Arrangements for Muharram security finalised

* 5,000 policemen will be deployed in Rawalpindi district during the month

RAWALPINDI: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has said a comprehensive security plan has been finalised after consultations with elected representatives, Ulema and Zakreens from different schools of thought with a view to maintaining an atmosphere of peace in the province.

He said control rooms had been established at the tehsil, district and divisional levels to ensure coordination and quick response to an emergency by the departments concerned.

The minister directed the divisional and district administration and police heads to ensure all necessary facilities including security cover, cleanliness, availability of light, medical aid and other facilities for processions at all levels. Similarly, strict action would be taken against elements spreading sectarian hatred or making provocative speeches, he added.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting held here to review law and order arrangements in the Rawalpindi division during Muharram. The members of Punjab cabinet's Sub-Committee on Muharram also attended the meeting.

Rana Sanaullah said foolproof security arrangements would be ensured in the province during Muharram and the administration and police had been ordered to maintain peace at the divisional, district and sub-divisional levels.

He said the local administration at the district and sub-divisional levels should ensure implementation of the code of conduct prepared for maintaining religious harmony during Muharram.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had directed to take all necessary measures for maintenance of peace in the province during Muharram and the cabinet sub-committee members were visiting divisional headquarters to ensure security arrangements.

Labour Minister Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said walk-through gates, metal detectors and body search by volunteers and security personnel should be ensured and procession organisers be involved in the process.

Colonel Shuja Khanzada said keeping in view the overall security situation of the country, the citizens should play their role for the maintenance of peace.

Home Secretary Major Azam Suleman and IGP Khan Baig said no leniency would be shown to those who violated the code of conduct framed for Muharram and all possible assistance would be provided to the administrations of all districts.

According to a Rawalpindi police spokesman, as many as 5,000 policemen will be deployed in the Rawalpindi district.

He said the district police had finalised security strategy under which they would make concerted efforts in collaboration with other departments for maintaining law and order and to avert any untoward incident.

Under the security plan, leaves of all police personnel have been cancelled for Muharram.

The spokesman said Ulema and Mashaiksh from different schools of thought have been taken on board to promote religious harmony.

He said an additional force of the Special Branch, the Elite Force, the Punjab Constabulary, the Lady Police and Rangers would be deployed to ensure security during the holy month. Strict checking of vehicles would be made at the entry points of the Rawalpindi city, he added.

The spokesperson said all processions would be monitored through closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. No vehicles would be allowed to park within 200 yards of Imambarghs, he added.

He said no one would be allowed to stand on rooftops of commercial and residential buildings situated along the route of the main mourning procession, while armed police personnel would be deployed on rooftops. Police patrolling would be enhanced during Muharram, he added. He said the route of the main procession of Muharram would be sealed and streets would be barricaded.

According to Rawalpindi CPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana, strict security arrangements would be made for the security of Majalis and mourning processions. The Quick Response Force (QRF) would be deployed for the protection of mourning processions during Muharram, he added. Daily Times

NUML imposes dress code on students

ISLAMABAD: The National University of Modern Languages (NUML) has introduced a strict dress code for its students.

As per the new dress code displayed on the main gate and notice boards of all departments, female students have been restricted from wearing jewellery, tights, T-shirts and jeans. On the other hand, male students have also been restricted from wearing shirts inscribed with remarks. The students will also not be allowed to wear 'precious and colourful' dresses.

The university administration has deployed a female guard for implementation of the new dress code for female students. The students from different departments have protested against the new dress code issued by the university administration and declared it against their basic freedom. University Spokesman Amir Saleem said the new dress code had been introduced to make the students 'civilised and responsible persons'. He said the step had been taken on the demand of parents. online  

Residents of twin cities warming up for winter

 

* Sale of quilts, blankets, heaters and geysers increases

ISLAMABAD: The demand for quilts, winter clothes, blankets and heating appliances has increased in the twin cities with the approaching winter season.

"Our business is going very well, although it is just the start of the season and it would gain momentum after rainfall," said a quilts shopkeeper at Sittara Market. He said there was a great demand for quilts, hoping that he would earn handsome money in the season by selling quilts and blankets.

Meanwhile, a large number of people were witnessed buying woollies, jackets and warm clothes from the markets of the twin cities including Aabpara, Karachi Company, Peshawar Mor, Raja Bazaar, Saddar and Commercial Market.

Heaps of used quilts, blankets and rugs are on sale in the weekly bazaars of the capital. Crowds of people can be seen bargaining with retailers in markets and weekly bazaars.

A stall owner, Ahmed Ali, said the demand for used warm clothes was on the rise and he expected that as the mercury decreased, the sales would increase.

"The poor get warm clothes from the second-hand cloth markets at very cheap prices," said Mir Ali, a shopper at a weekly bazaar.

Meanwhile, with the cold wave intensifying, the purchase for heating appliances has also gone up in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The demand for traditional heaters, geysers and other such appliances has nearly doubled this year.

Adil Khan, a shopkeeper, said the change in weather compelled the consumers to purchase these products despite gas shortage and countrywide power outages.

There was a variety of winter items including locally-manufactured heaters, geysers and cooking ranges that were not only expensive but also more durable, a shopkeeper said.

However, an average quality gas heater is available for Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, while an average quality geyser's price ranges from Rs 9,000 to Rs 15,000. The prices of branded geysers manufactured by reputed companies start from Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000 this season, which are about 10 to 20 per cent higher than in the previous year.

On the other hand, doctors have advised people not to sleep with heaters on. They said people should allow some air passage in to the room where heaters were kept to avoid suffocation.

Increase in demand for dry fruits witnessed: With the advent of the winter season, the sale of dry fruits has increased in the twin cities.

It has been observed that the number of customers seeking dry fruits at various markets is on the increase and vendors are exploiting the opportunity with increased prices.

The prices of dry fruits have gone beyond the reach of the common man. Apart from regular shopkeepers, roadside dry fruit vendors have also raised the prices. The prices of dry fruits including almond, pistachio, walnut, pine nut, dates, cashew nut, dried apricot, coconut, fig and peanut had increased, said a vendor at G9 Markaz.

A shop owner, Gul Khan, at Aabpara Market, said dry fruits were mostly used in the winter season to get some relief from cold and argued that there was no price hike. But many buyers complained that this year the prices of dry fruits were out of their reach.

Most of these fruits grow in hilly areas like Northern Areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Balochistan, FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In the winter season, many people present dry fruits to their guests as hospitality. Almond is considered favourite and its demand is higher than any other dry fruit. The poor cannot afford buying most of the dry fruits, but peanuts are the most popular item among them due to their lower rates.

Medical experts have warned these winter items could increase the level of cholesterol and fatty acids in the blood. app

400 to participate in youth conference at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU)

ISLAMABAD (APP): As many as 400 youth from across the country would participate in the two-day National Youth Conference `Building a democratic society\' to be kicked off from October 28 (Monday). The conference would be held at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in collaboration with Voice of New Generation (VNG), Civil Society Support Programme (CSSP). Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal would be chief guest on the occasion while the other guests including Ms Britta, Henrish Boll Foundation, Dr Manzoor Awan, Oxfam GB, Mr Moiz Ali, Plan International, Sajjad Qaiserani, CEO Sungi Development Foundation. The conference would help sensitize youth about their increasing role in public affairs and give them a platform to interact and dialogue with youth organizations, policy makers, public and private institutes, intellectuals, writers, journalists and elected representatives. The conference is aimed at inspiring participants through sharing of information and interacting with various sections of the society and clarifying the inter-provincial issues through constructive dialogue and debate.

http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/50592/

 

PIMS grapples with shortage of life-saving drugs

By Kiyya Qadir Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The capital's largest public hospital, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), is grappling with the shortage of life-saving medicines. The patients' attendants have alleged that they have to either buy medicines from the market or visit a private hospital for treatment.
There are three types of essential drugs required at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and they include Epinephrine, Phenylephrine and Piperacillin, which are also not available at the PIMS.
PIMS sources told this scribe that essential life-saving drugs were not available in the Emergency and other wards, which forced doctors to either refer the patients to another hospital or ask them to buy them from outside. "In both cases, we end up in trouble and the patients and their attendants have to suffer," said a senior doctor on the condition of anonymity. "Dialysis catheters, ambo bags and arterial lines, an ample stock of which are required round the clock, are missing too," he added.
The situation is grimmer in the Emergency Ward as it bears the maximum load of patients because of being the capital's largest hospital. The Emergency Ward of the PIMS is overflowing with patients. Attendants at the hospital claimed that doctors expressed their inability in providing medicines to the patients because of their shortage.
A senior surgeon from PIMS, who wished to remain unnamed, said all wards within the hospital, in particular the Emergency Ward, had been experiencing an acute shortage of required medicines for the last one month.
Countless complaints from different wards regarding the shortage of medicine had been registered with the high-ups of the hospital, the senior surgeon said, adding, "However, owing to the attitude of the hospital higher-ups who are least bothered to solve people's problems, the matter is still lingering on." He said due to the lack of medicines, people were compelled to purchase medicines from private medical stores, which were otherwise available free of cost at public health units.
It is worth-mentioning here that every day, thousands of patients visit the Out-Patient Department (OPD) of the PIMS. The majority of the patients belong to the poor segment of the society and are unable to purchase medicines from private medical stores.
Rahat Samad, an attendant, alleged that apart from shortage of medicines, they were also not getting proper treatment. Refuting the charges, the hospital's spokeswomen Dr Ayesha Eshani said all the essential medicines were available in the hospital. There was no shortage of drugs at the PIMS and patients had been getting them free of cost round the clock, she added.

PTI may abandon bid to replace leader of opposition

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s bid to install a new leader of the opposition in the National Assembly may not be pursued further after its core committee expressed reservations about the possibility of joining hands with Muttahida Qaumi Movement to dislodge the incumbent Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah.

 

Its numerical strength on the opposition benches in the National Assembly makes it impossible for the PTI to realise its idea of removal of PPPP's Shah, whom it has accused of being hand in glove with the PML-N government. The PPPP has 44 MNAs, followed by PTI's 35 while the MQM has a tally of 24

 

MNAs while eight legislators are still having an independent status.

 

Imran Khan caused a stir in political circles when in a news briefing on Friday he declared that the PTI would push for the removal of Khursheed Shah. But it appears the commotion has subsided after the core committee's meeting.

 

The key decision-making forum of the party also gave a go-ahead to launching countrywide agitation against price spiral and unprecedented inflation.

 

The core committee also took a major decision that the assets and tax details of all MNAs, MPAs and members of the core committee belonging to PTI, would be shortly put on the party's website to promote transparency.

 

Sources privy to the committee's meeting here, chaired by Chairman Imran Khan, told The News that the majority of participants were opposed to PTI's alignment with MQM at any cost.

 

"It is expected that Imran will regularly attend the assembly sessions in future to expose, what they called- the dummy opposition leader. He will demonstrate that he is a genuine opposition leader," sources maintained.

 

PTI sources claimed that instead of talking to media conferences, Imran would concentrate on raising the burning issues such as skyrocketing prices of commodities and petroleum products as well as massive hike in power tariff and security issues.

 

They dispelled the impression that the committee had proposed the name of Imran Khan as leader of the opposition in place of Shah, whose leader Asif Zardari immediately after leaving the Presidency had declared in Lahore that his party would ensure that the PML-N government completes its five-year term.

 

PTI sources hastened to add that nothing was final in politics but presently, there was fierce opposition to having a working relationship with MQM in the National Assembly and to remove Shah with its support in the numerical game.

 

The proposal of floating name of Awami Muslim League leader MNA Sheikh Rashid Ahmad for the slot of leader of the opposition was opposed.

 

Imran asked party leaders to desist from issuing statement regarding the appointment of brother of leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly as head of the Land Acquisition Department of the LDA.

 

Sources said that he also called for issuing notices to those who issued statements in this connection. Further PTI Punjab President Ijaz Chaudhry was asked to look into the appointment of brother of Mehmoodur Rashid as LAD head.

Mumtaz Alvi
Sunday, October 27, 2013
From Print Edition

 

Tenpin bowling World Cup qualifiers underway

 

National players of Karachi and Islamabad received their training from an American bowling coach Allan Smith. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: 

Top players of the country will battle it out at the National Tenpin Bowling Ranking Championship in Karachi to book their spot in the 49th Qubica World Cup 2013, scheduled to take place next month in Russia.

The Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation (PTBF) will send the top three players from the national ranking championship to represent the country, whereas three other players will participate in the World Tour in Abu Dhabi next month.

PTBF Secretary Ijazur Rehman said that the top 60 players of the country would compete in the National Ranking Championship and the selection of the players for international events depends on their performance.

He said that the national players of Karachi and Islamabad received their training from an American bowling coach Allan Smith.

"Smith has helped the players a lot with their technique and scoring," said Rehman.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2013.

Bad weather disrupts air traffic

Islamabad: The passengers and relatives had to suffer a lot as the bad weather disrupted the air traffic at Benazir International Airport here on Sunday.

 

According to spokesman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the Islamabad-bound flight PK-776 coming from Leeds was diverted to Lahore due to bad weather conditions.

 

On the other hand, the London-bound flight PK-785 flew at 12:15 p.m. with a delay of one and a half hours.

 

Meanwhile, schedule of various domestic flights was also disturbed due to weather problems at the airport.

 

The passengers leaving for and coming from abroad had to face problems due to disruption in the air traffic.

Transporters continue to violate designated routes

The public transporters continue to violate their designated routes to mint extra money from the passengers in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The commuters, who travel daily between the twin cities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad had been facing problems due to non-compliance of route number 1, 1C, 3, 111, 120, 121, 24, 21, 124 and 127 by the public transporters.

Sajid-ur-Rehman, a commuter operator, said due to route violation of the transporters he had to change two vans and pay double fare for the same route while coming from or going back to Rawalpindi. He said there should be an effective mechanism to ensure route completion, and grievances of the commuters should be addressed by the authorities concerned. The commuters also said that the authorities concerned should take stern action against the transporters involved in route violations.

When contacted for their views, the transporters said that due to weekly CNG load shedding, it was difficult for them to operate on petrol all day long. An official of the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) said that a help-line had been established to address the grievances of the commuters. He said that commuters could register their complaints with the department in case of route violation or overcharging by the transporters.
RECORDER REPORT

Entrepreneurs conference on Oct 29

ISLAMABAD: The Commonwealth Asia Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (CAAYE) is hosting an Indo-Pak Young Entrepreneurs Summit on Tuesday.

 

The event is taking place in association with the Aman Ki Asha campaign and the Young Entrepreneurs Forum of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It is also in partnership with the organisation Young Indians.

 

The event will be attended by about 30 young entrepreneurs from India. A large number of local entrepreneurs, dignitaries, diplomats, members of academia,

 

policymakers and university students are expected to participate in the event.

 

Shaban Khalid, president of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs Forum said that India and Pakistan have massive potential for bilateral trade which can be raised from the current $2.5 billion to $10 billion per annum by taking measures to facilitate the businessmen of the two countries.

 

With a population base of approximately 1.5 billion people, India and Pakistan also possess the potential of a strong economic bloc.

 

However, to realise this untapped economic potential, both sides need to reshape their bilateral ties by making efforts for an end to mutual mistrust.

The News

Twin cities receive first winter rain

Islamabad

The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Sunday received first winter rain, which would not only provide people respite from the dry weather-related diseases but also bring chill in the air.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), light showers and cloudy weather was expected in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the next 24 hours, which would increase intensity of chill.

The cold and moist winds coming from west and the north contributed to the rain that lashed wide-ranging areas of northern Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Fata, Gilgit-Baltistan and in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

PMD Director Dr. Muhammad Hanif told 'The News' that cloudy weather was expected for two to three days, but on November 3 Rawalpindi and Islamabad would receive heavy rainfall, which would increase the intensity of cold. He said that now farmers could sow wheat because these days are ideal for this purpose.

Peshawar, Swat, lower and upper Dir, Chitral, Malakand Agency, AJK and parts of Mardan district also received rain on Sunday, he said.

He warned people, particularly children, to wear warm clothes to avoid cold winds in initial stage of winter.

The persistent dry spell had led to increase in air pollution hence causing chest and throat infections. However, the rain washed away dust particles and made the weather pleasant.