Election tribunal dismisses PTIs petition against Khawaja Asif

Election tribunal dismisses PTIs petition against Khawaja Asif 

Election Tribunal's decision on a petition against me by my opponent PTI candidate. Imagine the level of seriousness> pic.twitter.com/fLEaZOCSA5
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) May 17, 2014

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Interview | Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa

Interview | Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa

This interview was published in Nawai Waqt Sunday Magazine dated February 13, 2005

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Interview | Mian Shahbaz Sharif

 Interview | Mian Shahbaz Sharif

This interview was published in Nawai Waqt Sunday Magazine, Dated November 02, 2003

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Gas reserves found in Sujawal

 سجاول میں گیس کے ذخائر کی دریافت

 
اسلام آباد: حکومت اور فوجی فاؤنڈیشن کے ساتھ ایک مشترکہ منصوبے پر کام کررہی ماری پٹرولیم کمپنی نے پیر کے روز گیس کے ایک غیرمعمولی ذخیرے کی دریافت کا اعلان کیا۔ سندھ کے ضلع سجاول میں دریافت ہونے والے منجمد گیس کے ذخائر کا اندازہ تقریباً بیس ارب کیوبک فٹ لگایا گیا ہے۔ کمپنی نے اس دریافت کو غیرمعمولی اس لیے قرار دیا ہے کہ یہ ملک کے جنوبی حصے میں لوئرگرو، اپر سی سینڈ کی پہلی ہائیڈرو کاربن دریافت ہے۔ اس دریافت کے نتیجے میں اس علاقے میں پیداواری اورتلاش کے کاموں میں مصروف کمپنیوں کے لیے ہائیڈرو کاربن کے امکانات روشن ہوجائیں گے۔ مزید یہ کہ اس خطے میں نئے ذخائر کی ممکنہ دریافتوں کی شروعات ہوسکے گی۔سجاول میں دوسرے آزمائشی کنویں پر کام چھبیس جنوری کو شروع ہوا اور اس کو دوہزار پانچ سو پینتیس میٹر کی گہرائی تک کھودا گیا۔

کمپنی کا کہنا ہے کہ ٹیسٹ کے نتیجے میں معلوم ہوا کہ ایک کروڑ اکتیس لاکھ کیوبک فٹ روزانہ کے حساب سے گیس حاصل کی جاسکتی ہے۔یہاں سے حاصل ہونے والی گیس کی ہیٹنگ ویلیو 1045 برٹش تھرمل یونٹ فی کیوبک فیٹ ہے اور اس کا انجماد اے پی آئی 53 سے 60 ڈگری فارن ہائیٹ ہے۔گیس کے اس ذخیرے کی قیمت کا تخمینہ موجودہ گیس کی قیمت کے حساب سے 11.70 ارب روپے لگایا گیا ہے۔گیس کے اس نئے ذخیرے سے ملک میں ہائیڈرو کاربن کے ذخائر اور مقامی طور پر توانائی کی فراہمی میں نمایاں طور پر بہتری کی توقع ہے، اس کے نتیجے میں توانائی کی طلب اور رسد کے درمیان فرق بھی دور ہوسکے گا۔سجاول بلاک سے کمپنی کو بطور آپریٹر سو فیصد منافع ہوا ہے، جہاں وہ جون 2006ء سے کام کررہی ہے۔اس کمپنی نے 2010ء میں سجاول کے پہلے کنویں کی کھدائی کی تھی، جہاں سے گیس اور منجمد گیس کی دریافت ہوئی تھی۔اب یہاں سے سوئی سدرن گیس کمپنی کو گیس اور پاکستان ریفائنری اور پاک عرب ریفائنری کو منجمد گیس کی فراہمی کی جارہی ہے۔موجودہ دریافت سے اعلٰی شرح کی مزید کامیابی کے امکانات روشن ہوئے ہیں۔اس وقت یہ کمپنی دو ترقیاتی اور پیدواری منصوبوں کے ساتھ نو آزمائشی بلاکس کے علاوہ چھ دیگر مشترکہ منصوبوں پر کام کررہی ہے۔

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National Economy | Foreign Remittances up by 11.45 %

بیرون ملک پاکستانیوں کی ترسیلاتِ زر میں 11.45 فیصد اضافہ

 

فائل فوٹو—

کراچی: بیرون ملک مقیم پاکستانی محنت کشوں کی جانب سے رواں مالی سال 2013-14ء کے پہلے دس مہینوں یعنی جولائی سے اپریل تک 12 ہزار آٹھ سو چرانوے اعشاریہ 61 ملین ڈالر کی ترسیلات زر وطن بھیجی گئیں، جس سے گیارہ اعشاریہ پینتالیس فیصد اضافہ ظاہر ہوتا ہے۔

اس کے علاوہ گزشتہ مالی سال 2013ء کے اسی عرصے میں گیارہ ہزار 569 اعشاریہ 82 ملین ڈالرز بھیجے گئے تھے۔

اسٹیٹ بین آف پاکستان کے مطابق مالی سال 2014ء میں جولائی تا اپریل کے دوران سعودی عرب، متحدہ عرب امارات، امریکہ، برطانیہ، خلیجی ممالک بشمول بحرین، کویت، قطر اور سلطنت عمان کے علاوہ یورپی یونین کے ممالک سے بالترتیب تین ہزار آٹھ سو چھ اعشاریہ 36 ملین ڈالرز، دو ہزار پانچ سو بائیس اعشاریہ 89 ملین ڈالرز، دوہزار ستائس اعشاریہ چھ، ایک ہزار سات سو 98 اعشاریہ، 2,027.06 ملین ڈالرز، 1,798.28 ملین ڈالرز، 1,527.40 ملین ڈالرز اور 355.31 ملین ڈالر کی ترسیلات زر وطن آئیں جبکہ مالی سال 2013ء کے جولائی تا اپریل کے دوران ان ملکوں سے بالترتیب 3,371.59 ملین ڈالرز، 2,312.01 ملین ڈالرز، 1,819.85 ملین ڈالرز، 1,611.11ملین ڈالرز، 1,331.67ملین ڈالرز اور 297.69 ملین ڈالرز کی ترسیلات زر موصول ہوئی تھیں۔

رواں مالی سال کے دوران ناروے، سوئٹزر لینڈ، آسٹریلیا، کینیڈا، جاپان اور دیگر ممالک سے 857.31 ملین ڈالر کی ترسیلات زر موصول ہوئیں جبکہ پچھلے مالی سال 2013ء کے پہلے دس مہینوں (جولائی تا اپریل) کے دوران ان ممالک سے 825.8 ملین ڈالر کی ترسیلات زر موصول ہوئی تھیں۔

اپریل 2014ء میں سعودی عرب، متحدہ عرب امارات، امریکہ، برطانیہ، جی سی سی ممالک (بشمول بحرین، کویت، قطر اور سلطنت عمان)، اور یورپی یونین کے ممالک سے بالترتیب 415.09 ملین ڈالرز، 233.97 ملین ڈالرز، 206.15 ملین ڈالرز، 166.07 ملین ڈالرز، 169.67 ملین ڈالرز اور 36.37 ملین ڈالرز کی ترسیلات زر وطن آئیں جبکہ اپریل 2013ء کے دوران ان ملکوں سے بالترتیب 392.28 ملین ڈالرز، 226.07 ملین ڈالرز، 183.19 ملین ڈالرز، 176.14 ملین ڈالرز، 135.81 ملین ڈالرز اور 28.65 ملین ڈالرز کی ترسیلات زر موصول ہوئی تھیں۔

رواں مالی سال 2014ء کے 10 ویں مہینے اپریل کے دوران ناروے، سوئٹزرلینڈ، آسٹریلیا، کینیڈا، جاپان اور دیگر ممالک سے 84.51 ملین ڈالر کی ترسیلات زر موصول ہوئیں۔

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Speech of Khawaja Saad Rafiq on Election Rigging

Khawaja Saad Rafiq on Election Rigging

Speech of Khawaja Saad Rafiq in National Assembly about Imran Khan's allegations on election rigging.

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Yellow Journalism by Nasim Zehra

Truth regarding Chaniot incident of crop burning

In this irresponsible time of social media, false news propagate very swiftly. It was tweeted by some of the journalists like Nasim Zehra that police put crops on fire to construct a helipad for the president in Chiniot . However, he is the other side of the story. Dear Nasim Zehra sahiba, we respect you for your work as a journalist and we do know that your channel is at war with GEO but yellow journalism isn't the breathing corner for the survival of your channel.

Zulm/Zalim: 4 a quick-fix heli-landing pad on which Prez Mamnoon was 2 land in Chiniot,fields cleared by also burning poor farmers' crops
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) May 7, 2014

لاہور: ہیلی پیڈپرریہرسل کےدوران پولیس کی بیٹری لائٹ پسٹل کاشعلہ گراجس سےآگ لگی،ڈی سی او
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) May 7, 2014

لاہور: پولیس کی جانب سےجان بوجھ کرکسانوں کی تیارفصل نہیں جلائی گئی،ڈی سی اوچنیوٹ ڈاکٹرارشاداحمد
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) May 7, 2014

لاہور: قریبی کھیت میں15سے20گانٹھیں جلیں جن کامعاوضہ فوری کسانوں کودےدیاگیا،ڈی سی او
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) May 7, 2014

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Rules followed in laptop purchase

‘Rules followed in laptop purchase’

 ISLAMABAD: The Transparency International-Pakistan has praised the prime minister for following the public procurement rules in the procurement of 100,000 laptops and expressed the hope that the procedure would also be followed in other government departments to curb corruption.

A Rs4.5 billion contract will be signed between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Haier-China for the supply and commissioning of 100,000 laptops under the prime minister’s programme for the provision of laptops to talented students on Monday – 20 days after the tenders were opened on April 14.

Sohail Muzaffar, chairman of TI-Pakistan, said in a statement that the procurement of laptops had been made under the guidance of the organisation.

“The procurement proves that any contract can be awarded to the lowest responsive bidder, at the most economic cost, in 20 days if the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules are applied across the board.”

He said that TI-Pakistan supported the government policy of award of contracts on the fast track basis in water and power and oil and gas sectors.

But the process of finalising the projects is often delayed, in many cases for more than a year, because the two sectors are not ready to follow the PPRA rules.

He said that on the initiative of Maryam Nawaz, chairperson, PM Youth Programme, the TI-Pakistan had decided to assist the government in the PM’s youth schemes in application of PPRA rules across the board.

By applying the PPRA rules, he said, the government could get the best products, at the most economical costs, and the whole procurement process could be completed in 35 days.

Mr Muzaffar appealed to the prime minister to direct the authorities concerned to apply the procedure used in the procurement of laptops in all development projects to make procurement corruption-free and save costs and time.

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Interview | Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbasi

This very old interview was published in The Nation dated March 04, 1999.

 

 

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I stand by all what i have said for Mushhraf : Says Saad Rafiq

I stand by all what i have said for Mushhraf : Says Saad Rafiq

Interview published in weekly Nidai Millat dated April 24, 2014

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Trust | Foreign Remittances up by 12 %

 Foreign Remittances up by 12 %

Express news dated June 01, 2014

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PMLN Policies | PIA in profit finally ..

PIA attains profit of Rs1.67 Bn for first quarter of 2014

KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has attained operating profit of Rs1.67 billion for the first quarter of 2014 – January 1 to March 31 – as against a loss of Rs5.65 billion of corresponding period last year.

The national flag carrier has attained the operating profit for the first quarter after a lapse of four years.

This was declared in the board of directors meeting, chaired by Secretary Aviation and Chairman PIA, Muhammad Ali Gardezi, held at the airline’s head office here on Tuesday. Managing Director PIA, Muhammad Junaid Younas was also present in the meeting.

According to the results of first quarter 2014, the total revenue stood at Rs28.0 billion as against Rs25 billion of 2013.

However, the net loss after paying financial costs and taxation stood at Rs1.98 billion as against Rs8.62 billion last year, which shows a remarkable decline of almost 77 per cent in losses. The loss per share has dropped from Rs2.86 to Rs0.56.

The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been taking bold steps including privatisation to enhance the national flag carrier’s customer services, on time flight arrivals and departures with safety in order to make it a profitable entity.

The premier last week had also given his approval for induction of five new Boeing 777 jetsinto the fleet of Pakistan International Airlines.

The board appreciated performance of the national airline and efforts of Shujaat Azeem, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Aviation and Chairman PIA Gardezi for the revival of PIA.

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OGDC posts Rs91bn profit

 OGDC posts Rs91bn profit

 

KARACHI: The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) announced nine month fiscal year 2014 financial results on Monday, posting profit-after-tax at Rs90.9bn (eps of Rs21.14) against earnings of Rs75.8bn (eps of Rs17.61) in nine months of fiscal year 2013, up 20 per cent year on year.

In the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 alone, earnings clocked in at Rs5.51 per share (down 10pc year on year and 21pc quarter on quarter). The results were generally below the market consensus forecast of eps between Rs21.8 to Rs22.5.

Along with the results, OGDC announced a third interim cash dividend at Rs2.25 per share, taking the cumulative dividend to Rs6.25 per share for fiscal year 2014.

In the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, net sales of OGDC declined by 8pc quarter on quarter due to revaluation of the rupee against the dollar, leading to a 10 per cent quarter on quarter decline in gross profits.

At the same time, exploration costs edged up by 20pc quarter on quarter while ‘other Income’ declined by 17pc quarter on quarter.

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Gallup Pakistan: PML-N govt outshines PPP in performance,

 Gallup Pakistan: PML-N govt outshines PPP in performance, says survey

A majority of Pakistanis think that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is running the country better, according to the Gallup Pakistan’s Annual Public Pulse Report 2014.

Despite ‘red cards’ on specific issues, the Nawaz government gets a ‘green card’ in overall running of the government, as 55% people give a favourable and 40% give an unfavourable rating, resulting in a positive balance of 15% points.

A year ago, only 27% had given a favourable rating to the then PPP-led government, while 71% had given a negative rating, which gave it a negative balance of 44% points.

According to the survey, the ratings of the PML-N government’s performance are a huge improvement over the PPP government ratings a year ago as there is an improvement of 59% in the ratings of overall performance of the incumbent government.

For the six key indicators – including economy, Pak-India relations, overall foreign policy, terrorism control, corruption control and inflation control, the present government received positive comparative net performance ratings.

The economy recorded a positive 48% comparative net performance, Pak-India relations 22%, foreign policy 33%, terrorism control 31%, corruption control 36% and inflation control recorded a positive 20% net change.

The net performance ratings for political leaders rated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the top with a rating of favourable 18%. Imran Khan was rated as minus 5% unfavourable, Asif Ali Zardari as minus 28%, Altaf Hussain minus 39%, Mulana Fazlur Rehman as minus 21% and Asfandyar Wali Khan rated as minus 34%. Ratings of Syed Munawar Hassan remained unchanged.

On issues of controlling inflation, terrorism and corruption, there is an overall improvement from the last year ratings of the previous government. The stats show an improvement of 20% points on the subject of inflation; 31% points on control of terrorism and 36% points on control of corruption in government.

The survey shows that the government performance still gets a ‘red card’ on controlling inflation and terrorism and corruption in government. But the ‘red card’ is not as dark as the one received by the PPP-led government a year ago.

Another aspect covered by the Gallup Pakistan Survey is the performance of chief ministers of the four provinces. Performance of Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif was rated as ‘Very Good’ by 21% people while 28% rated him as ‘Good’.

Sindh CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah got 6% ‘Very Good’ ratings; whereas Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa CM Pervez Khattak and Balochistan CM Dr Abdul Malik Baloch each received a mere 4 % rating as ‘Very Good’.

The Punjab CM also topped the list by obtaining 26% overall net performance rating. But other chief ministers remained on the negative list with the Sindh CM obtaining minus 9%, K-P CM minus 11% and Balochistan CM obtaining minus 14 % net performance ratings.

However, an overall positive trend was observed in the performance of the chief ministers as compared to performance ratings taken in 2013 during the same period when the PPP was in power.

Gallup Pakistan also surveyed opinion about state institutions. Net performance ratings of the armed forces improved up to 49%, Supreme Court’s 27% while parliament improved its rating to 8%.

However, performance of other institutions, including police, lower courts and political parties, got negative ratings – with the police at minus 42%, lower courts at minus 6% and political parties’ performance rated at minus 17%.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2014.

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Bulls go wild

Bulls go wild; index crosses 29,000-level

KARACHI: Stocks continued to head north on Thursday, with the KSE-100 index going up by 309.53 points to close at record 29,250.54 points. The volumes of Rs15.8 billion stood at eight-month high and the market capitalisation of the exchange crossed Rs7 trillion.

All credit to foreign investors who have gone wild on Pakistan equities. Overseas investors bought $6.49 million worth stocks in a buying spree of shares valued at $56.3m in the last eight days alone.

Fahad Qasim at Topline Securities observed that April had turned out to be an eventful one for the Pakistani stock market, which is waiting the likely increase in Pakistan’s weight from 4.4 per cent to around 8.9pc in Frontier Market (FM) 100 Index coupled with the overwhelming response to dollar bonds.

The developments have attracted global money managers. Resultantly, above average foreign inflows materialised in the last few days, with the stock market yielding 14.6pc return in 2014YTD.

Analyst Fahad Ali at JS Global said that the bulls dominated the index on Thursday. PSO outperformed the market on anticipation of resolution of circular debt and rumours of increase in dealer margins. The government successfully issued $2bn Eurobonds and news of World Bank to provide $10bn to the country for development projects over the next five years were sentiment boosters.

Analyst Samar Iqbal stated that market continued to head north on healthy foreign flows and the rupee’s strengthening, which kept interests alive in OMCs, pharmaceuticals and the auto sector. Renewed interest was seen in PSO, Engro and NBP. Mid cap stocks led the volume where LPCL witnessed highest turnover for yet another day at 60m shares.

Analyst Ahsan Mehanti at Arif Habib Ltd. commented that the bullish rally continued amid investor interest in selected stocks across the board on strong foreign interest in oil stocks.

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Keep on: PML-N’s economic management yields results

Keep on: PML-N’s economic management yields results

Results of the economic management by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in light of the directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have manifested themselves as there is a record increase in the value of the rupee against the dollar. A record reduction of Rs5.61 in the price of petroleum products has been achieved. The foreign exchange reserves have risen above $10 billion in 10 months.

Additionally, the payment of circular debts has commenced and the government has paid off Rs500 billion of these debts. New records of an increase in the sale and purchase of shares were made on the stock exchange as well. The strong business indexes allured many delegations of foreign investors to Pakistan and they expressed their full confidence in the government’s economic policies in their meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) authorities, in their meetings with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in Dubai and Washington, said that steps taken by the government of Pakistan were in the right direction.

Additionally, there has been an increase in the money remitted home by expatriate Pakistanis. The solid efforts to handle the energy crisis have led to a marked reduction in load-shedding. Tax collection has also recorded a prominent increase.

Economic activities have gained momentum as a result of the increase in forex reserves, increase in the value of the rupee against the dollar and a reduction in the prices of petroleum products. The increase in gross national product and decrease in inflation have also had a salutary effect.

Express News spoke with economist Dr Ashfaq Hasan Khan who said overall economic progress is visible in the country. “We should not get into numbers game because sometimes numbers prove to be dangerous, but we should also praise the PML-N government and the finance minister for their efforts,” he said.

Economist Rashid Amjad told Express News that the increase in the value of the rupee against the dollar is welcome but we need to keep an eye on it. The reduction in the prices of petroleum products is also welcome and this will certainly benefit the common man by reducing transportation charges. He said that the federal and provincial ministers will have to ensure that the prices of the commodities of the common man’s use are reduced as a result of the lower fares and transportation charges.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2014.

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Becaue #PMLN is governing | KSE world’s best performing market

 KSE world’s best performing market

KARACHI: The Pakistan stock market gained eight per cent (dollar-based 15pc) in the quarter ended on Monday, making it the best performing market in the world.

In 2014YTD, MSCI Pakistan gained 6.3pc, higher than 5.2pc gain of MSCI Frontier Markets. Among Asian frontier markets categorised by MSCI, Pakistan ranked second, ahead of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Analyst Vahaj Ahmed at Topline Securities commented that improving economic indicators and foreign inflows generated positive sentiments in the market.

The strengthening of rupee against the dollar also assisted Pakistan market in securing a place ahead of the rest. In 2013, KSE-100 Index had gained 49pc which compared favourably with last 10-year and 20-year average annual return of 28pc and 22pc, respectively.

Average daily volumes in cash market improved to 256m shares during first quarter of 2014 compared to 211m shares in the corresponding period last year.

Traded value stood at Rs9.2bn or $89m as against Rs5.7bn or $58m in the first quarter of 2013.

Foreign inflows also kept up the bullish trend at the market during the first quarter of 2014. Foreign investors hold $5.1bn worth of Pakistan shares which amounts to 32pc of free-float (8pc of market cap). During the quarter under review, foreigners net inflow stood at $36m over $70m net buying in first quarter of 2013.

Apart from increasing participation in secondary market, the local equity market witnessed healthy participation in initial public offering (IPO) during the first quarter of 2014.

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Swat PTI general secy joins PML-N

 Swat PTI general secy joins PML-N

MINGORA: General secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Swat, Mohmmad Zeb Khan on Tuesday quit his party and joined PML-N along with other disgruntled workers. The move follows nomination of Dr Haider Ali Khan, said to be a newcomer in PTI, as a party candidate for by-election for PK-86, Swat-VII.

Mr Zeb announced joining of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz at a press conference held at the residence of party’s central senior vice-president Amir Muqam at Sangota, Swat.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Zeb said that they worked for the PTI for 17 long years and that he was PTI candidate for PK-86 during May general elections.

He said that he had serious objection over the process adopted for joining of the party by Dr Haider, as he and other elected party office-bearers were not taken into confidence on that.

Mr Zeb said that if ignoring loyal party workers meant ‘a change’ for PTI then such a change was not acceptable to him. He alleged that there was no justice in PTI, which was claiming to provide justice to people.

Addressing the press conference, Mr Muqam said that PTI had not only disappointed the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but its performance also upset the party workers. He said that PTI had claimed to bring change in 90 days, but it could not take any step according to its manifesto even after one year of its rule.

Criticising the provincial government, he said that last year people of Swat had suffered because of dengue due failure of the government to take timely steps for its prevention.

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