Pakistan Economy - News & Updates - Archive

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UK to give $400 million grant for poverty alleviation
ISLAMABAD (updated on: March 21, 2006, 22:50 PST): Pakistan and the United Kingdom signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on Tuesday to promote a long-term development partnership between the two countries, especially focusing on poverty alleviation and development.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz signed the LoI in Islamabad that was inked by his British counterpart Tony Blair in London. The agreement will cover UK grant assistance of 235 million Pounds (approximately 400 million dollars) over the period of three years.

The development partnership between the Pakistan and UK's Department for International Development (DFID) will target poverty alleviation, creating income-generating opportunity for poor and improving services delivery.

"The long term commitment signifies the confidence the British government has in our policies to reduce poverty," Prime Minister said after the signing ceremony attended by British ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, Minister of State for Finance Omer Ayub Khan and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.

The long-term partnership also indicated the British government's commitment to help Pakistan achieve better health care, better education, empowerment of women and in fighting hunger and disease, he added.

Prime Minister said the country's economy was on the rise and the government was working to pass on the benefits of high growth down to the grass roots level.

"This is already happening," he said and referred to the 6.5 percent reduction in poverty level. He said as the majority of the country's population lived in the rural areas, the one good way to fighting poverty was through increasing level of agriculture income.

The government, he added, was working on a host of programmes to help farmers increase their income through major and minor crops, fisheries etc. that in turn will help the country move forward on the road to progress and prosperity.

The Premier termed the DFID as an excellent partner of Pakistan in its efforts to alleviate poverty and improve development.

He also thanked the British government for the earthquake relief assistance and their commitment to help Pakistan in the rehabilitation of people ravaged by the October 8 tremors.

British ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, on the occasion, said that the signing of the LoI indicated his country's long-term commitment and keenness to work closely with Pakistan to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He said that the government's policies were leading to reduction in poverty and the British government wanted to help Pakistan achieve the desired goals.

 

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President foresees $18 billion exports this fiscal
KARACHI (March 21 2006): President General Pervez Musharraf has said the government is fully encouraging the foreign direct investment (FDI) and foresaw the total export would reach $18 billion during the current fiscal year.

Speaking as chief guest at the Textile Asia 2006 Exhibition Gala Dinner at the Governor house here on Monday, he said the policy of deregulation was paying dividends, as a result the country has witnessed unprecedented foreign investment.

The President said during the last six years the economy has been transformed into a vibrant and dynamic state. The GDP, which was 60 to 65 billion dollars, is now touching the $135 billion mark.

"We have achieved a record growth rate of 8.4 percent during the last fiscal year and was expecting 7 percent this year," he added.

The President, welcoming foreign delegates, said Pakistan had provided a very attractive environment for investment. He said the profit margin in Pakistan is much higher. He said 600 to 700 foreign companies are doing business in Pakistan and earning 30 to 60 percent profits and some of them even earned up to 80 percent.

He said infrastructure is being developed and cited the development of ports, highways and roads in this regard.

The President was extremely upbeat on the vast opportunities that Pakistan is offering to foreign investors and looked forward to increasing inflow of FDIs.

He said the FDI had grown by 500 percent over the last five years. This flow of FDI would continue in future, he hoped.

He said an upsurge in the country's export has been witnessed due to privatisation, deregulation and liberalisation. He declared through the process of production, extension and value-addition, even bigger achievements in the export field will going to take place.

He was of the opinion that foreign investment creates jobs for people and eliminates poverty.

The President appreciated organisers for holding the Textile Asia 2006 Exhibition. He also lauded efforts of the textiles minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema, Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Sindh minister for industries Muhammad Adil Siddiqui and all others in making the event a success.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan said the participation of foreign delegates in the exhibition indicate the growing confidence of foreign investors in the Pakistan's economy.

He said 1250 acres of land has been given to set up Textile City in Karachi, which will create employment opportunities for the people.

He assured the province of Sindh would do its best to provide even more incentives for investment here.

Textiles minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema, speaking on the occasion, said the country under the leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf was witnessing an economic upswing and the contribution of textile sector to the GDP had increased while it maintained its position as the backbone in the economy.

 

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Pakistan becomes most 'surprising economic success story'
Pakistan becomes most 'surprising economic success story'

ISLAMABAD (March 22 2006): Pakistan has been described as the "most surprising economic success story," by prestigious Newsweek magazine as Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told the publication the government will continue the reforms to sustain its phenomenal economic growth and face the challenges of globalisation head-on.

In its latest issue, Newsweek talked to the prime minister on the country's expanding economy and also published a two-page article titled "Promise in Pakistan" to explain how the country, that was once isolated internationally and in the grip of deep recession, made a turnaround in the last six years.

The publication introduced the prime minister as a veteran of international banking, who, it added, has been the architect of Pakistan's remarkable economic recovery ever since he joined President Pervez Musharraf's government in 1999.

In his interview to the magazine, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that Pakistan's precarious financial situation - high fiscal deficits and debt levels, no money to pay next month's oil import bill, etc - prompted the government to start an aggressive reform agenda six years ago.

"So we started ensuring fiscal discipline, containing expenditures and increasing income. We focused on investment and growth. We bit many bullets to restore credibility. The fundamentals of reform were deregulation, liberalisation and privatisation," he added.

The prime minister said foreign investors' interest in Pakistan today was very strong and this year foreign investment would be the highest in Pakistan's history, at close to three billion dollars.

"There are opportunities in agribusiness, Information Technology, telecom, software, hotels, engineering goods and infrastructure. We see Pakistan as a hub for many multinationals," he added.

The report "Promise in Pakistan" began with a Lahore-based Iqbal Ahmed, who was a depressed businessman in late 1990s with his modest, liquefied-petroleum gas operation didn't seem to be going anywhere.

"I used to get up and say, 'What the hell, it's another day'," he recalls. "Now I can't wait for the day to begin. I see a very bright future."

Ahmed has good reason to be optimistic. Two years ago he signed a deal with Houston's Hanover Energy Co that has helped transform his LPG extraction plant into the largest and most efficient in Pakistan, with revenues last year of 130 million dollars.

Backed by several international investors, Ahmed has bid some 400 million dollars to buy a controlling interest in Southern Sui Gas, one of two state-owned gas production and distribution companies that are being privatised.

And he recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Excelerate Energy of Houston to import liquefied natural gas into Pakistan in supertankers.

"We're enjoying a sea change in economic conditions and opportunities," Ahmed, 60, told the Newsweek. "Pakistan is open for business."

The report cites Pakistan's impressive macroeconomic indicators to highlight the growing business environment in the country.

Last year, the country's Gross Domestic Product growth rate hit 8.4 percent, the world's second highest behind China, following two years of solid six percent growth. This year the economy is predicted to expand by nearly seven percent.

"After years of instability...a true middle class is now developing. Economic reforms have given the government money to invest in health and education, and foreign investors are eyeing Pakistan for the first time.

"In many ways the country has become the world's most surprising economic success story," the report said.

The report describes Pakistan's rising economy as a "heady turnaround" for a nation that, in the late 1990s, was practically a failed state with near-zero GDP growth.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?...&term=&supDate=

 

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Bosicor plans to set up new refinery
KARACHI (March 22 2006): Bosicor Pakistan has decided to set up an additional refinery with a cost of $225 million, substantially larger than any of the installed refineries in the country.

Sources on Tuesday said the refinery would have a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day with a configuration suited to the country's requirements. The world's leading process licensor and engineering consultant, Universal Oil Products Inc, was given the task of selecting and carrying out a thorough technical and economic due diligence.

After an extensive survey, the company has selected a state-of-the-art Bechtel design for the refinery. The company also said the refinery has the capacity to revamp the existing capacity to 180,000 barrels per day.

The refinery consists of mainly crude distillation, gas separation, naptha hydro-treating, platformer, diesel hydro desulphurisation, vacuum distillation and would maximise the production of low sulphur diesel and minimise fuel oil, which suits the requirements of the country.

Bosicor is finalising the new project, which is slated to bring in a substantial foreign investment and would be completed by December 2008.

The refinery is currently engaged in implementing four major projects: revamping of crude distillation unit to attain capacity of 30,000 barrels per day with energy conversation. It would be completed by October this year. Installation of single buoy mooring to be completed by November 2006 would help in receiving large crude oil tankers and export products.

The company plans to add 126,000 tonnes storage capacity to meet the requirements of revamping of the refinery. The project would be completed by November 2006. Installation of 12,500 barrels per day isomerisation plant to upgrade this refinery and other refineries surplus naphtha to gasoline for local market and export. The commissioning target of this plant is December 2007.

The total cost of all these projects amounted to Rs 4 billion, which has been arranged. The refinery has started its full commercial operations for almost two years with a present capacity of 18,000 barrels per day and so far Rs 6.5 billion had been invested in it.

 

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DPW may bid for Gwadar phase-2
DUBAI — DP World is expected to bid for the $865 million phase two of the new deepwater port of Gwadar built in Pakistan’s Balochistan province with Chinese collaboration, according to shipping industry sources.


Last month Pakistan has approved the start of negotiations with DP World as a potential operator of Gwadar.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.6 billion, of which China has contributed about $198 million for the first phase, almost four times the amount Pakistan has contributed for this phase.

China has invested another $200 million to build a highway connecting Gwadar Port with Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, itself a port.

The Pakistani government has already finalised plans for the second phase of the port to be built by the private sector. It will have three container terminals with a quay length of two kilometres, a bulk cargo terminal, a grain terminal and an oil terminal.

The Gwadar Port Implementation Authority is expected to begin negotiations with prospective operators soon before calling for official tenders. The government proposes to operate Gwadar as a free port along the lines of Jebel Ali terminal.

The second phase, which will have nine more berths, an approach channel and storage terminals, is also financed by China.

DP World was among companies that expressed interest in operating the port’s $300 million first phase, which was completed with a Chinese loan in April last year. Other companies in the running include DP World’s arch-rivals Hutchison Port Holdings of Hong Kong and PSA International of Singapore.

Although Hutchison already operates the two-berth Karachi International Container Terminal in Pakistan, DP World is considered the favourite, according to shipping industry observers.

The port’s first phase has three multipurpose berths with a quay length of 600 metres, a 100 metre service berth and a 4.35 kilometre long navigation channel that has a draught of between 11.5 metres and 12.5 metres, depending on the tidal situation.

The channel is being dredged to 14.5 metres to allow the latest generation container ships to call the port.

According to shipping experts, handling over operations to an international operator would help to develop Gwadar as a regional hub.

Its strategic location as the southern extension of Pakistan into the Arabian Sea allows it to be the ideal egress gateway for transit traffic into the landlocked Central Asian republics, Afghanistan and Iran.

Pakistan Railways, meanwhile, is carrying out a feasibility study for building a railway line from Gwadar to the Afghani border.

Pakistan invited international bids early last year to operate its new deepwater multipurpose port at Gwadar.

 

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$10bn needed to develop trade corridor
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar said on Saturday that an investment of $10 billion was required to develop the National Trade Corridor (NTC) - to be established from Karachi to Torkhum.

Inaugurating a meeting on NTC on the occasion of National Trade and Transport Facilitation Conference ñ 2006, he said that the World Bank had given a very positive and encouraging response on funding NTC.


He said that action plan to implement the NTC programme would be ready by 2007. The National Logistics Corporation (NLC) had been assigned the task to establish four Border Trade Stations (BTS) - Wagah (Pakistan-India border), Sust (Pakistan-China border), Torkhum (Pakistan-Afghanistan border) and Chamman (Pakistan-Afghanistan border), he added.


He said that these BTS would play the role of a catalyst in promoting national exports.


Humayun said that the Ministry of Commerce had embarked on a new project called Domestic Commerce to focus on problems related to non-traditional export items and issues and solutions to the problems faced by the exporters.


He said that the Ministry of Commerce was concentrating on Special Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade Agreements with many countries.


He said that attaining efficiency in line with international standards was the first requirement for enhancing the quantum of exports.


He said that the process of withdrawing trade subsidies by developed nations would start from 2010 and these would be completely eliminated by 2013. "We must prepare ourselves to enhance our exporting share in world trade."


He pleaded for establishing big (business) chains in the country and starting branding of products, "unless we do this no foreigner will come to Pakistan to place orders."


He was of the view that South Asia and Central Asia had more growth potential.


He disclosed that the Government of Pakistan has deposited ratification instrument with UNO with regard to international road agreement called ASTIR and expressed hope that after ratification of this agreement, Pakistan’s exports and imports through road would improve substantially.

 

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FDI up 151.60 percent, portfolio investment 472 percent
ISLAMABAD (March 23 2006): The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday reported that total foreign private investment in July-February 2005-06 increased by 190 percent to $1.974 billion from $679.9 million in the corresponding period of the last year.

During the first eight months of 2005-06, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 151.60 percent year-on-year basis to $1.504 billion from only $597.6 million and portfolio investment by 472 percent to $470.9 million, whereas it was $82.3 million in the corresponding period of the last year.

A significant feature of the data was that besides FDI, year-on-year basis inflow of portfolio investment increased enormously. It followed steep path right from the beginning of the new fiscal year.

During 2004-05, total investment inflow had crossed $1.67 billion mark as against $0.921 billion in 2003-04. However, for the current fiscal year there was hope of further improvement in foreign investment, especially with better macroeconomic indicators and infrastructure.

The government expects that the foreign investment in Pakistan is likely to touch $3 billion by the end this fiscal year.

Inflow of foreign private investment in February this year increased by 375.6 percent to 347.2 million as compared to only 73 million during February 2005.

Apart from this, FDI increased by 235 percent to 276.8 million and the portfolio investment jumped to 70.4 million in February 2006 as compared to 9.5 million in February 2005, which the investors withdrew in the same month of the last fiscal year.

The break-up of investment by countries shows that United States was the biggest investor in Pakistan with FDI of $326.9 million and portfolio investment of $394.7 million, totalling $721.5 million during July-February 2005-06.

Saudi Arabia is the next with total investment of $271.1 million, including FDI of $270.4 million and portfolio investment of only $0.8 million. However, in terms of direct investment, Switzerland was third following Saudi Arabia with $152.4 million. A significant feature of the data is that US portfolio investment during the period showed a high growth, it grew to $394.7 million from $43.5 million in the corresponding period of the last year. Besides this, FDI also grew to $326.9 million from $148.6 million.

Saudi Arabia's direct investment during the first eight months of this fiscal year jumped to $270.4 million, as it was only $10.8 million in the corresponding period of the last year.

Direct investment from the UK slightly moved up to $116.3 million as against $110.9 million of the last year, while its portfolio investment declined to minus $4.1 million as against $12.2 million in the same period of the last year.

FDI inflow from the United Arab Emirates and Netherlands was also sizeable which stood at $76.9 million and $62.6 million, respectively in eight months. The portfolio investment from the UAE jumped to $42.7 million ($28.1 million last year) and Netherlands investment climbed to $4.2 million as against only $0.2 million in the previous fiscal year.

Independent experts believe that the current inflow of foreign investment was not so satisfactory taking into account other countries of the region. During the last 15 years, Pakistan attracted nearly $10 billion with $1.67 billion in 2004-05.

While FDI in India since the onset of the liberalisation process was $36.28 billion (up to November 2005). FDI inflows in 2004-05 has increased by over 42 percent from $2.63 billion in 2003-04 to $3.75 billion in 2004-05 (this represents only the equity capital component of FDI).

During 2005-06 (April-November 2005), FDI inflows stood at $3.36 billion as compared to $2.25 billion during the corresponding period of the previous year.

China's FDI-led growth was a strong indicator where FDI inflows since 1978 amounted to over one trillion dollars with $153 billion in 2004 alone.

This has given a big boost to its economy by improving per capita income to $1,000 and the population living below the poverty line has declined to just 10 percent.

Foreign investors are in direct control of their investment funds, also transfers in the latest technology and modern management practices resulted in economic gains largely from efficient, effective and economic utilisation of the funds.

While the present economic managers boast of over $1 billion FDI during the last fiscal year, the reality is that given the prevalence of poverty and unemployment, this is too negligible an amount to have had a worthwhile impact on our economy.

Even Nigeria, which tops the Berlin-based Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, has outperformed us by attracting $2 billion in FDI last year and hoped to increase it to $5 billion this year.

 

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'Government to complete uplift projects in time'
ISLAMABAD (March 23 2006): Government is committed to complete all development projects on time under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during current financial year, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Akram Sheikh said.

Talking to private TV channel, he said it was the government's prime objective to complete all development project timely and within the sanctioned cost. During last four years, allocation for PSDP has been increased from 2.6 percent of GDP to 3.9 of GDP, he added.

He further said that in 2003-04, about Rs 113 billion were allocated for PSDP, while during the current financial year about Rs 204 billion with an increase of 81 percent were allocated for development projects. He said in 2003-04, works on about 769 development projects were launched

 

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Pakistan eyes over $4b remittances in 2005-06
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan government is projecting to collect over $4 billion foreign remittances by the Overseas Pakistanis in 2005-06.


According to the latest official estimates, during the first half of the current financial year, workers' remittances stood at little over $2 billion as against $1.9 billion during the same period last year, showing thereby an increase of 5.6 per cent. The United Stated continues to be the major country of origin of remittances followed by Saudi Arabia.

The foreign capital requirements are expected to increase from $3.9 billion in 2004-05 to $4.6 billion in 2005-06. During July-December 2005, imports stood at $13.6 billion showing an increase of 53.1 per cent over July-December 2004 and representing 68.9 per cent of the full year target of $19.8 billion.

Thus during July-December 2005 imports payments (CIF) exceed the export receipts by $5.5 billion. Higher import bill has been largely on account of increase in machinery group imports and petroleum crude.

As per Medium Term Development Framework (MDTF), imports and exports for 2005-06 are forecast to grow by 12.9 per cent and 11.9 per cent respectively in normal dollar terms. As a result, the trade account projected to be in deficit by $4.2 billion in 2005- 06 against a deficit of $3.6 billion in 2004-05.

However, the government has significantly lowered its overall agriculture sector growth rate target from 4.8 per cent to 3 per cent, making the job of its planners almost impossible to achieve 7 per cent GDP growth target in 2005-06.

The decline in the production of three major crops — wheat, sugarcane and cotton — suggests that the government is facing an uphill task to achieve even 6.2 per cent GDP growth rate in 2005- 06 against 8.4 per cent of the last financial year. Earlier, it was being anticipated that the government would end up managing 6.4 per cent growth rate during the current financial year.

According to the Planning Commission's new summary, submitted to the recently held meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), sugarcane latest estimates were 40.947 million tones against the previous estimates of 45.886 million tons showing a further decrease of 10.8 per cent.

Similarly, there would be 12.7 million cotton bales against the target of 15 million. Wheat production will be close to 22 million tons against the target of 22.1 million tons.

"Thus the total decline over the last year, works out to be 13.3 per cent. This would result in a significant decline in production of sugar. As the sugar carries 4.15 per cent weight in the Quantum Index of Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM), the decline in sugar production would have significant negative impact on the LSM growth".

Secondly, less than targeted production of cotton would lead to reduced production of cotton yarn and cotton cloth and resultantly would pull down LSM growth.

Earlier, the government had estimated 6.4 per cent GDP during 2005-06 on the basis of 12 per cent growth of LSM as provided by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) for July-November.

There are, however, indications that LSM growth may be even smaller than 12 per cent probably 10 per cent on account of less sugarcane and cotton production.

It is also worth mentioning here that the production data for 39 items provided by ministry of industries and production for July-December 2005 is showing 6.7 per cent increase.

"If LSM growth is assumed at 10 per cent, the overall GDP growth would come down further to 6.2 per cent", the Commission estimates revealed.

The Commission's summary said that the ministry of food and agriculture (MINFAL) has provided the provisional estimates for major crops — sugarcane, rice, maize and cotton - and the revised target of wheat. On the basis of these five crops, the major crops have been estimated to grow at 1.9 per cent in 2005-06 against the target of 6.6 per cent, pulling down resultantly the overall agriculture sector growth.

The rate of inflation (CPI) for the year 2005-06 was targeted at 8 per cent which was to be achieved by increasing the supply of essential commodities and through judicious monetary policy. On the basis of July-January 2005-06 data, the annualised rate of inflation measured by the CPI stood at 8.5 per cent as against 8.8 per cent recorded during the corresponding period of 2004-05.

 

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US offers zero rating for Pakistani products
US offers zero rating for Pakistani products: Secretary Trade

FAISALABAD, March 22 (Online): Federal Secretary for Trade Syed Asif Shah has said that United States (US) has offered zero-rating on Pakistani products on the pattern of its (US) trade agreement with Jordan and Israel.
Addressing a ceremony of Pakistani Textile Exporters on Tuesday, the Secretary said that talks between US and Pakistan regarding its (US) offer for zero-rating Pakistani goods will be held next month.

He noted that if US agreed to zero-rate Pakistani goods then it would be supportive of eradicating poverty and unemployment in the country.

It will also be helpful in starting industrial and trade activities in underdeveloped areas, he added.

Syed Asif said Pakistan signed valuable agreements with China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other countries.

He hoped that Pakistan would easily get the target of $20 billion for export.

http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=138180

 

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Economic impact of natural disasters show marked upward trend
LAHORE (March 24 2006): The economic impact of natural disasters has shown a marked upward trend over the last several decades, and additionally, developing countries, especially the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are more affected by these hazards, thereby increasing their vulnerability and setting back their economic and social growth, sometimes by decades.

This observation was made by metrological experts while talking to Business Recorder with reference to 'World Metrological Day 2006' observed in various parts of the World on March 23.

It may be mentioned that every year on 23rd March, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and its 187 members, as well as meteorological communities world-wide celebrate World Meteorological Day, which commemorates the entry into force on that date in 1950 of the Convention that created the Organisation. For the year 2006, the theme "Preventing and mitigating natural disasters" was chosen for the celebration.

The choice is made in recognition of the fact that 90 percent of all natural hazards are related to weather, climate and water and of the vital role played by WMO and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in all countries in contributing to prevention, preparedness and mitigation of natural disasters, as well as those arising from environmental emergencies.

The year 2004 had already been earmarked as very severe in terms of natural disasters. In particular, on 26th December 2004, devastation by the Indian Ocean tsunami reached an exceptional level in terms of human loss, number of countries affected and the magnitude of subsequent response-and-recovery efforts.

The year 2005 was marked by prolonged droughts in parts of the Greater Horn of Africa, parts of Europe and Asia, Australia and Brazil. Malawi suffered its worst drought in a decade. Heavy rainfall, exceptional in some cases, caused extensive flooding in various parts of the world.

A record number of devastating hurricanes was observed in the Atlantic Ocean. Pakistan also faced huge loss of life and property due to devastating earthquake on October 8, 2005 in Azad Kashmir and other parts of the country.

According to meteorological experts, during the last 10-years, natural disasters world-wide were linked to more than 750,000 deaths and affecting over 2 billion people.

Economic losses from hydro-meteorological disasters were estimated at US $700 billion, thus accounting for about 65-percent of the total losses due to all natural disasters for the period. While natural hazards may not be avoided, integration of risk assessment and early warnings, with prevention and mitigation measures, can prevent them from becoming disasters, they argued. It is recognised that a fundamental pre-condition for disaster preparedness is a well-functioning early warning system, capable of delivering accurate information to the population at risk, dependably and in a timely manner, they added.

The WMO centers, including its three World Meteorological Centres and 40 Regional Specialised Meteorological Centers (RSMCs), provide all nations with the necessary global operational infrastructure for observing, detecting, modelling, forecasting and issuing early warnings for a wide range of hazards, ranging from short-lived, violent events of limited geographical extent, such as tornadoes and flash floods, to large-scale phenomena such as droughts, which can affect the better part of a continent and entire populations anywhere from months to years, they said.

It may be recalled that in January 2005, the Second World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, providing a unique opportunity to promote a strategic and systematic approach to reducing risk and vulnerability to hazards.

The conference adopted the Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, also known as the "Hyogo Framework for Action". It also provided the framework for governments, international and regional agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the private sector and other actors, to work together in promoting a culture of prevention.

The experts stated that historical observations of hazards are also critical for assessing the vulnerability of communities to weather-climate and water-related hazards. Climate data are needed to quantify the intensity and frequency of events, characterising the potential damage of extreme events, and predicting expected damages.

Systematic studies of meteorological and hydrological observations of hazards and their impacts constitute a useful knowledge base for disaster risk managers, they added.

'Water shortage and quality problems are projected to keep increasing in many water-scarce regions of the world. There is a need for a better understanding of the climate system and the development of capabilities for predicting natural climate variability and human-induced climate change', they said.

 

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Execution of massive uplift schemes in Hyderabad from April
HYDERABAD (March 24 2006): The month of April 2006 is bringing new hope for the people of Hyderabad as the district government has decided to execute massive development schemes in different parts of the district.

The massive development plan is being executed in different sectors particularly in communication so that the people could enjoy all civic facilities at their nearest, the District Nazim Hyderabad Kanwar Naveed Jameel maintained this in panel interview with APP.

The requirements for execution of many of these development schemes have been completed and now the work will be started in the next month, he said.

Kanwar committed to bring the status of Hyderabad back by improving the living standard of the common man adding that the district government hired the services of a renowned firm of consultants in order to prepare the master plan and assess the requirements of Hyderabad up to the year 2025.

The district government has decided to carry out all development schemes according to master plan of M/s Usmani Consultants, one of the reputable firm that completed mega tasks, which completed the detailed survey of Hyderabad even using satellite technology, Kanwar said and hoped that Hyderabad will soon stand as one of the biggest and developed cities of the country.

He said that in the first, the schemes of water supply and sewerage have been taken up and the contractors concerned have initiated the work in different parts of the district.

On the advice of the consultants, the district government has prepared comprehensive plan to enhance supply of filter water from 35 MGD to 80 MGD by the year 2008, District Nazim informed.

At present, the requirement of citizens is 64 MGD, but the district government is able only to supply 30 MGD while the remaining requirement is being fulfilled from settled water, Kanwar said and added that the district government will be able to supply 80 MGD filter water by enhancing the capacity of existing filter plant and establishing three more plants in different parts of Hyderabad.

He informed that development schemes of over Rs 500 millions for laying sewerage system in Latifabad and Qasimabad will also be started from the next month. The completion of these schemes will help in overcoming the problems of choking of sewerage system in these areas, he added.

Besides, Kanwar said that the district government has also taken up the matter of increasing water table in Latifabad and Qasimabad talukas of the district which damaging the building structure with rapid pace.

The district government has re-operated 25 out of 49 subsoil wells, which were set up in 1990 in different parts of Latifabad but later abandoned for unknown reasons in 1994, he said and informed that all closed subsoil well will be re-operated in the next month.

A new subsoil well is being established near Qadam Gah Moula Ali which will also be functional from the next month, he said and added that if the consultant concerned advised, the district government will establish more subsoil wells in order to decrease the water table in Latifabad and Qasimabad talukas.

The District Nazim Hyderabad, Kanwar Naveed Jameel said that the District Government has also plan for construction of asphalt concrete roads in different parts of the district.

The project of the construction of roads with asphalt machines though will cost more amount as compared to the construction of roads with normal machinery, but it will enhance the life of roads and there will be no need of constructing roads for the next ten years, he said.

He said that all schemes of the construction of roads will be taken up after completion of sewerage and water supply schemes. The departments concerned including PTCL and SSGL have also been advised to complete their work as after completion of road schemes, no permission will be granted to cut off the roads, Kanwar said adding that an awareness campaign is also being launched to warn the people not to cut the road after completion.

He said that millions of rupees are being spent for construction of roads. The construction work of roads, which already been executed in Qasimabad Taluka, will be started in Hyderabad City Taluka from the next month, he informed.

Kanwar Naveed Jameel informed that the District Government has allocated maximum budgetary amount for improvement of education and health sectors of the district.

The District Government Hyderabad fully committed to improving the educational standard in all governmental education institutions of the district.

He said that the District Government had formed a monitoring committee having representation of public representatives and retired teachers to further improve the quality education in all eleven hundred educational institutions of the district.

He informed that he delegated some powers of District Nazim to this monitoring committee with advice to improve the standard of education of government learning institutions to the level of private institutions. The District Nazim informed that the District Government also decided to convert ten each Urdu and Sindhi medium schools of the district into English medium from the next academic year. The District Government has set the target of converting one hundred schools of the district into English medium, he said and added that this decision will help in introducing quality education to the future generation of the district.

Besides bring quality education in government institutions Kanwar said that the District Government also making out efforts to provide all road facilities to these institutions including repair and renovation of the buildings.

Sindh Secretary for Education has assured the provision of required syllabus for starting the English medium classes in the schools, Kanwar said and added that the provincial secretary also assured the imparting of required training to the teachers of government educational institutions of the district.

The District Nazim Hyderabad Kanwar Naveed Jawed said that the District Government also decided to effectively utilise the available resources for improvement in health facilities in the district.

The District Government is looking after the affairs of a total of 62 health units right from 200 bedded hospitals to Rural Health Centres in the district, he said and added that annual OPD at theme health units is over 3.5 millions per year.

The District Government is required maximum amount to effectively run these hospitals and provide health facilities to the people of the district, Kanwar said and added that the District Government has decided to approach philanthropists to seek financial assistance for these health.

He informed that he formed a monitoring committee comprising public representatives and eminent doctors with objective to ensure the utilisation of available funds for improvement of these health units. Besides, he informed that he has requested the management of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro to affiliate the hospitals of the district so that the people could get quality health facilities from these units.

He said that the completion of all development schemes and improvement of facilities in various sectors particularly in education and health will definitely improve the living standard of the people and time is not far when Hyderabad will be rated again in one of the biggest cities of the country.

 

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Passengers, cargo flights for Hyderabad soon
HYDERADAD (March 24 2006): District Nazim Hyderabad Kanwar Naveed Jamil has said that passengers and cargo flight services at Hyderabad Airport would be started soon, adding that he had written letters to PIA and other private airlines in this connection.

A positive response is being received from the concerned departments and airline companies, he said while talking to APP here on Wednesday.

Kanwar said that a food-testing laboratory is under consideration to be established for checking and maintaining the quality and standard of food items being sold in the district.

He said that a project of construction of a trauma center was also under consideration of the district government to facilitate the accident patients with severe injuries.

The district government had contacted few investors engaged in five star hotel business in Pakistan for the construction of a international standard five star hotel in Hyderabad and the district government has received positive response from the investors, he added.

Naveed said that the three vigilance committees had been established in each union council to raise the problems faced by the citizens and to keep vigilance on the working of the departments in the district.

 

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China may give 3 N-power reactors
ISLAMABAD - China is likely to provide three nuclear power reactors to Pakistan to meet its ever-growing energy requirements, the diplomatic sources said here on Thursday.
“Talks between the old friendly nations on nuclear energy cooperation are underway in a positive manner and there is all likelihood that Pakistan will be provided with at least three nuclear power plants,” said a diplomatic source. He said the whole process would take some years to complete but in the first phase Pakistan would be given a nuclear power plant of 325 MW. In next stage, a power plant of 325-MW would be provided followed by another one of 600-MW, he added.
According to sources, the US refusal to enter into nuclear energy cooperation with Pakistan has forced Islamabad to look the other way round for its energy requirements. “In these circumstances, China is the best available option,” a source said.
After the negative response from Washington, Only China could help Pakistan fulfil its plan of generating 8,000 MW of electrical power from nuclear fuel by 2020, the sources said.
China, which extended Islamabad a 300-MW nuclear reactor (Chashma-I), has also agreed to provide another nuclear power plant-Chashma-II that would be sited next to Chashma-I.
A source said Pakistani scientists have also acquired, to some extent, indigenous capability in the construction of nuclear power plants, adding that this expertise would also be utilized in the building of Chashma-II that would become operational in five years.
He said in addition to cooperation on nuclear power plants, Pakistan and China have signed an energy cooperation framework agreement that could be explored for gas pipelines from various countries to China via Pakistan in future.

 

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China, Pakistan to open four new road links
URUMQI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China and Pakistan will open four new passenger and cargo road links in the first half of the year.

Two of the four roads are for cargo transportation and the other two are for passengers and they will be opened on May 1 and June 1 respectively, according to an agreement signed Wednesday between the transport ministries of the two countries in Urumqi, capital of northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The two cargo routes run from Kashi in southern Xinjiang to Pakistan's ports of Karachi, Qasim and Gwadar. The passenger linesare from Kashi and Taxkorgan, also in southern Xinjiang, to Pakistan's northern Gilgit and Sost Pass respectively.

The two transport ministries also agreed to have two regular meetings each year, held in Pakistan and China, to exchange information.

The number of road links between Pakistan and China will rise to eight.