Lahore: Chicken price dispute resolved

The chicken price soared up to Rs 230 per kg from Rs 150 per kg during the last few weeks.

The Lahore district administration fixed the price at Rs 200 a kg but the Poultry Traders Association refused to accept the rates and went on strike.
After the strike of the Poultry Traders Association, chicken sale was partially suspended in Lahore for two days.

The chicken sale has been restored in the city, following an agreement between the Poultry Traders Association and the district administration for selling the chicken at Rs 215 per kg.

More Excitement Than Pressure,” Hashim Amla

South African top order batsman Hashim Amla said that there is a lot of excitement in the South African side and they are not feeling any pressure. The win against Indian team is more moral boasting for them and they are looking to continue their good form in future.

He added that in recent times there are many South African players who went in top ranks and they are in good position to win the cup. He is main member of 15 men squad announced by South Africa. He said that he is fully aware of his responsibility and he is looking to perform well under the burden of responsibility.

Amla added that in term of matches and experience he is less experience then Grame Smith and Kallis but he feel s responsibility of senior player. He had seven ODI centuries and out which six came during the last nine months.

Amla is happy with his batting performances and said that he played test match befog coming to play ODI’s. The performance of test matches helped him a lot in ODI’s. He also praised spinner Johan Botha and said that he is very intelligent bowler. South African world cup squad is heavily depending upon spinners and they thinks that spin department will pay them a lot.

Pak foreign investment decreases

Pak foreign investment decreases during the last week.
During the week ended on 9th of January, Pakistan foreign investment decreased by 16.9 million dollar in spite of bullish KSE. US investors made 1.4 millions dollar investment while British investors pulled 47 millions dollars from the market.

Zulkernain Haider Case Still A Mystery

The case of former Pakistani wicket keeper now retired is still under investigations. He flew away from Dubai on the mo0rning of the match day and went to UK. He didn’t tell any one that he is going to Dubai and update his Face Book and write on it that he is having threats of life.

Fact finding committee of PCB was investigating the case after his central contract is also cancelled. Subhan Ahmed (COO, PCB), manager Intikhab Alam and security manager Khawaja Najam were three members of fact finding committee. The results of the fact finding committee indicates that Zulkernain Haider is still not telling a truth.

According to information he had also faced an inquiry for trying to settle down in UK during the last visit of Pakistan. A night before he left the country he was sharing the room with Wahab Riaz who is also a very close friend of him. He didn’t share any thing with Wahab and was normal.

Haider said that he was getting threats from stranger and he received threats in early matches but the question arises why he decided to left the team on the fifth and final ODI match day. Report also concludes that he is a nervous man and have a complex personality.

A Playground for every child in Pakistan

Pakistan is undergoing the largest wave of urban growth in its history.

Historically, cities have been the driving force in economic and social development. During the last half a century the population of Pakistan has grown about three, but urban Pakistan has grown by nearly six times, double the rate of population growth. In particular with the robust economic growth averaging 7 percent and availability of millions of new jobs created between 2000 and 2008, there has been rapidly increased rural to urban migration in Pakistan to fill the jobs in growing manufacturing and service sectors. The level of urbanization in Pakistan is now the highest in South Asia which was 36% in 2008. With over 5 million rural migrants each year, the population of Pakistani cities in exploding, and Karachi has now become the world’s largest city.

The increasing urbanization is causing problems for the social services in Pakistan, and has lead to rising of urban poverty. The illusion of plentiful and better job opportunities and a better quality of life is often shattered when people from rural areas move to urban cities and towns. However, some outcomes are severe strains on housing and health, water supplies as well as on the necessary environment management. The worst incidence of urban poverty can be spotted in large towns and cities. Poverty is now growing faster in urban than in rural areas. Millions of people live in urban slums, which are typically overcrowded, polluted and dangerous, and lack basic services such as clean water and sanitation. Urban air quality has deteriorated largely on account of growth in industrial activity, transportation needs and energy production. The growing demand of water, along with poor water resource management and mounting pollution levels contributes to water supply problems in and around cities. As number of people in urban area increases, so does the demand for food and hence for irrigation in agricultural areas close to cities.

In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Urbanization is associated with higher incomes, improved health, higher literacy, improved quality of life and other benefits. Cities generate jobs and income. With good governance, they can deliver education, health care and other services more efficiently than less densely settled areas simply because of their advantages of scale and proximity. While mega-cities have captured much public attention, most of the new growth will occur in smaller towns and cities, which have fewer resources to respond to the magnitude of the change. Often people who leave the countryside to find better lives in the city have no choice but to settle in shantytowns and slums, where they lack access to decent housing and sanitation, health care and education—in effect, trading in rural for urban poverty. The result is in terms of poor quality housing, lack of water supply and sanitation facility and lack of proper waste disposal facility leading to spread of communicable diseases.

This trend has made farm lands in urban areas to be used for residential purposes resulting to constantly shrinking of agriculture lands in Pakistan has become a cause of concern to farmers of the country as well as for other physical infrastructure development. Farm lands have been reduced in the wake of rapid population growth resulting mainly from immigration. The farmers fear that the growing trend of private builders purchasing the agricultural land for building residential colonies, complexes would lead to devastating situation of food crisis in coming years. The increased in population is also accompanied by a corresponding increase in the amount of waste generated in the form of sewage and solid waste which, if properly managed or disposed can create serious health and environment problems. If government agencies will not pay attention to this problem, then it is possible that in years to come, sufficient land might not be available for our next generation.

The most effective way to slow rates of urban growth is to reduce unwanted fertility in both rural and urban areas. Lowering poverty, empowering women and providing quality reproductive health services all influence fertility preferences and ability to meet them. Improving access to basic social and health services, including reproductive health care, for poor people in urban slums is also critical to breaking the cycle of poverty.
There is a need for the policy makers and planners to revisit the urban situation across the upland settlements of the country. The medium and small towns are expanding with appreciable pace in an unorganized manner. They need appropriate planning and policy intervention to accommodate the rising urban population.

Vast majority of people in rural Pakistan still depend on agriculture, for their livelihood. it is also the area with the most unemployment, underemployment, and poverty. No doubt, villages are in a state of neglect and under-development, with impoverished people, as result of past legacies and defects in our planning process and investment pattern. But the potential in rural Pakistan is immense. What if every village in the country is provided with basic amenities, like drinking water, electricity, health care, educational transport, communication and other facilities, with only a smaller population of the village engaged in agriculture and the remaining in other gainful occupations? When this happens Pakistan will turn into mighty country. The purchasing power of the rural population throwing enormous demand for goods and services will boost the national economy tremendously. The day will see the reverse migration of people from the urban slums back to the villages.

Aftermath of terrorism in Pakistan

Pakistan is the greatest victim of terrorism as a result of so called war on terror; its economy has so far suffered huge loss of over $40 billion during the last nine years of this war in addition to irreparable social losses. Investment is at the lowest level. Growing poverty is affecting the whole nation resulting to fuel further to strengthen already caused terrorism.

Today out of 170 millions populations, about 60% is living below the poverty line; Poverty, lack of justice and socio-economic alienation are being exploited by the terrorist outfits and their masterminds to lure young impressionable minds and recruit them as suicide bombers. People do not have to eat two times a day that encourages them to adopt illicit alternatives to meet their basic needs. The widening gap between the rich and poor is also providing an opportunity to the terrorists to cash this feeling of being ignored in the poverty struck regions.

Not all but some, especially perturbed youth definitely fall prey of the net spread by the terrorist outfits. Our leadership, instead of taking effective steps to expunge the terrorism by ensuring access to justice for all, promoting widespread education, raising employment opportunities, eradicating poverty, and development of channel of communication, is constantly engaged in its own activities. Corruption is touching its new heights reaching at 34th world ranking, political appointments are continuing to be showered on near and dear ones and those paying bribe. Employment rate in private sector is declining due to deepening energy crisis and resultant closure of industrial units.

Pakistan’s economy has been severely affected by its commitment to fighting extremism. The socio-political cost of terrorism and militancy inflicted on our country is immeasurable. Pakistan is the country that has made sacrifices and is still doing so. The threat of terrorism has caused a tremendous loss to the economy. The imprudent policies being pursued by the government has reduced the country to such demeaning position that country is being likened to a dog. It is better to die than descending to such lowest level of subservience and submission. This amount of degradation is intolerable and it is a matter of concern for the nation.

The most important impact of terrorist activity is reduction in the flow of private finance into the country. It has happened at the time when Pakistan is running very high trade and balance of payments deficits. The rise in suicide attacks and counter-terror operations by the Pak Army has led to flight of capital that peaked in 2009-2010. Now Pakistani investors are even not inclined to invest in Pakistan what to say about foreign investors. Pakistani officials have no answer to foreign investors who ask them why they should invest in Pakistan when Pakistanis themselves were investing in other countries. No one comes to invest in a country like Pakistan confronted with a debt trap and a growing fiscal deficit in addition to terrorism and law and order situation. Pakistan’s debt has gone above 60% of GDP during the previous two years and fiscal deficit is growing. FDI is the engine of to-day economic growth. Countries need more FDI and FPI in order to generate job opportunities, and desired economic targets. For Pakistan, it is a question of sustenance because FDI is vital for the reduction of widening of trade and account deficits. Hence it is imperative for the Government to convince the international investors for more and more FDI and FPI. While fighting against terrorism, Government needs to take concrete steps which would ensure foreign investors that their investment is safe in Pakistan and it is a key to wiping out terrorism within the country and worldwide.

Watch Amazing Race 17 Winner

Watch Amazing Race 17 Winner!

Who won The Amazing Race 17?
Jill and Thomas? Brook and Claire? or Nat and Kat? Nobody, yet. The Amazing Race 17 finale (season 17 episode 12) will be airing tonight Sunday December 12, 2010 at 8:00 PM on CBS, and that’s when we’ll find out who will be declared as the The Amazing Race 17 winner for 2010.

With the exit of Nick and Vicki during the last episode, we’re now left with only three couples equally capable competitors – the dating couple, the doctors and the home shopping hosts. Who will win The Amazing Race 17? The winner is decided in The Amazing Race 17 finale tonight Sunday December 12, 2010. The Amazing Race final three teams depart Seoul, South Korea and head home to race for the finish line and one million dollars, for two teams, the chance to become the first ever all-female team to win TAR.

Lahore: pillion riding banned from 1st Muharram

Pillion riding has been banned in Peshawar due to security concerns from 1st till 20th December while the same has been banned in Lahore from 1st Muharram till 10th Muharram, trendpk.Com reported on Wednesday.

Peshawar administration banned pillion riding due to security threats and concerns while a notification has also been issued in this regard. Wall-chalking, carrying of arms and tainted-window cars shave also been banned alongwith pillion riding. Those violating the law would be immediately sent to the jail.

On the other hand CCPO Lahore Aslam Tareen met with Shiite scholars to discuss with them issues related with security during Muharram-ul-Haraam. The CCPO told the media that Rangers and Army personnel would be deployed in sensitive areas during the last four days of the first 10 days of Muharram. He also said that the security has been beefed up for Raiwand gathering.

NEPRA reduces KESC power tariff by 84 paisas per unit

Staff Report

KARACHI: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) reduced the power tariff of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) by 84 paisas per unit on Monday.

According to NEPRA sources, this power tariff reduction has been made on a quarterly review basis and will cover all consumers of KESC.

After a constant price hike of power tariff during the last few months, citizens of the metropolis finally breathed a sigh of relief and felt deep joy after this current reduction of KESC’s power tariff. Trend Pk

Awan confirms Rs. 223.90 mln grant for bar associations, councils

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Babar Awan has confirmed that his ministry had released Rs223.90 million in grant for various bar associations and bar councils during the last financial year.

In a written reply to the Upper House, he said: “Punjab’s bar associations received Rs 87.50 million in grant during 2009-10. Bar associations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa got Rs33.50 million. Balochistan’s bar associations received Rs46.20 million. Sindh’s bar associations Rs10.6 million and bar associations of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan obtained grants of Rs20 million.”

In addition, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) was given Rs20 million and Bar Councils of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received Rs10 million each. Trend Pk

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