15 Yrs)
P.I.B (20 Yrs)
P.I.B (30 Yrs)
06-Oct-2010
06-Oct-2010
06-Oct-2010
29-Sep-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
08-Oct-2010
12.83%
13.07%
13.22%
13.50%
12.89%
13.02%
13.22%
13.61%
13.71%
13.83%
13.92%
13.99%
14.23%
14.38%
14.58%
Money Market Update
Symbols Buy (Rs) Sell (Rs)
Australian $ 84.60 85.10
Canadian $ 84.30 84.60
Danish Krone 15.40 15.60
Euro 118.70 119.10
Hong Kong $ 11.10 11.40
Japanese Yen 1.018 1.044
Saudi Riyal 22.95 23.10
Singapore $ 65.05 65.15
Swedish Korona 12.90 13.30
Swiss Franc 88.45 89.30
U.A.E Dirham 23.40 23.60
UK Pound 135.10 136.10
US $ 86.30 86.60
Open Mkt Currency Rates
Symbols Buying Selling
TT Clean TT & OD
Australian $ 84.33 84.52
Canadian $ 84.32 84.51
Danish Krone 16.04 16.07
Euro 119.56 119.84
Hong Kong $ 11.04 11.07
Japanese Yen 1.031 1.033
Saudi Riyal 22.84 22.89
Singapore $ 65.57 65.72
Swedish Korona 12.86 12.89
Swiss Franc 88.67 88.88
U.A.E Dirham 23.32 23.37
UK Pound 136.15 136.47
US $ 85.70 85.88
Inter-Bank Currency Rates
Subscribe now
Tel: 92-21-5311893-6
Fax: 92-21-5388428
Email: editor@ thefinancialdaily.com
www.thefinancialdaily.com
CITIES MAX-TEMP MIN
ISLAMABAD 33°C 18°C KARACHI 34°C 26°C LAHORE 35°C 23°C FAISALABAD 36°C 22°C QUETTA 30°C 8°C RAWALPINDI 34°C 20°C
Weather Forecast
Index Close Change
KSE 100 10,260.48 68.80
Nikkei 225 9,588.88 95.93
Hang Seng 22,944.18 59.86
Sensex 30 20,250.26 65.06
SSE COMP. 2,738.74 83.08
FTSE 100 5,657.61 4.52
Dow Jones 11,006.48 57.90
Global Indices
Democracy is ourfuture, says Awan
Inside
Karachi, Sunday, October 10, 2010, Zul-Qa’dah 1, Price Rs12 Pages 8
MURREE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani addressing on the occasion of 150th anniversary of Lawarence College. -APP
ISLAMABAD: The federalgovernment Saturday said that itis considering imposing a tax onNato supply trucks going toAfghanistan from Pakistanroutes, meanwhile it announcedto reopen Torkham routes forthe Nato supply trucks to travelto Afghanistan.
The announcement came ninedays after Nato helicopters vio-lated Pakistan's border limits.
Trucks which had been strand-ed at the Pak-Afghan borderwere also allowed to proceedtowards Afghanistan.
Foreign Ministry spokesmanAbdul Basit said that the gov-ernment decided to reopen theborder for Nato and ISAF forcesafter the US apologised for thestrikes and also after the assess-
ment of the security situation.Abdul Basit said that meas-
ures were being taken to ensurebetter delivery of Nato andISAF supplies and in order tocontinue the uninterrupted sup-ply, Pakistani officials at theborder would be consultingAfghan officials at the other sideof the border.
Official sources said that theNato supply trucks wouldresume their journeys onMonday as supplies normallyremained suspended over theweekend.
"After assessing the securitysituation in all its aspects, thegovernment has decided toreopen the Nato/Isaf supplyfrom the Pakistan-Afghanistan
See # 8 Page 7
Toll tax on Natovehicles mulled
Pakistan reopens border gates for Nato supplies
US apology on border strikes accepted, Malik
ISLAMABAD: ChairmanNational Accountability BureauJustice (Retd) Deedar HussainShah directing NAB authoritiesto ensure early completion ofcorruption cases in transparentmanner said that he has no polit-ical agenda and he would fulfillhis responsibilities in line withthe constitution and law.
According to NABspokesman, chairing an intro-ductory meeting of NAB author-
ities on Saturday after assuminghis charge as NAB chairman,Justice (retd) Deedar HussainShah urged the senior officers ofNAB to work diligently, honest-ly and according to law toensure fair accountability in thecountry.
He assured the participantsthat he will make all efforts toeradicate corruption from thecountry.
He informed them that he will
always be accessible to themfor official work and under-scored the importance of teamwork and collective effort toachieve the objectives as envis-aged in the AccountabilityOrdinance.
Sources told that the newchairman was given a compre-hensive briefing on pendingcases, under trial cases andworking of NAB.
See # 10 Page 7
NAB head vows toroot out corruption
Deedar assumes charge as new chairman
Appointment of Deedar Shah challenged in court
ISLAMABAD/WASHING-TON: The government hasdecided to obtain new loans fromInternational Monetary Funds(IMF) to return foreign loans andfinance ministry is preparing asummary in this regard.
The recommendations for get-ting new loans from IMF arebeing prepared by ministryfinance as it would be used forreturning previous foreign loans. Meanwhile, Minister FinanceDr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh saidthat Pakistan is focused onmacroeconomic stabilisation,domestic resources mobilisation,public sector restructuring andaddressing some of the structur-al issues including power sector,he expressed these views as hemet with world finance leadersduring annual IMF-World Bankmeetings.
To meet the challenges of
post-floods rehabilitation andreconstruction, the governmentis re-prioritising its develop-ment budget and making neces-sary adjustments in the foreignassistance, he said.
Besides attending IMF-WBmeeting, Dr Shaikh is alsoheading the Pakistani delega-tion of top economic managersat Commonwealth FinanceMinisters Conference, Inter-Governmental Group of 24Meeting.
Saudi Arabia has already hon-oured its pledge made at Tokyolast year and has released fullamount for the first year.
The finance minister alsobriefed the senior leaders of theUnited States including DeputySecretary Treasury Neal Wolin,Special Assistant to thePresident on International
Economics and SpecialRepresentative AmbassadorRichard Holbrooke regardingongoing tax policy and energysector reform as well as strate-gy to deal with post-floodsrehabilitation and reconstruc-tion.
He highlighted that Pakistanis disbursing cash grants fromits own resources for partiallycompensating the damagesdone to private properties andearly recovery.
The Finance Minister urgedfast-track reimbursement ofCoalition Support Fund (CSF)and disbursement of fundsunder the Kerry-Lugar-BermanAct committed and authorisedby the US Congress earlier thisyear.
Dr Shaikh in his meeting withthe Vice President of the World
See # 18 Page 7
Pakistan seeksnew IMF loans
Dr Shaikh focalises Pak economy in talks with IFIs
Minister informs IFIs about ongoing tax reforms
LONDON: Dubbing his politi-cal detractors as "cowards,"Pakistan's former ruler PervezMusharraf has said that thegreatest threat his country is fac-ing today is "failure" of gover-nance, rather than India orTaliban.
"I would say, failure of gover-nance is the greatest threattoday," Musharraf, who hasannounced his return to activePakistani politics from Londonwhere he has been living in self-imposed exile.
The commando-turned-politi-cian said the immediate necessi-ty on the ground in Pakistan is a"functional governance struc-ture free of corruption".
In an interview here to Indianpublication 'The Week,'Musharraf said the currentPakistan Peoples Party-led gov-ernment has failed to effectivelygovern the country.
"The PPP government hasfailed to do so. Nawaz Sharifcame to power twice but couldnot do anything productive
because he is actually brain-less," Musharraf said.
His remarks came amid criti-cism of the PPP-led govern-ment for its inept handling ofthe catastrophic floods andcorruption. Asked if heplanned to return to Pakistan,the 67-year-old Musharraf saidhe would as soon as election isannounced. "I will return assoon as elections areannounced.
In the meantime, I will focuson strengthening the party from
here," he said, referring to his'All Pakistan Muslim League'which he launched here onOctober 1 thousands of milesaway from Pakistan.
The next general election inPakistan is scheduled for 2013.Musharraf also said he was notperturbed by reports that he willbe facing trouble if he returnedto Pakistan. "Let them do what-ever they want to.
As far as I am concerned,there are no hindrances for myreturn when I want to. All those
opposing me are cowards andare scared of my return," hesaid.
"We want good relations withIndia, but it has to be based on
See # 17 Page 7
Governance failure biggest threat: MusharrafFormer ruler talks to Indian magazine, says he regrets doffing the uniform; NRO a blunder
ISLAMABAD: World Bankhas urged Federal Board ofRevenue to clear the pendingrefund claims before imple-menting Reformed GeneralSales Tax (RGST).Accordingto the sources, World Bank saidthat clearance of refund claimsand Expeditious RefundSystem are main concerns andit is necessary to address andresolve these issues beforeimplementing the RGST.
Sources further revealed thatWB review team has submittedits report regarding TaxAdministration Refrom Projectto the Government of Pakistan;
and FBR has issued a detailedexecutive order in this regard tocarry out the suggestions.
The WB has recommended tothe FBR to closely monitor theexecution of the ExecutiveOrder and prepare a specificplan to extend the ERS to com-mercial exporters.
The WB pointed out that theFBR has moved considerablywith its reform plan, but somemanagement issues have still tobe addressed.
The WB recommended theFBR to centralise the issuing ofnotifications and intimations as
See # 14 Page 7
WB urges earlyrepay of claims
FBR told to address investors’ issues
Staff Reporter / Agencies
KARACHI: Oil and GasDevelopment CompanyLimited (OGDCL) is in deepliquidity crisis due to delay ofRs80 billion payments fromOil Refineries and Gas compa-nies, and Company now hasonly Rs six billion in liquidreserves.
According to the Ministry ofPetroleum and NaturalResources country's five big oilrefineries and two major gascompanies had to pay Rs80 bil-lion to the OGDCL but after notgetting a single penny from theseentities, OGCL now ponderingover to borrow from banks tokeep the projects running.
According to the news,Company's assets that can bereadily converted into cashhave come down sharply fromaround Rs19 billion in June2010 after payments ofdeferred taxes and dividends.
The Company has annualcash flow of Rs93 billion fromsale of oil and gas and itsstrong balance sheet has helpedit stay away from banks duringlast five years.
The petroleum giant has toraise between $400 and $500million from banks in fiscal2011/12. OGDCL has set acapital expenditure target of$800 million for next fiscalyear, most of which will go to
See # 15 Page 7
OGDC in deepliquidity crisis
Refiners, Gas co to pay Rs80bn
Duty Free Sugar
FBR issuesnotification
ISLAMABAD: The FederalBoard of Revenue (FBR) hasissued SRO notifying zero percent duty on import of rawsugar of cane sugar and beetsugar by the private sector, saysa statement issued by theMinistry of Industries andProduction.
See # 11 Page 7
NAB chief appointment
‘N’ releasesletters writtento PM Gilani
ISLAMABAD: PakistanMuslim League (Nawaz) hasreleased letters to media onSaturday, which were written tothe Prime Minister overappointment of ChairmanNational AccountabilityBureau.
See # 12 Page 7
Govt seeksmore time inNRO cases
ISLAMABAD: The govern-
ment Saturday filed another
request in the Supreme Court
seeking more time in the NRO
review case, media reported.
Advocate on Record Raja
Abdul Ghafoor filed the plea in
the SC. The government has
decided to appoint another
counsel in place of Kamal
Azfar and need time to make
the appointment, the plea said.See # 13 Page 7
Masood ready to becomeapprover in Bugti case: TalalDERA BUGTI: Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) President TalalBugti claimed Saturday that Brigadier Masood Malik (Retd), anex-officer of a security agency, has agreed to become approveragainst former president Pervaiz Musharraf in Nawab AkbarBugti murder case, media reported.
He was addressing media men at Bugti House. PML-N leaderSardar Yaqoob Khan Nasir was also See # 16 Page 7
29 moreNato tankers
torchedBOLAN: Unknown personshave set on fire twenty-nine oiltankers of Nato Forces in anarea of Muthary, District BolanBalochistan.
Levies Forces said that oiltankers were carrying oil sup-ply for Nato forces stationed inAfghanistan.
These containers left forAfghanistan from Karachi.
However, on their way in anarea of Muthary, Bolan some
See # 9 Page 7
2 Sunday, October 10, 2010
TV PROGRAMMES
SUNDAY
Time Programmes
7:00 News
8:00 News
9:05 Manzil (Rpt)
10:05 The Reema
Show (Rpt)
12:00 News
13:10 Faisla Aap Ka
(Rpt)
14:10 The Anchor
(Rpt)
15:00 News
16:00 News
17:00 News
18:00 News
19:05 I Samaa
19:30 Mutasareen
20:05 The Reema
Show
21:00 News
22:03 Faisla Aap Ka
23:05 Tafteesh
SUNDAYTime Programmes
8:00 Pakistan This
Week (Rpt)
8:30 Filmi Samaa
(Rpt)
9:00 Awam Ki Awaz
(Rpt)
10:00 Smithsonian
Documentry
11:00 Tijarti Dunya
(Rpt)
11:30 Dilkash Pakistan
(Rpt)
12:00 Kamyab (Rpt)
13:00 Agenda 360
(Rpt)
14:00 Amnay Samnay
(Rpt)
14:30 Music Scene
(Rpt)
15:00 Awam Ki Awaz
(Rpt)
16:00 Pakistan This
Week (Rpt)
16:30 Tijarti Dunya
(Rpt)
17:00 Kamyab (Rpt)
18:00 Dilkash Pakistan
(Rpt)
18:30 Filmi Samaa
(Rpt)
19:00 Chai Time (Rpt)
20:00 Badalta
Pakistan
21:00 Amnay Samnay-2
21:30 Red Carpet
22:00 Uff TV
22:30 Sara Jahan
23:00 Agenda 360
12:00 Awam Ki Awaz
(Rpt)
KARACHI: Sindh ChiefMinister, Syed Qaim AliShah on Saturday met withIranian Consul General,Abbas Ali Abdollahi at IranConsulate here. Talking tothe Iranian CG, Sindh CMthanked the government ofIran for assisting Sindhgovernment in relief andrestoration of the floodaffectees in Sindhprovince.
Abbas Ali Abdollahirecalled that total $10 mil-lion financial aid wasannounced for floodaffectees by Iran in thebeginning. Later, keepingin view the flood situationin Pakistan, the financialassistance was increased byIran upto $ 100 million, headded.
He said the assistancewill be spent on reconstruc-tion and resettlement activ-ities in flood-hit areas.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah saidrecent flood is a bigtragedy and the people suf-fered a lot due to flood dev-astation. He said besidesIran government, the peo-ple of Iran have also pro-vided help to Pakistan intough times.
The Sindh CM recalledthat a delegation of womenfrom Iran had participatedin relief activities at flood-hit areas at Thatta, Sindh,where they also providedmedical cover to the floodvictims.
He said the Iran hasrecently sent 100 trucksloads of relief goods toKarachi which also carrythe relief goods for floodaffected areas in Sindh.
He said Pakistan and Iranare not only two neighbor-ing friendly countries butboth have old and closerelations.
He said our people visitthe holy places in Iran andthe people from Iran visitPakistan too.
He said our people aresuffering due to the floodand they not only needrelief goods and medicalfacilities but they alsoneeded to be resettled.
Speaking on the occa-sion, Iranian CG expresseddeep sense of sorrow overlosses caused by the recentmassive flood in Pakistan.
He informed total 20aeroplanes from Iran havebrought relief goods toPakistan so far including10 ones reached Karachiwhile rest ones atIslamabad, Sukkur, Lahoreand Peshawar.
He noted that 450 loadstrucks relief good have alsobeen distributed amongflood victims at differentareas in Pakistan.-APP
Qaim thanks Iranfor aiding victims
KARACHI: Pir Pagara,chief of PML-F has said hewill go to Lahore to meetMian Nawaz Sharif in con-nection with unification ofall the factions of MuslimLeague.
"I will go to Lahore tomeet Mian Nawaz Sharifbut I will not go to Londonas I can not remain alonein London", he said thiswhile talking to mediamen at Kingri houseSaturday during his meet-ing with Sheikh RashidAhmad, chairman AwamiMuslim League (AML).
Regarding the questionabout inclusion of YousufRaza Gilani in PML, hesaid "I have sent Gilani toPPP and I will call himback to PML when hebecomes tired."
Responding to a ques-tion Pir Pagara saidPresident Asif Ali Zardarihad neither contacted himnor he had contacted him.
"I am not among those
who offer sacrifice but Iam among those who takesacrifices. Whose doomhas come near will be sac-rificed. Who has to be sac-rificed may be from anyprovince," he added.
Replying to a questionabout nominating SheikhRashid as prime ministerin next election he said thedecision regarding nomi-nee will be taken duringthe meeting of unifiedMuslim League.
To a question that winterseason is nearing close andif the national politics willheat up or stay cool, PirPagara said as far as winteris concerned the politicswill be heated up with thehelp of heater.
Replying to a questionwhat is going to happen infuture he said all will hap-pen in future which youdon't know.
About Kalabagh damspiritual leader of HurrsPir of Pagara said this dam
will not be constructed. AML chairman Sheikh
Rashid Ahmad had pre-dicted last three months ofthe year are very crucialand work had been startedfor bringing change.
Clash between govern-ment and institutions wasgoing on and unification ofall the factions of MuslimLeague was the only wayto escape from extra judi-cial and ultra constitution-al change, he remarked.
He went on to say NABchairman Deedar HussainShah is a good personadding it is a separatething if he becomes badwith reference to Asif AliZardari.
To a question aboutappointment of DeedarHussain Shah as chairmanNAB, he said that not onlyDeedar Hussain Shah butfavorites had been induct-ed in Steel Mills, PIA,Railway, PASCO andother institutions.-Online
‘I can call Gilani back to PML’
Pagara upbeat onPML unification
KARACHI: City DistrictGovernment Karachi(CDGK) has established aspecial ward for patientsaffected with dengue andother harmful viruses andcontagious diseases inAbbasi Shaheed Hospital(ASH). The new 40 beddedward will be available foradmission of patients inany emergency.
The new unit was inau-gurated by the ProvincialMinister for EnvironmentKhalid Umer on Saturdaywho also met with thepatients. MPA RehanZafar, MS Abbasi ShaheedHospital Dr Hamid Zaheer,Add MS Dr Saeed Rajput,Principal KMDC ProfessorWaqar Kazmi, Dr ProfSaleemullah, Dr KhurramDanial, Dr Gulnaz, Dr NazJameel and other seniorprofessors and doctorswere also present on thisoccasion.
A detailed briefing wasalso given regarding the
establishment of new wardat ASH. It was informedthat so far 33 patients hadbeen found infected withthe dengue virus out oftotal 102 patients tested inthe hospital. Already 8patients have been recov-ered and checked out whiletreatment to remaining 25patients was underway. Aspecial Cell Separateprocess has also been start-ed working in the hospitalwhich is first time in thehistory of Abbasi ShaheedHospital.
Talking to media repre-sentatives on this occasionthe Provincial Minister forEnvironment Khalid Umersaid that the former HaqParast City Nazim SyedMustafa Kamal had madeAbbasi Shaheed Hospitalone of the modern hospi-tals of city with latest facil-ities available for patients.The hospital now has thefacility for full treatment ofalmost every disease.
He said that this hospitalthough in past had thefacility of treatment ofpatients infected withdengue virus but now aspecial ward has beenestablished here with 40beds and the number ofbeds could increase ifneeded.
EDO Health Dr. NasirJaved said that the poorand needy patients couldnot afford the costlydengue virus treatment inprivate hospitals of cityand that is why this facilityhas been provided to suchneedy citizens in AbbasiShaheed Hosptial withoutany cost.
MS Dr Hamid Zaheersaid that the new ward willalso be used for emer-gency. He said that the cellseparate arrangementshave also been made in thehospital and already morethan 6 units have been pre-pared in just two days.-Agencies
Dengue ward setupat Abbasi Shaheed
KARACHI: Advisor toSindh Chief MinisterSharmila Farooqui said onSaturday that the PPP gov-ernment is committed tofollow reconciliation withpolitical parties for ensur-ing durable peace and sta-ble democracy in the coun-try for the good of masses.
The government underthe dynamic leadership ofPresident Asif Ali Zardariis taking all its coalitionpartners on board and is intouch with other political,social and religious partiesfor peace in Karachi andother parts of the country,she said in a statement.
Sharmila said the recon-ciliation is the only way toensure resilient peace and
bolstering democracy incountry that is why thePPP government is strivinghard in this regard so thatthe masses' problems couldbe resolved on prioritybasis. She said the PPPwanted to go forward tak-ing all parties and the insti-tutions along, adding thatonly the civilian govern-ment could tackle the chal-lenges facing the countryand the nation.
"The policy of reconcili-ation is a clear manifesta-tion of unity as it has unit-ed the nation on all impor-tant issues. We are fulfill-ing the promises made withthe people and are boostingperformance with eachpassing day," she said.
Some elements opposedto reconciliation in thecountry are trying to desta-bilise the coalition in Sindhbut we are capable enoughto safeguard it, she saidand added that the govern-ment wants all state institu-tions get respect and thereshould be no clash amonginstitutions that couldaffect democracy andpeace in the country.
The credit to flourishconsensus culture in thecountry goes to the PPPgovernment which neveradopted revengeful acts. Itis our government whichhas always held consulta-tions with all stakeholdersin the policy making,Sharmila concluded.-PPI
Reconciliation beneficialfor durable peace: Sharmila
ISLAMABAD: MouradBourehla, Ambassador ofTunis visited IslamabadChamber of Commerceand Industry to congratu-late newly electedPresident of IslamabadChamber of Commerceand Industry MahfoozElahi, said a statementissued here on Saturday.
Mourad Bourehal,Ambassador of theRepublic of Tunisia whileaddressing said that busi-ness community for theirinterest to enhance bilateraltrade. He was of the viewthat it was need of the dayto explore new avenues oftrade and investmentbetween both the countrieshaving same religion andcultural values. He alsohighlighted about the greatpotential of trade withTunis and urged toexchange the trade delega-tions by holding trade exhi-bitions. He said that bilat-eral trade agreementsbetween Pakistan andTunis was in process tosing to promote trade tiesbetween both the countries.
He said that Pakistan and
Tunis was enjoying very oldtraditional and religiousrelations and urgedChambers of Commerceand Industries of both thecountries could play theiractive role to motivate thebusiness community andinvestors to invest in eachother country. He agreed forMOU between TunisChamber & IslamabadChamber of Commerce, sothat the trade between boththe countries could beenhanced. He also agreed toinvest in Pakistan in its ener-gy sector to bring the coun-try of out its energy crises.
Mehfooz Elahi PresidentIslamabad Chamber ofCommerce and Industry inhis welcome addressstressed the need to pro-mote trade and investmentbetween Pakistan andTunis. He said that beingIslamic countries bothenjoy very cordial andfriendly relationship, butthe trade volume betweenboth the countries is verylow and it is the need ofhour to enhance it, whichin favour for both thecountries.-Online
Pak, Tunisia tomultiply tradevolume: ICCI
Corps chiefvisits Chinesemedical campKARACHI: CorpsCommander LieutenantGeneral Shahid Iqbal visit-ed the Chinese FieldHospital and inspected thetroops deployed in floodaffected areas of Sindh onSaturday.
The commander appreci-ated the dedication andhumanitarian support pro-vided by Chinese hospitals.China is one of our bestfriend and caring neighbourwho has always supportedin testing times. The med-ical authorities of ChineseArmy have established twofield hospitals in Thatta andSehwan Sharif respectively.
Medical staff includesmale and female doctorsand paramedics who areserving the marooned peo-ple round the clock. It is alsoworth mentioning that fourMI-17 helicopters are alsobusy in relief operation andaugmenting the relief effortsof Pakistan Army, says anISPR press release.-PPI
Youth
governance
moot heldKARACHI: TransparencyInternational Pakistan(TIP) organised a two dayconvention here recently toteach the youth about thenecessity of good gover-nance, said a handoutissued here.
Chief Guest of the eventformer federal secretary HN Akhter, said that corrup-tion can be eradicated fromthe society only if we startreforming ourselves. Wecan bring change if webelieve in ourselves and tryto understand the truemeaning of a patriot and behonest in our thoughts andour actions.
Talking at the occasionShabbir Kazmi a seniorJournalist from TheFinancial Daily urged thestudents to realise the impor-tance of their attitudetowards everything. Thissession began with a speechof a senior Professor fromInstitute of BusinessManagement ProfMoinuddin Ali Khan. Histopic was "malpractices insecondary education sector".
He said that local educa-tion boards have made bla-tant mistakes in their cur-riculum but still they'retaught everywhere.-PR
Initial
report on
shrine blasts
submittedKARACHI: CrimeInvestigation Department,Karachi on Saturday sub-mitted a preliminaryreport on Thursday's sui-cide bombings to theCrisis Management Celland Inspector General ofSindh.
According to the report,three to five kilograms ofexplosives and belts wereused in the two attacks.
The report said that sui-cide bombers used beltsinstead of suicide vests tocarry out the attack,reported a private newschannel.
The first blast tookplace at the main gate,while the second attackhappened in front ofAukaf department office.At the time of blasts, 23private security guardsand 15 policemen were onduty at the shrine.
At least nine peoplewere killed and scores ofothers wounded after twosuicide bombers blewthemselves up in thepremises of AbdullahShah Ghazi shrine.-APP
Mobilinktops OICCIdonors list
KARACHI: Mobilink hasbeen recognised by theOverseas InvestorsChamber of Commerce &Industry (OICCI) as the topdonor amongst its membercompanies for relief of theflood affected people.
The OICCI which repre-sents 185 foreign compa-nies, highlightedMobilink's contribution ofRs236 million that is oneof the largest private sectorrelief initiatives in thecountry followed byUnilever at Rs128 million.
A significant portion ofMobilink's contribution isin the form of pre fabricat-ed sheets worth Rs140 mil-lion that have been donatedto the World HealthOrganization (WHO) andThardeep RuralDevelopment Program(TRDP) to establish over400 basic health units. Theshelters are easy to assem-ble, transport and store asper requirements. Made ofdurable material, they arenot only be useful duringthe current relief efforts butare a long term donationfor future use as schoolsand dispensaries in comingmonths and years particu-larly in areas where reha-bilitation will be a slowand lengthy process.
Mobilink has also put touse discarded panaflex andbillboard skins to packrelief items. Very sturdy,these bags can hold up to10 kilos, are waterproofand hence of long term useto aid recipients.Channeled through theMobilink Foundation,more than 100,000 floodvictims have been reachedthrough these efforts.-PR
Mirza
made PTV
Chairman
ISLAMABAD: The gov-ernment on Saturdayappointed Yousuf BaigMirza as ManagingDirector of PakistanTelevision, replacingArshad Khan. The newmanaging director alsoassumed charge of theoffice on the same day.
According to officialsources, the Ministry ofInformation andBroadcasting had alreadyissued a notification for theappointment of Mirza.
It is for the third time thatMirza has been given topposition in the state-run tel-evision. Earlier, Mirza hasheld top positions in differ-ent private television chan-nels.-APP
AJK MPremovedover fake
degreeM U Z A F FA R A B A D :
Minister of Trade andIndustry of Azad Kashmirand ruling MuslimConference leaderChaudhry Rukhsar hasbeen dismissed from hispost due to submitting fakeeducational certificates.
Opposition People'sMuslim League candidateChaudhry Arshad filed anapplication before theElection Commission,alleging that ChaudhryRukhsar's matriculationcertificate was fake.
The ElectionCommission shifted theapplication to the Districtand Sessions judge ofRawalakot for a formalhearing.
As a result, on Saturdaythe District and SessionsCourt disqualified Rukhsarafter declaring his educa-tional documents fake.
In addition, the courtordered the ElectionCommission to hold anoth-er election for the vacantseat in MirpurConstituency-4 within 90days. -NNI
KARACHI: Shabbir H Kazmi, senior journalistof The Financial Daily giving presentation at
Transparency International Governanceseminar held here.-Staff Photo
KARACHI: Women take keen interest at jewelriesat a stall during “Fashion” exhibition organised
by Jinnah Women University (JWU) held inkarachi on Saturday. -PPI
KARACHI: Chief of the Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rasheed talking tomedia persons after meeting with PML-F Chief Pir Pagara at Kingri House. -APP
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah receiving relief-goods forflood affectees donated by Iranian Counsil General Abbas Ali Abdollahi. -APP
3Sunday, October 10, 2010
Analysis & Feature
Iran justifies its atomicactivity with plans to setup a network of nuclear
power plants, but Westernanalysts say a lack of indige-nous resources and growinginternational isolation makethose ambitions look far-fetched.
The issue of whether Irancan build as many as 20 reac-tors during the next twodecades goes to the heart ofan eight-year diplomatic rowover the Islamic state'snuclear programme.
Iran insists it needs toenrich uranium -- materialwhich can also be used tomake weapons if refinedmuch further -- to fuel futurepower stations designed togenerate electricity andenable the country to exportmore of its gas and oil riches.
It says its first such facility,a Russian-built 1,000megawatt (MW) reactor nearthe Gulf coast city ofBushehr, will start supplyingenergy in early 2011 afteryears of delays.
But the United States andits allies believe Iran's urani-um enrichment is part of acovert weapons drive andhave imposed tough sanc-tions on Tehran to force it tohalt the work.
"It is simply unrealistic tobuild so many nuclear reac-tors in such a short time,"said Oliver Thraenert, seniorfellow at the GermanInstitute for International andSecurity Affairs.
"The Iranians don't havethe experience, they don'thave the infrastructure and itis possible they don't havethe money due to the sanc-tions," he said.
Ali Akbar Salehi, the headof Iran's Atomic EnergyOrganisation, told the UNnuclear watchdog's annualassembly in Vienna lastmonth about a parliamentdecision to construct nuclearpower plants generating atotal of 20,000 MW by 2030.
He urged "all potential sup-pliers to seize this opportuni-ty to participate in the con-struction of the new powerplants".
Mark Fitzpatrick, a formersenior US State Departmentofficial now at theInternational Institute forStrategic Studies think-tankin London, dismissed this asa "pipe dream" which madeno economic sense.
"Talking about 20,000 MWcapacity is an excuse to try tojustify the enrichment pro-gramme," he said.
NO BIDDERS?Ian Anthony, director of the
arms control and non-prolif-eration programme at theStockholm InternationalPeace Research Institute,said building the number ofpower plants Iran wantedwould be "extremely expen-sive" but not impossible.
Critics of Iran's nuclearprogramme argue that itmakes no commercial sensefor it to enrich uranium in the
absence of plants to use thefuel, he said. But if the coun-try had more atomic powerstations then it could becomemore logical.
The question is whether theplan to establish such annuclear energy network is"an after-the-fact construct toreduce criticism of theenrichment programme orwhether it is the true inten-tion of Iran to build thesepower plants", Anthony said.
With Iran facing increasedpolitical and economic isola-tion, global nuclear energyfirms are unlikely to enterthe Islamic Republic at atime of growing internationaldemand for nuclear plantswhich can cost about $4 bil-lion.
"It's a seller's market.Foreign companies wouldn'tbe tripping over themselvesdoing business there in thecurrent circumstances," saidIan Hore-Lacy, public com-munications director of theWorld Nuclear Association(WNA) industry body.
Iran lacked some of the keymanufacturing capacities tomake key components itself,he said.
Mark Hibbs at theCarnegie CarnegieEndowment for InternationalPeace said no "suppliers any-where in the world, includingChina and Russia, willexport reactors to Iran" aslong as it is deemed to beviolating UN resolutions.
Iran, which now gets 90
per cent of its electricityfrom fossil fuels, invited bidsin 2007 for two reactors nearBushehr of 1,000 and 1,600MW each that would belaunched in 2016.
"It is not known whetherany bids were received," theWNA said on its website,adding the country has alsoannounced plans to construct
a 360 MW reactor atDarkhovin in its southeast.
As part of this nuclearexpansion drive, Iran says itwill build 10 more enrich-ment plants, on top of itsonly operating one at Natanzand another under construc-tion in a mountain bunkernear the city of Qom, furtherworrying the West.
"They have some interestin civilian use of nuclearenergy. But I'm totally con-vinced that their more impor-tant motivation is to create anuclear weapons option,"Thraenert said.
Olli Heinonen, the formerhead of the UN nuclearwatchdog's inspectionsworldwide, now at Harvard
University, said only Iranitself knew what its nuclearaims really were.
"It has to do with prestige,it is to do with their ownsecurity, to be a regionalplayer, it is a complex thing.It is not just about, let's say,nuclear weapons or to pro-duce fuel for Bushehr,"Heinonen said. -Reuters
IRAN’S NUCLEAR ENERGY
PLANS DRAW SCEPTICISMl Iran aims to have 20,000 MW in nuclear energy capacity
l Country seeks foreign suppliers for atomic power plants
lWest suspects nuclear programme is cover for bomb aims
Afghan President HamidKarzai's bid to startpeace talks with the
Taliban, setting tough condi-tions which have failed before,offers little hope of bringingnearly 10 years of war to anend.
Karzai has long advocatedtalks with the insurgents, hisspokesman has acknowledgedtwo years of on-again-off-again contacts and the presi-dent recently unveiled a list ofmembers of a High PeaceCouncil to kick-start and man-age any talks process.
Supporters of talks, who arespread from Kabul's presiden-tial palace, across Europeancapitals and to Washington,say the Taliban leaders arestarting to reach out too. TheTaliban are weary of fighting,their argument goes, mistrust-ful of the long-term intentionsof their hosts in Pakistan andfearful that if they win total
military control ofAfghanistan, international sup-port will dry up and a genera-tion of young insurgents couldmarginalise them.
But the Taliban have theupper hand in military terms,despite the presence of almost150,000 foreign troops. Thereis widespread loathing of for-eign forces and Karzai's gov-ernment is largely seen as cor-rupt or incompetent.
The conditions Karzai is sug-gesting are more or less arepeat of the deal he has beentrying to sell for years withoutsuccess: lay down your arms,accept the constitution,renounce violence and alQaeda, and in return get aplace in my government.
"What will the Taliban gainfrom the talks and joining thegovernment?" asked DaadNoorani, an Afghan writer andanalyst.
"The Taliban regard them-
selves as victors of the warsince they have control in thesouth, east and have infiltratedthe north. Under such a situa-tion I would call any hope ajoke."
A large tribal jirga in Juneendorsed Karzai's plan for apeace council to try to coaxTaliban leaders to talks whileusing cash and other aid totempt foot soldiers to switchsides. But the unrealistic con-ditions even prompted a seniorformer Taliban figure who hasbeen involved in indirect talksin the past, Abdul SalaamZaeef, to turn down an invita-tion to join the peace council,Noorani said.
"The Taliban do not recog-nise Karzai's government yetthe government says 'comeover, surrender your arms andaccept the constitution'," saidformer prime minister AhmadShah Ahmadzai.
"It can't work this way. This
is not making peace."Matt Waldman, a fellow at
Harvard University who is incontact with insurgents, saysKarzai's offer casts doubt onwhether he and Washington aregenuinely interested in pursu-ing a negotiated solution.
"The preconditions they havelaid down are perceived by theTaliban as an invitation to sur-render, which they are in nomind to accept," Waldman, anex-defence and security advis-er to the British and Europeanparliaments, wrote to Reutersin an email.
TALIBAN CONDITIONSBefore and after their resur-
gence, the Taliban havedemanded the expulsion of for-eign forces as their conditionfor engaging in any talks withKabul.
With Obama preparing for adrawdown of troop numbersfrom next July, some of thosein Kabul believe they may
have a unique window now,both to win over the Talibanand protect their country fromyears of even more damagingfighting. The Taliban's successin the war comes despite thekilling and arrest of some keyfigures in recent years, particu-larly following the surge of UStroops since last year.
The older Taliban who havesurvived might now be morewilling to support a negotiatedend to the war, in order toensure a larger slice of peace-time power, some analysts say.
"If you don't talk to theTaliban now, increasingly theirleadership is becoming moreradicalised. You have got a lotof the Guantanamo generationcoming in as commanders whoare very close to al Qaeda andradicalised," said Pakistaniauthor and Afghanistan expertAhmed Rashid.
"If you kill off all the olderleadership and you don't deal
with them, this new lot in twoyears will be in control andthey will not want to talk at alland you will be in a much dan-gerous position," he saidrecently. Karzai's spokesman,Waheed Omer, on Wednesdaysaid there had been regularcontacts for two years betweenthe Taliban and Kabul, either atthe request of Taliban mem-bers or tribal chiefs.
But under Russian occupa-tion, close family membersfought on different sides of thewar, while keeping channels ofcommunication open.
"Behind the scenes talks"during the current conflict maybe little more than this kind offamily connections, aimed atkeeping dead family to a mini-mum, avoiding damage to trib-al set-up and devastation to vil-lages. There are also reportssome Taliban do not trustPakistan, long their backersand now their hosts.
Islamabad, many Afghansbelieve, is seeking to manipu-late the Taliban to influenceAfghanistan's future as part ofits rivalry with India.
Early this year, it arrested anumber of top Taliban leaders,among them Mullah AbdulGhani Baradar, who wasinvolved in moving towardstalks with to Karzai's govern-ment, according to severalAfghan officials.
Other Taliban fear they couldbe next if the winds ofPakistan's notoriously unstablepolitical world change direc-tion, and Karzai has played onthis fear, indirectly warningthem to either join the talks orrisk detention in Pakistan.
But they also know they arePakistan's best bet as it isthrough them that Isalambadcan direct the shape up of anytalks which then will haveimpact on Afghanistan's future.-Reuters
Karzai's push for Afghan peace a distant dream
Challenged even by theirown supporters overpension or benefits cuts
to middle income families,political leaders in both Britainand France are finding austeri-ty and reform perhaps harderthan expected.
That doesn't mean they willbe forced to roll back on theirwider strategy of spending cutsand pension changes, but it is asign that they may be at theirmost vulnerable over reformsthat upset their political base.
French President NicolasSarkozy, facing a wave ofstrikes but also the risk of arevolt by centrist supporters inthe upper house, announcedplans on Thursday to tweak apension reform to ease theimpact on women who stoppedwork to raise children.
British Prime Minister DavidCameron faced outrage even
from some of his own MPsover plans to cut child benefitfor higher earning parents. Hewas forced to apologise for notputting it in his election mani-festo and the row apparentlyprompted him to resurrect asuggested tax break for mar-ried couples.
The bottom line, analystssay, is that reducing spendingin Western democracies wasalways going to be difficultpolitically and produce a muchmore complex reaction than asimple left-wing backlash.
Nowhere will this be harderthan in cutting back services --from higher education tohealth, defence to pensions --that touch on the preoccupa-tions of middle-income votersand centre-right newspapers.
"There is nothing that is easyto cut," said David Lea, west-ern Europe analyst at Control
Risks. "What has surprisedCameron and Sarkozy is theway even their own base hasreacted. They expected troublefrom the unions, the left-wingnewspapers. They're getting itfrom the right as well."
Proposed British defencecuts have also proved con-tentious on both the right andleft, with ministers reported tobe clashing over how militarydownsizing will hit industrialjobs as well as Britain's powerin the world.
MORE TO COME
Europe's era of austerity isproducing a cacophony ofcampaigning and lobbyingfrom assorted interest groupsdesperate to avoid the axe.
This is particularly evident inBritain, where some of themost radical reforms areplanned. The government willannounce a spending review
on Oct. 20 with more details."There are going to be so
many issues people will fightback about," said Kevin Craig,managing director of Britishlobbying firm PLMR. "Whatwe've seen so far is nothingcompared to what is to come."
Few analysts have been sur-prised that trade unions havehowled against spending cuts,taking to the streets -- albeit invery varied numbers -- acrossthe continent.
Huge displays of public dis-content seem unlikely to bringdown European governmentsor block reforms, but theycould make it harder for lead-ers from Spain and Portugal toIreland and France to win re-election.
Both Cameron and Sarkozyexpect left-wing opposition,and will largely shrug it off.
But both are more sensitive
to pressure from the centre.Few middle income parents -
- aside from a handful of loyalConservative MPs -- are enthu-siastic about losing 2,000pounds a year in child benefitif they are in the top two taxbrackets. The issue dominatedcoverage this week at theConservative party conference.
The policy will survive, butthe lessons will have beennoted. Neither keyConservative decision-makersnor generally supportive mediahad been briefed before theannouncement, a fact thatappeared to intensify criticism.
France's situation is differ-ent, but some of the same driv-ers are in play. Sarkozy choseto make his pension conces-sion to working mothers, a keyvoter group whose supportmay be crucial in the 2012presidential election.
NO WAY BACK
For a five-year transitionperiod, they will be able toretire at 65 on a full pensioneven if they do not haveenough contribution years buthave taken career breaks toraise three children or more.Some suspect they may even-tually be granted an open-ended full pension right at 65.
The concession was intendedto counter a growing strike andprotest movement. But it alsoaims to head off a mini-revoltin the Senate, where Sarkozy'sUMP party lacks an overallmajority leaving him depend-ent on centrist allies.
The strikes and demonstra-tions may grab headlines, butanalysts say it is more targetedprotests over individual issuesthat are more likely to forcepolicy shifts.
In one early example, in
October last year, supporters ofBritain's reservist TerritorialArmy waged a swift, high-pro-file media campaign against amere 20 million pound ($32million) cut to its trainingbudget.
Within days, then LabourPrime Minister Gordon Brownagreed to ringfence the spend-ing, to jeers from the thenopposition Conservatives, whowelcomed the climbdown.
Now that Cameron is inpower, he faces many similarbattles but has little choice butto push through deep cuts.
"This government's fate is sotied to deficit reduction, theyhave little choice but to contin-ue," said PLMR's Craig. "Theywill want to frontload as muchpain as possible in years oneand two in the hope that by2015 they are popular again." -Reuters
Cameron, Sarkozy find austerity, reform hard
Disclaimer:All reports and recommendations have been prepared for your information
only. Summary and Analysis are not recommendation to buy or sell. This
information should only be used by investors who are aware of the risk inher-
ent in securities trading. The facts, information, data, indicators and charts
presented have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their
accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. The Financial Daily
International and its employees are not responsible for any loss arising from
use of these reports and recommendations.
Burning Natotankers can't
bring any respiteOver the last couple of months more than 150
trucks/tankers taking Nato/ISAF supplies to
Afghanistan have been burnt, most within the last
fortnight. Some analysts term it retaliation by
Taliban for accelerated drone attacks in North
Waziristan. The Government of Pakistan also
stopped Afghan-bound trucks after the US attack on
a check post killed Pakistani soldiers.
While Torkham border was closed, clearance from
Chaman border continued. Lately, congestion at
Chaman increased because Pakistan Customs decid-
ed not to clear any vehicle without completing the
formalities. As the congestion increased vehicles
became easy prey and around 10 vehicles were burnt
on daily basis.
It was rather unique that the US offered a formal
apology but insisted that undertaking such attacks
was in self defence. The lingering negotiations took
some days, may be because the US was trying to
give an impression that blockade was not making
much difference. A little confusion was created due
to contradictory statement. While some analysts
were saying up to 40 per cent supplies pass through
Pakistan others quoted the number as high as 80 per
cent. However, one point was very clear that
Afghanistan being a land-locked country has to have
a transit trade agreement with more than one coun-
try i.e. Pakistan and Iran. However at present only
Pakistan can provide this facility.
It was a rare occasion to witness Pakistan taking a
firm stand, despite the fact the US has provided an
outstanding support to Pakistan in the aftermath of
floods. May be stance has emerged because despite
Pakistan's best efforts and the US administration
accepting, pressure kept on building Pakistan to do
more. One of the reason for strangulated relationship
between the US and Pakistan is the duality of US
policy towards Afghanistan. On one hand the US is
trying to arrive at some sort of reconciliation with
Taliban in Afghanistan but on the other hand it is
insisting on weeding out of Taliban (often mixing
with al Qaeda) from Pakistan.
It has been nearly three decades that Pakistan was
dragged into Afghan war. This started with USSR
attacking Afghanistan in an attempt to get access to
warm waters, but the move was frustrated by the US
with the support of Pakistan. After the humiliating
defeat of USSR, the US also withdrew leaving
Afghans at the mercy of warlords. Subsequently
Taliban government was installed, which was dis-
lodged when the US decided to attack Afghanistan
in 2001 for providing shelter to Osama bin Laden.
Having fought an unyielding war the US administra-
tion has decided to take an exit, without letting the
world know that the withdrawal is nothing but
acceptance of the US defeat in Afghanistan, which is
the bitterest pill to swallow for the sole surviving
super power.
Pakistan has been saying that lasting peace in
Afghanistan can't be established without its active
support. However, the US policy to deal with
Taliban directly and involving India rather than
Pakistan is likely to create misunderstanding that is
exactly what is happening now. The US must make
its policy towards Taliban public. The duality is like-
ly to cause more damage rather than establishing
lasting peace in Afghanistan.
4Sunday, October 10, 2010
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Amir A. Ashary
Editor: Shakil H. Jafri
Executive Editor: Manzar Naqvi
Honorary Advisory Board
Haseeb Khan, FCA
Asim Abbas Ashary, CPA
Akhtar M. Zaidi, FCA
Dr. A. Hadi Shahid, FCA
Muhammad Arif
S. Muneer Hussain Rizvi
Khurram Shehzad, CFA
Prof. Zakaria Sajid (KU)
Zahid Bukhari SVP HBL (retd)
Ismat Sabir
Head office
111-C, Jami Commercial Street 11, Phase VII, DHA KarachiTelephone: 92-21-5311893-6 Fax: 92-21-5388428
URL: www.thefinancialdaily.comEmail Address: [email protected]
Lahore office
24- Peshawar Block, Fortress Stadium, Lahore
Telephone: 92-42-6675595 Fax: 92-42-6664349
Email Address: [email protected]
The Financial Daily InternationalVol 4, Issue 65
China hit back on Saturday at U.S.claims it was shirking in the fightagainst climate change, likening thecriticisms to a mythic pig preeningitself. Frustration between the world'stwo top carbon polluters overshad-owed week-long U.N. talks seekingprogress on the shape of a new climatepact, with negotiators making someprogress on financing but failing todispel fears the process could end indeadlock.
Su Wei, a senior Chinese climatechange negotiator, swiped at com-ments from top U.S. climate envoyTodd Stern as the climate changetalks drew to a close in the northChinese city of Tianjin. Stern, inremarks at a U.S. university, saidBeijing could not insist rich nationstake on fixed targets to cut green-house gas emissions while China andother big emerging nations adoptonly voluntary domestic goals.
Su countered that Stern's claims werea diversion from the United States'failure to make big cuts in carbondioxide and other greenhouse gasescausing global warming. He likenedthe U.S. criticism to Zhubajie, a pig ina classic Chinese novel, which in a tra-ditional saying preens itself in a mirror."It has no measures or actions to showfor itself, and instead it criticisesChina, which is actively taking meas-ures and actions," Su said of the United
States.The talks in Tianjin reached firmer
agreement on funding for poor coun-tries hit by global warming, greentechnology transfers, and other stepsintended to build momentum for more
high-level treaty talks in Cancun,Mexico, from the end of next month.Cancun is meant to be the steppingstone to a legally binding deal nextyear that would lock in governmentsinto reducing greenhouse gas pollutionholding heat in the atmosphere andthreatening to tip over into dangerousglobal warming.
Officials and activists in Tianjin saidthey were frustrated that more was notagreed in sessions that often dwelt onprocedures. Talks on protecting car-bon-absorbing rainforests languished.
NEED FOR SPEED"We're moving in the right direction,
but we certainly need to put our foot onthe accelerator," said Julie-Anne
Richards of the Climate ActionNetwork, which monitored the talks.
Progress this week should lead tosome decisions in Cancun, saidWendel Trio, Greenpeace Internationalclimate policy director, but he pointed
to the bickering that has dominated theTianjin meeting. "At times it has beenlike watching children in a kinder-garten," he said.
The jabs between Beijing andWashington exposed a rift likely tokeep dogging talks: to what extentChina should be regarded in treaties asan emerging economy free of fixedgreenhouse gas reduction goals.
The first phase of the KyotoProtocol, the U.N.'s main weaponagainst climate change, ends in 2012and what follows from 2013 is undercontention.
The Protocol makes an either-or dis-tinction between rich countries, whichtake on fixed targets to cut emissions,
and developing countries, includingChina. The U.S. is not a party.
Nearly 200 governments failed toagree last year on a new legally bind-ing deal. A meeting in Copenhagen lastDecember ended in bitter exchangesbetween rich and developing countriesand created a loose accord with manygaps.
Stern accused Beijing of slidingaway from the Copenhagen Accordand said it established that Chinashould be treated much like other bigpolluters. China has said it will notaccept such a change.
China also demands that advancedeconomies, responsible for most of theindustrial pollution fuelling globalwarming, must commit to deep cuts inemissions, giving poorer societiesmore room to grow their economiesand greenhouse gas output.
The top U.S. negotiator in Tianjin,Jonathan Pershing, demanded Chinaand other big emerging nations exposetheir domestic emissions goals totighter international scrutiny and putthem in a new binding pact that suc-ceeds Kyoto.
"These elements are at the heart ofthe deal and the lack of progress onthem gives us concern," Pershing toldreporters. "The danger we face now isthat the essential balance that allowedprogress to be made is in jeopardy."Reuters
Climate talks marred by bickering
Education in shambleThe slow and gradual death of education is not a new phenomenon in Pakistan as the colossal slashing in the budget allotted to the education sector this year narrates
the entire tale of misery the future entails for us and our coming generations, but specifically in the Baluchistan province things have crossed all limits as anti-state forcesare gaining strength and momentum and the successive killings of educationists leads to a sudden and rapid demise of knowledge and wisdom.
Kofi Annan terms education as "the premise of progress, in every society, in every family" but this fundamental element seems to have alienated us as other thingstake precedent in our lives and our society as educationists are being singled out and targeted on a continuous basis and we don't hear the slightest of protests againstthe callous behavior that inflicts grave injustice upon the future of education in a country that is in dire need of it as its only hope towards progress.
Hatred among different ethnicities and sects has a protracted history of Indian involvement in the Baloch region that has been fueled anew lately after being joined bya number of regional and International players in order to serve their vested interest in the region. The inability of foreign powers to shatter Pakistan by striking its eco-nomic backbone, that is due to the cohesion between the communities and the patience and perseverance practiced by the Baloch, Pukhtun and other ethnic groups, haspropelled these forces to add a new dimension to the movement.
Mengal, a prominent educationist and writer who served in various positions was mysteriously killed by a few gunmen a few days back, that later on succeeded inescaping. There is a long list of senior educationists that had faced a similar fate. In 2006, the pro Vice Chancellor of Baluchistan University was gunned down by BLA.Last year in 2009, minister for education Shafiq Ahmed Khan was gunned down in the daylight. The same year, Assistant Professor of Baluchistan University, NazimaTalib, was murdered brutally. In 2010 another well reputed Educationist was murdered in target killing.
Due to the incessant attacks upon teachers and professors of various schools and colleges, many educational institutes have been forced to shut down and hundreds ofstudents deprived of education that is classed as a human right with immense power to transform. Without this power our society is bound to fall into chaos and retreatinto a darker zone than it is at the present. The government needs to realize the magnitude of this gradual demise of education that may be hard to overcome if leftunheeded.
Umar Khan, Islamabad
Time UN should wakeupIndia's desperation over maintaining its illegal and resented occupation of the disputed valley is blatantly evident from the current ingenious scheme the Indian minds
have devised to mislead the world into believing its innocence by disguising the Indian forces in the garb of UN peacekeepers. Commendable is the meandering path the Indian creativity and imagination follows as no stone is left unturned in protecting its selfish interests. According to authen-
tic sources, the Indian forces have now resorted to using the blue helmets of the UN peacekeeping forces to project a false front for the past many weeks. These helmetshave been used primarily for exerting an added authority over the occupied territory as the influence of the Indian forces has waned thus increasing the Indian anxietyafter the brutal force applied by them, signifies their impotence to curb the angry protestations of the unarmed Kashmiri youth.
In addition to the use of props, the Indians have also issued pamphlets and flyers on behalf of the UN, demanding from the people an acceptance of the Indian rule bysubmitting their loyalties to them. This practice is not a new phenomenon, but an old one that the Indian have been using to get their evil ways, halting only after severesnubs from the UN.
The Indian projection of the role of UN in using brute force in Kashmir present a striking contrast between the UN resolution that was passed in 1949 stating that "Thequestion of accession of the State of Jammu & Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite" that wasagain endorsed in the resolutions 1951 and 1957.
This is the most vicious form of violation that needs to be looked into by the UN immediately. Being a reliable and authentic organization, the UN ought to makeinquiries into the matter that aims to malign its otherwise admirable role in peace and humanitarian issues. It is the right time for the UN to take a clear stance and clar-ify the ambiguity before the Indian plans can inflict more harm to both the repute of the UN and to the people of Kashmir.
Ahmed Yar Khan, Multan
Puzzling PeaceMotivation, it is believed, stems from the passion one feels towards the undertaken task without which its course becomes an incessantly burdensome toil. Among the
various nations participating as the allied forces in America's war on terror, there are some that are not the slightest bit interested in fighting against an abstract phenom-enon that deviates by miles from their hearts desires while some are peace loving to the extent that through deals made with the Taliban, they refrain from any sort ofcombat for the love of their lives.
A greater part of the de-motivated forces in Afghanistan, apparently belong to the category in which the ill alliance with the US thrusts upon them the duty to followthe US ideology of heightened warfare and massive indiscriminate killings. Thus, confirming the facts that the Taliban commander, Mullah Muhammad Issa, has high-lighted in his recent interview upon the insignificance and utter failure of the military operation launched by the allied forces in Kandahar with an apparent surge ofthousands of additional troops for optimum effects that are obviously not attained.
Clearly, the 'bleeding ulcer' remains just that, despite loud claims of the US policy makers, strategists and the media, failing to produce tangible results on the battle-ground as the insurgents have felt little or no effect from the US-led operation. The US motivation remains on the oratory level unable to materialize into concrete accom-plishments which should be an eye opener for the US and should define for them their future course of action. This would only be possible IF peace in south Asia iswhat the US wants.
Shamsa Ghazi, Karachi
A Schematic Change An ideological war being fought through military might, age old grievances of the local populace being addressed by fancy doctrines and strategies for operations and
attacks, and proposals of peace being provided by hardcore war criminals, is how we can define the war on terror that stretches over a protracted span of nine years of
agonizingly destabilizing state for the local population.
In this backdrop, the conditions that have already grown from worse to extremely horrific after the failure of the Marjah operation and the onset of the very latest US
operation in Kandahar that so far focuses upon eradicating all militant elements as a result of which a colossal number of civilian casualties have occurred thus com-
pelling civilians to flee from the region.
Refusal to bid the US command of a simultaneous operation in NWA by the military and political leaders of Pakistan the US has devised yet another strategy of achiev-
ing what they had purported to. A similar proposal has been presented by former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger who propositions that Afghanistan's neighbours
would have to step up to help define the future of the country, rather than depend on unilateral US efforts since most of the countries, especially those in the region, have
more immediate security interest in its future.
Pakistan being an immediate neighbor sharing the longest border with the country is specifically looked upon for the maximum cooperation and assistance since the
situation in Afghanistan bears considerable effect upon it as compared to others, thus, hinting that withdrawing of troops from the eastern borders to the western would
be the ideal solution for all ills that have befallen the region.
This notion might appear to be a novel one, but in reality it does resemble the initial US demand of kicking off a military operation along the Afghan border as the
deployment of troops would obviously not be for any other purpose.
To reshuffle the troops would only mean that every other concrete national interest be sidestepped to focus on an abstract phenomenon that apparently has no distinct
beginning, a fuzzy middle and a muddled up ambiguous end, relying largely on possibilities and perceived constructs that may or may not be applicable.
It is more than evident now that a "unilateral American role cannot be a long-term solution" of the Afghan problem. The muddle that Afghanistan owes all its woes to
none other than the US and Pakistan too has suffered to a considerable degree at the hands of this protracted war is still far from over despite claims of reaching near
conclusion.
Lubna Umar, Islamabad
Stern accused Beijing of sliding away
from the Copenhagen Accord and said it
established that China should be treated
much like other big polluters. China has
said it will not accept such a change.
5Sunday, October 10, 2010
Doubling the dose of inhaledsteroids doesn't appear todampen asthma attacks,
despite the practice being recom-mended by many doctors, Canadianresearchers said Friday.
More than seven percent of adultAmericans, and even more kids,have asthma, causing millions of vis-its to emergency rooms and doctors'offices every year.
Until recently, national guidelinesadvised people to double the dose ofinhaled steroids when they felt thetelltale signs of an asthma flare-upcoming on, such as chest tightnessand coughing.
Those steroid medications, such as
Pulmicort orF l o v e n t ,keep air-w a y
inflam-m a t i o nunder con-
trol on a daily basis in asthmatics. Sodoctors had reasoned higher
doses might work in emer-gencies.
"It is a reasonablething to try," saidDr. Andy Nish, anasthma expert at
the Allergy andAsthma CareCenter inG a i n e s v i l l e ,Georgia, who
was not involved inthe new study, pub-
lished by TheC o c h r a n e
Collaboration.
"This article shows that sometimeswe do things that seem reasonableand yet maybe aren't as effective aswe would like to think."
The Canadian researchers pooledthe best data available on outcomeswith the higher doses, including fiveclinical trials that assigned 1,250patients randomly to take either thestandard dose of inhaled steroids oran increased dose.
Overall, doubling or even quadru-pling the amount of inhalant at theonset of a flare-up didn't makepatients any less likely to need res-cue treatment with swallowed orinjected steroids such as prednisone.
While effective, those stronger
treatments may cause serious sideeffects like depression or bone thin-ning, so patients and doctors preferto limit their use.
Except for 28 patients, all studyparticipants were adults, so the find-ings may not apply to children.
"The most important strategy toreduce the rate and severity of flare-ups is to take daily preventive med-ications for asthma," Dr Francine MDucharme, who worked on thestudy, said in an e-mail to ReutersHealth.
Ducharme, of the University ofMontreal, said it was still commonfor doctors to recommend high-doseinhaled steroids to stave off attacks.
Instead, she said, patients shouldtry rescue inhalers, which containshort-acting drugs such as albuterolthat open up the airways. If thatdoesn't work, swallowed or injectedsteroids may be necessary.
Nish said the best thing to do is tryto prevent flare-ups. "Avoid cigarettesmoke, stay indoors if it is a high-smog day, avoid exertion if it's acoldor a hot day, and get your flu shot."
And with the right medication, hesaid, many asthma attacks can beprevented.
"We can't keep you from getting acold, but hopefully we can keep thatcold from causing significant exac-erbations in your asthma," he said.
Inhaled steroids don’t help asthma flare-ups
Gum disease can be safely treat-ed during pregnancy andappears to significantly reduce
the risk of premature birth associatedwith periodontal disease,Pennsylvania researchers report.
"The present study has potentialimplications" for the calculations den-tists make when deciding whether totreat gum disease during pregnancy,they write in the British Journal ofObstetrics and Gynecology.
Gum disease -- typically caused by abacterial infection that deterioratesgum tissue and leaves it chronicallyinflamed -- is a particular problem dur-ing pregnancy. Hormonal changesappear to make a pregnant womanmore susceptible to developing it, yetthe standard tetracycline-based thera-py is not recommended because of itsrisk to the baby.
Nevertheless, considerable evidencepoints to gum disease itself raising therisk of premature birth.
Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat of theUniversity of Pennsylvania's Schoolof Dental Medicine and her colleagueswanted to know if treating pregnantwomen with periodontal disease usingnon-drug methods would reduce theirrisk of early delivery.
The group recruited 322 pregnantwomen with gum disease for thestudy. Participants were randomlyassigned to receive active treatment inthe form of an aggressive teeth-clean-ing method -- known as scaling andplanning -- plus oral hygiene educa-tion, or to get oral hygiene educationalone. (After delivery of their babies,all study participants were offeredtreatment for their gum disease).
At the study's conclusion, the
researchers found no statistically sig-nificant difference in the number ofpremature births among the womenwho had been treated and the oneswho were not. Of the untreatedwomen, 52.4 percent delivered early,while 45.6 percent of women gettingtreatment had early births.
On closer analysis, however, treat-ment -- when it was successful in cur-ing the gum disease -- appeared toreduce the likelihood of an early deliv-ery considerably; "a very excitingfinding," Jeffcoat said.
Among the women in the treatmentgroup, 42 were treated successfully,meaning that on a second dental exam,their gum inflammation had disap-peared and the separation of theirgums from the teeth had not pro-gressed any further. One hundred andeleven women in the treatment group
continued to show signs of gum dis-ease, representing unsuccessful treat-ment.
Just four of the 42 successfully treat-ed women, or 10.5 percent, deliveredprematurely compared to 69 prema-ture deliveries, or 62 percent, amongthe 111 women who failed treatment.
The researchers conclude that theirresults confirm the non-drug treatmentmethod is safe and associated withreduced risk of premature birth.
"It is appropriate for obstetricians torefer patients who require dental careto the dentist," they write.
"It's not enough to treat periodontaldisease, however," Jeffcoat toldReuters Health. "The treatment mustbe 'successful' and why the scaling andplaning treatment was successful insome women and not others isn'tknown yet."
Gum disease treatment
suggested in pregnancy
Some Chinese cigarettescontain amounts of lead,arsenic and cadmium
that are three times higher thanlevels found in Canadian ciga-rettes, a study has found.
While consuming suchheavy metals is widely knownto be harmful to health, thereis little research done so farabout their impact wheninhaled into the body.
The researchers, who pub-lished their findings in thejournal Tobacco Control onThursday, said more investiga-tion was needed.
"While the per-stick levelsof metals are what we meas-ured, the real issue is repeatedexposure. Smokers don'tsmoke just one cigarette, but20 or so a day every day for
years because cigarettes areaddictive," wrote lead authorRichard O'Connor of theRoswell Park Cancer Institutein Buffalo, New York.
"These metals get intosmokers along with a cocktailof other toxicants. The effectof cumulative exposure tomultiple toxicants, includingmetals, is the public healthquestion that needs to be sort-ed out."
The researchers usedCanadian cigarettes for com-parison in their study becauseCanadian manufacturers andimporters are required to testfor metals content in tobacco,and Health Canada, the coun-try's public health agency,recently released data con-cerning this.
China has more than 320million smokers and a millionChinese in the country dieeach year from tobacco-relat-ed illnesses. Smoking has beencausally linked to hyperten-sion, stroke, diabetes, cancer,heart and respiratory diseases,among others.
China has the world's largestsmoking population and isalso the biggest producer oftobacco, manufacturing 2.16trillion cigarettes in 2007,according to the TobaccoAtlas.
O'Connor and colleaguesanalyzed 78 varieties of popu-lar Chinese cigarette brandsand found significantly elevat-ed levels of heavy metals, withsome containing three timesthe levels of lead, cadmium
and arsenic compared withCanadian cigarettes.
"The higher yields of cadmi-um and lead in cigarettes man-ufactured in China are worri-some given current smokingprevalence in China and ChinaNational Tobacco Company'sexport ambitions," theresearchers wrote in theirpaper.
A member of the team,Geoffrey Fong from theUniversity of Waterloo inCanada, said the heavy metalscontent was due to contami-nated soil.
"Tobacco like other cropsabsorbs minerals and otherthings from the soil, so if thesoil has cadmium, lead orarsenic, they will be absorbedinto the tobacco," Fong said.
Chinese tobacco
termed heavily metalic
Hundreds of millions of peoplein poor countries suffer fromuntreated mental health dis-
orders that could be helped withinexpensive care, the World HealthOrganization (WHO) said on Friday.
The United Nations agencylaunched guidelines for primary caredoctors and nurses to treat patientsdebilitated by depression and psy-chosis as well as neurological ail-ments including epilepsy,Alzheimer's disease and otherdementias.
"We face a misperception thatmental health care is a luxury item onthe health agenda. But it costs $2 perperson per year -- it is one of the bestbuys," said WHO Director GeneralMargaret Chan.
The $2 figure is the average cost ofproviding treatment in developingcountries, which WHO says accountfor 75 percent of people with mentalhealth and neurological problemsworldwide.
Its 100-page clinical guidelines,the "Mental Health GAP InterventionGuide," aim to help health careworkers to assess and treat patientssuffering from symptoms includinganxiety, delusions, memory loss, sui-cidal thoughts and seizures.
Patients can be treated throughlow-cost community services or insmaller units staffed by medicalassistants, rather than in specializedhospitals, it says.
STIGMA AND ABUSE"We have been very free of com-
mercial influence. It is easy to fall in
the trap of recommending drugs forevery illness," said Shekhar Saxena,director of WHO's department ofmental health. He led a team of 200
experts in drawing up the guide.Mental health problems often go
undiagnosed and victims often
endure stigma and discrimination,according to WHO.
"Human rights are abused in a largenumber of countries, developed and
developing. In fact it happens moreoften in specialized care settings thanin primary care," Shekhar said.
African countries in particular lackpsychiatrists and must rely on com-munities and primary health workersfor care.
Ethiopia, which has an estimated 85million people, has just 16 psychia-trists, yet one in three people theresuffer a mental health problem atsome point in their life, according toGirma Amare, an Ethiopian diplomat.
Nigeria, Africa's most populousnation with 150 million people, alsosaid it lacked trained psychiatric per-sonnel.
While orthodox psychiatric prac-tice has grown considerably, manypatients still seek help first from tra-ditional healers and religious placesof worship, according to Nigeria'scharge d'affaires Cecilia OlufolakeYahaya.
"Most Africans adhere in varyingdegrees to the belief in the supernat-ural causation of mental illnesses,"she said.
"Stigma remains a serious prob-lem, with many cases of humanrights violations like chaining orbeating experienced by people withmental illness. Mental health prob-lems remain a huge stigma inNigeria with most people, even fam-ilies of victims, choosing to ignorethem in the hope the problems willsimply go away."
Poor countries
neglect mentally ill
Fish-filled diet
may cut prostate
cancer mortalityE
ating lots of fish may not protect men from developing prostate can-cer, but it could reduce their risk of dying from the disease, a newreview of the medical literature suggests.
"In the United States, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate can-cer over their lifetime," Dr Konrad M Szymanski of McGill UniversityHealth Center in Montreal, one of the study's authors, told Reuters Health."One in six of these men will die of prostate cancer. Our study findingssuggest that the number of men who die once diagnosed is lowered bymore than 50 percent among men eating lots of fish."
While fish is known to have many health benefits, including cutting therisk of heart disease and stroke, the question of whether it could protectagainst prostate cancer has been "a bit controversial," Szymanski said.
To investigate further, he and his colleagues analyzed 31 studies includ-ing hundreds of thousands of patients, reporting their findings in theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Seventeen of the studies were case-control, meaning they compared eat-ing patterns among people with prostate cancer ("cases") and matched con-trols without the disease. The remaining 14 studies were cohort studies,which followed men over time and compared diets of those who developedprostate cancer to the diets of the men who remained free from the disease.
Overall, Szymanski and his team found no link between eating lots offish and men's risk of developing prostate cancer. But they did find thatmen who ate more fish were 44 percent less likely to develop metastaticprostate cancer, meaning disease that had spread beyond the prostategland. Higher fish consumption also was associated with a 63 percentlower risk of dying from prostate cancer.
Given that the studies included in their analysis used a number of dif-ferent measurements of fish intake, the researcher said, it's impossibleto say how much fish one would need to eat in order to get a protectiveeffect. "All we can say is eating more fish can have some benefit. Howmany servings of fish or how many grams needed a day, unfortunatelywe cannot say."
It's possible, he added, that fish may reduce prostate cancer mortality byreducing men's likelihood of developing metastatic disease. The anti-inflammatory effect of fish oils could help fight cancer progression, he andhis colleagues suggest in their report.
Several previous studies have indicated that the omega-3 fatty acids inoily fish and fish oil supplements may slow cancer progression by reduc-ing inflammation and by a variety of other mechanisms. The current studydid not include fish oil supplements in its analysis.
Because the analysis only describes whether the subjects ate fish andhow much, this study cannot determine for sure whether some other aspectof the heavy fish eaters' lifestyles may account for some of the benefitsobserved.
Fish has known health benefits anyway, and the findings suggest thatencouraging men to choose fish more often could have a major impact onpublic health, Szymanski said.
"Prostate cancer is a very common disease," he added. "If we can possi-bly introduce a relatively cheap and easy-to-implement policy that couldhave even a small impact on how this disease affects men, we could makea very big impact overall."
6Sunday, October 10, 2010
Latest Gadgets
Boa FoliaiPad Casefrom Booq
The Boa Folio is an iPad case that looks todo the same job as the official Apple iPadcase. However, the Boa version looks a littlenicer and has pockets on the outside andinside allowing you to hold documents and asmartphone in.
VerizonFiveSpot 3GWiFi Hotspot
Verizon has announced a 3G MiFidevice called FiveSpot. The FiveSpotis a 3G wireless hotspot that allowsyou to connect up several deviceswirelessly to share a 3G connectionwhilst on the move. The device con-nects on to CDMA networks as wellas GSM over HSPA networks whichallows you to use it in other countries.
Nokia Price
1202 2,100
1203 2,050
1208 2,200
1209 2,250
1280 2,075
1616 2,350
1800 2,700
2220 Slide 4,500
2330 Classic 4,400
2600 Classic 4,950
2690 5,200
2700 Classic 6,900
2730 Classic 7,500
3600 slide 12,900
3610 Fold 9,600
5030 3,000
5130 7,750
5220 10,400
5230 13,400
5233 11,800
5310 12,400
5320 14,900
5530 17,200
5630 17,200
5730 23,000
5800 21,700
6120 11,700
6220 Classic 17,900
6300 10,800
6303 11,300
6303i 11,000
6600 Slide 18,900
6600 Fold 17,800
6700 Classic 19,800
6720 Classic 19,800
6730 Classic 15,200
6760 Slide 18,800
7210 8,550
7230 10,750
7310 11,000
7510 14,000
7610 13,200
C1-00 3,200
C3 12,500
C5 14,200
E5 21,300
E52 21,200
E55 23,000
E63 16,800
E66 20,000
E71 21,300
E72 27,500
E75 24,000
N78 19,800
N79 26,300
N82 26,000
N85 8GB 22,800
N86 31,500
N97 39,000
N97 mini 33,000
N900 39,500
X2 9,850
X3 11,900
X6 16GB 31,500
X6 57,000
T303 8,700
T707 16,800
W302 9,600
W380i 8,800
W350i 7,700
W395 9,700
W595 13,200
W705 19,000
W980 18,200
W902 43,500
W995 25,600
F305 9,400
S302 8,200
C510 12,700
C901 14,800
C902i 15,600
C903 16,100
C905 21,400
G502 14,500
G700 12,800
XPERIA X1 33,000
Aino 30,800
Jalou 17,300
U100 Yari 18,700
Satio Idou 38,700
B130 2,050
B200 2,600
B220 Guru 3,900
B300 3,600
B3210 CorbyTXT 9,700
B3410 12,000
B3410W Chat WIFI 13,400
B5722 15,400
B7300 OMNIALite 24,000
B7320 Omnia PRO 19,200
Guru B100 2,450
E1080 2,200
E1100 2,450
E1125 3,200
E2125 6,050
E250 5,200
D980 (Dual Sim) 20,300
J150 6,550
J700 7,550
M150 5,100
M200 6,200
M620 6,250
M3510 Beat b 9,200
M3710 Corby Beat 12,700
M7500 Armani 30,300
M7603 Beat DJ 32,000
M8910 Pixon 12 40,600
C3010S 5,700
C3053 6,000
C3212 8,000
C3303k Champ 7,600
C3510 Genoa 8,800
C5212 DUOS 9,800
S3310 7,900
S3653 Corby 10,600
S3653 WIFI 13,400
Star S5230 11,000
S5230W Star WIFI 12,300
S5350 Shark 12,000
S5550 Shark 2 14,500
S5560 Marvel 15,600
S5620 Monte 15,500
S7220 Ultra b 21,000
S7350 Ultra s 22,100
S8003 Jet 24,000
S8300 Tocco Ultar Edition 28,200
KP110 3,700
KP199 6,600
KP220 6,500
KP320 8,500
KP175 5,950
KG288 2,450
KG195 6,100
SYED ABUL ABBAS NAQVI
Nokia
Mobile Prices
Updated on 9 October, 2010
Samsung
Sony Ericsson
ACER AspireAZ3100-U3072
All-In-One The Acer Aspire All-In-One range has just
added a new device to the list. The newmodel is the AZ3100-U3072. This particularmodel has a 21.5 inch display that supportsfull HD at 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels).Powering the AIO is a 2.0GHz AMD AthlonII 170u processor. 3GB of RAM can befound inside and for storage it has a 500GBharddrive as standard.
The JunglePortable
A brand-spanking new handheldgaming system has been unveiled bynone other than. The Jungle will alsoapparently sport a mini HDMI port, amicro USB port, and a 3.5mm head-phone jack to boot along with whatlooks like dual touch-sensitive D-pads and shoulder buttons.
LG
Literati Colore-Book Reader
The Literati is a 7 inch eBook reader that has a colour LCDdisplay. The device has 3G connectivity and wireless. The 7inch screen has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.
NOTE:
Always visit your local shop for the exact
Mobile Phone prices.
Continuing its campaignto speed up the Web,Google on Thursday
released a developer preview ofa new open-source image for-mat called WebP that reducesimage file sizes by an averageof a third more than what JPEGcompression can accomplish.
Speed for Google is criticalto making Web applicationsand mobile applications com-petitive with desktop appli-cations and to a positive userexperience in general.Smaller images mean thatWeb sites load faster.
Google says that imagesare the single largest factorin Web page latency, represent-ing 65% of the bytes transmit-ted when a Web page request ismade. So its engineers havetried to make images smallerby improving lossy imagecompression techniques, which
tend to produce smaller imagefiles than lossless image com-pression schemes.
The JPEG format is the dom-inant lossy image file type onthe Web. WebP, developed
u s i n g
c o m -pression technology from theVP8 video codec that Googleacquired from On2 and open-sourced in May, compressesimage files 39% smaller onaverage than JPEG, based on a
random sample of one millionimages selected from the Web.
As a developer release,Google is providing a light-weight decoder for WebP files(libvpx) and a command linetool (webpconv) for converting
images to the WebP formatand back.
It remains to be seenwhether WebP will be drawn
into a patent battle. In theory,WebP, as an open-source for-mat, should be preferable toJPEG, which while beyond its20-year patent term has beenthe target of patent claims,however weak, in the past.Given that an April e-mailattributed to Apple CEO SteveJobs states, "A patent pool isbeing assembled to go afterTheora and other 'open source'codecs now," a legal assault onthe VP8 codec, perhaps affect-ing WebP, seems possible.
Google debutsnew image format
Some of the largest corpo-rations have made a lot ofnoise about the power of
HTML5, including the likes ofApple and Google. Both com-panies are already working onHTML5-powered online serv-ices, and Google, in particular,has been aggressive aboutHTML5 mobile products.
There's just one problem.HTML5 isn't ready yet.
Speaking to InfoWorld,Philippe Le Hegaret, W3Cinteraction domain leader, said,"The problem we're facingright now is there is already alot of excitement for HTML5,but it's a little too early todeploy it because we're runninginto interoperability issues."
The main problem outlinedby Le Hegaret is that the W3Cis running into issues withonline video and having it workproperly across differentbrowsers.
The W3C is working to final-
ize the HTML5 standard, but itdoesn't believe it will coalesceuntil the middle of 2011, afterwhich it will still be in a testingphase. It needs to solve theinteroperability issue, and it
also may change some of theAPIs.
The W3C, then, recommendsthat developers hold off onplans for creating HTML5-based online content. Will theylisten? Not likely.
Apple has bet its iDevice
farm on HTML5 as a replace-ment for Adobe's Flash tech-nology. Apple has even pub-lished a web site that demon-strates HTML5's capabilities.Apples position is that HTML5accomplishes all that Flashdoes, except better.
Google likely won't slowdown its HTML5 efforts,either. It has been creating aslew of browser-based HTML5services for the iOS andAndroid platforms. In fact, itsmost recent promise is to deliv-er a rich, HTML5-based ver-sion of Google Docs for theApple iPad (due soon). Italready has powerful HTML5versions of Gmail for iOS andAndroid. At this point, usershave come to rely on theseproducts and are asking formore.
Finished or not, with demandalready in place, HTML5development is not likely toslow.
W3C to devs: not sofast on HTML5
Motorola Mobility CEOSanjay Jha made itquite clear what user
segment the company is tar-geting with its latestAndroid device. "Motorolais ready for business," hesaid during a press confer-ence.
The Motorola Droid Proresembles a BlackBerry inthat it is a candybar-styledevice with a 3.1-inchtouch screen and fullQWERTY keyboard. Thekeyboard feels remarkablygood, and closely matcheswhat many users like aboutRIM's BlackBerry key-boards.
One of the key features ofthe Droid Pro is that it is aglobal device. VerizonWireless has not offered a
global Android device beforethe Droid Pro. This means itwill work on Verizon's 3G net-
work in theUS, andc a nr o a mo n t ot h e2.5Ga n d3 Gnet-
works in 200 countriesaround the world. That's amust-have feature for traveling
professionals. It will also have Verizon
Wireless' Mobile HotSpotapplication, allowing up tofive other devices toaccess the Internetthrough its data radio.
The Droid Pro runsAndroid 2.2, with supportfor Adobe Flash PlayerMobile 10.1, and Jha wassure to mention all the ITpolicy support it includes.That means Exchange email,remote lock/wipe, and VPNintegration.
"The Droid Pro is anadvanced business-readysolution that provides userswith the full smartphone expe-rience, redefined by deliveringthe power of a Droid," saidSanjay Jha, chief executiveofficer of Motorola Mobility.
Motorola initiateswith Droid Pro
Nokia's Ovi Store is deliv-ering 2.3 million down-loads a day and more
than 200,000 people are signingup daily for its Ovi services,Nokia said Friday. The servicesare available in 190 countries,Nokia said, and include Maps,Music, Messaging and Store. ItsLife Tools service is also avail-able in some countries.
S o m e
70 developersand publishers have surpassedthe million-download mark fortheir content in the Ovi Store,Nokia said. Content in this cate-gory includes Digital Chocolate,Electronic Arts, Gameloft,Indiagames, PepsiCo, Qik,Shazam, HeroCraft andOffscreen Technologies.HeroCraft, publisher of the gameFarm Frenzy, has topped 10 mil-lion downloads and Offscreen,which develops touchscreenapps, more than 45 million,Nokia said. There are 14 contentcreators from the U.S.; 39 fromEurope, the Middle East andAfrica; 10 from Asia Pacific andseven from China, the Finnishmaker of Symbian-based mobiledevices said.
"At Nokia, we believe that con-necting people with great mobileexperiences is at the heart of
what Ovi is all about," said TeroOjanpera, executive vice presi-dent, Services, Nokia. "Todaypeople discover Ovi throughMaps, Music, Messaging, Storeand Life Tools."
Nokia's latest smartphone, theNokia N8, will be the first todebut new content in the OviStore, which the company saidhas been updated for a "friend-lier look and feel, faster content
discovery," and addi-tional content offer-ings including thelocation-based social
networking siteFoursquare, released thisweek, and the game
Angry Birds. The Nokia Qt Software
Development Kit (SDK) hasbeen enhanced so that the num-ber of lines of code requiredwhen developing for theSymbian smartphones has beenreduced by 70 per cent, the com-pany said. Ovi Maps has alsobeen expanded to include newfeatures including walk anddrive navigation in 78 countriesand 46 languages, along withpublic transit details in morethan 80 cities, the company said.Usage of Ovi Maps on a dailybasis equates to driving aroundthe world 80 times, Nokia said.
Ovi Music is interconnectedwith the Gig Finder app to findrelevant entertainment venuesthrough a person's musicalpreferences and is available in38 markets worldwide.
Nokia’s OviStore Reaches
2.3 MillionDaily Downloads
Microsoft CEO SteveBallmer said tablet-style computers based
on the Windows 7 operatingseason will be in stores in timefor the 2010 holiday shoppingseason. "You'llsee new slateswith Windowson them," saidB a l l m e r ,s p e a k i n gTuesday at theL o n d o nSchool ofEconomics.
"You'll seethem thisChristmas," said Ballmer.Microsoft is hoping to counterApple's momentum in thetablet, or slate, computing mar-ket.
The iPad hit Target storesthroughout the U.S. on Sundayunder a partnership that'sdesigned to introduce Apple's
personal computing tablet to alarger audience while boostingfoot traffic at Target's brick-and-mortar outlets during thecrucial holiday period.
Microsoft has said it plans tooffer a number of slate-style
PCs in the coming monthsthat leverageWindows 7'sbuilt-in touchcapabilities. Thecompany hassaid it willlaunch slates inpartnership withseveral hardwaremakers, includ-
ing Hewlett-Packard. "Windows PCs will absolute-
ly offer the greatest variety andthe most interesting content andentertainment experiences inthe world," said Ballmer, dur-ing a keynote presentation ear-lier this year at the ConsumerElectronics Show in Las Vegas.
Ballmer promisesWindows Slatesfor the holidays
Vidyo, Adobeto demo
telepresenceplug-in
Vidyo and Adobe arepreparing a plug-in thatis capable of launching
telepresence-quality Vidyoconferencing within an AdobeConnect session. A demo of thecollaborative plug-in will bepresented by both firms at theannual 2010 EducauseConference in AnaheimOctober 13-15.
Vidyo's inexpensive telepres-ence use of the H.264 SVCstandard has propelled its serv-ice over the Internet. The demoof the latest collaboration willshow the integration of Adobe's"instant access" intuitive soft-ware with Vidyo's multipartyvideo communications applica-tion.
"This is a new collaboration -- not yet a product -- but head-ing in that direction," said aspokesperson for Vidyo of apotentially potent Vidyo-Adobepartnership.
Yahoo enhances
search for
entertainment,
sports, news
Yahoo has introducedsearch enhancements thatoffer a broader selection
of results when queries are relatedto entertainment, news or sports.
The latest improvements, intro-duced Thursday, are in line withthe web portal's focus on movies,celebrities and professionallycreated content. Yahoo's leaningstoward entertainment are how ithopes to differentiate itself fromother search engines, particularlymarket leader Google.
Yahoo's direction with theenhancements is evident in theaddition of "intelligent short-cuts" for movies, musicalartists, celebrities and news top-ics. The feature, located at thetop of results, gives users theoption of viewing results of spe-cific categories, such as images,articles, videos, tweets, eventlistings and ratings. Yahoo alsoputs the purchase option frontand center by providing links topurchase movie and concerttickets while searching.
Other new features include theintroduction of what Yahoo saysis the first of a series of "quickapps" for search. The new applets Netflix subscribers addDVDs to their queue on the videosubscription service withoutleaving Yahoo search. Netflixmembers also can watch moviesand TV shows from Netflix'sstreaming video service.
Yahoo also is tying searchresults closer to social networks.User can find and view publicphoto albums and individual pic-tures from friends on Facebookand photo-sharing site Flickr. Thenew features are available in theUS Yahoo plans to start rollingthem out worldwide next year.
The deal has given Microsofta major boost in the market. InAugust, the company's Bingsearch engine surpassed Yahooto become the nation's secondlargest behind Google, accord-ing to market watcher Nielsen.Yahoo went live with Microsoftsearch Aug. 24.
Sunday, October 10, 2010 7
AMSTERDAM: Crucell saidit would recommend U.S. per-sonal care group Johnson &Johnson's unchanged cashoffer of 24.75 euros per sharefor the Dutch biotech as oneshareholder said he would notsell at that price.
Crucell management willrecommend shareholdersaccept J&J's 1.75 billion euros($2.4 billion) offer which rep-resents a 58 percent premiumover Crucell's closing price onSeptember 16, a day beforetakeover talks wereannounced, the two companiessaid.
Delta Lloyd AssetManagement, Robeco and theVan Herk Group, which jointlycontrol at least 15.5 percent ofCrucell shares have suggestedJ&J's offer may undervalue theDutch company, with the firstspeaking out Wednesdayagainst it.
"We would not tender ourshares at this price, J&J gets alot of value from this deal,given its client base and thesales potential involved. Weconsider this the starting point,Crucell's management wouldneed to convince us in thecoming days (on the price),"said Jack Jonk, head of equityat Delta Lloyd AssetManagement, which holdsabout 4 percent in Crucell.
A spokeswoman for Crucell,headed by Ronald Brus, wouldnot comment on whether therehad been contact with theseinvestors.
Crucell shareholder Robeco,which has about 1.5 percent of
Crucell shares, said it had notmade a decision on whether itwould tender its shares to theoffer, but would not commenton potential talks with Crucelland Johnson & Johnson.
"We have not made our finaldecision yet because we haveto dig a little further, especial-ly into the conditions for thebid to become unconditional,"Robeco spokesman RonaldFlorisson said. "It could takesome time."
Most investors may stilldeem that Crucell has got asmuch as it could out of J&J.Crucell shares were up 0.63percent to 24.7 euros at 1029GMT, in line with a 0.4 per-cent rise in the STOXXEurope 600 Health Careindex.
New Jersey-based J&J, withproducts from skin care to pre-scription medicines and head-ed by William Weldon, alreadyhad a 17.9 percent stake in theDutch vaccines and anti-bod-ies group when unveiling itsoffer in September.
EMPTY BOXIf J&J acquires 95 percent of
Crucell it will initiate squeeze-out proceedings to obtain all ofCrucell's shares, but if itacquires between 80 and 95percent, it may use all otheravailable legal measures toclinch full ownership, it said.
This included a proposedsale of Crucell's entire busi-ness by Crucell to a J&J affili-ate, followed by other appro-priate steps, it added.
"This is referring to anempty box strategy, whereby
J&J could transfer Crucell'sassets to another company,leaving minorities with noth-ing," Petercam analyst Jan vanden Bossche said.
The transaction was expect-ed to have a dilutive impact toJ&J's 2011 earnings per shareof $0.03 to $0.05, the companysaid. The offer memorandumwas expected to be publishedby the end of November andthe transaction was expectedto close in the first quarter of2011, the companies said.
J&J bought its stake inCrucell, one of two majorindependent vaccine makers inEurope alongside Intercell, inSeptember 2009 as part of a fluvaccine development deal.
Crucell is on the cusp ofsharp sales growth for its pedi-atric vaccine Quinvaxem aftera production failure at rivalShantha Biotechnics whichwas bought by Sanofi-Aventislast year for 6.1 times annualsales. The J&J offer forCrucell is at 5.5 times estimat-ed sales.
J&J would be the latest largepharmaceutical company toinvest in vaccines, an areaonce disdained by business.Several vaccines that addressnew conditions have becomeblockbuster products, and vac-cines in general are viewed ashaving lower patent risk.
Vaccines also stand to pro-vide an entry for drugmakersinto emerging markets, a focusfor the drug industry as growthwanes in established countries.
Barclays and Lazard areadvising Crucell. -Reuters
J&J sticks to $2.4bnbid for Crucell
PARIS: French pharmaceuti-cal giant Sanofi-Aventislaunched a hostile bid forGenzyme at $69 per share, or$18.5 billion (11.7 billionpounds), setting off what couldbe a protracted battle for con-trol of the U.S. biotech.
The move comes a monthafter Genzyme rebuffed anapproach from Sanofi-Aventisat the same price. Sanofi hasbeen in discussions withGenzyme shareholders andstated repeatedly that it wouldgo no higher.
Sanofi said in a statement onMonday that its offer, which is
all in cash, would expire onDecember 11 at 4:59 p.m.British time.
"While Sanofi-Aventis'strong preference is to engagein constructive discussionswith Genzyme, Genzyme'sboard and management team'scontinued refusal to do so hasled Sanofi-Aventis to com-mence the tender offer," saidSanofi.
Sanofi said its CEO ChrisViehbacher met with the CEOof Genzyme Henri Termeer onSeptember 20, but the talks"proved unproductive."
Sanofi added that it had met
with Genzyme shareholderswho collectively own morethan 50 percent of the biotech,and that these people werefrustrated with Genzyme's reti-cence to engage in real talkswith Sanofi.
In a letter dated October 4that Viehbacher wrote toTemeer, he criticised Termeer'sunwillingness to provide infor-mation about Genzyme's ongo-ing manafacturing issues and apromising new indication for adrug. Both questions are cen-tral to the valuation of thebiotech firm's fortunes. -Reuters
Sanofi makes hostile$18.5bn bid for Genzyme
PPMA electsHaroon aschairman
KARACHI: Haroon Qasimand Khawaja Shazeb Akramhave been elected as chairmanand vice-chairman (Central) ofPakistan PharmaceuticalManufacturer Association(PPMA) for the year 2010-2011.
According to a PPMA pressrelease issued here on Fridaychief executive officers andrepresentatives of pharmaceuti-cal industry actively participat-ed in the polls.
Elected vice chairman ofPPMA, Khawaja ShahzebAkram speaking at the generalbody meeting, following theannouncement of the electionresults, assured to come up tothe expectations of the PPMAmembers.
He asked the members tocooperate with the newly elect-ed body in establishment of aWHO- approved drug labbesides strengthening ofNational Drug Council. -APP
Meanwhile, PakistanPharmaceutical ManufacturersAssociation (PPMA) hascalled upon the government toexempt the national pharmaindustry from the proposed"reformed GST" to save theindustry as well as the poorpatients.
Newly elected chairmanPPMA Haroon Qasim address-ing a press conference along-with zonal chairman Dr. KaiserWaheed and past presidentZahid Saeed here Thursday,said that presently the pharmaindustry was enjoying exemp-tion from GST as is the casealmost all over the world. -Agencies
FEUCHT: A plate with the Pfizer logo is seen at the entrance of the plant in Feucht,
near Nuremberg, southern Germany. -Reuters
Maulana Fazlur Rehman apprised the Prime Minister about theCommittee's meeting with the leadership of All Parties HurriyatConference.
He informed that during the meeting, the delegation threw lighton the indigenous and people-led character of the recent uprisingagainst the atrocities of the Indian security forces.
He said that the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir assuredthe Hurriyat delegation of Pakistan's complete support and soli-darity with the Kashmiri people in their just cause.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmirbriefed the Prime Minister about various proposals and recom-mendations to highlight the human rights violations in the occu-pied Kashmir at various international forums prior to the upcom-ing visit of the US President to India.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Gilani urged the educated class tocome forward and help the government in comprehensively elim-inating extremism and terrorism through battle of ideas.
Speaking at the Founder's Day 2010 of Lawrence College,Ghora Gali here, Prime Minister said Pakistan was at a decisivephase of its history and the retrogressive forces were adamant tosnatch from its people their values, traditions and identity.
Founder's Day marked the culmination of 150-year celebrationsof the college.
Prime Minister said," terrorism and extremism constitute adaunting challenge for the state and society and it is not merely aphysical fight but rather it is a battle of ideas".
"In order to comprehensively eliminate extremism and terror-ism, we need to defeat the idea which generates it in the firstplace. This is possible only when our intellectuals, religious schol-ars, academia and students come forward and give their input," headded. -Agencies
Continued from page 8No #1
Then the president forwarded name of former Justice DeedarHussain Shah which was also disapproved by Chauhdry Nisar AliKhan. He said he sent the note of dissent of opposition leader tothe president after rejection of the names.
Gilani said President Zardari used his constitutional and discre-tionary power when he appointed the NAB Chairman.
Prime Minister denied that the Army Chief raised the issue ofchanges in the cabinet during a meeting with the president andhim. Changes in the cabinet will be made if there is a need forthem, he added.
Gilani said he had to still receive the list from the EstablishmentDivision of people who benefitted from the NationalReconciliation Ordinance (NRO). -Agencies
Continued from page 8No #2
power shortfall in July, August and September 2010 was record-ed as 3257MW, 3409MW and 3297 MW respectively.
Ashraf said the main cause of load-shedding is devastationcaused by floods adding that in many areas the flood waterwashed away the grid stations, transmission lines and transform-ers. However, he said efforts are underway to improve the situa-tion. He further said that there is huge gap between installedcapacity and power generation.
He said Pakistan raised objections on the design features andspillway structure of Kishan Ganga hydroelectric plant.
But India did not cooperate in resolving the issue bilaterally,therefore the government has instituted the proceedings forresolving the dispute by court of arbitration as provided under theIndus Water Treaty, he added.
To another question he said the project to distribute two energysavers to every household in exchange of incandescent bulbs isunder submission for approval of the government.
He said a consultant has been hired to formulate the proposaland mechanism for launching of the project, adding that the costof the project is $ 85 million. -Agencies
Continued from page 8No #3
The bench is seized with review pleas of former NationalAccountability Bureau officials who were removed from theirjobs as results of apex Court's decision on NRO.
The same bench will take up another plea filed by Maulvi IqbalHaider against a decision of the Chief Election Commissionerover President's qualification for his office.
Continued from page 8No #4
Liquidity-boosting efforts by the US Federal Reserve have ledto a weaker dollar, while rigid foreign exchange policies in othercountries, notably China, have left emerging markets bearing thebrunt of currency adjustment as investors pile into higher-yieldingassets. -Reuters
Continued from page 8No #5
activities in order to restart talks," Erekat said.A diplomatic source at the Arab League meeting told Reuters
another of the alternatives put forward by Abbas was for him tothreaten to step down unless settlement building is halted.
Abbas had been expected to address Arab heads of state gath-ered in the Libyan town of Sirte on Saturday, but aides said thePalestinian president would not deliver a speech.
Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, including EastJerusalem, and in the Gaza Strip -- lands Israel captured fromJordan and Egypt in the 1967 war. Israel quit Gaza in 2005 butinsists on keeping all of Jerusalem -- its declared capital --andswathes of West Bank settlements under any peace accord. -APP
Continued from page 8No #6
Karzai travelled to Kandahar on Saturday with the commanderof U.S. and NATO forces, General David Petraeus, and USambassador Karl Eikenberry to seek support from hundreds oftribal elders in Arghandab, a volatile district where US troops arefighting. -Reuters
Continued from page 8No #7
Another plea submitted by Tariq Asad and pleading contempt ofCourt's proceedings against the Minister for Law and Justice fornon-implementation of NRO, has also been fixed before the larg-er bench. While six regular benches will also function in the nextweek. -APP
border at Torkham with immediate effect," the foreign ministry saidin a statement. The statement also said that Pakistani authorities arein process of coordinating with the authorities on the other side of theborder to ensure smooth resumption of the supply traffic. The UnitedStates on Wednesday apologised to Pakistan for Nato's cross-borderraids. US Ambassador Anne Patterson and the top US Commander inAfghanistan Gen David Petraeus tendered separate apologies after ajoint Pakistan and International Security Assistance Force (Isaf)investigation. The investigation concluded that the two Nato helicop-ters crossed into the country's air territory several times on September30. It was established that the US helicopters had mistaken thePakistani Frontier Scouts for insurgents they had been pursuing, Isafsaid in a statement.
Meanwhile, Government said that it is considering imposing a taxon Nato supply trucks going to Afghanistan from Pakistan routes.Nato supplies are sent to Afghanistan through Chaman and Torkhamroad networks. According to sources, some 500 trucks filled fromPakistani refineries go to Afghanistan on a daily basis.
Numerous Pakistani highways have been adversely affected due tothe transporting of heavy trucks and hence the federal governmentsaid that it has started considering a tax on the supply trucks.
The government may also demand road tax from the US for the pastseven years of transporting these trucks, which would amount toapproximately Rs600 million. Furthermore, Interior Minister RehmanMalik stated that Nato's apology for violating Pakistan border limitshas been accepted.-Agencies
Continued from page 1No #8
unidentified armed men opened unprovoked firing and targeted themwith rocket launchers, as a result the oil tankers caught fire.
The fire also caught the nearby building while two officials of LeviesForce Hakim Ali and Khamisa sustained injuries. Both were rushed toCivil Hospital, Sibbi, where doctors declared one in critical condition andlater he was shifted to Quetta for treatment. -Agencies
Continued from page 1No #9
Sources said that he said that equal accountability would be held of all andall steps would be taken to ensure elimination of corruption.
Sources told that new Chairman NAB said that he has no political agen-da and he would fulfill his assigned responsibilities in line with the con-stitution and law.
He said transparency and merit would be ensured in NAB. He directedthe concerned authorities to ensure early completion of all corruptioncases in a transparent manner.
He also instructed that NAB officers should be well prepared and havefull proof before appearing before the accountability courts and no oneshould be apprehended without full information and concrete proof.Meanwhile, appointment of Deedar Hussain Shah as new Chairman of
Continued from page 1No #10
In its meeting on September 21, the ECC allowed import of raw sugar by the private sector at zerocustoms duty with no limitations. This decision means that there is no capping on quantity of importor any linkage to timing of import of raw sugar. The SRO spells out the withdrawal of 25 per cent cus-toms duty on import of raw sugar and the assurance that TCP will have no role in sugar import. -APP
Continued from page 1No #11
Chaudhry Nisar Ali, leader of the opposition in National Assembly, in two letters addressed to thePrime Minister said over the government proposed names for NAB top office that Mukhtar Junejohas been a disputed person, while Deedar Hussain Shah has contested elections on Peoples Party tick-et twice, which renders him ineligible for the NAB post under the Charter of Democracy.-Agencies
Continued from page 1No #12
The SC in the request has been asked to delay the hearing till new counsel was appointed.It is pertinent to mention here that the hearing of NRO implementation and review cases is fixed
for October 13, 2010. -Agencies
Continued from page 1No #13
well as the automatic application of fines for non-compliance with filing and payment require-ments. The Board should develop and put in place a centralised system to produce best judgementassessment as well as provisional assessments and send them directly to the relevant taxpayers. TheFBR should design and put in place a strategy to significantly extend e-filing and payment and makeavailable to small taxpayers a simple IT accounting system.-Agencies
Continued from page 1No #14
development of Uch-II, Sinjhoro and Kunnar Pasaki Deep-Tando Allah Yar (KPD-TAY) fields."Heavy cost is associated with these projects. Agreement for Uch has to be drawn out, land needs
to be acquired and pipelines have to be laid for KPD-TAY. We also need money for hiring contrac-tors and consultants." Sinjhoro field is being developed by OGDCL itself. An old compression plantat Dhodak field, which has depleted, is being dismantled and relocated to Sinjhoro. It will be pro-ducing 3000 bpd oil, 25 MMCFD gas and 120 tons LPG per day by June 2011.
With a portfolio of 35 exploration licences, OGDCL has the largest exploration acreage inPakistan, covering 23 percent of total awarded acreage. OGDCL accounts for 25 percent of naturalgas production and 63 percent of oil output in the country.
Continued from page 1No #15
present at the briefing. Talal was of the view that Musharraf has strengthen the case against himby declaring Baloch leader Akbar Bugti a traitor. Brig. Masood has agreed to become an approveragainst the dictator, Talal revealed. Sardar Yaqoob was critical of Musharraf over his commentsregarding insurgency in held Kashmir and political leaders of the country.
Continued from page 1No #16
justice and fairness. Kashmir is the primary problem and the improvement in bilateral relationsbetween the two countries depends on the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
"We want to maintain the pace and hope for an early settlement of all disputes which could turn anew page of peace, understanding and cooperation in South Asia" Musharraf said. He also spokeabout Pakistan's apprehensions on India's role in neighbouring Afghanistan. "Pakistan's security sit-uation gets muddled when India becomes hyper active in Afghanistan," he said. He said Pakistan hastaken up this issue with India and the allied forces in Afghanistan repeatedly.
Continued from page 1No #17
Bank Isabel Guerrero emphasised the early completion of Damages and Needs Assessment thatcould provide a basis to design and implement rehabilitation and remonstration framework.
He stressed that the institutional framework already exists for approval of necessary projects andthe government has already notified the oversight council to ensure transparency.
He said Pakistan is open to suggestions to ensure credibility and transparency of approval andimplementation processes. It is important to start the reconstruction to restore public infrastructuredamaged during floods, he noted. Meanwhile, the finance minister participated in theIntergovernmental Group of 24 meeting where the ministers noted that the recently concluded UNSummit has highlighted the progress made on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's), as wellas the substantial challenges that still remain.
The ministers emphasised that actions undertaken by developing countries before the financial cri-sis have allowed gains, albeit uneven ones, at the level of poverty reduction, school enrollment andchildren's health and access to clean water. The ministers called for coordinated and sustained effortsto tackle hunger and malnutrition, maternal health, gender equality, environmental sustainability andbasic sanitation, especially in low-income countries and fragile states which seem to lag behind themost.
The finance minister also met with his Iranian counterpart Hosseini as they discussed matters ofmutual interest and emphasised more such exchanges to enhance bilateral trade.
The Pakistani delegation includes State Bank Governor Shahid Hafiz Kardar, Secretary EconomicAffairs Division Sibtain Fazal Halim and Additional Finance Secretary Saleem Sethi. -Agencies
Continued from page 1No #18
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC).The petitioner Barrister Iqbal Jaffery has argued in his application that Chief Justice of Pakistan and the oppo-
sition parties were not consulted for the appointment of Justice Deedar as NAB's next chairman. The petitionsaid his appointment is in violation of 14 Articles of the constitution and against merit as well; instead, theappointment serves to protect personal interests.
The petitioner further requested that the new NAB chairman remained affiliated with a political party in thepast, while an impartial person should be required to be appointed on top accountability office. He requested theLHC to revoke his appointment immediately. -Agencies
www.asharys.net
tel: 92(42)5694061-2
Italian KitchensLahore
tel: 92(21)5860794-5
KarachiSunday, October 10, 20108
1.Classic News AgencyAbdul Mutalib Ph: 0333 -230 07 66
2. E-mail at [email protected], 3.SMS us at 0322-260 2 838
4. Contact Phone: 35 31 18 93 - 6
RIAZ NEWS AGENCY
Cell # 0333-5373137SHAKIL NEWS AGENCY
Cell # 0333-4400472
Manager Circulation
Ahmad OmerFor Subscription
Printed & Published by Amir Abbas Ashary at DRC Printing Press for Data Research Communication (PVT) LTD, 111-C, Jami Commercial Phase VII, DHA Karachi.
ISLAMABAD: US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Eric
Schwartz called on Interior Minister Senator A Rehman Malik at Ministry of Interior-APP
ISLAMABAD: InteriorMinister Rehman Malik saidinternational communityshould respect Pakistan'ssovereignty as Pakistan isworking as front line in waragainst terrorism.
Addressing the inaugura-tion ceremony of NationalPolice Monument at Policeacademy on SaturdayInterior Minister RehmanMalik said that hire-killersare targeting Khanqas nowafter fighting Barelvi,Deobandi, Shia and Sunni.
He said that the govern-ment would audit funds ofreligious ceremonies andfacilitate registration of for-eign students under an agree-
ment with the Wifaq-ul-Madaris.
Malik said that families ofmany terrorists are still resid-ing in Pakistan.
"We gave respect to thefamily of Taliban leaderMullah Omar. But terroristsset the worst examples ofbrutalities," he said.
Interior Ministerannounced 5 per cent quotafor children of police martyrsand also announce to set up100 societies.
He said that Islamabadpolice sacrificed 1825 policeyouths to save law and ordersituation of the country.
Regarding war on terror,Malik said we are moving
ahead by following the PrimeMinister's 3-D policy deter-rence, development and dia-logue. He said that country'sdefence would be saved atany cost.
Meanwhile, SecretaryInterior Qamar ZamanChaudhry, IG IslamabadKaleem Imam, former secre-tary Interior Sindh, SyedKamal Shah and others urgedthe need to strengthen thepolice structure.
On this juncture, RehmanMalik distributed appoint-ment letters to martyrs chil-dren and also distributedshield letters. He assured toapprove 6 July as NationalMartyr Day. -Agencies
Malik asks world torespect sovereignty
5pc job quota for children of police martyrs announced
ISLAMABAD/ MUREE:Prime Minister Syed YousufRaza Gilani has reiterated thegovernment's resolve to contin-ue extending moral, diplomaticand political support to the peo-ple of Kashmir in their strugglefor self-determination.
He urged the internationalcommunity to take notice ofgross human rights violations inthe Indian-held Kashmir andpressurise India to put an end tothe repression of the Kashmiripeople. Durable peace and stabil-ity in South Asia, he added, waslinked to peaceful resolution ofthe Kashmir dispute in line with
the UN's resolutions and aspira-tions of the Kashmiri people.
Prime Minister expressedthese views in his meeting withMaulana Fazlur Rehman,
Chairman of ParliamentaryCommittee on Kashmir, whocalled on him Saturday morningat the PM House.
See # 1 Page 7
Gilani saysPak to continuebacking Kashmir
Urges educated class to stand up against terror
SIRTE: Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas has told Arab powershe may seek US recognition for aPalestinian State taking in all of theWest Bank should peace talks withIsrael stay stalled, an aide said onSaturday.
The idea, raised during close-doorArab League deliberations in Libya onFriday, could step up pressure on Israelto extend a freeze on Jewish settlementbuilding in the occupied territory, with-out which Abbas has said peace negoti-ations cannot continue.
Arab foreign ministers endorsed thatPalestinian position but, hoping to headoff a collapse of the talks launched by
US President Barack Obama just fiveweeks ago, said they would reconvenein a month to discuss "alternatives"mooted by Abbas.
Senior Palestinian negotiator SaebErekat told Reuters these included "ask-ing the United States to recognise thestate of Palestine on the 1967 borders"and studying the possibility of a similarUN recognition through a SecurityCouncil resolution.
"I cannot specify all the alternativesthat were presented by President Abbas,but the president will keep workingwith the American administration toachieve a full cessation of settlement
See # 6 Page 7
Abbas seekingUS recognition
UNITED NATIONS: The UN chiefand another top official of the worldbody welcomed the Nobel Prize givento Liu Xiaobo of China, saying the hon-our would contribute a lot for Beijing tofocus on human rights and other issues.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonvoiced the hope yesterday that any dif-ferences over the awarding of this year'sNobel Peace Prize, which Beijing hadopposed, would not detract from pro-moting the human rights agenda global-ly or from the prize's prestige.
"The award of the Nobel Peace Prizeto Liu is recognition of the growinginternational consensus for improving
human rights practices and culturearound the world," a statement issuedby Ban's spokesman said.
"The Secretary-General has consis-tently emphasised the importance ofhuman rights along with developmentand peace and security as the three mainpillars of the work of the UnitedNations."The statement added, "Overthe past years, China has achievedremarkable economic advances, liftedmillions out of poverty, broadened polit-ical participation and steadily joined theinternational mainstream in its adher-ence to recognised human rights instru-ments and practices. -Online
Ban upbeat on China Rights
MALIKWAL: Federal Minister forLaw and Justice Dr Babar Awan saidthat democracy is Pakistan's future.
Addressing to Malikwal BarAssociation here on Saturday, FederalMinister for Law and Justice Dr BabarAwan said that democracy is near toIslamic Shura but unfortunately con-spiracies are being hatched againstdemocracy but the conspiracies wouldbe foil.
He said that after 18th amendment theway to dictatorship has stopped. He saidthat they rendered several sacrifices forthe sake of democracy.
He said that they respect the judiciaryand always ready to present before thecourts. He said that he is booked in two
cases of terrorism but he does not knowwhen he would get justice.
He said that the people who commitviolence over lawyers could not sabo-tage the constitutions. He said thatjudges of small Bar Association andcourts had been neglected in past.
He said that if it is crime to providejob opportunities then we would contin-ue to commit this crime.
He condemned the barbarism inKashmir by Indian troops. He said thatKashmir should be freed according toUN resolutions.
He announced to give Rs 1 million forMalikwal Bar Association whileRs100,000 for purchase of books for thelawyers. -Online
Democracy is ourfuture, says Awan
ISLAMABAD: Minister forWater and Power Raja PervaizAshraf informed the LowerHouse that the constructionwork on Diamer Bhasha Damwould be inaugurated by thePrime Minister next month,adding that land acquisitionprocess has been initiated.
In response to various ques-tions raised by parliamentari-ans in question hour, he saidthe government was vigorous-ly pursuing the harnessing of
water resources to improve thewater availability in the coun-try.
He said the designs and ten-der documents of DiamerBhasha dam have been com-pleted and Asian DevelopmentBank (ADB) has promised tofinance the project.
The minister said that a com-prehensive plan to construct anumber of small dams in thecountry had also been launchedto provide irrigation facilities
to areas outside the commandif Indus system.
He said Rs1.249 billion hadbeen incurred on the planningand investigation of Kalabaghdam so far, adding that insteadof initiating work on contro-versial projects and wastinghuge money the government isworking on non controversialprojects.
In response to another ques-tion, the minister said the
See # 3 Page 7
Work on Bhasha Damstarts from next mth
UK hostagekilled in
rescue bidKABUL: A British aid workerkidnapped by gunmen inAfghanistan last month waskilled by her captors after afailed rescue bid, the Britishgovernment said Saturday, andfour more Nato troops died inan insurgent attack.
The aid worker's death cameas President Hamid Karzaisought tribal support for aNato-led offensive against theTaliban in their southern heart-land in an attempt to turn thetide in a war that has nowdragged on for more than nineyears.
Linda Norgrove, 36, whoworked for a US aid group, hadbeen held hostage sinceSeptember 26 after she wasseized with three Afghan co-workers as they visited a proj-ect in remote part of Kunarprovince, a lawless region bor-dering Pakistan.
"Responsibility for this tragicoutcome rests squarely with thehostage takers. From themoment they took her, her lifewas under grave threat," BritishForeign Secretary WilliamHague said in a statement.
Hague gave no further detailson the Friday night rescue bidand the motives for Norgrove'skidnap were unclear.
Norgrove, a former UNworker, was director of a $150million US aid project designedto build local economies.
Her death highlights theincreasing dangers faced by aidworkers in Afghanistan, whereinsurgents and other armedgroups hold sway in many partsof the country.
In the latest violence, fourItalian troops were killed in aninsurgent attack in the west ofthe country. The soldiers fromthe Nato-led InternationalSecurity Assistance Force, orISAF, were returning from amission when their vehicle wasambushed, Italy's defense min-istry said.
"This assault against Italiansoldiers is an example of thehigh human cost we have to payfor a mission that is fundamen-tal to our national security,"Italian Foreign Minister FrancoFrattini said in a statement.
See # 7 Page 7
World leaders see bigger IMF role
WASHINGTON: The UnitedStates led a drive on Saturdayfor the IMF to take a moreassertive role in refereeing dis-putes over currencies andensuring that national econom-ic policies don't disrupt globalgrowth.
Strengthening theInternational Monetary Fund'shand could put global weightbehind the US effort to per-suade China to allow fasterappreciation of its currency.But the proposal appeared to begaining little support.
Currencies have become ahot-button issue as countriesseek to solidify a shaky eco-nomic recovery, particularly inadvanced economies.
See # 5 Page 7
CJPconstitutes
seven benchesISLAMABAD: Chief Justiceof Pakistan IftikharMuhammad Chaudhry has con-stituted seven benches includ-ing a larger bench at thePrincipal seat to hear a numberof important cases in the nextweek starting from October 11.
A 17-member larger benchheaded by the Chief Justice andcomprising all the availableJudges of the apex Court willhear on October 13, Federation'sreview plea over certain aspectsof its decision of December 16,2009, on NationalReconciliation Ordinance. Thebench will also take up cases ofcertain former officials whotook benefits of NRO andappointed on government postsdespite Court's decision.
See # 4 Page 7
President used discretionin NAB appointment: PM
MURREE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani saidSaturday that President Zardari used his constitutional and dis-cretionary power when he appointed the NAB Chairman.
Talking to mediamen here after attending the Founder's Day atLawrence College, Prime Minister said President Zardari firstsuggested the name of former Justice Mukhtar Junejo which wasrejected by the Leader of Opposition. See # 2 Page 7
Palestinians give US one month to curb settlements
