Change possible when merit remains only deciding factor in elections

Masses asked to change their destiny through power of votes

Change possible when merit remains only deciding factor in elections

Cases against Musharraf not to affect respect, trust for Armed forces

Speech of Army Chief, services of Air Marshal Asghar Khan appreciated

May 07

The Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) on Tuesday asked masses to take control of their destiny through power of their votes which will ensure a better future.

Change possible when merit remains only deciding factor in the upcoming elections while flawed elections will pose serious threat to country’s stability.

This was observed in a meeting of the PESA presided by Lt Gen Ali Kuli Khan (Retd), Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim, Lt Gen Naeem Akbar, Justice ( r ) Javaid Gandapur, Brig Mian Mahmud, Salim Gandapur and Brig Masud ul Hassan were also present on the occassion.

The meeting discussed prevailing environment in the country particularly with reference to the general elections and noted that public interest and their participation in rallies in large numbers, despite threats of terrorism and loss of innocent lives, showed their deep faith in democracy.

Enthusiasm of youth was particularly noteworthy as it displayed their urge for change. It was expected that the voters will also breakout of their traditional style of baradari system and vote for merit.

The former military leaders noted that it was necessary that the people take control of their destiny through the power of their votes.

As regards the on-going cases against Gen Musharraf (Retd) are concerned, it was noted that PESA had already warned him that on his return to Pakistan, he will have to clear himself from the cases pending against him in various courts.

The cases against Musharraf are of personal nature and in no way affect peoples’ respect and trust for the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

Address by the Chief of Army Staff delivered on the occasion of Yom-e-Shuhada was highly appreciated. His clear and forthright views about democracy, elections and terrorism have dealt a blow to various types of rumours.

Later, a delegation of PESA, led by Gen Ali Kuli Khan called on Air Marshal Asghar Khan and presented him a shield in recognition of his services for the country and Pakistan Air Force.

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Students losing interest in QAU, moving to private institutions

Concern expressed over victimisation in Quaid-i-Azam University

Students losing interest in QAU, moving to private institutions

May 03

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday expressed grave concern over politics and leadership crisis in the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU).

Promotion of politics, nepotism and harassment of students since years is bringing the graph of QAU down which was once ranked as number one institution in the public sector by the Higher Education Commission, it said.

The Quaid-i-Azam School of Management Sciences (QASMS), providing quality and affordable education to middleclass has suffered the most in last two years, said Abdullah Tariq, SVP PEW.

Talking to a group of students, he said that a good number of highest achieving students get admission but fails to make it which is worrying.

Almost 60 per cent of bright students who gets admission after tough competition are being punished while the rest get depressing grade in absence of accountability of staff in the institution.

Moreover, the teachers who dare to give justified numbers to students face wrath of administration and there is no system of remedy, said Abdullah Tariq.

He said that in Oct 2010 some 900 students applied for admission in QASMS while 160 got admission out of which 60 were forced out, in 2011 number of applicants dropped to 600 in which 80 got admission and in 2012 the number of applicants dropped to 400.

Similarly, MPhill in management sciences attracted over 500 applicants in spring 2011 out of which 12 got admission while the number of applicants dropped to 200 while none made it to B grade.

At the occasion, the students said that a conspiracy has been hatched to defame the institution and divert aspiring students to private universities after demoralising them as much as possible.

PEW repeatedly tried to contact head of QASMS Dr. Ajmal Waheed and Vice Chancellor Prof. Masoom Yasinzai to get their version but to no avail.

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The United Nations re-affirms its commitment to safeguard the freedom of expression and press freedom.

The United Nations re-affirms its commitment to safeguard the freedom of expression and press freedom.

Islamabad, 3 May 2013: The United Nations in Pakistan today commemorates the 20th anniversary of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) in 2013.

Freedom of expression, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is essential for empowering individuals and building free and democratic societies. A fundamental right on its own, freedom of expression also provides the conditions for protecting and promoting all other human rights.

Within the overall context of press freedom, WPFD 2013 aims to rally international action to protect the safety of every journalist in every country and to break the vicious circle of impunity and to focus on the theme of “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media” and puts the spotlight in particular on the issues of safety of journalists, combating impunity for crimes against freedom of expression, and securing a free and open Internet as the precondition for safety online.

Director UNESCO, Ms. Kozue Kay Nagata in her opening remarks, at a seminar held by the United Nations today appreciated the professionalism of the journalists in Pakistan, who are working in extremely challenging situations. She said that “we support this Day to emphasize the importance of freedom of expression and free flow of diversified opinions because Media – old and new, print or broadcasting, text-based or visual - have an increasingly important power to boost dynamic and positive change, positive social transformation in the country”.

Mr. Timo Pakkala, UN Resident Coordinator said “”the UN system is strongly committed to coordinating action, raising awareness and supporting Pakistan in upholding international principles and developing legislation for freedom of expression and information.”

“We work closely with all member states of the United Nations and their citizens to strengthen safeguards for freedom of expression and press freedom.”” he added.

One major development in this international co-operation on press freedom is the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which was endorsed last year by the chief executives of all component UN bodies. Securing the safety of journalists continues to be a challenge due to an upward trend in the killings of journalists, media workers, and social media producers.

The Additional Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Mr Muhammad Azam  in his key note address at the preliminary session of the event said “Threats to press freedom is a global issue, however it differ from region to region. In the last decade, wave of terrorism and war on terror, however has adversely effected the peace and security situation in Pakistan. Media has also become victim of this terrorism. The government of Pakistan is committed to promote and protect press freedom in the country”. He ensured that the international standards for safety of journalists and combating impunity are respected and adopted in the country context.

In the second round of the event renowned panelists; Mr. Hamid Mir, Mr. Mohammad Ziauddin  Mr. Murtaza Solangi from media and Mr. Muhammad Azam , Additional Secretary M/o Information and Broadcasting  took part in a panel discussion on the theme of the Day. Participants of the event, university students from the departments of Mass Communication and Journalism exchange their views with the panelists on current challenges of press freedom and safety of the journalists faced by the media in Pakistan.

Ms. Nagata, Representative of UNESCO in her thanking and concluding note appreciated the Pakistani media for its decades’ long struggle for the press freedom and playing an active and powerful role in promoting and strengthening the fundamental human right of press freedom in the country.

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Creative industry future engine of growth

Creative Industry Centre, Image Bank inaugurated

Designing best tool for rapid economic development

Creative industry future engine of growth

Creative economy most feasible development option

Islamabad: May 02

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Iqra University on Thursday launched a Creative Industry Centre and Image Bank at the university’s Islamabad campus to support women entrepreneurship by establishing strong links between academia and industry.

Top officials of both institutions and large number of women entrepreneurs including fashion designers and students were present on the occasion.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Project Manager of Unido’s Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme Mr. Marlen Bakalli, Unido Consultant Giulio Vinaccia, National Programme Coordinator Shahina Waheed, Chancellor Iqra University Hunaid Hussain Lakhani, Dean Dr. Muhammad Islam and representatives of the First Women Bank Limited.

They said that designing has become an important tool for rapid economic development as many countries are earning more from fashion designing as compare to auto industry, mining and finance etc.

Creative industry is future engine of growth; it is an area in which many developing countries including Pakistan enjoy comparative advantage, the said.

The experts said that increasing commercialization of the creative sector has created a window of opportunity as it is one of the fastest growing sectors which is at seven per cent of the global GDP are growing over ten per cent annually despite global economic decline.

The speakers said that creative industry has not been mentioned in the Pakistan’s Industrial Policy which is discouraging and that all stakeholders should strive to make the importance of this subject felt at highest policy level.

The creative economy should be well-inserted into the economic and development agenda which will diversify economy of Pakistan.

Mr. Lakhani said that both institutions have joined hands to strengthen the design expertise by linking designers to entrepreneurs. The Image Bank will serve as a hub of cultural graphics and indigenous images for designers and entrepreneurs to promote, and develop the creative industry.

Ms Waheed said that Unido’s Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme has been designed to facilitate synergies between public and private sector institutions and provide gender-sensitized institutional and technical support.

We are focusing on the integration of women in highly non-traditional sectors of marble, gems, jewellery and textiles by applying our model of Value Chain Analysis.

Women are trained as producers and entrepreneurs and connected to the value chain to become productive members of the industry, she informed.

We are trying to inspire women entrepreneurs to move from traditional to contemporary design while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Pakistan, said Shahina Waheed.

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Operation clean up in SECP on cards

Operation clean up in SECP on cards

Islamabad: Dated April 30^th

Acting Commissioner Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has decided to launch an operation cleanup in the financial regulator.

The decision has been taken after the institution faced questions regarding its reputation due to highly controversial steps taken by the former chairman SECP who was recently relieved by the Supreme Court, sources said.

The former chairman appointed dozens of officials to please certain lobbies, the sources said adding that eight directors against three hundred thousand salary per month.

Similarly, many consultants were hired which increased salary bill of SECP by ten million per month.

According to a statement posted on the website of Pakistan Media Group, the former chairman took unjustified actions against companies which were considered against his former boss Aqil Karim Deedhi.

In collusion with a major insurance company, the former chairman not only shifted Insurance Division to Karachi but appointed their nominee as Insurance Commissioner.

The decision not only resulted increased expenditure but harassment of thirty five small insurance companies to grab their business. Some of the small companies are considering to close businesses, insiders informed.

An official of the Insurance Division has opened an agency in an insurance company in the name of his wife to get commission worth tens of millions.

Why a specific division is working in Karachi when rest of the divisions in the financial regulator can discharge duties from Islamabad, sources questioned.

Pakistan’s corporate sector will never progress and masses deprived of their lifetime earnings in artificial market crash will never get justice unless SECP is cleared of corrupt elements.

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Pakistani youth astonishing world through their skills

Education and economic prosperity linked together

Pakistani youth astonishing world through their skills

Islamabad: April 24

Secretary Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom Dr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir of Wednesday said quality education and economic prosperity are linked together.

Education system plays most important role in rise and fall of nations as it is related to the overall economic performance, he said.

Secretary IT said this which talking to Vice Chairman of PakTurk Schools Turgut Puyan. Waleed Bashir, a class ninth student from Balochistan who bagged gold medal in a competition in Kazakhstan and others were also present on the occasion.

Dr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir said that those who are promoting quality education in Pakistan are our best friends as it is linked to sustainable development of economy and the society.

He said that innovation of Bashir could trigger green revolution in the country therefore he will be provided all necessary encouragement by the government.

Pakistani youth are highly blessed as they have surprised the world repeatedly, especially in the field of IT, the government official remarked.

Mr. Qadir said that we could not afford to ignore education in this era of globalisation and competition where all countries are bringing trade barriers down.

Economically successful countries will hold competitive and comparative advantages over other economies and he hope that Pakistan will be among one of the leading economic powers in the global marketplace, he said.

The Secretary said that Turkey are tied in religious and cultural bonds while PakTurk has strengthening bilateral relations by promoting affordable quality education in Pakistan.

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Former Chairman SECP defamed the regulator, pushed it to the brink

Former Chairman SECP defamed the regulator, pushed it to the brink

Supreme Court asked to investigate wrongdoing, undo objectionable decisions

Investment climate to remain gloomy if regulator remained controversial

Islamabad April 23

Farida Rashid, President Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on Tuesday said that former Chairman of SECP defamed the regulator and pushed it to the brink.

Hundreds of people were enrolled against hefty salaries disregarding rules while broker mafia was not only promoted but investigation in the stock market crash in which masses lost billions were hushed up.

Over the years, the financial regulator continued to play on the tune of influential brokers who managed to established banks with the help of stolen funds, she said in a statement.

Farida Rashid said that the close aides of former chairman are still active in the SECP that include an official involved in Rs 82 billion Ogra scam, a commissioner who worked in two insurance companies but made it to the office illegally and a dismissed official.

She said that dismissal of the former chairman is not sufficient unless his wrongdoings are probed and steps undone.

Insiders say that former chairman is now advising powerful broker mafia so that one of his trusted people can become acting chairman who will ignore wrongdoings and protect the mafia, she said.

Such an appointment will ensure that the true report of the stock market crash never see light of the day, she added.

She said that the stock mafia is so much influential that it has barred finance ministry from issuing notification of appointment of a senior commissioner as acting chairman despite approval by the Prime Minister.

Farida Rashid said that Supreme Court while dismissing former chairman observed that SECP should have a chairman as soon as possible and that the method of appointments of commissioners from the private sector be made transparent.

However, both the directives are not acceptable to a Karachi based mafia, she said.

It may be mentioned that the mafia within SECP has been harassing business community and extorting benefits from the fragile insurance sector.

Restoring credibility and integrity of the financial regulator remains a challenge otherwise investment climate in Pakistan will remain gloomy, she warned.

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