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.

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.

Railways increases fare of passengers, freight trains

Pakistan Railways administration has increased the fare of all passenger and freight trains by 10 to 20 per cent. Ashfaq Ahmad Khatak, General Manager Operations Pakistan Railways told this while talking to APP here on Saturday.

He said the PR administration has taken the decision in response to financial pressure as the prices of fuel and other utilities have risen substantially.

He said that fares of passenger trains run on short-distance sections, such as Lahore-Narowal, Lahore-Lalamusa,Lahore-Jaranwala as been increased by 10 per cent.fares for Mail and Express long distance inter-city passenger trains has been raised by 15 per cent, the fares for Non-stop passenger trains and freight trains has been increased by 20 per cent.

The GM said, the PR administration wanted to increase fares of freight trains by more than 20 per cent, adding that in order to facilitate the traders, the freight charges have been increased by only 20 per cent. He said the decision would be effective from Feb 1. Ashfaq Khatak stressed that the decision of increasing fares was taken after the approval of the cabinet.

Fog-covered Motorway closed again

ISLAMABAD: Motorway has once again been closed for all sorts of traffic, as dense fog has prevailed over the entire landscape here on Monday night.

Commuters travelling to or from Lahore, are facing massive troubles owing to thick fog on highways including Motorway.

Motorway stretch from Sheikhupura Interchange to Ravi Toll Plaza, has been shut down thanks to zero visibility.

IG Motorway said travelers re advised to take alternative path, attributing the decision to poor visibility that shrank to 15 meters on some places.

The Motorway high officials directed passengers to travel except under emergency with fog lights on. TrendPK

Pillion riding not allowed during Muharram in Lahore

Staff Report

LAHORE: Pillion riding during Muharram-ul-Haram has been banned in the city while army would be deployed to control the law and order situation.

Lahore CCPO Aslam Tareen, while talking to media persons on Wednesday, said that pillion riding is banned from first to 10th Muharram while children and women are exempted.

He also said that army would be deployed along with the police from 6th Muharram on sensitive locations.

Tareen said that the decision of the deployment of army and rangers has been taken for the protection of the general public. Trend Pk

Farmers protest against sale of fertile lands to foreign companies

Staff Report

HYDERABAD: The farmers of Hyderabad staged a dancing protest on Thursday against the sale of fertile lands of Sindh to foreign companies for corporate farming.

The protestors led by Green Rural Development Organization and Hari Porhiyat Council marched from Poonam Chowk to Sindh Museum.

The participants of the rally bitterly criticized the decision of the government, saying that only the farmers have right over these lands and it is unjust with them to give the lands to foreign companies.

They demanded the government to withdraw the decision immediately. Trend Pk

Farmers protest against sale of fertile lands to foreign companies

Staff Report

HYDERABAD: The farmers of Hyderabad staged a dancing protest on Thursday against the sale of fertile lands of Sindh to foreign companies for corporate farming.

The protestors led by Green Rural Development Organization and Hari Porhiyat Council marched from Poonam Chowk to Sindh Museum.

The participants of the rally bitterly criticized the decision of the government, saying that only the farmers have right over these lands and it is unjust with them to give the lands to foreign companies.

They demanded the government to withdraw the decision immediately. Trend Pk

SC orders registration of cases against fake degree holders

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to file cases against the parliamentarians holding fake degrees.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry gave this ruling while hearing a plea filed by ex-MNA Amir Yar Awaran against his disqualification over possession of bogus degree.

Attorney General told the apex court that restructuring of the Election Commission is under process and in line with the prevailing law; a case could be registered against any fake degree holder in Session court.

The court ruled that there was no confusion in the decision and that any concerned officials of the ECP can file cases against fake degree holders. Trend Pk

CNG Association decides for strike

The CNG association has decided for a country wide strike after failed negotiations with the government, Dunya News reported on Wednesday.
According to sources it would be a three-round strike. In the first round all the CNG stations in the potohar region would remain closed tomorrow. The formal announcement of the decision would be done by the office bearers of the CNG association.
All Pakistan CNG Association has rejected the decision of two day closure of the CNG stations in the country. The association is of the view that CNG stations should be exempted from the program of gas loadshedding.

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