MULTAN, June 5th: Sha'ur Development Organisation (SDO) and Environment Protection Authority (EPA) joined organised a "Walk" for the awareness of the masses about the pollution and its bad effects on their health. The walk began from District Council and terminated at Chowk Kutchery.It was led by District Officer EPA Zafar Iqbal and Shahid Mehmood Ansari. Earlier addressing a seminar speakers said that With the humans occupying the planet, natural resources became extinct, pollution increased, technology grew. In today’s fast paced world, technological progress, developments and advances are happening everyday. As a consequence, the whole equilibrium of ecosystem is badly disturbed. The collapse of the ecosystem structure means a gradual collapse of the ecosystem functions too that will cause extinction threats and alarming issues for other biodiversity, which raises a question if we can save them or not? They said If we talk about Pakistan, it is home to a number of endangered species, including the woolly flying squirrel, markhor, blue whale, Pakistani sand cat, the ibex wild goat, and several species of birds, whales and turtles. They said that the government action plans on increasing the number of national parks etc cannot only bring a drastic change without individual contribution. We all need to step forward and understand our responsibility for the sake of a green environment and sustainable growth in the long term.Biodiversity is the foundation for a sustainable development. Its ecosystem services provide the basis for all economic activity. Biodiversity concerns need to be integrated into all areas of policy-making. Measures include market incentives, development assistance, biodiversity-friendly trade and international governance processes. Some critical issues and possible suggestions can be followed in this regard as:Without biodiversity there will be no agriculture. Farming practices should not jeopardize species survival: improving farmland diversity and reducing the usage of pesticides and fertilizers are key efforts for saving biodiversity. Encourage buying of food, preferably organic food—vegetables, fruits.Seventy five percent of all fisheries are fully exploited or over-fished. If we do not move towards sustainable use, there will be no fish left for our grandchildren. Similarly export of rare fish species from ports should be banned with an immediate effect. Develop habits to eat sustainable harvested seafood.
Roads, factories and housing schemes destroy habitats for animals and plants. If urban and rural development continues to ignore nature, our surroundings will be dominated by concrete and pollution. Encourage plantation, avoid herbicide/pesticide sprays and herbal medicines.They warned that climate change is considered to be the greatest challenge for humanity. With changing conditions, ecosystems and habitats will change as well. It is an obligation to fight climate change and make sure that species do not migrate or adapt to new surroundings. Reduce climate change impacts by taking public transport, bike, walk, or carpool to work at least one day a week, and avoid air travel where possible. Waste and sewer dumped into water bodies is the major cause of death for aquatic ecosystem. Being responsible citizens, avoid such rude acts (beach, river side, canals etc) and give life to aquatic species. For industrial waste dumps, written laws should be implemented against with full honesty. Tell everyone at home, learning institutes, parks, place of worship and work about what you are doing to conserve biodiversity and ask them to also contribute.
Roads, factories and housing schemes destroy habitats for animals and plants. If urban and rural development continues to ignore nature, our surroundings will be dominated by concrete and pollution. Encourage plantation, avoid herbicide/pesticide sprays and herbal medicines.They warned that climate change is considered to be the greatest challenge for humanity. With changing conditions, ecosystems and habitats will change as well. It is an obligation to fight climate change and make sure that species do not migrate or adapt to new surroundings. Reduce climate change impacts by taking public transport, bike, walk, or carpool to work at least one day a week, and avoid air travel where possible. Waste and sewer dumped into water bodies is the major cause of death for aquatic ecosystem. Being responsible citizens, avoid such rude acts (beach, river side, canals etc) and give life to aquatic species. For industrial waste dumps, written laws should be implemented against with full honesty. Tell everyone at home, learning institutes, parks, place of worship and work about what you are doing to conserve biodiversity and ask them to also contribute.
MULTAN, June 4th:The state of Pakistani children in 2009 is once again a sad reminder that Pakistan is not doing enough for the welfare of its children, said a report launched by Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) here on Thursday at a local hotel. According to the report, every year 400,000 children under five years of age die in Pakistan and out of these, over 300,000 die in the first year of their lives. Similarly, increasing poverty is pushing more and more children towards child labour and state’s neglect towards education reduces their chances to seek education. The report notes that in addition to this, all child related legislation is in an indeterminate state. Speaking at the launch of SPARC’s flagship report ‘The State of Pakistan’s Children 2009’, SPARC Executive Director Arshad Mahmood said this was an opportune time to ask some difficult questions. "We have to ask the state as to what has been done in the last 20 years to ensure that all children enjoy their basic rights. We need to know why it is taking so long to legislate on children and why budgetary allocations for child related programmes remain insignificant," he said. He said that it was also deplorable that there was still no statutory body in the country to protect and promote child rights in Pakistan. "Pakistan ratified the ‘Convention on the Rights of the Child’ in 1990 and committed to align its national laws and policies with the provisions of the convention," he added. He lamented that it was sad that successive governments failed to fulfill the provisions of the convention. "How can we expect Pakistan to prosper without investing in its children?" he asked. Giving details of the report, Mahmood said children in Pakistan continued to bear the brunt of poverty, illiteracy, poor governance, corruption, terrorism and militancy. He said that given the present plight, Pakistani children are easily trapped by militants who exploit their poverty and recruit them into their outfits to meet their designs. "Whichever way we look, children pay a heavy price and remain deprived of the rights enshrined in the country’s constitution as well as in the international instrument to which Pakistan is a signatory," he noted.
MULTAN,April 25th: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has submitted a summary to ministry of water & power for increasing the power tariff by Paisas 34 to Rs.5.50 per unit for southern Punjab. After approval, new tariff would be implemented in the jurisdiction of Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) which would badly hit the agricultural consumers, domestic and commercial consumers who consume 50 to 700 units per month. New tariff will be Rs.2 /unit for consumer of upto 50 units, Rs.8.10/unit for one to 100, Rs.10.80/unit for 101 to 300, Rs.13.50 for 301 to 700. Rs.15.50 /unit for consumer of more than 700 units. In Peak hours MEPCO will also charge 1.33/Unit more with the revised tariff for domestic consumers and Rs.5.47/Unit for agriculture/tubewells. Distribution companies are increasing the power tariff on their own, Recently IESCO, GEPCO and LESCO increased the power tariff by Rs.0.50 to 1.50/unit .On the other hand Government is going to increase electricity rates as it has assured International Monetary Fund (IMF) whenever electricity rates will be increased, their implementation would be counted from 1st April 2010.According to sources, the Government has assured the IMF officials regarding 6 percent increase in electricity rates and implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) in electricity prices. It was also learnt that the Government had forwarded fourth supplementary memorandum of monetary and economic policies to IMF.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said in the National Assembly that government will honour house’ view and would not move the clock forward, a private TV reported. The government last year decided to move the clock forward by one hour from April 1 (till October 31) in order to mitigate power shortage. Yesterday, a notification was issued here said: "In pursuance of the decision of the federal government (April 8, 2009), it is notified for the information of general public that watches and clocks be advanced by an hour from April 1 to October 31 to mitigate the power shortage".
MULTAN,Feb 13th:Activists of the Islami Jamiat Talibat (IJT) Multan have started an aggressive campaign in female institutions all over the city against Valentine’s Day, Basant and Jashan-e-Baharan, and want their “sisters” to stop celebrating Western festivals, as “it is against religious values”.The female IJT activists led by Nazima Amama Tabassum, who are visiting various girls’ educational institutions, including hostels, to deliver lectures and distribute posters, are highlighting how exchanging cards, sending roses and enjoying romantic candle-lit dinners are “sordid acts”. They are also sending text messages to female students in this connection, quoting various references from the holy Quran, and saying that Valentine’s Day is a futile and evil festival used to justify sinful actions. To highlight their message they are sending out a strong and clear message, “ Safe your precious time, money and values for you and your success in this world and the hereafter. Don’t waist them in Basant, Valentine day and Jashn-e-Baharaan.” IJT female activists are known for having protested several times at various institutions. They have considerable influence at places such as Government college for women , Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU)), Nishtar Medical College (NMC), and Quaid-i-Azam Medical College Bahawalpur .Last year, some all-girls educational institutions stopped their students from celebrating Valentine’s Day by imposing a ban on wearing black and red dresses on the occasion. Saima Hameed , a student of BZU appreciated the IJT campaign as she thought it was necessary for public chastisement. “The occasion talks about love and passion, which are considered sacred in Islam. Broadcasting such feelings is forbidden in our religion.”Another supporter, Rafia Fatima, said she completely agreed with the actions these religious activists were taking. “They are saving us from going to hell,” she said. However, Maha Younasa, a student of NMC, strongly condemned these actions. “People should be able to do whatever they want. IJT activists have a problem with virtually everything. They have already managed a ban on Basant, which is an integral part of our culture. This self-righteous behaviour is exactly what gives Pakistan a bad name. Freedom of choice should be present in every society – if people want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, so be it.”Mahwish Zafar , a student of BZU, said that girls at her university celebrated the event in their own way. “Girls in college dress up on Valentine’s Day. They cut cakes together, and have fun generally. They do not think a male partner is important or necessary to celebrate this event with.”
She criticised the IJT campaign, saying they are propagating their point of view negatively by pressurising students. “They are trying to deprive females from entertainment. Celebrating Valentine’s Day is a personal matter, and there is nothing wrong with it. I don’t think celebrating this event has anything to do with religion.”
She criticised the IJT campaign, saying they are propagating their point of view negatively by pressurising students. “They are trying to deprive females from entertainment. Celebrating Valentine’s Day is a personal matter, and there is nothing wrong with it. I don’t think celebrating this event has anything to do with religion.”
MULTAN, Jan 28th: Minister of state & Chairman of Board of Investment Saleem'H Mandviwala has said that present government has embarked upon massiveplans of infra structure development which requires 40 billion dollars in the next five years and this amount increases to about 65 billion dollars if water storage dams are included and Government alone cannot borne this huge investment. Delivering his speech at a seminar on Public private partnership (PPP) at MCCI auditorium jointly organised by IMU Planning commission in collaboration with Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and chaired by Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan president of MCCI.,The minister said that there was no investment in oil & gas exploration during the last seven years because ther was no petroleum policy in Pakistan.However prsent regime had frame a n attractive policy which had attracte the investors. He said that a number of foreign firms wereexploring the oil and gas in the country He said that Gas shortage would be ended with the import of Liquified Natural Gas and we are taking interest in the early import of LNG. He said that there was no coal authority in the country consequently we could not utilize our coal reserves which were sufficient to generate one lac megawatt electricity for 200 years.However present regime introduced THar Coal authority to exploit these resources. Mandviwala said that there should an energy policy for 50 years to put the country on the track of progress and prosperity. He said that Rental power plants would start functioning during next two months which may cause an increase 6 percent power tariff. He said that due representation would be given to MCCI in a businessmen delegation for Turkey. The Seminar was also addressed by Lt.Gen(retd) Muhammad Zubair member Planning Commission, Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan, Tanvir Ahmed Sheikh .Dr.Sania Nishtar and Arsalan Vardag also spoke. TheMCCI President said in his welcome address that The Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry is the premier Chamber of the Southern Punjab and is playing a pivotal role in the economic development of this area. We often arrange training programs, seminars and workshops to provide awareness and latest information related to the trade & industry to the business community as well as the general public in collaboration with various governmental and private departments and organizations. The seminar of today is also a part of this chain.There is a dire need of Public Private Partnership in the infrastructure development of Pakistan because it is not possible for our country to bear the huge investment in infrastructure in the current scenario. We appreciate the efforts of present regime for involving private sector in the governmental development projects. Establishing Public Private Partnership for infrastructure development is one of the key area for the government to pursue for short and long term development of the country. We also appreciate the Infrastructure Management Unit for taking the initiative in starting a subproject “Integration & Streamlining PPP in Planning Process” which aims to create general awareness on Public Private Partnership at national level and specifically to train professionals working on PPP related matters from all relevant public and private organizations. This Chamber assures you of its full cooperation in promoting the PPP for infrastructure development in the country.
MULTAN, Jan 19th:Workers & owners of Power looms will observe token hunger strike on Wednesday in Multan and a number of hunger striking camps would be established in different sectors said, Office bearers of All Pakistan Power Looms Association (APLA) Khaliq Qandeel Ansari, Sanaullah Ansari, Rana Muhammad Yamin, and Shahid Sultan said that more than 60,000 powers looms have son far been closed since January 15th and would remain close in Multan and other parts of Southern Punjab till acceptance of their demands .They announced to auction their 10,000 power looms on February 2nd while a delegation of power looms would visit Bangladesh for shifting of power loom industry They said we have observed complete lock-out at the call of All Pakistan Power looms Association (APLA). They said that more than one lac workers rendered jobless due to closure of power looms The workers organized a big rally and staged a demonstration at Chowk Manzoorabad as a protest against the export of cotton yarn, high prices of yarn and 10 to 14 hours long power load-shedding. THe workers stated that Protests in the southern Punjab turned violent as long hours of loadshedding continued. Thousands of people, including powerloom owners and workers, traders and shopkeepers, took out a rally on the call of the Powerloom Workers Association & APLA -- after marching through the Chungi No.14, Manzoor Abad-- where they staged a sit-in and blocked the Road for a hours. The protesters were chanting slogans against the government. They were also carrying placards and banners.They vehemently condemned the Police excession against the powerloom workers and citizens in Kasur and said that there was no justification for and baton-charging the peaceful protesters to disperse them.Addressing the protesters, speakers said loadshedding had rendered 100,000 factory workers and hundreds of daily-wagers jobless but the government was not taking any step to control it. They warned the government of taking out more rallies if it failed to control loadshedding.