ISLAMABAD: British High Commission Islamabad is not issuing visa to Pakistan’s World Champion Pakistan Blind Cricket team, scheduled to start tour England from 9th to 18th August 2009 for a cricket series of 3 One-day Internationals and 1 T/20, the Blind association has said. Blind Cricket England & Wales (BCEW), has invited the World Champion Pakistan.

Pakistan Blind Cricket team applied for the U.K visas through Gerry’s Visa Application Center Islamabad on 8th July 2009. “We requested British High Commission Islamabad and British Embassy Abu Dhabi several times to issue visas to Pakistan Blind Cricket Team, PBCC also provided them the Funds approval from Pakistan Cricket Board and N.O.C from the Government of Pakistan for the said tour but visas are still held in abeyance,” the association said.

As per the original schedule the Pakistan Blind Cricket team has to depart on Sunday but still the players are waiting for the visas.“If British High Commission may not issue visas until Monday then the tour will be called off,” a statement said.

The cancellation of the tour on one hand will cause huge financial loss to both PBCC and Blind Cricket England & Wales and on the other hand will create disappointment in the Blind Cricket players. We “are forced to think that, we, the visually challenged are the underprivileged part of the society whose fundamental rights of even playing cricket are being denied”. PBCC requested the Government of Pakistan to play their part and help us in getting our due right. NNI

CHAKWAL: A local group of Christian community brought out procession on Wednesday and they chanted slogans in favour of Punjab Govt. The procession started from TMA Chakwal and the participants including men and women were carrying banners and placards in which slogans in favour of Punjab Govt. were in strike.

The participants marched on the various roads and it was converted into a public meeting at Bhoun Chowk and it was addressed by Ms. Agnes Pervaiz, Slamat Gil, Sardar Maseeh and Fakhar Yousayab and there were of the view that Punjab Govt. have provided protection and security to the christian community at district Chakwal and they were thankful to CM Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif.

The speakers also thanked local MNA Ch. Ayaz Amir for its assurance for protection. The procession dispersed peacefully later on. NNI

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: Speakers here at an orientation seminar stressed the need for dissemination of national and demographic surveys at district and communities level to ensure proper implementation of policies in the country.

“The information and statistics on Public Health plays a significant role in decision making for managers at all levels. Besides, its is equally important for all stakeholders to help them make informed choice,” said Iftikhar Durrani, Project Director of TACMIL Health Project and Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust for Population Welfare ( NATPOW) in his inaugural address here at local hotel.

He said that the demographic Health Surveys 2006-07 (PDHS) and the National Health Surveys are meticulously conducted but never properly disseminated to the District-level Managers and communities. Meanwhile, there was disconnect between the government organizations, development partners and non-governmental organizations, he added. NGOs and Development Partners who provide funding for these expensive surveys and work in the communities are aware of the local health situation, but seldom share this information with general masses.

The Workshop was oganized by USAID TACMIL Health and NATPOW , and was attended by District Managers, EDOs and DPWOs participated from the selected Districts of Punjab and NWFP. Earlier, Dr. Zafar ullah Gill, Chief of Party, USAID TACMIL Health Project underlined the need for involvement of all community stakeholders in the sensitization process. He said that the present joint family system could best be exploited to create awareness on grass roots.

Mian Mozzam Shah, Director Gneral Program, Ministry of Population Welfare, in his concluding address deplored that relevant government authorities were still following old paradigms despite change on international level. “Policy makers, donors and other concerned officials are at fault as contemporary decline policy also focuses on education, environment and economics besides traditional reproductive health measures,” he said.

Mozzam Shah said there was gap between policy makers and implementers, therefore proper results could not be yielded for decline in maternal and infant mortality ratio in the country. NNI

Man who wants to produce 200 kids; Already has 48

Lahore: 48 years old Muhammad Afzaal; a school teacher having four wives and father of 48 children has decided to contact High Court. According to sources he has prepared an application to seek permission for marrying five more times. He wants to produce 200 children and wants his name to be in Guinness Book of World Records.

ISLAMABAD: According to a Gilani Research Foundation survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan, majority of the Pakistanis consider practicing religion as the most important thing in their lives. Forty percent (40%) of the respondents ranked ‘Practicing Religion’ number one on a ten point scale. It is followed by ‘Finding Employment’, ‘Getting Education’, and ‘High Standard of Living’ among many other things that are perceived to be important in one’s life.

When the respondents were asked “Many things are important in life, please rate on a 10 point scale how important the following things are for you”, forty percent (40%) ranked ‘Practicing Religion’ on number one. Slightly higher percentage of urbanites as compared to ruralites thinks that practicing religion is the most important thing for them.

‘Finding Employment’ was ranked number one by 25% of the respondents. A higher percentage of ruralites (30%) as compared to the urbanites (15%) claimed that getting a job is the top most priority for them.

Sixteen percent (16%) of the respondents said ‘Getting Education’ is the most essential thing in life for them. They ranked it number one on a ten point scale. The survey reveals that proportionately a higher percentage of people falling in the 50+ age group (23%) believes getting education is very important as compared to those who are under 30 years of age (14%) and 31-50 age group (18%).

When asked to rate ‘High Standard of Living’, 12% of the respondents considered it to be number one. It is interesting to note that proportionately a higher percentage of people residing in rural areas (15%) think high standard of living is the most important thing in their life as compared to the urbanites (8%).

Having ‘Good Health’ is ranked number one by 9%, and to have a ‘Pleasant Life at Home’ is the most important thing in life for 7% of the respondents. ‘Living with Freedom in an Independent Country’ and ‘Living in a terrorism & Corruption Free Country’ are each believed to be a necessity in life by 6% of the respondents. While only 5% said ‘Living in a peaceful Country (war free)’ is the most important.

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 2624 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country during March, 2009. Error margin is estimated to be approximately + 2-3 per cent at 95% confidence level. NNI

ISLAMABAD: According to a Gilani Research Foundation survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan, majority of the Pakistanis believe women to be good drivers, as 45% of the respondents claimed that women drive properly. It is interesting to note that in almost 10% of all car-owning households, the women of the house drive the car.

Respondents in car owning households were asked, “Who usually drives the car in your household?” The majority, 90%, said that male members of the family (85%) or drivers/servants (5%) drive the car. In 9% households, women drive either exclusively (1%) or alongside their male counterparts (8%).

Given the sharp difference is the numbers of male and female drivers, respondents from all households were asked how they perceived women as drivers. In response to the question “In your view, do women drive the car properly or improperly?” the majority (45%) said women are proper drivers. Only a fourth of the respondents (25%) said they do not drive properly and 28% were unsure. Two percent (2%) gave no response.

Interestingly, the data reveals no significant variation across genders on views on female drivers. Almost the same percentage of men as women thinks women drivers are fine. 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 2690 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country during April, 2009. Error margin is estimated to be approximately + 2-3 per cent at 95% confidence level. NNI

DARRA ADAM KHEL: A suicide bomber blew up his explosives-packed car in Darra Adam Khel and killed five civilians and a soldier on Monday, officials said. Two other security men were also injured when the bomber rammed his vehicle into a car of security men near a Spina Thana check post, according to officials.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. But government put blame of such attacks on suspected Taliban. Taliban militants have carried out several attacks on security forces in Darra Adam Khel, in the past.
Officials said that the bomber tried to hit a security check post and exploded his bomb near its gate. NNI

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif has appealed Members Punjab Assembly and Provincial Ministers to submit their one month salaries for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons.

In a circular issued to MPAs and Provincial Minister from Chief Minister Secretariat, the CM appealed them to submit their one month salaries for the IDPs. He also announced Rs. 100 million for the rehabilitation of IDPs of Malakand and Swat.-ONLINE

Can anyone imagine? But i think the love for a mother to her son cannot have any religion. I was born in a Muslim family but raised in a Hindu family. When my mother got paralyzed and bed ridden i was barely 2 years of age. My father expired when i was 7 months old. At that time there was not a single person to look after me. Then came my Hindu mother, a young dynamic Punjabi lady from Lahore. She urged my mother that let her take care of me. She was also having a son three and a half month younger than me. She took me to Kolkata and from this time i started feeling a mother’s love. I started calling her Ammi(alternate word Mother in Urdu).

My ammi took care of everything of me. She pampered me a lot and i was really a spoiled child. I was very naughty kid whereas her son was a very “bhola bhala”(innocent) kid. I broke cups and dishes, tried irritating ammi in various ways, but all in vain. She never got irritated and she used to laugh over my “kirtis”. I can recall i beat her own son and he was so sweet he sat and cried. My ammi was a great ‘Nishanebaaz’. I remembered when i and her son used to play and fight, though she reads a news paper at that time, she used to throw a chappal(shoes) on the correct culprit!

I was food lover and irritated ammi jaan to cook best foods. She with a great happiness cooked the foods for me of every type. I remembered a day, i was sleeping calmly. I waked up suddenly and started crying. Ammi asked; “shibu what happened?”…i cried and told her i want “Poori and sabzi” right now. It was 2′o clock, she went to the kitchen and cooked. Ammi jaan you are great.

I am a Muslim by religion. My ammi was the first person who made me realize Islam. She took me to an Islamic Tutor for Qura’an studies. My ammi always helped me in observing rozas(fasts) and during Eids(Islamic festivals) she was the person who cooked “sevaiyan” (traditional dish made with milk and sevaiyan) for me. She is a very pious Hindu lady. If she wanted she could have easily converted me to Hinduism. But, she never intended to. She always made me realize that religion is just a manifestation of Humanity and humanity is the biggest religion. Ammi jaan you are my God!

During Navratis(Indian religious festival) and Durga Puja she blessed me with the blessings of divine mother (Maa Durga) and i used to wait for my new clothes in Pujas (worships) and Diwalis. She respected my all requests. She scolded over my poor results and appreciated my hard works simultaneously. My ammi remains always ill. Four major operations, Bulky body,arthritis and high sugar levels had always encouraged me to become a Doctor. And She honored my decision and encouraged me. I worked hard and got admission into the best medical college. Her son, always used to experiments with toys. This led him to be an Engineer. I remembered when i was going to do my MS in US, she was so happy. But, she was also crying bitterly as i was going to US for 3 years. Oh Maa!…i have never seen a divine lady like you.

To My mother:

Maa i remembered your slapping when i smoked for the first time. I remembered your scoldings whenever i have committed wrong deeds, I remembered your ‘Bechaini’ (restlessness) for me, I remembered your beatings, ammi i remember each and everything. I remembered when you stopped me for not becoming an atheist and communist. Maa i remembered how you cried when i drank whiskey for the first time. Maa i remembered you protected me like an umbrella and suffered for me. I remembered when there was financial crisis, but you still paid my fees and never allowed me to work.You never made me feel how tough is this world. Oh Maa!….i seek your blessings for my entire life.

Now that i am going to give you your grandchildren!…bas aab ambarish ki shadi karva do…..Thank you for giving me a friend like him.You are most beautiful woman i have ever seen and i see Holy Divine Mother Durga in You. You have protected me from my problems in disguise of Demons in the same way as the Holy mother killed Mahishasur to protect this world. I see my Mecca Medina in you….i dont need to go to Hajj(pilgrim)..just a ‘parikrama’ of you and my hajj is completed. May Allah bless you with all His happiness, though i know you are not very happy….but i am here for you…dont worry!