Businessmen assured of carrying out business from 9am to 8pm

KARACHI: A meeting of office-bearers of associations of various comercial centres of Karachi was held Tuesday under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. The issues of law and order at commercial centres, bazars and markets, load-shedding, business hours, issuance of arms licence to business people and other matters came under consideration.

The Chief Minister pointed out that Karachi is the hub of Pakistan's economy and peaceful business activities here proves advantageous not only for Karachi or Sindh province but for whole country and it is the responsibility of all of us to work collectively for national progress and prosperity of people.

He assured that Sindh government will take all possible steps for the security of business people and business centres. He informed that government has taken various decisions for enuring law and order and for the first phase, 2000 cops have been recruited for Karachi while 5000 more were being recruited.

He told the businessmen that he had talked to authorised officers of KESC and MD SSGC and they have given assurance of reduced load-shedding.

Qaim Ali Shah pointed out that during his recent visit to Karachi, prime minister inaugurated a big power generation project in Korangi which would produce 500-600 mw of electricity.

He said the government effort will be that no load-shedding takes place during summer, particularly during day time so that no inconvenience is caused to people and trading is done during day time.

On the occasion the office-bearers of various trade associations assured the Chief Minister to carry out their business from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., provided uninterrupted power supply to them was ensured and security provided at business centres.

The Chief Minister announced that security arrangements would be made at shopping centres, bazars and markets and police patrolling will start an hour before their opening.

He said the business people would also be issued arms licences for which market associations would fill their forms.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah assured that beefed up police patrolling will be carried out in sensitive areas and busy commercial centres, bazars and wholesale markets and government will fulfil its responsibility for maintaining law and order. - APP

Four awarded 25 years jail for burying girls alive

DERA MURAD JAMALI: Anti Terrorist Court Dera Allah Yar on Tuesday sentenced four persons to 25 years imprisonment for their involvement in burying three girls alive in Naseerabad in 2008.

In his verdict the ATC judge Muhammad Alam Mengal also imposed a fine of one hundred thousand rupees on each of the four persons namely Allah Bakhsh, Muhammad Arif, Rehmatullah and Ghaus Bakhsh.

The court acquitted sixteen others including Muhammad Murad, Mukhtyar Ali, Allah Dina, Muhammad Qasim, Jabbar Ali in the case.

It is worth mentioning that the relatives tortured and buried alive the three girls Janat Bibi, Farida Bibi and Izat Bibi in July 2008 in Baba Kot area of district Naseerabad after they attempted to choose their grooms without the consent of their families. - APP

One killed, 2 injured in road mishap

CHITRAL: One person was killed two injured when a passenger jeep fell into a deep ravine here on Tuesday, district police said.

SHO Police Station Mulkoh said a passenger jeep was on its way from Shahgram to Terich village when it reached near Terich area it ell down in ravine as a result Zakir Ahmad a police department employee died on the spot while two persons were injured badly.

Those who were injured were identified as driver Muhammad Nigah Shah and Safeerullah . The injured persons were immediately rushed to nearby hospital where they are under treatment. - APP

ADB to grant Rs904m for southern Punjab

BAHAWALPUR: Asian Development Bank would grant Rs 904 million for various uplift projects in 21 tehsils of Southern Punjab this year, said Commissioner Bahawalpur division, Mushtaq Ahmad here on Tuesday.

Talking to APP he said the amount would be spent on various development schemes including provision of potable water, sewerage system, construction of roads and solid waster management.

He said ADB was providing these funds to provide basic facilities to the remote areas of Southern Punjab.

He further said overall funds of Rs 5.04 billion had been spent so far on development projects in Southern Punjab during the past one year. - APP

Women celebrate their achievements amidst

hindrances, discriminations

KARACHI: Despite the fact that Pakistani women experienced gender apartheid, inequality, gross violence and discriminating laws, yet, women had marched forward, said Nargis Rehman, President of Pakistan Women Foundation For Peace.

According to a PWFP press release issued here on Tuesday, Nargis Rehman addressing a seminar said tabling laws in parliament, or signing international convention (Dakar, MDG, CEDAW) would not yield the desired results unless these were implemented and became active programme.

She recommended that implementation of women friendly laws introduced in the country and international conventions signed by the country must be monitored regularly.

These must also be extended to the remotest part of the country, said PWFP President.

Nargis Rehman said programmes like the BIST, Wasila Haq were welcomed but their outreach needed to be extended. She appreciated the fact, "today Pakistan has women fighter pilot, a women cricket and hockey teams, and Naseem Bano, the fast woman in Asia."

With better facilities and focused investment Pakistan women development index could show very positive result.

Thus government and society had to work jointly to realise this potential. - APP

Two students found dead

MULTAN: Two young men were found dead in the precincts of old Kotwali police station near Kutchery road. According to a police source, on Monday night two cousins, identified as Waqas (21) and Asghar (22), left their house in order to purchase some household items from a nearby shop and did not return.

However, their bodies were found early Tuesday by local people near health department office.

It is pertinent to mention here that one of the slain was son of former nazim Amjid Khan, while the other was his nephew. They were students of post-graduate level. Old Kotwali police registered the case and was investigating the double murder. - APP

PMA wants end to expliotation of junior doctors

Karachi: Pakistan Medical Association here Tuesday highlighted the issues concerning the Karachi City Private Hospitals and Health Products (Regulation and Registration) Bylaws 2010.

A PMA release said no matter it is the first effort to regulate health sector providing services to vast majority of population but it has still not involved all the stakeholders like PMA. This bill should not become a tool in the hands of bureaucracy for harassing general practitioners who are treating patients at very low cost almost at their doorstep.

As envisaged in the bill to put curbs on quackery and unethical advertisements is what PMA demanding for a very long time. But we want that this should be implemented in true spirit thus helping to eradicate these menaces from our society.

This bill still lacks the career and pay structure for the doctors and the paramedics who are being exploited by almost all the private medical institutions. – PPI