Friday 30 September 2011
I have been Pakistan’s best friend: Mike Mullen
In an interview conducted by The Wall Street Journal, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen explained what prompted him to review his outlook on Pakistan, and how his “partnership approach” had “fallen short and would be difficult to revive”.
“I am losing people, and I am just not going to stand for that,” Mullen told WSJ. “I have been Pakistan’s best friend. What does it say when I am at that point? What does it say about where we are?”
The report said that while Mullen earlier believed Pakistan was serious in its commitment to battle terrorism, the attack on the US embassy in Kabul on September 13 was a turning point. Mullen blamed Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for collaborating with the Haqqani network, the militant group the US blames for the Kabul attack. However, he believes that while the ISI may not control details of Haqqani’s operations, it provides the group “strategic support”.
“It is very clear they (Pakistan) have supported them,” Mullen said in the interview. “I don’t think the Haqqanis can be turned on and off like a light switch. But there are steps that could be taken to impact the Haqqanis over time.”
Mullen also said that earlier on he had worked on a plan with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to launch an offensive in North Waziristan which Mullen believed would take away a “key haven” from the Haqqani group. He said he was disappointed when the operation did not materialize, and in the events that followed, he refrained from his practice of limiting public criticism of Pakistan.
On September 22, Mullen bluntly said he believes the Haqqani network acts as a “veritable arm of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency”. He went on to say that the Pakistani government, army and intelligence agency jeopardize the Pak-US partnership in the war on terror by “choosing to use violent extremism as an instrument of policy”.
Pakistan has condemned these allegations, maintaining that it is committed to fighting the war on terror as it has been the greatest victim of militancy.
“I am losing people, and I am just not going to stand for that,” Mullen told WSJ. “I have been Pakistan’s best friend. What does it say when I am at that point? What does it say about where we are?”
The report said that while Mullen earlier believed Pakistan was serious in its commitment to battle terrorism, the attack on the US embassy in Kabul on September 13 was a turning point. Mullen blamed Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for collaborating with the Haqqani network, the militant group the US blames for the Kabul attack. However, he believes that while the ISI may not control details of Haqqani’s operations, it provides the group “strategic support”.
“It is very clear they (Pakistan) have supported them,” Mullen said in the interview. “I don’t think the Haqqanis can be turned on and off like a light switch. But there are steps that could be taken to impact the Haqqanis over time.”
Mullen also said that earlier on he had worked on a plan with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to launch an offensive in North Waziristan which Mullen believed would take away a “key haven” from the Haqqani group. He said he was disappointed when the operation did not materialize, and in the events that followed, he refrained from his practice of limiting public criticism of Pakistan.
On September 22, Mullen bluntly said he believes the Haqqani network acts as a “veritable arm of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency”. He went on to say that the Pakistani government, army and intelligence agency jeopardize the Pak-US partnership in the war on terror by “choosing to use violent extremism as an instrument of policy”.
Pakistan has condemned these allegations, maintaining that it is committed to fighting the war on terror as it has been the greatest victim of militancy.
LAHORE: Highnoon Solar, LORENTZ join hands
High-noon Solar has tied up with LORENTZ of Germany, a world renowned manufacturer of solar water pumps for deep well pumping, clean drinking water supply, livestock watering and water irrigation based on solar solutions, said a press release issued Friday.
High-noon Solar is on approved list of Alternative Energy Development Board and in addition to having installed solar housing electricity system in Cholistan is also dealing solar water heaters, solar street and traffic lights.
High-noon Solar is on approved list of Alternative Energy Development Board and in addition to having installed solar housing electricity system in Cholistan is also dealing solar water heaters, solar street and traffic lights.
Pakistan's PM Warns US to End 'Negative Messaging' on Militancy
Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani is warning the United States it must end "negative messaging" by accusing Pakistan of supporting militant attacks in Afghanistan. He said such accusations will only strengthen anti-American feelings in his country.
In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Gilani said unilateral U.S. military action to hunt down Haqqani network militants inside Pakistan - similar to the raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in May - would be a violation of his country's sovereignty.
Gilani's statement came a day after the Pakistani military said it would not target the Haqqani network because it already is stretched too thin battling militants elsewhere in northwestern Pakistan.
Also Tuesday, hundreds of Pakistanis turned out for anti-American rallies across the country, and a suspected U.S. drone fired two missiles on a compound near Wana in the South Waziristan tribal region, killing at least three alleged militants.
Last week, the outgoing chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said the Haqqani group is a "veritable arm" of the Pakistani spy agency. He blamed its fighters for a deadly assault on the U.S. embassy in Kabul, as well as an attack on a NATO base in Afghanistan earlier this month. Pakistan has repeatedly rejected the allegations.
On Tuesday, the Taliban said in an online statement that it, not Pakistan, controls the Haqqani network. The group said there are no ties between the Haqqani network and Pakistan's spy agency, the ISI, and that Haqqani fighters do not seek refuge in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region, as Washington claims.
The Taliban statement also said attempts to link the Haqqani network's founder, Jalaluddin Haqqani, to the Pakistani government are designed to "give a bad name" to its prominent figures by tying them to foreign intelligence services.
In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Gilani said unilateral U.S. military action to hunt down Haqqani network militants inside Pakistan - similar to the raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in May - would be a violation of his country's sovereignty.
Gilani's statement came a day after the Pakistani military said it would not target the Haqqani network because it already is stretched too thin battling militants elsewhere in northwestern Pakistan.
Also Tuesday, hundreds of Pakistanis turned out for anti-American rallies across the country, and a suspected U.S. drone fired two missiles on a compound near Wana in the South Waziristan tribal region, killing at least three alleged militants.
Last week, the outgoing chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said the Haqqani group is a "veritable arm" of the Pakistani spy agency. He blamed its fighters for a deadly assault on the U.S. embassy in Kabul, as well as an attack on a NATO base in Afghanistan earlier this month. Pakistan has repeatedly rejected the allegations.
On Tuesday, the Taliban said in an online statement that it, not Pakistan, controls the Haqqani network. The group said there are no ties between the Haqqani network and Pakistan's spy agency, the ISI, and that Haqqani fighters do not seek refuge in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region, as Washington claims.
The Taliban statement also said attempts to link the Haqqani network's founder, Jalaluddin Haqqani, to the Pakistani government are designed to "give a bad name" to its prominent figures by tying them to foreign intelligence services.
Solar Energy100,000MW solar energy Resource estimated in Pakistan
LAHORE – The solar energy resource has been calculated at 800 million megawatt while its estimation for our country is about 100,000 megawatts, as Pakistan is the 6th luckiest country in the world where sun-availability is up to 16 hours on average.
This was stated by Jawaid Tariq Khan, Chairman Highnoon Group of Companies, while talking to The Nation here on Saturday.
Mr Jawaid asked the govt to pay special attention for launching solar energy projects to overcome the rising energy needs in the country.
He said that the solar energy intensity in the sun belt is approximately 1,800-2,200 KWh per square meter with an annual sunshine duration of 8 to 8.5 hours.
“These values are among the highest in the world and ideal for the ‘photo voltaic’ and ‘concentrating solar plants’,” he said.
He said that the easiest and fastest way to overcome the energy shortage is electrification based on solar energy. In addition to electrification of villages, single homes, water heaters, tube wells and street, traffic and parking lights could be lit by solar energy, he added.
Many developed countries including USA, Spain, Germany and even the UAE were building entire cities electrified on solar energy simply because it is the cheapest source of energy, which runs for at least 20 years. He observed that small generation systems could be arranged within six months and so many thousands of systems in the same period of time.
He said that solar energy is pollution-free and with the help of photovoltaic devices light energy can be converted into electricity.
According to international estimates, Punjab is the most suitable place for setting up solar energy projects, he added. He informed that China could be helpful in launching new solar energy projects besides providing technical assistance for feasibility studies, capacity building and training and procurement of solar based home appliances.
“Currently, there is no solar plant in megawatt capacity installed in the country, except of a meagre capacity of 80 kilowatts. Despite the huge potential for micro hydro power, the current installed micro hydro capacity in Pakistan is zero, he observed.
Mr Jawaid said that he was extremely impressed by the vision of former US vice president Al Gore of alternative energy, as he established ‘Live worth’ in view of protecting the population and earth from pollution and for the first time he considered to generate energy from other sources which were cheaper and save for human life, he pointed out.
“So we started study work on solar energy in 2006 with a view to launch some solar energy projects in the country, as we needed to ensure a vertically integrated and holistic vision capable of serving the long-term needs of the country and fully exploit the God-gifted renewable energy potential,” he asserted.
Chairman Highnoon Group of Companies said that they offered to electrify a village with solar energy in Muzaffar Garh. He said that details in this regard were being worked out between the govt and Highnoon Solar.
He said: “All big projects importing technology should have technology knowledge and ‘percentage local development’ clauses including the contracts to promote local manufacture and create employment. All projects should have strict deadlines and measurable milestones. Besides, we need to master at least three major renewable energy technologies.
To achieve this we need to create a vibrant local market through government help; encourage entrepreneurship, investment, research innovation and growth.”
He said that Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad has recently said that the Irrigation & Power Department can be an efficient platform for launching small hydel power generation as well as solar energy projects in the province to overcome the energy crisis. He quoted the minister as saying that there were 317 suitable sites already pointed-out by the department on canals and barrages where a total of 600 MW of electricity can be generated.
This was stated by Jawaid Tariq Khan, Chairman Highnoon Group of Companies, while talking to The Nation here on Saturday.
Mr Jawaid asked the govt to pay special attention for launching solar energy projects to overcome the rising energy needs in the country.
He said that the solar energy intensity in the sun belt is approximately 1,800-2,200 KWh per square meter with an annual sunshine duration of 8 to 8.5 hours.
“These values are among the highest in the world and ideal for the ‘photo voltaic’ and ‘concentrating solar plants’,” he said.
He said that the easiest and fastest way to overcome the energy shortage is electrification based on solar energy. In addition to electrification of villages, single homes, water heaters, tube wells and street, traffic and parking lights could be lit by solar energy, he added.
Many developed countries including USA, Spain, Germany and even the UAE were building entire cities electrified on solar energy simply because it is the cheapest source of energy, which runs for at least 20 years. He observed that small generation systems could be arranged within six months and so many thousands of systems in the same period of time.
He said that solar energy is pollution-free and with the help of photovoltaic devices light energy can be converted into electricity.
According to international estimates, Punjab is the most suitable place for setting up solar energy projects, he added. He informed that China could be helpful in launching new solar energy projects besides providing technical assistance for feasibility studies, capacity building and training and procurement of solar based home appliances.
“Currently, there is no solar plant in megawatt capacity installed in the country, except of a meagre capacity of 80 kilowatts. Despite the huge potential for micro hydro power, the current installed micro hydro capacity in Pakistan is zero, he observed.
Mr Jawaid said that he was extremely impressed by the vision of former US vice president Al Gore of alternative energy, as he established ‘Live worth’ in view of protecting the population and earth from pollution and for the first time he considered to generate energy from other sources which were cheaper and save for human life, he pointed out.
“So we started study work on solar energy in 2006 with a view to launch some solar energy projects in the country, as we needed to ensure a vertically integrated and holistic vision capable of serving the long-term needs of the country and fully exploit the God-gifted renewable energy potential,” he asserted.
Chairman Highnoon Group of Companies said that they offered to electrify a village with solar energy in Muzaffar Garh. He said that details in this regard were being worked out between the govt and Highnoon Solar.
He said: “All big projects importing technology should have technology knowledge and ‘percentage local development’ clauses including the contracts to promote local manufacture and create employment. All projects should have strict deadlines and measurable milestones. Besides, we need to master at least three major renewable energy technologies.
To achieve this we need to create a vibrant local market through government help; encourage entrepreneurship, investment, research innovation and growth.”
He said that Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad has recently said that the Irrigation & Power Department can be an efficient platform for launching small hydel power generation as well as solar energy projects in the province to overcome the energy crisis. He quoted the minister as saying that there were 317 suitable sites already pointed-out by the department on canals and barrages where a total of 600 MW of electricity can be generated.
Effects and measurement of inflation
The most immediate effects of inflation are the decreased purchasing power of the rupee and its depreciation. Depreciation is especially hard on retired people with fixed incomes, as spending power decreases each month. Those not on fixed incomes are more able to cope, because they can simply increase their income. Another destabilising effect of inflation is that some people choose to speculate heavily in an attempt to take advantage of the higher price level. Because some of the purchases are high-risk investments, spending is diverted from the normal channels and some structural unemployment may take place. Finally, inflation alters the distribution of income. Lenders are generally hurt more than borrowers during long inflationary periods, which mean that loans made earlier are repaid later in inflated rupees. Inflation weakens the function of money as storage of value, because each unit of money is worth less with the passing of time. The progressive loss of the value of money during a period of inflation makes the borrowers to be less willing to use the money as standard differed payments.
To measure the price level, economists select a variety of goods and construct a price index such as the consumer price index (CPI). This is one measure of inflation. The CPI measures inflation as experienced by consumers in their day-to-day living expenses; it is the ratio of the value of a basket of goods in the current year to the value of that same basket of goods in an earlier year. By using the CPI, the inflation rate can be calculated. This is done by dividing the CPI by the beginning price level and then multiplying the result by 100. The GDP deflator is another very important measure of inflation as it measures the price changes in goods that are produced domestically.
Pakistan publishes four different price indices, namely: the consumer price index (CPI), the wholesale price index (WPI), the sensitive price index (SPI) and the GDP deflator. The CPI is the main measure of price changes at the retail level. It indicates the cost of purchasing a representative fixed basket of goods and services consumed by private households. In Pakistan, the CPI covers the retail prices of 374 items in 35 major cities and reflects roughly the changes in the cost of living of urban areas. The WPI is designed for those items which are mostly consumable in daily life on the primary and secondary level; these prices are collected from wholesale markets as well as from mills at organised wholesale market level. It covers the wholesale price of 106 commodities prevailing in 18 major cities of Pakistan. The SPI shows the weekly change of price of 53 selected items of daily use consumed by those households whose monthly income in the base year 2000-01 ranged from Rs3000 to above Rs12000 per month. The SPI also informs about the actual position of supply: whether the commodity is available in market or not. If the commodity is not available, the reason for that is also recorded. It is based on the prices prevailing in 17 major cities and is computed for the basket of commodities being consumed by the households belonging to all income groups combined as in CPI. In most countries, the main focus for assessing inflationary trends is placed on the CPI, because it most closely represents the cost of living. In Pakistan, the main focus is also placed on the CPI as a measure of inflation as it is more representative with a wider coverage of 374 items in 71 markets of 35 cities around the country. Inflation has started veering its ugly head in many parts of the world, including Pakistan. Food inflation has emerged as the main contributor to inflationary pressures. (See Table)
The inflation rates based on CPI, SPI and WPI for the year 2008-09 increased by 22.35 per cent, 26.33 per cent and 21.44 per cent respectively over the corresponding period of 2007-08. It increased by 10.27 per cent, 14.09 per cent and 13.70 per cent respectively in 2007-08 over the corresponding period of 2006-07. In 2006-07, the rate of inflation increased by 7.89 per cent, 11.13 per cent and 6.92 per cent respectively over the same period of 2005-06. An analysis of data for last three years for the same period indicates that CPI, SPI & WPI were higher as compared to last two years. (See Chart)
The government is cautious about inflation and thus has taken various steps to release demand pressures on the one hand and enhance supplies of essential commodities on the other. To ease demand pressures, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has continuously tightened the monetary policy over the last three years and more so in the current fiscal year, while to enhance supplies, the government has relaxed its import regime and allowed imports of several essential items so that there is a continuous flow in the supply of those important commodities. In addition, the government increased the imports of items like wheat, pulse and sugar to complement the efforts of the private sector. In order to provide relief to the common man, the government also increased the scale of operations of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) which supplies essential commodities such as wheat flour, sugar, pulses and cooking oil/ ghee at less than the market prices.
ALL THREE INDICES CPI, SPI AND WPI AT A GLANCE
Average July–April over same period of previous year
(Change of indices in %)
Index 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
CPI 7.89 10.27 22.35
SPI 11.13 14.09 26.33
WPI 6.92 13.70 21.44
Source: FBS
To measure the price level, economists select a variety of goods and construct a price index such as the consumer price index (CPI). This is one measure of inflation. The CPI measures inflation as experienced by consumers in their day-to-day living expenses; it is the ratio of the value of a basket of goods in the current year to the value of that same basket of goods in an earlier year. By using the CPI, the inflation rate can be calculated. This is done by dividing the CPI by the beginning price level and then multiplying the result by 100. The GDP deflator is another very important measure of inflation as it measures the price changes in goods that are produced domestically.
Pakistan publishes four different price indices, namely: the consumer price index (CPI), the wholesale price index (WPI), the sensitive price index (SPI) and the GDP deflator. The CPI is the main measure of price changes at the retail level. It indicates the cost of purchasing a representative fixed basket of goods and services consumed by private households. In Pakistan, the CPI covers the retail prices of 374 items in 35 major cities and reflects roughly the changes in the cost of living of urban areas. The WPI is designed for those items which are mostly consumable in daily life on the primary and secondary level; these prices are collected from wholesale markets as well as from mills at organised wholesale market level. It covers the wholesale price of 106 commodities prevailing in 18 major cities of Pakistan. The SPI shows the weekly change of price of 53 selected items of daily use consumed by those households whose monthly income in the base year 2000-01 ranged from Rs3000 to above Rs12000 per month. The SPI also informs about the actual position of supply: whether the commodity is available in market or not. If the commodity is not available, the reason for that is also recorded. It is based on the prices prevailing in 17 major cities and is computed for the basket of commodities being consumed by the households belonging to all income groups combined as in CPI. In most countries, the main focus for assessing inflationary trends is placed on the CPI, because it most closely represents the cost of living. In Pakistan, the main focus is also placed on the CPI as a measure of inflation as it is more representative with a wider coverage of 374 items in 71 markets of 35 cities around the country. Inflation has started veering its ugly head in many parts of the world, including Pakistan. Food inflation has emerged as the main contributor to inflationary pressures. (See Table)
The inflation rates based on CPI, SPI and WPI for the year 2008-09 increased by 22.35 per cent, 26.33 per cent and 21.44 per cent respectively over the corresponding period of 2007-08. It increased by 10.27 per cent, 14.09 per cent and 13.70 per cent respectively in 2007-08 over the corresponding period of 2006-07. In 2006-07, the rate of inflation increased by 7.89 per cent, 11.13 per cent and 6.92 per cent respectively over the same period of 2005-06. An analysis of data for last three years for the same period indicates that CPI, SPI & WPI were higher as compared to last two years. (See Chart)
The government is cautious about inflation and thus has taken various steps to release demand pressures on the one hand and enhance supplies of essential commodities on the other. To ease demand pressures, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has continuously tightened the monetary policy over the last three years and more so in the current fiscal year, while to enhance supplies, the government has relaxed its import regime and allowed imports of several essential items so that there is a continuous flow in the supply of those important commodities. In addition, the government increased the imports of items like wheat, pulse and sugar to complement the efforts of the private sector. In order to provide relief to the common man, the government also increased the scale of operations of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) which supplies essential commodities such as wheat flour, sugar, pulses and cooking oil/ ghee at less than the market prices.
ALL THREE INDICES CPI, SPI AND WPI AT A GLANCE
Average July–April over same period of previous year
(Change of indices in %)
Index 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
CPI 7.89 10.27 22.35
SPI 11.13 14.09 26.33
WPI 6.92 13.70 21.44
Source: FBS
Interest rates on Pakistan National Saving Schemes increased again
The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) has increased interest rates on different saving schemes from October 1. It is learnt on Wednesday that interest rate of Regular Saving Certificates has been raised from 11.52 to 13.30 percent and Special Saving Certificates from 11.25 to 12.8 percent. The enhanced interest rates would be applicable on new investments and schemes.The interest rates on Pensioners’ Benefit Accounts and Behbood Saving Certificates has been increased from 13.56 percent to 15 percent. However, there is no increase in the interest rates of Defence Saving Certificates. An important feature of the revision of rates by the CDNS is that the persons, using old saving schemes, can switch over to the new schemes by paying nominal services charges.
The rates on all saving schemes would be revised from time to time to adjust rates, taking into account market situation. The CDNS has also decided to review interest rates periodically instead of six months. The government would also launch various saving schemes and certificates, including short-term investment scheme, to bridge the gap between short-term and long-term investment schemes. The CNDC also moved a proposal to the government for including disabled in the Behbood Saving Certificates…
The rates on all saving schemes would be revised from time to time to adjust rates, taking into account market situation. The CDNS has also decided to review interest rates periodically instead of six months. The government would also launch various saving schemes and certificates, including short-term investment scheme, to bridge the gap between short-term and long-term investment schemes. The CNDC also moved a proposal to the government for including disabled in the Behbood Saving Certificates…
Inflation and its impact on the Pakistan economy
Inflation is the rise in the prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. When the general price level rises, each unit of the functional currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation is a decline in the real value of money — a loss of purchasing power in the internal medium of exchange, which is also the monetary unit of account in an economy. Inflation is a key indicator of a country and provides important insight on the state of the economy and the sound macroeconomic policies that govern it. A stable inflation not only gives a nurturing environment for economic growth, but also uplifts the poor and fixed income citizens who are the most vulnerable in society.
Causes of inflation
It has been generally agreed by the economists that high rates of inflation and hyperinflation are caused by an excessive growth in the supply of money. Today, most economists favour a low steady rate of inflation. Low (as opposed to zero or negative) inflation may reduce the severity of economic recessions by enabling the labor market to adjust more quickly in a downturn, and reduce the risk that a liquidity trap prevents monetary policy from stabilising the economy. The task of keeping the rate of inflation low and stable is usually given to monetary authorities. Generally, these monetary authorities are the central banks that control the size of the money supply through the setting of interest rates, through open market operations, and through the setting of banking reserve requirements.
There are many causes for inflation, depending on a number of factors. For example, inflation can happen when governments print an excess of money to deal with a crisis. When any extra money is created, it will increase some societal group’s buying power. As a result, prices end up rising at an extremely high speed to keep up with the currency surplus. All sectors in the economy try to buy more than the economy can produce. Shortages are then created and merchants lose business. To compensate, some merchants raise their prices. Others don’t offer discounts or sales. In the end, the price level rises. This is called demand-pull inflation, in which prices are forced upwards because of a high demand, and excessive monetary growth. For inflation to continue, the money supply must grow faster than the real GDP.
Another common reason of inflation is a rise in production costs, which leads to an increase in the price of the final product. For example, if raw materials increase in price, this leads to the cost of production increasing, this in turn leads to the company increasing prices to maintain their profits, this kind of inflation is call cost-push inflation. Furthermore, rising labour costs can also lead to inflation, because workers demand wage increases, and companies usually chose to pass on those costs to their customers, this sort of inflation is called wage-push inflation.
Inflation can also be caused by international lending and national debts. As nations borrow money, they have to deal with interests, which in the end cause prices to rise as a way of keeping up with their debts. A deep drop of the exchange rate can also result in inflation, as governments will have to deal with differences in the import/export level.
Finally, inflation can also be caused by federal taxes put on consumer products. As the taxes rise, suppliers often pass on the burden to the consumer; the catch, however, is that once prices have increased, they rarely go back, even if the taxes are later reduced.
Causes of inflation
It has been generally agreed by the economists that high rates of inflation and hyperinflation are caused by an excessive growth in the supply of money. Today, most economists favour a low steady rate of inflation. Low (as opposed to zero or negative) inflation may reduce the severity of economic recessions by enabling the labor market to adjust more quickly in a downturn, and reduce the risk that a liquidity trap prevents monetary policy from stabilising the economy. The task of keeping the rate of inflation low and stable is usually given to monetary authorities. Generally, these monetary authorities are the central banks that control the size of the money supply through the setting of interest rates, through open market operations, and through the setting of banking reserve requirements.
There are many causes for inflation, depending on a number of factors. For example, inflation can happen when governments print an excess of money to deal with a crisis. When any extra money is created, it will increase some societal group’s buying power. As a result, prices end up rising at an extremely high speed to keep up with the currency surplus. All sectors in the economy try to buy more than the economy can produce. Shortages are then created and merchants lose business. To compensate, some merchants raise their prices. Others don’t offer discounts or sales. In the end, the price level rises. This is called demand-pull inflation, in which prices are forced upwards because of a high demand, and excessive monetary growth. For inflation to continue, the money supply must grow faster than the real GDP.
Another common reason of inflation is a rise in production costs, which leads to an increase in the price of the final product. For example, if raw materials increase in price, this leads to the cost of production increasing, this in turn leads to the company increasing prices to maintain their profits, this kind of inflation is call cost-push inflation. Furthermore, rising labour costs can also lead to inflation, because workers demand wage increases, and companies usually chose to pass on those costs to their customers, this sort of inflation is called wage-push inflation.
Inflation can also be caused by international lending and national debts. As nations borrow money, they have to deal with interests, which in the end cause prices to rise as a way of keeping up with their debts. A deep drop of the exchange rate can also result in inflation, as governments will have to deal with differences in the import/export level.
Finally, inflation can also be caused by federal taxes put on consumer products. As the taxes rise, suppliers often pass on the burden to the consumer; the catch, however, is that once prices have increased, they rarely go back, even if the taxes are later reduced.
ACTUAL TERMS & CONDITIONS:
22. No developer/builder can sell any house/plot etc without the written permission of the concerning authority like Capital Development Authority, Lahore Development Authority, Karachi Development Authority etc. For obtaining permission the developer/builder submits proper drawings, specifications, building plan etc of the proposed houses/flats together with the terms and conditions including the Price on which it proposes to sell. The concerned development authority approves those terms & conditions after making any amendments if any to confirm with the law, though for paper sake only. One such approved copy of terms & condition is given back to the developer. The developers in 99% cases while advertising and booking of flats/houses never show you this original and that original terms & conditions are the one without even having a glimpse of that one signs “I under read and understood”. The developers/builders disclose you only a few terms & conditions but misleading in the advertisement brochure which brochure is not any legal part of your sale purchase agreement.
STANDARD AGREEMENT
23. For about 20 years I struggled on this issue wasting not merely time but in fact quite a lot my own hard earned money in the larger public interest despite being from a lower middle class by arranging such brochures and application forms from Karachi, Lahore etc. I would ask some one from these cities to spare some time, go on taxi on my expense, buy a brochure and send it abroad to me on huge postal expense which I needed only for study. From 1985 to 2000 I must have written not less than 300 letters to each new Prime Minister, each new President, each new Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, MNAs, MPAs, Ombudsmen, or whosoever ever whosoever ever raised any empty voice on the subject. I never got any response. The best hope I had was when the Sindh Minister for Housing and Town Planning was appointed fortunately from educated MQM but my that effort and attempt too went in the drain. My argument and appeal was that no developer/builder be allowed to sell its flats/houses on any application form. Since it is a deal of property hence it be done as is norm through an Agreement signed by both parties. I proposed that there must be a pre-printed Standard Agreement available on stationery shops, or with judicial stationery sellers outside courts or with the concerned development authority which on payment of Rs. 100 or Rs. 200 a potential buyer takes blank, takes it in duplicate to the concerned developer/builder, blank spaces like Price, names of parties, flat number, location of project, completion date etc are filled in, both parties sign, one copy is retained by the buyer and one by the seller. This Standard Agreement would in legal language show what were the responsibilities and obligations each of the seller and the buyer. When this matter went to the Sindh Ombudsman a copy of a “Model Agreement” came to me from KDA with the remarks that a “Model Agreement” was already in existence @ Rs. 50 which could be used by any buyer. Either that Model Agreement was deliberately drafted in a very poor language to benefit the builders or it was the work of some legal adviser appointed on “today’s prevailing merit”. I explained to the Sindh Ombudsman that there was a vast difference between a Model Agreement and a Standard Agreement as is the difference between a Railway Timetable Booklet and practically sitting in the train and traveling. Despite being a lower middle class person with lot of family responsibilities I offered the Sindh Ombudsman a sum of Rs. 25,000 that he may depute two of his staffers to approach with disclosing their identity two separate builders with copies of KDA submitted Model Agreements and get the two flats in two separate projects booked in their own name (ombudsman office staffers). And see how the builder will look towards these persons as if having come from some other world. The Sindh Ombudsman did not take any interest in my more than twice extended this offer – I am sure he was aware what the naked facts on earth were. Sometime in between the most glorious 9 March 2007 when My Lordship Mr. Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhary created history refusing to bow on threats and 03 November 2007 when he with his colleagues was sent home, My Lordship Mr. Justice Iftikhar Mohammad on some public interest case observed that the court can not remain silent on public cheating (or some words like that which I do not remember exactly now). This case was that on some plot in Lahore as usual with collaboration of LDA some builder had announced a tall multistory building whereas probably the plot was a small one not suitable for such a tall building hence there was hue and cry from civic minded that those who booked will get loss. At that time too despite my now ill health I addressed the issue to My Lordship (perhaps with same offer that Sindh Ombudsman be advised to book two flats on my money through his staff to test the Model Agreement). I still hold this offer.
VACANT FLATS:
24. For a project of say 50 flats or 100 flats these builders book and keeping booking for moths over months. Sometime to allure public all of a sudden they announce “we apologise to the disappointed who could not get flat/house as the project got fully booked same day”. This psychologically increase the public interest. After few months from the same builder on his structure large banners can be seen “a few cancelled plots available”.
POSSESSION
25. When you purchase a plot, a flat or a house from any developer, do not be impatient in getting its possession unless you really are in a very bad need to shift and reside or construct a house. It is dangerous. Hardly any month goes by when I do not get two three calls colleagues shy that OPF Islamabad Valley nothing has happened. I always tell them that they should pray ALLAH the great that OPF further delays it for next 5-10 years. I explain them they are still outside working. The land is not developed. Even if it is developed they are not going to construct a house immediately and start living there so why that unnecessary anxiety. I tell them we the Muslims have a belief that whatever comes is from ALLAH and always there is something better in that for us. Yesterday I was reading how even the disease is for good. If OPF Islamabad scheme has been much delayed all of them should be happy and thankful to ALLAH because there is a good from ALLAH in this long delay. I tell them suppose OPF completes all this development this July 2009 and asks you to take possession of your plots what will all you do? Would you people serving abroad come to Islamabad and start constructing houses, certainly not because 80% of those allottees are not residents of Islamabad nor they would on coming back from abroad would settle in Islamabad. What is happening today in the country should not be forgotten. No open plot or unoccupied locked house is safe. The plot or flat is only safe till you have not taken physical possession from the Developer/Builder. As such try your best to take physical possession only when you actually are going to occupy the plot/flat. Prefer paying non utilization charges treating as insurance rather than taking possession till you can hold no more.
26. PS: The above part belongs for buying a house/plot/flat from the Developers/Buildings. The above is not fully exhaustive. As stated above due to ill health this is merely a struggle in the public interest. The above are the scattered points not in consistency and there would be many mistakes or wording/spelling errors as I have just typed playing with key board without looking on the Screen which hurts my eyes. As soon as I could recollect other points I will add.
PURCHASING FROM AN OWNER:
27. There is an other angle of OPs sufferings. An OP comes to know about sale of a house or he finds such an opportunity during his visit to Pakistan. In both case due to being handicapped having no much time he just looks at the house being sold, the locality, the price more particularly friends telling him it is a good opportunity as the seller needs money hence he is selling at a discount price. The trouble starts when after having done everything one fine morning he gets a news from the family that someone has filed a case in the court or has threatened that the house belonged to him.
28. In this the thing is that one house is sold to many. Sometime the blank file of a house is sold to many. This is deliberately done and the mafia/activists mostly try to find an OP the best to select as their next victim in this trade.
29. Due to my ill health, as I can not write fully I would just give a basic guideline which will protect you 50% your rights if not full. Whenever you are going to buy a flat/house/property from an owner, the first and the most important two things never forget to perform. The first is personally visit the concerned development authority eg LDA and check the File of the concerned property. Even after having see the File do not trust your eyes. Remember one thing such professional cheaters have deep in-rods in such offices hence the File shown might in most likely case be a fake. After having seen it immediately under registered mail/fax (not courier) address a letter to the concerned Sectional Incharge giving reference of today’s visit and requesting them to confirm you in writing that the seller is a genuine owner and that the property has not attachments.
30. The other important thing to be done is that immediately release in two prominent newspapers of your city two advertisements, one in English and one in Urdu, as Public Notice stating that you have decided to purchase so and so property from so and so and if anybody has any objection, claim, lien, attachment, interest, he/they must inform you or the concerned Department Authority within 07 days of publication of the Notice. This will save you from many headaches from any future claimants with whom the dishonest owner/seller might have already made sale agreements without your knowledge. This is the best legal protect. Forget to eat your dinner but do not forget to perform this.
Villages:
31. OPs residents of villages have their own sort of problem. When the news reaches the village that Abdul Latif the elder son of Chacha Rahim is coming from Saudi Arabia, the scheme how to get his money starts. The two houses away residing Chacha Bukoo starts telling in the street that he is shifting to other village or his other big house in the village hence he wants to sell his this old small house or plot. When “Tiffa putter’ comes home Abbai Jee tells “Tiffay, Chacha Bukoo is in need of money, plot is of very good nature near to our home, it is a chance why not you take it may be one day Masee Barkatay our next neighbour one day sells her and thus we will have three side by side plot and make one big house”. Tiffa putter gets big glittering dreams and empty his pocket. The family is happy that now they have two plots and start counting the days when Masee Barkatay may also sell her so three plots are combined. It is 3 or 4 months Tiffa Putter having come back on duty in Saudi Arabia that he gets a letter (now mobile) that Massee Barkatay or the left side of the purchased plot resident Chacha Fathoo has filed a case under “Haq Shufa” claiming he had the pre-emptive right of purchase of the said house plot. This is all done by design. I am aware of my own knowledge how every third village resident abroad has the same or similar story to tell. How to over come this, INSHALLAH to be continued if ALLAH gave health.
32. Even if you buy a house/plot from a near dear relative, always get yourselves save by inviting public objections as explained above. Never treat that since you are purchasing from a relative or even the brother hence the exercise is waste. No, you must remember that any third party may have and at a later stage file objection.
POWER OF ATTORNEY:
33. One very important item is Power of Attorney. During the last 20 years I came across dozens and dozens of cases people blindly signing on Power of Attorney and one day finding themselves in hot water. Only last month one approached me that he signed a power of attorney in faour of his trusted friend in Faisalabad for his house. Today he finds his house has been sold in addition that a court notice has come for him to appear as a Bank has filed case for non payment of loan installment. The text of a power of attorney comes from Pakistan which in 90% cases is taken from typists/Munshis sitting outside courts. This text is copied over copied and is uniform. It contains three dozens types powers being given in one power of attorney. For example ABC gets a text from Lahore which he gets typed in Saudi Arabia, gets it attested from Pakistan Embassy and sends it back to his relative in Pakistan. ABC gives power for sale of his plot but this power of attorney text contains eg “Mortgage” which in other words means ABC has given power to his relative that he can also pledge his plot to a bank or any other institution and get loan. In brief, do not sign the Power of Attorney coming from Pakistan already typed or text sent from there. Get is read by some educated, really educated not merely degree holder, and give power only to that extent which is your dire need.
STANDARD AGREEMENT
23. For about 20 years I struggled on this issue wasting not merely time but in fact quite a lot my own hard earned money in the larger public interest despite being from a lower middle class by arranging such brochures and application forms from Karachi, Lahore etc. I would ask some one from these cities to spare some time, go on taxi on my expense, buy a brochure and send it abroad to me on huge postal expense which I needed only for study. From 1985 to 2000 I must have written not less than 300 letters to each new Prime Minister, each new President, each new Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, MNAs, MPAs, Ombudsmen, or whosoever ever whosoever ever raised any empty voice on the subject. I never got any response. The best hope I had was when the Sindh Minister for Housing and Town Planning was appointed fortunately from educated MQM but my that effort and attempt too went in the drain. My argument and appeal was that no developer/builder be allowed to sell its flats/houses on any application form. Since it is a deal of property hence it be done as is norm through an Agreement signed by both parties. I proposed that there must be a pre-printed Standard Agreement available on stationery shops, or with judicial stationery sellers outside courts or with the concerned development authority which on payment of Rs. 100 or Rs. 200 a potential buyer takes blank, takes it in duplicate to the concerned developer/builder, blank spaces like Price, names of parties, flat number, location of project, completion date etc are filled in, both parties sign, one copy is retained by the buyer and one by the seller. This Standard Agreement would in legal language show what were the responsibilities and obligations each of the seller and the buyer. When this matter went to the Sindh Ombudsman a copy of a “Model Agreement” came to me from KDA with the remarks that a “Model Agreement” was already in existence @ Rs. 50 which could be used by any buyer. Either that Model Agreement was deliberately drafted in a very poor language to benefit the builders or it was the work of some legal adviser appointed on “today’s prevailing merit”. I explained to the Sindh Ombudsman that there was a vast difference between a Model Agreement and a Standard Agreement as is the difference between a Railway Timetable Booklet and practically sitting in the train and traveling. Despite being a lower middle class person with lot of family responsibilities I offered the Sindh Ombudsman a sum of Rs. 25,000 that he may depute two of his staffers to approach with disclosing their identity two separate builders with copies of KDA submitted Model Agreements and get the two flats in two separate projects booked in their own name (ombudsman office staffers). And see how the builder will look towards these persons as if having come from some other world. The Sindh Ombudsman did not take any interest in my more than twice extended this offer – I am sure he was aware what the naked facts on earth were. Sometime in between the most glorious 9 March 2007 when My Lordship Mr. Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhary created history refusing to bow on threats and 03 November 2007 when he with his colleagues was sent home, My Lordship Mr. Justice Iftikhar Mohammad on some public interest case observed that the court can not remain silent on public cheating (or some words like that which I do not remember exactly now). This case was that on some plot in Lahore as usual with collaboration of LDA some builder had announced a tall multistory building whereas probably the plot was a small one not suitable for such a tall building hence there was hue and cry from civic minded that those who booked will get loss. At that time too despite my now ill health I addressed the issue to My Lordship (perhaps with same offer that Sindh Ombudsman be advised to book two flats on my money through his staff to test the Model Agreement). I still hold this offer.
VACANT FLATS:
24. For a project of say 50 flats or 100 flats these builders book and keeping booking for moths over months. Sometime to allure public all of a sudden they announce “we apologise to the disappointed who could not get flat/house as the project got fully booked same day”. This psychologically increase the public interest. After few months from the same builder on his structure large banners can be seen “a few cancelled plots available”.
POSSESSION
25. When you purchase a plot, a flat or a house from any developer, do not be impatient in getting its possession unless you really are in a very bad need to shift and reside or construct a house. It is dangerous. Hardly any month goes by when I do not get two three calls colleagues shy that OPF Islamabad Valley nothing has happened. I always tell them that they should pray ALLAH the great that OPF further delays it for next 5-10 years. I explain them they are still outside working. The land is not developed. Even if it is developed they are not going to construct a house immediately and start living there so why that unnecessary anxiety. I tell them we the Muslims have a belief that whatever comes is from ALLAH and always there is something better in that for us. Yesterday I was reading how even the disease is for good. If OPF Islamabad scheme has been much delayed all of them should be happy and thankful to ALLAH because there is a good from ALLAH in this long delay. I tell them suppose OPF completes all this development this July 2009 and asks you to take possession of your plots what will all you do? Would you people serving abroad come to Islamabad and start constructing houses, certainly not because 80% of those allottees are not residents of Islamabad nor they would on coming back from abroad would settle in Islamabad. What is happening today in the country should not be forgotten. No open plot or unoccupied locked house is safe. The plot or flat is only safe till you have not taken physical possession from the Developer/Builder. As such try your best to take physical possession only when you actually are going to occupy the plot/flat. Prefer paying non utilization charges treating as insurance rather than taking possession till you can hold no more.
26. PS: The above part belongs for buying a house/plot/flat from the Developers/Buildings. The above is not fully exhaustive. As stated above due to ill health this is merely a struggle in the public interest. The above are the scattered points not in consistency and there would be many mistakes or wording/spelling errors as I have just typed playing with key board without looking on the Screen which hurts my eyes. As soon as I could recollect other points I will add.
PURCHASING FROM AN OWNER:
27. There is an other angle of OPs sufferings. An OP comes to know about sale of a house or he finds such an opportunity during his visit to Pakistan. In both case due to being handicapped having no much time he just looks at the house being sold, the locality, the price more particularly friends telling him it is a good opportunity as the seller needs money hence he is selling at a discount price. The trouble starts when after having done everything one fine morning he gets a news from the family that someone has filed a case in the court or has threatened that the house belonged to him.
28. In this the thing is that one house is sold to many. Sometime the blank file of a house is sold to many. This is deliberately done and the mafia/activists mostly try to find an OP the best to select as their next victim in this trade.
29. Due to my ill health, as I can not write fully I would just give a basic guideline which will protect you 50% your rights if not full. Whenever you are going to buy a flat/house/property from an owner, the first and the most important two things never forget to perform. The first is personally visit the concerned development authority eg LDA and check the File of the concerned property. Even after having see the File do not trust your eyes. Remember one thing such professional cheaters have deep in-rods in such offices hence the File shown might in most likely case be a fake. After having seen it immediately under registered mail/fax (not courier) address a letter to the concerned Sectional Incharge giving reference of today’s visit and requesting them to confirm you in writing that the seller is a genuine owner and that the property has not attachments.
30. The other important thing to be done is that immediately release in two prominent newspapers of your city two advertisements, one in English and one in Urdu, as Public Notice stating that you have decided to purchase so and so property from so and so and if anybody has any objection, claim, lien, attachment, interest, he/they must inform you or the concerned Department Authority within 07 days of publication of the Notice. This will save you from many headaches from any future claimants with whom the dishonest owner/seller might have already made sale agreements without your knowledge. This is the best legal protect. Forget to eat your dinner but do not forget to perform this.
Villages:
31. OPs residents of villages have their own sort of problem. When the news reaches the village that Abdul Latif the elder son of Chacha Rahim is coming from Saudi Arabia, the scheme how to get his money starts. The two houses away residing Chacha Bukoo starts telling in the street that he is shifting to other village or his other big house in the village hence he wants to sell his this old small house or plot. When “Tiffa putter’ comes home Abbai Jee tells “Tiffay, Chacha Bukoo is in need of money, plot is of very good nature near to our home, it is a chance why not you take it may be one day Masee Barkatay our next neighbour one day sells her and thus we will have three side by side plot and make one big house”. Tiffa putter gets big glittering dreams and empty his pocket. The family is happy that now they have two plots and start counting the days when Masee Barkatay may also sell her so three plots are combined. It is 3 or 4 months Tiffa Putter having come back on duty in Saudi Arabia that he gets a letter (now mobile) that Massee Barkatay or the left side of the purchased plot resident Chacha Fathoo has filed a case under “Haq Shufa” claiming he had the pre-emptive right of purchase of the said house plot. This is all done by design. I am aware of my own knowledge how every third village resident abroad has the same or similar story to tell. How to over come this, INSHALLAH to be continued if ALLAH gave health.
32. Even if you buy a house/plot from a near dear relative, always get yourselves save by inviting public objections as explained above. Never treat that since you are purchasing from a relative or even the brother hence the exercise is waste. No, you must remember that any third party may have and at a later stage file objection.
POWER OF ATTORNEY:
33. One very important item is Power of Attorney. During the last 20 years I came across dozens and dozens of cases people blindly signing on Power of Attorney and one day finding themselves in hot water. Only last month one approached me that he signed a power of attorney in faour of his trusted friend in Faisalabad for his house. Today he finds his house has been sold in addition that a court notice has come for him to appear as a Bank has filed case for non payment of loan installment. The text of a power of attorney comes from Pakistan which in 90% cases is taken from typists/Munshis sitting outside courts. This text is copied over copied and is uniform. It contains three dozens types powers being given in one power of attorney. For example ABC gets a text from Lahore which he gets typed in Saudi Arabia, gets it attested from Pakistan Embassy and sends it back to his relative in Pakistan. ABC gives power for sale of his plot but this power of attorney text contains eg “Mortgage” which in other words means ABC has given power to his relative that he can also pledge his plot to a bank or any other institution and get loan. In brief, do not sign the Power of Attorney coming from Pakistan already typed or text sent from there. Get is read by some educated, really educated not merely degree holder, and give power only to that extent which is your dire need.
APPLICATION FORM FOR :
6. If you wish not to be fooled then the first thing when you wish to own a flat/house is buy a Brochure, tear off the Application Form from it and throw away rest of the coloured-photographs. This will save you from future mental torture.
7. First read the Price. As a counter check show this price to some one in your home or to some colleague to re-read. Mostly you will find price written like “price of the flat Rs. 10,000 excluding development charges”. In this shape development charges have not been mentioned or disclosed by the company which could be Rs. 20,000 or Rs. 30,000. Hence this word excluding development charges should be the first naked electric wire shock to you. Some time at the end of word “excluding development charges” or just near the Price in very thin font there would be an asterisk mark @ or # which is usually given in text books showing that an important Note or Reference about the test was on the bottom of the page. If you go to the bottom it would be written like “estimated May 2007”. This means the price of the flat/house mentioned or written they calculated was in May 2007 on which they are selling it to you in July 2009. These two things (a) Estimated (b) May 2007 are most dangerous. As soon as you have booked the plot, flat or a house, paid the advance payment just after two three months you will receive a letter that since by now material prices or labour costs in the market have increased, new taxes imposed, currency re-adjusted etc hence the price of Rs. 10,000 has been revised and it now stands at Rs. 25,000 and you immediately pay Rs. 15,000 as first installment to this revision. After you have paid this amount on the jugglery of May 2007 to July 2009 technique, do not think your headache has gone. That price increase for the past. This price will keep increasing as the law allows and you have agreed to the price escalation.
8. The other sword will remain hanging on you and no body can tell you definitely how much would be at the end of the day the total development charges.
PROJECT COMPLETION:
9. It must be remembered that a Developer/Building has more interest in getting your booking cancelled rather than completing the project. At least I am not aware of if any such private project during the last 25 years has ever been completed timely. The more the delay the more free income for the Developer hence on one ground or the other excuse the completion will keep lingering on. During 70s to 90s there had been two three very good developers how though as usual delayed the projects but acted on the true terms and condition. One is believed in Lahore. The best performance shown in this regard was when the House Building Finance Corporation built flats/houses for Overseas Pakistanis and the other in old days KDA completed similar houses in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and flats in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. DHA is a exception to all above but a lot is now a days being read through letters of editor but generally its performance is good but middle class like me can not afford it.
Cancellation more important:
10. It may be remembered the Builder will get more benefit in canceling your booking rather than completing the project. The reason is on one excuse or the other mostly “not timely payment” he will cancel your booking by deducting from your money paid and sell the same flat/house/plot to another new buyer soon to cancel his and sell to some other new one. This circle will keep going on for some long time. How it is beneficial to the developer/builder is explained in later paragraphs.
Have Read Terms & Conditions:
11. The first and the most important to be remembered is that buying a property is a very sensitive issue under which both the buyer and the selling are supposed to fully in clear terms know exactly where they stand. It applies not only in the case of property but even eg. on purchase of Defence Savings Certificates etc. One must fully understand before signing the Form, the whole pros and cons. Even often the highly educated do not understand the critical, stylish, sugar coated language of such Forms hence every one of us must at least from some other get an advice before signing any Form.
12. In case of purchase of a flat/house from the developer building in 95% case the applicant gets a colorful brochure showing coloured photographs of different portions of the flat/house when it will be completed. This is in fact a photograph of temporarily decorated house some where else. Either in the Brochure as a detachable or as a separate there will be a page titled “Application Form”. This application form is the biggest tool in the hands of developer/building to keep you under pressure and keep extracting from your pockets. This Form in 95% cases will contain entries like name of the applicant, address, ID Card No. occupation, salary etc half of which information is just to fool. At the end of the Form there is a very small sentence but the most lethal doze and the mother cause of all your future sufferings - a sentence reading “I have READ and UNDERSTOOD terms & conditions”, I will pay timely, will abide by these terms and conditions prescribed including those proposed by the developer/builder from time to me and conditions, the finger will go to the entries on the Application Form reading, name, occupation, salary etc.
13. In some cases there would be two three explicit undertakings on the Form reading like “the buyer undertakes to pay timely all the installments”, the buyer undertakes to do this and that etc. But no where it will even a single line would be what in return the Seller is to do. The sale and purchase of a property whether from a Developer/Builder or from a person is invariably under a written agreement signed by both. In this agreement both sides explain their individual side of obligations and responsibilities. Even in case of a person selling his personal house in the agreement undertakes to deliver the vacant and safe peaceful possession of the sold house to the seller. But in the case of Developers/Builders the reading of those lines shown as terms and conditions will indicate nothing whatsoever if he Builder too is to do anything or not. All the terms written will show only what the purchaser is to do. As such it is very important to be careful.
14. As stated above the Builder/Developer’s main interest is to get you book a flat/house and then get it cancelled through hook and crock, sell it to third one and do the same to him and then sell it to fourth and continue so. This way his income keeps increasing. When he has repeated this technique 10-20 dozens time and had got enough money, then he announces another new project with same fanfare and advertisements. When new people book their flats/house in this new project, the money obtained from them is then diverted to the previous project in which you have booked and thus work on your project starts.
15. Under the asterisk (*) or the fine print you have verified and signed on the dotted line that you “have read and understood all terms and conditions and undertake to abide by those rules or those which the company may from time to time prescribe”. By singing this in fact one cuts his own hands. How it effects one can be understood from one single example. A huge advertisement appeared in newspapers selling plots in Hub Chowki area Karachi. This area in fact is near Balouchistan bordering Karachi. Technically speaking it is suburban area to Karachi. The heading of the advertisement as usual was very attractive “Gold in the price of sand”. The total cost of a 120 sq. yds. plot was Rs. 10,000/- as area was deserted expected soon to witness huge industrial development. Thousands and thousands rushed and booked signing on the dotted lines certifying that they had read the rules and regulations. No body cared to think for a minute can a plot just in Rs. 10,000 really be had. No body cared to check is this the net price and is it inclusive of development charges or not. This Rs. 10,000 were to be paid in easy monthly installments of Rs. 700 or so which was very easy and convenient for every one. Having paid the advance and having relayed the news to the relatives about purchase of the plot, all the allottees in next two months received a Notice from the company demanding within two weeks in one go Rs. 17,500 towards their contribution for the Islamic Centre otherwise plot was to be cancelled. What was this? It transpired that the company had a plan to create an international level Islamic centre in the colony for which every member was to contribute Rs. 35,000 in two installments. When people objected that it was not disclosed to them earlier, they were shown their signature having declared that they had read, understood and agree to abide by all terms & conditions. Where were these terms &conditions? In the company’s office file of course. Every one started getting the plot cancelled which the Developer actually wanted and which in fact the buyer should not had at this stage opted for cancellation.
16. As explained above that the main interest of the Developer/Buyer is to book and then get you cancel your flat/house/plot which is the builder’s main big income. As soon as one books a house/flat with a down payment which is always very easy eg Rs. 10,000/- assuming that he is only to pay monthly Rs. 4000/- installment, within two months the allottee gets a demand note from the company asking to pay like Rs. 25,000 towards first installment of Development Charges. Now the allottee cries that this was not told to him but he has actually signed on the dotted line. This is in fact a technique to harass viz seeing the huge to pay one gets the plot/flat/house cancelled.
17. Sending the allottee the above demand notice another technique invariably is used. This is that while the Demand Not is dated say 01 July 2009 with last date for payment by 20 July 2009, this demand note is mailed/posted around 15 or 16 July to ensure it reaches the allottee after the due date so declaring him defaulter his allotment is cancelled. The unfortunate is as generally our society lacks awareness no one cares to keep the envelopes on which such mail comes more safe than the cash payment receipts. Always keep the envelopes in tact attached with the relevant demand note, mark the date on which it was received. This envelope is a tool for protection of your rights.
Deductions:
18. The second biggest thing is one single word which is the second biggest cause of one’s sufferings. In the terms & conditions on the Application Form there will be a very innocent looking sentence that in case the Buyer wishes to cancel his booking he can request the company in which case the company after deduction of 5% or 10% of the “price” will refund him. This word 5% or 10% of “price” looks like a very soft pill but in fact it is a lethal injection. When having your got harassed through designed-late arrival of payment notice, demanding immediate payment of Rs. 17,500 for the Islamic centre, you will wish to get the allotment cancelled then a bomb will be dropped on your heard. Before going to the company for cancellation you will calculate that you so far have paid Rs. 2500 advance and 500 as two installments hence @ 10% Rs. 300 will be deducted from you which is not that bad and will come home with balance Rs. 2,700/-. But when you will reach the company which is already very eagerly patiently awaiting you to cancel will smilingly agree with you for cancellation. On this visit the company would offer you a cup of tea and receive from you application for cancellation. When you will wait for your Rs. 2,700/- you will be asked “OK, good bye”. But where is the money you will be told out of your Rs. 3000 paid Rs. 2000 will be deducted and balance Rs. 1000 will be paid to you when the company finds any new buyer for your surrendered plot/house/flat which practically takes a year or two in most cases. On your correcting that 10% comes to Rs. 300, you will realize how uneducated you were because the word price to the company means the “total price” of the plot/flat which comes to Rs. 10,000 price plus so far Rs. 15,000 development charges and not merely the “price of the plot” or what “you so far paid” namely 10% of paid.
Completion of the Project:
19. The advertisement or the Brochure will very prominently say that the project will be completed with speed in 3 years. 3 years starting from which date? As you will not ask this question likewise the company will too not tell you unless you have actually booked and paid some installments. If a developer says 3 years take it the project after keep revising upward prices will be completed in 06 years if you are lucky. Reason being the same that it is main interest of the company to book you, cancel you, book another cancel him and so on.
20. Every company by law is bound to seek public objections before obtaining Completion Certificate from the concerned development agency like CDA, LDA, KDA. While the company had ample money for releasing daily huge front page colour advertisements in the press/TV at the time of announcement of the project, this time money would get exhausted and a 2 inch by 2 inch classified advertisement in small fonts only to fulfill a legal requirement will be released ensuring you did not read it and file an objection that the company had in the brochure shown US made kitchen sink whereas now it had installed from cheapest local or Chinese brand.
21. Some advertisers/builders/developers to fool would mention in advertisements that if project not completed in time the developer gives Guarantee and would pay to the buyers. Till today not a single example is known if anyone has got any compensation for late completion of the project reason being the that to keep themselves safe these developers keep taking extensions in completion dates from the concerned development authorities who are always ready to oblige the developers. Secondly merely mentioning the Guarantee has no legal standai. A guarantee is something material. Merely mentioning a word I guarantee but what guarantee does not mean anything.
7. First read the Price. As a counter check show this price to some one in your home or to some colleague to re-read. Mostly you will find price written like “price of the flat Rs. 10,000 excluding development charges”. In this shape development charges have not been mentioned or disclosed by the company which could be Rs. 20,000 or Rs. 30,000. Hence this word excluding development charges should be the first naked electric wire shock to you. Some time at the end of word “excluding development charges” or just near the Price in very thin font there would be an asterisk mark @ or # which is usually given in text books showing that an important Note or Reference about the test was on the bottom of the page. If you go to the bottom it would be written like “estimated May 2007”. This means the price of the flat/house mentioned or written they calculated was in May 2007 on which they are selling it to you in July 2009. These two things (a) Estimated (b) May 2007 are most dangerous. As soon as you have booked the plot, flat or a house, paid the advance payment just after two three months you will receive a letter that since by now material prices or labour costs in the market have increased, new taxes imposed, currency re-adjusted etc hence the price of Rs. 10,000 has been revised and it now stands at Rs. 25,000 and you immediately pay Rs. 15,000 as first installment to this revision. After you have paid this amount on the jugglery of May 2007 to July 2009 technique, do not think your headache has gone. That price increase for the past. This price will keep increasing as the law allows and you have agreed to the price escalation.
8. The other sword will remain hanging on you and no body can tell you definitely how much would be at the end of the day the total development charges.
PROJECT COMPLETION:
9. It must be remembered that a Developer/Building has more interest in getting your booking cancelled rather than completing the project. At least I am not aware of if any such private project during the last 25 years has ever been completed timely. The more the delay the more free income for the Developer hence on one ground or the other excuse the completion will keep lingering on. During 70s to 90s there had been two three very good developers how though as usual delayed the projects but acted on the true terms and condition. One is believed in Lahore. The best performance shown in this regard was when the House Building Finance Corporation built flats/houses for Overseas Pakistanis and the other in old days KDA completed similar houses in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and flats in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. DHA is a exception to all above but a lot is now a days being read through letters of editor but generally its performance is good but middle class like me can not afford it.
Cancellation more important:
10. It may be remembered the Builder will get more benefit in canceling your booking rather than completing the project. The reason is on one excuse or the other mostly “not timely payment” he will cancel your booking by deducting from your money paid and sell the same flat/house/plot to another new buyer soon to cancel his and sell to some other new one. This circle will keep going on for some long time. How it is beneficial to the developer/builder is explained in later paragraphs.
Have Read Terms & Conditions:
11. The first and the most important to be remembered is that buying a property is a very sensitive issue under which both the buyer and the selling are supposed to fully in clear terms know exactly where they stand. It applies not only in the case of property but even eg. on purchase of Defence Savings Certificates etc. One must fully understand before signing the Form, the whole pros and cons. Even often the highly educated do not understand the critical, stylish, sugar coated language of such Forms hence every one of us must at least from some other get an advice before signing any Form.
12. In case of purchase of a flat/house from the developer building in 95% case the applicant gets a colorful brochure showing coloured photographs of different portions of the flat/house when it will be completed. This is in fact a photograph of temporarily decorated house some where else. Either in the Brochure as a detachable or as a separate there will be a page titled “Application Form”. This application form is the biggest tool in the hands of developer/building to keep you under pressure and keep extracting from your pockets. This Form in 95% cases will contain entries like name of the applicant, address, ID Card No. occupation, salary etc half of which information is just to fool. At the end of the Form there is a very small sentence but the most lethal doze and the mother cause of all your future sufferings - a sentence reading “I have READ and UNDERSTOOD terms & conditions”, I will pay timely, will abide by these terms and conditions prescribed including those proposed by the developer/builder from time to me and conditions, the finger will go to the entries on the Application Form reading, name, occupation, salary etc.
13. In some cases there would be two three explicit undertakings on the Form reading like “the buyer undertakes to pay timely all the installments”, the buyer undertakes to do this and that etc. But no where it will even a single line would be what in return the Seller is to do. The sale and purchase of a property whether from a Developer/Builder or from a person is invariably under a written agreement signed by both. In this agreement both sides explain their individual side of obligations and responsibilities. Even in case of a person selling his personal house in the agreement undertakes to deliver the vacant and safe peaceful possession of the sold house to the seller. But in the case of Developers/Builders the reading of those lines shown as terms and conditions will indicate nothing whatsoever if he Builder too is to do anything or not. All the terms written will show only what the purchaser is to do. As such it is very important to be careful.
14. As stated above the Builder/Developer’s main interest is to get you book a flat/house and then get it cancelled through hook and crock, sell it to third one and do the same to him and then sell it to fourth and continue so. This way his income keeps increasing. When he has repeated this technique 10-20 dozens time and had got enough money, then he announces another new project with same fanfare and advertisements. When new people book their flats/house in this new project, the money obtained from them is then diverted to the previous project in which you have booked and thus work on your project starts.
15. Under the asterisk (*) or the fine print you have verified and signed on the dotted line that you “have read and understood all terms and conditions and undertake to abide by those rules or those which the company may from time to time prescribe”. By singing this in fact one cuts his own hands. How it effects one can be understood from one single example. A huge advertisement appeared in newspapers selling plots in Hub Chowki area Karachi. This area in fact is near Balouchistan bordering Karachi. Technically speaking it is suburban area to Karachi. The heading of the advertisement as usual was very attractive “Gold in the price of sand”. The total cost of a 120 sq. yds. plot was Rs. 10,000/- as area was deserted expected soon to witness huge industrial development. Thousands and thousands rushed and booked signing on the dotted lines certifying that they had read the rules and regulations. No body cared to think for a minute can a plot just in Rs. 10,000 really be had. No body cared to check is this the net price and is it inclusive of development charges or not. This Rs. 10,000 were to be paid in easy monthly installments of Rs. 700 or so which was very easy and convenient for every one. Having paid the advance and having relayed the news to the relatives about purchase of the plot, all the allottees in next two months received a Notice from the company demanding within two weeks in one go Rs. 17,500 towards their contribution for the Islamic Centre otherwise plot was to be cancelled. What was this? It transpired that the company had a plan to create an international level Islamic centre in the colony for which every member was to contribute Rs. 35,000 in two installments. When people objected that it was not disclosed to them earlier, they were shown their signature having declared that they had read, understood and agree to abide by all terms & conditions. Where were these terms &conditions? In the company’s office file of course. Every one started getting the plot cancelled which the Developer actually wanted and which in fact the buyer should not had at this stage opted for cancellation.
16. As explained above that the main interest of the Developer/Buyer is to book and then get you cancel your flat/house/plot which is the builder’s main big income. As soon as one books a house/flat with a down payment which is always very easy eg Rs. 10,000/- assuming that he is only to pay monthly Rs. 4000/- installment, within two months the allottee gets a demand note from the company asking to pay like Rs. 25,000 towards first installment of Development Charges. Now the allottee cries that this was not told to him but he has actually signed on the dotted line. This is in fact a technique to harass viz seeing the huge to pay one gets the plot/flat/house cancelled.
17. Sending the allottee the above demand notice another technique invariably is used. This is that while the Demand Not is dated say 01 July 2009 with last date for payment by 20 July 2009, this demand note is mailed/posted around 15 or 16 July to ensure it reaches the allottee after the due date so declaring him defaulter his allotment is cancelled. The unfortunate is as generally our society lacks awareness no one cares to keep the envelopes on which such mail comes more safe than the cash payment receipts. Always keep the envelopes in tact attached with the relevant demand note, mark the date on which it was received. This envelope is a tool for protection of your rights.
Deductions:
18. The second biggest thing is one single word which is the second biggest cause of one’s sufferings. In the terms & conditions on the Application Form there will be a very innocent looking sentence that in case the Buyer wishes to cancel his booking he can request the company in which case the company after deduction of 5% or 10% of the “price” will refund him. This word 5% or 10% of “price” looks like a very soft pill but in fact it is a lethal injection. When having your got harassed through designed-late arrival of payment notice, demanding immediate payment of Rs. 17,500 for the Islamic centre, you will wish to get the allotment cancelled then a bomb will be dropped on your heard. Before going to the company for cancellation you will calculate that you so far have paid Rs. 2500 advance and 500 as two installments hence @ 10% Rs. 300 will be deducted from you which is not that bad and will come home with balance Rs. 2,700/-. But when you will reach the company which is already very eagerly patiently awaiting you to cancel will smilingly agree with you for cancellation. On this visit the company would offer you a cup of tea and receive from you application for cancellation. When you will wait for your Rs. 2,700/- you will be asked “OK, good bye”. But where is the money you will be told out of your Rs. 3000 paid Rs. 2000 will be deducted and balance Rs. 1000 will be paid to you when the company finds any new buyer for your surrendered plot/house/flat which practically takes a year or two in most cases. On your correcting that 10% comes to Rs. 300, you will realize how uneducated you were because the word price to the company means the “total price” of the plot/flat which comes to Rs. 10,000 price plus so far Rs. 15,000 development charges and not merely the “price of the plot” or what “you so far paid” namely 10% of paid.
Completion of the Project:
19. The advertisement or the Brochure will very prominently say that the project will be completed with speed in 3 years. 3 years starting from which date? As you will not ask this question likewise the company will too not tell you unless you have actually booked and paid some installments. If a developer says 3 years take it the project after keep revising upward prices will be completed in 06 years if you are lucky. Reason being the same that it is main interest of the company to book you, cancel you, book another cancel him and so on.
20. Every company by law is bound to seek public objections before obtaining Completion Certificate from the concerned development agency like CDA, LDA, KDA. While the company had ample money for releasing daily huge front page colour advertisements in the press/TV at the time of announcement of the project, this time money would get exhausted and a 2 inch by 2 inch classified advertisement in small fonts only to fulfill a legal requirement will be released ensuring you did not read it and file an objection that the company had in the brochure shown US made kitchen sink whereas now it had installed from cheapest local or Chinese brand.
21. Some advertisers/builders/developers to fool would mention in advertisements that if project not completed in time the developer gives Guarantee and would pay to the buyers. Till today not a single example is known if anyone has got any compensation for late completion of the project reason being the that to keep themselves safe these developers keep taking extensions in completion dates from the concerned development authorities who are always ready to oblige the developers. Secondly merely mentioning the Guarantee has no legal standai. A guarantee is something material. Merely mentioning a word I guarantee but what guarantee does not mean anything.
Purchase of property by overseas Pakistanis– A basic brief
It is by nature that the history is read but nothing is learnt from it. We all take it as guaranteed that what we read today in the newspaper is a “news” but never think we ourselves sometime can become a news. We read sufferings of others, meet the victims but even then do not learn lesson. For example since more than two decades on international airports announcements are made, on press TV we hear stories of victims, the governments issues precautionary notices to the public, almost every one of us know those found with drugs in Saudi Arabia are beheaded, even then last month families were caught in Jeddah on drug charges. These families took as gift the drugs hidden shoes allegedly from the travel agents. This incident has widely been published in press and on TV but take it lesson from it will not be taken and someone some where sometime again would be kind in taking a gift pack from a friend for delivery to someone in Saudi Arabia.
Same is the case of different scams, financial scams, free allotment of plots on lottery, billions worth inheritance money offers in email, mobile phone congratulations on Awards. We know people lost in the past but in the hope in our case the email bestowing world’s best looking personality in our case might be correct we accept it.
The Overseas Pakistanis (OPs) major problem is cheating them on property issues. This piece is being written on that prospect. First of all it may be remembered it is just a basic pre-cautionary guideline and not any authenticated research work or any sort of advisory high caliber note. The second most important thing not to be forgotten is that the writer of this script is just an ordinary man and not any professional writer. He had been an OP himself for long.
About 10 years back I wrote a piece on this subject in Urdu which in 5-6 weekly installments was published by the Daily Urdu News Jeddah. Unfortunately I do not have a copy of that hence this re-writing is fully based on memories. The most important to be remembered is that writer of this piece has lost his one eye in an operation and in other has hardly 25% reading only visibility. This piece is being scribbled just playing with the key board without any pre-drafting or checking of the scribbled writing. Hence errors and inconsistency in it is expected. Due to above factors there may be many things skipped form the mind hence it is not a complete or exhaustive Paper on the subject.
BASIC GUIDELINES FOR IMMIGRATION
1. First of all completely and fully avoid booking any property representatives of which company come and visit your country of residence/work abroad. Any booking of property with such developers is definitely to start your headache and loosing of your money.
2. Never every book any property with those developers whose advertisement every 15 minute you see on TV channels. Such 20-25 second advertisement repeated every 30 minute is too costly beyond your imagination. Costs of such advertisements including the visit expenses of their representatives, their luxury hotel stays all at the end of the day you will have to bear in the shape of “price escalation clause” or “development charges”. If your earning is “Rizq-e-Hilal” prefer to remain property-less than booking on lucrative advertisement.
3. Avoid looking at the photographs of decorated drawings rooms, American kitchen etc shown on TV advertisement on colourful brochures. These are merely photographs and when after lot of headache you get physically your flat/house you will definitely doubt on your eye sight if not on the condition of your mind that these are the same things shown on photographs. Do not take even for a single minute the wordings like that the complex have latest dish antenna, internal cable etc. These are worthless things. The most important is you to calculate after how much paying the flat/house will be in your hand. Never imagine it will be in the same cost as announced on TV or printed in a brochure. You must keep your mind ready for triple of that announced or printed amount.
4. Do not be allured on advertised features or photographs that the project has swimming pool, health centre, jogging track etc. Always remember you will have to pay month huge amount on running of swimming pool etc as nothing in the word today is free. Never imagine that since the developer will be paying monthly salary to swimming pool inchrage or its water bill, or repair the jogging track from his own pocket. It will all be for life from your pocket, not small but huge.
5. Do not go on the most-colourful brochures of the project published on high quality glossy paper. This brochure is just an alluring dream and has no legal value in the deal. Please remember these Brochures are one of the biggest income of the Developer. He is more interested in selling you these brochures @ Rs. 350 or Rs. 500/- than selling of plot/flat to you.
2. Never every book any property with those developers whose advertisement every 15 minute you see on TV channels. Such 20-25 second advertisement repeated every 30 minute is too costly beyond your imagination. Costs of such advertisements including the visit expenses of their representatives, their luxury hotel stays all at the end of the day you will have to bear in the shape of “price escalation clause” or “development charges”. If your earning is “Rizq-e-Hilal” prefer to remain property-less than booking on lucrative advertisement.
3. Avoid looking at the photographs of decorated drawings rooms, American kitchen etc shown on TV advertisement on colourful brochures. These are merely photographs and when after lot of headache you get physically your flat/house you will definitely doubt on your eye sight if not on the condition of your mind that these are the same things shown on photographs. Do not take even for a single minute the wordings like that the complex have latest dish antenna, internal cable etc. These are worthless things. The most important is you to calculate after how much paying the flat/house will be in your hand. Never imagine it will be in the same cost as announced on TV or printed in a brochure. You must keep your mind ready for triple of that announced or printed amount.
4. Do not be allured on advertised features or photographs that the project has swimming pool, health centre, jogging track etc. Always remember you will have to pay month huge amount on running of swimming pool etc as nothing in the word today is free. Never imagine that since the developer will be paying monthly salary to swimming pool inchrage or its water bill, or repair the jogging track from his own pocket. It will all be for life from your pocket, not small but huge.
5. Do not go on the most-colourful brochures of the project published on high quality glossy paper. This brochure is just an alluring dream and has no legal value in the deal. Please remember these Brochures are one of the biggest income of the Developer. He is more interested in selling you these brochures @ Rs. 350 or Rs. 500/- than selling of plot/flat to you.
About Free UK Student Visa
Applying for a General Student visa or a Child Student visa under Tier4 is a simple process and should be done in the country of which you are a national or a legal resident. You can apply for a visa by post, in person or online. For your application to be successful you will need:
• A current passport or travel document;
• A visa letter from the institution you are planning to study at;
• Proof of maintenance funds;
• Evidence of any qualifications the sponsoring institution took account of when deciding to accept you for the course you plan to study;
• Any other supporting documents relevant to your application.
You will also need to make an appointment at your nearest visa application centre to provide your biometric details (10 digit finger scans and a digital photograph) as part of the application process.
The UK Border Agency will refuse your application and you may be banned from coming to the UK for 10 years if you use a false document, lie or withhold relevant information.
Students looking to study in the UK for six months or less, and who do not wish to take any employment while they are in the UK, or to extend their stay while they are in the country, can enter the UK on a student visitor visa.
• A current passport or travel document;
• A visa letter from the institution you are planning to study at;
• Proof of maintenance funds;
• Evidence of any qualifications the sponsoring institution took account of when deciding to accept you for the course you plan to study;
• Any other supporting documents relevant to your application.
You will also need to make an appointment at your nearest visa application centre to provide your biometric details (10 digit finger scans and a digital photograph) as part of the application process.
The UK Border Agency will refuse your application and you may be banned from coming to the UK for 10 years if you use a false document, lie or withhold relevant information.
Students looking to study in the UK for six months or less, and who do not wish to take any employment while they are in the UK, or to extend their stay while they are in the country, can enter the UK on a student visitor visa.
Role of overseas Pakistanis in the development of Pakistan
Current prevailing situation in our beloved country is a matter of concern for all of us, political unrest, energy crises, declining foreign exchange reserves, out flow of investments and above all, alarming increase in violence are posing a real threat to economic and social stability in Pakistan.
Our problems are deep rooted and require a lot of struggle and hardship to overcome. Here I want to start some discussions about the problems our country is facing and how we can help to overcome these problems. I have noticed that many knowledgeable Pakistani friends do visit this site frequently. I would like to take this opportunity to invite them to take part in these discussions and oblige us. I myself am not highly educated and expert Pakistani but I am sure that a lot of visiting friends do have the ability and expertise to participate and share their views with other friends. I can reserve a separate domain for this purpose but let us start from here first.
First of all let us discuss about the role of overseas Pakistanis in the development of Pakistan, how we can help to bring progress and prosperity in Pakistan.
God bless you all.
Best Regards
Overseas
Our problems are deep rooted and require a lot of struggle and hardship to overcome. Here I want to start some discussions about the problems our country is facing and how we can help to overcome these problems. I have noticed that many knowledgeable Pakistani friends do visit this site frequently. I would like to take this opportunity to invite them to take part in these discussions and oblige us. I myself am not highly educated and expert Pakistani but I am sure that a lot of visiting friends do have the ability and expertise to participate and share their views with other friends. I can reserve a separate domain for this purpose but let us start from here first.
First of all let us discuss about the role of overseas Pakistanis in the development of Pakistan, how we can help to bring progress and prosperity in Pakistan.
God bless you all.
Best Regards
Overseas
UAE and Terrorism
Most recently, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister wrote an excellent article published in Gulf News “Ten years on: A world united against terrorism” in which he rightly stress the need to have collective efforts to fight against terrorism and counter-terrorism strategies. In his article he suggested different panaceas to win over this universal menace. He presented an alternate vision for the future one that supports a culture of peace and tolerance.
H.E. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister
The foreign minister showed his grief and agony about the terrible incident of 9/11 by saying “geographical distance vanished and differences in culture or political systems faded away in our common grief”. He termed 9/11 event as attack on against universal values. He upholds that terrorism has nothing to do with religion, race, caste, political system or economic background.
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan narrated its country splendid contribution and concerted efforts towards anti-terrorism drive and. UAE joined the rest of the world in 2001 in their collective anti-terrorism drive. He elaborated his country deliberations in fight against terrorism and labeled it multidimensional i.e. peace keeping activities/missions, humanitarian assistance efforts, wide spreading of educational and health care units and the last but not the least to assist Afghan people from debacles of war and debris of massive collateral damage.
He mentioned that this was not a conflict between religions or civilisations, but an international effort united behind a humanitarian and political cause: to defeat violent extremism in all forms and under any ideological banner. He urged the world to continue its collective efforts eradicate terrorism and violent extremism in the world. He suggested that correct security measures, effective information sharing and the full use of relevant international legal conventions and instruments would be useful to free the world from the terrorism.
The UAE foreign minister rightly and precisely pointed that alleviation of global poverty is must to win the war against terrorism. He enlightened his country’s role against global poverty and highlighted a vast programme of international aid assistance to improve economic conditions of the marginalized communities and struggling people living around the globe. On its part, UAE launched different development projects worth of Dh34 billion in different countries during the last decade. Moreover, UAE continues its emergence relief programmes in many vulnerable areas such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and in sub-Saharan Africa, he added.
He recommended that international political efforts to be pursued to uphold the principles of justice and international law, and enshrine respect for human rights in order to eliminate the curse of terrorism. He called for an equitable and comprehensive peace for the Palestinian people for undermining the rhetoric of global terrorism in the Middle East.
He opposed division of people on the basis of religion or sect. He supported national unity and sovereignty from Iraq to Yemen. He mentioned his country principal stance on the ‘Arab Spring’ and extended support of peaceful engagement and constructive dialogue as the means towards progressive change.
He praised that Islam is the religion of humanity, peace and respectful of other religions. Infusion of education, better understanding towards others cultures and faiths would be useful to fight against terrorism. He stressed the need to revisit our national, regional and international policies of anti-terrorism for securing better, comfortable and happy future.
9/11 was the turning point in the modern human civilization. Afterwards, universal human values and security apparatus completely were changed. It was game-changer which produced paradigm shift in the globe’s foreign policy. Immediately, global economy was jolted. Finances were shambled. Stock markets were crashed. Universal society had to face unending onslaught from the perpetrators. The Mexican ways of terrorism spread throughout the world and preyed hundreds of thousands innocent helpless, hopeless and hapless people.
Samuel P. Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations Theory was projected to further division of mankind. It was successfully, propagated to win the sympathies of allied forces. Hegemony prevailed which confronted with severe resistance from the Al-Qaeda, Taliban and its regional franchises militants. The Saudi’s initiative “Dialogue of Civilizations” proved productive to engulf the differences. Pakistan’s 3Ds policy i.e. dialogue, development and deterrence also showed its weight.
It is now ten long years to fight against terrorism, extremism and fanaticism and hot pursuit is still on and on in different parts of the world not confined to Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Pakistan.
Pakistan played significant role in fight against terrorism. It became first front line state in this cause. Armed Forces of Pakistan offered unlimited and uncountable human sacrifices, larger than any allied forces, NATO, USA or EU loss in the war against terrorism. Its valuable services are highly appreciated all over the world. Armed Forces of Pakistan fought bravely in order to marginalize the enemies of humanity, peace, harmony and development. It launched full-fledged military operations in different parts of the country against terrorism and succeeded to secure victory over them. From top brass to bottom every one showed great character and determination. It is still rigorously engaged and sincerely positioned to eradicate this menace. The caravans of martyrdom not confined to police, federal constabulary, costal guards and paramilitary forces.
The Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) played a magnificent role in the ongoing war against terrorism. It captured so many high profile leaders of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. It rescued the country and the allied forces from many expected causalities. It unearthed many conspiracies against the sovereignty and security of the country and the world at large. It fought against all odds and its many unsung heroes laid down their lives in this deadly combat.
The economy of Pakistan was the easy prey of terrorism. The country badly suffered economically and we have already lost more than $65 billion in the fight against terrorism. Investments were dried out. Tourism was vanished. Joint ventures were faded. Political stability was crumbled. Law and order situation became worse. Capital fight became common. Brain drain erupted. Infrastructures were collapsed. Business activities were down and doomed.
The people of Pakistan bravely faced its repercussions. More than 30,000 people lost their precious lives in the gigantic fight against terrorism. Collateral damage was colossal. Nevertheless, anarchy preordained and normalcy regained.
H.E. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister
The foreign minister showed his grief and agony about the terrible incident of 9/11 by saying “geographical distance vanished and differences in culture or political systems faded away in our common grief”. He termed 9/11 event as attack on against universal values. He upholds that terrorism has nothing to do with religion, race, caste, political system or economic background.
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan narrated its country splendid contribution and concerted efforts towards anti-terrorism drive and. UAE joined the rest of the world in 2001 in their collective anti-terrorism drive. He elaborated his country deliberations in fight against terrorism and labeled it multidimensional i.e. peace keeping activities/missions, humanitarian assistance efforts, wide spreading of educational and health care units and the last but not the least to assist Afghan people from debacles of war and debris of massive collateral damage.
He mentioned that this was not a conflict between religions or civilisations, but an international effort united behind a humanitarian and political cause: to defeat violent extremism in all forms and under any ideological banner. He urged the world to continue its collective efforts eradicate terrorism and violent extremism in the world. He suggested that correct security measures, effective information sharing and the full use of relevant international legal conventions and instruments would be useful to free the world from the terrorism.
The UAE foreign minister rightly and precisely pointed that alleviation of global poverty is must to win the war against terrorism. He enlightened his country’s role against global poverty and highlighted a vast programme of international aid assistance to improve economic conditions of the marginalized communities and struggling people living around the globe. On its part, UAE launched different development projects worth of Dh34 billion in different countries during the last decade. Moreover, UAE continues its emergence relief programmes in many vulnerable areas such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and in sub-Saharan Africa, he added.
He recommended that international political efforts to be pursued to uphold the principles of justice and international law, and enshrine respect for human rights in order to eliminate the curse of terrorism. He called for an equitable and comprehensive peace for the Palestinian people for undermining the rhetoric of global terrorism in the Middle East.
He opposed division of people on the basis of religion or sect. He supported national unity and sovereignty from Iraq to Yemen. He mentioned his country principal stance on the ‘Arab Spring’ and extended support of peaceful engagement and constructive dialogue as the means towards progressive change.
He praised that Islam is the religion of humanity, peace and respectful of other religions. Infusion of education, better understanding towards others cultures and faiths would be useful to fight against terrorism. He stressed the need to revisit our national, regional and international policies of anti-terrorism for securing better, comfortable and happy future.
9/11 was the turning point in the modern human civilization. Afterwards, universal human values and security apparatus completely were changed. It was game-changer which produced paradigm shift in the globe’s foreign policy. Immediately, global economy was jolted. Finances were shambled. Stock markets were crashed. Universal society had to face unending onslaught from the perpetrators. The Mexican ways of terrorism spread throughout the world and preyed hundreds of thousands innocent helpless, hopeless and hapless people.
Samuel P. Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations Theory was projected to further division of mankind. It was successfully, propagated to win the sympathies of allied forces. Hegemony prevailed which confronted with severe resistance from the Al-Qaeda, Taliban and its regional franchises militants. The Saudi’s initiative “Dialogue of Civilizations” proved productive to engulf the differences. Pakistan’s 3Ds policy i.e. dialogue, development and deterrence also showed its weight.
It is now ten long years to fight against terrorism, extremism and fanaticism and hot pursuit is still on and on in different parts of the world not confined to Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Pakistan.
Pakistan played significant role in fight against terrorism. It became first front line state in this cause. Armed Forces of Pakistan offered unlimited and uncountable human sacrifices, larger than any allied forces, NATO, USA or EU loss in the war against terrorism. Its valuable services are highly appreciated all over the world. Armed Forces of Pakistan fought bravely in order to marginalize the enemies of humanity, peace, harmony and development. It launched full-fledged military operations in different parts of the country against terrorism and succeeded to secure victory over them. From top brass to bottom every one showed great character and determination. It is still rigorously engaged and sincerely positioned to eradicate this menace. The caravans of martyrdom not confined to police, federal constabulary, costal guards and paramilitary forces.
The Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) played a magnificent role in the ongoing war against terrorism. It captured so many high profile leaders of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. It rescued the country and the allied forces from many expected causalities. It unearthed many conspiracies against the sovereignty and security of the country and the world at large. It fought against all odds and its many unsung heroes laid down their lives in this deadly combat.
The economy of Pakistan was the easy prey of terrorism. The country badly suffered economically and we have already lost more than $65 billion in the fight against terrorism. Investments were dried out. Tourism was vanished. Joint ventures were faded. Political stability was crumbled. Law and order situation became worse. Capital fight became common. Brain drain erupted. Infrastructures were collapsed. Business activities were down and doomed.
The people of Pakistan bravely faced its repercussions. More than 30,000 people lost their precious lives in the gigantic fight against terrorism. Collateral damage was colossal. Nevertheless, anarchy preordained and normalcy regained.
Lahore: UK visa application processing duration announced
The British High Commission (BHC) on Thursday said the processing time for all visa applications was 15 working days. “The exceptions to this are settlement cases, which currently take up to 60 days to be processed”, the BHC said. The visa applications can be submitted online by visiting www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk or submitted at one of the four UK Visa Application Centres in Lahore, Karachi, Mirpur and Islamabad.
The UK Government today announced the go-live date for the student tier of its new points-based system for migration.
From 31st March, students looking to study in the UK can apply for their visa through the new points-based system which will streamline the Student visa application process.
Under the new transparent system, students will need to prove that they have been accepted onto a course run by a UK Border Agency (UKBA) licensed education institution, prove that they have the means to support themselves and supply their biometric details at their local visa application centre.
If granted a visa, the new regulations allow international students to undertake part-time work of up to 20 hours per week during term time, full time work during the holidays as well as any course related work placements.
A UKBA spokesperson commented: “Thousands of international students choose to study in the UK every year. These changes to the visa application system will allow students to check whether they are eligible for a visa before they even apply, making the whole system more straightforward. We would urge anyone considering studying in the UK to visit the UKBA website now to familiarise themselves with the new regulations and ensure their application can be processed as quickly as possible.”
For the first time, all independent fee-paying schools, colleges and universities that want to accept international students to study with them now need a licence to do so. This will help the UK Government crack down on bogus colleges, something which will be welcome news to many international students, who can now be sure the language school, college or university they intend to study at is an approved educational institution. So far over a thousand UK institutions have signed up to sponsor international students.
The UK Government today announced the go-live date for the student tier of its new points-based system for migration.
From 31st March, students looking to study in the UK can apply for their visa through the new points-based system which will streamline the Student visa application process.
Under the new transparent system, students will need to prove that they have been accepted onto a course run by a UK Border Agency (UKBA) licensed education institution, prove that they have the means to support themselves and supply their biometric details at their local visa application centre.
If granted a visa, the new regulations allow international students to undertake part-time work of up to 20 hours per week during term time, full time work during the holidays as well as any course related work placements.
A UKBA spokesperson commented: “Thousands of international students choose to study in the UK every year. These changes to the visa application system will allow students to check whether they are eligible for a visa before they even apply, making the whole system more straightforward. We would urge anyone considering studying in the UK to visit the UKBA website now to familiarise themselves with the new regulations and ensure their application can be processed as quickly as possible.”
For the first time, all independent fee-paying schools, colleges and universities that want to accept international students to study with them now need a licence to do so. This will help the UK Government crack down on bogus colleges, something which will be welcome news to many international students, who can now be sure the language school, college or university they intend to study at is an approved educational institution. So far over a thousand UK institutions have signed up to sponsor international students.
NADRA enhances services in UAE to help Pakistani
Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE, Jamil Ahmed Khan met with Chairman NADRA here on Wednesday at Headquarters NADRA.
A statement said that the purpose of visit was to thank Chairman NADRA Ali Arshad Hakeem for setting up new consular section in UAE to facilitate overseas Pakistani community.
During the meeting several other issues related to Pakistani community were also discussed and both agreed to work closely for the betterment of the community.
As continuous efforts are being made by the Embassy in UAE, the enhanced facilities of NADRA were introduced to facilitate Pakistani community.
NADRA enhanced service structure would expedite the NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) issuance process and would help over 1.3 million Pakistani living in UAE.
NADRA has been vigorously working to solve the problems of Pakistani community living in UAE and facilitating to cater for their needs of registration. So far NADRA has issued about 399,445 (NICOP) to Pakistani citizens living in UAE’, Chairman NADRA Ali Arshad Hakeem informed at the meeting.
Ali Arshad Hakeem said NADRA Mobile registration units are also working in close collaboration with Pakistan embassy in UAE and facilitating people while induction of NADRA female staff and double shift duty have been very successful.
A statement said that the purpose of visit was to thank Chairman NADRA Ali Arshad Hakeem for setting up new consular section in UAE to facilitate overseas Pakistani community.
During the meeting several other issues related to Pakistani community were also discussed and both agreed to work closely for the betterment of the community.
As continuous efforts are being made by the Embassy in UAE, the enhanced facilities of NADRA were introduced to facilitate Pakistani community.
NADRA enhanced service structure would expedite the NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) issuance process and would help over 1.3 million Pakistani living in UAE.
NADRA has been vigorously working to solve the problems of Pakistani community living in UAE and facilitating to cater for their needs of registration. So far NADRA has issued about 399,445 (NICOP) to Pakistani citizens living in UAE’, Chairman NADRA Ali Arshad Hakeem informed at the meeting.
Ali Arshad Hakeem said NADRA Mobile registration units are also working in close collaboration with Pakistan embassy in UAE and facilitating people while induction of NADRA female staff and double shift duty have been very successful.
National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA)
COMPANY DETAILS
The National Database Organization (NDO) was established under the Ministry of Interior as a sister organization to undertake the task of handling the data being collected through National Data Forms during the Population Census in 1998. The National Data Forms (NDFs) were designed by a committee of experts encompassing maximum social and fiscal indicators as implements for future planning, documentation of the economy, and for creation of a comprehensive Citizens' Database. To cater to a cohesive and unified approach in both registration and social fields, NADRA was formed on 10th March 2000 by merging the National Database Organization (NDO) and the Directorate General of Registration (DGR). It is an independent corporate body with requisite autonomy.
Preamble
NADRA was formed to aid the government in developing and implementing a fact-based system of good governance in the country to encounter undocumented population growth and register items belonging to its citizens and organizations.
It was established with the objective of evolving a new, improved, and modernized system of registration for the citizens of Pakistan, to undertake the collection of demographic and geographic data. Initially, the main objective was the issuance of state-of-the-art National Identity Cards (NICs) to all eligible citizens of Pakistan. These NICs were backed by a computerized database and a data warehouse respectively called the Citizens' Database and National Data Warehouse (NDW). This comprehensive Citizens' Database was completed at the dawn of the new millennium and is regularly updated based on the National Data Forms.
Headquarters
NADRA Headquarters is located in the historic State Bank Building which was previously the National Assembly Building, and in its historic Parliament Hall the 1973 Constitution was passed. It has five provincial headquarters namely, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and three Regional Head Quarters located at Sukkur, Multan and Sargodha.
NADRA has established a countrywide Data Communication Network linking the Central Data Warehouse with eight regional hubs across the country. From here applicant data is regularly updated and monitored through direct inputs from different user agencies. The data that is regularly updated at provincial and district offices is comprehensive including statistical, geographic and complete biographic details of every citizen. NADRA has made Pakistan the first country in the Muslim world to develop a fully integrated and centralized system of registration through technologically advanced and efficient computerization and automation.
Legal Position
NADRA has been empowered under the President's Ordinance no. VIII of the year 2000 to facilitate the registration of all persons in the establishment and the maintenance of multipurpose databases, Data Warehouses, networking, interfacing of databases and related facilities. Under the ordinance NADRA must ensure and provide security, secrecy and necessary safeguard for the protection of data and information and shall perform and exercise any other power as may be by entrusted to or vested in the Authority by the Federal Government. NADRA is authorized to seek advice for carrying out its work. It is further authorized to charge fees, and other sums for its services, to carry out research studies, surveys, experiments and other investigations.
The National Database Organization (NDO) was established under the Ministry of Interior as a sister organization to undertake the task of handling the data being collected through National Data Forms during the Population Census in 1998. The National Data Forms (NDFs) were designed by a committee of experts encompassing maximum social and fiscal indicators as implements for future planning, documentation of the economy, and for creation of a comprehensive Citizens' Database. To cater to a cohesive and unified approach in both registration and social fields, NADRA was formed on 10th March 2000 by merging the National Database Organization (NDO) and the Directorate General of Registration (DGR). It is an independent corporate body with requisite autonomy.
Preamble
NADRA was formed to aid the government in developing and implementing a fact-based system of good governance in the country to encounter undocumented population growth and register items belonging to its citizens and organizations.
It was established with the objective of evolving a new, improved, and modernized system of registration for the citizens of Pakistan, to undertake the collection of demographic and geographic data. Initially, the main objective was the issuance of state-of-the-art National Identity Cards (NICs) to all eligible citizens of Pakistan. These NICs were backed by a computerized database and a data warehouse respectively called the Citizens' Database and National Data Warehouse (NDW). This comprehensive Citizens' Database was completed at the dawn of the new millennium and is regularly updated based on the National Data Forms.
Headquarters
NADRA Headquarters is located in the historic State Bank Building which was previously the National Assembly Building, and in its historic Parliament Hall the 1973 Constitution was passed. It has five provincial headquarters namely, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and three Regional Head Quarters located at Sukkur, Multan and Sargodha.
NADRA has established a countrywide Data Communication Network linking the Central Data Warehouse with eight regional hubs across the country. From here applicant data is regularly updated and monitored through direct inputs from different user agencies. The data that is regularly updated at provincial and district offices is comprehensive including statistical, geographic and complete biographic details of every citizen. NADRA has made Pakistan the first country in the Muslim world to develop a fully integrated and centralized system of registration through technologically advanced and efficient computerization and automation.
Legal Position
NADRA has been empowered under the President's Ordinance no. VIII of the year 2000 to facilitate the registration of all persons in the establishment and the maintenance of multipurpose databases, Data Warehouses, networking, interfacing of databases and related facilities. Under the ordinance NADRA must ensure and provide security, secrecy and necessary safeguard for the protection of data and information and shall perform and exercise any other power as may be by entrusted to or vested in the Authority by the Federal Government. NADRA is authorized to seek advice for carrying out its work. It is further authorized to charge fees, and other sums for its services, to carry out research studies, surveys, experiments and other investigations.
Monday 19 September 2011
Thar coal project: Recommends provision of assistance to Dr Samar
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly (NA) standing committee on petroleum and natural resources has assured Dr Samar Mubarakmand of every possible cooperation in connection with Thar Coal Project and recommended government to provide financial assistance to him in making project success.
Committee met here Tuesday under its chairman Sardar Talib Nakai in parliament house. Besides Dr Samar Mubarakmand, members of Thar Coal committee and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Dr Samar told the committee coal deposits over 175 billion tons was available in Thar. Initially, project for generation of 100 megawatt electricity out of Thar coal has been initiated, he pointed out. It will cost 115 million dollars but only 9 million dollars have been provided by the government so far. Electricity to be generated from Thar Coal will cost us Rs 4 per unit, he told.
He informed the committee that India was producing 64.6 percent electricity from coal while Pakistan was producing only 2.2 percent electricity. Pakistan was suffering loss to the tune of Rs230 billion this way, he added.
End.
India detains five in Held Kashmir over Delhi blast
SRINAGAR: Indian police detained five people for questioning on Thursday, including the owner of an Internet cafe, over an email allegedly claiming responsibility for a bombing that killed 12 people in New Delhi, police sources in Kashmir and local media said.
The owner, his brother and an employee of the Global Cyber Cafe in Kishtwar, a city in the Indian administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, were taken in for questioning over an email allegedly linked to a powerful bomb that exploded at the entrance of the High Court on Wednesday.
The authorities are probing the authenticity of an email claiming to be from the militant group Harkatul Jihad Islami (HUJI) and sent from the Internet cafe. Local media reported two more people were held in the insurgency-riddled Kashmir region but it was not clear whether they were also linked to the internet cafe. The militant group, affiliated with al Qaeda, and largely based in Pakistan but also with bases in Bangladesh, has claimed responsibility for attacks in India, but not in recent years.
Media outlets said a separate email purportedly from the Indian Mujahideen, a home-grown radical group said to have support from Pakistan-based militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, had also claimed responsibility for the briefcase bomb attack.
The email threatened to blow up a shopping mall next Tuesday. A top home ministry official told reporters that authorities had been informed of the email and were investigating its authenticity.
"This input is being provided to the investigating agencies and they will go into the correctness and authenticity of this," said UK Bansal, in charge of internal security at the ministry.
New Delhi and Islamabad are just rebuilding ties after peace talks were broken off following the attacks on Mumbai in 2008 when Pakistani militants rampaged through the city, leaving 166 dead. Any possible links between Wednesday's blast and Pakistan could burden the fragile process.
The government has been sharply criticised for failing to put in place sufficient security measures at such a high-profile location as the High Court of the Indian capital, especially as the blast came only days before the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conceded on Wednesday militants were exploiting weaknesses in India's security apparatus.
End.
The owner, his brother and an employee of the Global Cyber Cafe in Kishtwar, a city in the Indian administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, were taken in for questioning over an email allegedly linked to a powerful bomb that exploded at the entrance of the High Court on Wednesday.
The authorities are probing the authenticity of an email claiming to be from the militant group Harkatul Jihad Islami (HUJI) and sent from the Internet cafe. Local media reported two more people were held in the insurgency-riddled Kashmir region but it was not clear whether they were also linked to the internet cafe. The militant group, affiliated with al Qaeda, and largely based in Pakistan but also with bases in Bangladesh, has claimed responsibility for attacks in India, but not in recent years.
Media outlets said a separate email purportedly from the Indian Mujahideen, a home-grown radical group said to have support from Pakistan-based militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, had also claimed responsibility for the briefcase bomb attack.
The email threatened to blow up a shopping mall next Tuesday. A top home ministry official told reporters that authorities had been informed of the email and were investigating its authenticity.
"This input is being provided to the investigating agencies and they will go into the correctness and authenticity of this," said UK Bansal, in charge of internal security at the ministry.
New Delhi and Islamabad are just rebuilding ties after peace talks were broken off following the attacks on Mumbai in 2008 when Pakistani militants rampaged through the city, leaving 166 dead. Any possible links between Wednesday's blast and Pakistan could burden the fragile process.
The government has been sharply criticised for failing to put in place sufficient security measures at such a high-profile location as the High Court of the Indian capital, especially as the blast came only days before the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conceded on Wednesday militants were exploiting weaknesses in India's security apparatus.
End.
Suicide bomber kills 31 at funeral
LOWER DIR: Policemen pick-up the clothing and shoes of residents who were targeted by a suicide bomber during funeral prayers in Bero Shina, a town in
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LOWER DIR: A suicide bomber blew himself up during funeral prayers in Lower Dir on Thursday, killing 31 people and wounding 63 others, police said.
The attacker struck as mourners were preparing for prayers being held in open ground near cornfields in Jandol town in Lower Dir, 100 kilometres from Swat Valley. The blast came two days after four boys connected to another northwestern anti-militant group were killed in another explosion that was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursday's attack.
"The death toll has risen to 31 with 63 wounded in the attack," said senior police official Salim Khan Marwat, adding that the bomber targeted members of a state-sponsored anti-Taliban militia operating in the area.
He said the bomber's head had been retrieved from the scene and indicated that the attacker, who had hidden in the nearby fields, was in his late teens. "It was a suicide attack. A bomber came on foot and blew himself up in the middle of people as they were about to start prayers."
Local senior police official Akhtar Hayat Gandapur said there were more than 100 people attending the funeral. Witness Gull Rehman said he saw the attacker, who was killed in the bombing, describing him as a man with a long beard. Rehman said he was knocked down by the blast but he was able to get up and help transport the injured to hospitals.
The scene of the attack was strewn with bloodstained shoes in the blood-soaked grassy field, and officers collecting pieces of the bomb. The funeral was for Bakhat Khan, who was a member of a local "lashkar" or militia that is opposed to Taliban rule in the region, police said. He died Wednesday night. The tribesmen in the northwest have formed several such militias, for which they typically receive some government funding. They have had some success at stopping militant infiltration but are routinely struck by revenge attacks.
Many of the bloodiest bombings of the last three years have targeted "lashkar" members or their families.
On Tuesday, Taliban gunmen killed four children as they were returning from school close to the main northwestern city of Peshawar.
End.
Mangla Dam Raising Project: Wattoo praises AJK govt, Wapda for progress
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has appreciated the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government and the Wapda chairman for rapid progress on the Mangla Dam Raising Project.
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has appreciated the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government and the Wapda chairman for rapid progress on the Mangla Dam Raising Project.
Chairing a meeting on Tuesday, he said that compensation had been paid to the people who were displaced because of the project, adding that the entire process took place in a satisfactory manner due to effective coordination.
Wattoo said that the proprietary right of land should be granted to displaced people.
Factors hindering the implementation of the compensation package and other resettlement issues were also discussed during the meeting.
The minister said that with a new government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he hoped that coordination would be better.
The minister also appreciated the settlement of 480 families and 90 families in New Mirpur city and Old Mirpur city, respectively. He said that Rs150-Rs200 million, which was due to be paid to the allotees, should be released at the earliest.
Wattoo said that the Mangla Dam Raising Project would benefit the people of Pakistan and the AJK. “It is a project of national significance which will enhance our capacity for water storage and electricity generation,” he said.
End.
• Mangla Dam Raising Project: Wattoo praises AJK govt, Wapda for progress
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• Iran, Pakistan to establish joint airline company
• Infrastructure: Body formed to expedite Karachi motorway project
• Onion prices jump on `artificial shortage`
• PTCL declares 2011-12 as year of broadband
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has appreciated the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government and the Wapda chairman for rapid progress on the Mangla Dam Raising Project.
Chairing a meeting on Tuesday, he said that compensation had been paid to the people who were displaced because of the project, adding that the entire process took place in a satisfactory manner due to effective coordination.
Wattoo said that the proprietary right of land should be granted to displaced people.
Factors hindering the implementation of the compensation package and other resettlement issues were also discussed during the meeting.
The minister said that with a new government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he hoped that coordination would be better.
The minister also appreciated the settlement of 480 families and 90 families in New Mirpur city and Old Mirpur city, respectively. He said that Rs150-Rs200 million, which was due to be paid to the allotees, should be released at the earliest.
Wattoo said that the Mangla Dam Raising Project would benefit the people of Pakistan and the AJK. “It is a project of national significance which will enhance our capacity for water storage and electricity generation,” he said.
End.
Sunday 18 September 2011
Mosquito sex life key to controlling dengue fever
Beyond the nuisance factor, mosquitoes are carriers, or vectors, for some of humanity’s most deadly illnesses, and they are public enemy number one in the fight against global infectious disease. Mosquito-borne diseases cause millions of deaths worldwide every year with a disproportionate effect on children and the elderly in developing countries. There are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes.
A new study has suggested that understanding the sex life of a mosquito may reveal the key to controlling diseases such West Nile virus and dengue fever.Researchers at Cornell University have uncovered a chemical ballet that takes place between aedes aegypti mosquitoes during sex. The study found that more than 100 proteins in male sperm permanently alter a female’s tendencies to feed, produce eggs and mate.
The paper’s lead author, Laura Sirot, a research associate at Cornell, did the work in the labs of co-authors Mariana Wolfner, professor of molecular biology and genetics, and Laura Harrington, associate professor of entomology.While previous research by this team identified some reproductive proteins produced in male mosquitoes, “this is the first study to identify the male proteins that are actually transferred to the female” during mating, said Wolfner.
By isolating these proteins, researchers said they might one day develop a birth control approach for female mosquitoes that spread the dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses. There is currently no effective treatment for dengue fever, a potentially lethal infection that affects millions of people each year.
The researchers found 93 seminal fluid proteins and 52 sperm proteins in the females. Eventually, researchers might be able to use these proteins to develop innovative mosquito control strategies, such as reducing egg production and curbing the female’s appetite for blood, which could ultimately reduce the spread of mosquito-borne, life-threatening illnesses.
“This is an exciting new avenue for identifying ultimate targets to reduce mosquito vector populationsUltimately, we plan to select the most promising candidate proteins as chemical targets or as a focus for the development of other methods for vector control,” said Harrington.
Next, the team will determine which proteins have major effects on the female’s physiology. In the lab, they plan to generate mosquitoes that fail to make each of these proteins, mate those males with females and observe whether the females’ responses are perturbed.The study has been published in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
DNA
Dengue claims many lives in Pakistan
LAHORE/KARACHI: Seven more people lost their lives due to Dengue fever in Lahore on Thursday, increasing the death toll to 33, while two lives were lost in Karachi bringing casualty figures in the country to nine on Thursday.
In Lahore, the victims included a woman, Safia, 50, of Icchra, Mamri Khan, 18, Moeen Khan, 22, Zar Gull, 60, of Khan Colony, a peon at Mayo Hospital, Ayub, 45, Ayesha, 20, a nursing student at Mayo Hospital, and Fiza Hanif, 18, of Gawalmandi.
According to unofficial reports, 685 new dengue patients have surfaced in Punjab. But the health department reported 412 more dengue cases from the province during the last 24 hours. Of these patients, 353 are from Lahore.
According to media reports, around 1,075 confirmed cases were reported in Lahore on Thursday. Around 336 cases from Mayo Hospital, 78 from IPH, 63 from Sheikh Zaid Hospital, 90 from Ganga Ram Hospital, two from Services Hospital, 33 from LGH, 62 from Jinnah Hospital, 136 from Children's Hospital and 275 from private clinics and other hospitals were reported.
So far more than 10,000 cases of dengue have been reported from Punjab, out of which over 4,400 are from Lahore alone, and in Lahore, Gulberg is the most affected area where 19 percent patients have been diagnosed with the disease. Patients are facing severe difficulties in getting admission to hospitals and obtaining platelets that are necessary for treatment of the disease. This is due to the fact that the number of patients is constantly increasing in the city. Though the virus has turned into an epidemic in the city, major hospitals have no mechanism to keep record of the dengue patients.
However, doctors say that not every fever turns into Dengue and it could only be ascertained after specific blood screening. Dengue symptoms include lower level of blood platelets, high fever, red spots on body and vomiting. Dengue claims two more lives in Karachi Sindh Dengue Surveillance Cell confirmed two more deaths from Dengue on Thursday, which increased the toll of dengue related deaths to three in the provincial capital during the current year.
A report issued by the Cell confirmed death of a dengue positive patient at a private hospital on September 9, whereas one more death was reported on Thursday from another private hospital.
End.
President Asif Ali Zardari
KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari has constituted a national security committee comprising heads of all the security and secret agencies to review and tackle the security concerns arising in the wake of ongoing military operations in restive valley of Swat and adjoining districts.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting at chief minister house on Wednesday. The meting was attended by Governor Sindh, DR Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, Information Minister, Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira, director general rangers, IG Sindh, CCPO Karachi and all the regional police officers.
Briefing the newsmen about details of the meeting, the information minister said that the first meeting of the newly formed national security committee would be held soon.
He said the committee would also recommend reforms to improve the conditions in jails throughout the country.
Security heads gave separate briefings to President Zardari about law and order situation in Karachi, especial in connection with the two recent strikes called by nationalist parties and supported by Muttehida Quami Movement (MQM) against arrival of displaced persons of Swat in Karachi.
The president directed all the provincial governments to immediately recruit 25,000 new police personnel each, besides approving 10,00 fresh recruitments in Sindh Constabulary.
The newly recruited police personnel will be bound to get commando training, Kaira informed. He said the meeting observed that law and order situation in Sindh was better as compared to previous years, however it could not be declared ideal.
“ President has issued directives to the law enforcing agencies to take more concerted efforts to improve law and order in the province. He also issued directives for increase in the salaries of police personnel and equip them with commando training and latest weaponry”, Kaira said.
The meeting, Kaira said, decided to set up new women police stations in all the three zones in Karachi.
About law and order situation in interior of Sindh, especially growing incidents of kidnap for ransom, the minister said that the meeting had decided to take stern action against dacoits in the interior districts.
For that, he said, the police personnel would be equipped with latest weaponry and equipment.
He said the President wanted equal and high salaries not for police personnel but other law enforcing troops throughout the country.
The meeting decided that the current local bodies system would not be scrapped. Instead, adequate amendments will be made in the local bodies system in consultation with all the provinces, Kaira said.
Responding to various queries about Swat operation, the information minister claimed that Taliban had been dispersed due to army actions, which have caused “a very few” civilian casualties.
Regarding deaths of militants, Kaira said it was hard to tell the exact number of militants’ causalities because they had taken positioned in bunkers and tunnels.
About Maulana Fazlullah, he said the militants’ leader had been out of screens for last eight days, but it could not be confirmed that he was dead.
“ Taliban are on the run as their command and control system has been badly damaged by the army”, Kaira observed adding that the ongoing military operation will be extended to other areas if required because terrorist are operating not only from tribal belt but also in other parts of the country.
“ The government had no other option after collapse of peace talks. Military operation has been launched as the last option”, he maintained.
Now, the operation will continue till the elimination of militants from the area, he said.
To a question, the minister said if Taliban were running under the guise of displaced persons, then it was the joint responsibility of the government forces and the people to keep an eye and point them out.
The minister said the government had directed national database registration authority (NADRA) to increase registration centers for displaced persons.
“ Registration is a must because if we do not have the record of displaced persons, then how can we facilitate them now and in future”, he said. The minister made it clear that neither there was any ban on the entry of displaced persons in any province nor were they prevented by any provincial government. “ Most of the displaced persons are staying in NWFP, either in camps or with their relatives”, he maintained.
He said that 80 per cent of displaced persons had been residing with their relatives, mostly in NWFP.
End.
Thursday 15 September 2011
Automated Border Control
Automated Border Control
To cater for the need for robust identification and verification systems, NADRA has developed Automated Border Control (ABC) system which serves as a tool for law-enforcement agencies in eradicating illegal immigration and human trafficking. The Automated Border Control System is fully automated immigration control system linked with the central Passport server. It authenticates e-Passport, identity and other travel documents by performing on spot Facial Recognition and Fingerprint Identification with utmost reliability and efficiency. It also keeps the record of automated data verification, passenger travel history, flight information, destination, port-of-origin, nationality, verification log and officer’s comments. The Automated Border Control is fully equipped to cater for the following functions:
• Optical reading and identification of travel documents
• Identification of passenger through AFIS and Facial 1:1 match
• Validation of PKI by reading MRZ and 2D Barcode PDF 417
• Identification of passenger data and UV images
• Matching with Blacklist and Exit Control List (ECL)
To cater for the need for robust identification and verification systems, NADRA has developed Automated Border Control (ABC) system which serves as a tool for law-enforcement agencies in eradicating illegal immigration and human trafficking. The Automated Border Control System is fully automated immigration control system linked with the central Passport server. It authenticates e-Passport, identity and other travel documents by performing on spot Facial Recognition and Fingerprint Identification with utmost reliability and efficiency. It also keeps the record of automated data verification, passenger travel history, flight information, destination, port-of-origin, nationality, verification log and officer’s comments. The Automated Border Control is fully equipped to cater for the following functions:
• Optical reading and identification of travel documents
• Identification of passenger through AFIS and Facial 1:1 match
• Validation of PKI by reading MRZ and 2D Barcode PDF 417
• Identification of passenger data and UV images
• Matching with Blacklist and Exit Control List (ECL)
Computerized National Identity Card
CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card) is the core product of NADRA issued to a valid/legitimate citizen of Pakistan. It is a blend of state-of-the-art technology and well-defined business rules to guarantee its authenticity and validity. Every genuine, 18 Years and above, citizen of Pakistan is eligible for CNIC.
CNIC Application Process
Detailed Application Procedure
• Data Acquisition at Data Acquisition Unit (DAU)
o Issuance of Token
o Photo Capturing
o Thumb and Signatures
o Data Acquisition by DEO
o Form Printing
o Attestation & Form Submission
• Data uploading to NADRA Data Warehouse
• Verification and Clearance from NADRA Data Warehouse
• Printing at Production
• Delivery of CNIC to NSRC
Documentation Requirements
A CNIC applicant is required to produce the following documents at the time of application:
• Birth Certificate or
• Old NIC or
• Matriculation Certificate or
• CNICs of immediate/blood relatives
• Citizenship certificate issued by MOI
Note
• No documents are demanded from illiterate applicant for age verification for first time.
• Residents of FATA/PATA will only be entertained at their native DAUs and their forms will be attested by concerned PA/APA.
• For further details please refer to the checklist in related downloads or call us on our UAN 111-786-100.
Services
NSRCs provide the following services for CNIC;
• Issuance of new CNIC
• Modification of CNIC
• Duplicate of CNIC
• Correction of Official Mistake in CNIC
• Cancellation of CNIC (In case of death).
Delivery Time
• Normal - 30 days
• Urgent - 15 days
• FastTrack - 15 Days (Queue priority at NSRCs for immediate processing)
Fee Structure
Ser # Category Normal (Rs) Urgent (Rs) FastTrack (Rs) FastTrack with Home Delivery* (Rs)
1 Fresh CNIC 0 300 1000 1100
2 Modification 200 300 1000 1100
3 Renewal 75 300 1000 1100
4 Duplicate 200 300 1000 1100
4 CNIC for CRC Holder 300
4 CNIC for NICOP Holder 300
* Fee includes optional Rs.100 delivery charge
For more details on fee changes click here
CNIC Application Process
Detailed Application Procedure
• Data Acquisition at Data Acquisition Unit (DAU)
o Issuance of Token
o Photo Capturing
o Thumb and Signatures
o Data Acquisition by DEO
o Form Printing
o Attestation & Form Submission
• Data uploading to NADRA Data Warehouse
• Verification and Clearance from NADRA Data Warehouse
• Printing at Production
• Delivery of CNIC to NSRC
Documentation Requirements
A CNIC applicant is required to produce the following documents at the time of application:
• Birth Certificate or
• Old NIC or
• Matriculation Certificate or
• CNICs of immediate/blood relatives
• Citizenship certificate issued by MOI
Note
• No documents are demanded from illiterate applicant for age verification for first time.
• Residents of FATA/PATA will only be entertained at their native DAUs and their forms will be attested by concerned PA/APA.
• For further details please refer to the checklist in related downloads or call us on our UAN 111-786-100.
Services
NSRCs provide the following services for CNIC;
• Issuance of new CNIC
• Modification of CNIC
• Duplicate of CNIC
• Correction of Official Mistake in CNIC
• Cancellation of CNIC (In case of death).
Delivery Time
• Normal - 30 days
• Urgent - 15 days
• FastTrack - 15 Days (Queue priority at NSRCs for immediate processing)
Fee Structure
Ser # Category Normal (Rs) Urgent (Rs) FastTrack (Rs) FastTrack with Home Delivery* (Rs)
1 Fresh CNIC 0 300 1000 1100
2 Modification 200 300 1000 1100
3 Renewal 75 300 1000 1100
4 Duplicate 200 300 1000 1100
4 CNIC for CRC Holder 300
4 CNIC for NICOP Holder 300
* Fee includes optional Rs.100 delivery charge
For more details on fee changes click here
Family Registration Certificates
Family Registration Certificates are documents issued to nationals of Pakistan highlighting the family tree structure of the applicant.
FRC Application Process
Detailed Application Procedure
• Data Acquisition at Data Acquisition Unit (DAU)
o Issuance of Token
o Photo Capturing
o Thumb and Signatures
o Data Acquisition by DEO
• Verification from NADRA Data Warehouse
• Printing of FRC Form at DAU
• Delivery to Applicant
Documentation Requirements
Following are the documentation requirements for FRC :
• CNIC numbers of all family members
• CRC numbers of all family members
Note:
• For further details please refer to the checklist in related downloads or call us on our UAN 111-786-100.
Services
• Family Certificate by Birth (Parents & Siblings)
• Family Certificate by Marriage (Wife & Children)
Delivery Time
• Real Time
Fee Structure
Type Normal (Rs.)
FRC 500
For more details on fee changes click here
FRC Application Process
Detailed Application Procedure
• Data Acquisition at Data Acquisition Unit (DAU)
o Issuance of Token
o Photo Capturing
o Thumb and Signatures
o Data Acquisition by DEO
• Verification from NADRA Data Warehouse
• Printing of FRC Form at DAU
• Delivery to Applicant
Documentation Requirements
Following are the documentation requirements for FRC :
• CNIC numbers of all family members
• CRC numbers of all family members
Note:
• For further details please refer to the checklist in related downloads or call us on our UAN 111-786-100.
Services
• Family Certificate by Birth (Parents & Siblings)
• Family Certificate by Marriage (Wife & Children)
Delivery Time
• Real Time
Fee Structure
Type Normal (Rs.)
FRC 500
For more details on fee changes click here
e-Commerce Platform
NADRA launched its e-Commerce platform - NADRA Kiosk in October 2006. The basic aim of this ID-centric product is to facilitate all the citizens of Pakistan for e-bill payments and e-transactions. NADRA Kiosk has been developed to carry-out various day-to-day transactions which involve payment of utility/ telecom bills, purchase of prepaid phone cards, disburses cash and acts as merchant bank. Now citizens do not have to stand in long queues for their utility bill payments due to short banking hours, hence enjoying time freedom round-the-clock.
Payments are made by inserting the cash directly into the Kiosk's cash acceptor, after biometric identification from central data warehouse. Once the cash is accepted, payment is immediately credited to subscriber’s account through encrypted secure network channel. Customers can use NADRA Kiosk in English, Urdu or any other language. After completion of e-transaction, the system issues a printed receipt as an acknowledgement and updates the balance.
Services at the NADRA Kiosk include:
Bill Payments: Settlement of all utility bills including gas, water, electricity and telephone can done at the Kiosks against registered Consumer numbers.
Online Verification: Verification of the Identity Card Number of any individual is possible at the Kiosk ensuring safety in all business or domestic transaction including sale and purchase of property, automobiles, ownership transfer and/or hiring of employees.
Telecom Scratch Cards: Scratch cards of different service providers of various denominations can also be purchased through the Kiosk machine bearing the required e-pin.
Account Modification: After the creation of a user account, the registered user can modify status, add new services and utility companies and view previous transactions.
Payments are made by inserting the cash directly into the Kiosk's cash acceptor, after biometric identification from central data warehouse. Once the cash is accepted, payment is immediately credited to subscriber’s account through encrypted secure network channel. Customers can use NADRA Kiosk in English, Urdu or any other language. After completion of e-transaction, the system issues a printed receipt as an acknowledgement and updates the balance.
Services at the NADRA Kiosk include:
Bill Payments: Settlement of all utility bills including gas, water, electricity and telephone can done at the Kiosks against registered Consumer numbers.
Online Verification: Verification of the Identity Card Number of any individual is possible at the Kiosk ensuring safety in all business or domestic transaction including sale and purchase of property, automobiles, ownership transfer and/or hiring of employees.
Telecom Scratch Cards: Scratch cards of different service providers of various denominations can also be purchased through the Kiosk machine bearing the required e-pin.
Account Modification: After the creation of a user account, the registered user can modify status, add new services and utility companies and view previous transactions.
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