KARACHI: The Karachi Electric Supply Company has made all possible arrangements to ensure stable power supply on the occasion of Shab-e-Baraat. This was stated by Ms. Ayesha Eirabie, Director Corporate Communications, in a media briefing here on Wednesday.

She said the consumers could get KESC temporary connections for religious congregations if they needed. She asked certain elements to refrain from using illegal kunda connection, especially for such gatherings as this overloads the power supply network and may cause fault on the system as well.

Giving out operational update, Ms. Ayesha Eirabie said that at 2 PM Wednesday, the total demand of the City stood at 2258 megawatts and utility was supplying as per city’s electricity demand and there was no loadshedding in the city. All the units including IPPs were running at full capacity. NNI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electric Power Company has instructed its power distribution companies to establish and operationalize efficacious control mechanism in order to monitor and regulate increasing electricity consumption by its domestic, industrial, agriculture and commercial consumers in urban and rural areas in coordination with National Power Control Center.

The over all electricity consumption is for Domestic 44%, Commercial 6%, Industrial 24 %, Agriculture 12 %, Bulk supply 14 % for over 18 million consumers. The peak electricity demand has been recorded up to about 16000 MW in the recent days. The major cause of this abrupt climb has been the rise in temperature and induction of about 60 million home appliances to the distribution system proliferating the electricity demand to almost 2000 MW, out of which the maximum electricity is consumed by the air conditioners and micro wave ovens.

To manage this situation, balancing of customers load by phases is being done, conversion of LT –HT lines is in progress and consumers are being educated for implementing energy discipline and make contributions for energy conservation. Grid system operations are being revamped and their technical audit has been planned for ensuring their operation worthiness. Power transformers are being replaced and ,on many grids , upgraded to cater for the increased load. Repair , maintenance and safety equipments and necessary vehicles have been provided to the field staff which has facilitated them to enhance their performance in dealing with power disruptions and break downs, expeditiously.

PEPCO load management system has been consistently working to control the power deficit. On 19 July 2009, the demand of electricity went up to 16390 Megawatt. The load of 2492 MW was managed to provide maximum relief to consumers. NNI

ISLAMABAD: Quota system for admission to public sector educational institutes was introduced to create opportunities for students from rural areas or other left behind groups to catch up with the rest. However some have accused that quota system is misused by the more influential people of Pakistani society, while others are still supportive of it.

To find out how the public feels about such kind of quota system in educational institutions, a Gilani Research Foundation survey was carried out by Gallup Pakistan. According to this survey more than half of all Pakistanis (54%) believe that merit should be the only criteria for entry in all types of educational institutes and all reserved seats should be abolished as it deprives well-deserving, but perhaps from poor or less influential families. Twenty four percent (24%) are in the favor of such quota system where as 22% are unsure.

A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the country were asked “Some people believe that quota system in educational institutions should be abolished as it deprives intelligent students of good education. Whereas others think that quota system is justified and correct. In your opinion should there be a quota system?” majority (54%) claimed it is improper and hence should be abolished where as 24% of the respondents favour such quota system in educational institutes. Twenty two percent (22%) were unsure.

The data reveals that in the country as a whole, a proportionately higher percentage of urbanites (29%) as compared to the ruralites (21%) are in the favour of quota system. However rural Sindh is an exception where a comparatively higher percentage of respondents (36%) believe the quota system is justified and should be implemented in educational institutions.

“Some people believe that quota system in educational institutions should be abolished as it deprives intelligent students of good education. Whereas others think that quota system is justified and correct. In your opinion should there be a quota system?”

The study was released by Gilani foundation and carried out by Gallup Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International. The latest survey was carried out among a sample of 2577 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country, during July 2009. Error margin is estimated to be approximately + 2-3 per cent at 95% confidence level. NNI

ISLAMABAD: All Parties Conference (APC) would be held today (Monday) to discuss issues relating to national security with particular reference to Swat, Fata, Balochistan or any other part of the country.
The conference was convened by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on proposal of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Former Premier Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The opposition has been urging the government to adopt a clear and transparent policy on war against terrorism without interference from any country in our internal affairs. The APC would be held at the Prime Minister’s House at 10am in which leaders of all political parties inside and outside the parliament have been invited. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani would preside over the conference.

The Government has dispatched invitation to 43 national parties. Five Former Premiers of the country would also participate in the conference.JI Ameer Syed Munawar Hussain, PTI Chief Imran Khan, Ameer JUI-S Maulana Sami-ul-Haq and head of other religious parties have also been invited.

Quaid PML-N Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif would arrive Islamabad today (Monday) for participation in APC.The APC is being convened in consultation with the entire political leadership and in-camera briefing to parliamentarian over swat operation was also given to Parliamentary leaders of different political parties by Chief of the Army Staff and DG MO on Friday.-ONLINE

WAH CANTT: Former chief of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt. General (Rtd) Hameed Gul has asked the nation to support Pak Army against the terrorist sent by the enemies in tribal areas. He said this during his interview with NNI on Friday adding that the whole nation should strengthen their nerves while keeping aside all the internal hostilities for winning the war against terrorists.

“Enemies of the country have established more than 50 centers to recruit terrorists on daily basis and then send them to different cities of the country”, he said. Hameed Gul said the US is providing weapons to Taliban to weaken the country but the world will see its fate like the former USSR who had done the same job by motivating anti-Pakistan elements in the tribal areas.

He said the nation will thwart the nefarious designs of the enemies by giving support to Pak Army. “Our nation is one of the brave nations in the world while armed forces are the best of the world. It is hard to fight with Pak Army”, he said. “Some people said that my life is in danger and I need to keep security for myself. I say that life and death is in the hand of Allah and death comes on time fixed by God”, Gul said.
He said that he was satisfied with his past and worked to please Allah as well as in the best interest of the country and nation. NNI

TEHRAN: The Chief Minister of Pakistani state of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, said in northeastern Razavi Khorassan Province that Pakistan wants stronger cooperation with Iran in the economic and trade sectors, the industry and energy fields in particular. “We are in dire need of Iran’s energy,” Sharif told reporters at the end of his tour of Razavi Khorassan Province.

Sharif said Iran and Pakistan enjoy great potential for expansion of mutual cooperation. He then touched on economic conditions in his country, saying extremism and economy are the main challenges facing the country. NNI

ISLAMABAD: The Third Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) was held in Islamabad on 13-14 May 2009. The Conference was co-hosted by the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The RECCA was inaugurated on 13 May by the President of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mr. Hamid Karzai and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani. The Conference was attended by 24 countries and 18 regional and international organizations, institutions and bodies.

During the Conference, besides the plenary sessions, the delegates exchanged views in five technical working groups on Mining, Labour Movement and Human Resource Development, Health, Energy and Infrastructure and Transit Trade. The Heads of Delegation participating in the Conference also held a separate session to discuss a broad range of issues to chart out a regional approach concerning Afghanistan.

The two-day Conference adopted the Islamabad Declaration which recognizing Afghanistan’s centrality for peace and stability in Asia and for the prosperity and stability of surrounding states and region, endorsed the need for a comprehensive approach and participation of the international community in economic development of Afghanistan. The Kabul Declaration on Good Neighbourly Relations and the Declaration on Counter Narcotics were endorsed as firm foundations to strengthen linkages among Afghanistan and its neighbours. It was also decided to fast-track and further institutionalize linkages among Afghanistan and its neighbours within the framework of that Declaration. The Islamabad Declaration also endorsed various recent regional initiatives and trilateral summit processes concerning Afghanistan.

The Conference welcomed the signing of Declaration on Directions of Bilateral Cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan in January 2009, and an MoU to improve trade and accession facilitation in Washington this month. The Islamabad Declaration also welcomed the revival of Jirga Process for dialogue and development by Pakistan and Afghanistan, and appreciated Pakistan’s announcement to award 1000 scholarships to Afghan students in Pakistani institutions for higher learning.

The Islamabad Declaration noted the significance of the positive role played by regional organizations such as ECO, SAARC, SCO, OIC and CAREC in extending the scope of regional cooperation. The Declaration affirmed the importance of regional and international commitment to Afghanistan’s economic development. The Conference agreed that transport, trade, energy cooperation, Agricultural cooperation, capacity building and education, border management, counter narcotics and refugee return and re-integration are areas with considerable scope for mutually beneficial regional cooperation.

The Third RECCA successfully endorsed a number of concrete, long-term impact, regional projects including Rail Link from Chaman to Kandahar, CASA 1000, Hairatan-Mazar-e-Sharif Rail Link, establishment of a Customs Academy in Kabul, early conclusion of Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement and development of Border Economic Zones around Afghanistan. It was decided to set up model returnee villages and vocational centers to act as pull factors for the voluntary and sustainable return of Afghan refugees to their homeland with dignity and honor.

The RECCA process for the first time crystallized a regional consensus on key trans-regional cooperation projects. It is hoped that the international community, regional and international organizations, institutions and bodies would now come forward with their strong and sustained support to take these initiatives successfully forward. NNI

MARDAN: Peace has returned to several areas of Buner district and people refuge in Mardan, Swabi and other areas have started to go back their homes. District Nazim of Mardan, Himayatullah Mayar while talking to media men at Mardan Press Club on Thursday, said that situation had normalized from Rustam to Dagar areas and several families had left for their hometowns.

He said the writ of the government has been established in the areas lying between Rustam and Dagar and people are allowed to go back their homes without any fear. He appealed the people to return hometowns and cooperate with law enforcement agencies for durable peace in the areas.

Himayatullah Mayar appreciated the people of Mardan who served the internally displaced persons of Buner, Swat and Bajaur and reminded the memory “Ansar-e-Madina”. He said people of Mardan provided shelters to these affectees in their homes, Hujras (Guest House) and gave them assistance of daily use. NNI

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Thursday Pakistan has not granted transit trade rights to India under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Washington last week. Pakistan and Afghanistan inked MoU to review a transit trade agreement signed by the two countries in 1960s. Reports suggest that the MoU will also allow India to export goods to Afghanistan via Pakistan land route. The reports have led to a debate in Pakistan and business groups and opposition parties are demanding parliamentary discussion over the MoU.

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said that Pakistan and Afghanistan have signed the MoU to conclude a trade agreement by the end of the year. “Details have yet to be finalized and during negotiations Pakistan will not agree to any provision or arrangement that is not in its national interests,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said Pakistan is cognizant of its interest and knows how to protect them. To another question about Indian refusal of visa to Pakistani journalists interested to cover Indian elections, the spokesman said Pakistan believes that such interaction between the two people and especially media is important towards enhancing understanding.

Asked to comment on Bangladesh’s demand for apology from Pakistan over alleged atrocities in 1971, the spokesman said under the tripartite agreement signed by Pakistan, Bangladesh and India in April 1974, the issue stands settled. He said the then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs had stated that Pakistan condemns and regrets any crime that may have been committed.

The spokesman said Pakistan attaches immense importance to its brotherly relations with Bangladesh and wants to move ahead for the sake of mutual benefit. He told a questioner that during Pakistan-China strategic dialogue in Beijing yesterday, China reiterated its strong support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. China assured its full support to Pakistan in addressing the challenges that the country is facing today especially the humanitarian crisis of IDPs.

To a question the spokesman said Pakistan has always underlined the imperative of having holistic and regional approach to address the challenges facing the region. He said there is now strong realization in Washington and other capitals of the world that we need to adopt regional and holistic approach for the purpose. Asked to comment on reports that Pakistan was seeking drone technology from the United States, he said the matter is still under consideration. NNI

LAHORE: The electricity short fall has not touched the figure of 2500 MW and the load management for 9 hours or more has not been carried out, as reported in a section of media on 14 May, according to PEPCO spokesman. The spokesman in a statement said PEPCO is constantly on watch to manage the electricity short fall, which remained 1249 MW on 13 May 2009, for which load management was carried out. The electricity demand went up to 13064 Megawatt. It is significant that last year same day the deficit was up to 4470 MW.-ONLINE