Times of Oman - February 17, 2016

WEDNESDAY February 17, 2016 8 Jumada Al Ula 1437 AH

6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

To the students of Sultan Qaboos University, 2000

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We should like to pay tribute once again to this university’s performance and its spirit of enquiry and scholarship. You - like those before you - bear the torch of knowledge in this society. Society is a network of interwoven and interconnecting threads and we need to preserve it. To do this we must hold onto our good customs and scrap those that are outdated.

Founded 1975 . Volume 40 No. 305 | 40 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

S A F E T Y WA R N I N G

Rain, hail fall in Oman; one rescued from wadi REJIMON K FAHAD AL GADHANI

reji@timesofoman.com fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Even after repeated warnings from police to refrain from crossing wadis during rain, rescue personnel had to rush to save a person stuck in his vehicle in an overflowing wadi in Saham.

Nearly one hour after tweeting about the stranded person, the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance informed around 8:30pm that the person had been rescued and was in good health.

The man was stuck in his vehicle in a wadi in Sur Al Shiaydi in Saham.

Meanwhile, weather enthusiasts said that there was heavy rain and hailstorm in many parts of Batinah and Muscat.

“Heavy rain fell in Madha, Sohar, Shinas, Liwa, Buraimi, Bid Bid, Rustaq and Baushar. Rain also fell in different parts of Muscat.

Wadis are overflowing in Batinah region and there are reports of traffic gridlock. Hailstorm fell in Rustaq and Sohar area,” Badar Ali Nasser Al Baddaei, a weather enthusiast who maintains an exclusive blog for weather updates, told Times of Oman,.

According to Oman meteorology’s latest update, 39 mm rain fell in Madha, 14mm in Baushar, 11.8 mm in Sohar, 11 mm in Bid Bid and Saham.

In its forecast for Wednesday, Oman Meteorology Department has predicted rain in northern parts of Oman and along the coastal areas of Al Wusta Governorate.

Muscat Municipality plans to demarcate beaches for families where they can enjoy alone, away from the prying eyes of bachelors

FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com

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STREAKING THROUGH SKY: A picture of lightning streaking across the sky in the backdrop of Mohammed Al Amin Mosque at Al Khuwair was captured by an amateur photographer Faisal Al Aufi in Muscat on Tuesday. See also >A3

MUSSANAH

Bodies of missing Omani siblings found Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Two Omani brothers, who had gone missing in the Mussanah waters, have been found dead, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) tweeted on its official Twitter handle.

“The bodies of the missing Om-

anis have been found. The search operation has been stopped,” the Public Authority of Civil Defence (PACDA) also tweeted.

The Omani siblings had gone missing at sea last Thursday evening in the Abu Abali area of Mussanah province.

The boat, on which the sib-

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

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Housing help for an Omani family

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Madad volunteer team, which is affiliated with charitable institution Dar Al Atta’a, has received praise and acknowledgement for their efforts in providing a family with a home. The aim of the charity is to build a house for a family within the Sultanate. The family owns the land, but is unable to afford a house construction cost. >A2

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MARKET

Beachgoers urged to report oil pollution

Muriya Tourism to invest $500m

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Muriya Tourism Development Company, the Sultanate’s leading integrated tourism project developer, plans to invest $500 million for completing highend hotels and other facilities in Salalah and Jebel Sifah. >B1

Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs has called upon citizens and residents to report any cases of water pollution at Muscat beaches after a dhow loaded with diesel barrels sank near Al Seeb port on Friday. >A5

Exclusive family beaches plan for Muscat

MORNING MINUTE

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Bob Jungels claims Red Jersey with first stage win

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lings set off for a fishing trip, was found in the adjoining Barka province’s shores, with no trace of the brothers.

The Royal Oman Police and PACDA had pressed into service helicopters, vessels and divers to find the 16-year-old Qusai and 12-year-old Luay.

MUSCAT: Six areas on beaches in Bausher, Quriyat and Seeb are set to be earmarked for families, a Muscat Municipality official has told the Times of Oman.

Also, smoking will not be allowed in these areas, and the driving of cars and four-wheel bikes will be barred too, according to Sultan Al Shaiee, an official from the media department of the Muscat Municipality.

For families looking for exclusive areas on public beaches in Oman, where they can spend time alone, undisturbed by bachelors, this comes as good news.

“Between 600 metres and 1,000 metres will be allocated for families in public beaches, including the Qurum, Azaiba and Seeb,” said Al Shaiee.

He further said the move follows complaints by families about the lack of exclusive zones for them.

Following such demands, the Municipal Council had decided

to form a team to study the situation. “The team members sought help from walis and other official representatives of people in these areas to locate the right places to be earmarked for families,” said Al Shaiee.

Space for families “A team was formed, including members of the Muscat Municipal Council, to plan and organise space for families at public beaches,” said Al Shaiee.

The team has submitted its suggestions to the Council, which are likely to be approved at a session next month.

“After that, the issue will be raised to the Minister of Diwan of the Royal Court, for final approval.” Al Shaiee also disclosed there will be a media plan to spread awareness among the public on the need for this new move.

“Once approved, the Municipality will hold an awareness campaign addressing the public, including expats. Embassies will be addressed to spread awareness among the residents about their nationalities,” noted Al Shaiee. >A6

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016 This is a law from 1974 and it is a very important one.

It affects the liberties of people. Most important are the penalties imposed for a series of crimes and offences.

Dr. Mohammed Al Zadjali, Shura Council Legal Committee Head

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Housing help for a needy family Madad volunteers aim to build a house for a family that owns land, but is unable to afford the cost of house construction

PROGRESS INDICATOR: For every rial donated, a wooden block measuring 2x2x2 centimeters would be placed on a floor plan of a miniature house and built up until it is complete. – Tariq Al Haremi

TARIQ AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Madad volunteer team, which is affiliated with charitable institution Dar Al Atta’a, has received praise and acknowledgement for their efforts in providing a family with a home.

The aim of the charity is to build a house for a family within the Sultanate. The family owns the land, but is unable to afford a house construction cost.

“The team devised a simple way where people were asked to donate a small amount of money until we gathered enough for the actual house,” said Al Muhannad Al Shukeili, a member of the team.

For every rial donated, a wooden block measuring 2x2x2 centi-

metres would be placed on a floor plan of a miniature house and built up until it is complete.

Required amount Some 25,000 wooden blocks would be used to construct the miniature house, which simulates the actual number of bricks and amount of concrete needed to build the house, as well as a total of OMR25,000 needed to con-

struct the family’s home.

“According to a criteria created

by Dar Al Atta’a, the family had been chosen, and we hope that after this house is built, we can go on to choose another family that needs a home,” said Al Shukaili.

When asked by the Times of Oman about the criteria on the basis of which the family was chosen, Al Shukeili said he could not reveal that information in order to respect the privacy of the family in question.

So far the organisation has collected OMR3,000. The Madad team will be available from February 18 to 20 at the Muscat Grand Mall to give the public a first-hand view of the project, as well as a chance to donate for a worthy cause. The donations will go to Dar Al Atta’a for the construction.

REVIEW

Shura panel discusses penal code Times News Service MUSCAT: Penalties imposed for a series of offences and crimes that are part of the Omani Penal Code, are currently being studied by the Legal Committee of the Shura Council, the Head of the Committee told the Times of Oman.

Dr. Mohammed Al Zadjali, head of the Legal Committee said that the Penal Code has been under review by the Shura Council for a period of three months.

“This is a law from 1974 and it is a very important one. It affects the liberties of people.

“Most important are the penalties imposed for a series of crimes

and offences,” he said.

Al Zadjali said it is too early to say whether or not penalties will be toughened or what shall be proposed to the Shura Council.

“We are still studying the issue and we cannot elaborate further,” he added.

A press statement released by the Shura Council on Monday said the Council had hosted a number of academics from Sultan Qaboos University as part of its review of the Penal Code.

The penalties under discussion include crimes threatening national security, public morals, crimes against civil servants and financial and commercial crimes.

The Omani Penal Code is one of the oldest laws in force in Oman, said the statement. It was published by Royal Decree in 1974 and was designed to govern the relations between individuals and their duties towards the society and public interest.

At the end of last month, the Shura Council had referred the draft Penal Code to the Legal Committee for study, after having received it from the Council of Ministers.

Al Zadjali said he expects the findings to be presented at the General Assembly of the Shura Council in April, when voting on the amendments shall take place.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

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ADVIL SUSPENSION

RAIN IN OMAN Thirty-nine mm rain fell in Madha, 14mm in Baushar, 11.8 mm in Sohar, 11mm in Bid Bid and Saham yesterday. Hailstorm fell in Rustaq and Sohar areas. In its forecast for today, Oman Meteorology Department has predicted rain in northern parts of Oman and along the coastal areas of Al Wusta Governorate. — Supplied photo

Withdrawal of one medicine ordered Times News Service

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MUSCAT: Withdrawal of children’s medication Advil suspension 100mg/ 5ml has been ordered in the Sultanate.

Ministry of Health, represented by the Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Affairs and Drug Control, issued an order to withdraw from shelves, stop dispensing or selling the children’s medication Advil suspension 100mg/ 5ml due to a manufacturing defect in one batch of the medicine.

Advil suspension, which is man-

ufactured by the Canadian Pfizer company, contains an active ingredient, Ibuprofen, which is used as a painkiller, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic.

All health care providers in the government and private sectors have been advised to stop administering the medicine.

The withdrawal decision pertains to the medicine in syrup form only.

There are other forms of Advil like tablets and capsules which are available in the Sultanate that have not been withdrawn.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

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600

used items were available for sale at the first ever garage sale organised at the Sultan Qaboos University

SQU garage sale generates funds for charity, student projects The event is part of the 13th Business Week, organised by the Business Society, a student group at the College of Economics and Political Science at the SQU

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

NEW INITIATIVE: All the earnings of the garage sale will be used to fund charitable organisations in Oman and support student projects, according to Firdos Al Mahrouqi, organiser of the event. – Supplied photo

MUSCAT: More than 600 used items were available for sale at the first-ever garage sale that was organised at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) on Monday to promote the concept of reusable products.

All the earnings of the garage sale will be used to fund charitable organisations in Oman and support student projects, according to Firdos Al Mahrouqi, organiser

of the event. She added that the whole concept of the sale is to raise awareness that many items that people may think are useless are actually very useful and can also be resold at reasonable prices.

Good response “Many students and volunteers from all governorates of Oman sent us their shoes, clothes, toys, books, paintings and many other interesting products,” Al Mahrouqi added. The sale started at 3:00 pm and closed at 8:00 pm.

Jaber Al Lawati, a student at the College of Economics and Political Science, said adding a charitable and human touch to any event is a very important way for attracting visitors.

The event is a part of the 13th Business Week, organised by the Business Society, a student group at the College of Economics and Political Science at SQU. Environment themed The theme of the annual event for this year is Environmental Economics and it was inaugurated on Sunday.

The opening ceremony of the event was held under the patronage of Dr. Abdul Monem bin Mansour Al Hassani, minister of Information, in the presence of Dr. Ali bin Saud Al Bimani, the vice chancellor of SQU, and a number of academicians and students from the college.

Commenting on this year’s theme, Adnan Qais Al Kindi, a stu-

dent, said producing more with the same input is one solution to protect the environment and save costs.

Working hard “Waste management costs the Omani economy and is seen as burden. However, we can transform this cost into profit by promoting the Environment Economics concept,” Al Kindi said, adding that the students are working hard to educate youth in Oman on how to change their consuming behaviour and reduce usage of electricity.

“The event also features projects, research and ideas on Environmental Economics as we have plans to promote the concept throughout the year,” Al Kindi added.

Several activities, such as a quiz competition, a chess competition, lectures on green energy, a horse show and a drone show will be held on the sidelines of the event, which will last until February 17.

W I YA K U M

I N I T I AT I V E

Awareness drive on automotive careers Volunteer initiative plans to enrol 4,000 cal job market, and new choices for motivated and inspired young Omanis,” said Haji Al Balushi, general manager at NAHI. He added, “By raising students’ awareness on the potential of the domestic industry, we are supporting the automotive sector’s contribution to the economy by providing a trusted establishment to invest in the national workforce.

As we present our programmes, we believe that Oman’s local talent will continue to be our ‘vehicle’ for driving higher economic returns and growth in the local market.”

Times News Service

MUSCAT: In a bid to raise awareness among youth on opportunities in the automotive sector, the National Automotive Higher Institute (NAHI) has launched its multi-regional “School Visit Programme,” in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and National Carrier Guidance Centre .

The initiative will help deliver a series of lectures on the automotive sector, and how NAHI empowers students through a range of academic courses and modern facilities.

Over the next month, NAHI will make presentations to more than 500 youth in Muscat, Al Batinah South and Al Dakhliyah, discussing what the institute provides, as well as what it will enable students to achieve within the industry’s growing career prospects.

Strategic partners Along with senior staff from Oman’s first specialised automotive organisation, a number of NAHI’s strategic partners are supporting its drive for greater awareness, including delegates from NAHI’s Shareholders.

“Oman’s automotive sector is growing in multiple avenues of speciality and requires professional technicians in multiple

SHOWING THE WAY: Over the next month, NAHI will make presentations to more than 500 youth in Muscat, Al Batinah South and Al Dakhliyah, discussing what the institute provides, as well as what it will enable students to achieve within the industry’s growing career prospects. -Supplied photo

areas; such as marketing, parts management, customer service, body repair and painting, as well as light and heavy vehicle servicing and maintenance. It is important

to capitalise on this opportunity through “centres of excellence” such as NAHI, as the industry’s development promises a diverse range of opportunities for the lo-

Multiple disciplines As the first specialised automotive institute in the Sultanate, NAHI serves to equip and empower Omani students as professional technicians across multiple disciplines within the automotive industry. As a centre delivering a two-pronged approach in the theoretical and practical aspects of automotive education, NAHI is now working with renowned international bodies, such as the Institute of Motor Industry (U.K.), to further its level of accreditation.

NAHI is the first specialised automotive organisation in the Sultanate of Oman, serving to equip students as professional technicians across multiple disciples within the automotive industry.

Times News Service MUSCAT: After a successful first year, Wiyakum, a volunteering programme sponsored by Nama Group and Oman Network of Volunteers (Taawon), plans to target some 4,000 volunteers from different parts of Oman, in a bid to cultivate a volunteering culture across the country.

At a ceremony held yesterday, the Nama Group and Taawon signed an agreement to launch the second Wiyakum project as part of the Group’s sustainability programme.

The Wiyakum project will be executed in two parts and include a nationwide competition to develop and implement volunteer programmes that serve the community in disciplines such as environmental conservation, health and safety, economic diversification and other social causes which reflect the Sustainability Policy and Nama Group’s values.

The other part of the project seeks to strengthen the link between Nama Group staff and the community. According to an official at Nama Group, “Last year, more than 540 Nama staff were trained and received their vol-

unteer passports to record their volunteer hours.”

The OMR80,000 agreement was signed at Nama Holding, previously known as Electricity Holding Company, by Eng. Omar Khalfan Al Wahaibi, CEO of Nama Group and Chairman of the Sustainability Committee, and Khamis Said Al Alawi, Advisor of Oman Network of Volunteers (Taawon).

The first year of the Wiyakum programme attracted more than 3,800 participants, representing more than 95 teams around Oman, who were encouraged to volunteer through the Wiyakum competition. Out of the total number of proposed projects, three were implemented, while others remain in the planning phase. One of the projects carried out helped to set up a special library for the blind at Sohar University. Eng. Omar Al Wahaibi, CEO of Nama Group and Chairman of the Sustainability Committee, noted, “This year’s edition has been built around the success of last year’s achievements. The volunteer teams will be encouraged to implement their projects and will be evaluated on the success and benefits realised”.

CALEDONIAN COLLEGE

‘Academia, industry need to work hand-in-hand’ Staff Reporter MUSCAT: A collaboration between academic institutions and the industrial sector is very essential for both to become successful, said the acting Dean of the Caledonian College of Engineering.

“We are preparing engineers for the future of these industries so the partnership between academic institutions and the industrial sector is vital,” said Dr Ahmed Al Hassan Balushi, acting dean of the Caledonian College of Engineering (CCE) on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gulf Muscat United LLC. According to CCE officials, Gulf Muscat United LLC (GMU) is a leading company in the Sultanate of Oman.

“We really appreciate your collaboration and the willingness to partner with us to ensure a practical exposure, which is necessary for the academic curriculum,” Balushi said.

With a rich business background in many countries in the region, GMU has a portfolio of diversified global business activity, including agricultural commodities products, cement and building materials, construction, ICT and telecom, oil and gas, and properties development and investment.

PARTNERSHIP: The MoU signed between CCE and GMU covers recruitment and student internships. – Jun Estrada

“Your alliance is a golden opportunity for us, as well as the students; this will give exposure to the students, not only in the local Omani Market, but also in the overseas market,” the acting Dean noted.

Agreement signed The MoU signed between CCE and GMU covers recruitment and student internships and explore straining, research and development opportunities in the fields of engineering and allied fields.

“This MoU will go a long way in our efforts to attract young and talented Omani engineers to

build a sustainable future for our operations in Oman,” Mehdi Shekofteh Borhani, chairman of the GMU said.

According to the spokesperson of Caledonian college, a provision for CCE graduate students to pursue student placement opportunities at GMU has also been created.

“This MoU will explore training programmes for GMU, including custom-made short courses; other activities serving the engineering sector in the region are included, as well as cooperation in organising seminars and conferences,” he added.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

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NON-TOXIC

Almouj Marina announces successful test of anti-fouling tech for vessels

VIGIL: Beachgoers all the way from Qurum to Barka coastlines have been asked to contact the Pollution Operation Monitoring Centre at 80071999 or 24693666 in case they witness any floating oil barrels, pollution or ship wreckage. – File

Beachgoers urged to report oil pollution While no leakage has been reported so far, ministry officials will go to the area on Wednesday to take stock of the situation

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) has called upon citizens and residents to report any cases of water pollution at Muscat beaches after a dhow (boat) loaded with diesel barrels sank near Al Seeb port on Friday.

“Beachgoers all the way from Qurum to Barka coastlines have been asked to contact the Pollution Operation Monitoring Centre at 80071999 or 24693666 in case they witness any floating oil barrels, pollution or ship wreckage,” MECA said in a statement.

While no leakage has been reported so far, ministry officials will go to the area on Wednesday to take stock of the situation.

The estimated number of miss-

ing barrels is between 150 and 300, according to Moza Al Salami, an official from the Pollution Operation Monitoring Centre. She said the commercial dhow had a variety of goods, including petrol and diesel barrels, chemicals, medical tools, plastics and more.

Around 1,000 tyres are also reportedly missing in the sea.

Al Salami said the fishermen and beachgoers had collected some petrol barrels and placed the empty ones on the beach.

“There is no pollution, but these barrels can obstruct the fishing boats’ movement,” she added. The Times of Oman (TOO) had reported on Saturday that eight Indian sailors on board the dhow were rescued by the Royal Oman Police (ROP).

“All the eight sailors were rescued from the sinking dhow near Oman’s coast. All are in good health,” the ROP posted on its official Twitter account on Saturday afternoon. The dhow was on its way to Somalia from Sharjah.

“We noticed a problem by around 3 pm on Friday. We informed the shipping agent and they alerted the ROP. As water started entering the dhow, we moved to our own rescue boat and waited for help,” Gaffar Siddique, the captain of the dhow, told TOO. “The rescue team had come fast and we were saved.

However, we couldn’t salvage the sinking dhow,” Siddique added.

HIGHER STUDIES

UK education still popular among Omani students ERIK PRINS

erik@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The United Kingdom is still popular with Omani students seeking higher education, participants of a reception held by the University of Kent said.

The University of Kent officials had paid a short visit to the Sultanate to reach out to prospective students, government organisations and other universities.

“We are looking to increase our engagement with the Middle East in general and Oman in particular. Not only to draw new students to our university, but also to make sure our research is known here and to look for possible partnerships with other universities,” Dr. Anthony Manning, dean for Internationalisation, said.

The University admits about 40 Omani students a year. Popular courses are Business, Law, Biosciences and Architecture, Manning told the Times of Oman.

He added that the University is also interested in starting exchange programmes with Oman.

While Omani students could come to the UK to study, British students could spend some time at an Omani university. “We have a growing Arabic section at our university, so there might be opportunities here,” he said.

Khalid Al Raisi, who earned a

Masters in Business Administration from the UK last year, said the country is still attractive to Omanis seeking to develop themselves.

“The level of education and competence of the staff is of a high standard. In Oman, we have an excellent schooling system, but the experience of the staff in the UK allows them to have the upper hand,” he stated.

Asked what he missed most from Oman while staying in the UK, Al Raisi said he had missed his family the most. “But fortunately, you start meeting new people, which makes it very interesting,” he said.

He said when he studied Mechanical Engineering in the UK in the 80s, it was much more difficult to stay in contact with his family in Oman. “Nowadays, we have social media, which make things much easier. Back then, when I arrived in the UK, it was so much different from Oman these days. It was a culture shock.”

Mubarak Al Balushi, who hopes to pursue a Masters degree in Broadband in the UK, said he is looking forward to studying there. “The advantage of spending time there is that my English language skills will improve.

Contact with people from different nationalities will enhance my knowledge of other cultures,” he said.

ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY: A non-toxic coating was successfully tested which is as effective as commercial anti-fouling paints without endangering the environment. – Supplied photo

Times News Service MUSCAT: Almouj Marina announced the success of a monthlong experiment to create environment-friendly and technologically enhanced anti-fouling coating for vessels and other submerged structures.

The unique field experiment, which was conducted in Almouj Marina and in partnership with researchers from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), helped successfully develop a non-toxic coating that has proven to be as effective as commercial anti-fouling paints without endangering the environment.

The project, the first of its kind in the region, could help preserve Oman’s unique marine environment and save the maritime industry millions of dollars annually.

Bio-fouling is the colonisation of submerged surfaces by unwanted organisms, such as bacteria, bar-

nacles, and algae. The fouling of boats, structures, and industrial equipment has had a major impact on the maritime industry.

For decades, toxic compounds have been used to keep the hull of ships free of organisms. This has led to the contamination of the marine environment and harmed many marine organisms.

Milestone moment Khalil Abu Jaber, Marina Manager at Almouj Marina commented, “This milestone moment is a major step forward in our quest to prevent the degradation and pollution of marine species in the Sultanate.

“Its success has the potential to ramp up efforts to protect our oceanic treasures and position Oman as a safe haven for oceanic life. As a result of the strong outcomes yielded by the experiment, we along with our partners will extend the length of the eco-pro-

ject further as we move to enter a new phase of intense research development.”

Dr. Sergey Dobretsov, head of Department of Marine Science and Fisheries at SQU said, “Biofouling is a major problem for the marine industry, incurring costs of more than $15 billion per annum worldwide. Oman in particular has a great deal of bio-fouling thanks to its abundant coastal areas.

“Today, most manufacturers produce toxic anti-fouling paints that gradually release poisonous chemicals and harm any organisms that come in contact with it, in addition to contaminating the marine environment. As such, the development of an environmentally friendly coating will bring massive benefits to Oman, ranging from sustaining wildlife and ecosystems to significantly reducing costs.”

The nano-coating developed during the experiment in Almouj

Marina, is technologically enhanced and can cover more surface with less material. Produced with the aid of nano-technology, the coating successfully reduces the impact of bio-fouling on waterways, marine life, maintenance costs and fuel consumption.

He added, “Almouj Marina is the ideal location for conducting this experiment, thanks to its clean and clear waters as well as their dedication to marine conservation.

The result is a coating that is free of toxic chemicals and capable of transforming marine preservation in Oman. Moving forward, we hope our next phase of research will be the beginning of a new era for the marine industry in the Sultanate.”

Kick-started as part of an agreement made between Almouj Marina and SQU in February 2015 with the help of The Research Council of Oman, the first experiments were undertaken for fishing nets.

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The producers of Silverline film factory, Parthi, S S Vasan were impressed and decided to produce the music video “Unnodu Nanirundal” - in Tamil and “Tere Bina” in Hindi (in Oman) after listening to the story of the music video and track of song composed by Muralidharan KN in Muscat Thasleem Khan, music video director

Indian music video to be shot in Sultanate The producers of Silverline film factory of India were in Muscat scouting for locations for their next venture ROMANTIC VIDEO: Director Thasleem Khan will be visiting Chennai in India soon to select the lead actors and singers.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Silverline film factory of India, the producers of famous films, such as Singam, Puli and Nerethir, plans to make a romantic music video that will be shot in exotic locations across India and Oman.

The announcement was made after producers of Silverline film factory of India were in Muscat scouting for locations for their next film “Garuda” to be shot in the Tamil language.

As per the Hindu, mythology,

Garuda is the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Vishnu and in general, it’s a large eagle-like bird.

The Garuda film will be produced by Silverline Film Factory and will be directed by Thiru. It will be a commercial action enterNEW PROPOSAL

tainer and the stars include top actors Vikram and Kajal Agarwal.

Vikram is an Indian film actor, who has acted in large number of Tamil and Bollywood films and has also won six Filmfare Awards, as well as one National Award.

“The producers of Silverline film factory, Parthi, S S Vasan were impressed and decided to produce the music video “Unnodu Nanirundal” - in Tamil and “Tere Bina” in Hindi (in Oman) after listening to the story of the music video and track of song composed

by Muralidharan KN in Muscat,” said Muscat-based professional, Thasleem Khan, who will be directing the music video.

Director Thasleem Khan will be visiting to Chennai in India soon to select the lead actors and singers. “The other characters will be chosen from Muscat and the music video will be shot in India and Oman,” Khan said.

M I N I S T E R O F H E A LT H

Policy to curb use of drugs reviewed Times News Service MUSCAT: Latest developments in several projects namely, the National Strategy for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, 20162020, the National Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Centre Project, and the Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Projects was reviewed by the health minister.

During the meeting, new plans of the National Committee was discussed and the budget was ratified.

Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health, recently presided over the first meeting of the National Committee for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, which was held at the ministry’s headquarters.

The meeting was attended by senior members of the National Committee from Ministries and other stakeholders.

It should be noted that the Health Minister had issued a

DISCUSSION

decision to reform the National Committee for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances last January.

The Committee had proposed a National Public Policy in the field of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances control to be acknowledged by the cabinet.

It would create prevention and treatment plans in the field of tackling the illegal use of drugs and psychotropic substances and follow-up on their implementations.

Rules, regulations The committee also proposed rules, regulations and decisions relevant to Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances.

Moreover, it conducted and supported field and scientific research and studies regarding drugs and psychotropic substances in addition to exchanging regional and international experts in this field.

FUEL SUBSIDY

< FROM

to A1 Plan maintain beaches The suggested locations have also been approved by the Municipal Affairs Committees in the wilayats of the Sultanate.

The team also discussed creating a special area on the beaches where people can play football and other games.

The authorities have also devised a plan to properly maintain the beaches and provide beachgoers with proper facilities. A leaflet prepared in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, will inform beachgoers about the correct way to behave on the beaches, as well as educate them on the upkeep of the beaches.

However, some people did not express their approval for the concept of having exclusive family areas at public beaches, arguing that beaches should be open to anyone and everyone.

“It doesn’t make sense to have a family area on a public beach.

Single people are also harder to control in such situations,” said Shorooq, a resident of Muscat.

Majlis reviews rehabilitation plan of locals in Duqm SIXTH TERM: The meeting was held on Tuesday under the aegis of Deputy Chairman of the State Council. – ONA

Traffic Law changes praised in meeting of the State Council MUSCAT: Efforts made by the joint committee of the State Council and Majlis Al Shura regarding the report submitted for discussion about the remarks received from His Majesty the Sultan on the proposed amendments to certain provisions of the ‘Traffic Law’ was praised by the Deputy Chairman of the State Council.

The meeting discussed the report, and decided to submit it to the next plenary meeting.

State Council Office on Tuesday held its 7th meeting of the 1st annual sitting of the 6th term under the chair of Dr. Sheikh Al Khattab bin Ghalib bin Ali Al Hinai, Deputy Chairman of the State Council.

State Council Office hosted Dr. Ahmed bin Ali Al Mashaikhi, Head of the Committee on Culture, Media and Tourism, and Salim bin Ismail bin Al Sweid,

Rapporteur of the Committee for discussion about the proposal submitted by the Committee on Culture, Media and Tourism on “Cultural Civil Society Organisations from the legislative and regulatory perspective”.

The State Council Office discussed a number of proposals submitted by a number of honourable members of various standing committees.

The meeting was also briefed on a number of letters from a number of stakeholders.

At the end of the meeting, agendas of the regular sixth and seventh sessions of the 1st annual sitting of the 6th term, scheduled to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 1 and March 2.

The meeting also discussed the topics on the agenda and took appropriate decisions in their regard. -ONA

MUSCAT: Majlis Al Shura reviewed the replies from the Minister of Transport and Communications and Chairman of Duqm Port Company on the training and rehabilitation plan for Duqm locals and the reply of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries on the fishing port in Hadbin in a meeting on Tuesday.

It also reviewed the Minister of Manpower reply on the classification of the private sector companies, the Minister of Health reply on the performance of Blood Bank and the reply of the Minister of Social Development on the establishment of schools for disabled.

The Council discussed the interpellation to the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning and Chairman of Oman Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) on the Omanisation plan, as well as the application submitted to the Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs on the study of lifting fuel subsidy and the interpellation to the Minister of Commerce and Industry about the feasibility study for establishing Oman Mining Company.

Oman LNG The meeting also reviewed a number of questions to the Minister of Oil and Gas on the tax levied on Oman LNG Company.

In the foreign affairs, the Office reviewed the visions of the Umma Council of Kuwait on how to deal with reports issued by international parliamentary organisations about the GCC countries and the report of the delegation taking part in the 11th meeting of the member countries at the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, which was held in Baghdad.

The Office also approved the minutes of the 9th regular meeting and the follow up report on the implementation of the decisions taken at the previous meeting.

The members reviewed the ministerial replies referred from the Council of Ministers, a number of parliamentary questions and interpellations by members addressed to a number of public departments.

It also reviewed the letter and circulars from the international organisations, councils and parliaments.

Majlis Al Shura Office held its 10th meeting of its first annual sitting 2015-2016 of its 8th annual term 2015/2019 under the chair of Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of Majlis Al Shura.-ONA

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 The UN Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, held talks with Syria’s foreign minister on Tuesday aimed at securing a cessation of hostilities and said Damascus had a duty to let the world body bring in humanitarian aid.

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REGION

Turkey seeks allies’ support for joint ground operation in Syria Syrian forces and Kurdish militia encroach on Turkish border as NATO and Germany urge deescalation by Ankara and Moscow

ISTANBUL/ANKARA: Turkey is asking allies including the United States to take part in a joint ground operation in Syria, as a Moscowbacked government advance nears its borders, raising the possibility of direct confrontation between the NATO member and Russia.

A large-scale joint ground operation is still unlikely: Washington has ruled out a major offensive. But the request shows how swiftly a Russian-backed advance in recent weeks has transformed a conflict that has drawn in most regional and global powers.

Syrian government forces made

ONGOING OFFENSIVE: Turkish tanks stationed at a Turkish army position near the Oncupinar crossing

gate close to the town of Kilis, south central Turkey, fire towards the Syria border, on Tuesday. – AFP

fresh advances on Tuesday, as did Kurdish militia, both at the expense of rebels whose positions have been collapsing in recent weeks in the face of the Russianbacked onslaught. The offensive, supported by militias as well as Russian air strikes, has brought the Syrian army to within 25km (15 miles) of Turkey’s frontier,

while Kurdish fighters, regarded by Turkey as hostile insurgents, have extended their presence along the border. The advances have increased the risk of a military confrontation between Russia and Turkey. Turkish artillery returned fire into Syria for a fourth straight day on Tuesday, the defence minister said, targeting the Kurdish YPG

militia which Ankara says is being backed by Moscow.

“We want a ground operation. If there is a consensus, Turkey will take part. Without a ground operation it is impossible to stop this war,” a Turkish official told reporters at a briefing in Istanbul.

“Turkey is not going to have a unilateral ground operation... We

AC C U S E D O F I L L E G A L G AT H E R I N G

Bahrain frees four American journalists

RELEASED: An undated photo of US journalist Anna Day provided

by Jesse Ayala, on Monday. Anna and three members of her camera crew were detained in Bahrain on Sunday. – Reuters/Handout

DUBAI: Bahrain has freed an American journalist and her camera crew after accusing them of participating in an illegal gathering, and they are expected to fly out of the country, the group’s lawyer said on Tuesday.

Bahraini lawyer Mohammed Al Jishi and media campaign group Reporters Without Borders identified the four as US journalist Anna Day and three members of her camera crew, all of them US citizens. Bahrain’s public prosecution office did not name those arrested, but said it had ordered the release of four Americans after interrogating them.

“They are on their way to the airport,” the group’s lawyer, Mohammed Al Jishi, told Reuters by telephone. A witness said the four

EU HEADQUARTERS

MAKING A POINT: Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, speaks next to Elmar Brok, left, Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, at the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. – Reuters

Zarif tells European lawmakers militancy is also their problem BRUSSELS: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told European Union lawmakers on Tuesday militants were also a European problem.

European parliamentarians quizzed Zarif about alleged human rights violations in Iran, Iranian defence spending and nuclear activity and Tehran’s stance on Middle East conflicts that have killed hundreds of thousands of people and driven millions from their homes, spurring a large influx of refugees into Europe.

Radicalised European citizens, often with immigrant backgrounds, have gone to Syria and Iraq to fight for IS militants, who claimed responsibility for the shooting and bombing rampage in Paris that killed 130 people in November.

“We all need to understand why some who behead innocent individuals in our part of the world speak European languages with perfect accents. Why is it that this is happening?” Zarif told the European Parliament session.

“You feel the consequences of the growth of extremism in our region in terms of refugees that come to Europe, in terms of the spread of unfortunate terrorist incidents in various European cities. Extremism cannot be contained in one country or one region, it’s a global menace, requiring a global response.”

In Syria, an offensive by government forces backed by Russian air strikes and militias has regained significant ground from rebels in the north near Turkey’s frontier, dimming prospects that a truce deal hatched by world powers in Munich last week will take hold soon.

Zarif said Tehran had no “boots on the ground” in Syria but only “military advisers” on the invitation of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. “We will move out military advisers when the local government deems it necessary for us to remove them,” Zarif said. “Why is Iran there? Because Iran believes that the alternative right now - either in Iraq or in Syria - is not a

democratic government but IS.” Syria’s war created a breeding ground for the ultra-radical IS, whose insurgents now control large swathes of territory in Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

Russia has come under criticism for not ceasing air strikes in Syria since the Munich agreement and has faced accusations that it was using lengthy and complex Syria diplomacy only to buy time to turn the tide of the war on the ground.

Zarif challenged that, saying: “Who is going to impose the military solution in Syria? Nobody.

Russia can’t impose a military solution either... We need a political solution.”

“Are we talking about democracies in our region criticising Bashar Al Assad?” Zarif said.

“This is not about democracy, this is not about the rights of the Syrian people. This is all about a convoluted, perverted concept of regional equilibrium, which they believe has been disturbed and they want a redress.” — Reuters

appeared to be in good health.

Day has reported in the Middle East, north Africa, Asia and Latin America for numerous media outlets, mostly American.

Security forces had arrested the four on Sunday while they were “participating with a group of saboteurs who were carrying out riot acts in Sitra”, Bahrain Public Prosecutor for Manama Nawwaf Al Awadi said in a statement.

Sitra is a village east of Manama. The prosecution statement, carried by the Bahrain News Agency, said they were interrogated in the presence of their lawyers.

It said the group had been found with cameras and computers, and were accused of “disturbing public order and exposing modes of transport to danger”. — Reuters

are discussing this with allies.”

Turkey on Monday accused Russia of an “obvious war crime” after missile attacks in northern Syria killed scores of people, and warned the YPG it would face the “harshest reaction” if it tried to capture a town near the Turkish border. Russian air support for the Syrian government offensive has transformed the balance of power in the five-year-old war in the past three weeks.

World powers meeting in Munich last week agreed to a pause in the fighting, but that is not set to begin until the end of this week and was not signed by the warring Syrian parties.

The UN Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, held talks with Syria’s foreign minister on Tuesday aimed at securing a cessation of hostilities and said Damascus had a duty to let the world body bring in humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, Damascus says its objectives are to recapture Aleppo, Syria’s biggest city before the war, and seal off the border with Turkey that has served as the main supply route into rebel held territory for years. Those would be the government’s biggest victories of the war so far and probably end rebel hopes of overthrowing President

Bashar Al Assad by force, the objective they have sought since 2011 with the encouragement of the West, Arab states and Turkey.

Kurdish forces continued their push eastwards towards IS-held territory northeast of Aleppo.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group which monitors the war, said the Kurdish-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) - of which the YPG is a part - took a village just west of the town of Marea. That is the last major settlement before a swathe of territory held by the radical militants stretching east across Syria and into Iraq.

The Syrian army also made advances, with state media saying it had taken two villages north of Aleppo near the town of Tal Rifaat, which fell to the SDF on Monday.

With the help of Russian air strikes it also advanced from the government-held coastal city of Latakia, continuing a push into rebel territory and fighting to take the key town of Kansaba.

“If (the rebels) lose Kansaba everything in Latakia will go to the regime,” said Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory. “If no immediate support comes for fighters in (north) Latakia then it could fall in days.” — Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016 Something in the range of $29.6 billion (India has received FDIs) in the last fiscal. In terms of percentage, it is 38 per cent rise in inflows compared to 16 per cent dip all over the world Nirmala Sitharaman, Union commerce and industry minister

INDIA

Journalists demand action against lawyers over attack A day after the unprovoked attack on journalists and students and teachers of the JNU in the court complex hundreds of journalists marched to the Supreme Court demanding action

NEW DELHI: Journalists including top editors on Tuesday marched in the streets of Delhi protesting against the attack on them by lawyers in the Patiala House court complex on Monday as the political divide on the JNU issue escalated sharply.

The Congress alleged that there is a state of “undeclared emergency” in the country while the BJP hit back, accusing Rahul Gandhi of being a “principal misleader” of Indian politics after he alleged that youth was being muzzled by the government.

The issue also echoed at a meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to reach out to the Opposition ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament.

Accused of inaction The role of Delhi Police, which was accused of inaction in the face of violence, and its chief B. S. Bassi came under intense attack from political parties and journalists who demanded his sacking.

A day after the unprovoked attack on journalists and students and teachers of the JNU) in the court complex on Monday, hundreds of journalists marched to the Supreme Court demanding action. The journalists took out a two kilometre-long march from the Press Club of India to the Supreme Court and submitted a memorandum to the Registrar, seeking cancellation of licences

SEEKING CANCELLATION OF LICENCES: Journalists holding a protest march from Press Club of India to the Supreme Court in protest against the Monday’s attack on mediapersons and JNU students by lawyers outside and inside Patiala House Courts, in New Delhi on Tuesday. - PTI

Former DU lecturer arrested in sedition case NEW DELHI: Former Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani was arrested on Tuesday on sedition and other charges in connection with an event here in which anti-India slogans were raised, police said.

“Geelani was arrested around 3am at the Parliament Street police station under IPC sections 124A (sedition), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 149 (unlawful assembly),” DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said.

Geelani was called to the police station last night where he was detained and ques-

of lawyers involved in beating of scribes.

A separate delegation of journalists met Home Minister Rajnath Singh demanding his intervention in ensuring “accountability of the Delhi Police who watched silently as the assault happened”.

At Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), sections of teachers

MYSTERIOUS MURDER

tioned for several hours, and later arrested.

After his arrest, he was taken to RML Hospital for a medical examination, he said.

His arrest comes amid the raging row over the arrest of JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar over sedition charges in connection with an event on February 9 against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. At a Press Club event on February 10, in which Geelani was present on the dais along with three other speakers, a group allegedly had shouted

on Tuesday joined the students and boycotted classes demanding unconditional release of student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, charged with sedition.

A section of teachers also condemned last week’s incident when anti-India slogans were raised at an event in the campus.

In a related development, the

slogans hailing Afzal Guru.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the police registered a case against Geelani and other unnamed persons on February 12.

Police had claimed that Geelani was booked as he is presumed to be the “main organiser” of the event.

“Request for booking a hall at the Press Club was done through Geelani’s e-mail and the nature of the event was proposed to be a public meeting, which did not turn out to be so,” a senior official had said. - PTI

Supreme Court agreed to give an urgent hearing on Wednesday to a plea seeking action against those involved in thrashing the journalists and JNU students and teachers in the Patiala House court complex where Kumar was to be produced. The petition filed by N. D. Jaiprakash, an alumnus of JNU, who was hurt in the violence on

Monday, sought action against the people involved in the violence and over “inaction” on the part of Delhi Police.

Delhi Police Commissioner Bassi told the media that the alleged inaction of police personnel is being probed and the guilty will face action if anyone had transgressed law.

Asked why the policemen present at the court complex did not intervene when the assault was going on, he merely said the issue pertains to people from “two different lines of thought” confronting each other in a charged environment.

When pressed further, he said, “In the investigation, we will also probe whether there was any negligence on part of any police personnel. If it turns out to be so, the concerned official will have to face legal action.”

Bassi had on Monday termed the assault as a “minor” incident, saying it was fallout of an emotive issue, comments which evoked strong reaction from journalists and JNU students.

‘Financial links’ He said police are probing suspected “financial links” between terror outfits and students allegedly involved in the raising of antiIndia slogans at JNU. The Congress stepped up attack on the government, saying there is a state of “undeclared emergency” in the country while BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of being a “principal misleader” of Indian politics after he accused it of muzzling the youth.

“They are suppressing the voice of students in Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow. We’ll not accept this, we will fight this. They are putting RSS VCs(Vice Chancellors) in every University and College, they are trying to suppress the voice of the students,” the Congress Vice President told reporters in Sivasagar in Assam.

Seeking to derail any attempt

by BJP to turn the protest against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on his third death anniversary at JNU campus into a battle between “patriots and anti-nationals”, Congress also demanded that the Supreme Court should ensure an independent investigation. - PTI

HIGHEST AMOUNT

‘FDI flows in country improving’

Nirmala Sitharaman

BENGALURU: Stating that the Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) inflows in the country are improving day by day, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said more and more investments are coming from sectors other than IT and ITeS. “Highest investments are coming from services other than IT and IT-enabled services which may include a lot of things — it could be courier services; it could be getting into services that are partly related to logistics and retailing and so on,” she said in her address at the IIM Bangalore.

Construction and infrastructure is the second highest sector which are receiving FDIs, the minister said. “We also have retailing, IT and IT-enabled services.

Chemical industry also is receiving - other than fertilisers, they are also receiving a lot,” she said.

Sitharaman said that India received FDI worth nearly $29.6 billion, the highest amount received by any country in last fiscal.

“Among the countries, which do monitoring on FDIs flowing into theirs, we seem to have received the highest amount in the last fiscal,” she added.

“Something in the range of $29.6 billion (India has received FDIs) in the last fiscal. In terms of percentage, it is 38 per cent rise in inflows compared to 16 per cent dip all over the world,” Sitharaman added. The minister said India has received the highest FDIs compared to other countries only showed that the Indian economy is instilling confidence in the minds of investors.

“It is only improving day by day.

Largely individual, trust and other corporate entities are coming in,” she said. - PTI

PHARMACOVIGILANCE

Drug monitoring programme struggles to grow fast enough across country

ACCUSED: A file photo of Peter Mukerjea with wife Indrani Mukerjea.

CBI on Tuesday filed a chargesheet in a court against Peter Mukerjea, arrested in connection with the Sheena Bora murder case. - PTI

CBI files chargesheet against Peter Mukerjea MUMBAI: CBI on Tuesday filed a chargesheet in a court here against former media baron Peter Mukerjea, arrested in connection with the Sheena Bora murder case.

The agency filed the supplementary charge sheet in the case before Additional Metropolitan Magistrate R. V. Adone here.

Peter, whose wife Indrani Mukerjea is the prime accused in the case, was arrested on November 19 for his alleged role in the murder conspiracy. He was in CBI custody for two weeks. His bail plea was rejected on February 12 by a special CBI court which observed that the charge sheet was yet to be filed and investigation in the matter was still on. While Mukerjea (59) is

lodged in Arthur Road prison here, Indrani is in Byculla women’s jail.

Others arrested in the case are Sanjeev Khanna (Indrani’s exhusband) and her former driver Shyamvar Rai. The trio were chargesheeted in the case after Sheena (24), Indrani’s daughter from an earlier relationship, was allegedly strangled in a car in April 2012 and her body burnt was dumped in a forest in adjoining Raigad district.

CBI, which took over the probe from Mumbai Police late last year, suspects that financial transactions led to the murder of Sheena.

The murder took place in 2012 but came to light in late August last year. - PTI

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Within days of being given a diphtheria jab during a school vaccination drive, 5-year-old Meraj Shabbir Khan’s leg became so swollen that he was hospitalised.

In a cramped Mumbai paediatric ward, third-year pharmacology student Nitin Shinde opens the boy’s file and notes the vaccine, his age and the doctor’s diagnosis of a skin infection.

That information is later logged into a computer program linked to a national database, part of India’s fledgling efforts to track, analyse and ultimately warn patients about unknown side effects of drugs on the market.

India’s six-year-old pharmacovigilance programme, which collects and submits suspected adverse drug reactions to a World Health Organisation (WHO) database, is key to improving drug safety in a country where medicine consumption is high, experts say. But insufficient staff and equipment, and a lack of awareness among medical professionals mean many potentially dangerous drug reactions go unrecorded, hospital personnel across India said.

Gaps Gaps in the system mean the government has less data to determine whether drugs might have harmful side effects. Also, relatively little information flows from one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical markets to the WHO database of over 12 million suspected adverse drug reactions.

“In a country of 1 billion people consuming so much medicine, obviously safety is a concern,” said G. Parthasarathi, dean of the pharmacy school at JSS University in Mysore, adding the pharmacovigilance programme is still

STAFF SHORTAGE: A pedestrian walks past the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital in Mumbai, Some of India’s 179 monitoring centres operate smoothly, but other parts of the system aren’t working, programme administrators say. - Reuters

gaining traction. “We’ve made a good start,” he said. Last year, India contributed 2 per cent of the 2.1 million suspected reactions added to VigiBase, the WHO’s global database.

Tracking adverse drug reactions is urgent “in public health programmes where huge amounts of medicine are being used,” said Sten Olsson, a WHO programme expert at the non-profit Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) in Sweden which maintains VigiBase.

The centre analyses the WHO database for worrying patterns among suspected reactions and, where there are safety concerns, publishes a “signal” that goes out to member countries.

It is up to those countries to act on that information or not.

“We’re concerned that with some of our new signals nothing has been done with them,” said Olsson. Indian health officials say the monitoring programme is a “high

priority” and a $14.5 million annual budget is sufficient.

“We are going to develop a better pharmacovigilance system in India in due course,” said G.N. Singh, India’s drug controller. “Patient health will be assured.”

Drug companies The programme could improve, experts say, if drugs firms contributed more. To make a new drug in India, companies need permission from the national drug controller after submitting safety and efficacy data including from local clinical trials. For four years after an approved drug is on the market, firms must submit safety reports, including those on adverse drug reactions.

After that there is no mandatory requirement for them to report all adverse reactions, and smaller firms, which make up over a third of India’s market, often don’t have robust monitoring resources.

“They feel after four years,

every drug is safe,” said a person working in pharmacovigilance at a multinational drugs company in India. “That’s not the case.”

Last year, only about one tenth of the suspected adverse drug reactions India collected came from drugmakers, compared to 95 per cent in the United States. But making reporting mandatory for all companies and all drugs is not realistic, industry advocates say.

“You have up to 80,000 drugs on the market. You think the government is prepared to do pharmacovigilance for all of them?” said T.R. Gopalakrishnan, deputy secretary-general of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association.

“Many manufacturers don’t even know where their drugs are being consumed.”

Some of India’s 179 monitoring centres operate smoothly, but other parts of the system aren’t working, programme administrators say. In interviews with staff at more than 20 centres, programme coordinators cited problems ranging from a shortage of personnel, computers and funds to raise awareness among staff to a lack of cooperation from doctors who say they are too busy.

“I call doctors to my office, serve them tea... and push them to report. What else can I do?” said C.B. Choudhary, who coordinates a monitoring centre at Katihar Medical College in Bihar state.

“I want the programme to start, but it isn’t happening,” he said.

Not all centres require extra personnel or equipment, and those that do are in the process of getting full staff, said V. Kalaiselvan, principal scientific officer at the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission which hosts the pharmacovigilance programme’s headquarters in Ghaziabad. - Reuters

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INDIA

BJP wins four seats, NDA fares better in by-elections Uttar Pradesh proved a shocker to the Samajwadi Party.

BJP’s Kapil Dev Agarwal was declared elected from Muzaffarnagar, where communal riots took place in 2013

JUBILANT: Rashtriya Lok Samata Party MP Arun Sinha celebrates with party leaders after the party candidate’s thumping victory in the Harlakhi Assembly by-poll, in Patna on Tuesday. - PTI

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday won four seats and the Congress two as the ruling NDA bettered the opposition in byelections for 12 seats held across eight states three days ago.

Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) was the worst sufferer. The SP lost two of the three seats it held in Uttar Pradesh — one each to the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BJP also snatched two seats

from the Congress - one each in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

The BJP was the winner in Maihar (Madhya Pradesh), Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) and in Hebbal and Devadurga in Karnataka. The Congress grabbed Bidar in Karnataka and Deoband in Uttar Pradesh.

Bihar’s Harlakhi seat was retained by the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP).The Shiv Sena won from Palghar in Maharash-

C I V I L I A N C A S U A LT I E S

Vohra asks security forces to avoid collateral damage

RESTRICTIONS: A policeman partially removes concertina wire to allow women to pass in front of the closed shops during restrictions in Srinagar. Police in parts of Srinagar city on Monday imposed restrictions by sealing off many residential areas to prevent protests against the deaths of two youths in Pulwama district on Sunday, local media reported. - Reuters

SRINAGAR: In the wake of death of two civilians two days back, Governor of Indian-administered-Kashmir N. N. Vohra on Tuesday directed security forces to exercise maximum restraint to minimise collateral damage while conducting operations against militants.

“Maximum restraint should be exercised to minimise collateral damage while conducting operations against militants/terrorists,” Vohra said at a high level meeting he chaired to review the maintenance of security in Kashmir Valley.

The directions came two days after two civilians were killed allegedly in firing by security forces in Pulwama district during law and order problems in the aftermath of an encounter between security forces and militants.

The state government has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident leading to death of the two civilians, both University students.

The meeting was attended by two Advisors to the Governor, Chief Secretary, DGP, Principal Secretary to Governor, Home Secretary, Corps Commander of

Army, Inspectors General of BSF and CRPF, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, IGP Kashmir and senior officers of the State and central intelligence agencies.

The Governor directed the DGP to hold urgent discussions with the security forces to evolve a fully-agreed standard drill to be followed before and post-operations against the militants.

He stressed the need for enforcing strict pre-emptive measures, including imposition of reasonable restrictions, as part of the approach to be followed in minimizing inconvenience to the people at large and ensure that the encounters against militants do not result in injury or any unfortunate killing of innocent civilians.

The DGP was also directed to review and enforce clear procedures for the firing of live ammunition in dealing with varied emerging situations.

The Governor also stressed the urgent importance of pro-active steps being taken for creating awareness amongst the people at large to keep away from the area where operations against militants were ongoing. - PTI

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Cabinet may recommend revocation of President’s rule NEW DELHI: With the Supreme Court putting no hurdle in formation of a new government, the Union Cabinet may recommend revocation of President’s rule in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh soon, possibly by Wednesday.

The Home Ministry is waiting for a report from Governor J. P. Rajkhowa about the latest political situation in the sensitive border state after 31 MLAs, led by Congress dissident Kalikho Pul,

met him on Monday.

Official sources said the Governor’s report is expected soon and if it suggests formation of a new government, the Home Ministry will present a note before tomorrow’s scheduled meeting of the Union Cabinet to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Monday, Pul, accompanied by 31 MLAs, had called on the Governor to stake claim to form the next government in the state which is under President’s Rule. - PTI

tra, the ruling TRS crushed the Congress in Narayankhed in Telangana and the CPI-M won from Amarpur in Tripura again with the BJP taking the second spot.

Punjab’s Kharoor Sahib constituency went the Shiromani Akali Dal way in an election boycotted by both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the state’s new entrant.

In BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Narayan Tripathi snatched the

A9

Maihar constituency from the Congress by over 27,000 votes.

Tripathi had won the seat for the Congress earlier. He quit the house after joining the BJP. Uttar Pradesh proved a shocker to the SP. BJP’s Kapil Dev Agarwal was declared elected from Muzaffarnagar, where communal riots took place in 2013. He defeated Chittaranjan Swaroop of the SP by about 6,000 votes. Congress’s Mavia Ali worsted Meena Rana of

SP in Deoband by 3,424 votes.

Both Muzaffarnagar and Deoband seats were held by the SP, which faces assembly elections in the state next year.

The SP’s consolation came in Bikapur in Faizabad district.

BJP’s Y.A. Narayanaswamy won from the high-profile Hebbal in Bengaluru North, defeating C.K. Abdul Rahman Sharief (Congress) by 19,149 votes.

The loser is the grandson of former union minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief. In the reserved Devadurga constituency in Raichur district, BJP’s K. Shivana Gouda Nayak won by 16,871 votes over A. Rajashekhara Nayak of the Congress. In Bidar, Congress nominee Rahim Khan finished on top, defeating Prakash Khandre of the BJP by 22,721 votes.

In all three places, the Janata Dal-Secular was a poor third.

In Bihar, the RLSP’s Sudhansu Sekhar was declared elected from Harlakhi, defeating Congress candidate Mohammad Shabbir by over 18,000 votes.

The election was necessitated by the death of RLSP legislator Basant Kumar Kushwaha a few hours ahead of the oath-taking ceremony of the new Bihar assembly in November 2015. -IANS

W O R L D M U S I C C AT E G O RY

Anoushka loses, Asif Kapadia wins at Grammys

ELATED: Anoushka Shankar speaks at the 58th annual Grammy Awards on Monday, in Los Angeles. - AP/PTI

LOS ANGELES: Sitarist Anoushka Shankar once again lost in the World Music category at the 58th Grammy awards while IndoBritish director Asif Kapadia registered a win in Best Music Film section for his documentary Amy. Anoushka, 34, was nominated in the Best World Music Album category for her solo album Home, a pure Indian classical album.

A tribute to her late father Ravi Shankar, the song featured two ragas. Anoushka, who was nominated in the category for the fifth time, lost it out to Angelique Kidjo for Sings.

The Indian sitarist appeared in great spirits as she took to present at the Grammy stage in a blue Manish Arora dress. -PTI

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

PAKISTAN Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa seeks Chinese corridor projects In a meeting with Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal in Islamabad on Monday, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak unveiled what he wants for his province in the multibilliondollar project

ISLAMABAD: The disgruntled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has sought 6,000 megawatt power projects and representation on the working groups of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

In a meeting with Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal in Islamabad on Monday, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak unveiled what he wants for his province in the multibillion-dollar project.

K-P has been pushing the government to complete CPEC’s western route first. Its efforts paid off when at an all-party conference on January 15, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif set the July 2018 deadline for the completion of the western alignment.

A list of 12 economic zones in the province was also scrapped with the final number to be determined after due consultation with Peshawar.

GOLDEN GOOSE: A general view of Pakistan’s Gwadar deep-sea port on the Arabian Sea in this file photo. — Reuters/Qadir Baloch/Files

According to an official handout, the Khattak-Iqbal meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.

During the meeting, Iqbal clarified Khattak’s misgivings about CPEC and assured the latter that the Western route was very much part of the monographic study of CPEC. He revealed that the GwadarSurab section will be completed

by December 2016, while groundbreaking of the Dera Ismail Khan section – scheduled to be completed by July 2018 — would be held in March.

“Western route is very much part of the CPEC framework and this has also been clarified

by Embassy of China in Paki-

stan,” said Iqbal. Officials who attended the meeting said Khattak has demanded that the federal government either set up power plants that generate between 5,000MW to 6,000MW or provide the provincial administration funds for it.

On this, the planning minister asked the chief minister to share details to justify this demand.

Energy projects Around two-dozen medium to long-term energy related projects with a generation capacity of 17,000MW and worth $34 billion constitute a major part of the project.

Khattak also asked the fed-

eral government to complete the much-delayed Chashma Right Bank Canal project which would help provide irrigation water to the arid southern districts of K-P. Iqbal promised to arrange a meeting between the Water and Power Development Authority and the provincial administration.

Complaining that Punjab dominates all the energy-related activities planned under CPEC, K-P sought representation on various working groups of the multibillion-dollar project.

At the moment, only Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is invited to meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Energy.

Iqbal assured the K-P chief min-

ister that all provinces would be given due representation in the working groups.

Khattak demanded that five special economic zones be set up along M-1 Motorway, in Batagram, Haripur, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan. To this, Iqbal asked the K-P government to come up with specific proposals for the zones as he urged them to hire well-reputed consultant to identify commercially viable sites in the province.

He also pushed Khattak on ensuring speedy land acquisition for sections of western route which pass through the province. Khattak also demanded that optical fibre and rail links also pass through his province. — Express Tribune

REPRIEVE

UK police return MQM chief Altaf’s passport KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain retrieved his passport on Tuesday following cancellation of bail in a money laundering case earlier this month.

On February 1, the bail of the party’s supremo was cancelled in the case, exempting him from appearing before London’s Metropolitan Police during future proceedings in the case.

There was, however, no confirmation if his bank accounts were also restored which were seized along with the passport after the investigation was initiated.

While confirming the development, party’s spokesperson Aminul Haque said returning of the passport was actually a proof that the allegations of money laundering were false, and termed it a testament to Altaf’s innocence.

London police had cited ‘insufficient evidence’ in the case leading to cancellation of bail, but it had denied that the charges were dropped.

On October 6 2015, the leader of the Karachi-based party was granted bail for the fifth time since beginning of the investigation over undocumented cash found at the MQM London office in December 2012.

Altaf had arrived in UK in January 1992 seeking asylum after he escaped the country following an ‘assassination’ attempt. He was subsequently awarded a British passport in 2002.

Two alleged workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were awarded collective prison terms of 14 years by a south district and sessions court in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, on Tuesday.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Sikandar Amir Panhwar found Naeem, alias Cockroach, and Farhan, alias Tidda, guilty of possessing illicit weapons and explosives. — Express Tribune

1.1 MILLION-YEAR-OLD STEGODON TUSK This handout photograph taken on January 17, 2016 and released by the University of Punjab, on Tuesday, shows a stegodon tusk at the discovery site at Padri village in Jhelum district. A team of Pakistani researchers claims to have unearthed a 1.1 millionyear-old stegodon tusk in the central province of Punjab, potentially shedding new light on the mammal’s evolutionary journey. Stegodonts, distant cousins of modern elephants, are thought to have been present on earth from around 11 million years ago until the late Pleistocene period, which lasted until the end of the last Ice Age around 11,700 years ago. — AFP/UNIVERSITY OF PUNJAB

FIRST-EVER

Fiza appointed as member of UN panel on women empowerment ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani woman has been named as a member of the United Nations body dedicated to the economic empowerment of women.

Fiza Farhan was elected as a member of the first ever HighLevel Panel of the UN SecretaryGeneral on Women’s Economic Empowerment, according to a communiqué released on Monday. Fiza is CEO of Buksh Foundation and director of Buksh Energy. She was also part of the ’30 under 30’ list by Forbes magazine for Social Entrepreneurs in 2015.

As a member of the panel, Fiza will join leaders of World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, UN Women as well as several other eminent gen-

Fiza Farhan

der and equality actors. She will also establish connection with economics experts, academics, trade union leaders, businesses and government representatives

from across the world.

She said, “It is indeed an honour for me to represent Pakistan and women of Pakistan on this prestigious High-Level Panel.

“It is time that we engage global leadership and galvanise political will to scale actions with measurable impact towards women’s economic empowerment,” she added.

UN Women Country Representative in Pakistan Jamshed Kazi said, “While, Fiza will be providing advice as a global thought leader, we also look forward to her continued contribution in championing women’s economic empowerment right here in Pakistan in alignment with UN Women’s mandate.” — Express Tribune

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

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South Korean leader vows hard line with North Korea Washington and Seoul are seeking support from Beijing, Pyongyang’s main ally, for tougher sanctions against North Korea for the February 7 rocket launch and January’s nuclear test

SEOUL: South Korean President Park Geun-hye pledged on Tuesday further “strong” measures against North Korea, after suspending operations at a jointly run industrial park as punishment for the North’s recent long-range rocket launch and nuclear test.

It was time to face the “uncomfortable truth” that the North would not change, Park said in

TALKING TOUGH: South Korean President Park Geun-hye delivers her speech during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday. - Reuters

comments that mark a significant reversal for a leader whose policy on Pyongyang had been based on what she’d described as “trustpolitik” that she hoped would lay the ground for eventual unification.

Park said past efforts at engagement had not worked. “It has become clear that the existing approach and goodwill are not going to break the North Korean regime’s nuclear development drive,” she told parliament.

SOUTH CHINA SEA

China raps Australia foreign minister ahead of Beijing trip

PARLEYS: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, front right, meets

Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, front left, for talks at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday. -Reuters

BEIJING/TOKYO: China rapped Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday ahead of her visit to Beijing after she said Australia recognised the Philippines’ right to seek arbitration in its dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea. China claims much of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims.

The Philippines has challenged Beijing at an arbitration court in The Hague over Chinese claims.

Beijing has repeatedly and angrily said it will not recognise the case. Speaking in Tokyo, Bishop said Australia did not take sides on the completing claims in the waters but was awaiting the outcome of the arbitration.

“We recognise the Philippines’ right to seek to resolve the matter through arbitration, but we urge all claimants to settle their disputes peacefully without coercion, without intimidation,” she said.

Remarks Asked about the remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said he believed Australia “understands” China’s position on the South China Sea. Hong repeated that China thought the Philippines arbitration case was a contravention of international law and went against the consensus Beijing and Manila have had on the issue.

“China certainly will not accept this. Australia ought not to selectively avoid this reality,” he told a daily news briefing.

Bishop also said she will seek clarification from China about how it intends to use its reclaimed islands in the South

China Sea, including whether Beijing intends to grant access to other countries.

“In the past (Chinese) Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said they will be public goods, so I am seeking more detail as to how other nations could access these public goods,” Bishop said of the islands.

“Depending upon the answer he gives, we will look at the situation,” she told reporters in Tokyo, where she met Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. Bishop, who will fly to Beijing later on Tuesday for talks with Wang and other Chinese officials, would not say whether Australia would seek access to the islands Hong said China’s building on the islands was for its own defence, as well as providing facilities for the international community to carry out search and rescue operations.

Regional peace It will not affect freedom of navigation or overflight, he added.

“We hope Australia can adopt an objective, fair and impartial position and not do anything to harm regional peace and stability,” Hong said.

Beijing has asserted its claim in the region with island building projects that have reclaimed more than 2,900 acres (1,170 hectares) of land since 2013, according to the Pentagon.

It tested for the first time last month a 3,000-metre runway built on a reclamation on Fiery Cross Reef by landing several civilian airliners from Hainan island.

China has accused Washington of seeking maritime hegemony in the name of freedom of navigation after a US Navy destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of a disputed island in the Paracel chain of the South China Sea in late January. - Reuters

Washington and Seoul are seeking support from Beijing, Pyongyang’s main ally, for tougher sanctions against North Korea for the February 7 rocket launch and January’s nuclear test.

‘Trustpolitik’ “The premise of ‘trustpolitik’ was that the North was a partner. The president’s comments in effect mean that premise was wrong. It is a complete turnabout in North

A11

Korea policy,” said Hong Sunggul, a political science professor at Kookmin University.

South Korea last week suspended the operation of the Kaesong industrial zone, which had been run jointly with the North for more than a decade.

The industrial park was a key source of hard currency for the impoverished North. Seoul also agreed to enter talks with Washington for deploying a missile defence system in South Korea, which China strongly opposes.

“The government will take strong and effective measures for the North to come to the bonenumbing realisation that nuclear development will not help its survival but rather it will only speed up the collapse of the regime,” Park said.

She did not specify what the measures would involve. Seoul and Washington have said the rocket launch was in fact a longrange missile test that violated UN Security Council resolutions.

The North said the launch was part of its scientific programme designed to launch satellites into space.

Park, whose father ruled South Korea for 18 years, had set out an ambitious plan early in her single

five-year term to prepare the two Koreas for unification.

That, and her call for confidence-building steps between the rivals, were a departure from the hard-line policy of her predecessor, Lee Myung-bak.

In a 2014 speech in Germany that became known as the “Dresden declaration”, Park called for a new push for cooperation and exchange to bring the two societies closer.

She hoped Germany’s reunification would eventually be emulated on the Korean peninsula. Park had sought to engage the North in dialogue since then, while also responding firmly to moves by North Korea that raised tensions, including a landmine blast at the border last year that wounded two South Korean soldiers.

Her top national security officials met senior aides to the North’s young leader, Kim Jong Un, in August and agreed to take steps to improve ties in the most substantial diplomatic engagement since a 2007 summit between the Koreas.

Those efforts have since fizzled.

South Korea is now on heightened alert for any kind of “extreme actions” Pyongyang might take, Park said. - Reuters

AFTER LIU XIAOBO

China warns US against Washington plaza name BEIJING: China’s Foreign Ministry warned the United States on Tuesday there would be “serious consequences” if a plaza in front of the Chinese embassy in Washington was named after a pro-democracy dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

By unanimous voice vote, the US Senate on Friday backed a plan to name the plaza after Liu Xiaobo, jailed for 11 years in 2009 on subversion charges for organising a petition urging an end to one-party rule. China views Liu as a criminal.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the move ran “contrary to the basic norms of international relations” and China was resolutely opposed to it.

Futile “If the relevant bill is passed into law it will cause serious consequences. We demand the US Senate stop promoting the bill and hope the US executive authorities put an end to this political farce,” Hong told a daily news briefing, without elaborating.

On Sunday, the Global Times, an influential Chinese state-run tabloid, said the naming scheme was “futile”. - Reuters

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Private ownership or public enterprise

Photo: Dr. Muzahid Karim

READERS’ FORUM Tour de Oman to showcase Oman as prime destination This is in reference to story All set for ‘more exciting’ Tour of Oman’ (February 16). The Tour of Oman could be one of the most exciting sporting events that attracts people of all age groups irrespective of their choice and desires. Obviously, the event has an added advantage to showcase Oman as one of the best tourist spots in the region. The media coverage makes it more impressive to envisage the land with traditional prosperity to rest of the world. Oman’s topography gives an exciting outlook to the event and possibly helps the sport enthusiasts from all around to be Scan this QR code observant and explore the country together to send letters to the with the riders. I take this opportunity to Readers’ Forum, wish all the participating teams the very containing not more than 200 words with best and safe touring. full name, address — Ramachandran Nair, Ruwi

MOHAMED A. EL ERIAN

The trouble with banks, though notable, has been containable so far. But should it evolve into a much sharper downturn, there could be serious consequences for a slowing global economy and for financial markets that have generally had a lousy start to the year. Those are risks that the global economy and markets can ill afford at the moment

and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Ridiculous laws on bouncers, wide balls help Indian batsmen This refers to the story We are always top contenders in shorter formats: Dhoni (February 15). This fact is true because the Indian side has always had a bad bowling attack. With multiple rules taking the sting out of bowlers the Indian batsmen are able to run amok. Had the ridiculous rules on bouncers and wide balls not been there, I am sure the South Asian would never be a tournament contender. — Michael Bernstein, Seeb

P

akistan International Airlines (PIA) has become a classic example of the failure of public ownership. The key reasons are political interference, abuse as a platform to extend patronage to supporters, corruption, inefficient management, overstaffing and a powerful trade union. The airline that was once a beacon for other airlines is now a basket case for decay and management failure. PIA ran a staggering loss of Rs36 billion in 2015 while the cumulative losses over the decades run into hundreds of billions. The carrier continues to bleed despite fuel prices being at their lowest and the government continues to bail the airline out burning a hole through the taxpayers’ pockets.

Meanwhile, the debate rages between the proponents and opponents of the privatisation of PIA. The opposition is, as usual, only trying to extract political mileage out of the turmoil without a concrete argument for or against private ownership.

This article aims at making sense of the massive wave of privatisation in the West in the post-Second World War era. It concludes that the experience of private ownership for all its faults has been the reason behind the success of capitalism. Pakistan seems bent on privatising PIA in the hope that private management will bring some sanity to the chaos. We have flirted with privatisation earlier as well with mixed results. It has apparently been a success in the banking sector. The Big Six (all local banks except one) posted a whopping cumulative profit of Rs130 billion in 2015. A dispassionate assessment is, however, needed to rule out cartelisation and improved protection of consumer interests post-privatisation.

Andrei Schleifer, Professor at Harvard and one of the top economists in the world, makes a lucid argument in favour of private ownership after examining the historical experience of both private and public ownerships. He singles out two key attributes of the private entity to plead his case.

Private ownership is driven to innovate and reduce costs. Conversely, the case for privatisation makes sense if the new owners have stronger incentives to innovate and reduce costs. The success of capitalism versus socialism is founded on these two pillars. Even the Nobel laureates of economics in the 1930s failed to appreciate the nature of ownership as the primary source of innovation.

They also argued that private firms fail to address social goals. This argument, too, is fallacious as social obligations can be easily met through government regulation of the private entity. For example, in the case of PIA, the fear that the private ownership would be reluctant to fly planes on unprofitable routes thus depriving some sections of the population fair access to air travel is misplaced.

Government regulation is the answer, not government ownership.

Half a century ago, economists favoured government ownership of firms fearing creation of market inequities such as monopoly. Some even argued for nationalisation of a few firms in each industry to facilitate a comparison between public and private ownership. Leading academics supported state ownership of railroads and utilities in which it is virtually impossible to maintain effectively competitive conditions. The scene dramatically changed after the Second World War as states the world over went on a privatisation spree.

The Contracting discourse emerged, which essentially argued for the government regulating private providers of services like education and health instead of owning them.

The argument against private provision of schooling holds that private schools avoid taking problem students, whom public schools can be forced to take. Schleifer argues that the government can easily address this by paying for the education of some students at the private entities thus meeting its social obligation of ensuring universality of education as opposed to outright ownership of education provision.

“State firms are inefficient not just because their managers have weaker incentives to reduce costs or innovate, but because inefficiency is the result of the government’s deliberate policy of transferring resources to supporters,” asserts Schleifer. Similarly, trade unions around the world are typically the strongest opponents of privatisation because they are beneficiaries of government largesse in exchange for political support. There is no disputing that the rot at PIA is the cumulative doing of successive governments. The best way forward now is its privatisation. We can only reap the fruits of privatisation if the process itself is transparent, if PIA is not sold to unworthy private entities for peanuts and if the government is willing to hold the privatised PIA accountable to its contractual obligations. - Express Tribune.

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES FEBRUARY 2001 Azizi opens IPA open day MUSCAT: Abdul Aziz bin Mattar Al Azizi, minister of civil service and board chairman of the Institute of Public Administration, inaugurated yesterday the activities of the Open Day which is organized in honour of the best trainees and those who contributed to the Institute’s training programmes. In an address, the minister underlined the necessity to celebrate achievements in the administrative development sector, which he said, served as a basis for the targeted comprehensive development in the Sultanate. He said efforts to develop human resources translate the basic ideas of the five-year development plans including the current one (2001 – 2005). He praised the relevance of the institutes’ training activities in the last year.

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1919: Germany signs an armistice giving up territory in Poland.

1933: The League of Nations censures Japan in a worldwide broadcast.

1955: UK announces its ability to make hydrogen bombs.

1979: China begins a “pedagogical” war against Vietnam.

Source National Centre for Statistics and Information

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 Given the magnitude of the Zika crisis, WHO encourages affected countries and their partners to boost the use of both old and new approaches to mosquito control as the most immediate line of defence World Health Organisation

A13

WORLD

OBITUARY

Former United Nations chief Boutros-Ghali passes away UNITED NATIONS: Former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, whose term was marked by war in the former Yugoslavia and famine and genocide in Africa, has died, the president of the Security Council said on Tuesday. He was 93.

The 15-member Security Council observed a minute’s silence after the death was announced by Venezuelan UN Ambassador Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, head of the Security Council for February. No details were given.

An Egyptian, Boutros-Ghali served as UN chief from 1992 to 1996.

As the United Nations’ first secretary-general from Africa,

Boutros-Ghali associated himself with the famine in Somalia and organised the first massive UN relief operation in the Horn of Africa nation.

But success eluded him there and elsewhere as the United Nations tottered in an increasingly disorderly post-communist world, with the world body and the big Security Council powers underestimating the deep animosity behind many conflicts.

US displeasure He had a reputation for being prickly, and US displeasure with him was the driving force in his departure.

Earlier, Boutros-Ghali had

worked for Egyptian presidents Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak.

He accompanied Sadat on the historic 1977 visit to Occupied Jerusalem and played a prominent role in the subsequent Camp David accords on the Middle East.

He was criticised for the UN’s failure to act during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and for not pushing hard enough for UN intervention to end Angola’s civil war in the 1990s, which was at the time one of the longest running conflicts in the world. Boutros-Ghali found himself jeered in Sarajevo, Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.

His style was to wade into crowds and confront protesters when security guards permitted.”I

am used to fundamentalists in Egypt arguing with me,” he told Reuters.

He shocked many in Sarajevo when he said he was not trying to belittle the horrors in Bosnia but that there were other countries where the “total dead was greater than here.”

He told Somali warlords and clan leaders to stop accusing the United Nations and him of colonialism, adding that Somalis should be worried that former colonial powers would ignore their plight if they continued to fight.

“The Cold War is finished,” he said.”Nobody is interested in the poor countries in Africa or anywhere in the world. — Reuters

Ukraine PM in setback as ‘loses public trust’ Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s party, which is the largest in the ruling coalition, said it would ask parliament to hold a no-confidence vote within hours

KIEV: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko suggested on Tuesday that Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk resign because his government had lost public support, but said there should not be a snap election.

The faction leader of Poroshenko’s party said it would ask parliament to hold a no-confidence vote within hours.

Poroshenko called for General Prosecutor Viktor Shokin to resign and said: “The same parameters should be applied to the government also... society has clearly decided that there have been more mistakes than achievements, and denied ministers its trust.”

Speaking in parliament after the statement, Yatseniuk was not explicit about whether he would resign or not, saying he would accept whatever decision parliament made.

Shokin did tender his resignation, however, the newspaper Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Poroshenko heads Ukraine’s largest party, and Yatseniuk the next largest.

Both are in the ruling coalition.

Maksym Burbak, the parliamentary leader of Yatseniuk’s party, told lawmakers that the consequences of voting against

FRESH CRISIS: Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyiuk gestures while speaking during his an-

nual report at the parliament in Kiev on Tuesday. — AFP

Maksym Burbak, the parliamentary leader of Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk’s party, told lawmakers that the consequences of voting against the government would be felt ‘literally the next day since this could trigger early elections and chaos’

the government would be felt “literally the next day - since this could trigger early elections and chaos”.

If the government collapsed, it would dismay Ukraine’s international backers, who have invested much cash and political capital supporting the government in its standoff with Moscow after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Ukraine’s failure to tackle cor-

ruption and implement reforms has already derailed a Western aid programme that keeps its warravaged economy afloat.

IMF package Last year, the International Monetary Fund gave Ukraine a $17.5 billion package to be spread over four years, but so far only $6.7 billion has been disbursed.

Ukraine has been waiting since October for the next tranche of

CONFLICT

52 members of Afghan forces killed in Helmand fighting LASHKAR GAH (AFGHANISTAN): Dozens of Afghan soldiers and policemen have been killed in the southern province of Helmand since Sunday as the Taliban presses an offensive in one of its heartlands, officials said.

Three local officials, who all spoke on condition of anonymity because they have been ordered not to talk about casualty figures, said 25 soldiers and 27 policemen had been killed in separate incidents in the province. Afghan security forces, fighting largely alone since the withdrawal of international forces in 2014, have been struggling for months to hold back the insurgency in Helmand, where the Taliban inflicted hundreds of casualties on NATO troops during years of fighting.

At least 11,000 civilians were killed or wounded in Afghanistan last year, in the worst year for civilian casualties since the United Nations began keeping records in 2009. Heavy fighting over the winter points to the potential for even more bloodshed this year.

As well as the fighting in Helmand, Taliban operations in the northern provinces of Jowzjan, Kunduz and Baghlan have also severely stretched government forces and caused heavy casualties over recent days.

Attack by Humvees In the worst incident in Helmand this week, insurgents in captured military Humvee vehicles packed with explosives launched a suicide attack on a checkpoint in the district centre of Sangin on Sunday, killing seven soldiers and 15 policemen.

Nine soldiers were also killed in combat in Sangin, while another nine died in fighting in Musa Qalah district, northeast of Sangin, the officials said.

In other incidents, 10 policemen were killed fighting in Gereshk, a road junction north of the district capital Lashkar Gah, while two more were killed on Monday night in Khan Nashim in the south of the province by a man wearing a police uniform.

The Taliban, which the United States now estimates controls or threatens around a third of the country, have overrun large parts of Helmand, leaving beleagured government forces in district centres like Sangin and Marjah barely clinging on to a few official buildings. Heavily mined roads have prevented reinforcements and supplies arriving, leaving many units cut off.

“Right now, some 250 police and 300 soldiers are surrounded

by Taliban in Marjah and our forces are providing them support from the air,” one of the officials said.”Roads to Sangin are mostly blocked with explosive devices and we cannot send reinforcements.”

The outgoing US commander in Afghanistan, General John Campbell, recently ordered several hundred American troops to the province to bolster the defence, although they will be restricted to an advisory role unless they come under attack themselves. — Reuters

aid, worth $1.7 billion, which has been held up by concerns over the slow pace of reform.

The economy minister quit at the start of February, complaining that corrupt vested interests were meddling in his ministry’s work.

Ukraine’s hryvnia currency weakened to a new 11-month low of more than 27 to the dollar on Tuesday, central bank data showed, and has fallen 12.2 percent since the start of this year alone.

Recession, insurgency The government is struggling to haul Ukraine out of recession at the same time as fighting a proRussian separatist insurgency in its industrial east. Yatseniuk took office in 2014. His approval ratings have plunged to below 1 per cent but he has no obvious successor, although the parliamentary speaker and the technocrat finance minister are considered contenders. — Reuters

END OF AN ERA: Former UN Secretary-General Boutros BoutrosGhali, right, chats to then-French President Jacques Chirac, left, at the Francophone Summit in Hanoi, in this November 14, 1997 file picture. — Reuters/Stringer/Files

G E N E T I C M O D I F I C AT I O N , U S E O F B AC T E R I A

WHO suggests novel methods to fight Zika outbreak LONDON: Countries battling the Zika virus should consider new ways to curb disease-carrying mosquitoes, including testing the release of genetically modified insects and bacteria that stop their eggs hatching, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday.

“Given the magnitude of the Zika crisis, WHO encourages affected countries and their partners to boost the use of both old and new approaches to mosquito control as the most immediate line of defence,” it said.

The WHO also highlighted the potential of releasing sterile irradiated male mosquitoes, a technique that has been developed at the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Zika, which is now sweeping the Americas, is transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which the UN health body described as an “opportunistic and tenacious menace”.

Many scientists believe Zika could be linked to microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, in newborns and a serious neurological disorder in adults called GuillainBarre syndrome.

“If these presumed associations are confirmed, the human and social consequences for the over 30 countries with recently detected Zika outbreaks will be staggering,” the WHO said.

Fighting the infection at source by eliminating the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes responsible for transmission is moving up the public health agenda, especially as the same insects also spread dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

However, the concept of wiping out an entire mosquito species also raises serious ecological questions, since it runs counter to preserving biodiversity.

Like rats and pigeons, Lines argues, Aedes aegypti has adapted perfectly to modern urban living by breeding in everything from discarded bottle tops and used car tyres to pet water bowls and vases in cemeteries.

While spraying or ‘fogging’ with insecticide can provide part of the solution, World Health Organisation experts said they recommended evaluating newer tools, including a genetically modified prototype mosquito developed

by Oxitec, the British subsidiary of Intrexon As a result, the diseases it carries are likely to be a growing threat to humankind in the years ahead.

While spraying or “fogging” with insecticide can provide part of the solution, WHO experts said they recommended evaluating newer tools, including a genetically modified prototype mosquito developed by Oxitec, the British subsidiary of Intrexon.

Die before adulthood The male mosquitoes are modified so their offspring will die before reaching adulthood and being able to reproduce.

The WHO said its Vector Control Advisory Group recommended further field trials of the technique, following promising previous tests in the Cayman Islands.

Another option involves the mass release of male insects that have been sterilised by low doses of radiation, which the IAEA has already used to control tsetse fly in parts of Africa.

An alternative approach uses Wolbachia bacteria, which do not infect humans but cause the eggs of females that mate with infected males to fail to hatch. — Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

GLOBAL EYE

LEBANON: A general view of the Bay of Jounieh with houses and roads, north of Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday. — Reuters

JAPAN: Taxis park outside Tokyo station in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday. — Reuters

BOLIVIA: A view of multifamily buildings decorated by painter Roberto Mamani and built by a housing programme of Bolivia’s President Evo Morales’ government in El Alto, on the outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia, on Monday. — Reuters

BRITAIN: A man walks across Millennium Bridge during sunrise in London, Britain on Tuesday. — Reuters

GEORGIA: A car drives over Georgian Norik Yajian as he attempts to beat a Guinness record in Tbilisi on Tuesday. — AFP

CHINA: A sperm whale stranded to death is salvaged from mudflat

onto a Ship in Nantong, China, on Tuesday. — Reuters/China Daily

FRANCE: Customs officers stand in front of stuffed leopards in a taxidermy hall as part of a fight against the trafficking of protected species at the Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, on Tuesday. French customs, who seized seven stuffed animals in 2015, deliver them to the museum for their collections. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 It will no doubt be hard to believe, but I swear it is the strict truth: I knew nothing about this company until the scandal broke Nicolas Sarkozy, Former French president

A15

WORLD

THAILAND

King Bhumibol Adulyadej recovers from infection, swollen lung

RECUPERATING: Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej. – Reuters

BANGKOK: Thailand’s 88-yearold King Bhumibol Adulyadej has recovered from a blood infection and swollen lung but continues to have a high fever, the Royal Household Bureau said in a statement on Tuesday.

King Bhumibol, the world’s longest-serving monarch, has been in hospital since the end of May and has received treatment

for various ailments. He was last seen in public on January 11, when he left hospital to visit his Bangkok palace for a few hours.

Nervousness over his health and the succession has formed the backdrop to more than a decade of political crisis in Thailand, where the military took power in a coup in May 2014. “On the night of February 14, His Majesty the King’s

Vietnam seeks stronger US role in disputed sea Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urged Washington to use a stronger voice and ‘more practical and more efficient actions’ to prevent militarisation in the South China Sea

PLENARY SESSION: US President Barack Obama, centre, during a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at Sunnylands estate on Monday in Rancho Mirage, California. – AFP

HANOI/RANCHO MIRAGE: Vietnam’s prime minister has urged a greater US role in preventing militarisation and islandbuilding in the South China Sea, the government said on Tuesday, in a rare call for Washington’s support to curb Beijing’s maritime expansionism.

During a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in California on Monday, premier Nguyen Tan Dung suggested to US President Barack Obama that Washington uses a stronger voice and “more practical and more efficient actions”, in comments likely to rile China.

Tension has spiked since Beijing’s construction of seven islands in the Spratly archipelago.

“Prime Minister Dung suggested the United States has a stronger voice and more practical and more efficient actions requesting termination of all activities changing the status quo,” the government said on its news website.

The statement did not specifi-

cally name China, but it said Dung was referring especially to “largescale construction of artificial islands” and “militarisation”.

With a large U-shaped line on its official maps, China claims most of the South China Sea. Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam have rival claims.

Obama and allies from Southeast Asia will turn their attention to China on the second day of a summit intended to improve trade and provide a united front on maritime disputes with Beijing. Whereas China accuses the United States of seeking maritime hegemony in Asia, Washington says its interest in the South China Sea is preserving freedom of navigation.

In recent months, the United States raised the stakes by sending guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen and USS Curtis Wilbur close to disputed areas occupied by Beijing.

Though communist Vietnam

EXCESS SPENDING

French judges question Sarkozy PARIS: Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, a potential candidate in 2017, was taken for questioning by investigating magistrates on Tuesday about a scandal over excess spending in his unsuccessful 2012 re-election campaign.

A judicial source said Sarkozy, leader of the centreright opposition Republicans, had been notified in advance that the summons could lead to his being placed under formal examination, which would be a prelude to a possible trial.

He was driven to the headquarters of the Paris financial prosecutors’ office to be questioned about the so-called Bygmalion affair. Sarkozy has repeatedly denied knowledge of dual accounting and some $20.1 million (18 million euros) in false invoices issued by the Bygmalion event-organisation company that meant his campaign costs were more than double the legal limit.

Four senior figures in the 2012 campaign have already been placed under formal investigation for alleged political financing offences, including his campaign manager and treasurer. In a book, Sarkozy wrote: “It will no doubt be hard to believe, but I swear it is the strict truth: I knew nothing about this company until the scandal broke.” — Reuters

routinely opposes China’s activities in disputed waters, its leaders are usually wary of provoking a giant neighbour with which it shares over $60 billion of annual trade and maintains close ideological ties.

Dung has earned popularity in Vietnam for pursuing stronger US trade and defence links and for taking a tougher line against China, compared to measured responses by other Vietnamese leaders to Beijing’s assertiveness.

Dung was controversially overlooked by the politburo last month in its nomination for party chief, meaning the end of his political career when his term ends this year, posing a possible blow for Washington.

Dung also asked Obama to fully lift a lethal arms embargo on Vietnam, which would be an “important way to strengthen political trust”, the government website quoted him saying. Obama will visit Vietnam in May, the White House said. — Reuters

breathing quickened and an X-ray in the chest showed no lung infection,” the palace statement said.

“On February 15, the king’s fever was at 38.1 degrees Celsius.” That temperature is equivalent to 100.6 degrees F. The king has a high temperature, the statement said, and suffers from exhaustion. An X-ray on February 3 showed no infection in

the king’s chest, stomach, or brain, it said, but a medical team had found infections in other parts of the king’s body and was administering the monarch antibiotics and oxygen. The team was trying to determine the cause of the infections, the statement said.

News about the royal family is tightly controlled in Thailand, where harsh laws protecting the

royals from insult make it a crime to defame, insult or threaten the king, queen, heir to the throne or regent. Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn is the only son of King Bhumibol and the heir to the throne.

While his father is widely adored by many Thais, who see him as a semi-divine figure, Prince Vajiralongkorn has yet to command the same level of popularity. — Reuters

A 16

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

WORLD

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Indonesia plans tougher laws to counter terrorism Proposed legislation includes longer detention without trial and will also allow authorities to target anyone who recruits members for, or cooperates with a militant group

JAKARTA: Indonesia has drawn up plans for tougher anti-terrorism laws following last month’s militant attack on the capital, including detention without trial for up to three months compared with a week now, government sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

The proposals are likely to draw fire from human rights activists, who have warned against jeopardising hard-won freedoms over nearly two decades since the end of president Suharto’s rule.

However, officials anticipate little opposition in parliament to the legislation, which would not be as strict as counter-terrorism laws passed in recent years by neighbours Australia and Malaysia.

President Joko Widodo’s government moved quickly to reform the country’s 2003 anti-terrorism law after January 14, when four men attacked Jakarta’s business district with guns and explosives.

IS claimed responsibility for the assault, in which the militants and four others died.

Details of the overhaul have been kept confidential, but two government sources with direct knowledge of the draft law said it

STRICT LEGISLATION: Indonesian police are seen near the site of an attack in Jakarta, Indonesia on January 14, 2016. The new law will allow the arrest of people merely “if they assemble to discuss terrorist and radical acts”. – Reuters files

would broaden the definition of terrorism and make it easier to both arrest and detain suspects.

The sources declined to be named because the legislation, which could be passed within the next few months, is still under consideration by parliament, where Widodo enjoys strong cross-party support.

“The new definition of terrorism includes the possession, distribution and trade of any weapons... or potential material that can be used as weapons for terrorism acts,” said one.

The maximum period allowed for detention without trial will be

lifted to 90 days and for preventive detention to 120 days, both from a current limit of one week.

The law will also allow authorities to target anyone who recruits members for, or cooperates with a militant group, and to use electronic communications, intelligence reports and financial transactions as evidence in court against suspects.

Indonesians who have joined militant training or participated in terrorist acts in a foreign country will be stripped of their citizenship. Security officials say about 500 Indonesians have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the

radical group IS and they estimate that about one in five of these has returned, although most did not see frontline combat.

Arrest Over the past two months, Indonesian counter-terrorism forces have arrested dozens of men suspected of plotting attacks on government targets and major landmarks, and last week seven men were jailed for being sympathisers of IS. But police have long complained that even when they are aware of radical activities, they are unable to detain known militants unless

they threaten or actually carry out an attack. The new law will allow the arrest of people merely “if they assemble to discuss terrorist and radical acts”.

The International Commission of Jurists last month urged the government not to undermine the process of justice by making it easier for authorities to arrest people irrespective of whether there is sufficient evidence of criminal activity. Elsewhere in the region, counter-terrorism measures have been more far-reaching.

Malaysia last April reintroduced a law under which individuals can be detained without trial for up to two years with two-year extensions thereafter.

Australia has in recent years passed measures banning its citizens from returning from conflict zones in Syria and the Middle East, while making it easier to monitor domestic communications. The Southeast Asian country has seen a spate of attacks in the 2000s, the deadliest of which was a nightclub bombing on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people.

Police have been largely successful in destroying domestic militant cells since then, but officials have grown increasingly concerned about a resurgence inspired

by IS and officials say homegrown radicals are regrouping. Security experts say one problem is that high-security prisons have become breeding grounds for militants, with radical clerics being able to preach and communicate with followers from behind bars.

The government sources said one of the legislative changes proposed involves segregating prisoners convicted of terrorism from other inmates to minimise radicalisation in prisons. Terrorism convicts will also be separated into three categories: masterminds or those involved in planning attacks, those involved in executing plans, and followers. — Reuters

SCHENGEN AREA

Excluding Greece won’t solve migrant crisis: Tusk ATHENS: Excluding Greece from the open-border Schengen area will not solve the migrant crisis that is testing Europe’s cohesion to its limits, EU Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.

Europe needed to improve the protection of its external borders, he told reporters after talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens. That required more effort by Greece, but also more support from its European Union partners. Central European nations on Monday proposed drafting emergency back-up plans to halt the flow of migrants to Western Europe through the Balkans, effectively ring-fencing Greece.

“The migration crisis is testing our union to its limits,” Tusk said.

“For all those talking of excluding Greece from Schengen, thinking this is a solution to the migration crisis, I say no, it is not.”

Greece — the main entry point into Europe for more than a million refugees and migrants since last year, many crossing the sea from Turkey — is under intense pressure from its EU partners to tighten border checks. EU ministers last week gave Greece three months to fulfil 50 recommendations to fix its borders. If it does not, the EU members of the free-travel Schengen zone can impose checks on internal frontiers for up to two years.

Tusk, who was in Greece to rustle up support for an ambitious EU reform programme designed to keep Britain in the EU, was echoing sentiments expressed

by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said Greece needed help in meeting its border protection duties, and not shunned. “Let me be clear,” Tusk said. “Excluding Greece from Schengen solves none of our problems.”

Greece says the burden it is assuming in the migrants crisis is disproportionate, adding strain on a nation reeling from six years of deep recession. — Reuters

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM W EDN ES DAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

MARKE

OMANTEL PERFORMANCE Omantel full year performance in 2015 was well received by market analysts, with leading advisors upgrading their share recommendation from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’ for the telecommunication stock. Full story in B2

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DIGEST VIDEO Top stories in one minute with our new daily Digest

Muscat 5,380.03 + 3.65 + 0.06%

Dubai 3,064.84 + 60.89 + 2.03%

Abu Dhabi 4,140.22 + 32.80 + 0.80%

Saudi Arabia

5,739.98 + 48.73 + 0.86%

Kuwait 5,134.96 - 4.17 - 0.08%

Bahrain 1,169.21 + 2.36 + 0.20%

Qatar 9,873.13 + 15.93 + 0.16%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

Type ............................Delivery...........Price

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.30 Pound ............................................1.78 Indian Rs .............................. 176.21 Pak Rs .....................................267.31 Bangla Taka........................201.17

Indian Rs ................................... 177.50 Pakistan Rs ..............................271.25 Sri Lanka Rs ............................ 371.74 Bangla Taka........................... 203.50 Phil Peso .................................... 123.15

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......14.40

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$29.24 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$29.44 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) .........$31,99 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........$28.89 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........ $33.76 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$29.25

* Rates are as of Feb. 16 Source: Bank Muscat

* Rates as of Feb. 16 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......13.90 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ........... 135.00 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............ 128.00 * Rates as of Feb. 16 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

CRYSTAL CLEAR: Muriya plans to build three more hotels in Salalah to make it a critically-sized destination to be able to bring more and more air traffic. — Supplied picture

Muriya to invest $500m Muriya needs another $500m to build the remaining hotels and other facilities in Salalah and Jebel Sifah projects, said Muriya Chairman Samih Sawiris. — Supplied picture

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Muriya Tourism Development Company, the Sultanate’s leading integrated tourism project developer, plans to invest $500 million for completing high-end hotels and other facilities in its two major destinations — Salalah and Jebel Sifah.

“We need another $500 million to build the remaining hotels and recreational facilities in both destinations in the next six to eight years,” Samih Sawiris, chairman of Muriya and of Orascom Development Holding, told Times of Oman in an exclusive interview.

Egypt-based Orascom Development has 70 per cent stake in Muriya, while the remaining 30 per cent is held by state-owned Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran). Sawiris, who was in Salalah to mark the official opening of the first phase of its integrated tourism complex, said that Muriya plans to build three more hotels here to make it a critically-sized destination to be able to bring more and more air traffic.

“We have three hotels with

700 rooms in Salalah.” “So far, we (Muriya) have invested $500 million in Oman for developing both destinations. Then we have taken $50 million loan from banks (for building the tourism project),” added the Sawiris.

He said that both tourism projects (Salalah and Jebel Sifah) will be sufficiently massed to attract additional tourists to Oman.

“In Salalah, we are building a destination and not just one or two hotels. We invest a lot in infrastructure facilities (marina and desalination plants) in the beginning. We grow from there.

It is a bit different from other projects,” added Ahmed Dabbous, chief executive officer of Muriya.

Sawiris noted that Muriya was the only company that continued to invest in a project without waiting for bank loans for development.

“During a crisis, banks will not finance projects, especially tourism and real estate projects.

And everybody uses banks as an excuse (for delaying/scrapping tourism projects). We have decided that we will complete the projects with equity capital and we did not stop,” said Sawiris.

IT’S NOT SMART ENOUGH TO HELP YOU DRIVE

A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

B2

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

MARKET COUNTERING PRICE SLUMP

Saudi and Russia to freeze oil output near record levels DOHA: Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to freeze output at near-record levels, the first coordinated move by the world’s two largest oil producers to counter a slump that has pummeled economies, markets and companies.

While the deal is preliminary and doesn’t include Iran, it’s the first significant cooperation between Opec and non-Opec producers in 15 years and Saudi Arabia said it’s open to further action. Oil pared gains after the accord was announced, signaling traders see no immediate end to the global supply glut.

The deal to fix production at January levels, which includes Qatar and Venezuela, is the “beginning of a process” that could require “other steps to stabilise and improve the market,” Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al Naimi said in Doha on Tuesday after the talks with Russian Energy Minster Alexander Novak. Qatar and Venezuela also agreed to participate, he said.

Saudi has resisted making any cuts in output to boost prices from a 12-year low, arguing that it would simply be losing market share unless its rivals also agreed

to reduce supplies. Naimi’s comments may continue to feed speculation that the world’s biggest oil producers will take action to revive prices.

Meeting demand “The reason we agreed to a potential freeze of production is simply the beginning of a process” over next few months,” Naimi told reporters. “We don’t want significant gyrations in prices. We don’t want a reduction in supply. We want to meet demand. We want a stable oil price.”

Oil pared gains in London, after rising before the meeting amid speculation the countries would discuss production cuts. Brent crude was 1.2 per cent higher at $33.78 a barrel at 11:39am in London, having earlier climbed as much as 6.5 per cent. While Novak has said he could consider cuts if other countries joined in, Russia faces significant obstacles to do so. The freeze is conditional on other nation’s participation, Russia’s Energy Ministry said. Oil supply still exceeds demand and record oil stockpiles continue to swell, potentially pushing prices below $20 a barrel. - Bloomberg News

Investors upbeat on Omantel performance In a February 15 note to investors, financial market research company NBK Capital lifted its recommendation on Omantel shares from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Telecommunication’s (Omantel) full year performance in 2015 was well received by market analysts, with leading advisors upgrading their share recommendation from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’ for the telecommunication stock.

In a February 15 note to investors, financial market research company NBK Capital lifted its recommendation on Omantel shares from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’, noting

FARES WELL: Oman Telecommunications Company has posted a revenue growth of 6.9 per cent at OMR514.5 million in 2015, against OMR481.2 million for 2014, the highest revenue figure recorded in 4 years. - Times file picture

that 2015 operational results were 2 per cent better than analysts’ forecasts while noting net income was impacted by the impairment of WTL and VEoS programme.

“Excluding these exceptional items, group net profit would have been OMR118.2 million, just 3 per cent short of the net income forecast of OMR122 million. Our recommendation have changed from Hold to Buy,” according to the note to investors.

Meanwhile, another note to investors dated February15, Gulf Baader highlighted the positive outcome from the decision to im-

pair the investment of Worldcall Telecom (WTL) in Pakistan.

Worldcall Telecom “As per our view, the investment in WTL has been a dragger for the group results since 2008, the full impairment of this would mean the balance sheet of Omantel would become clean now. Though this would create short term negative sentiments to the stock performance, the long term results would be net positive,” the Gulf Baader note said.

Omantel has posted the 2015 financial year results, reporting

revenue growth of 6.9 per cent to OMR514.5 million, against OMR481.2 million for 2014, the highest revenue figure recorded in 4 years. Group operational performance has recorded strong growth before interest, tax and depreciation (Ebitda) increasing to OMR254 million, from OMR243.2 million in 2014, an annual increase of 4.5 per cent.

Investing in the future of the nation, Omantel connects even the most remote communities of the Sultanate to each other and the rest of the world. Omantel is the Sultanate’s first and leading integrated telecommunications services provider, enabling the digital society to flourish, allowing new ways of doing business and delivering a world of information, news and entertainment.

Today, Omantel boldly innovates to deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction, the broadest and most reliable nationwide network while investing for Oman’s future development.

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

AGREEMENT

National Business Centre joins hand with Fatma Al Riyami Consultancy Times News Service MUSCAT: National Business Centre (NBC), part of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), on Tuesday signed an agreement to embrace Fatma Al Riyami Consultancy. The latter will benefit from the NBC support dedicated to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Fatma Al Riyami Consultancy is in a mission to drive corporate excellence in Oman organisations and businesses, providing demonstrable value through excellence and integrated management solutions designed to engage customers, enrich performance and meet expectations.

Services The services of the company range from project management, setting corporate management systems and transformation practices in compliance with international standards.

The National Business Centre

SIGNING SESSION: National Business Centre on Tuesday signed an agreement with Fatma Al Riyami Consultancy. The latter will benefit from the NBC support dedicated to the small and medium enterprises. - Supplied picture

is an initiative launched by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) to offer promising Omani entrepreneurs a platform to develop their business ideas and advance them into growing ventures.

The centre aims at becom-

ing the premier platform for Omani entrepreneurs by providing business development support and guidance, training and mentoring, access to markets and industry experts and stateof-the-art, fully equipped, office space, meeting rooms as well as presentation facilities.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

B3

MARKET RESHUFFLE

OIL & GAS

Kuwait petroleum seeks $10 billion loan to upgrade two major refineries KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait National Petroleum Company is seeking to borrow $10 billion from local and international banks to upgrade two refineries to produce cleaner burning fuel.

Local banks are due to agree next month to lend $3 billion under favourable terms to Kuwait, according to Ahmad Al Jemaz, a deputy chief executive officer at the state oil refiner.

The rest of the $10 billion needed will be sought from international lenders, including from South Korean banks, he said.

“We have seen a good response to our request for loans to finance the project,” Al Jemaz told reporters in Dubai on Monday.

Kuwait has spent more than $35 billion on oil, gas and petrochemicals projects in the past two years, exceeding other Middle East nations, according to Meed research. Borrowing rates for

a day, Kuwait’s official news agency Kuna reported on Tuesday, citing Mohammad Ghazi Al Mutairi, chief executive officer of Kuwait National Petroleum Company.

CLEAN FUEL: The loans will be for Kuwait’s Clean Fuels Project to upgrade the Mina Abdullah and Mina Al Ahmadi refineries. – Bloomberg News

loans to upgrade the two refineries may be less than 4.5 per cent, Naveen Ahmed, analyst at Global Investment House KPSC in Kuwait, said by phone on Monday.

“The banks will be jumping at deals like these,” Ahmed said.

“These projects are relatively lowrisk because they’re being carried out by government-related entities or are public- private partnership projects.”

The loans will be for Kuwait’s Clean Fuels Project to upgrade GLOBAL SLOWDOWN

TA X B U R D E N

Mining firms in South Africa to cut more jobs

UNDERGOING ARBITRATION: The dispute between India and

Vodafone traces back to Vodafone’s $11 billion acquisition of a 67 per cent stake in the mobile phone business owned by Hutchison Whampoa, now part of CK Hutchison Holdings. – Bloomberg News

India plans to attach Vodafone assets in case of tax default MUMBAI: India said it may seize Vodafone’s assets in the country if the company doesn’t pay a disputed Rs142-billion ($2.1 billion) tax bill that’s still undergoing international arbitration proceedings, according to a copy of the notice that was sent to the company this month.

Anil Sant, deputy commissioner of Income Tax, informed the company’s Vodafone International Holdings Dutch unit of its dues in a letter dated February 4, according to the document.

Spokesman Ben Padovan at Vodafone and a representative at India’s Tax Department declined to comment.

Any overdue amounts, even from overseas companies, may be recovered “from any assets of the non-resident which are, or may at any time come, within India,” according to the letter.

Foreign investors Vodafone has been fighting Indian tax authorities for years over its purchase of billionaire Li Kashing’s mobile-phone business in the country during 2007 in a case that analysts have said may influence foreign investors’ perceptions about India.

“The tax authority is not privy to arbitration, and they will act against a company to recover the dues owed to them,” said Shardul J. Thacker, a partner at law firm

Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe. “The tax authorities do have a lot of powers and can seize assets and impose penalties on defaulters.” It’s not immediately clear what the government’s next steps would be if Vodafone were to decline the payment request.

Hutchison Whampoa The dispute traces back to Vodafone’s $11 billion acquisition of a 67 per cent stake in the mobilephone business owned by Hutchison Whampoa, now part of CK Hutchison Holdings. While Vodafone has said it doesn’t owe the Indian government money because the transaction was conducted offshore, Indian authorities have sought to collect taxes on the deal because it involved the assets in the country.

Vodafone, the second-largest mobile carrier in India, began international arbitration proceedings on the tax bill in 2014.

It’s the biggest of three disputes Vodafone has had with India’s government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s predecessor.

The other disputes involved the valuation of international transactions — a case that Vodafone won at the Bombay High Court — and a separate ruling in October, whereby the court ruled that Vodafone didn’t owe as much as Rs85 billion in back taxes. – Bloomberg News

CAPE TOWN: Job losses in South Africa’s mining sector are likely to accelerate with mining companies such as Glencore and Anglo American battling to cope with a global commodity price slump.

The government has warned that 32,000 workers in the sector could lose their jobs as metals prices fall due to slowing economic growth in China, the world’s biggest metals consumer.

Industry officials predict more than 50,000 job cuts.

Companies in the industry, which employs about 500,000 people and contributes around 7 percent to South Africa’s GDP, say they have little choice but to cut jobs and close struggling mines to cope.

Labour unrest But with more than a quarter of the working population unemployed the job losses could trigger labour unrest and erode support for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in local government polls expected after May. Roger Baxter, chief executive of the Chamber of Mines, which groups mining firms, said the industry shed around 47,000 jobs between 2012 and the first quarter of 2015.

“Some parts of the industry are in the intensive care unit,” Baxter told Reuters at a mining conference in Cape Town.

Anglo, the world’s fifth-biggest diversified global mining group by stock market value, started paring operations in 2013.

Chief Executive Mark Cutifani said last week the company would take even “bolder action” and it planned to exit more mines. He warned “things may still get worse before they get better”. - Reuters

the Mina Abdullah and Mina Al Ahmadi refineries. The project, set to be completed by 2019, will produce diesel and jet fuel for domestic use and export. The hydrocracker unit at Mina Al-Ahmadi started, producing 42,500 barrels

Capacity expansion The Mina Abdullah refinery’s capacity will be increased to 454,000 barrels a day from 270,000 barrels a day and the Mina Al Ahmadi plant’s capacity will be decreased to 350,000 barrels a day from 466,000 as one of its main crude processing units is retired, Al Jemaz said.

Kuwait is also planning a $30 billion refinery to produce 615,000 barrels a day, a petrochemical plant and a liquefied natural gas receiving terminal at Al Zour on the Persian Gulf coast.

Financing options include selling shares to the public in the petrochemical unit and joint ventures, Al Jemaz said. – Bloomberg News

Abu Dhabi replaces head of Finance Department DUBAI: Abu Dhabi’s government replaced the head of its Finance Department and appointed a cabinet minister as general manager of state-owned oil company Adnoc as the oil producer grapples with low prices.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi’s ruler, issued a decree late on Monday naming Riyad Al Mubarak as head of the Finance Department in place of Hamad Al Hurr Al Suwaidi, state-run news agency reported.

In a separate decree, Sheikh Khalifa appointed Sultan Al Jaber as general manager of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, replacing Abdulla Nasser Al Suwaidi.

The reshuffle comes as Abu Dhabi, home to 6 per cent of the world’s known oil reserves, may consider tapping its sovereign wealth fund. - Bloomberg News

Indian company wins gas pipeline contract in Oman Indian conglomerate Punj Lloyd will build a 300-km-long natural gas liquid pipeline as part of Oman’s $6.4-b Liwa Plastic Industries Complex

Times News Service MUSCAT: A contract to build a 300-km-long natural gas liquid (NGL) pipeline as part of the $6.4-billion Liwa Plastic Industries Complex was awarded to Punj Lloyd by Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic).

The Indian conglomerate engaged in engineering, procurement and construction also bagged another contract to build a 301-km-long natural gas pipeline from Oman Gas Company. The cost of these two contracts is estimated at $304 million.

The 14-inch pipeline for natural gas liquid will be between New Fahud NGL plant and a steam

cracker unit (part of Liwa Plastic Industries Complex) at Sohar, the company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Gas supply to power station In view of increased gas demand and to ensure availability of supply, Punj Lloyd will be laying another 32-inch gas pipeline to the existing 32-inch Fahud-Sohar pipeline for Oman Gas Company.

The pipeline is being laid to supply gas for North Power station.

The scope of the work also includes construction of block valve and pigging stations.

Both the pipelines need to be completed within 38 and 35 months, respectively.

“We feel proud as we were se-

lected due to the strength of our technical and financial bids. Also, Punj Lloyd was the only Indian contractor in Oman to be awarded a seizable contract of the Liwa Plastic Industries Complex mega complex. Our past experience of delivering strategic projects in Oman and our prowess in pipelines globally, both stood testament to our capabilities,” said Atul Jain, president and chief executive officer – pipeline and tankages – Punj Lloyd.

“Liwa Plastic Industries Complex will enhance the in-country value of products and will provide the necessary material to grow a downstream sector in the Sultanate, with a focus on the plastic industry. Liwa Plastic Industries Complex will also enhance the contribution of the industrial sector towards domestic production to 9 per cent by 202 and will create more than 13,000 new employment opportunities for Omanis,” added Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, chairman of Orpic.

The group’s order backlog stands at Rs2,540 billion. The order backlog is the value of unexecuted orders on December 31, 2015 and new orders received thereafter.

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B4

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

MARKET OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 5,380.03 ............... 5,351.91 ................... 5,380.03 ...................5,349.53................. 30.50 ................... 0.57 Financial Index .................................... 6,702.88 ...............6,663.77 ................... 6,702.88 ................... 6,659.37..................43.51 ................... 0.65 Industrial Index ....................................6,530.72 .............. 6,520.43 ................... 6,525.53 ...................6,535.99................-10.46 .................. -0.16 Services Index ...................................... 2,975.52 .............. 2,965.56 ................... 2,975.10 ...................2,959.32.................. 15.78 ................... 0.53 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 827.72 ..................826.28 .......................827.67 ......................826.34.................... 1.33 ................... 0.16 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 24,949,796 ................. 4,109,209 ..................1,180 ...............16,253,034,142 ................ 18 ........................8 .................... 14 .........................40

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

Muscat Securities Market. – Times file picture

MSM index ends higher

REGULAR MARKET .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ..................10,000 ............... 1,150........................1 ............0.115 ........... 0.115............ 0.115 ............0.115 ............. 0.110............ 0.005............. 4.545 ................0.115 .............. 0.114................... 0.115 ...................23,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ............................................10,500 .............. 2,940........................7 ........... 0.280...........0.280 ...........0.280 .......... 0.280 ............. 0.271............ 0.009............. 3.321 ................0.280............. 0.280...................0.288 ...................17,137,196..........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ........................ 70,000 ...............8,760........................7 ............0.125 ........... 0.126 ...........0.125 ............0.125 .............0.122 ........... 0.003............. 2.459 ................0.125 ..............0.124...................0.130...................11,880,000 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 1,389,071........271,166..................... 49 ............0.195 ........... 0.197 ...........0.194............0.195 ............. 0.191 ............ 0.004.............2.094 ................0.197 .............. 0.196...................0.197...................39,000,000.........0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH............................................... 43,200 .......... 108,017.....................20 ........... 2.500...........2.550 ...........2.500 .......... 2.500 .............2.450 ........... 0.050............. 2.041 ................2.500 ............ 2.400...................2.500 ................ 238,642,988 .......1.000 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 1,390,077 ......222,760..................... 64 ............0.158 ........... 0.162 ...........0.158 ........... 0.160 ............. 0.157............ 0.003..............1.911.................0.162 ..............0.162...................0.164................. 230,630,400 .......0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 267,350 ........... 28,536.....................24 ............0.107 ........... 0.107 ...........0.106........... 0.107 .............0.105............ 0.002............. 1.905 ................0.107 ..............0.107...................0.108....................9,630,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 143,000 ............18,785......................14 ............0.130 ........... 0.132 ...........0.130............0.131 .............0.129............ 0.002............. 1.550 ................0.132 ..............0.130...................0.132...................38,075,284.........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 3,385,169 ...1,530,078................... 211 ........... 0.450 ...........0.452 ...........0.450........... 0.452 .............0.446 ........... 0.006............. 1.345 ................0.452..............0.450...................0.452................ 1,035,903,814 ......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 1,313,692 ......230,530..................... 74 ............0.175 ........... 0.176 ...........0.175 ............0.175 ............. 0.173............ 0.002..............1.156.................0.176 .............. 0.176...................0.177 ...................26,263,125 .........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 266,446 ........... 25,035......................21 ........... 0.093 ........... 0.095 ...........0.093........... 0.094 .............0.093 ............0.001 ............. 1.075 ................0.095..............0.095...................0.096.................... 5,531,262 ..........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 106,524 ..........159,159..................... 36 ............1.480 ........... 1.500 ...........1.480............1.495 .............1.480.............0.015 ............. 1.014.................1.500..............1.500................... 1.515 ................ 1,121,250,000 ......0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 397,400 ........... 56,027..................... 64 ............0.140 ........... 0.143 ...........0.140............0.141 .............0.140 ............0.001 ............. 0.714 ................0.142..............0.142...................0.144....................17,610,612..........0.100

Global Financial Investment was the top

OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO.........................................................................39,210 ............ 26,050......................11 ............0.656 ........... 0.668 ...........0.656........... 0.664 .............0.660 ........... 0.004............. 0.606 ................0.668..............0.668...................0.672................. 432,226,969 .......0.100

gainer, grew by 4.55%, while Al Hassan

OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 184,000 ........... 50,600........................4 ........... 0.275 ........... 0.275 ...........0.275........... 0.275 .............0.274 ............0.001 ............. 0.365 ................0.275..............0.273...................0.275..................368,695,319 ........0.100

Engineering was top loser, with loss of 5.63%

OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 383,935 ........... 76,807..................... 28 ........... 0.200...........0.202 ...........0.200 .......... 0.200 .............0.200 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.202 ............ 0.202...................0.208 ................. 20,000,000 ........0.100

OM0000001509............DHOFAR INT.DEV.AND INV. HOLD..................... 30,000 .............11,580........................6 ........... 0.386 ...........0.386 ...........0.386........... 0.386 .............0.384 ........... 0.002............. 0.521 ................0.386..............0.380...................0.386...................95,110,400 .........0.100

OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ................................10,600 ............ 48,702........................3 ........... 4.590 ........... 4.595 ...........4.590........... 4.595 .............4.590 ........... 0.005............. 0.109 ................4.595..............4.595...................4.800 ..................44,940,093 ........1.000

OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................28,405 .............28,170......................15 ........... 0.992 ...........0.992 ...........0.988........... 0.992 .............0.992 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.988..............0.960...................0.992 .................198,400,000 .......0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN ............................................................214 .....................21........................1 ........... 0.097 ...........0.097 ...........0.097........... 0.098 .............0.098 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.097..............0.098...................0.100..................196,030,653 ........0.100

MUSCAT: Supported by higher turnover and an uptick in banking and telecom sectors, the MSM30 Index closed at 5,380.03 points, a gain of 0.57 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index increased 0.16 per cent to close at 827.67 points. Galfar Engineering was the most active in terms of volume while Bank Muscat led in terms of turnover. Global Financial Investment was the top gainer, up 4.55 per cent, while Al Hassan Engineering was top loser, with loss of 5.63 per cent.

As many as 1,180 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating turnover of OMR4.1 million with 24.9 million shares changing hands. Out of 40 traded securities, 18 advanced, eight declined and 14 remained unchanged. Omani investors were net buyers for OMR1.27 million followed by GCC and Arab investors for OMR54,000 while foreign investors switched to net sellers for OMR1.32 million worth of shares.

Financial Index advanced 0.65 per cent to close at 6,702.88

points. Global Financial Investment, Bank Sohar, Al Sharqia Investment, Bank Nizwa and Bank Muscat increased 4.55 per cent, 1.91 per cent, 1.90 per cent, 1.41 per cent and 1.35 per cent respectively. Al Izz Bank and Al Madina Investments declined 3.13 per cent and 1.61 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index retreated 0.16 per cent to end the session at 6,525.53 points. Al Jazeera Steel up 0.71 per cent was the only gainer. Al Hassan Engineering, Oman Textiles, Galfar Engineering and Oman Cables declined 5.63 per cent, 4.50 per cent, 1.75 per cent and 0.33 per cent respectively.

Services Index closed at 2,975.10 points, up 0.53 per cent.

Al Jazeera Services, Port Services, OIFC, Sembcorp Salalah and Renaissance Services gained 3.32 per cent, 2.46 per cent, 2.09 per cent, 2.04 per cent and 1.55 per cent respectively. National Gas and ACWA Power declined 5.49 per cent and 0.64 per cent respectively. — United Securities

OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .................................................................... 249,771 ...........115,394........................7 ........... 0.462 ...........0.462 ...........0.462........... 0.462 .............0.462 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.462..............0.462...................0.470..................255,422,079 .......0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ................5,000 ...............1,440........................2 ........... 0.288 ...........0.288 ...........0.288........... 0.288 .............0.288 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.288..............0.287...................0.288 ...................6,048,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES .................................10,500 .............. 2,940........................2 ........... 0.280...........0.280 ...........0.280 .......... 0.280 .............0.280 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.280..............0.278...................0.280 ..................82,939,831 .........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ....................................................................165 .....................46........................1 ........... 0.280...........0.280 ...........0.280 .......... 0.280 .............0.280 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.280..............0.268...................0.280 .................432,523,993 .......0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ........................................................... 110 .....................46........................1 ........... 0.420 ...........0.420 ...........0.420........... 0.430 .............0.430 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.420..............0.420...................0.000 ..................26,015,000 .........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL.............................................. 50,000 ...............3,560........................7 ............0.071 ...........0.072 ...........0.071 ............0.071 ............. 0.071............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.071 ..............0.070...................0.071...................12,425,000.........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER........................................................273 .....................54........................2 ........... 0.202...........0.202 ...........0.194........... 0.205 .............0.205 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.194..............0.194...................0.205 .................138,351,923 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ............................................................ 93 .....................19........................1 ........... 0.205 ...........0.205 ...........0.205........... 0.205 .............0.205 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.205..............0.194...................0.205 .................146,453,300........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................ 103,150............ 42,192......................17 ............0.410 ........... 0.410 ...........0.406........... 0.410 .............0.410............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.410 ..............0.406...................0.410...................21,525,000 .........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY...................................... 13,740 ............ 20,666........................6 ............1.510 ........... 1.510............1.500............1.505 ............. 1.510............-0.005 ........... -0.331................1.500..............1.500...................1.565 ..................134,998,500 .......0.100 OM0000003141 ............ACWA POWER BARKA ...............................................10,082 ............... 6,291........................5 ........... 0.628 ...........0.628 ...........0.620........... 0.624 .............0.628 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.637 ...............0.620..............0.620...................0.632...................99,840,000.........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 215,400 ............13,146..................... 10 ........... 0.063 ...........0.063 ...........0.061 ........... 0.061 .............0.062 ...........-0.001 ............-1.613 ................0.061 ..............0.061...................0.063...................12,636,234 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 7,749,297 ...... 437,069...................285 ........... 0.053 ........... 0.057 ...........0.053........... 0.056 .............0.057 ...........-0.001 ............-1.754................0.057..............0.057...................0.058................... 16,238,916 .........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS .............................................................16,000 .............. 4,960........................3 ............0.310 ........... 0.310 ...........0.310........... 0.310 .............0.328 ...........-0.018 ........... -5.488 ...............0.310 ..............0.310...................0.318...................15,500,000 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 17,892,374.......3,552,695 ..........1,009 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......34........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET .................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 6,057,320 ......433,637...................126 ............0.071 ........... 0.073 ...........0.071 ........... 0.072 ............. 0.071.............0.001 ............. 1.408 ................0.072..............0.072...................0.073................. 108,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 180,230 ............10,388......................12 ........... 0.057 ...........0.058 ...........0.057........... 0.058 .............0.058 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.058..............0.057...................0.058....................7,250,000 ..........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 722,460 ......... 103,312......................19 ............0.143 ........... 0.143 ...........0.143 ........... 0.143 ............. 0.143............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.143 ..............0.143...................0.144..................209,152,009........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.................................................71,431 ...............4,429........................2 ........... 0.062 ...........0.062 ...........0.062........... 0.062 .............0.064 ...........-0.002 ............-3.125................0.062..............0.062...................0.064 ................. 62,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001053 ............OMAN TEXTILE HOLDING ........................................9,591 ...............3,655........................8 ........... 0.398 ...........0.398 ...........0.370........... 0.382 .............0.400 ...........-0.018 ........... -4.500 ...............0.376..............0.370...................0.376....................2,292,000..........1.000 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................16,390 ...............1,094........................4 ........... 0.067 ...........0.067 ...........0.066........... 0.067 ............. 0.071............-0.004 ........... -5.634 ...............0.067..............0.067...................0.070....................5,038,936 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 7,057,422 .......556,515....................171 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 6........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

INDIAN MARKET

AV I AT I O N

Sensex tumbles by 362 points Wait for two years to purchase $65m-Gulfstream private jet

MUMBAI: India's S&P BSE benchmark Sensex snapped twoday winning spree, tumbling by 362 points to end at 23,191.97 due to all-round selling pressure as the country’s exports shrank by 13.6 per cent in dollar terms in January, for the 14th month in a row coupled with strong foreign capital outflows. Higher global advices failed to give tonic to the domestic stock market, a broker said.

On macro data front, data released by the government after market hours on Monday showed that India’s merchandise exports fell 13.6 per cent in dollar terms and 6.62 per cent in rupee terms, while imports fell 11.01 per cent in dollar terms and 3.82 per cent in rupee terms in January 2016 over January 2015.

The Sensex resumed higher at 23,688.61 and hovered in a range

of 23,692.08 and 23,164.54 before ending at 23,191.97, showing a loss of 362.15 points or 1.54 per cent.

The Sensex had gained by 602.29 points or 2.62 per cent previous two days.

The NSE 50-share Nifty dropped by 114.70 points or 1.60 per cent to end at 7,048.25 In overseas stock markets, European stocks were trading higher in their afternoon trade. — PTI

SINGAPORE: Gulfstream Aerospace says it’s unable to keep up with demand from the rich.

Pay $65 million for the G650 or G650ER personal jets, and your wait to board them could be as long as two years, Scott Neal, Gulfstream’s senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing, said in a Bloomberg TV interview on Tuesday at the Singapore Air Show.

The G650ER “has taken market share at the top end of the market. It’s really created a new market to itself,” Neal said. “The next available delivery for a new G650 or G650ER is a little over two years from now.”

Savannah, Georgia-based Gulfstream is seeing such strong demand for its personal jets from corporations and chief executives that the General Dynamics Corp. unit is looking to increase production of planes in the G650 family, Neal said. Gulfstream is grabbing share from rivals with its flagship large-cabin aircraft as the market

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becomes more receptive to the usefulness of a private aircraft in running a business.

“We have seen a real shift to people understanding that business aircraft are truly for business,” Neal said. “Large companies and private individuals can’t do what they do without the benefit of a corporate aircraft.”

Millionaires in search of new toys are set to fuel a fourfold jump in Asia’s share of private jets in the next five years, according to a 2013 forecast by aviation consultant Jetsolution International Services Ltd. Asians may own as much as 20 per cent of the global luxury jet fleet by 2017 as economic growth spawns new millionaires. Southeast Asia will create the next wave of demand for

private aircraft, benefiting Gulfstream, Embraer and Textron’s Cessna, the aviation consultant said. Asia Pacific is already Gulfstream’s second-biggest market and “will continue to grow,” Neal said. “But it will be some time before it overtakes the US I couldn’t predict when.”

The G650 family has a range of about 13,000 kilometres (8,080 miles), sleeps as many as 10 people and can cruise as high as 51,000 feet. Gulfstream delivered about 150 planes last year and is expanding its maintenance support network, he said.

The plane can fit 18 passengers in its 8.5-foot-wide cabin, according to the website. A longer, wider cabin and a choice of 12 floorplans offer more design configurations for meetings, entertaining and relaxing, the company says.

A convection oven, large ice drawers and fitted storage for flatware and crystal enhance the dining options, according to the company. — Bloomberg News

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ROUND-UP

Renault Duster 4X4: The real off-roader The Renault Duster 4x4 is capable of meeting all the challenges: Tackling the city with its robust design or heading off the beaten track with its all-terrain capabilities

MUSCAT: Renault Duster 4x4 from Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, the exclusive importers and distributors in Oman, is a breakthrough vehicle in its segment.

The Renault Duster 4x4 is capable of meeting all the challenges: Tackling the city with its robust design or heading off the beaten track with its all-terrain capabilities. Thanks to its reinforced underbody, its high ground clearance and light weight, it demonstrates superb agility and enhanced off-

road performance when handling uneven surface. The Renault Duster 4X4 is the real off roader made for your active lifestyle, says a press release.

The Duster 4X4 features a new front-end with a redesigned grille, two chrome-plated strips and a new air intake. The double-optic front headlamps including daytime running lights enhance its unique character. The new 16” black diamond alloy wheels reinforce its assertive look.

Inside, the Duster 4X4 comes along with a brand new dashboard, redesigned seats with beige upholstery and many other features. It has been upgraded to deliver more comfort and reflect its exterior styling.

The vehicle provides advanced technology - rearview camera enables to detect and avoid potential

obstacles and with the cruise control / speed limiter, mastering and modulating the speed of the car will be easy. The new Media Nav 2.0 multimedia system gives easy access to highly practical features thanks to its 7” touch screen: 2D or 3D navigation, audio streaming, hands-free Bluetooth.

With a high seating position, the Duster 4X4 gives an excellent visibility to the driver. In addition, it comes with many safety features as standard: ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ABS (Antilock Braking System), Tyre Pressure Monitoring, ISOFIX for child seat, front driver and passenger airbags.

The new Duster 4x4 is a travel companion equally equipped for day-to-day life as it is for adventure. Its off-road capabilities make it one of the most enjoyable vehicles in its category. Thanks to its

C U LT U R A L J O U R N E Y

B5

intuitive 4WD technology, its light weight and high ground clearance, it can adapt to every situation in complete safety.

Drivers enjoy a reassuring, highup seating position which gives them better visibility of potential hazardous situations, while all versions are equipped with safe, precise power steering that delivers a good standard of driving pleasure. Depending on trim level, the driver’s seat comes with height adjustability to help find the ideal driving position. Drivers are also pampered by the height-adjustable steering wheel (Depending on trim level) and user-friendly steering wheel-mounted controls.

Thermal comfort has been engineered to meet the challenge of the GCC punishing climate. Particular care has been taken with the routing of ducts to ensure fast cooling after starting in extreme heat.

Suhail Bahwan Automobiles is largely committed to supporting Renault Oman’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman.

With a national network of more than 80 showrooms, service centres and parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

FINE CASUAL DINING

Shake Shack opens 1st outlet in Muscat MUSCAT: The first-ever Muscat Shake Shack was opened recently on the ground floor of City Centre Muscat - Oman’s premier dining, shopping and entertainment destination.

Shake Shack is a critically acclaimed, modern day 'roadside' burger stand known for its 100 per cent all-natural Angus beef burgers (no hormones added ever), griddled flat-top dogs, fresh-made frozen custard, crispy crinkle cut fries and more.

A fun and lively community gathering place with widespread appeal, Shake Shack has earned a cult-like following around the world, says a press release.

Shake Shack’s fine-dining heritage and commitment to sourcing premium, sustainable ingredients have helped to pioneer the creation of a new ‘fine casual’ category in restaurants. Fine casual couples the ease, value and convenience of fast casual concepts with the high standards of excellence in thoughtful ingredient sourcing, preparation, hospitality and quality grounded in fine dining.

Building on the success of its Middle East predecessors, the Muscat menu will feature all of the Shack classics including the ShackBurger, SmokeShack, and Shack-cago Dog. The ShackBurger, Shake Shack’s much-lauded burger, is made with cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce, and finished with a but-

tered, toasted, soft potato roll.

Shake Shack’s unique SmokeShack features hickory smoked veal, chopped cherry peppers and ShackSauce. The Shack-cago Dog is a hot dog inspired by a food typically only found in Chicago.

This delicious hot dog is made with locally produced beef and eight toppings including Shack relish, onion, cucumber, pickle, tomato, sport pepper, celery salt and mustard.

Shake Shack’s frozen custard – dense, rich and creamy ice cream spun fresh daily – will be featured in shakes and concretes (frozen custard blended at high speed with mix-ins).

The Muscat Shack will offer a selection of concretes including a location specific concrete, the Baklava Blend (vanilla frozen custard blended with baklava and crumbled pistachios) and an all-time guest favourite - Shack Attack (chocolate frozen custard, fudge sauce, chocolate truffle cookie dough and Valrhona chocolate pearls, topped with chocolate sprinkles).

F U N D AY

Alfardan hosts Italian-themed MGS holds annual picnic evening with artist Gailani

MUSCAT: Alfardan Motors, the official importer of Maserati in Oman, hosted an exclusive Italianthemed evening with acclaimed artist Ibrahim Gailani in the Maserati showroom.

Guests were treated to a feast for the senses, enjoying the uplifting sounds of authentic Italian music while indulging in classic Italian fare over lively conversation. Inspired by the finer things in life, Maserati hosted the event to inspire guests with all things Italian, taking them on a cultural journey of sound, taste and the magnifi-

cent craftsmanship of Italy as embodied by the legendary Maserati marque, says a press release.

The invitation-only art event saw VIP clients and representatives of the media enjoy a unique collaboration of art and culture, where Gailani unveiled his Zeus Portrait, depicting the inspiration behind the Maserati Trident emblem. Clients were invited to join in a unique experiential element and try their hand at painting canvas boards.

Based in Muscat, Gailani is a contemporary artist, curator, who

operates his art studio, exhibits his work and runs the Gailani Art Retreat — a creative escape fusing art and music.

Throughout the evening Maserati proudly showcased the exceptional performance and inimitable style of it the acclaimed Quattroporte and Ghibli models by offering drive experiences to guests during the event.

Since opening its Maserati showroom in 2012, Alfardan Motors has provided a world-class service to a ever-growing number of luxury car clients in Oman.

MUSCAT: The Gujarati Wing of Indian Social Club, popularly known as Muscat Gujarati Samaj (MGS), recently held its grand annual picnic at the Barka MKR farm which was attended by more than 350 members, their families and other guests, says a press release.

The annual picnic is one of MGS’s flagship annual events and the perfect weather provided an ideal setting to hold the picnic in the sprawling lawns of the MKR farm. The day started off with the famous restaurant serving lipsmacking south Indian special Dosa from its specially set up live counters at the venue.

This was followed by exciting games initially for children, followed by ladies and then gents.

Some interesting games were also played for couples; both the young and the young at heart. This was followed by a sumptuous lunch in the afternoon after which a specially designed Bollywood quiz was conducted followed by the famous Housie game.

On the sidelines of the annual picnic event, Apollo Hospital, Muscat set up a free diabetic check-up camp where all visitors could voluntarily get their diabetes test done. Another highlight of the event was a live demonstration and presentation by the

famous graphologist (handwriting and signature analyst) Arvind Bhatt who not only read and discoursed the signatures of many, but also gave a detailed presentation on handwriting analysis and how it could change one’s future.

The chief guest at the event was Neelu Rohra, second Secretary at the Embassy of India. Rohra gave away a coveted trophy to the Muscat Gujarati Samaj conferred by Vishwa Gujarati Samaj for MGS being the best Gujarati Samaj in the whole world.

Chandrakant Chothani, convener of the Muscat Gujarati Samaj, said: “This is indeed a very big achievement for the Muscat Gujarati Samaj and we dedicate

this award to our members, sponsors and well-wishers. Muscat Gujarati Samaj not only conducts the maximum number of programmes in a calendar year but also offers an array of various events, giving an opportunity to all its members to celebrate the various festivals and submerge in the diversity of Indian culture.”

A prize distribution ceremony was held after which all the visitors drove back home after a round of evening snacks.

Arvind Toprani expressed his sincere thanks to one and all for their participation and wholehearted support to make the event a grand success and a memorable one.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Towell Group supplies medical devices to Royal Hospital MUSCAT: The Royal Hospital (RH) received medical devices and dietary supplement as an initiative from the Towell Group for social security and limitedincome people, recently.

The celebration of this initiative was held in the main reception hall of RH’s Training and Studies Department with the attendance of Dr Qasim Ahmed Al Salmi, the hospital’s director general, and

Murtadha Ahmed Sultan, a member of the Towell Group Partnership Board, along with the hospital’s medical and administrative personnel, says a press release.

The initiative, which is launched by the Towell Group, aims at providing medical device and dietary supplement to a number of beneficiary social security and limitedincome patients and strengthening the concept of cooperation

between the public and private sectors in the Sultanate particularly in the field of health care.

The initiative, with an overall cost of more than OMR45,000, includes the provision of several substitutionary medical device which consist of 15 2-pressure breathing apparatus, four resuscitators, four portable oxygen apparatus, two 10l oxygen apparatus, in addition to dietary supplement.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

ROUND-UP IDF Oman unveils latest in technology, furniture

SPECIAL OCCASION

Solemnity, splendour mark graduation day at Indian School Seeb IDF has helped meet the growing demand by bringing together all the leading companies in the industry under one roof

MUSCAT: Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism, presided over the formal inauguration of the 3rd IDF Oman - interior design, décor and furniture exhibition on Monday.

The expo ends today at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in Seeb, which is organised by Al Nimr Expo, under the patronage of the Ministry of Housing and Public Authority for Craft Industries. The exhibition timings are from 10am - 1pm and 4pm 9pm, says a press release.

Oman’s rapid progress in the construction and the real estate sector, has witnessed the launch of numerous commercial, residential and tourism projects, thus creating a demand for interior and outdoor design, décor and furnishings.

The key objective of the exhibition is to display the latest in technology, usage of materials and innovative approaches to interior design, décor and furniture. IDF has helped meet the growing demand by bringing together all the leading companies in the industry under one roof.

In its third edition, IDF Oman is showcasing accessories and art,

bathroom, building material, carpets, commercial interiors and fit out, décor, flooring, furniture and furnishings, interior design, kitchen, lightings, luxury life style, outdoor design and build, renovation, retail fit-out and eco building, surfaces and finishes, textiles, Vastu and Fengshui, to complement the on-going construction of major infrastructure projects in the Sultanate, making the exhibition an ‘exclusive emporium’.

The exhibition is featuring more than 105 companies, with over 65 international companies from across the globe surpassing the past two editions. More than 35 companies are representing by Italy which is managed by MEDINIT SRL for the third year running. Once again Alfardan Motors is supporting the exhibition by displaying two Maserati cars to justify Italians as one of the finest and niche designers in the world.

Special highlights of IDF Oman are the CasaMedinit – Made in Italy, The Villa project, Paragon Arts activity and Sorabi Live Art

by Jaafar Hamza.

The Villa, a lifestyle through the centuries will be one of the main highlights of IDF Oman which is created by Opera architects will welcome visitors at the entrance of CasaMédinit. The Venetian villas describe a unique case in the world, an element which characterises the region, where architecture and landscape, art and craftsmanship combine to create a real ‘Museum’ consisting of a collection of over 4,000 buildings. This model typical of the Venetian area represents a precious heritage of our past and even today constitutes an element of great relevance appreciated worldwide as an icon of a lifestyle and elegance at the same time dynamic and creative.

The concept of The Villa comes

from the desire to exploit this invaluable cultural heritage made of traditions and secular experiences through the involvement of local companies that reproduce in a modern way the skilful mastery of techniques and processes in use since ancient times.

The space is an opportunity to bring and introduce everything in Oman, a country which despite boasting centuries of history is deeply fascinated by the Made in Italy and is able to understand and appreciate the quality and craftsmanship.

Paragon Arts is another highlight of the exhibition which is a non-profit, educational, social and entertainment CSR initiative created by Paragon International and sponsored by Al Mouj Muscat. The initiative aims at further promoting the local art movement, contributing towards exposing Omanbased artists and their art onto a wider arena and a global audience with a focus on art education and training by leading artists from all around the world most of whom reside in Oman.

All elements of the Paragon Arts programme commence in public spaces so as to expose and engage the greatest number of art aficionado public to art and artists in an environment that is both entertaining and social.

First time in Oman, Jaafar Hamza, Creative director of Boxobia from the Kingdom of Bahrain is performing the Live Sorabi Art – a unique fusion of Chinese style art with Arabic lettering. Hamza said, “I would like to thank Al Nimr Expo in giving this opportunity to showcase a unique form of art which is unseen by the citizens here. The art is a combination of three features: One being painting the manuscripts in reverse which can be read only with a mirror, sec-

LEAD EXHIBITOR

ond being the Sorabi Art – a mix of Chinese art with Arabic letters and lastly the tool being used, which is only a pen.

Salim Omar Al Hashmi, CEO, Al Nimr Expo said, “The Interior Design, Décor & Furniture Exhibition – IDF Oman is also dedicated to interiors professionals and is perfectly timed for start of the buying season. In a fluid and dynamic market, the expo helps manufacturers and suppliers track potential buyers. Our trade visitors will also be able to establish new businesses, representations and outsource their project requirements, thus making this event a ‘One Stop Solution’.

Adil Osman, Project director of Al Nimr Expo, said: “Aim of IDF Oman is also meant to provide local and international companies the opportunity to showcase their range of products, equipment, technologies and services to their target clients - the decision makers and top officials of companies in Oman’s vibrant interior design, décor and furniture industry.”

The diamond sponsors for the event are; Kny Design GmbH, Abu Yasseen Designs & IFactory; The platinum sponsors are; Décor Collezione / Uday Khimji International, Global Pyramid, Better Homes: The Metal Engineering & Fahmy Furniture; The gold sponsors are; MAF + Partners, Al Hajiry Trading, Swiss Open Air Concept, Serial Kolor, Scavolini and Doge Veneziano and the visitor badge sponsors are Chiller and Vivid Security. The exhibition is also supported by Embassy of Italy in Muscat, Paragon International, American Hardwood Export Council, Egyptian Furniture Export Council, Association of Professional Interior Designers, LuxLive Middle East and AIA Middle East.

MUSCAT: Indian School Al Seeb (ISAS) hosted the graduation ceremony recently on the school grounds, honouring the passing out batch of Grade XII students.

It was a moment of sheer enthusiasm and expectations as their remarkable journey of late nights and early mornings reached culmination. The chief guest, Wilson V. George, chairman, Board of Directors of Indian schools in Oman and the guest of honour, George Abraham, CEO, Score Foundation, India led the customary convoy with the conventional tune played at the background. Parents and teachers were filled with pride when 130 students, fully clad in regalia joined the procession with jubilation, says a press release.

Members of the junior council pinned the rosettes and welcomed the guests with floral tribute as a symbolic gesticulation, followed by the lighting of the lamp. The event began by school prayer rendered by the school choir of ISAS in an evocative mood. Gopika Gokul, the assistant head girl, extended a formal welcome to the guests.

In his speech, Nagesh Kelkar, principal expressed his gratitude to each and everyone present there and he conveyed that the key to success are acquisition of knowledge, willpower, confidence, team work, perseverance, consistency and a firm belief in morality and ethics. He further added that ISAS has given strong wings to the students to fly high and become the architects of future.

Everyone present there were rejuvenated when special prayers were rendered by Shiney Roy, HoD, English Department, I. Abdul Majeed, coordinator, Arabic Department and Ajay Chaubey, coordinator, Hindi Department.

In an entrustment ceremony,

members of the junior council looked quite assiduous when the senior council officially vested the responsibility and the authority to them for the upcoming new academic year and to hold the school flag high in all the school’s endeavours.

Abraham in his address highlighted how his passion for cricket and communication led to the shaping of the Association for Cricket for the Blind in India. He stressed that the problem is not with the eye or look, but with the mindset and outlook.

“Every day is a new challenge for us to find solution with passion. We need to define our aspirations and strive to achieve them through persistence and innovative skills,” he said.

Abraham urged the passing out batch to imbibe ‘Passion’ – an acronym for Potential, Aspiration, Skills, Solutions, Initiative, Opportunity and at last the realisation that ‘Nothing is impossible’.

Radiance of knowledge beamed in the illumination ritual where the students were reminded of the school’s motto ‘Education for excellence’. The students were filled with renewed determination and responsibility when the mementos and scrolls were handed over to them. The nostalgic students offered their profound and earnest thanks as they narrated how they grew into confident and conscientious young adults. They took the audience on a sentimental journey of 14 years down the memory lane.

Wilson, in his convocation address, reminded the students that it is the right time to introspect and evaluate whether they have reached up to their expectations and also to make plans for their challenging days ahead. He insisted on the statement ‘Do something which you really want to do’.

A D VA N C E D T E C H N O L O G I E S

FCA’s technology maximises fuel economy of its brands

KR gains huge response at Opmex MUSCAT: Khimji’s Storage Solutions, part of KR Infra from the Khimji Ramdas Group participated in the recently concluded Opmex (Oman Pack aging and Material Handling Exhibition) held at the Oman Exhibition Centre.

Khimji’s Storage Solutions participated as a lead exhibitor in the event which had an overwhelming response for the company’s pioneering storage products, says a press release.

Operating from one of the largest stalls at the Opmex, the company showcased some of its bestselling products and brands that ranged from racking/shelving units from Dexion, electronic filing systems from Bruynzeel and tool cabinets from Vidmar.

Anand Venkat, GM, Khimji’s Storage Solutions said: “As leaders in the packaging, logistics and storage industry, our participation

at Opmex presented customers and visitors with clear and concise solutions that match customspecific requirements. The event was also an opportunity for both clients and customers to network and identify the right people for their unique requirements.”

He added that the event presented great opportunities for businesses, thanks to Oman’s upbeat and flourishing logistics sector. Khimji’s Storage Solutions, he emphasised, was fully equipped to provide top quality products and services to the industry in both the government and private sectors.”

“Our expertise of 25 years in the racking business is further strengthened by our team of qualified engineers and skills installers. Our new showroom located at Ghala, is spread across an area of 2,000 sq.m replete with displays of major brands from across the

world with an unparalleled variety of office furniture,” said Venkat.

The company’s expertise lies in heavy and light duty shelving, shuttle racking; office filing solutions; library solutions; work benches, lockers, pallets, bins and special cabinets. Its field of operational expertise extends to organisations, manufacturing plants, warehouses and distribution facilities, industrial projects and commercial establishments.

The division offers solutions in security related products like safes and also specialises in providing flooring solutions through the supply of carpets and raised access levels to meet large institutional requirements. A team of specialised designers and trained technicians ensure total customer satisfaction right from product selection to satisfactory execution of the contract.

MUSCAT: Dhofar Automotive, authorised dealers of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) brands in Oman, have highly efficient aerodynamic vehicle designs that are linked to new fuel-efficient technologies, lightweight materials, highly efficient transmissions and ever more advanced engines making them a favourite amongst the local market, says a press release.

“FCA has always had a keen eye on the environment and endeavoured to manufacture cars that are fuel-efficient, making the most of, and doing justice to the limited resources we have,” said Bob Lee, vice president - Engine, Powertrain and Electrified Propulsion and Systems Engineering at FCA. “Continuous research and development initiatives matched with a customer-centric approach - FCA pays utmost heed to these two critical components.”

FCA continues to incorporate a wide range of advanced features in their vehicles that unite and together work to maximise fuel economy without ever compromising on performance.

Once limited to vehicles costing far more, the majority of the latest Chrysler, Dodge, RAM and Jeep models now feature the innovative TorqueFlite eightspeed automatic transmission as standard. The state-of-the-art TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission provides world-class shift quality, refinement and fuel efficiency.

Breaking the myth that a powerful car is always high on fuel consumption, the FCA’s Fuel Saver Technology with cylinderdeactivation provides fuel economy on 5.7-litre HEMI V8 pow-

ered models. This breakthrough in technology allows seamless transmissions between high-fuel-economy in the four cylinder mode for casual long drives and the V8 mode when the driver demands more power. The benefit is that the engine saves fuel while it runs in the usual fuel-economy mode and utilises the V8 power burst only when it is required. As with all FCA cars, all this is done without sacrificing vehicle performance or capability.

The all-new Chrysler 200, Fiat 500X and the Jeep Renegade (the first vehicle available in the small SUV class with a nine-speed automatic transmission) feature the 2.4-litre Tigershark engine with the MultiAir2. Paired with this engine, the nine-speed transmission delivers numerous benefits to the customers. This duo coupled together provides for aggressive launches, smooth power delivery at highway speeds and improved fuel efficiency versus competitive six-speed automatic transmissions. A typical example is the Chrysler 200 which delivers more than 6.53 L/100km on the highway.

Already unique among V6 engines for its refinement, power, efficiency and adaptability, FCA’s award-winning 3.6-litre Pentastar engine has been remade for 2016

models. Depending on the application, the redesigned V6 delivers fuel-economy improvements of more than 6 per cent while increasing torque by more than 14.9 per cent. This occurs at engine speeds below 3,000 rpm, where elevated torque has its most profound impact on the driving experience. Increased fuel-efficiency was a key impetus in the development of the redesigned 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine.

FCA has developed an exclusive all-wheel drive that disconnects a vehicle’s front or rear axle when the all-wheel drive capability is not needed. Thus by significantly reducing the number of rotating components in the driveline, it goes to serve its primary mission of enhancing fuel economy.

Always offering an option for a fuel-efficient drive, most FCA cars come equipped with an Eco mode alternative. This is shown

by FCA’s aggressive support for advanced powertrain development. It began as soon as the company was established in 2009.

From model-year 2011 to the present, FCA has introduced 15 new transmissions, 18 new engines and the battery-electric drive system featured in the acclaimed Fiat 500e all-electric vehicle – The need of the Hour.

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ROUND-UP

Al Mumayaz introduces dedicated draw for ladies Following extensive customer feedback, Bank Sohar overhauled the scheme to offer the highest number of prizes for any Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme to date; totalling well over 1,500 winners

MUSCAT: Launched in mid-January, Bank Sohar comprehensively revamped the Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme for the year 2016.

Following extensive customer feedback, the bank overhauled the scheme to offer the highest number of prizes for any Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme to date; totalling well over 1,500 winners. The bank also aimed at including the broadest possible spectrum of winners, introducing for the first time ever

dedicated ladies’ monthly draws where two female account holders will each win OMR5,000. This draw will be conducted alongside the hourly, children’s, general, branch guaranteed, and exclusive draws over the course of the year, says a press release.

Vital players Commenting on the newly introduced draw exclusively for the ladies, Khamis Masoud Al Rahbi,

Senior AGM of Branches and Retail Sales at Bank Sohar, said, “We have always been proud supporters of professional and independent women and consider them as vital players toward the development of the country and its economy. As a bank, we also wish to identify and serve a broader spectrum of customers both with our products and our savings scheme. It is in celebration of this fact, together with the customer feedback we received, that we have introduced the dedicated monthly draw for the women as an incentive for even more ladies to save and reward those that have already done so.”

In order to be eligible for the dedicated OMR10,000 Ladies’ Draws, the accounts need only maintain a minimum monthly average balance of only OMR1,000.

In addition to this draw, the Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme will continue with its hourly prize draws of OMR1,000 each from

JCDecaux launches electroluminescent technology in collaboration with McDonald’s

brought for the first time the electroluminescence technology in the Omani outdoor advertising panorama, says a press release.

Sebastien Soares, managing director at JCDecaux Oman said: “With the electroluminescent technology we are able to give a new dimension to the traditional static ads. We can programme the

RECRUIT

display to provide unique lighting effects enhancing the message and creating the illusion of movement.

The McDonald’s campaign ‘Create your taste’ is the best example of our commitment to push the boundaries and challenge the conventions in order to deliver out of the box ideas that match our client’s needs and expectations.”

ENCOURAGING READING

New library inaugurated at Indian School Al Seeb

Sunday to Wednesday; totalling over 900 winners by the end of the year. Another new addition this year is the daily children’s draw, which will see one minor account win OMR100 every day from Sunday to Thursday. There will also be a monthly draw specifically for children where one minor account will win OMR1,000. In total there will be more than 240 winners of children’s draws before the end of the year.

This year’s general draws include a monthly draw of 10,000 and a year-end draw of OMR200,000 split amongst four winners. As part of the monthly draws the bank will be conducting a branch guaranteed draws where one account from each of the bank’s branches will win OMR1,000. This equates to over 250 winners before the end of the year. Lastly, the bank will also be conducting exclusive draws of OMR10,000 each month and OMR50,000 as part of the year-end draws.

I N N O VAT I V E S O L U T I O N

MUSCAT: With over 50 year of expertise, JCDecaux is committed to empower brands through bespoke and innovative solutions in harmony with the city landscape. It aims at offering to its advertising partners new room for creativity and greater opportunities to stand out.

In collaboration with Al Daud Restaurants, JCDecaux Oman has

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“McDonald’s Oman is delighted to be in partnership with JCDecaux in bringing out state-ofthe-art solution relevant to our advertising requirements. We are proud of the electroluminescent technology as it enhances outdoor visibility,” said Ali K Daud, development licensee and president of McDonald’s Oman.

MUSCAT: Indian School Al Seeb (ISAS) took one more firm leap on the road to excellence as the school’s newly renovated senior wing library was inaugurated

by Wilson V. George, chairman, Board of Directors to the Indian schools in Oman, in the presence of the veteran keynote speaker from India, George Abraham, CEO, Score Foundation.

The other revered guests who witnessed the event were Biju Koshy, president, School Management Committee, and all other SMC members, says a press release.

Wilson expressed his elation at this momentous event and congratulated the school’s principal on achieving this success. He reiterated the fact that students should be constantly motivated to give their minds to library and books to help them in their ongoing quest of knowledge.

The senior library has been renovated and renewed to cater to the inquisitive needs of the young minds and to inculcate good reading habits in students.

The new library offers exhaustive reading material on a myriad of subjects — reference books, encyclopaedias, journals, magazines, audio-visual aids, language games, classics, etc.

One gets the feel of the books as one enters the brand new library where new racks have been fixed with more capacity. The whole

place is replenished with bright new curtains, student furniture and the earmarked tables for the librarians and teachers. Books have been arranged departmentwise in labelled book shelves as per the genre. Periodicals and magazines have been assigned a separate area. The library is equipped now with Internet facility with a complete system of printer, projector, auto screen and barcode to have an easy access to the newly procured books in the library. The school management has ensured that they cater to the growing needs of the senior students on all national and international competitive exams and admissions abroad.

The books, in due course, will be connected to the ERP system through bar coding and a computerised scheme will be followed for issuing books to students. The new contour of the library is the result of the incessant and enthusiastic approach of the School Management Committee along with the tireless effort of Anamika Sharma, Coordinator Biology Department, Basma, Fatima, the Omani librarians and their team of teachers who selflessly devoted their time to get it in the new shape. The new library is an additional feather in the progress of the school with the new wings of the building, additional staff room and the soon to start, school based transportation system.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

ROUND-UP

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Bank Muscat set to host Open Day on Feb. 22, 23 The 2-day event is for micro and small businesses to avail special discount on najahi business credit facilities

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has organised an exclusive Open Day for micro and small businesses to avail special discount on najahi business credit facilities.

The 2-day event will be held on February 22 and 23 across five najahi centres in Bank Muscat head office at Airport Heights and branches in Ruwi Rex Road, Al Khuwair Souq, Seeb Souq and Barka Souq, says a press release.

This is the first time a finance offer of this kind is being made available to micro and small businesses in Oman. The unique event comes in line with the bank’s ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to partnership in strengthening the role of micro and small businesses to play an important role in diversifying the Sultanate’s economy and creating job opportunities for Omani youth.

Sadiq bin Mohammed Al Lawati, head of Retail Enterprises, said: “The concept of the Open Day is to provide a unique opportunity for micro and small business entrepreneurs to avail special discount on business credit facilities at the designated centres. The unique opportunity reiterates the bank’s commitment to extending the helping hand to micro and small businesses to fulfil their financial needs. In step with responsible banking, the

focus of Bank Muscat is clear – create a sustainable financial platform for the nation and people and thereby contribute to the country’s progress and development. Committed to supporting economic growth and sustainable development, the bank seizes every opportunity to reiterate partnership in building the nation by creating opportunities for individuals and businesses to grow and prosper.”

Facilitating financial inclusion, Bank Muscat najahi products and services have created a benchmark, helping micro and small businesses to overcome hurdles and chart successful ventures with proper planning, financial discipline and prudent management.

Early on, Bank Muscat identified the opportunities and challenges faced by this vital segment to develop a relevant suite of products and services.

Securing credit without collaterals and accessing innovative banking services have been hurdles faced by micro and small businesses. The specially designed najahi products mainly include credit facilities without collaterals to develop and grow micro and small businesses. With najahi, Bank Muscat fulfills the primary need of finance for the micro and small business segment.

The najahi suite of products include the value added najahi Current Account, najahi Flexi Loan to support working capital, business expansion and other busi-

ness needs; najahi Business Credit Card; najahi Contractors Loan to help complete contracted jobs; najahi Contractors Bill Discounting to get immediate funds after completing contracted jobs and Najahi PoS Receivables financing for customers who use PoS machines for their sales.

The value added najahi Current Account offers differentiated services, including Business Debit Card, branded cheque book, priority queuing at branches, free access to Maktabi Business Centres and online banking services.

The najahi Business Debit Card offers a daily withdrawal limit of OMR1,000. The higher withdrawal limit helps customers to meet day-to-day cash requirements. najahi customers can also avail multiple debit cards on the same account allowing authorised persons to make transactions on behalf of the company.

Priority queuing facility is available for najahi customers at branches as also free access once a month to Maktabi Business Centres in Muscat. najahi customers are required to maintain a minimum account balance of OMR500.

Maintaining cash flow is a challenge faced by small businesses.

Addressing this critical need, Bank Muscat launched the first-of-itskind najahi Flexi Loan facility.

This facility gives the customer the power to choose when to avail the loan and for what period. Customers pay interest only when

NEW MODELS

T H R E E - D AY E V E N T

BankDhofar supports Manpower Ministry’s Achievements & Visions Exhibition

MUSCAT: BankDhofar, the leading financial organisation in the Sultanate, has extended its support to the ‘Ministry of Manpower, Achievements & Visions’ exhibition that was officially inaugurated by Ali bin Khalfan Al Jabri, undersecretary at the Ministry of Information, held at the Muscat Grand Mall yesterday.

The three-day event was attended by high profile guests and senior government officials, and it showcased the combined efforts of public and private sector organisations towards human resources development, providing training and career opportunities for Omanis, says a press release.

Commenting on the event, Ahmed Said Al Ibrahim - chief corporate services officer at BankDhofar, said: “This exhibition comes within the framework of our concentrated efforts to cement BankDhofar’s role as a key player in the development of the Omani economy through providing career development programmes and supporting training schemes for the national workforce. We are very proud of our continuous contribution that adds to the development of Omani manpower, improves the skill-set of the local workforce and provides career development opportunities through

training and vocational development programmes.”

BankDhofar strongly believes in supporting Omani talents and works to insure job-seekers understand the market and choose career paths that suit them, fulfil their dreams and meet their aspiration. The bank has also been committed to contribute to the community development and to the growth of the national economy via providing job opportunities for Omanis. Over the years BankDhofar has partnered with various public and private sector organisations nationwide to enrich the job market through supporting various initiatives that aim at revamping the overall professional knowledge and expertise among Omanis.

BankDhofar has been a leader in the market in terms of attracting young talents and experts in the banking industry and relevant vocations. The bank prides itself as one of the best workplaces in the Sultanate, and it continues to grow. Today BankDhofar is recognised as one of the most talent-attracting companies among the private sector organisations.

It has achieved high levels of Omanisation in all departments and units, with over 1,300 employees most of whom are Omani.

D A I LY W I N N E R S

Infiniti Q60, QX30 set to make debut at Geneva Motor Show MUSCAT: Infiniti will present two all-new expressive models at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 1.

Joining them will be the thoroughly revised Q50. All three share Infiniti’s iconic design language, innovative technologies and precise driving characteristics, says a press release.

All-new are the Q60 sports coupe, promising a powerful drive from a highly-advanced new V6 twin-turbo engine boasting 405 PS, and the QX30 premium active crossover, with its highly-sculpted concept-like exterior, elevated stance and asymmetric cabin design. They will be joined by the refreshed Q50 sports sedan, which features significant performance and dynamic upgrades that deliver a more empowering and rewarding drive experience.

Francois Goupil de Bouille, Infiniti vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa commented: “This is an exciting time for Infiniti, as we have transformed our product line-up and established sales records in Europe as we did across the globe. The new models set for their European debuts in Geneva highlight our commitment to expanding our product portfolio in new and thrilling directions, based on daring concept cars. This is the Infiniti way, and one that will help us achieve further success in

they actually avail the loan and not when the facility is granted.

For very short term financing, the bank has launched najahi point of sale (PoS) receivables financing.

The specially designed short-term finance facilitates the working capital requirements of small businesses and helps maintain the cash flow.

The key features of najahi PoS receivables financing include short tenor (ranging from one to six months) with daily installment repayments. A small amount is automatically deducted daily from customers’ bank account to repay loan. The evergreen facility allows najahi customers to keep repaying and replenishing the loan, thereby ensuring assured cash flow As with other najahi credit facilities, customers are not required to provide any collateral guarantee for PoS receivables financing. The convenience and speed of najahi PoS receivables finance help customers to meet their urgent requirement of funds. In a quick and hassle free process, najahi customers with 1-year PoS track record are eligible to avail the collateral-free finance.

The first-of-its-kind najahi suite of products and services launched

by Bank Muscat as part of its commitment to encourage entrepreneurial initiatives, has become a big hit with micro and small businesses, encouraging Omani youth to embark on entrepreneurial pursuits and thereby make vital contributions to the economy.

Serving micro and small business customers across the Sultanate, najahi centres are also available in Salalah Corporate branch, Buraimi branch, Nizwa Firq branch, Sohar Main branch and Sur branch.

Bank Muscat has launched a series of initiatives to strengthen the SME sector in Oman. Serving as building blocks for entrepreneurs, these initiatives assume importance in the backdrop of the priority accorded by the government to develop the SME sector in Oman.

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2016 and beyond.”

The bold exterior of the Q60 exemplifies Infiniti’s ‘Powerful Elegance’ design language, with distinctive proportions and taut, muscular lines. Innovative drivetrain technologies and power channelled through the rear wheels deliver an exhilarating drive.

The high performance 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine from the new and exclusive ‘VR’ powertrain family continues the brand’s longstanding heritage of advanced sixcylinder powertrains production.

The Q60 to be shown in Geneva features the higher-powered 405 PS V6 engine, providing one of the best power-to-efficiency ratings in the sports coupe class.

Created for a new generation of premium buyers, the all-new QX30 boasts a purposeful, elevated appearance that makes a bold visual statement, joining the Q30 as part of Infiniti’s new premium compact model line-up. Remain-

ing true to the ‘Powerful Elegance’ design approach that guided the original QX30 concept, the car demonstrates Infiniti’s design-led approach to product development.

Alongside the Q60 and QX30, Infiniti will also reveal an upgraded version of the Q50 sports sedan, which has played a key role in the brand’s sustained global growth in recent years. As well as the powerful all-new V6 engine found in the Q60 sports coupe, making its debut in the Q50 is the company’s second-generation Direct Adaptive Steering – comprehensively updated from the ground-breaking first-generation system, and Infiniti’s new Dynamic Digital Suspension, which gives the new sports sedan an optimal blend of ride comfort and class-leading response and agility.

The launch of these new and upgraded models in Europe comes at a time of rapid growth for Infiniti, and in the midst of an intense global product launch period.

ahlibank announces MyHassad winners MUSCAT: ahlibank announced the names of the MyHassad daily prize draw winners.

Sami Abdullah Sulaiman Al Balushi from Sohar branch, Shamsa Zaid Said Al Khudhoori from Barka branch, Qasim Musabah Khamis Al Ghafri from Ibri branch and Muhammed Pananthodi from Al Khoudh branch, were the lucky winners of OMR1,000 each for the week.

MyHassad savings account continues to successfully satisfy the existing customers and attract new ones.

MyHassad Saving Scheme was introduced in July 2008 as an extension of the bank’s tradition of product innovation. Opening MyHassad Saving account is simple and easy. Customers need

only to open their MyHassad account with OMR100 for their chance to win OMR1,000 in the next working day’s draw hence their chance to ‘open today and win tomorrow’ continues. Further enhancements in March 2009 allows customers to participate in the OMR10,000 monthly draw, by maintaining a minimum OMR250 during the month.

Effective from June 2010 customers can also transfer their salaries to MyHassad saving account and will be eligible to enter in the daily, monthly draw as per the balance maintained. This highlights the commitment of the bank to its long-term MyHassad account holders.

As one of the leading banks in the Sultanate, ahlibank pledges

to provide innovative, efficient and secure products and services to give their valued customers a convenient banking experience.

Opening an account with ahlibank is the first step towards smarter and convenient banking services. ahlibank accounts deliver an extensive and comprehensive range of benefits, personal banking services and instant access through Online and SMS banking. The bank’s EMV (Chip) debit card provides global access to funds both at ATMs and shopping outlets. Credit cards allow greater freedom to shop with ease with lowest minimum payment of 3 per cent and the advanced online banking services offer easy access to accounts making banking with ahlibank a convenient experience.

S H O P P I N G D E S T I NAT I O N

MGM signs deals for new global outlets to open in 2016 MUSCAT: Muscat Grand Mall (MGM) announced the signing of 10 new tenants at the mall – expanding its retail portfolio and giving customers increased choice at Muscat’s most popular shopping and entertainment destination.

An array of new outlets will be opening at Muscat Grand Mall, in February, including Belgian chocolatiers Jeff De Bruges, who will be stepping into Oman for the first time, says a press release.

Adding to the mall’s already diverse apparel offerings, Arabic fashion brand Amani will open its doors soon, in addition to Sergeant Major – specialising in children’s fashion as well as Style Passport, a popular ladies’ clothing brand.

Furthermore, cosmetics brands Oud Milan and Idoll will be coming to the mall with their specialised products. Saudi-based retailers Abdul Samad Al Qarashi will open a branch of their perfume store and Nomination will bring their wares of jewellery designs to the Sultanate.

To boost the cuisine options

at Muscat Grand Mall’s Food Court, Burger Joint and Fishhoek, fast food outlets will also be opening soon.

MGM is Oman’s most dynamic shopping destination. It is the fastest growing lifestyle hub in the Sultanate, offering choice and convenience for shoppers and residents, as part of a combined

leisure experience.

Boasting a three-screen cinema, high-end residences and office space, in addition to hosting the largest food court in Oman, Muscat Grand Mall is home to leading global brands such as Carrefour, Happy Land, City Cinema, Sharaf DG, HomesRUs, PAUL and Chili’s and Patchi among others.

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM W EDN ES DAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

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DHONI SAYS HE HAS NOT MOVED ON FROM HIS DAYS AT CHENNAI >C2

TOUR OF OMAN

2nd stage begins at Omantel Headquarter

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Tour of Oman first stage honours goes to Jungels Crossing the line alone with a six seconds lead over

Mohammed Hassan Al Lawati

Pauwels and Bardet, Jungels claimed

MUSCAT: Omantel, the Sultanate’s leading provider of integrated telecommunication services, is sponsoring the 7th edition of the challenging Tour of Oman racing series.

As a main sponsor, Omantel will be providing a fleet of 20 branded vehicles that will be carrying back-up cycles for the international race teams.

The second stage of the racing series will set off from Omantel Headquarter in Mawaleh on Wednesdat at 11:35 am, cheered on by enthusiastic Omantel staff.

Commenting on the company’s support for the iconic cycle racing series, Mohammed Hassan Al Lawati, Omantel Events Manager noted, “Omantel works closely with community groups and organisations to make a meaningful difference to the future development of the nation.

“Supporting notable sporting events such as the Tour of Oman demonstrates our commitment towards promoting Oman on the world stage, and promoting the sport of cycling amongst Omani youth.

“We are proud to support the Tour of Oman for the 7th year in a row.”

ALL SMILES: Bob Jungels, right, and Amaury Capiot celebrate on po-

dium with guests of honour. – JUN ESTRADA/ Times of Oman

his first success in Oman, and his first

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win in his new Etixx

PHOTO GALLERY

Quickstep colours

MUSCAT: A beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures welcomed the peloton of the 7th edition of the Tour of Oman for stage one of the event. One hundred and 41 riders gathered in front of the Oman Exhibition Centre for the start of the race before taking on the 145.5-km ride all the way to Al Bustan.

The pack took off just after 11:00 heading west before returning towards Muscat.

After only two kilometres, two men managed to break away: Christoph Pfingsten (BOA) and Kenny De Haes (WGG). Five kilometres later they were caught by three other riders: Berden De Vries (ROP), Pieter Van Speybrouck (TSV) and Peter Koning (DPC). The gap rapidly grew over an unconcerned pack and reached 6’20 at km 25. From then on teams Astana and BMC took the chase on and the gap dropped. At the first in-

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

VICTORY CRY: Bob Jungels of Etixx-Quick Step team celebrates as he wins the first stage of the 7th Tour of Oman in Al Bustan on Tuesday. – JUN ESTRADA / Times of Oman

termediate sprint (km 76), claimed

by De Vries ahead of Dehaes and Van Speybrouck, the pack however remained 3’05 adrift.

The front five managed to stay clear of the pack all the way to

SAILING

First offshore leg of SATT 2016 sets off to Abu Dhabi

DECENT START: Team Almouj Muscat in action during the EFG Sailing Arabia-The Tour 2016. – Supplied photo

MUSCAT: The first offshore leg of EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour began on Tuesday with the nine international crews leaving Dubai bound for Abu Dhabi. The stage is the first of five that make up the 700-mile sailing adventure showcasing Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Doha in Qatar and Khasab, Sohar and Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman.

The event kicked off on Monday with a series of high-intensity in-port races in Dubai but the 61 nautical mile opening leg from the UAE’s largest city to its capital is a chance for the crews to test their mettle on a longer racecourse.

The teams, representing Oman, Kuwait, Germany, Great Britain, Monaco, the Netherlands and Switzerland, are racing identical 30ft Farr 30 yachts which puts the emphasis on the skills of the crew.

After a short race in which the CEOs of each of the team sponsors took to the water, the EFG Sailing Arabia–The Tour fleet gathered for the start of Leg 1.

With light northerly winds forecast for the leg it looked set to be a downwind drag race to Abu Dhabi. Kuwaiti crew Team Zain, skippered by French sailor Cedric Pouligny, took an early lead in the leg when they opted to tack away from the rest of the fleet.

The move nudged them ahead of their rivals but this afternoon they were clinging to a narrow lead of just one nautical mile over second placed Dutch crew TU Delft Challenge. Omani sailing star Fahad Al Hasni and his Renaissance Services team were in third but less than two miles separated the entire fleet.

Gilles Chiorri, race director of EFG Sailing Arabia–The Tour, said the leg was turning out to be a fascinating race where tactics, skill and focus were all called into play. “The weather forecast for leg 1 is for light north north-westerly wind to build from five to 10 knots, and flat waters - fabulous conditions to start the first offshore race,” he said.

“Team Zain opened up the game when they became the first crew to tack onto starboard in a west-south-westerly breeze of six to nine knots. The wind is very unsteady because of the heat and so is constantly changing direction. Team Zain will have to tack again to make it round a passing mark at the halfway point of the leg. Who will be right - the group of boats more offshore playing the call of not having to tack twice or the route taken by Team Zain which favours more tacks in the hope of picking up a nice wind

shift to cover less distance. It is turning into a fascinating first leg that all crews are enjoying.”

Wednesday sees the Abu Dhabi In-Port Race series held in the waters off Emirates Palace Marina.

The second inshore showdown will be hotly contested after Team Averda claimed victory in the opening round in Dubai yesterday ahead of Wouter Sonnema’s TU Delft Challenge and the Omani team Al Mouj, Muscat led by Nico Lunven. The winning teams were awarded by Aaref Ibrahim Al Haranki, Board Member and Head of the Rowing Committee in Dubai. A brand new trophy has been specially commissioned from British Royal Warrant holder and goldsmiths Thomas Fattorini Ltd, and will be awarded to the winning team of the 2016 EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour following the last leg into Muscat.

Results after the Dubai In-Port Race series: 1. Team Averda (GBR/Marcel Herrera); 2. TU Delft Challenge (NED/Wouter Sonnema); 3. Al ouj, Muscat (OMA/Gilles Favennec); 4. EFG Bank Monaco (MON/ Sidney Gavignet); 5. Team Zain (KWT/ Cedric Pouligny); 6. Renaissance Services (OMA/Fahad Al Hasni); 7. Oman AirportsAl Thuraya Women’s Team (OMA/Dee Caffari); 8. Team Bienne Voile (SUI/Lorenz Mueller); 9. Team Mangold (GER/Martin Felgenhauer).

km 116 when Dehaes and Koning were the first to be dropped. Four kilometres later, the remaining three escapees were caught by the peloton just before the first climb of the day. The pack remained

bunched all the way to the top of Al Hamriyah where Janse Van Rensburg (DDD) made it first ahead of Amaury Capiot (TSV) and Laurens De Plus (EQS). Just after that first difficulty, Pavel Kochetkov (KAT) gave it a go. After enjoying a 25’’ advantage at km 125 he was also to be caught.

The second bonus sprint (km 136) was then won by Capiot in front of Faria (LAM) and Dmitry Kozontchuk (KAT). Time then came for the big battle between the favourites on the climb up Al Jissah. Among the first riders to be dropped was Richie Porte (BMC).

Alexander Kristoff (KAT) winner of two stages here last year was the next of the big guns to struggle.

Eventually, 16 men powered away.

Among the front group were the likes of Vincenzo Nibali (AST), Rui Costa (LAM), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Romain Bardet, Domenico Pozzovivo (ALM), Daniel Martin, Bob Jungels (EQS), Eduardo

Sepulveda (FVC), Boasson Hagen (DDD) and Davide Rebellin (CCC).

The final climb of the day (km 140) was conquered by Daniel Oss (BMC) ahead of Sven Erik Bystrom (KAT) and Jakob Fuglsang (AST).

With just under five kilometres to go, Sepulveda suffered a crash, losing all hopes of claiming this first stage in Oman. The front group remained together on the long downhill portion towards the final straight. With two kilometres to go, Bob Jungels (EQS) managed to pull away, enjoying a 7’’ lead before the final kilometre. The Luxemburg national champion stayed clear of his rivals and went on to capture his first ever victory in Oman. Jungels also claims his first success under his new Etixx Quickstep colours while Serge Pauwels (DDD), 6’’ adrift, finishes second and Romain Bardet third.

The day’s stage winner conquered the overall leader’s Red Jersey and has a 10’’ lead over Pauwels and 14’’ over Bardet. The Luxemburger also leads the points classification and the best young riders standings while Amaury Capiot (TSV) conquered the Most Aggressive rider’s jersey.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

SPORTS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

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Not moved on from CSK: Dhoni Usually calm and composed on the

If you want me to be politically correct, that is not how I am. After eight years of IPL, it feels very different to play for any other team

field, Dhoni got a

Ronaldo back on Champions League goal trail at Roma MADRID: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane reckons Cristiano Ronaldo is on top form as the Portuguese looks to increase his Champions League goals tally when they visit AS Roma in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday. Ronaldo is the competition’s leading marksman this season with 11 goals, a record for the group phase.

Zidane, a Champions League winner playing for Real in 2002, said Ronaldo was on top of his game after the Portuguese scored twice in Saturday’s 4-2 Liga win over Athletic Bilbao.

“Cristiano is very important on the wing because when he attacks one-on-one he’s very good... he’s very hard to defend against,” Zidane added. “That’s how we scored the first goal (against Athletic).”

Left back Marcelo has recovered faster than expected from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss Saturday’s home game, was back in training on Monday and named in the match squad.

“We have to be especially wary of the speed of (Roma’s) players because that could hurt us,” Real striker Karim Benzema was quoted as saying in Mundo Deportivo.

“They’re going to play to win because it’s a very important game for them at home. If we’re at our best we’ll win.”

Isco looks certain to play in central midfield with Zidane saying he gave Mateo Kovacic a game against Athletic to rest the Spaniard, who has been a regular alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric under the Frenchman. The match pits two recently appointed coaches against each other after Zidane and Luciano Spalletti took charge last month. — Reuters

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tad emotional when asked about the team he led since the inception of the IPL

PUNE: Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels ‘different’ about captaining a new team in the Indian Premier League for the first time in eight years and says he has not moved on from his days at the now suspended Chennai Super Kings.

“I would be lying if I say I have moved on. That is the special part of being a human being. There is got to be an emotional connect after eight years (with CSK),” said Dhoni at the jersey launch of his new team, the Rising Pune Supergiants.

Usually calm and composed on the field, Dhoni got a tad emotional when asked about the team he led since the inception of the IPL.

M.S. Dhoni Rising Pune Supergiants

“If you want me to be politically correct, that is not how I am. After eight years of IPL, it feels very different to play for any other team.

“All of a sudden if you want me to say that I am very excited to play for a new team, don’t give credit to CSK and the fans for the love and affection they have given us, it will be wrong.

“But as a professional, I would

like to thank the Pune team for taking me.

“Of course there will be added responsibility as captain but as a professional we are supposed to do the job with more than 100 hundred percent commitment. And that is what we will try to do,” said the India limited-overs captain, a day after leading the team to a T20 series win over Sri Lanka.

Dhoni said he will miss playing alongside the likes of Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Brendon McCullum before exuding confidence in the players picked for the new team.

“There are a lot of players we will miss. We were together for eight years, our core group was the same. We were so consistent and our strength was that we played as a team.

“We have taken some former CSK players but then at the auction, the two new teams were expected to do most of the buying.

If you look at the six other franchisees, they have a settled lot.

Therefore, the pressure will be on the new franchise,” he felt.

On playing against longtime India and CSK teammate Raina, who will captain the other new team Gujarat Lions, Dhoni said: “We all know how destructive Raina is. At the same time, he will just not be playing me and us, he will be playing against the other teams too. He will be trying his best to do well.

We have to make sure that we do the job that is expected from us.”

The maverick Kevin Pietersen is also part of the Pune unit. Asked about his plans to deal with former England batsman, Dhoni said “we will wait and watch”.

“Every player will have a role in

the team. There is a basic way every cricketer plays. KP is fantastic, somebody who is aggressive and expressive on the field. Not only that, he like other seniors, has an added responsibility to groom the youngsters.

“We will have to wait and watch (about KP’s behaviour) but I don’t think it will be an issue,” added Dhoni. Besides Dhoni, the other big players in the Pune team are Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Australia captain Steven Smith and South African batsmen Faf du Plessis.

Dhoni is also pleased about CSK coach Stephen Fleming joining him at Pune.

“The life becomes slightly easy with him around. We know each other for long time. He is a fantastic coach. His management skills are very good. What I really like is that he is calm like me. It is good to have him and hopefully it will work for us.”

On Rahane, he said: “He is someone who is very consistent. He may not be part of the playing 11 regularly in the T20 Internationals but that is because your openers Rohit (Sharma) and Shikhar (Dhawan) are doing really well. But if you look at his performances in the IPL, Rahane is among top-two, top three batsmen”. - PTI

CRICKET

MUSCAT AND SALALAH WIN Muscat and Salalah have virtually put one foot in the semifinals of His Majesty’s Cup Football Championship when they recorded contrasting victories in the first of the double-leg quarterfinals on Tuesday. In the first match of the double header at the Seeb Sports Stadium, Salalah edged Rustaq 1-0. Later in the second match, former champions Muscat overcame a stiff challenge from Saham for a 2-1 win. On Monday, record nine-time winners Fanja scored a 1-0 win over Al Nasr while Suwaiq and Al Khabourah played out a goalless draw. The second leg matches of the quarterfinals will be played on February 27 and 28. — ISMAIL AL FARSI/Times of Oman

‘England have firepower to win World T20’ CAPE TOWN: England batsman Alex Hales believes his team has the talent and firepower both in batting and bowling to win the forthcoming World Twenty20 cricket tournament scheduled to be played in India in March-April.

England lost their recent OneDay International (ODI) series against hosts South Africa 2-3 despite leading 2-0 after the first two matches. The World T20 begins on March 8 with the final match scheduled for April 3.

Hales impressed throughout the series against South Africa, hitting four half-centuries in the opening four matches before chalking up his second ODI century in the series deciding match on Sunday.

When asked if the national side can win the World T20, the righthand opening batsman was confident in saying that they can.

“I don’t see why not. It’s definitely the best side I’ve been involved with in Twenty20, with a

CONFIDENT: England batsman Alex Hales.

lot of young ball strikers and a good bowling attack as well,” Hales was quoted as saying by Sky Sports on Monday. “I think it’s a really exciting time - with the talent and firepower we have in our squad, people who can hit sixes all the way down to No 11. I think we’ve got a good chance,” Hales said.

Hales was markedly more comfortable during the ODI series compared to the Test series against South Africa where he

was unable to put together a good string of performances.

“I was obviously very disappointed with how the Tests went.

But it was my first crack at it, and I feel I learned a lot from it,” the hard-hitting batsman said.

“It was good to find some form with the white ball, and I feel in good touch going into these Twenty20s.

We’ve got a big couple of months now, with the Twenty20 World Cup,” Hales concluded. - Reuters

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

TEST SERIES

Kiwis keen on another green top WELLINGTON: New Zealand coach Mike Hesson is hoping the Hagley Oval pitch for the second Test against Australia will pose a challenge for the batsmen from both sides after the green Basin Reserve wicket eased out by the end of the first day of the opening Test.

Australia captain Steve Smith had little hesitation in putting New Zealand in to bat after winning the toss in the first Test that started last Friday in Wellington.

The hosts essentially lost the match in the first hour as Australia exploited the seamerfriendly conditions and crashed to 51 for five inside 12 overs.

They were eventually skittled out for 183.

The pitch, however, browned off quickly and while Australia went through some tough periods, the ball did little off the wicket from the second day as they built up a massive 562 with Adam Voges scoring a double century.

Australia won the match by an innings and 52 runs on Monday.

“I would have liked this to have been much greener than it was. It only seamed for two hours and that meant that both sides weren’t able to be exposed in those conditions,” Hesson told reporters on Tuesday.

“It’s a bit different when it seams for two hours, it makes the toss a little bit more important.

“I think if you’re good enough to make the most of it you can be exposed. Ideally you’d like both sides to have a bit of a crack at it when it does seam.”

New Zealand’s top seven batsmen in the first innings at the Basin Reserve fell to catches behind the wicket, indicating how disciplined the Australians were with their lines and their ability to get the ball to do just enough off the surface.

The second Test starts on February 20 in Christchurch. - Reuters

SPORTS Oman’s Sanad, Shihab shine in UAE Rotax Max Challenge Sanad Al Rawahi took top honours in the DD2 Class while Shihab Al Habsi clinched third place in the Mini Max Class Dubai Kartdrome during the weekend

MUSCAT: Oman’s Sanad Al Rawahi and Shihab Al Habsi excelled in Round 10 of the UAE Rotax Max Challenge at Dubai Kartdrome during the weekend.

According to news posted on the www.dubaiautodrome.com, Sanad took top honours in the DD2 Class while Shihab clinched third place in the Mini Max Class.

According to the report, Round 10 was packed with incidents and controversies as a result of very close racing.

Pascal Pook once again dominate the Max Class, with Sanad Al Rawahi winning the DD2 Class, Hussein Umid Ali tops in the DD2 Masters, Enzo Fontanella winning his first ever Junior Max final, Theo Kekati claiming victory in the Mini Max and Ali Al Shamsi winning in the Micro Max Class.

After dominating Round 9 a day earlier, Pascal Pook was again in

WORLD T20

India-Pakistan game ‘will be high-scoring’ DHARAMSALA: The muchawaited World Twenty20 match between arch rivals India and Pakistan at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium here will have a batsman-friendly pitch and is expected to be a highscoring game, the ground’s curator said here on Tuesday.

India and Pakistan will lock horns at the HPCA Stadium, which is nestled in the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas, here on March 19 and is expected to be a high voltage clash between two former champions of the showpiece tournament.

“For Twenty20s, you know how the wickets are. This one will also be the same; it will be a batsman friendly wicket. The pitch is such that it will be a high scoring game,” HPCA chief curator Sunil Chauhan told IANS during a chat here.

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Chauhan further said that the condition of the pitch will not deteriorate through the course of the match but added that the outfield will be lightening quick.

“For 40 overs the wicket will behave as the same. But the outfield will be fast. We are preparing it right now by using sand and organic manure. We will start preparing the pitches on February 24,” said Chauhan.

“Currently, we are preparing the outfield. If you see the ground on February 28 or 29, you will see a lush green field unlike now,” added Chauhan, pointing towards the outfield where work was ongoing. Dharamsala will host six qualifying matches of the World T20 from March 9 to 13 and two main tournament games. Australia and New Zealand will square off on March 18 followed by the India-Pakistan encounter. - PTI

fine form on the Speedway configuration of the Kartdrome as he powered to victory in the Max Final and with it put himself in a strong position for the championship title with two rounds to go.

He was followed across the line

by Jakob Robinson in second and third place going to Abigail Birch.

Sanad Al Rawahi was untouchable in the DD2 Class, winning the final with ease while behind him Hussein Umid Ali and Kevin Day tussled it out.

Shihab third In the end Umid Ali claimed second place and Day following in third, with Umid Ali taking maximum points in the DD2 Masters.

Enzo Fontanella claimed his maiden win in the UAE Championship, winning the Junior Max Final after starting from the back of the grid.

Although Tehmur Chohan crossed the finish line first, he suffered a penalty which promoted Fontanella to first place, followed by Marcus Lee Marker in second and Taymour Kermanshahchi third.

Theo Kekati took a popular win in the Mini Max Class Final, from Ziggy Kermanshahchi in second and Shihab Al Habsi in third.

Daman Speed Academy driver Ali Al Shamsi scored his first UAE Championship win in the Micro Max Class, ahead of Diaraf Keinde in second and also his highest finish at national level, with Fahad Al Khaled in third.

Special mention went to eight year old Keanu Al Azhari who finished fifth in the tightly fought Micro Max Final, for which earned top rookie award.

ALL WINNERS: Sanad Al Rawahi took top honours in the DD2 Class while Shihab Al Habsi clinched third place in the Mini Max Class. – Supplied photo

Shihab all set for Winter Cup in Italy MUSCAT: Oman’s rising talent Shihab Al Habsi is geared up to take part in the Winter Cup karting championship in Italy next week.

Shihab Al Habsi, who is being groomed by Oman rally legend Hamad Al Wahaibi and his Al Wahaibi Motorsport (WMS) team, will be taking

part in the Winter Cup to gain experience at the international stage.

The Winter Cup is scheduled to be held at the South Garda Karting in Lonato, Italy from February 19 to 21 with participation of 280 drivers from 17 countries.

Al Habsi, who the won Mini

Max title at the 2016 Dubai O-Plate championship at the Dubai Kartdrome in January, said he is looking forward for the Winter Cup and is hoping to achieve good results.

Shihab Al Habsi thanked coach Hamad Al Wahaibi and Al Wahaibi Motorsport for all the support.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

SPORTS Nick, Danny, Pawan top Volkswagen PowerPlay

FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONS: Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir.

ISWK champions MUSCAT: Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) lifted the U-15 Inter-School football trophy suring the tournament organized by TelyBoys at Al AhliSidab Club. The champion boys from ISWK beat the fast footed players from Indian School Al Seeb through penalty shootout with both teams level at 1-1 after the completion of fulltime.

The tournament organised as part of the Republic Day celebrations had the participation of Indian School Muscat, Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir, Indian School Darsait, Indian School Al Gubrah, Indian School Al Seeb and Indian School Muladha.

In the first semifinals Indian School Al Seeb beat Indian School Muladha and in the second semifinals ISWK edged past Indian School Al Ghubrah via penalties. “We don’t have many football tournaments to partici-

pate in, therefore this is an excellent opportunity for our boys to showcase their potential” said one of the coaches of the school team.

The Chairman of Indian Social Club (ISC) Dr Satish Nambiar, the chairman of BoD of the Indian Schools in Oman Wilson George, PM Jabir, convenor of the ISC Kerala Wing and Mahboob from Al Watan gave away the trophies and awards to the winners.

Adish Gandhi of ISWK received the award for the best player, while Riju Justin from Indian School Al Seeb, won the accolades for the best goal keeper.

The exhibition match between Foodlands XI and Telyboys XI resulted in a huge defeat for the organisers. A fusion musical performance by R.H. Rahman and Arun Darbi and scrumptious food served by Foodlands restaurant on the sidelines of the tournament added to the attraction.

RUNNERS-UP: Indian School Al Seeb.

The Volkswagen PowerPlay series sees players enjoy an innovative format of gameplay, which is unique in the Sultanate

MUSCAT: The Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club recently concluded the third qualifying round of the Volkswagen PowerPlay 2016 Series, a unique golfing tournament exclusively sponsored by Volkswagen Oman, represented by Wattayah Motors.

The recently completed qualifier marks the conclusion of the third qualifier of the 2016 tournament and saw Nick Lewis, Danny van Biljon, and Pawan Singh as the top scorers with 58, 55 and 47 points respectively. As with the previous two qualifiers, that took place in November and December, the recent event saw the participation of over 40 talented golfers from across the capital. The 2016 Series will see a further five qualifying rounds take place, with the next taking place on February 19.

The Grand Final is to be played in October 2016.

Commenting on the tournament, Andrew Squires, the General Manager of Volkswagen Oman

said, “The Volkswagen PowerPlay tournament offers a unique blend of risk and reward, which has been a compelling draw for golfers from across the capital since its launch in October 2014. As such we are proud to be partnering with Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club in what has emerged as one of the must-play golf tournaments in the country.”

“On behalf of Volkswagen Oman, I would also like to congratulate the three winners of each of the qualifiers so far, as well as wish all the players of the upcoming qualifier rounds the best of luck in their respective tournaments,” he added.

The Volkswagen PowerPlay se-

ries sees players enjoy an innovative format of gameplay, which is unique in the Sultanate. At each nominated hole tournament players choose between an ‘easy’ or ‘difficult’ flag position, with the more difficult flag positions offering additional stableford points for a well-played hole.

This type of scoring offers players a risk and reward opportunity.

In addition, holes 9 and 18 are optional bonus holes, where a player choosing a PowerPlay can earn bonus points.

However, the double risk on these holes can cause deducted stableford points if the hole isn’t

well played. This exciting format of golf adds another dimension to the game, which makes it dramatic and intensely competitive, with winners more often than not being decided on count backs.

Once all the Volkswagen PowerPlay qualifying rounds have concluded, each player’s best four rounds from up to eight qualifiers will be collated; which will then produce a Grand Final Order of Merit. Through this unique format, any player within the top 20 stands a chance of winning the Grand Final, which will consist of up to 60 players in the main field in October 2016.

FOOTBALL

ROYAL CHALLENGERS CLINCH TITAN CUP Royal Challengers defeated Bisiya Lions by 20 runs to lift the Titan Cup organised by Titan Cricketers at the Al Maha Club ground in Bausher. Earlier in the semifinals, Royal Challengers beat Cheers XI by five wickets and Bisiya Lions defeated Masters XI by five wickets. Sachin of Royal Challengers was adjudged the man of the tournament, while Nithin Hegde of Royal Challengers was the man of the final. Nithin Hegde was also declared the best batsman and the best bowler award went to Zeeshan of Bisiya Lions. — Supplied photo

Oman to host 2017 Military World Cup MUSCAT: Oman will organise the 2017 CISM’s World Military Cup for football from January 13 to 29 next year.

This was announced by Air Commodore Maktoum bin Salim Al Mazroui, Assistant Chief of Staff for Training and Joint Exercises and Head of the Organising Committee for the Military World Cup for Soccer 2017, and Abdul Hakeem bin Hamad Al Shano, Chairman of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) during a press conference at Al Shafaq Club.

Sixteen national military teams are expected to take part in the tournament.

According to the officials, the matches will be played at three venues- Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Royal Oman Police Stadium and Seeb Sports Stadium.

Oman won runners-up position in the last two editions held in Azerbaijan (2013) and South Korea (2015) respectively.

C

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

Leisure WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

LIFE ON THE OPEN ROAD Meet Greg and his family, for them life is an exciting road trip.

I

t’s four years since the Brisbane coast of Eastern Australia has faded out of the rear view mirror of their Land Cruiser. The 1993 model Toyota LC 75 Series diesel SUV had sped past the entire outback of Australia, the Far Eastern archipelago, the Himalayan sub-continent and is in the Middle East now.

And they came a long way, crossing the Indian Ocean to the volcanic islands of Indonesia, through the pristine beaches of Thailand, Cambodia, the landlocked Laos, the dense tropical Myanmar, along the great Himalayan valleys wading through the Indian monsoon, then to the south touching Pondicherry, up again through the western coast to Kashmir and crossing the border to Pakistan leaving behind its chilling winters on highlands, Iran, Dubai and now in Oman, the 16th country!

For Greg, his wife Magali and their daughters Natasha and Anastasia, their life is a road trip where everything is about learning and adventure.

And, you know, they have completed only one-third of their voyage. Greg says it will take eight more years to complete their road trip exploring the world. When your children read textbooks to learn about the Himalayas, the Asiatic Lions or the biggest archipelago, these nomad kids experience it with their eyes and hearts.

Twelve years! That’s how long the family is expected to be on the road, through six continents and over 100 countries. The world tour is interactive; you can participate in plotting their route by providing suggestions and advice, through their blog and website.

Greg, a former teacher of info-graphics in France, is a nomad at heart and the instigator of this family adventure.

He’s been travelling since he was young

and now he has decided to explore every conceivable region with his family in their customised ‘car-home’.

Greg spent his childhood in Western Africa, from two-month-old to 18 years. Then his parents moved to New Caledonia and Greg to France to pursue his studies and in the nineties he moved to New Caledonia, but never settled. “In Caledonia I have a business of web design and I continue to teach online in a French University. The life was okay, but I want to move on. So we decided to move on,” says Greg.

“It took a long time to convince my wife. I used to visit Australia often.

Then we travelled all around Australia for an year and later moved to New Zealand. The kids joined schools there, and then we moved back to New Caledonia. Finally we decided to hit the road in 2011 and had spent a whole year for planning, and preparation.”

Greg purchased the car, ‘Loongin’ that is how they call it, in Brisbane through e-bay. Loongin was fully equipped to meet the needs of the family. Stripped back to the bare essentials, the work took three months but Greg, with the help of a garage in Brisbane, has successfully built a real home on wheels. The vehicle is both their mode of transport and home for this long journey around the world.

The car is fitted with shelves, kitchen tables two bed-room tents, fridge, water shower, and solar powered heater…

“At first we planned to go a bit faster - six continents in six years. Later we realised that we will need more time to explore and it was extended to ten years, and again we added two more years to complete the tour. We just don’t visit a country for the sake of saying that we have been there. We spend enough time there and visit maximum possible places. There is

Story Mohammed Shafeeqe

Twelve years! That’s how long the family is expected to be on the road, through six continents and over 100 countries. no point in saying that I have been in Oman without visiting Jebel Shams, its Wadis, beaches, and cities like Sur.” When the journey started, younger Anastasia was in fifth grade and Natalia seventh grade. Now they are in 10th and 12th studying online. The school in France sends them all curriculum on line. “Whenever exam time comes, we go to the French embassy in that country and they will help us to take on the exams. Most probably we will be in Kenya for the next annual examination,” they say.

“We are safe from all that the parents’ worrying factors such as parties, drugs, cigarettes, drinking, and violence… They have never been to parties and discotheques,” Greg says.

But his worry is different. “They cannot travel all the time. When they start their own life, how they will adapt to the modern urban society? They know how to set up a tent, make fire, fishing or small hunting… But they don’t know how to live in a city.”

The life is never monotonous for the nomad family. “Everything changes every time as we move. With the

Photos Shabin E

money I have, we cannot check in to hotels,” he said.

Though the life is thrilling, it is a bit tough and many could not imagine living on the road. The family is living on 500 Euros, which Greg gets as pension. They manage everything with this money, but had to ship their entire belongings two times, from Australia to Indonesia and Iran to Dubai. It is expensive, says Greg. “And from Oman also we have to ship the car either to Jordan or Ethiopia. Saudi Arabian authorities won’t allow right-hand-drive vehicles on their roads. We are looking for sponsors to help us ship our car to Africa.”

Greg calculates it will take three years to complete Africa and then cross the Mediterranean to Italy.

“People won’t tolerate this kind of life style in the western part of Europe. We will visit France, Italy and Spain for some friends. Then we will cross Turkey and through all the East European countries, and Mongolia reach the eastern tip of Russia and cross to Alaska. Then will explore Canada, all through the US, Latin America and down to the Argentinean tip of Tierra del Fuego.”

“My dream is that somebody will be waiting there in Argentina to buy my car to put it in a Museum. Then we would like to buy a small sail boat and sail through the oceans and spend the rest of our life off the South-Eeast Asian islands including Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Sail by wind means no fuel. With our budget we will be okay. The budget is not okay in Europe,” Greg smiles.

The nomads have just turned 300,000 km in Nizwa last week. If you want to follow them, visit nomadsroad.com or facebook.com/nomadsroad —shafeeq@timesofoman.com

Greg

Magali

Natasha

Anastasia

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

C6

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL @BAHJA

@MGM

@BURAIMI

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans (Action| Horror) 15+ Cast: Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff, Rick Fox 5:00 & 7:15PM The Choice (Drama | Romance) 15+ Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer 5:15PM The Pack (Horror| Thriller) 12+ Cast: Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell 11:45PM How to Be Single (Comedy | Romance) 18+ Cast: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson 3:00, 7:15 & 11:30PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (Action) 18+ Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 2:45,9:15 & 11:45PM Fitoor (Hindi | Romantic| Drama) 12+ Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor , Katrina Kaif 9:15PM The Finest Hour - 3D (Action) PG12 3:30 & 9:30PM The Finest Hour - 2D (Action) PG12 7:00PM Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (Animation) PG 5:30PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Dead Pool – 2D (12+) Action | Adventure Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 11:45 PM How to Be Single – 2D (18+) Comedy Cast: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson 7:00 PM Gold Class – 8:45, 11:00 PM Fitoor – 2D (12+) Hindi | Romantic| Drama | Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor / Katrina Kaif / Tabu 9:15 PM Gold Class – 6:15 PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies – 2D (18+)

The Pack (Horror / Thriller) (12+) Cast: Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell 2.00, 6.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 321

Dead Pool – 2D (12+) Action | Adventure Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 11:45 PM

Action | Horror | Drama | Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 1:45, 9:30, 11:45 PM Gold Class – 3:30 PM Kongu Fu Style – 2D (TBC) Comedy | Animation| Voice over: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann 4:00 PM The Finest Hour – 3D (PG12) Action | Drama 12:15,11:30 PM Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 2D (Animation) (PG) 12:00, 2:30, 7:30PM Everything About Her - Taglog (PG) Comedy 4:30PM Capture the Flag – 3D (PG) (Animation) 5:45 PM

Fitoor-2D (Romantic, Drama) (TBC) Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif , Tabu 3:45, 6:15, 8:45, 11:15 PM Fitoor-2D (Romantic, Drama)(TBC) VIP LOUNGE- 8:30 PM The Choice-2D (Drama, Romance) (15+) Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer 4:45, 7:00 PM The Finest Hour (MX4D)(PG12) 3.30, 6.15, 8.30, 10.45 PM The Finest Hour 3D (action, Drama) (PG12)VIP LOUNGE 6:15 PM The Finest Hour 3D (action, Drama) (PG12) 9:15, 11:30 PM Alvin & the Chipmunks – The Road Chip (Animation,) (2D) (PG) 3:00, 6:00 PM

PANORAMA MALL Pride & Prejudice & Zombies-2D (Horror) (18+) Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 3:30, 7:45, 9:45, 11:45PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies- 2D (18+) -VIP LOUNGE 3:30, 11:00PM

AZAIBA Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (2D) (Action Horror) (18+) Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, 11:45 PM Fitoor (Hindi) (2D) (Romance| Drama) (12+) Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Tabu 2:45, 7:30, 9:15, 11:30 PM Ghayal Once Again (2D) (Action) (PG12)

Fitoor – 2D (Romantic/Drama) (12+) Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Tabu 3:15, 7:15, 11:15PM

Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 3:45, 6:15, 11:30 PM Sanam Re (2D) (Romance) (PG12) Cast: Yami Gautam, Pulkit Samrat 3:30, 5:15, 10:00 PM Bangalore Naatkal (Tamil) (2D) (Comedy) (PG) Cast: Arya, Sri Divya, Bobby 6:15, 8:30 PM Pavada (Mal) (2D) (Action | Comedy(PG) CP# Cast: Prithiviraj Sukumaran, Anoop Menon 8:45 PM RUWI Screen 1 Fitoor (Romance / Drama) –12 + Cast: Aditya Roy Kapur, Katrina Kaif 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Screen 2 Sanam Re (Romance / Drama) –12 + Cast: Pulkit Samrat, Yami Gautam 3:45, 6:45, 9:45 PM Screen 3 Ghayal Once Again (Action) –PG12 Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 3:45, 6:45, 9:45 PM

SUR Navy Seal: The Battle of New Orleans (Action |Horror) (15+) Cast: Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff 7:30, 11:45 PM Fitoor (Hindi) (Romance) (TBC) Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif.

5:00, 9:15 PM Pavada (Mal) (Comedy) (PG) CP Cast: Prithiviraj Sukumaran, Anoop Menon 10:30 PM Visions (Horror | Thriller) (15+) Cast: Isla Fisher, Anson Mount 4:45, 8:45 PM. The Finest Hour 3D (English) (Action | Drama | History) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 6:30 PM

Pavada - 2D (M) (PG) Action | Comedy 8:55 PM

SOHAR Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 2D (PG) Animation Voice over: Jason Lee, Jesica Ahlberg 5:45 PM The Finest Hour - 3D (PG12) Action | Drama Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 5:00, 9:30, 11:45 PM Dead Pool- 2D (PG12) Action | Adventure Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Moreno Baccarin 11:45 PM Ghayal Once Again - 2D (PG12) Action Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 6:30 PM Bangalore Naatkal - 2D (T) (PG) Comedy Cast: Arya, Sri Divya, Bobby 6:30 PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies - 2D (18+) Action | Horror | Drama 2:45, 9:15, 11:45 PM How to Be Single - 2D (18+) Comedy 3:15, 7:15, 11:30 PM Fitoor - 2D (TBC) Hindi | Romantic| Drama 3:30, 9:15 PM Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans 2D (15+) Action| Horror 3:00, 7:30 PM Visions - 2D (15+) Horror | Thriller Cast: Isla Fisher, Anson Mount, Gillian Jacobs 4:45, 11:45 PM

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

SALALAH The Finest Hour (3D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 2:55, 9:00PM Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans (2D) (15+) (Action| Horror) 1:05, 5:10PM The Choice (2D) (15+) (Drama | Romance) Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer 11:35AM, 6:45PM The Pack (2D)(12+) (Horror|Thriller) Cast: Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell 12:00, 5:00, 11:55PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (2D) (18+) Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 11:00, 2:00, 4:00, 7:00, 11:35PM Dead Pool (2D) (12+) (Action | Adventure Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, 11:55PM Pavada (2D) (PG) (Mal) (Action/Comedy) 9:05PM Fitoor (2D) (12+) (Hindi|Romantic) 2:15, 8:55, 11:15PM Bangalore Naatkal (2D) (PG) (Tamil) (Comedy / Drama) 6:10PM

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

25 16

MOHD AHYAN SHARIQ February 17, 2012

Minimum

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

75-50%

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

LISTINGS

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

Daily

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100) Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

AADILEKSHMI LAL February 16 Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

Pavaada (Mal) (Drama/Comedy) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran & Miya George 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30PM Cinema Main Bangalore Naatkal (Tamil) (Com) Cast: Arya , Sri Divya & Rana Doggadathi 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30PM Cinema -2 Adi Kappyare Koottamani (Mal) (Com) Cast: Dhyn Sreenivasan & Namitha Pramod 6:45PM Cinema -2 2 Countries (Mal) (Com) Cast: Dileep & Mamta Mohandas 3:45 & 9:45PM Cinema -3 Jil Jung Juk (Tamil) (Com) Cast: Siddharth & Sanath Reddy 3:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -4 Airlift ( Hindi) ( Act) Cast: Akshay Kumar & Nimrat Kaur 6.45PM Cinema 4 Next Change: Miruthan ( Tamil), Monsoon Mangoes ( Mal), Neerja ( Hindi) Programmes are subject to change

0

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54) 14:30 14:30

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

STAR CINEMA

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

Film information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com The Pack (Horror / Thriller) (12+) Cast: Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell 2.00, 6.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 321 Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans (Action / Horror) (15+) Cast: Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff, Rick Fox 2.00, 10.00 & 11.55 PM. CP No: 322 How to Be Single: (Comedy / Romance) (18+) Cast: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann 4.00, 6.00 & 8.00 PM CP No: 323 The Choice: (Drama / Romance) (15+) Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer 4.00 & 8.00 PM CP No: 324

WITH LOVE

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36) Quriyat Sur Jaalan

BAHJA CINEMA

BURAIMI The Finest Hour – 3D (Action) (PG12) 5:15, 6:45, 9:15PM Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans– 2D (Action/Horror) (15+) 3:30, 5:35, 9:35, 11:30PM The Pack– 2D (Horror/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell 5:00, 11:45PM Visions – 2D (Horror/Thriller) (15+) Cast: Isla Fisher, Anson Mount, Gillian Jacobs 3:30, 7:30PM Fitoor – 2D (Romantic/Drama) (12+) Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Tabu 3:15, 7:15, 11:15PM Pavada– 2D (Action/Comedy) (PG) Cast: Prithiviraj Sukumaran, Anoop Menon 9:00PM

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

12.26pm 3.42pm 6.08pm 7.19pm 5.23am

CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 3 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CINEMA | BOX-OFFICE COUNTER OPENS 30-MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCREENING OF THE FIRST SHOW

CINEMA SCHEDULE

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Lifeline Hospital Salalah 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC 22004000 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

Air New Zealand 24700732 Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24701128 British Airways 24568777 Cathay Pacific 24789818 Egypt Air 24794113 Emirates Air 24404400 Ethiopian Airlines 24660313 Gulf Air 80072424 Indian 24791914 Iran Air 24787423 Japan Airlines 24704455 Jazeera Airways 23294848 Jet Airways 24787248 Kenya Airways 24660300 KML Royal Dutch Airlines 24566737 Kuwait Airways 24701262 LOT Polish Airlines 24796387 Lufthansa 24796692 Malaysian Airlines 24560796 Middle East Airlines 24796680 Oman Air 24531111 Pakistan International Airlines 24792471 Qatar Airways 24771900 Qantas 24559941 Royal Jordanian 24796693 Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485 Singapore Airlines 24791233 Shaheen Air 24816565 SriLankan Airlines 24784545 Swiss International Airlines 24796692 Thai Airways 24705934

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

LIFESTYLE

The Road to Salalah Have you been able to capture the beauty of an off-thebeaten-path destination in Oman? Send your pictures with a caption & geo-locator to: shafeeqe@timesofoman.com

Location: Somewhere on the Highway 31.

C7

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUA RY 17, 2016

LIFESTYLE

TOURIST ARRIVALS IN 2015 Asia and the PaciďŹ c (+5%) recorded

International tourist arrivals grew

Limited available data for

13 million more international tourist

by 4.4% in 2015 to reach a total of

AFRICA points to a 3%

arrivals last year to reach

277 million with uneven results across destinations. Oceania (+7%) and South-East Asia (+5%) led growth, while South Asia and in North-East Asia recorded an increase of 4%.

1,184 million in 2015, according to the latest UNWTO

53 million

World Tourism Barometer. Some 50 million more tourists (overnight visitors) travelled to international destinations around the WORLD last year as compared to 2014.

International tourist arrivals

International tourist arrivals in

in the Americas (+5%) grew

the MIDDLE EAST grew by an

9 million to reach

estimated 3% to a total of

191 million

decrease in international arrivals, reaching a total of

54 million

+5% REGIONAL RESULTS Europe (+5%) led growth in absolute and relative terms supported by a weaker euro vis-Ă -vis the US dollar and other main currencies.

Source: World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)

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W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M W E D N E S DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 7, 2 0 1 6

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

D2

VACANCY

D4

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

CARGO

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D2

W E D N E S D AY, F E B R UA RY 1 7, 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

Luxury flat for rent in Bareeq Al Shatti building Spacious 2 BHK with sea view, split A/Cs, fixed wardrobes, kitchen appliance.

Near Opera Gallery.

Rent RO.900/- negotiable.

Contact - 94084335 / 96920789

INDUSTRIAL LAND FOR RENT (BARKA)

One / two B/R , RES / Comm flat near Bank Muscat Bausher directly from owner. Contact: 92158031

CONTACT :

93202733 1 BHK near medical Darsait Muttrah House. R.O 180/-. #95076261 Modern and spacious 4 bedroom twin villa for rent in Azaiba north behind Nov 18st with detached maids room. Contact 99317349

2 Bedroom centrally air conditioned flat in CBD Prime location.

Contact: 24714625/91173997

Flat in Wadi Al Kabir 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 family hall, kitchen & 3 bathrooms. Contact: 99277787

Shop Ruwi Rex Road.

Contact: 95443207

2 BHK in MSQ opposite Al Fair with split AC. Contact: 96708000

2BHK /3 BHK OPP Star Cinema.

Contact: 92926199

Sharing room rent near City Centre Seeb. Contact: 99037669

1BHK Flat with spilt A/C near star cinema 210/-. Contact: 99358589/95570288 /97079146

Flats, 3 Rooms & AC, kitchen, hall, in Al Mabela South, rent RO. 250/Contact - 99377290

(Floor area 600sqmtrs and mezzanine of 500sqmtrs) 1100sqmts fully cover warehouse & staff accommodations Please contact: G.S.M

24707088, 98283896

1 BHK and 2BHK Flats with Split ACs Opp. to MOD Near Lulu Darsait

2 BHK flat for rent Darsait near Muscat Pharmacy, ISM. Contact: 95158570

FOR RENT IN BALADIA SANAYAH AMIRAT

1100 SQ MTR free industrial land for all purpose is available with compound and furnished office in Barka Contact:

FLATS FOR RENT

Shops for rent in Al Amerat on the main road (express) opposite to Mosque and a supermarket Al Ehsan. Contact: 96434269

WAREHOUSE AVAILABLE

One large BHK in Al Khuwair near Ibis hotel with A/C. Contact: 95124975 2 BHK in Bareeq Al Shatti with split AC. Contact: 96708000 Shop (rent 250/ 400) commercial / Residential building 1& 2 bed flat (flat rent 350+ 250) available in Wadi Kabir (Near Lulu) one bed flat 200/- Wadi Al Kabir (near Toyota.

Contact: 92325212 /99451168 Flat for rent south Al Mabela.

Contact: 95331177/95230355

99417229/92621039

2 BHK flat near Indian School Wadi Kabir behind Sana for rent.

Contact: 92120539

Villa for rent 4 room, hall, 3 toilet (upstairs) R.O 350/- at Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99382008

Flat for rent, 3 bedroom, 2 bath room, living room, 1 kitchen & store 240/- R.O at Darsait.

Contact: 92328142

Restaurant for rent or sale in Al Ghobrah with its equipments and permitions for workers. For details contact: 95094062

Ware house for rent in Ghala 300sqmt. Contact: 99010741 /96007885

1000sqmtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for warehouse workshop etc.

Contact 24700120 /92584715

2 Bedrooms, kitchen, toilet, car park R.O 200/- & 1 bedroom, kitchen, toilet R.O 140 in Al Khuwair. Contact: 95154331 1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/- in AL Khuwair.

Contact: 95154331

Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278

House in Amerat near to Makah hypermarket with 3 room+ 5 toilet+ hall+ living room+ kitchen. Contact 98885055/ 92744168

Flats for rent at Mawaleh near Omantel main office opposite Lulu bandar comprises 3 rooms, 2 toilets and one kitchen OMR 250/Per month. Contact: 93131497 or 99203435

2 bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality.

Contact: 92584715/ 24700120

Villa is composed of 5 bedrooms and sitting toilets and 5 living room, kitchen and Seeb (North Al Hail). Contact: 91130875

Villa 2bedroom, 1 sitting room, small hall, Kitchen & 2 bathroom behind Sultan center south Mawalah 300/- O.R. Contact: 92757673 /99388138 For Rent near ONTC Bus stop Ruwi.

Contact: 99475052/99502708 Shop for rent near Al Nahdha Hospital. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499 1/2/3 bedrooms flats at Al Hail including utilities bills 92817777 2 Bed room flat for rent in AL Azaiba, well maintained, split A/Cs 300/- PM. Contact : 92447365 1B/R apartment executive fully furnished at AL Khuwair 33 & 5 B/R villa unfurnished at Madinat Al Ilam & 5 B/R villa furnished at Madinat Al Ilam. Contact: Atlas Real Estate & rent a car LLC 24834 888/99249069/92888376/94617 563 Email: info@alshahiintl.com Flats for rent in Ruwi Mumtaz area 2 bedroom. Contact: 91409667/24291500

W E D N E S DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 7, 2 0 1 6

D3

DAILY GUIDE

BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALE Running shop with paint machine for sale in kadra -

FOR SALE Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair. Contact – 92881849 / What`s up No 97290565

FOR RENT Flat for rent in Al Hail south 2 bedroom. Contact: 91409667/24291500

Commercial flats of 3 & 2 BHK in Al Ghobra North 18 Nov street RO.650/- & 450/- # 91776665

Luxury villa of 5 BHK in Al Khuwair 33 RO.650/- Contact – 91776665

600 M2 showroom or office in Bousher in front of Dolphin complex. RO.3.5 per m2. #91776665

Commercial office at prime location in Azaiba for rent. 171sq. mtr. Contact: - 91398925 For rent 1 B/R Apartment Executive Fully Furnished @ Al Khuwair 33, 5 B/R Villa – Unfurnished @ Madinat Al Ilam 5 B/R Villa – } Furnished @ Madinat Al Ilam Please Contact: Atlas Real Estate & Rent A Car LLC24834888/ 99249069 / 92888376/94617563 / Email: info@alshahiintl.com 2 BHK apartment in Al Wadi Al Kabir.

Contact 93252324, 99364041.

2 BHK Flats for rent, Muttrah near Oman house S/ AC. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 New flats for rent at Darsait near to ministry of sports, Mumtaz area the flats include 1 living room, 2 Bedroom, kitchen, 3 toilets every room with split A/C & high Quality finishing, rent per flat is R.O 340/-.

Interested candidates please Contact: 00968- 92225523 One bedroom flat with big balcony in al Ghubra near Oman Oil of 18 November street. OMR 280 Monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 1 & 2 BHK Ruwi C.B.D. Contact: 99024730 3 BHK flat near Darsait ID medical.

RO 420/- Contact – 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288 Villa for rent in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 96571151 1BHK flat near Star Cinema 220/Contact 99358589 /95570288 Flats two bed room for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact: 96571151

Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Brand new 4 BHK villa in Al Fai compound Al Khoud. RO.475/Contact – 91776665 Villa of 3 BHK and sitting area in Al Ghobra North. RO.525/Contact – 91776665 Luxury and brand new semi furnished 2 BHK flat in Remalbowsher. RO.550/- Contact – 91776665 Spacious 1 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with all split A/C’s and parking.

RO.300/-Contact – 91776665 Flats in Darsait.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Flats in WadiKabir.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) Contact: - 9405178997201688 Offices in Qurum opposite City Center.# 94051789-97201688 Duplex villa in Qurum 29.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Mini Furnished Apartment in Qurum. #94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud. Contact 9405178997201688 2 clean & spacious flats with A/C, first flat is behind City center Al Seeb consist of 2 bedroom and living room second flat is in Al Khoud 3 consist of 1 bedroom and living room. Contact: 93366421

Heidelberg Offset 52x 74cm – 20 1/2 x 29 1/8 single Color – SORM printing machine in good condition. Contact: 99369880 Restaurant for Sale - A running Pakistani restaurant ideally located at Saham for sale - for details call 99417418

SCRAP COMPANY

FOR SALE OR RENT

(BARKA) An excellent Grade 1 Scrap Company, fully certified is available with compound and furnished office, in Barka Industrial Area.

Contact:

24707088, 98283896 ACC. AVAILABLE

A well Established Indian restaurant with all necessary equipments well qualified staff furnished party hall (capacity 150) is up for immediate sale at MBD area.

Contact: 92978956

In Al Khuwair 2 rooms, toilet, available for Indian family or working woman. Rent R.O 150/- per month only. Please Contact: 97884967

Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430

Single room at Walja, opposite MBD area SPAR available for executive bachelors inclusive of electricity and water for OMR 110/-.

Contact: 98958586

HD Scaffoldings, Shuttering Jacks, Wooden Planks, Shuttering wood assorted, Tower hoist (lift), Concrete Mixer, Bending Machine, Steel Fabrication Machinery (Searing/Cutting, lathe & Welding) including tools for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278 Fire rated portacabins and steel caravans. ContacT: 94058574 Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278 Special Dental Center for sale.

2 Dentist room, dental lab, full brand instruments with external public pharmacy in Muscat.

Contact no. 99019144

Flats 3 bedroom available at Ghobrah near Indian School.

Contact: 99236718 Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir 9304 9849 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested please Contact: 92680041 Mr. Altaf Near Hamriya Roundabout for executive bachelors (no kitchen, furniture and A/c available) including water & electricity OMR 130.

Contact 98145825, 98949724.

WANTED FOR RENT 1& 2 BHK flats for rent at Hamriya Wadi Adai, Al Khoud, Mabela & shop at Al Khoud & land line Contact: 24834644 GSM 93994401/02/03 3 lines Two bedroom flat in Al Ghubra near Oman Oil of 18 November street. OMR 330 Monthly.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

2 BHK Flat for Rent (with split AC) available for commercial or residential purpose in Al Khuwair Near Badr Al Saama Polyclinic. Contact 9129 8773 / 9450 4213

IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up.

Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

Prime location with good daily sales 260 Square meters Warehouse facility Staff accommodation Interested parties may call 9322 3382 or mail to cs@mpesllc.com

FOR SALE CAT Excavator with Bucket Model: 330D, Year: 2007 (Finance Available) Contact:

99654205, 99338410 MATRIMONIAL Sunni Muslim girl, Mumbai origin, 24yrs BCA graduate from Oman, homely with good religious value, seeking alliance of age max 29 from Muslim Sunni Mumbai origin family, well settled in Oman or Middle East.

Contact: 94150040 M. Tech Girl Hyderabad SMP invite alliance for their daughter D.O.B 20.05.1989 Fair 5-2 groom required graduate Engineer and branch or pharmacist well settled in gulf family status.

Contact: 94678861

NRI Flats for sale Kerala Trichur fully furnished 3BHK flat 1575 sq ft ready to occupy. Contact: 99073124 Ready to occupy flat, 3BHK 1600 sq ft 1No & 3 BHK 1200 sq ft 1No. at heart of Trichur N.H road frontage.

Contact: 99073124 Land for sale 40 cents NH 47 roadside opposite Pankaj theatre alleppy town. Contact: 968- 99075495 Email: mathewneena@gmail.com Land for sale 13 cents peroorkada Trivandrum 12L per cent and 22 cents eroor Kochi.

Contact: 96892973928 Email: pmnayar1810@yahoo.com

MV SALE BUYING Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash.

Contact: 90202090

Volvo FHIZ 1997 with 1 year’s insurance flatbed tailors up to.

Contact: 99454425 Hyundai Tucson model 2011 No.2 and CC 2.4 light green colour prices 3800/- R.O . Contact: 99376544 2008 2ltr VW Passat, good condition, 115k km, 99659946, RO 2800

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting.

Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

LOST Ibrahim Mohammed has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. G 624612. Finder please handover to ROP

NOTICE I Thayyil Shindu ( holder of Indian passport No. L 9735252) S.O Sivanandan having permanent residence in Kizhinkirath House Chelavoor P.O Calicut -673571, kerala (Complete postal address in India) and presently residing in AL Bustan , Muttreh P.O Box. 1998 ( Complete postal address in Oman) intend to marry Ms Rose Mary Calado Talania holder of Pilipinas passport bearing No. EB 8604693 D/O of Rey caasi Talania in Sultanate of Oman according to Hindu/ rites. I swear that I am marrying her at my own free will and not under any duress and intimidation.

Any objection towards this Marrying may please be communicated to Embassy of India , Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters , AL Khuwair, PB No. 1727 , PC 112 , Ruwi , Sultanate of Oman.

MV SALE Chevrolet Ebica 2006 manual good condition register 4.8.2016 550/R.O. Contact: 92802299

D4

W E D N E S D AY, F E B R UA RY 1 7, 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT URGENTLY REQUIRED

Mobile Technician (keralites only) Contact: 91577519/99737812

Urgently required for an ongoing SRIP project: 1. Material Controller - 01 (Graduate with 2-3 year experience work at site)

2. QA/QC Engineer - 01 (2nd level certificate with 2-3 year experience in piping work at site.)

3. Man Lift Operator -01 (card and 2-3 year experience work at site)

Wanted female GP, female Gynecologist, female Staff Nurse, female X- Ray Technician With MOH license for Al Saadi Specialized Medical Centre in Musanna.

Location: Sohar Contact: GSM-92828693, Email: infoduqumoil@gmail.com

- Bachelor ‘s degree on the same field - 5 Years experience in the (FMCG) field.

- Minimum Age 30 to 40 years - Speaks English and Arabic - Driving license Ready to directly of work Send your CV to Email : receptionist@mescooman.com

Omani Based Group of companies Running a midsized successful holding organization With multi discipline of fields is looking for an active CEO with minimum of ten years Experience who has a global Business outlook, he should have strong leadership, and be able to give clear direction and guidance to the management team.

Kindly send your emails :issa@nibras.om, kevin@nibras.om

Required urgently a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer for reputed law firm in Sohar, Muscat. Candidates should have 5-7 years experience as a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer with good knowledge of Computer & should be fluent in English both written & spoken.

Email C V to shejaanil66@gmail. com or Contact 99153620 between 8am to 1pm & 2pm to 5.30 pm on Sunday to Thursday

SALES / MARKETING A Well reputed Media Company looking for professional marketing ladies with experience, visa available. Send CV to job08080@gmail.com or Contact: 98563312

Audit Assistants.

Email: aoabmuscat@gmail.com

CATERING Looking for Indian or Bangladeshi cook and Porata, Chapatti, maker for restaurant at Misfah.

Contact: 95212017 Wanted experienced continental cook for reputed family in Qurum.

Contact: 99466062

DRIVER Wanted experienced English speaking Indian driver for reputed family in Qurum.

Contact: 99466062 Urgently required heavy duty driver for trailer.

Contact: Krishnan 99310859 or 24449345 An Indian light driver.

Contact: 24705605, Ruwi

DOMESTIC HELP Required Cleaners & office boys.

Contact 24707833

for outside Muscat Project. Civil Engineer with min 10yrs planning experience in Infra/ Building projects Please send CV to capsspac@gmail.com

omanproject2011@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Urgently required a Gulf experienced professional hair dresser cum beautician (lady) for a reputed beauty salon, immediate appointment. Contact: 99816262 / 98557585 Fax: 24796211 Email: skin.hair.makeup@gmail.com

Primavera Project Planner

For an Infra/ Bldg project in Duqm/Oman Graduate Engineer with 20+ years experience preferably in Oman/ GCC with valid D/L and transferable visa, computer literate.

Send CV to Email :

ADMIN

BEAUTY

REQUIRE

REQUIRED PROJECT MANAGER

Email: applyinggchr@gmail.com

QHSSE ADVISOR - International Oilfield Services Company requires a NEBOSH qualified QHSSE Advisor (Omani National) to ensure continual improvement in our Muscat base. Main duties to include Journey Management, supporting implementation of policies and procedures, mentoring staff, training coordination, reporting, audit & inspection and risk assessment. Submit CV to me-job@interwell.com

athirababylon@gmail.com. athira@babylon-om.com, info@babylon-om.com.

FMCG is looking for a

Experienced CEO required

WITH AT LEAST TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENTS, CRUCHERS, QUARRY & MINING INDUSTRY.

for immediate joining.

Candidates with MOH license and NOC only need to apply. Attractive salary package offered to candidates who can join us immediately.

SALES SUPERVISOR

Email: chillapalli76@gmail.com

SALES EXECUTIVES & SALES ENGINEERS

General Practitioners, Nurses, X-Ray Technician & Lab Technician

Send in your resume to

Contact -91262604

LOOKING FOR

Leading Medical Services company in Oman is looking for

Experienced Graduates/MBAs with pleasing personality, excellent communication skills and own car for sales & marketing with leading media enterprise. jobs@interacoman.com

ENGINEER

MISCELLANEOUS

Décor Company looking for an Engineer or Technician decorated with experience. Contact: 95342240 & send CV to Email: venice.decoration@gmail.com

Building Material Salesman & Electrician cum plumber & C.CT.V Technician & maintenance work super us or with D.L. Contact: 993.83044

Senior Factory Control Room Operator Required for a Manufacturing Company in Oman. Candidate should possess a Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with minimum 5 years of experience.

Candidates who have experience in Oman are preferred. Kindly forward relevant resumes to info.companyoman@yahoo.com

Local man power required for one year for construction.

Contact: 99340205 Email: omaniantrad@gmail.com

MEDICAL Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq. #95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Wanted lady Doctor with MOH license – A clinic at Ghala for morning shift. Contact : 99374541 Required General Practitioner doctor to open branches in Oman.

Contact 98116480 Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq. #95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Vacancy dermatologist doctors & internal medicine for inquiry or send CV. Contact: 24571094/ Fax: 24571097 Email: zmczahara@yahoo.com

One of the leading Business Groups in Oman is looking for Secretary- male / Secretary – Female / Accountant / Driver with valid Omani license & Laborer (loading & unloading). Interested candidates may apply to muscat.supply@gmail.com Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred.

Contact 99273774/99202278

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Need master cutter, tailor for tailor shop. Contact: 99825211

A Leading trading group is looking for Sales executives / Outdoor sales Co-coordinator having experience in construction equipment / Building materials with driving license & Release / NOC. Email CV to alhajoil@omantel.net.om or fax: 24701683 Urgently Required Steel Fabricated Products Salesman with an experience in steel fabrication, MUST have Oman driving license, and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Building material company looking for a Marketer with experience. Contact: 95342240 & send CV to Email: venice.decoration@gmail.com Urgently required Marketing Executive with driving license for sales of furniture. Contact: 97164554 / 99452755 Email: aliasgar.tarwadi@yahoo. com Required building material outdoor sales man with Omani driving license 3 years experience in outdoor.

Contact: 24817708 Required marketing Executives females in Muscat with Oman driving license. Email: excellentchoice1ccs@gmail.com

OFFICE/SECRE. SALES / MARKETING Required male / female Marketing person for man power Supply Company with minimum 3 years experience with valid GCC / Oman driving license.

Contact: 97158893 / 94148972.

Kindly send CV at Email: rastllcmuscat@gmail.com

We are looking for Experienced Omani Receptionists for our organization Ayaan Healthcare centre. Contact - 93676708 Email: jooprakash.mba@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male M.com with 7 years of experience in running own business , seeking for job currently on visit visa. Contact : 91089088 CA with 16 years experience in finance / audit, seeking suitable senior position and available for immediate joining. Contact: 96320588 Accounts finance Indian male 35 years B.com MBA (F) 7 years experience tally ERP9 valid Oman D/L family visa.

Contact: 93257426/95230114 Email: sibigeorgep@gmail.com Indian female accountant having more than 8 years of experience in Oman. Can handle accounts independently up to finalization.

Good knowledge of tally ERP9 and MS Office seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 91229415 Indian male MBA (F) with 6 years of experience as accountant proficiency in A/C software like tally, focus, Sap (FICO) seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98665219 Email: abdulhameed1527@gmail.com Jordanian, Senior accountant, 15 yrs experience in Oman finance & accountant. Contact: 92881223 Indian male M.Com with 10 years of experience in Finance/accounting, analysis, can do finalization independently seeks suitable positions.

Contact 92839679(can join immediately- local release available) Indian male 30 B.com, 6 yrs accounts exp in East Africa & 1year exp in Oman NOC available. Looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 94613626 Email: sharis.shaheer@gmail.com Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization, on Monthly basis finalization and consulting works.

Contact: 96247295 Accounting Assistant, BBA M.Com, tally, peach tree, can work on current visa ph: 98269281 Part time up to finalization.

Contact: 91126314 Indian male accountant with 7 years experience in Oman seeking for suitable placement NOC available. Contact: 95578150 Whatsapp BBM graduate with 3 years experience looking for job in finance / Admin / retail currently on visit visa. Contact: 98993590 Email: mohammedasitucm@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com with 6 years experience as an Accountant, looking for suitable placement.

Mob: 93903458 , Email : Akkandyrijesh@gmail.com 22 years experience in Oman for accountants seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99615920 Indian male bachelor degree finance 3.5 years experience in Oman handling cargo operation and accounts Oman driving license holder seeking job in logistics account. Contac: 95137665 Email: shajeer002@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs experience, 6 yrs Oman in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, capable of handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement. NOC Available.

Call+968-98932752, mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L & NOC. Mob: 94122464, Email: cammk13@gmail.com Accounting Services for small/ medium Businesses. Accounting from Data Entry to preparation of P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash flow and complete reports for auditing Contact: 99679247 Indian female 25 yrs, MBA HR & Marketing, with one and half years experience as accountant and 6 months experience in teaching, now on a visit visa, seeking suitable position.

Contact: 99624044, mail: np.neethu1@gmail.com.

Young 24, ACCA affiliate, Advanced diploma in Accounting and Business, seeking suitable placement in Accounts, Finance or audit With valid driving license.

Contact - 92430152, Email - rau_dey@yahoo.com

Indian male, 28, Post Graduate, 6 years exp. in Oman in Sales and Credit Control , with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements.

NOC available. Ph: 9206 6523 MBA Finance Indian lady 23 yrs currently on visit visa family resident Oman seeking opportunity for career enhancement in suitable firms ready to join immediately.

Contact: 99872664 /92651331 Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization as per IFRS, Audit Preparation, Project Report, Training for Accountants, Internal Audit, Accounting System for New Companies, Contact: 96975454, email:ibfc.gcc@gmail.com Indian male good experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally 9 & Admin in India & Oman, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94834687 Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa.

Immediately available.

Contact – 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact : 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Chartered Accountant - Indian, 9 yrs + Exp (7 yr in Oman & UAE) in Finance, Accounts & Auditing, seeking suitable position in Muscat/ Dubai ASAP, Can Join Immediately, NOC Available, Contact : 98707434 /casmart007@gmail.com 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. #90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Indian Male Accountant 10yrs Exp. in OMAN Retail & Furniture Co. (Release Available) GSM.92564955

ADMIN A Female Postgraduate with over 5 years of working experience in HR/Business Development/ Banking/Admin/Coordinative/ Secretarial duties seeks a suitable placement.

Contact 99357522/92800281 26/Pakistani Male/MBA-HR having 2 years of experience in HR with MN Insurance Company and banking industry is currently in OMAN on VISIT VISA & looking for a suitable job in HR, ADMIN or FINANCE. Email ahmadraja010@gmail.com GSM 91716268/93228785 BBA Mare administration officer with admin, Accounts purchase experience valid Noc. Contact: 91329571 Indian male MBA 33yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking full time suitable placement in Administration/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics. Holding valid D/L. Contact 99054786 MBA with 18 years of experience in Procurement, 2 years in Sohar, Oman driving license with vehicle, looking for suitable position.M:94047501, ahmed16071974@gmail.com Indian female 27 yrs Masters in computer, 2 yrs exp in admin.

Looking for full-time or part-time jobs Contact: 99417993 Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa,looking for suitable position.Contact: 90196235 Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf exp in Administration/ HR & Public relationship. Fluent in Arabic/ English with D/L. Looking for suitable position. Contact - 99897280 Indian female, Masters in HR, having 4 + years Oman experience in media management and HR, looking for openings in HR, Education, Admin, Corporate communications. Contact 98252030 Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O , Clerk helper supervisor Admin supervisor , H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license looking for H.R position or P.R.O license . Looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288

W E D N E S DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 7, 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CATERING Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

DOMESTIC HELP

Finance / Project/ Program Manager Professional

Can with driving 3 years experience per time job.

Contact: 92041902 Needed light driver job urgently.

Contact: 94085449 Light driver with car.

Contact: 96379697 Wanted driver. Contact: 91025698 Looking for job driver K.S.A 7 years & Oman 5 years education H.S.C. Contact: 93940319 Looking for truck visa.

Contact: 94087276 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 98255214 3 years driver experience in Muscat Oman, language known: English, Hindi Arabic & Bengali.

Contact: 97462781 Driver with car 2015 model, speak British English.

Contact: 94039796 Embassy experienced driver with 17 years experience seeks suitable placement. Contact: 92191698 Pakistani light driver looking for job with 5 years experience.

Contact: 92617293 Looking job for driving with car.

Contact: 90436094 Looking for job car driver.

Contact: 98388947 Light driver need job knows Arabic & Hindi.

Contact: 95145988 Looking job L.T.V with car, without car. Contact: 94436276 Driver, 5 years experience in Oman looking for job.

Contact : +968 99139890

Contact :

Indian male Electrical Engineer, 7 years experience, valid GCC driving license, NOC available looking for suitable job. Contact: 96137008 Email: joshuaruarkfernandez@gmail. com B.SC civil Engineer, road construction field with 13 years experience in Oman. Contact: 92200485 Indian Electronics Engineer female 24 M.Tech 9Communication) Engineer and signal processing) with C,C ++ & matlab programming skills 7 1 year exp in teaching. Seeking suitable jobs, now on visit visa.

Contact – 91310557/ Email: aswanimidhun12@gmail.com Electrical diploma Engineer with 1.5 years experience in AutoCAD designing for LV constructions and diesel generator maintenance looking actively for job in Oman.

Contact: 92171858/90595609 Email: nelsondas213@gmail.com Indian male – B.Tech -8 yrs exp in Mfg (operations /material) seek suitable placement urgently NOC & Oman D/L available Contact 99462086 / Email: vale_jazib@yahoo.com Indian male, 22 Chemical Engineer residing in Oman looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92379181 Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with QA / QC piping Engineering (ASNT) level 2 (UT, RT, MPT, LRT) with experience QC Inspector in a expansion project of a refinery. Currently on visiting working for suitable job.

Contact: 00968 97697944 Email: arskpo7@gmail.com Omani HSE supervisor. Email: jeebal3000@gmail.com Sudanese Civil engineer - 4 years experience – 98093544 27 years male diploma in Civil Eng having 6 years Oman experience valid driving license seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98809638 /98666735

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN

Civil Engineer with Oman experience and having driving license.

Contact - 91102892

Interior Designer 3 years experience, AutoCAD 2D & 3D Max & Photoshop.

Contact number: 99025312

Civil Engineer B.E 12 years experience with valid Oman driving license NOC available.

Contact: 93843448

Interior Designer 4 years experience design and supervision skills (3D Max, AutoCAD Photoshop.

Contact: 95246737 Email: yassalnajjar@gmail.com

Civil Engineer B.E (Indian) having total experience 14 years in building construction NOC available.

Contact 92971284 Email: mkamran1508@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer male 26 yrs, with 4 yrs of experience in manufacturing oil & gas retail, brand promoting, marketing, logistics having valid Omani D/L seeking for a suitable placement. Contact: 97098676 Email: ja237le@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience HVAC design & site Engg revit MEP Auto CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.im Indian female civil engineer B.Tech having 3 years experience sound knowledge of software, REVIT STAD PRO structural detailing currently on family visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95345591 Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com Sudanese Telecom Engineer, 5 years experience, 3 years in Oman PMP certificate.

Contact: 93391008 Email: momen.awadallam@gmail.com Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518

Seeks immediate placement, Indian, over 26 years of experience in import, purchase, logistics, commercial activities.

Can join immediately.

91048922 / 90502724 / tk.sasi@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

Job for driving. Contact: 98982410

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

COMMERCIAL/ PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Contact No: 97203531, +923352855176

Housemaid (overseas) Indian family looking for job.

Contact 99531802

DRIVER

Well experienced

Qualifications : MBA, PMP, Six Sigma Country Exposure Canada & Middle East, Industry Any Nationality Canadian, In Person Interview on Sundays

Civil Engineer (B-Tech) 2 year Indian experience contact 90493674 emailinayathhussainshaik@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (4 years exp) (3 years HVAC 10 months Piping Engineer) job visa Indian Muslim (27). Contact: 90486758 Email: afsalhyder@gmail.com Mechanical Eng. Diploma 31 years experience (22 Oman) Steel fabrication, steel furniture, Powder coating, Production and Planning.

Machine shop, looking for Managerial position in Sohar.

Contact 99314899 Chemical Engineer Sudanese male 29 yrs. Master degree in chemical engineering , Experience 1 yrs and 2 months OSHA Course ,HACCP Course , look for suitable job in Oman. Contact 96533430 Electrical Engineer with 18 years exp in UAE. Contact: 98148034 Email: shassalih66@gmail.com Indian male 26 yrs have 6 yrs exp in technical assistant in tyre production, visit visa at Ruwi.

Contact: 92600859 Civil diploma Engineer cum quantity survey male 6 years experience in Oman valid Oman D/L. Contact: 93747759 Email: jaleelvanimalkp@gmail.com Iraqi Architect with 10 years of experience in Engineering designs and Construction Supervising professional in 3Ds Max, AutoCAD Photoshop.

Contact: 96011716

Project Engineer (Civil) Indian Male 11 years in Building Construction.

Visa release & D/L available.

Contact: 93836362/94605415, mathan.civil04@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with 2 and half years experience Indian male 24 years in visit visa. Contact: 96620482 / + 919605423272 Email: bijumonps@gmail.com Civil Engineer 6 years experience, 4 years in Oman, driving license available. Contact number 92553263 Telecom Engineer, Indian, M.Tech (Communication System) 2 years exp O& M of Ericsson BSC, RNC equipments seeking suitable job, presently on visit visa.

Contact: 968 93615443 Email: shabnaspk@gmail.com Process Engineer Chemical Engineer, MBA certified in supply chain (MGT) 6 years experiences in operation. Contact: +968 94690325 Email: phahad.hashim@gmail.com Indian male Electrical Engineer with MBA (Mktg) having 4 and half years experience in technical commercial and marketing fields with valid GCC D/L, NOC available seeking placement. Contact: + 968 96547828 Email: deva0234@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact – 96789711 HSE Engineer B.Tech (safety & fire) M. Sc 8 years experience Indian 31 years presently occupied on notice period available with clean NOC, holds Oman driving license & owns car. Contact: 94616721 Email: aibelg19@gmail.com 7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the field of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598 Indian female (22) BE Computer Science & pursuing MBA in symbiosis, looking for a job in HR & IT with 2 years experience in IT field. Contact: 92649477 / 96043223 Indian female, 31 yrs, 7 yrs experienced as AutoCAD civil draftsman (2 yrs experience in Oman) currently in Oman seeks suitable.

Contact 96789441 Email: simi5304@gmail.com Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com MEP Engineer 5 years exp in Gulf driving license NOC. Contact 97838220 Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com Indian Electrical Engineer Btech, female 24 seeking job, presently in oman having 2 year experience in design and estimation of Ht &Lt projects. Contact 968 97436557, Mail id : sibinanoop1@gmail.com Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license. Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience.

Contact 91295802 / acmfaslan123@gmail.com Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 95042656 Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270 Road and Construction Engineer with 5 years exp in Oman.

Contact: 97667113

B.Sc Civil Engineer, 27 yrs Oman experience as Project Manager, Structure Engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC / LOCAL transfer available. Contact: 99349578 Email: farooqatm@hotmail.com Procurement Engineer (27 years single male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electromechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. Contact 95852033, mail: hemal1988@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa.

Contact: 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Electrical Testing Engineer (B.Tech) having 7 yrs Gulf experience expertise in testing precommissioning commissioning of electrical systems, currently on visit visa seeks suitable job in Muscat.

Contact: 90188231

AutoCAD draftsman experience 2 years.

Contact: 93738335 /95809393 Email: mammoosing@gmail.com

LOGISTICS Indian Male, 36 years, over 16 years’ Stores, Logistics and Import Export experience with US based MNC, seeks suitable placement.

Mob: 9822 6568

MISCELLANEOUS Bangladeshi male, University M.Com, Working as an Accountant & Administrator in Oman; searching better job.

Phone: 94864966 Email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com Office boy, exp, knows English/ Hindi, can work on current visa 94263603 A Filipina lady having experience in call center, airline booking and reservations, secretarial and real estate is now looking for a job in any fields. Contact: 93839304

Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com

Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, Omani D/L , seeks suitable placement.

Gsm 98805474

HOSPITALITY

MEDICAL

Hospitality/Hotel/ Restaurants Dynamic result oriented hospitality professional with 20 years of international exp. MBA in Hotel Management, specializing in Hotel/ Restaurant start ups, concepts & Franchise development with proven records. Seeking for Challenging positions in reputed groups as GM/ COO/CEO/Business Head. (NOC available) Contact: 96059470

Male GP Doctor with NOC 6 yrs experience in Oman for perm/locum job. Contact : 97746074

Diploma holder in computer hardware and networking with more than 9 years experience and with driving license seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95249087 BCA Indian male one years experience system Admin IT support MCITP CCNA looking for suitable job currently on visit visa.

Contact: 94821943 Email: basithmck@gmail.com Indian male 27 yrs master in computer applications currently in Muscat with Oman driving license seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93191800 Email: vijilraj60@gmail.com Indian Male, IT System Engineer having 4 yrs of experience in system administration.CCNA,MCSE, Linux. Looking for suitable job.

Contact :91272867 Indian female 28 years, MCA, B.com, 3 years experience in the field of computer hardware, ERP software and windows networking where planning, implementing and troubleshooting with multiple platform of OS Microsoft XP /7/8 on visit visa. Contact: 95089170 Email: anjuretnakar@gmail.com Indian male 25 years BSC (C.S) with basic hardware and software knowledge seeks suitable placement now on visit visa. Contact: 92319677 Email: ismabsc@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop.

Contact : 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com

Indian male 31 years with over 10 years sales & marketing experience seeking suitable placement NOC & Oman D/L available in addition have proficiency in Arabic language.

Contact: 95760969 Indian male UK- MBA (International Business) having 2 years UK exp with full UK D/L, now on visiting visa. Seeking suitable jobs.

Contact – 96446013 / mmmidhun777@gmail.com

IT

Indian female on visit MBA (International Business- Marketing & Logistics), BE (Computers & Science Engg.) Trained in SAP-BI/ BW with 1 year experience seeking for job Contact: 90228586 Email:fathimasha16@gmail.com

IT

SALES / MARKETING

Indian Bsc Female Nurse with 6.5 years exp, 4 years in KSA. Passed Oman Pro Metric with 69%, completed data flow. Presently in Muscat in visit visa looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 94744900, 94742834, jincyalphonese@gmail.com An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact 96436517 /97396088

MANAGER Egyptian male finance manager 7 years experience release available. Contact: 95539923 The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good experience in pricing and collect payment and cash management of the company & marketing projects & investments& tenders & real estate. Contact 92385033 MBA (marketing) with 17 years experience in freight forwarding/ logistics industry in GCC & Oman.

Presently working as branch manager in Muscat. Looking for a suitable position. Release and NOC available. Contact: 99856331 Indian male, with experience in operations management, information security, purchase & stores mgmt, hold UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact 91904541 Email: naushers@yahoo.com The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments & transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business. Contact: :- 92385033

MBA Indian male 4 years experience sales & marketing seeking suitable opportunities. Contact: 96931719 Male 26 BBA studied in Oman 3 yrs exp in MNC and now on visit.

Contact: 98180071 Email: nikhildasin@gmail.com Indian male with 27 years of rich experience in sales/ marketing in Oman with driving license and proficiency in Arabic language, seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 96725458 Email: ranisadhu@yahoo.com Sales Engineer (M.Eng) Canada five + years Oman market experience with leading brands with D/L. Contact: 93985140 Email: jbom628@gmail.com Indian male pluming sanitary ware & building materials experience in outdoor sales (9 years) experience with D/L UAE valid visit visa. Contact: 98723456 Sri Lankan lady experienced in key accounts, Market Demand planning & Communications, Brand/Sales in multinationals seeks placement in Muscat. 98250829 Indian sales marketing professional highly experienced in business development in ME India and Africa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97897611 Indian male, Graduate, experienced Sales person (FMCG) with valid UAE driving license, on visit seeks suitable position.

Contact 92419491 / 94881950, Email : pranilpp76@gmail.com Male 38 yrs Graduate 07 years experience indoor / outdoor electronic field with D/License & NOC available (as per new rule).

Contact: 92453375 MBA graduate having 6 years exp in Sales & Marketing, 4 years with PEPSI, India, having international driving license permit seeks suitable placement. Contact : 95308167, Email : samir.pag@gmail.com Indian male, MBA Marketing having 2.5 years Sales experience immediately looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91415145, Email: shariqs88@gmail.com B.Com male 2 yrs experience in sales Computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98371144 email: nabilnazar22@gmail.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Mason, SH / carpenter, steel fitter gulf & Indian exp looking job.

Contact: 95175192

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment.

Call: 95244761

TECHNICIAN /MECH. Instrumentation & controls Technician with 2-3 years experience preferably in water sector and having valid driving license call Ph:+968 99450811 Send CV to shiju@spec-link.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female Accountant, now in Oman on Visit Visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94250871.

Sri Lankan Male, 23 years old with 3 years of Sales experience and basic accounting knowledge (AAT and Tally) Seeking for a suitable position. Contact-94864296 Indian male B.Eng. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/ server, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/ Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532

D6

W E D N E S D AY, F E B R UA RY 1 7, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian male AUTO CAD Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience, seeking for part time job.

Contact - 99070584 / email: remluvp@gmail.com Diploma (Electrical Engineering) from Government polytechnic.

Age 27 years, 6 years Experience in troubleshooting and managing and Technical in substation as a Electrical Engineer. Seek suitable placement. Contact - 92995899, MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. Presently on family visit visa. Contact: - 96259171. Email: bhumicapandya@gmail.com Indian Male, total 8+years gulf experience in Document Controller / Coordinator / Secretary. Looking suitable position. Local release available. CONTACT: 94524259 EMAIL: madhuppnair@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer (Indian Male, 24 Years) with three years experience, looking for suitable job. Currently on visit visa, ready to join immediately.

Contact 92175441, Email: ihabeeb24@gmail.com Indian female, holds LLB & Masters in business administration(MBA),2 yrs oman experience as HR & Admin, seeks suitable placement in jobs @ SOHAR. Contact: 96541959 IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/server support, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support. Contact 92607532.

BS in Civil Engineering Experience: 3 Year (Road Projects) Omani license: 9 Years.

Contact: 97427701 Email: hassanrvc1989@gmail.com Indian Male, 26 years, with 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in Dubai, looking for suitable placement.

Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office. Contact: 90182494 Accountant. Having 6 years experience in accounts in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat (NOC Available) GSM. 00968-97010584, Email usman7678@yahoo.com Iraqi civil Engineer with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq, U.A.E. and Oman) looking for a job, (N.O.C.) is available.

Contact No. 95626218 Email- amin.sarim007@gmail.com Bangladeshi male, University MA, Working as Sales coordinator cum Store In-charge in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@ gmail.com Indian Male ,MBA Finance & Marketing 28 yrs,6+ Exp, with oman D/L & NOC, Hospital Pharma ,Herbal ,FMCG, F&B Marketing ,construction A/c & sales , 93379044 Diploma in civil engineering having an experience 26years (22years in Oman) experience in Estimator / quantity surveyor looking for a suitable placement.

Willing to join immediately contact: 96328687.

Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop.

Contact 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com Indian male 26, on vist visa, 2+ yrs of experience with UAE D/L, IATA-FIATA,BBA looking for any suitable job. Contact 91324567 Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales coordinator cum Store In-charge in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@ gmail.com 33 year old Filipina with experience in Teleperformance, Manila call centre ,now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post.

Contact 99022484 Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job.

Phone:91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail. com

9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job. #90139903 Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com, Working as an administrator in Oman; searching better job.

Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales coordinator cum Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job. Phone:91997605. E mail: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com Assistant Manager – Planning (B.Tech EEE): Indian Male, over 10 years( 7+ Yrs in Oman & UAE) of experience in Project Planning & Scheduling, Liaison & Coordination, Budgeting and Client Interaction. Seeking a suitable Job in Muscat. Contact – 00971503529608, Email Id: saravananbe44@gmail.com Indian male B.Eng. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/networking/server, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/ Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532 9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (holding Oman driving license) seeking job. #90139903 Indian Male, 26 years, With 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in “Dubai” , looking for suitable placement.

Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office. Contact: 90182494, manojmallya999@gmail.com Indian female 25 yrs, MBA HR & Marketing, with one and half years experience as accountant and 6 months experience in teaching, now on a visit visa, seeking suitable position. Contact: 99624044, mail: np.neethu1@gmail.com.

MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. presently on family visit visa. Contact :- 96259171. Email:bhumicapandya@gmail.com Indian Male, 27 Years, MBA Finance pursuing, BCA, 6 years working in Airline Cargo Operations, Airline Passenger Ticket Auditing domain, looking for a suitable placement, currently on visit. email: jeevamal89@gmail. com, Phone:- 91713489 Assistant Manager – Planning (B.Tech EEE): Indian Male, over 10 years( 7+ Yrs in Oman & UAE) of experience in Project Planning & Scheduling, Liaison & Coordination, Budgeting and Client Interaction. Seeking a suitable Job in Muscat. Contact – 00971503529608, Email Id: saravananbe44@gmail.com B.Com 5yrs experience good command on tally, Excel sheet on family visa. Contact: 98002428 Email: lubnakanwal36@gmail.com Diploma in civil engineering having an experience 26years (22years in Oman) experience in Estimator / quantity surveyor looking for a suitable placement.

Willing to join immediately Contact : 96328687.

Indian B.Tech 37 years Project Engineer , 12 + years experience in construction, maintenance of STP, Pumping stations, sewer lines, drinking water distribution and service reservoirs & pipe lines. Contact: 99364007 / +91-887422635 Email: mdzubair01@gmail.com

Indian male 25 yrs, MBA (Finance, Marketing), Overall 2 yrs exp in Accounts/Finance field, On Visit Visa.

Immediately available.

Contact - 92989197/94786544. abdulqhizer2004@gmail.com Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job.

Phone: 91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@ gmail.com Electronics service Technician , 4 Years experience as Electronics service engineer. Knowledge in all type of Electronics items. Looking for suitable placement.

GSM- 99105043 Highly experienced mechanical/ steel structural fabrication engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC available. Contact: 99860714, hussain20173@gmail.com.

Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact 98803439 22, Indian BBA graduate, 1 year experience, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 91881053 Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com.Working as an Administrator cum Accountant in Oman; searching better job.

Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com Indian male M. Com 10 years of experience looking for Part time Job can do finalization #97433387 or thodaforme@gmail.com IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/server support, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532.

Light Driver looking for job.

Contact:99594946 Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 26 years old (male) with 4 years experience as Mechanical engineer , Sales engineer and Call center agent seeking suitable placement. Contact: +968.90644235 Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com Working as an Administrator cum Accountant in man; searching better job. Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com MBA - (F), M.Com, B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for part time or full time job. Presently on family visa. Contact :- 91892264.

Email:- yv.dixit@yahoo.com Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales administrator in Oman; searching better job.

Phone:91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com Indian Female, BE Electronics and Communication, having oman experience looking for full time or part time job. Ready to join immediately, currently on family visa.

Contact : 92115948 / 99327912 Indian male B.Eng. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/networking/server, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/ Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532 Searching a land surveyor job fully know latest instrument of Survey GPS and Total station two year OMAN experience.NOC Available.

Contact +96894144052, Email- wasifnaz 313@yahoo.com

Indian Mech Engineer, 9+ years of Saudi experience in HVAC, MEP oil & gas and hospital projects with valid Saudi driving license can join immediately. Contact: 99364007 / +966-505899608 Email: shuebmech@gmail.com

B.TEC ( IT) . 24 years, 2 Years of experience in technical support, software development, networking, troubleshooting and managing. seek suitable placement.

Contact GSM- 98184170

Electrical Engineer with 11 years experience in Electrical Design (LV&HV) Villas , apartments , seek part time jobs.

Contact -91403412

Indian male experienced material segregation with D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact: 92715032 Email: santhoshgeorge99@gmail. com

Pakistani Male having 6 years Experience Valid Omani Driving license working as a Transport Manager looking for a suitable position. salary is negotiable. mail: mohdnaveed043@gmail. com, Mob: +96893363316 / 94202746

Purchase Executive Professional, Indian male having 6 Years of Experience in Oman Having Valid Driving Licence working as a Purchase officer, Looking for a suitable Position, NOC/LR Available.

Contact: 95132564/96456071, E-mail: naji1988@gmail.com

Light Duty Driver Professional, Indian male having 5 years of experience with valid Oman driving licence.NOC Available. #91652481

Indian male 26 years (MBA Finance) seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 92715032 Email: ajisd@yahoo.com

D.M.E, Indian, 12 yrs experience in Oman, in Project Estimation, Execution, Quality & marketing working as Estimation Engineer in acid & water tanker, semi trailor company, with havin driving license & will get NOC, seeks suitable job in Oman.

Contact 98968495.

Senior Accountant Indian male 35 Years with 13 Years of Experience (7 years in Oman) in Accounts & Finance having valid Omani Driving License. Looking for job in GCC Countries. # 96001918 Indian male 25yr B. Com 4 years experience in trading and contracting field in India looking for suitable accountant vacancies.

Please contact 96155921 or fysal.nellaya@gmail.com Indian male looking job part time driver. Contact: 93884951 Indian male BE, (ECE) 18 months experience in Telecom Sector as installation and Commissioning Engineer, troubleshooting the bts, 3G and LTE equipments currently on visit. Contact: 95183497 Email: v.karthi984@gmail.com 27,male,ACCA finalist, have professional experience up to finalization of accounts, statutory and internal audit, expertise in using tally, focus and oracle software, have 3.5 years experience in accounts till finalization ,seeking for permanent replacement in senior position, GSM-91324962, email-abdullah.nooralam@gmail.com Chief Accountant , 7 years experienced (out of 25 years experience in accounts) worked in reputed group companies. Currently procuring MBA finance and having Omani Driving License seeks suitable openings from reputed companies.

Contact : 95598477 / 98803439 Indian male 25 yrs, MBA in marketing on visit looking for a job in Sales and Marketing. #91270215 Email: nibuvarughese13@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/COMPUTER/WEBSITE

Indian male, 23 years PG diploma in Petroleum Engineering and B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering holding UAE driving license seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95880127 / 95084905 Email: vijith2573459@gmial.com Female 5 years experienced Oman as Senior Accountant.

SKILLS : ERP9, MS OFFICE, SAGE, ACCPAC. GSM # 95483804 / 9986 8330. MAIL :sararowshan344@ gmail.com Indian male 25 yrs, MBA (Finance, Marketing), Overall 2 yrs exp in Accounts/Finance field, On Visit Visa. Immediately available.

Contact – 92989197 / 94786544. mail: abdulqhizer2004@gmail.com.

Bangladeshi male, University MA, working as administrator in Oman; searching better job. #91997605 mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com Indian male having 6 Years of Experience in Oman Having Valid Driving License working as a Purchase officer, looking for a suitable Position, NOC Available.

Contact: 95132564 / 96456071, E-mail:naji1988@gmail.com Indian Male, pursuing ACCA with knowledge in C++, Java looking for accounting job. Contact 94743462.

Email: zabinbashu@gmail.com HR Manual, Employee Handbook, Recruitment, Training, HR Consultancy. Are you looking for freelancer HR professional? Please contact on 97914669 BE Mechanical Engineer / MBA Indian male 25 yrs, currently working in Qatar skills MEP designing surveying, Oracle, AutoCAD, SAP. Contact: 97474470866 & C/O in Oman 95071632

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

Indian Female, Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Electronics & Communication Engineering, currently in Muscat with Family Visa,1+ year experience in Teaching seeks suitable placement in Muscat. Contact 96209509 B.TECH ( IT) . 24 years, 2 Years of experience in technical support, software development, networking, troubleshooting and managing, seeks suitable placement.

Contact GSM- 98184170 Bangladeshi Male, University MA, 5 years experience in IT sales & marketing working as sales coordinator in Oman; searching better job. Phone: 91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

SIT.WANTED Indian, Keralite seeks cleaning job part time. Contact: 90169048 Indian Male 4 years experience Chef. Indian, Chinese Cuisine seek suitable placement.

Contact: 99883019

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. CONTACT 98294551

W E D N E S DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 7, 2 0 1 6

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

SITUATION WANTTOURS ED

RENT A CAR

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

MANPOWER

SIT.WANTED Indian Male 28yr age having 7year gulf+ Indian experience in HR/Admin field, looking for suitable placement. #97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com Indian female 22 years 1 year experience in Secretary & Accounting, Tally, looking for suitable job on visit visa. Contact: 97084473 Email: jumihasin10@gamil.com Relationship Manager, Indian male 28 yrs, BBA, MBA 5 year’s exp, currently working in India computer skilled. Contact: 0091 974710108 / 95071632 Part- Time Accountant, well experienced senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact : 98803439 Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. Contact : 99514286, Email : azimmohd@yahoo.co.in

DRIVING

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steambath, obesity, spondylitis. Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba. Contact: 99639695 / 97397320 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact:24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at AL Khuwair. Contact: 24478618 / 97263637 / 93309131

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. Contact 99839898

TRANSPORTATION

GOOD NEWS FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

TRANSPORTATION

From Mabela to Mawaleh for school student. Contact: 92757673

Transportation. Contact 92015894 Transportation. Contact: 96248040 Transportation in Muscat.

Contact: 96004045

Transportation. Contact :98505294

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W E D N E S D AY, F E B R UA RY 1 7, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

Marble tiles grinding & polishing, Mosaic tiles grinding & polishing, carpet shampooing, sofa shampooing, pest control treatment & general cleaning of villa & building.

Express Building Cleaning Services.

Contact 98480070 / 94134784

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020 LEGAL SERVICE

Contact: 99041337

Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble.# 24793614/ 99314807

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

Marble, Grinding, Crystallization.

Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723

Building maintenance.

Contact: 96173326

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

FURNITURE SHIFTING

An Indian lawyer Provides all legal services in company matters.

Labour issues, contracts, agreements, LLC formation, legal help for starting new business in Oman, Civil, criminal cases,.service issues.

Ibrahim Al Massalhi.legal consultancy Sarafudheen, LLB, MBA, Legal Advisor Muscat. GSM: 97351649

Maintenance, Dismantling, Packing, Shifting & Fixing furniture with expert technicians.

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Pest Control Treatments Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723 Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723 A/C maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing.

Contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only. Contact: 94217681 / 99210141

Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.

Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130 Cad drafting architecture MEP design MEP BIM – REVIT. Contact: 91233975

House shifting. Contact: 99708138 House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013 *Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability