Pakistan asked to step up invest in female empowerment: Women's Chamber

Islamabad: Feb 17*

President Islamabad Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) Farida Rashid has said that development in South Asia is tied to peace and development of women which are confronting many cultural, legal and social barriers.

Barriers are impeding growth of women and keeping them to play their due role in the development of country by full participation in the economic activities, she said.

She said this while speaking at a 2-day conference of presidents of women chambers and female entrepreneurs from Saarc region organised by CIPE (Centre for International Private Enterprise) in collaboration with Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Dhaka.

Farida Rashid said that indicators for health, welfare, education, and income for women of this region are among the lowest in the world despite attention of donors and governments which must be analysed in detail.

She said that building the capacity of women is something which is not getting due attention of authorities as well as private sector which is a great impediment in improving business climate for ladies.

The president IWCCI said that situation in Pakistan is far from satisfactory but better from some Saarc counties while the recent unanimously approval of the much-awaited Trade Organisation Act by Pakistan is a great move in the right direction.

Stressing the importance of coalition of women business associations in the region, Farida Rashid said that entrepreneurship development needs sharing ideas, best practices, and experience with groups having little exposure.

Farida Rashid said that CIPE has imparted training to around 100 business chambers and associations to improve their capacity which is a great service to the country and region.

During the conference, the participants shared ideas like business and strategic plans, exchanged ideas for future collaboration in terms of visioning, training and trade promotion activities.

*--*

*Farida Rashid,*

President, IWCCI

(Islamabad Women's Chamber of Commerce & Industry)

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Pak coal mining firm all set to strike deal with India's Tata

LAHORE (ASHRAF JAVED ) ��� The Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) is all set to join hands with Indian TATA Group and Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) for technology transfers to conduct open-cast mining of Thar Coal, it was reliably learnt on Thursday.

Highly-placed sources in the federal government disclosed to TheNation that Arvind Saxena, who is working at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as the Economic and Commercial Counsellor, has been facilitating Indian based companies for striking business deals between Pakistan���s SECMC and Indian companies TATA and BHEL.

The management of SECMC has also confirmed the development to this reporter stating that it was already in consultation with the Indian companies TATA-Power and Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited for technology transfers to conduct open cast mining of the Thar Coal project.

Sources further revealed that Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, a subsidiary of Engro Group, had been engaged in feasibility study of the coal mining for the last three years in Thar. The company requires three billion dollars for mining and construction of 1200-MW power project for generation of electricity from the coal mines.

Of late, Shamsuddin Sheikh, CEO (SECMC) was also deliberating with Indians to sell Pakistani coal to India for their projects in Gujrat and Naveli Tamil Nadu.

���In this regard, Arvind Saxsena arranged different visits of SECMC Manager Business Development and Mining Engineer to Naveli Mines, Tamil Nadu and Gujrat Mineral Development Corporation Limited in India as well,��� official sources confirmed.

Earlier, a five-member Indian delegation visited Lahore and Karachi and held meetings with Pakistani business persons at FPCCI, KCCI and LCCI.

Reportedly, a parliamentary trade delegation comprising 20 members, including Nafisa Shah, daughter of CM Sindh, visited India during July 2012 and discussed the possibilities of cooperation on Thar Coal Project.

Dr Mahesh Malani, MNA and close associate of the President, also visited India while the Pakistani parliamentary delegation was on its tour to India.

Rumours are afloat that USA-India backed corrupt political-cum-business mafia appears to be involved in this game and key players allegedly include President Asif Ali Zardari, CM Sindh, Syeda Nafisa Shah (MNA-PPP), Dr Mahesh Malani (MNA-PPP) in this multi-billion dollars hidden scam.

Experts were of the view that Thar coal project should preferably be developed under the administration, technical and scientific consultation of Maj Gen (Retd) Pervez Akmal, Corps of Engineers, who is already working to develop an institutional model for Thar coal or Dr. Shahid Muneer, Professor and Director of Center for Coal Technology, University of Punjab.

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Top body wants halt in global accounting alignment

LONDON (Reuters) - Stumbling efforts to align global book-keeping rules for investors should be halted and focus shifted to forging top quality standards, a leading accounting body said on Tuesday.

The London-based ICAEW called for the first time for the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), whose rules are used in over 100 countries, to end a decade-long "convergence" project with its U.S. counterpart, the FASB.

It is the latest sign of growing frustration at how the alignment efforts, called for by world leaders, have stumbled as the United States drags its feet over adopting IASB rules.

Nigel Sleigh-Johnson, head of the ICAEW's financial reporting faculty, said in a report to be published on Wednesday the era of convergence should be ended.

The IASB should concentrate on forging top quality rules for countries that apply its standards, known as IFRS, he said.

"It is better that the IASB and FASB boards issue separate standards, than deliver unsatisfactory compromise solutions or do nothing at all," Sleigh-Johnson said.

The IASB and FASB have been locked in joint board meetings for a decade to forge what the Group of 20 countries (G20) call a single set of high quality common standards.

Bringing the world's biggest capital market on board is seen as turning IASB into a truly global standard setter but industry officials already point out that new capital raising is already shifting east to Asia and the United States will become relatively less important.

The IASB has just opened its first overseas office in Tokyo.

The deadline for convergence has been pushed back several times due to clashes over key rules, and has now been set for mid-2013 though few believe this will be met.

"The G20 should end its calls for convergence and play a more active role in promoting the adoption of IFRS. As a minimum listed companies should be given the option of reporting under IFRS," Sleigh-Johnson said.

IASB Chairman Hans Hoogervorst sent a veiled warning to the United States in a speech in New York (Frankfurt: A0DKRK - news) last week.

"IFRS already has a global impact and that will not change. So there is no longer any risk of IFRS disintegrating as a result of a standstill in the United States," he said.

There are four Americans on the IASB board and Hoogervorst faces calls for a cull in favour of giving seats to countries that apply IFRS, such as Canada.

Membership of the IASB's monitoring board, made up of regulators and other public interest officials, will also depend in future on applying or committing to apply IFRS rules.

"I believe the United States should remain an important participant in our institutions and activities. But obviously, U.S. influence will be commensurate with its commitment to our standards," Hoogervorst said in his speech.

The ICAEW said it is likely to prove untenable for countries to hold out and stick to national accounting rules.

Smaller, domestically-focused U.S. companies fear high costs in switching to IFRS and Congress is also leery of handing over regulatory sovereignty in a crucial area to a foreign body.

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UN team to make case against Pakistan

UN team to make case against Pakistan

Move to trigger insurgency in Balochistan

Report to pave way for UNSC resolution supporting terrorists

Dated: September 12

The Punjab Forum on Wednesday said the arrival of United Nations working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances to evaluate the case of missing persons is a conspiracy to dismember Pakistan.

This is a plot to defame security forces, make case against FC and ISI, increase international pressure on country, support Indian propaganda against Pakistan, and to boost stance of terrorists in Balochistan, it said.

Actually, the hidden agenda of UN team is to make a case against Pakistan, trigger insurgency in Balochistan and pave way for UNSC resolution supporting terrorists, said Baig Raj, President Punjab Forum while speaking at a hurriedly called meeting.   

He said that the UN team has arrived to internationalise Balochistan issue but the government is trying to deceive people by saying that the scope of UN probe is stretched across the country.

He said that our foreign ministry is serving purpose of foreigners which must be asked as to who took the decision to allow UN team to visit Pakistan and what are the motives behind granting permission.

Spy agencies should launch a probe to uncover the perpetrators of the conspiracy and courts should award exemplary punishments to the traitors, he demanded.

Baig Raj said that UN Commission on Human Rights is nothing but a US foreign policy tool which has remained unconcerned about atrocities against Muslims in India, Burma, Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The UN team should also probe ferrari camps, terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, meet the heirs of thousands of settlers killed in Balochistan and those killed in drone attacks, he demanded.

He said that a Special Parliamentary Committee on missing persons was formed in May while a Judicial Commission headed Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal is working on the issue.

The CJP is holding a number of hearings in Quetta on the issue; therefore there was no need for a UN working group which is interference in the internal matters of Pakistan.

The Commission is here on the behest of vested interests of foreign powers and some local leaders who would try to influence the investigations and outcome which will add to the propaganda against Pakistan.

Baig Raj said that hearing on Balochistan in the US House of Representatives and tabling of a resolution seeking right of self-determination for people of Balochistan avoided the fact remains that only two tribes in Balochistan are involved in insurgency while rest of Baloch people are patriot.

He said why the world becomes uneasy when noose is tightened against terrorists who want to dismember Pakistan.

UN team should also divulge names of 26 countries fuelling insurgency in Pakistan, he said.

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Baig Raj

President, Punjab Forum

(For political & economic rights of Punjab)

www.punjabforumpk.com

0300-5355563

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Energy minister should accept failures, resign

Petro hike proves Govt’s indifference towards masses

Energy minister should accept failures, resign

Govt snatches away right of people to live

Sept 02

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday said recent hike in petroleum and CNG prices despite a slide in the international market shows that government remains indifferent to the plight of masses.

The hike speaks of mismanagement and inefficiency of the part of the government which has failed to raise funds through any other means except upward revisions of fuel prices, it said.

The minister for petroleum and natural resources should immediately resign after accepting his repeated failures, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

The PPP-led coalition has raised petroleum prices by more than 60 per cent since it came to power despite getting almost Rs 40 per litre as levies and sales tax from consumers, he added.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that in a bid to earn an additional Rs 100 billion, the government has taken a step which will destabilised economy and threaten budget of every household.

The move has triggered new wave of inflation with transporters charging ten per cent more and prices of items of daily use surging to 25 per cent.

He said that PEW fully supports protest by different sectors against the unjustified move which has made life miserable for majority.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that perks of politicians, claims of democracy and inflation is on the increase while salaried class is not getting any relief.

Similarly, government has failed to contain non-developmental expenditures, restructure loss-making enterprises, stop buying loyalties, reduce foreign trips, combat corruption or introduce reforms.

The government has also failed to check hoarders who will start milking masses as practiced after every revision in energy prices.

The recent hike proves that those who were pinning hope on government to do something positive for economic revival were wrong, said Dr. Mughal.

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Dr. Murtaza Mughal

Cell:  0321-5157671

President Pakistan Economy Watch

www.pakistaneconomywatch.com

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NAB criticised for not taking action against Rs 62 bl land scam accused

NAB criticised for not taking action against Rs 62 bl land scam accused

150,000 affected people awaiting relief since four years

Rawalpindi Sept 02

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been criticised for not taking any action against accused in the Rs 62 billion land scam in which some one hundred and fifty thousand people lost their savings.

Lt. Colonel M Tariq Kamal (Retired), former Director Engineering DHA Islamabad, who brought the scam to the limelight, said in a statement on Sunday that NAB is not doing anything against property tycoon Malik Riaz and officers of the DHA who deprived many of their lifetime savings.

He said that he has provided sufficient evidence against the accused but due to some reasons NAB was reluctant to initiate probe. The investigators entrusted to find the facts seem only interested in wasting time and delaying investigation.

Nab is not proceeding in accordance with the law which amounts to sheltering criminals and denying justice to those who lost money and residential plots in the scam.

It may be mentioned that following the public uproar, the Chairman NAB released an official statement on June 8 promising probe into the land scam and inquiry against NAB Rawalpindi officials who filed the case without sufficient grounds, said Col. Tariq.

The statement of Chairman NAB Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari proved to be a tactic to gain time which only helped Malik Riaz of Bahria Town and officials of the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad, he alleged.

Col. Tariq maintained that he has filed complaints with all the concerned departments only to know that none is willing to take action against influential.

Many departments including NAB must have reasons behind their lack of interest but fact remains that the affected people including civilians and military personnel are running from pillar to post since four years to get some relief.

--

Lt. Col. M Tariq Kamal (Retired)

Former Director Engineering DHA Islamabad, Cell: 0300-8542971. Res: 051-5152157.

Address: 10-C, Tariq Lane, Tulsa Raod, Lalazar, Rawalpindi.

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Baloch chieftains responsible for backwardness of province

NAB asked to investigate spending by legislators

Provincial government blamed for Balochistan woes

Chieftains paying lip service to the problems of masses

Efficient management of resources badly needed in province

Dated: September 02

The Punjab Forum on Sunday asked NAB to probe spending by the legislators in Balochistan as additional revenue has not helped reduce miseries of masses.

Balochistan has always held the centre responsible for its underdevelopment but now the chieftains cannot absolve themselves of responsibility as province has received unprecedented funds under the seventh NFC award and more autonomy after the 18th Amendment, it said.

Budgetary outlay of the province has been doubled, divisible pool share has increased by 4 per cent, it is getting Rs 12 billion annually as gas development surcharge while revenue receipts are up by 95 per cent, said Baig Raj, President Punjab Forum.

Increased revenue has only helped provincial government buy a new aircraft and escalate  discretionary funds of lawmakers to Rs 300 million while rural poor still live in the middle ages, he informed.

Baig Raj said that the tribal chiefs have always used all the funds on personal welfare while blaming centre, Army, FC and ISI for their problems.

Baloch sardars are in habit of reaping benefits through violence since decades; the problem existed even before Ayub Khan’s era but it complicated when Akbar Bugti committed suicide and a faction of his party started insurgency, he added.

Now terrorists are getting help from 26 countries including India to destabilize Pakistan; they are also fighting security forces and attacking ISI.

Rejecting all reports of involvement of security apparatus in disappearances, he said that media is painting wrong picture of the issue, according to a UN report only 98 persons are missing in Balochistan, while the report put the number of missing much higher in advance European countries and USA.

Baig Raj said that Balochistan has only eight million populations out of which 40 per cent are Pashtoons while 20 per cent Brahvis who don’t support insurgents. Insurgency is only found in Marri and Bugti areas which have 400,000 people, merely 0.25 pc of total population, he added.

The situation will only improve when benefit reach to the poor by efficient resource management.

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Baig Raj

President, Punjab Forum

(For political & economic rights of Punjab)

www.punjabforumpk.com

0300-5355563

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