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Friday, 27 January, 2012
Urea black-marketing reaches alarming numbers LAHORE
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IMRAN ADNAN
unJaB agriculture department indicates that despite strict monitoring, around 23,000 urea bags are being blackmarketed daily but government agencies have no mechanism to trace. Billions of rupees have been wasted on account of subsidy on imported urea, but farmers cannot get the benefit of even a single penny, Profit has learned. Official figures reveal that on average some 1,100 tonnes of imported urea goes
untraceable in distribution channels of the national Fertiliser Marketing Limited (nFML) daily. numbers indicated that despite hue and cry of farmers, 21 per cent out of total 200 authorised urea dealers have been identified as ghost vendors that have no traceability. Estimates suggest that as many as 1.5 million imported urea bags, on which around Rs2 billion subsidy has been paid, have been issued to unknown dealers so far. Figures show that in Sahiwal division (covering Sahiwal, Okara and Pakpattan), urea black-
marketing is alarmingly high. Out of total 33 imported urea dealers 21 dealers are untraceable. Similarly, in Faisalabad and Multan divisions, 14 and seven dealers are ghost dealers, respectively. a senior agriculture department official on the condition of anonymity disclosed that despite knowing the factual position, federal government’s imported urea distribution arm, nFML, had been showing its unawareness about malpractices in urea distribution. It had been asking provincial government to provide lists of ghost dealers.
Pakistan, India finalise NTB removal agreements LAHORE
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STAFF REPORT
ndIan Joint Secretary for Commerce arvind Mehta said Pakistan and India have finalised three agreements to remove non-Tariff Barriers (nTBs) presently billed as obstruction for Pakistani exports to India. Indian joint secretary, who was heading a high-level five-member delegation of Indian regulators, was speaking at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here on Thursday. He said these agreements are expected to be signed during the upcoming visit by the Indian commerce minister next month. These agreements are the customs cooperation agreement, to avoid arbitrary stoppages of goods at each other’s ports; mutual recognition agreement for acceptance of certificates of internationally accredited laboratories; and redressal of grievances agreement in case of any disagreement. He said both the sides have also finalised a very liberal visa regime that would be in place as soon as the cabinets in the two countries grant approval. He said the peak tariff line in India for Pakistan is eight per cent that is going to be curtailed to five per cent by year end. Speaking about cement export to India, Mehta clarified that nTBs considered to be the major hurdle were not Pakistan specific rather the delay in the clearance was only due to poor infrastructure on both sides of the border. He pointed out that on the Indian side, a big customs complex with the cost of $30 million is being built that would be operational in three months. It would enable the customs authorities on both sides to handle 800 trucks daily. Meanwhile, the representative of Indian customs Mr Ready ensured Pakistani businessmen that the new automatic custom system will enhance the efficiency and transparency and the trade consignments from Pakistan to India would be expedited. He acknowledged that the major problem between the two countries is lack of institutional and communication framework. To overcome this problem, India is working on a three tier solution i.e. daily or local problems at Wagha attari border would be handled at their own level, one meeting between the custom collectors of both the countries at least once in two months and one meeting of ministerial level regarding policy matters would be held in every six months. Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said non-Tariff Barriers are hindering meaningful improvement in Pakistan-India trade relations and must be removed. He said there are a number of challenges relating to Indian standards and quality parameters which also vary from city to city. Pakistani exporters spend considerable time and money to obtain certain certifications and fulfill clearance requirements. He said multiple conditions have to be met at the
clearance stage, which include obtaining agricultural permits, phytosanitary certificates and Indian quality standards. There are also various licensing requirements for import of vehicles, textile specific barriers and health and safety regulations. LCCI president said presently Indian and Pakistani customs authorities are not accepting lab reports and quality control certificates of consignments conducted by custom labs of both the countries. It is requested that custom authorities on both sides should accept the lab reports and quality control certificates provided by exporters and importer of each country as Pakistan and India have same environment and standards. Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said previously, Pakistani authorities were accommodating approximately 150 trucks of Indian consignments on daily basis. now the volume of Pakistani exports to India has increased and touched up to 150 trucks per day. Whereas presently Indian Customs authorities are clearing only 100 Pakistani trucks daily. It is requested that Indian custom authorities should make all efforts to clear at least 150 Pakistani trucks going to India. He said under the protocol signed by both the governments, Indian and Pakistani custom authorities only allow 10 wheeler trucks and hydraulic dumpers for moving goods. This restriction is causing unnecessary delays in offloading and clearance of consignments. Often, Pakistani trucks come back without off-loading due to non-availability of labour on the Indian side. This is causing them huge losses in the shape of extra transportation charges. We believe that 12 and 14 wheeler trucks should also be allowed to cross border. Indian authorities should ensure that labour force for offloading Pakistani consignments is readily available in their customs yard. He urged upon the need to continue to work closely in exploring all avenues to improve bilateral trade. I cannot emphasise enough that government-to-government and business-to-business exchanges are critical for achieving the objectives of enhanced economic and trade ties between the two countries. Earlier, Indian regulators, including customs, bureau of Indian standards, food safety and standards authority of India and export inspection council apprised the Pakistani businessmen of customs procedures, regulations, standards and certification requirements for entering into the Indian market. This Indian regulators visit is the follow up of the 5th and 6th round of commerce secretary-level talks held in april and november 2011, respectively. during the 5th round of commerce secretary-level talks, the issue of nTBs faced by the business community of Pakistan in the Indian trade regime was taken up with the Indian side.
Speaking to Profit, agri Forum Pakistan Chairman Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal alleged that PML-Q leaders, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Raja Basharat and Chaudhry Zaheer, were involved in profiteering on imported urea. He blamed that PML-Q leaders were involved in black-marketing of imported urea by issuing urea to their front men, who were marketing Rs1,400 worth subsided urea bag at Rs1,800 in retail markets. It may be noted here that despite surplus urea manufacturing capacity available in the country, Pakistan has
to import urea fertiliser at exorbitantly high price from international markets. Experts believe that it is a result of gross mismanagement in the energy sector as the government has failed to ensure natural gas supply to urea manufacturing plant. Federal government has allocated Rs25 billion for urea subsidy for the current Rabi crops, including wheat, grams, lentils, sunflower, maize, vegetables and fodder, but farmers are still unhappy as the benefit cannot be passed on to them due to black-marketing and profiteering.
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Friday, 27 January, 2012
02 news LPG prices to continue upward surge LAHORE
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STAFF REPORT
PG prices are expected to increase by at least Rs9 per kilogram from next month as a result of a sharp increase in Saudi aramco Contract Price. Saudi aramco Contract Price with which local LPG prices are indexed stood at $850 per tonne for propane and $910 for butane in January. However due to tensions in the Middle East and Persian Gulf and rising oil prices, the spot prices for both Propane and Butane have increased to
alarming levels of $940 and $990 per tonne respectively. The applicable price in Pakistan is calculated on a 40:60 ratio between propane and butane. “The Saudi aramco CP due to be announced on the 30th of this month will be the highest ever” said Belal Jabbar the spokesman for LPG association of Pakistan. Resultant increase in prices will translate into an increase of Rs106 for domestic and Rs408 for commercial cylinder. LPG retail prices could jump as high as Rs155 per kilo whereas the sale price for domestic and commercial cylinders
TDAP gets best organiser award in trade fair of China KARACHI STAFF REPORT
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RadE development authority of Pakistan (TdaP) got the best organiser award for 12th western China international trade fair held in Chengdu from 18-22nd October 2011. according to TdaP, Pakistan Pavilion organised by the authority has been judged as the best organiser for the 12th Western China International Trade Fair held in Chengdu. Two thousand one hundred and forty two (2142) enterprises from 52 countries and 1682 enterprises from other Chinese provinces participated in the event. during the event, trade turnover was $40 billion which is 112 per cent higher than last year. Seventy five Pakistani companies selected by TdaP participated in the event and displayed a wide range of products which included textile products, leather and its products, cutlery, carpets and rugs, marble, handicrafts, wooden furniture, rock salt, jewellery, gift items; surgical, dental and beauty instruments, herbal medicine, etc. Pakistan Pavilion was the centre of attraction for the visitors. during the event, a large number of businessmen not only from China but other parts of the world visited Pakistan Pavilion. They appreciated the high quality goods which were displayed. Participation in this fair provided an opportunity to the Pakistani companies to introduce their high quality products in this huge market.
will increase from Rs1,650 to Rs1,756 and Rs6,350 to Rs6,758. “We urge the government to seriously reconsider the imposition of the Petroleum Levy on LPG which will only make the situation worse for the consumers” said Belal. On 16th January 2011 federal government imposed a Petroleum Levy of Rs11,486 per tonne on LPG production in order to increase its price and equate it with that of imports. However, in order to avoid criticism and public backlash state owned LPG producers upon direction from the ministry reduced their prices by Rs10,000 per tonne
before adding the levy of Rs11,486. The resultant increase in prices was therefore Rs1,486 per tonne. It is feared that the impact of the levy will not be absorbed by producers next month and will instead be borne by the consumers since the stated objective of the ministry of petroleum has been to increase the local prices. The country imported a record amount of 17,000 tonnes of LPG in december. However, with the imposition of the levy, imports have fallen to 11,000 tonnes in January said Belal.
LAHORE
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ML-n leader and Member national assembly Muhammad Pervez Malik has asked government to immediately release funds for Thar Coal Project which is the most important project for the national economy. In a press statement issued here Thursday, Pervez Malik, while showing concerns over the reports that finance ministry was not releasing funds for the project, said that country was facing unprecedented energy crisis. unlimited gas closure for the industries in Punjab and more than 12 hours electricity load shedding has crippled the industrial and economic activities. Government’s least interest in solving the issue of energy crisis has pushed the industrial sector to the wall. unavailability of gas and electricity forced a large number of industrialists to close down their industrial sectors of shift to the other countries and millions industrial workers have become jobless. He said the project
is facing serious threats if finance ministry does not issue the funds immediately. He said despite gasification gas is being wasted. Once this work is done and the new machinery is brought in the water would enter the chambers and the gas produced would be gone completely. He said that an amount around Rs2 billion is needed immediately but finance ministry has not issued a single rupee during the current fiscal year. Pervez Malik said PPP leaders chanted the slogans of Roti, Kapra and Makan in the last national general elections but have done contrary to their chants. He said condition of the masses, national economy, trade and industry is very fragile due to non-friendly and groundless policies of the present regime. Pervez Malik said Thar Coal is a project of national importance and can not only solve the energy crisis but the extra gas and electricity can also be exported; but government is not releasing funds for this project and is wasting huge sums on non-productive visits of asif ali Zardari and his relatives.
KCCI stresses need of promoting ICT applications KARACHI
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STAFF REPORT
aRaCHI Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s President Mian abrar ahmad has asserted upon the need to take maximum advantage of information and communication technology to explore market access of countries around the globe. Speaking at the joint seminar organised by KCCI and Information Technology ministry’s national ICT R&d fund, he proposed to form a committee having representatives of KCCI, federal and provincial ministries of IT should develop a comprehensive portal of commerce potential in order to achieve economic independence while exploring trade opportunities with friendly and regional countries. He also emphasised upon the ideal linkage between industry and academia and focused to promote entrepreneurship and
encourage the youth to opt for self-employment. He also articulated that taking the advantage of ICT tools, the potential of skilled human resource in the rural areas particularly the artisans can be exposed to the international community. He informed that the Karachi chamber is making deliberations to link the academia with industry and promote small and medium entrepreneurs and the youth. He stated that with the effective usage of information and communication technology, the regional business can be brought on the screen to enhance Pak exports. He apprised that the objective of the seminar were: to promote ICT applications in business and industry of Pakistan; create awareness amongst stakeholders on importance of ICT; define framework for capacity buildings, SMEs, and entrepreneurship; add and improve ICT academic facilities in Pakistan, perform a joint commission of KCCI-
national ICT R&d fund and joint efforts for promotion of ICT applications; identify ways to facilitate Pakistan’s business organisations, industries and academic institutions for expanding the usage of ICT in the traditional processes. Sualeh ahmed Faruqui, Secretary Information Technology department, Government of Sindh, while speaking at the seminar commended Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry for organising a seminar on ICT, which was the need of the hour. He urged to formalise trend and underscored the need to regularly organise seminars with the interaction of federal and provincial ministry of Information Technology. He said IT department Sindh had accorded priority to ICT and was developing a GIS portal encompassing all the potential sectors and strength of Sindh province which would bring economic boom if properly tapped. dr Syed aun abbas, Chief
KARACHI ISMAIL DILAWAR
Khair Mohammad Junejo is no longer the chairman of network Microfinance Bank (nMFB) as the entire management of the bank has been changed, it emerged. according to industry sources, Junejo, along with six members, of the bank’s board of directors are a part of this overhaul in personnel, with effect from the 24th of this month. Those directors resigned from the bank include nazar Muhammad Shaikh, Kamal afsar, Syed Muhammad Rehmanullah, Farah Qureshi, Zainul abidin Memon and Muhammad Siddiquie Khakbor. Jamshed Iqbal Cheema is said to have taken the helm of the bank’s board of directors. Those who replaced the outgoing directors are M azam Cheema, M akram Shahid, Shahida Bilquis, Qamar-uz-Zaman, Shoaib ahmed Butt and Ejaz ahmed Khan.
International standard drug testing lab on the verge of completion LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Funds for Thar coal project demanded STAFF REPORT
Junejo replaced as chairman Network Microfinance Bank
Executive Officer, national ICT R&d fund informed that as per the parliament decision some per cent of contribution given by telecom companies was accorded to the fund and so far more than 50 projects were funded. He agreed to cooperate and likely funding of the KCCI’s project and the Sindh I.T. departments GIS portal project which will benefit in accordance with the specified funding mechanism. He also endorsed the formation of committee comprising of representatives from Federal & Provincial Ministries of I.T. and KCCI. Furqan Habib Qureshi SEVP PTCL, Jahan ara President PaSHa, Sa Khalique CEO PIBaS, Rehan allahwala CEO Super Technologies, nazir ahmed Vaid CEO nexsource, nawaz ahmed Head of R&d Greenwich university participated in the panel discussion. Zia ahmed Khan, Vice President KCCI and asif Bega, Chairman Special Committee on ICT KCCI also spoke on the occasion.
First international standard drug testing laboratory will be made functional in Sundar Industrial Estate during this year as its initial work and building is completed up to 70 per cent. Out of total cost of Rs100 million, government of Punjab has provided Rs50 million to set up this laboratory. This laboratory is being setup at by Punjab Industrial Estates (PIEdMC). This was stated by Chairman Punjab Industrial Estates development and Management Company (PIEdMC) SM Tanveer in a statement. He said the building of this laboratory will be completed in next twenty weeks as its equipment is reaching Pakistan in april 2012. after setting up this international standard laboratory, pharmaceutical manufacturers of the country will not need to dispatch drug samples abroad and tests will be carried out in much lesser time and cost, chairman PIEdMC informed. He eulogised the efforts of Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif in setting up this laboratory and said it would be a great achievement of the Punjab government as they would provide tested and standardised drugs to the citizens of Punjab. apart from helping the 160 pharma industrial units being setup in Sundar Industrial Estate, it also would help all the manufactures of pharmaceuticals in the country to get quick results of the tests of their products. He said this laboratory would also help to avoid such incidents which recently took place due to reaction of drugs in the province.
Pakistan, India discuss transit fee for TAPI project KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Governments of Pakistan and India discussed the modalities of TaPI gas pipeline, including the transit fee and the signing of Gas Sale Purchase agreement (GSPa) on Wednesday in the Indian capital. Federal minister for petroleum and natural resources Senator dr asim Hussain held a bilateral meeting on TaPI pipeline project with his Indian counterpart S Jaipal Reddy, minister of petroleum and natural gas in new delhi. “The issues relating to the pipeline project including transit fee and the signing of Gas sale purchase agreement (GSPa) was discussed during the meeting,” said a statement issued here by Inayatullah Ismail, the media manager of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). The statement quoted dr asim as saying that the project is immensely importance in view of energy requirements and reiterated Pakistan’s resolve for early realisation of the project. The meeting was also attended by Shahid Malik, High Commissioner for Pakistan, said the SSGC statement.
Forex reserves dip to $16.802 billion KARACHI STAFF REPORT
The country’s foreign exchange reserves are constantly decreasing and contracted by $99 million or 0.5 per cent during the week ended on January 20. according to State Bank of Pakistan, during the week under review the country’s dollar reserves decreased to $16.802 billion from $16.901 billion of the previous week that ended on January 13. The review period saw State Bank’s dollar reserves standing at 12.553 billion against last week’s $12.688 billion. Whereas the dollar holdings of the commercial banks witnessed an increase of $35 million and accumulated to $4.248 billion compared to $4.213 billion the banks possessed a week earlier. analysts believe that current downward trend in dollar reserves was mainly based on the volume of import payments plus the retirement of external debts that, according to SBP, have aggregated to $62 billion.
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Friday, 27 January, 2012
news SAFE to hold IPO readiness roundtable
Falling prices fail to attract people
LAHORE
KARACHI
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OuTH asian Federation of Exchanges (SaFE) is pleased to announce the holding of the “IPO Readiness Roundtable” for the representatives of the potential IPO companies in Pakistan and some prominent underwriters and financial advisors, on Friday, 3rd February 2012 at 11:30 am at KSE. This roundtable is being hosted by Karachi Stock Exchange – the premier and the most liquid exchange of the country. The purpose of the roundtable is to discuss and evaluate fast tracking the process of listing for such companies who are eager to become listed in the near future. The roundtable is expected to serve as a good platform for the interested companies to open direct discussions with financial advisors and the management of exchanges so that they can plan their listing pathway clearly and objectively. The roundtable is a follow up effort to the Pakistan IPO Summit 2011 edition held in Lahore during October 2011, wherein about three dozen companies had been identified for future Initial Public Offering (IPO) and listing at the domestic exchanges. The recently announced market support initiatives of the federal government may represent an ideal opportunity for such companies whose strategic plans include public fund raising, as these initiatives are likely to boost the market activities and the sentiment of the investors.
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ZAIN ALI
HE prices of pulses, sugar and other kitchen items have contracted amid dull consumer market activities on the back of what the retailers said politico-economic uncertainties in the country. according to retailers, the rates of sugar, pulses and other daily-use items declined from 25 to 30 percent during the past couple of months. They said one kilogram of sugar was presently being retailed at Rs46 against Rs68 almost two months ago, while 16-kilogram tin of the cooking oil cost the consumers Rs2,460 against Rs2,520. The prices of pulses like daal Mong, daal Channa and daal Mash slid, respectively, to Rs92 (per kg) from 130, Rs62 from Rs70 and Rs102 from Rs135. The Kabli Channa is being sold at Rs152 against Rs175, they added. Other kitchen items like Ilaichi (small) are being priced down at Rs1,200 per kg compared to the previous
Rs2600. Big Ilaichi prices have come down to Rs1,300 from Rs1,700. daar Cheeni is being priced at Rs1,400 (per kg) against the previous Rs200. a kilogram of dry Coconut is sold at Rs190 as against Rs280. Talking to Profit, Fareed Qureshi, General Secretary Karachi Retailer Glossers Group (KRGG), said investors’ confidence had been badly shaken in the wake of persistent political chaos in the country. Still, the retailer said, an uncertain law and order situation was barring the investors from injecting fresh capital in the local business. Qureshi said despite a major slump in the prices of daily-use commodities, the consumers were not interested in buying on account of their fast reducing purchasing power. The ever-increasing inflation, the KRGG chief cited as a reason that, he said, had eroded the buyers’ purchasing capacity. He went on to say that factors like political instability, poor law and order situation and a stagnant economy were adversely impacting the confidence of businessmen to invest more money in the market.
Index loses 65 points as correction sets in KARACHI STAFF REPORT
HE market correction trend continued into its third consecutive session as the KSE-100 index closed 65 points down to finish the day at 11,883 points. The market did have its upswings during the day and at one point breached the 12,000 point barrier before settling at its eventual close. Volumes remained on the uptick as 95.5m shares were traded with cement giant dGKC leading the pack with 10.7m
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shares. despite surpassing analyst expectations with Rs11.53/share earnings result, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim Limited did not command a price rally, closing 0.6 per cent down from yesterday. With expectations of a strong results season in store, the cement sector ended the day on a high note with strong daily gains recorded by LuCK, dGKC and aCPL. With results announcement dates pouring in, the local bourse will be buzzing with activity as investors shop for their top picks, said ali Hussain, Senior Investment ana-
lyst at HMFS. The KSE 100 index closed at 11883.92 levels with the loss of 65.83 points, while KSE 30 index lost 23.15 points to close at 11108.97 levels. all Share index
closed at 8237.84 levels after losing 42.05 points. Total 94 scrips advanced 137 declined and 93 remain unchanged out of total 324 scrips traded.
CORPORATE CORNER CEO Bahria Town Ali Riaz Malik inaugurates Mosques in Sector D & E
Lahore: ahmed ali Riaz Malik, Chief Executive Bahria Town inaugurated Sector E & d Mosques in Bahria Town Lahore. Prayers for the success and prosperity of site and the country were held on the occasion. Brigadier(Rtd.) ahad Executive director Bahria Town Lahore, Mr. Shahid M. Qureshi, advisor to the Chief Executive, and other notable members and officials were also present on the occasion. CEO Bahria Town also visited the Sector E site to observe fast pace development works. He was very happy with the development speed & quality. PRESS RELEASE
1LINK and UnionPay signs cooperation agreement Karachi: 1LInK (Guarantee) Limited, being Pakistan’s largest financial switch which offers Shared aTM network, Inter Bank Fund Transfer, VISa debit and utility Bills Payment Services; has signed a cooperation agreement with global payment brand unionPay. The signing ceremony took place on January 5th 2012 at union Pay Office in dubai; where Mr. Faisal Ejaz Khan, CEO of 1LInK (Guarantee) Limited and Mr. Victor Ye, President of union Pay, Middle East and north africa Region; inked their initials on a joint collaboration for unionPay services through 1LInK. PRESS RELEASE
Celebrating 50 winners of Colgate’s ‘Seekho Aur Jeeto’ Scholarship Programme Karachi, 26th dec, 2011: Colgate-Palmolive (Pak) Limited held a prize distribution ceremony at Salim nawaz Faziya School (Primary Section), Masroor Base, Maripur, on 21st december for the Karachi winners of Colgate’s Scholarship Offer, “Seekho aur Jeeto”. This country-wide program was the latest oral hygiene awareness initiative arranged by the organization to inculcate good
oral care habits in children. It proved to be a nationwide success and gave children from all walks of life the opportunity to win Rs20,000 Colgate scholarships along with instant gifts. To participate in Colgate’s Scholarship Program, children had to learn oral care tips placed at the back of promotional Colgate packs and answer an oral care multiple choice question via SMS, the call center or website. 50 lucky winners belonging to diverse cities and towns of Pakistan were picked from a lucky draw. PRESS RELEASE
‘1st International Women Leaders Summit’ Karachi: as part of the 4th WIBCOn (Women in Business Conference Series) for professional women, an "InTERnaTIOnaL WOMEn LEadERS SuMMIT" was organized on Wednesday, 25th January 2012 at Karachi, Pakistan. Mr. Salman Burney, President, Pakistan Society for Training and development welcomed the delegates to 1st International Women Leaders Summit held under the Women in Business Conference Series initiated three years ago. He expressed that the vision for this conference is to make women draw inspiration from global and Pakistani leaders and overcome the stereotypical barriers, which restrict their growth and success. PRESS RELEASE
JCR-VIS reaffirms IFS rating of Jubilee General Insurance Company Limited Karachi: JCR-VIS Reaffirms IFS Rating of Jubilee General Insurance Company Limited (formerly new Jubilee Insurance Company Limited) JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company Ltd. (JCR-VIS) has reaffirmed the Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) Rating of Jubilee General Insurance Company Limited (Jubilee) – formerly new Jubilee Insurance Company Limited at ‘aa’ (double a). The rating denotes very high capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations. However, risk is modest, but may vary slightly over time due to business/economic conditions. Outlook on the assigned rating remains ‘Positive’. PRESS RELEASE
Intel Announces Winners at the National Science Fair isLamabad: Intel Pakistan marked the end of its national science competition by announcing the winners of the Intel national Science Fair, who will go on to represent Pakistan at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)
2012, to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, uSa. The grand winners of the Intel national Science Fair are; Shiza Ghulab, Mahnoor Hassan and Bushra Shahed from Institute of Computer and Management Sciences, Peshawar. The individual winners are; Musa Rahim Khan from agha Khan Higher Secondary School, Chitral and Syed Shahzeb Hussain from army Public School and College, Command and Staff College, Quetta. Widely attended by youth from all across Pakistan, the national Science Fair showcased more than 85 science projects submitted by young scientists from all across the nation who qualified for a place in the national Science Fair after rigorous competition at district and provincial levels including the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which participated for the first time in 2011. PRESS RELEASE
Qatar Airways to fly to Rwanda, home of the mountain of gorillas
Perth. PRESS RELEASE
HTC joins Brightex in opening two HTC concept stores in Karachi
Karachi: Today marks another milestone for HTC, announcing partnership with Brightex distributions (Pvt) Ltd in launching two “HTC Concept Stores” simultaneously in Karachi, Pakistan. These will be the first stores in Karachi to offer HTC products exclusively, and have the ability to showcase HTC’s latest innovation. In addition, the stores will also provide user trainings, after-sales support and services. The HTC Concept Store is divided into three main areas namely the retail corner, product showroom, and service corner. There will be staff on-site at each area to provide personal consultation, demonstrations or advise to interested customers based on their needs. PRESS RELEASE
Emirates Ramps Up Services to Spain doha: Qatar airways is gearing up for yet another year of massive expansion with the announcement of launch dates for new routes in africa, Europe and australia. The african expansion drive is set to continue with scheduled services starting to the Rwandan capital Kigali on March 21. Zagreb will boost the airline’s European portfolio further with the launch of flights to the Croatian capital from May 9. and beginning July 3, Qatar airways adds Perth as its second route in australia. ahead of the newly-announced launch dates, Qatar airways is busy preparing for its 2012 route expansion programme which starts on February 1 with new services to the south eastern European cities of Baku and Tbilisi in azerbaijan and Georgia, respectively. Plans are also underway to begin flights to Zanzibar (Tanzania), Gassim (Saudi arabia), Mombasa (Kenya) and Helsinki (Finland). at the height of the summer in the northern Hemisphere, the airline unveils its second australian route, to the Western city of Perth. Since launching flights to australia in december 2009 with direct services to Melbourne, Qatar airways has been considering additional capacity down under and is pleased to soon offer
dUbai: Emirates will launch Barcelona as its second passenger gateway into Spain from 3rd July, after doubling frequencies to Madrid from 1st July. The airline is embarking on a major boost to its services in Spain on the heels of mounting demand for its Madrid service, launched in august 2010. The new Barcelona flight, EK 185, will leave dubai daily at 0655hrs and arrive in Barcelona at 1200hrs. The return service, EK 186, leaves Barcelona at 1640hrs and lands in dubai at 0100hrs the following day. PRESS RELEASE
LAhORE: Mr. Nadeem Rehmani,Director Operations at Metro Cash n Carry Pakistan with the students at The Lahore School of Economics. PRESS RELEASE