Kalar Kahar tragedy: Millat School reopens Monday

TrendPK.com
FAISALABAD: District administration of the city Saturday decided to reopen Millat Grammar School shut down in the wake of Kalar Kahar tragedy which left nearly 40 persons dead mostly schoolchildren.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Faisalabad Naseem Sadiq said the decision was taken keeping in view the consent from 81 percent parents of the school students.

Talking to media after the special meeting, the DCO said the district administration will extensively supervise the school, adding the school registration had been temporarily cancelled.

Prior to this announcement, parents were sought their opinion in a meeting with EDO Education and DCO at Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium here.

Students and parents alike welcomed the decision urging district administration on effective monitoring of the school affairs so that tragedies could be averted in future. TrendPK

Govt. plans petroleum levy on CNG

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Petroleum has decided to impose a petroleum levy on compressed natural gas (CNG) of Rs. 5 per kilogram, TrendPK reported on Tuesday.

This latest decision comes a week after the government increased the price of CNG by Rs. 6 per kilogram.

The ministry says that the government will earn additional revenue of Rs. 12 billion through this levy.

Officials say the decision has been made to reduce the profit of CNG owners. They say that the CNG sector could not be promoted any further due to the country’s depleting gas reservoirs.

On the other hand, the CNG Association has rejected the proposed petroleum levy on CNG and called a meeting on August 11 to chalk out its next strategy. TrendPK

Local governments reinstated in whole Sindh

KARACHI: With the mark of pen, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad finalized reinstatement of Local Government system in entire Sindh province, TrendPK reported early Monday.

Meanwhile, Quaid Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain has welcomed the decision whereas Awami National Party (ANP) said that president Zardari and Governor Ebad jointly foiled attempts of conspiracy to divide Sindh on ethnic basis.

NEPRA okays Rs.0.61/unit hike in power tariff

KARACHI: National Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has given approval to 61 paisa increase in electricity tariff per unit as it reserved verdict over increase of power tariff on Thursday, TrendPK reported.

According to NEPRA officials, the electricity tariff has been raised under monthly fuel adjustment charges.

Eight power distribution companies excluding Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) requested NEPRA to allow hike in tariff by Rs 0.61 per unit under monthly fuel adjustment charges, which would be implemented from the month of May.

The hearing was held on these applications on Thursday after which the decision was kept reserved by the authorities.

The approval will be applicable on all electricity consumers except KESC’s which will be charged in next months’ bills.

ICC bans govts to appoint board members

Cricket s governing body on Thursday banned governments from appointing members of national cricket boards, vowing to free the sport from undue government influence.

The International Cricket Council told a media conference in Hong Kong that it had made the decision to uphold “the important principle of free elections and the independence” of the sport.

China agrees to control Gwadar Port, Raisani rejects decision

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said that China and Pakistan have agreed to work jointly to establish peace in the region. China will be handed over the control of Gwadar Port when Singapore Auhtority’s tenure would come to an end.

He revealed that China has also decided to give FC-20 jets to Pak Air Force while Pakistan had requested China to give a frigate of 44,000 tonnes weight on credit.

On the other hand, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawaz Aslam Raisani has rejected the decision of handing over the Gwadar Port to China because the federal government did not take the provincial government into confidence. He said that Balochistan government has ability to handle the port.

Y-Films is releasing their debut film Luv Ka The End internationally

Given the brand new star cast of Y-Films’ LUV KA THE END, one assumed that the youth wing of Yash Raj would not release the film internationally, but the company, headed by the enterprising Ashish Patil, is gung ho about the product and has taken the decision to release the film in theatres internationally.

While the film will have a fairly extensive release in U.A.E., Yash Raj will release the film limited screens in U.S.A., South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Fiji, Mauritius and Indonesia. Generally, non-star cast films or those starring new names are released directly on DVD, but this move should encourage film-makers making films with new faces to explore international avenues as well theatrically.

Catherine Zeta-Jones Checks Herself Into a Clinic

Catherine Zeta-Jones has spoken openly about why she recently checked herself into an unspecified clinic to seek treatment. Zeta-Jones reportedly spent about 5 days in the facility. People magazine has quoted a friend to the actress as saying;

“There’s no question it’s been a stressful year,” the friend says. “Catherine has had to deal with Michael’s illness and that’s been hard. She went in for a few days because she’s about to start working, and wanted to make sure she’s in top form, which she is.”

Her husband Michael Douglas has been fighting cancer, he has now been declared as free of cancer after 6 months of chemotherapy and radiation.

Catherine Zeta-Jones has also said via her rep;

“After dealing with the stress of the past year, Catherine made the decision to check in to a mental health facility for a brief stay to treat her Bipolar II disorder,” the rep says in a statement. “She’s feeling great and looking forward to starting work this week on her two upcoming films.”

SC seeks government reply over reformation of ECP

The Supreme Court, taking notice of the plea file by News Trends senior anchor Mubashar Luqman, sought the federal government’s reply over delay in reformation of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under the constitution.

A three-member bench on the SC, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard the plea of Mubashar Luqman about incomplete formation of the ECP. The SC also linked the plea of Imran Khan about bogus votes with the case. The SC, while issuing the notices, ordered the government to submit a written reply in the case.

Mubashar Luqman requested the court to stop the ECP from holding local body elections. The CJP said that the decision would be announced after parties’ reply. After the hearing, Imran Khan said that 30 million bogus votes questioned the credibility of democratic system.

Afridi should lead the team for long time: Wasim

The former captain of Pakistan cricket team Wasim Akram has said that Shahid Afridi should lead the team for a long time. According to him, he captained very well in World Cup 2011. Wasim Akram was giving interview to a Pakistani private channel. He said that due to the great captaincy of Afridi, Pakistan won the 6 matches out of 8 and reach into the semi-finals.

Batting coach is necessary: Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram supported the decision of batting coach and said that with his our batsman can correct their mistakes. He asked that most of the teams have the batting coaches at this time, then why we don’t have?

Wasim Akram says, this is a great opportunity for youngsters

Wasim Akram further said that extras is the big problem of green shirts but I hope that bowling coach Waqar Younis and his assistant Aqib Javed will work to recover this problem. He supported the decision of PCB’s selection committee to give chance to youngsters and said that this is a great opportunity for youngsters to prove themselves as the alternates of old players and make their place in the team. Especially he said that Hammad Azam is a good and very talented player. Wasim Akram added that giving rest to Umar Gul is a good decision.

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