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MINI-BUDGET TARGETS RS40b MORE TAXES
FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN
Pakistan Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar has unveiled contours of two of his major policy initiatives — a mini budget to be introduced in the next couple of days and a fixed income tax scheme for estranged traders. >A7
‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ The Omani youth who look forward to glorious horizons are called upon today to take their ancestors as an example of diligence, hard work, patience, persistence and sustained effort. They are also called upon to believe, as they believed, that productive work - no matter how small it is - is a key element in the structure of the nation.
SATURDAY, November 28, 2015 / 16 Safar 1437 AH
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CABLES
HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to president Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz of Mauritania on his country’s Independence Day anniversary. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere greetings and wishes of good health and happiness to the president and his country’s people further progress and prosperity. His Majesty the Sultan has also sent a cable of greetings to President Bujar Nishani of Albania on his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere greetings and wishes of good health and happiness to the president and his country’s people further progress and prosperity. —ONA ASSIGNED BY HM
Sayyid Shihab to take part in Paris meeting MUSCAT: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said will leave, today, for France to represent Oman at the opening of the 21st International Conference on Climate, to be held in Paris, from November 30 to December 11. Sayyid Shihab will be accompanied by Mohammed bin Salim Al Toobi, Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs and Sheikh Humaid bin Ali Al Mani, the Sultanate’s ambassador to France.—ONA
On the occasion of the 26th National Day
Rindom champion of Laser Radial Women’s Worlds
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Technology to prevent water supply crisis Water shortage
AWA R E N E S S O F C I T I Z E N S
Crime rate falls 70% in October, says ROP Times News Service MUSCAT: Crime rate in Oman dropped by 70 per cent in October, 2015 over the same period in 2014, a senior Royal Oman Police (ROP) official has said. The figure is inclusive of theft and arrests for offences in all the Oman governorates. The Director General of Criminal Investigations and Inquiry, Brigadier Salem Al Badi told Al Shabiba, the sister publication of Times of Oman that the number of criminals arrested for robbery in October was 118, including 92 Omanis and 56 foreigners, down from 144 last year. Theft cases The number of theft cases in October decreased to 176 from 593 last year. He pointed out that the reduction in crime could be attributed to ROP officers’ efforts in fighting crime in all its forms, as well as the support they received from the public.
TOP TOURIST DESTINATION With its magnificent old buildings, the costal town of Barka in the northern part of the Sultanate is emerging as a top destination for both domestic as well as international tourists. See also >A2
Citizens and residents were also praised by the official for playing a significant role by cooperating and reporting crimes, which helped ROP do their duty. Al Badi noted that information from the people helped the ROP in foiling several attempts of crime. This reflected the extent of awareness among Omani citizens and the ROP hoped that the public would continue to cooperate with the police for the Sultanate’s benefit. He also stated that the ROP’s Directorate General of Investigations and Enquiry will continue with its awareness campaign called “Prevention, Protection and Safety,” which started in 2013. The campaign aims to create awareness about different crimes, especially theft. Officers educate citizens on ways to prevent crime and protect themselves by engaging them in practical activities to prevent criminal activities from spreading in the future.
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in Muscat could become a thing of the past with Al Ghubra desalination plant producing an estimated 50,000 cubic meters of water during trial run
TARIQ AL HAREMI
tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Water flow disruptions could become a thing of the past for citizens and residents, who often had to endure long periods of water shortage during the summer for known reasons, thanks to a new technology implemented by the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) for the first time. Hot tapping is a method used for making connections to existing pipes without having to disrupt the flow of water or oil and without emptying a section of the pipe. On Sunday, the PAEW completed their two-stage project of connecting pipes from the Al Ghubra pumping station to the main reservoirs of the new Al Ghubra desalination plant; and by using this method, water distribution was not disrupted. “When we needed to connect or maintain pipes before, we had to stop the water flow to get the work done,” said a PAEW senior official. “We used this technology for the first time where we are able to fully connect pipes without disturbing the flow of water,” he add-
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Hot tapping is a method used for making connections to existing pipes without having to disrupt the flow of water or oil and without emptying a section of the pipe. -ONA
42m gallons per day will be the capacity of new Al Ghubra desalination plant once it starts operating fully on a commercial basis
ed. Using ‘hot tapping’ makes pipe changing or maintenance more efficient. The PAEW says that repairs which would otherwise take 18 hours to complete, can be done in just eight hours. Currently, the new Al Ghubra desalination plant is under trial operation and produces an estimated 50,000 cubic meters of water, while the old plant’s production is being cut down until it is empty. The new Al Ghubra plant is expected to produce 42 million gallons per day once it starts oper-
ating fully on a commercial basis. “The new desalination plant is under trial operation; with growing production seen at the new plant, and the old plant decreasing production until it is empty. The new one will soon operate at its maximum capacity,” said the PAEW official. When asked about the water crisis situation, he said the crisis is somewhat over and that “we have plenty of water being distributed from the new plant.” The plant is expected to become operational at its maximum capacity in 2016. Earlier this year, families in Muttrah, Wadi Kabir and Darsait, just to name a few areas, were severely affected by water shortage during most of the summer. The PAEW in response has dug several wells in the affected areas for more water distribution until the desalination plants started operating commercially. In addition, water merchants have scrambled to the affected areas as well.
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MARKET
Notices served for hoardings in city
Oman to award $4.5b plastics unit contract
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State-owned Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) has finalised negotiations with four preferred bidders for $4.5 billion worth of contracts to build a major plastic manufacturing unit called Liwa Plastic Industries Complex in Sohar. The four engineering, procurement and contracting packages will be completed in four years, with plant commissioning expected in 2019, a company statement said on Thursday. >B1
In order to give Muscat a face-lift, a large number of firms have been served notices for installing hoardings without taking permission from the Muscat Municipality. While a large number of billboards do not meet safety standards, some others have not taken any permission from the concerned authorities. “The Municipality has the right to remove any illegal or unlicenced hoardings at the expense of the person who installed it,” stated a circular of Muscat Municipality. >A3
WORLD
Bangladesh cleric killed in IS attack
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IS militant group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a mosque in Bangladesh, that killed a cleric and injured three other people on Thursday. It is the second such attack in a month in the country. >A9
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NEW APP LAUNCHED
‘Together build’ volunteers renovate houses of underprivileged MARWAH MAHMOOD AL RAISI
marwahmahmood@timesofoman. com MUSCAT: Have you stumbled upon an old and dilapidated house in Muscat that needs serious maintenance? “Together build,” a group of youth volunteers recently launched a mobile application (app) that offers help to less privileged families in Oman. The team, which was formed in January 2014, is known for providing free maintenance and furniture to insolvent families in addition to renovating homes’ interiors and exterior. Around 88 volunteers frequently participate in “Together build,” and so far they have successfully re-
paired 14 houses, installed a wide range of furniture and redecorated a school for autistic kids. “We have received donations, such as used furniture, construction tools and equipment,” said Lujaina Al Raisi, member of the group’s media department. Anyone can apply to join the team through an online registration form provided in the mobile app, which can be downloaded for free at Google Play. The app features latest news about the team, multimedia and a ‘Contact us’ page. The team works in cooperation with the Nedaa and Alrahma teams and is planning to extend its services outside Muscat. “We have plans to
provide free services in the Al Batinah and Al Dakhiliyah governorates too,” she stated. “We also cooperate with a vocational training centre for maintenance of electrical appliances and furniture,” Al Raisi said while stressing that the team is keen on enrolling people with special needs to help in this field. The team also conducts research for insolvent families in all the wilayats near Muscat. “Together build” also won the fourth place during the “Wayakom” charity competition and has scored the third place among 1,000 competitors at the Arab World Charity competition held on the popular TV show Khawater 11.
SERVICE TO NEEDY: The team is known for providing free maintenance and furniture to insolvent families in addition to renovating homes’ interiors and exterior. -A R Rajkumar