International Karachi, Sunday, September 19, 2010, Shawwal 9, Price Rs12 Pages 12
Malik writes letter to US Attorney for release of Dr Afia Economic Indicators Forex Reserves (10-Sep-10) Inflation CPI% (Jul 10-Aug 10) Exports (Jul 10-Aug 10) Imports (Jul 10-Aug 10) Trade Balance (Jul 10-Aug 10) Current A/C (Jul 10) Remittances (Jul 10-Aug 10) Foreign Invest (Jul 10) Revenue (Jul 10) Foreign Debt (Jun 10) Domestic Debt (Jul 10) Repatriated Profit (Jul 10) LSM Growth (Jul 09 - Jun 10)
GDP Growth FY10E Per Capita Income FY10 Population SCRA(U.S $ in million)
41.34 -44.53 1.49 2337
NCCPL (U.S $ in million)
FIPI (17-Sep-2010) Local Companies (17-Sept-2010) Banks / DFI (17-Sept-2010) Mutual Funds (17-Sept-2010) NBFC (17-Sept-2010) Local Investors (17-Sept-2010) Other Organization (17-Sept-2010)
-1.06 0.19 0.44 1.93 0.30 -1.71 -0.09
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08-Sep-2010 08-Sep-2010 08-Sep-2010 30-Jul-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010 17-Sep-2010
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80.84 83.77 15.10 112.51 11.05 1.001 22.89 64.25 12.21 84.42 23.37 134.32 85.85
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Defence opposes suspects’ debriefing
See on Page 12
Gilani scoffs at change-dream
Portfolio Investment
Total Portfolio Invest (9 Sep-2010)
Ahmadinejad vows stiff resistance against West See on Page 12
PM asks Sheikh to resolve issues of higher education
$16.07bn 12.79% $3.56bn $6.25bn $(2.69)bn $(635)mn $1.72bn $144.80mn Rs 84bn $55.63bn Rs 4705.4bn $62.10mn 4.55% 4.10% $1,051 170.57mn
Yearly(Jul, 2010 up to 16-Sep-2010) Monthly(Sep, 2010 up to 16-Sep- 2010) Daily (16-Sep-2010)
Political motive seen in Dr Imran’s murder See on Page 2
LAHORE: PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani awarding President NBP Syed Ali Raza with Prime Minister’s Trophy during the ceremony of Lahore Chamber Achievement Award 2010.-APP
PML-Q, Functional merge as APML KARACHI: PML-Q and PML-Functional have been merged under new nomenclature of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and it will be led by Pir Pagara. This was said by PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Mushahid Hussain Syed while talking to media men after their meeting with Pir Pagara here Saturday. Chaudhry Shujaat said “we want Pir Pagara to lead our
party and we have decided to reunify both the factions of Muslim League. Pakistan is passing through critical phase and we can come out of this critical juncture under the leadership of Pir Pagara. Reunification of PML factions was critically needed now than ever before. Pir Pagara said PML-Q and PML-F merged on Saturday under new name of APML. Responding to a question he said Pervez Musharraf and
Council of All Pakistan Textile Associations meets
New taxes termed fatal to textiles KARACHI: Zubair Motiwala, Chairman Council of All Pakistan Textile Associations (CAPTA) has asserted that Value Added Tax (VAT) regime will certainly break the backbone of our nation’s economy the textile sector. Addressing a press conference at PHMA House, Karachi, where chairmen of 16 textile associations were present, he stated that in the past, he had made a presentation to CBR on zero rating of sales tax and fortunately CBR agreed and it was proved that the government which was generating net revenue of Rs3 billion only from the entire textile sector, however after phasing out GST on export-oriented sector, tax frauds / leakages worth Rs32 billion were averted. Later on, Shaukat Tareen was also convinced about this advantage and continued zero rating of sales tax
for entire five sectors. This resulted in the liquidity being maintained. Additionally exports increased and flourished. He stated that the intention of the present government to withdraw this zero rating of sales tax and implementation of VAT would be a step backward and ruin the backbone of the nation's economy - the textile sector. He wondered why when we know that poison is dangerous, are we again thinking of taking poison? He said that it was surprising that despite experiencing the great advantages of the zero rating facility, the government is again going backward. He said that presently the textile sector is undergoing the worst ever crisis with yarn prices doubled and cost of doing business rising, See # 5 Page 11
Qureshi to co-chair with Ki-moon
FoDP meeting in NY today UNITED NATIONS: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will co-chair with UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon a high-level meeting of Friends of Democratic Pakistan today (Sunday). Qureshi arrived in New York Friday evening to lead Pakistan's delegation to the 65th Session of UN General Assembly. Apart from participating in UN meetings, the foreign minister will meet a number of his counterparts and other delegates for bilateral talks at which he will focus on the situation arising from the devastating floods in the country. On Sunday, Qureshi will cochair with UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon a highlevel meeting of Friends of Democratic Pakistan. Although it is not a donor meeting, UN
officials said some countries were likely to announce their contributions for the relief of millions of flood victims in Pakistan. Among those attending will be US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. On Monday, Qureshi will attend the summit meeting which will review the progress on the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) agreed by world leaders in 2000. More than 140 heads of state/government are attending the three-day event. Qureshi will also address the summit. The general debate in the 192-member assembly to open on September 23 in which a large number of world leaders will outline their views on See # 6 Page 11
Nawaz Sharif had not contacted him so far adding doors of his party were open to all. About a question with reference to Imran Khan he said if Imran Khan did not contact then he would be left alone. Army is moving around us and we are not seeing it, he added. To another question he said Ejaz ul Haq's role in the party would be the same what a son of martial law administrator could play. - Online
Furnace oil supply to Hesco, Kepco restored ISLAMABAD: Pakistan State Oil (PSO) restored provision of furnace oil to Hesco and Kepco after issuance of Rs12 billion from finance ministry. Talking to media MD, PSO Irfan Qureshi said that finance ministry has assured provision of Rs12 billion for oil companies, therefore PSO has restored oil supply to Hesco and Kepco adding that circular debt of PSO should be addressed on long term basis. He reiterated on the occasion that at present there has not been any scarcity of petroleum products in the country and PSO has abundant stock of petrol in the country and supply of oil to petrol pumps in the country has been See # 4 Page 11
Kashmir violence
India urged to honour human rights norms ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday asked India to adhere to the accepted human rights standards and undertake serious introspection of its policies that are in sharp variance to its international commitments. When his attention was drawn to the Indian response to the Pakistan foreign minister's statement on the situation in Occupied Kashmir, the Foreign Office spokesman said this is evidently self-serving and, to say the least, callous to be dismissive of the widespread uprising of the Kashmiri people including youth and women against Indian occupation. "Jammu and Kashmir is an international dispute and subject of several UN Security Council resolutions. Instead of stereotypically blaming See # 7 Page 11
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that PPP government is pursuing its policy of reconciliation to ensure political stability in the country and those who want undemocratic steps for change are wasting their time. He was addressing at the Lahore Chamber's achievement awards distribution ceremony in Lahore on Saturday. The Prime Minister said PPP has formed government after a long political struggle and a lot of sacrifices. He said PPP leadership offered sacrifices for the rights of public, freedom of media, independence of judiciary and empowerment of poor people. He especially mentioned the sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. The Prime Minister said through 18th Constitutional Amendment due rights have been provided to the provinces. He said that the government's top priorities are to counter terrorism and stabilise law and order situation which will help improving country's economy. Premier Gilani said that due to successful government policy all segments of society and armed forces are united to fight war against terrorism. Referring to operation in Swat and Malakand, the Prime Minister said millions of people
migrated to other areas and government made successful measures to make their return possible in an unprecedented short period of time.
uted twenty four awards among the investors, traders and entrepreneurs including businesswomen who have demonstrated excellent performance in vari-
PM calls list of NRO beneficiaries ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday directed the Establishment Division to furnish urgently a complete list of all those NRO beneficiaries who are presently appointed on various government positions. He further directed that the requisite information should be submitted on priority basis within two days. Overall 8,041 persons including 34 politicians have benefited from National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) while Asif Ali Zardari, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Rehman Malik, Altaf Hussain, Babar Ghauri, Hussain Haqqani, and Wajid Shams ul Hassan are also among NRO beneficiaries. About 7,793 persons belonged to Sindh as per list which was issued by the government under the directives of Supreme Court. Their cases were reopened after the nullification of NRO. Despite it, a good number of favorites were See # 1 Page 11 Earlier, in his welcome address the President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry highlighted the salient features of the achievement awards. He said the trader community while responding on the call of the President and the Prime Minister have collected donations worth Rs50 million for the flood victims. The Prime Minister distrib-
ous sectors during the financial year 2008-2009. A message of President Asif Ali Zardari was read out on the occasion. In his message the President urged the investors and entrepreneurs to join hands with the government to accelerate the pace of development in country. He described the trader community as the backbone of the country's economy. See # 2 Page 11
IFIs, US assured on broadening of tax net ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has assured US and other donor agencies that it will broaden its tax net and enhance the number of tax payers to come out of the current economic situation besides implementing new GST system. It was agreed upon in the meeting between US Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrook and Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and his economic team on Saturday that Pakistan would extend its tax
net and enhance the number of tax payers. According to finance ministry, it has also been finally decided that meeting of Pakistan Development Forum will be convened in November wherein Pakistan will present before its economic stakeholders the details about reconstruction of flood-affected areas. The countries which had made aid pledges for Pakistan during Tokyo Conference but had not delivered them so far would be contacted and urged
to release the pledged aid soon for reconstruction of flood affected areas in Pakistan, US assured. Finance ministry sources told US had also assured to provide more relief assistance for flood victims. However Richard Holbrook has still his reservations over utilisation of relief aid. US has also welcomed the constitution of national council to ensure distribution of foreign relief aid for flood stricken people in transparent manner. - Online
Judiciary concerned on threats to judges
Pak gold may hit Rs43k per tola
ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, chief justices of Federal Shariat Court and High Courts have shown great concern regarding the security of the chief justices and judges of the superior courts, particularly, in the wake of threats being given to them as well as their families, emanating from administrative authorities, as per intelligence reports. In this regard a meeting was chaired on Saturday by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, which was attended by all other honourable chief justices. After deliberations, it was resolved that the judges and their families should be provided adequate security and protection due to prevailing security concerns in the country and the nature of functions the judges perform. The presentation given by the Secretary, Interior; Director FIA; Chief Secretary; Home Secretary and PPO, Punjab prima-facie suggests that there
are threats to the life of Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif, Chief Justice, Lahore High Court. However, these executive authorities are required to complete their investigations/deliberations independently and intimate the results to the Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan. The superior as well as the district judiciary have to play an independent role for enforcement of the Constitution and rule of law, therefore, it has been decided that both the federal and provincial governments will ensure the security and safety of the judges of the superior courts without compromising their integrity, neutrality and independence whatsoever. It was further resolved that whatever the facts of the alleged plot are, it needs to be dealt with in accordance with law without giving any concession or making compromise and whosoever is found See # 3 Page 11
TFD Monitoring KARACHI: The gold price may hit an all-time high at Rs43,000 per tola, if its prices surged to $1,300 per ounce in international market, a private news channel reported Saturday. According to the sources in local gold market, the gold is cheaper in Pakistan as compared See # 12 Page 11
Govt withdraws posting order of Kamran Lashari ISLAMABAD: In pursuance of Supreme Court (SC) decision, federal government has withdrawn the notification about promotion of senior bureaucrats from grade 21 to 22 while decision of induction of Kamran Lashari as Chief Secretary Sindh has also been withdrawn. See # 13 Page 11
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Sunday, September 19, 2010
Elected PM doesn’t need fresh confidence vote: Awan ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Babar Awan has said that the unanimously elected Prime Minister has no need of taking fresh vote of confidence from the Parliament. Talking to media persons after meeting with Sikh Yatris at his residence on Saturday, he said the Prime Minister can only take vote of confidence once at the time of election as mentioned in the constitution. Rejecting the rumors about change of the
Prime Minister, he said no such type of proposal came under discussion at the cabinet meeting in Awan-e-Sadr. The Law Minister said there is no threat to government and a lobby is spreading rumors about change as there is only one way to change the government constitutionally which is general election 2013. "The masses have the right to elect but I am sure that they would give mandate to Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in 2013 while
seeing the government performance in this volatile situation," he said. He said two persons were talking about change in the government, one is Pervez Musharraf and the second is Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He asked former president Musharraf to first come in the country and face the court and then talk about change. About Mian Nawaz Sharif, he said that the PML-N leader was hesitating to come in the par-
liament and urged him to come in the legislature to talk about the government. Babar Awan said why the people were seeking unconstitutional means when there is legal way available to bring change. He said that the present government was strong as compared to the previous governments. He strongly condemned the Indian brutality in Occupied Kashmir and asked the international community to take notice of the situation in the held valley.-NNI
VP CACCI condemns Dr Imran murder KARACHI: VicePresident, Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) and Former President FPCCI & SAARC CCI, Tariq Sayeed has expressed his heartfelt condolences on the assassination of Founder member and senior MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq in London. KARACHI: Convener of Council of Textile Associations (CTA) and He conveyed his deepest Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister on Investment Mohammed Zubair sympathies to Quaid-eMotiwala along with Chairman Pakistan Apparel Forum Mohammed Tehreek Altaf Hussain, Jawed Bilwani and the representatives of 16 allied associations MQM Deputy Convener addressing the hurriedly called press conference held at PHMA House Dr Muhammad Farooq Sattar, MQM senior memon Saturday. -Photo by Jamil Siddiqui bers, all party workers and to his family. He prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and give courage and patience to the bereaved family to FAISALABAD: The said that leading European can turn unfavorable cir- bear this irreparable loss Pakistan Textile Exporters countries had shown will- cumstances into most with fortitude.-PR Association (PTEA) has ingness to accord duty free favourable. They said home textiles requested Prime Minister access to Pakistani exports Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to to mitigate economic prob- and knitted garments were send a high level delegation lems of Pakistan and it was mainstay of our export comprising the Foreign high time that the items, being 40 percent of Minister, the Commerce Commerce Minister, the total textile exports of the Minister, the Textile Textile Minister and secre- country. This is high time that Minister and secretaries of taries of the ministries federal ministries to should visit European other EU member states European Union (EU) coun- countries which were should be convinced to KARACHI: Advisor to tries to convince EU mem- expressing reservations in adopt a favourable attitude the Supreme Council of ber countries to include granting duty free market towards Pakistan in its Qatar Royal Family, Maj. to Pakistani forthcoming meeting. It is Gen (Retd), Amjad Rafiq home textiles and knitted access highly imperative that Khan called on Sindh garments in duty-free access exports. They said opportunity was Pakistani officials should Chief Minister, Syed being offered to Pakistani knocking on the door and it launch a vigorous cam- Qaim Ali Shah at CM exports in EU markets. In a statement issued was imperative on part of paign for it and the Prime House. Minister should provide here on Saturday, the government to avail it. Talking to the Sindh CM, They said that with necessary funds for this Maj. Gen (Retd), Amjad Chairman PTEA Khurram and personal high level delegation, they Rafiq Khan expressed deep Mukhtar and Vice direct Chairman Sohail Pasha approach, the government demanded.-APP sorrow on behalf of the Qatar Royal Family over devastation caused by recent massive flood in Pakistan, said a statement issued here on Saturday. He announced to provide help to 50,000 flood affected people and of constructing houses in the flood-hit areas. Amjad Rafiq Khan said the Royal family of Qatar has announced to provide Rs 400 million assistance to Pakistan for flood victims. Syed Qaim Ali Shah expressed gratitude for proLAHORE: Activists of Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Jammu-o-Kashmir hold a viding help to the flood rally in support of Kashmiris, at Chopurji Chowk.-Online victims.-APP
Exporters call for EU access to textile products
Advisor to Qatar Royal family meets Qaim
KARACHI: Japanese Consul General Masaharn Sato addresses a press conference at Karachi Press Club.-Photo by S Imran Ali
Japanese aid copters reach Pakistan KARACHI: A Japanese ship carrying two more helicopters arrived here Saturday for rescue mission in flood hit areas. "These two CH-47 large helicopters will join other four Japanese helicopters already engaged in disaster relief mission in Multan," said Japanese Consul General in Karachi, Masaharu Sato, in a briefing about relief measures by his government, at Karachi Press Club. He said that these contingents will consist of 200
personnel of Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces (JGSDF). This is the second time for the JGSDF to conduct a humanitarian relief in Pakistan following the earthquake in October 2005 in the northern areas of the country. "Our relief operation is not confined to a particular place but wherever required by Pakistan government," the Consul General said. He said after the floods in Pakistan, the Japanese
government has granted an emergency assistance of $13 million, emergency relief goods worth $0.4 million, $6 million assistance under Japan Platform (JPF) through NGOs, and dispatched relief medical teams. Besides, the five Japanese experts were also engaged by the World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to carry out Damage and Need Assessment (DNA) in the flood affected areas.-APP
Minister urges steps to control population growth ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Population Welfare Firdous Ashiq Awan, said economic achievement is interlinked with population development because the goals of a successful economy can not be achieved until there is a balance between economic resources and population. Talking to media she said that the dilemma of Pakistan with reference to population is that the world has achieved economic development by interlinking it with population control. "In Pakistan we neglected this issue by making it a socio-economic problem and by watching it by the so-called cannons of religion and ethics", she added. Firdous maintained that
the negligence of the issue population growth resulted in a crisis due to which the country is facing a worst population explosion presently. She said that food scarcity, unemployment, energy crisis and all other major issues are consequences of population explosion. Firdous maintained that for a strong economy the overall economic indicator should match the population growth rate. "In Pakistan there is a large gap between the two sectors unfortunately", she added. Answering to a question, she said that the greatest stake holder to oppose population policies is the religious clout of the country, without taking religious sector on board, policies regarding popula-
tion control can not be implemented. "The population policies are to be interlinked with religious philosophies to implement a practically acceptable roadmap", she said. She said that she not only convinced the religious leaders to accept population explosion as a national issue but also accepted their logical reasoning based on Islamic philosophies to change certain slogans of population control. To another question, she said that the main paradigm shift of the population plan is that the population ministry is focusing rural areas and providing them awareness about the dire need of population control.-PPI
nomic development of these countries. Zahid Maqbool said that Pakistan has a high potential and talented youth which should be provided quality education and opportunities to come forward to play their role in the economic progress of the country. He said introduction of entrepreneurship curriculum in schools will develop an entrepreneurial population at the grassroots level which will contribute effectively to the bottomup development of a competitive private sector. He also stressed on women education and said that economies of those countries have usually
been making steady progress, which are providing better education to women, while the economies have been stagnant in countries where women remained uneducated and neglected. He said that government should create an environment for the women in which they can explore the opportunities and improve their knowledge and skill for contributing effective in national building process. President ICCI said that government in partnership with the private sector must develop long term and viable strategies to improve the education level in the country.-PPI
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LAHORE: People standing in queues to buy petrol from a petrol pump after the shortage of fuel in the provincial capital.-Online
He emphasised that curriculum of the public sector schools must be completely revised keeping in view the modern education techniques. President said that teachers training programs should also be conducted on regular basis for the capacity building of teachers who act as a source of inspiration for the students. In many countries of the world, entrepreneurship skills are also taught from primary level to produce skilled manpower. These experiments have shown excellent results as the trained workforce is contributing significantly in the eco-
KARACHI: Chairman Businessmen Group & former President-KCCI Siraj Kassim Teli, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, Vice Chairmen Businessmen Group & former Presidents-KCCI, Tahir Khaliq, M Zubair Motiwala, Haroon Farooki and Anjum Nisar, Senior Vice PresidentKCCI, Rasheeduddin Rashid, Vice PresidentKCCI, Javed Ahmed Vohra have expressed condolence with MQM chief Altaf Hussain and his party leaders over the tragic assassination of party's sole convener Dr Imran Farooq.-PPI
TV PROGRAMMES
ICCI terms education vital PIAF alliance demands for economic growth ISLAMABAD: Without proper attention on education sector, our country cannot move forward to compete the challenging global environment, said Zahid Maqbool, President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI). While addressing the Education Committee of ICCI, he said that many economies of the world are growing rapidly focusing much on education sector. In Pakistan this sector needs to be given more priority to prepare a welleducated and trained manpower to contribute in the future economic development of the country, said President.
KCCI grieved at Dr Imran’s killing
industrial development
LAHORE: PIAFFounders Alliance has urged the government to take measures to keep the industrial wheel on the run that was otherwise not doing well in the wake of devastating floods. These views were expressed by Sohail Lashari & Iftikhar Ali Malik, leaders of PIAFFounders Alliance Associate Class candidates in a statement on Saturday. They said that if government wanted to promote the business activates in the country, it would have to take appropriate sector-specific measures for the removal
of impediments in the way smooth industrial operations. They said that high markup and high electricity tariff were also hitting the industrial activity hard as the situation of new investments was not that encouraging. They identified deteriorating law & order situation as the other biggest hurdle in the promotion of economic activities. They said that the government plan to impose more taxes would also dent the businesses as there were people who were finding it very hard to pay their dues on time
because of little activity in the markets. The Alliance leaders said that the government should immediately convene a roundtable conference with all the chambers and other trade bodies for putting the economy back on rails. They said that the business community response to the Alliance candidates was very encouraging and was enough to make the point that the people in the industrial areas and the markets were satisfied with the performance of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.-PPI
Manzil (Rpt) The Reema Show (Rpt)
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Sunday, September 19, 2010
Qaim asks for revised figures of flood survivors KHAIRPUR: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali has rejected the figures of NADRA regarding the flood-hit people as well as affected areas and urged it to prepare their report with the assistance of revenue officials. Addressing a ceremony of the opening of Watan Cards centre at the relief camp of Comprehensive High School, here on Saturday, he said that over 7 million people of Sindh were affected in the flood and their crops, houses and properties destroyed. He said to help the sur-
Ghinwa blames rulers for flood losses KHIPRO: Chairperson, Pakistan People's PartyShaheed Bhutto (PPP_SB) Ghinwa Bhutto has said present rulers have inundated people of Sindh intentionally. She said government ordering baton charge on affected people instead of distributing relief items among them. Talking to a leader of PPP(SB) Moula Baksh, she said rulers are busy in their luxuries and their corruption has touched the sky. The registration of the affectees could have been made through voters list as well but government would not do it. She said people are made slave to the IMF and World Bank, who are sucking the blood of people.-PPI
vivors the government would provide seeds and fertilizer to the growers having 25 acres or less land for sowing next crop. He said that amount of Rs 20000 is being provided to each affected family through Watan Card, while Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has also announced Rs100000 for each victim. He said provision of food and other necessities to over 7 million people is a big challenge for government but they would meet the challenge. Syed Qaim Ali Shah said the United Nations has expressed satisfaction
on performance of present government, therefore, they are appealing to the world for more relief funds. On the occasion, MNA Choudhry Manzoor Hussain, parliamentary secretary for health MNA Dr Mehreen Bhutto, Mohan Lal Kohistani and others were present. Later Sindh Chief Minister visited the site of breach of Toori Bund and reviewed the repairing work. The irrigation officers briefed him on the current flood situation. The CM directed them to complete the repair work as soon as possible.-PPI
Dr Baig to lead trade mission for Moscow KARACHI: Federal Advisor on Textiles, Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, will lead the delegation of leading textile companies to participate at 35th Federal Trade Fair to be held from 21st to 24th September in Moscow, Russia. Federal Advisor Textile will be meeting Oleg Kashcheev, the Deputy Head of Textile Industry, Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation on 22nd to discuss ways and means to enhance the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russian Federation. Minister of state for economic affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Federal Secretary Commerce Zafar
Mehmood will also be meeting their counter parts during the same period. Expressing his views Dr Baig said, their exist a great potential of direct exporting textile products from Pakistan to Russian regions as at the moment they are buying Pakistani products through Turkey at much higher rate. President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari on his recent visit to Russia emphasised to increase the bilateral trade between the two countries. Dr Baig hopes that the visit of the senior government representative to Moscow will open new avenue of investment and trade between Russia and Pakistan.-NNI
KARACHI: Members of All PAkistan Paper Merchants Association (APPMA) pose for group photo along with Chairman M Salim Memon and President M Shoaib at Eid greeting ceremony held recently.-PR
Rangers continues relief activities KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers, Sindh is continuing its relief activities in the flood affected areas in Sindh. A Rangers spokesman said here on Saturday that two truck load of relief goods has been distributed among those affected by the Manchar Lake flood. He said that the Rangers personnel have also been deployed for the maintenance of law and order in the affected areas as well as on the roads. Meanwhile, the cooked food is being distributed on daily basis among the flood affected at the relief camps for the flood victims of Kashmore, Thatta, Jamshoro and Sehwan. Treatment facilities have also been provided to the flood affected people and medicines were also made available.-APP
‘Plans against democracy to be foiled’ LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Finance Tanvir Ashraf Kaira has said that people of Pakistan are democraticminded and they don't like dictatorship. We restored democracy in Pakistan by giving a number of scarifies. While talking to various delegations of MPAs and lawyers at his residence, the minister said that present federal and all four provincial governments came into power by the votes of the people. He said that people have elected us and they have right to hold us accountable. He said that our country is passing through a critical phase and political reconciliation is the need of the hour. That is why govern-
ment is taking all political parties into confidence on all major issues. The minister said that reconciliation with PMLN would be continued and we would further strengthen this process for the sake of the country because at this stage, our country can not afford any confrontation. The Minister said that political parties should forget their petty differences and work together to solve the problems of the people. He said that we would foil any conspiracy against democratic system and present government would complete its tenure. He said that government would solve the problems of people with consultation of all political parties.-PPI
Linde group donates Rs12.2mn for victims
SEHWAN: A view of floodwater on Indus Highway near Sehwan town.-Online
C’wealth extends support to Pak ISLAMABAD: The 56th meeting of the C o m m o n w e a l t h Parliamentary Association (CPA) concluded in Nairobi on Saturday. The General Assembly of the CPA this morning passed a unanimous resolution appealing to all Commonwealth governments to provide further humanitarian, monetary and technical assistance to Pakistan in the aftermath of recent floods. Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and MNA Kashmala Tariq thanked the CPA for passing the resolution and expressing solidarity with the flood affected people of Pakistan. A documentary depicting the devastation caused by the floods was also shown to the delegates, says a press release received from High Commission for Pakistan , Nairobi, here today. The Pakistani delegation to the 56th CPA is being represented by the members of National Assembly Ms Nafisa Shah, Muhammad Israar Tareen, Speaker of Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Speaker Balochistan Assembly Muhammad Aslam Bhootani, Deputy Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtoon Khaw Mr. Khushdil Khan and MPAs from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtoon Khaw. Meanwhile, Nafisa Shah has been elected Chairperson of Executive Committee of CPA for Asia Region which includes Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. -NNI
Notorious bandit killed in encounter KARACHI: Inspector General Police (IGP) Sindh Sultan Sallahuddin Babar Khattak has informed that a notorious dacoit Rajib Shaikh alias Raju was killed in police encounter in Sukkur district on Saturday. According to a release, the killed bandit was involved in over 30 heinous cases of crimes including dacoity, kidnapping for ransom, murders and robberies in Sukkur district. He was also wanted to police in Shikarpur and Ghotki districts. It may be noted that a policeman Ramzan Channa had been martyred in an encounter with bandit Rajib Shaikh some time back. IGP Sindh has hailed the police team members for killing the bandit in an encounter and announced Rs500000 reward for them.-PPI
SCCI to build 100 houses for affectees SIALKOT: The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has formulated a rehabilitation plan for flood affected families costing over Rs 15 million, said SCCI president Muhammad Ishaq Butt. In an informal chat with APP here on Saturday, he said that initially the proposed plan would be launched in worst-hit areas of the
province. In this regard SCCI teams are making a survey in various flood hit areas for assessing requirements, he said. The SCCI president said work on the plan would be executed in the light of findings of the survey teams. The step has been taken keeping in view miseries of flood affected families and changing weather in the country,
he said. Ishaq Butt said the response of the business community, philanthropists and wealthy people was highly encouraging in this connection. The SCCI president said, "We have already donated cash, medicines, foodstuffs and articles of daily-use worth more than Rs12.5 million for flood affected so far."APP
PESAHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Chief, Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman talks with media men at JUI secretariat here on Saturday.-PPI
Sindh relief camps witness deaths and deliveries KARACHI: As many as 129 people died from July 31 to September 17, 2010 while 1735 deliveries carried out in various relief camps in the province. According to Deputy Secretary Admin Sindh Health Department Dr Jamaluddin Sheikh, approximately 1520835 people were examined in various medical camps during the period.
Some 527 permanent and 162 mobile camps were set up for flood victims throughout the province where 251789 cases of diarrhea, 45767 gastroenteritis, 248873 chest disease, 179859 malaria, 265607 skin disease, 5009 heat stroke, 107316 eye infection and 416615 patients with complaints of other diseases were reported.
Besides, 407 people were bitten by snakes while 364662 were administered anti-snake bite vaccination and 90366 of hepatitis vaccinations. About 12392 pregnant women were also examined in medical camps. Dr Sheikh said all medical facilities along with medicines are being provided free of cost. PPI
KARACHI: Activists of Pasban passing through Super Highway during a demonstration rally to demand release of Dr Afia Siddiqui.-Online
ISLAMABAD: BOC Pakistan Limited, a member of The Linde Group, together with its regional headquarters in Singapore, Linde Gas Asia Pte Ltd, Saturday announced a total donation of Rs12.2 million towards flood relief efforts in Pakistan. This amount includes voluntary contributions by the employees of BOC Pakistan and Linde Gas Asia in Singapore, and matching contributions and donations from the two companies. The monies will be transferred to two very reputable Pakistani NGOs, the Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust (LRBT) and the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), to provide flood relief and medical services to those affected. Ayaz Bokhari, Managing Director of BOC Pakistan, said: "With these employee and company contributions, we demonstrate our commitment to stand firmly beside the many courageous relief workers to provide support to the flood affected population. BOC Pakistan is the market leader in medical and industrial gases in the country and we are sparing no effort to ensure we continue to supply our customers, including hospitals, and where needed, relief camps to help save lives." Sanjiv Lamba, Managing Director of Linde Gas Asia Pte Ltd said: "We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the devastating floods in the country and we hope our contribution will assist in some small way towards helping the people of Pakistan overcome their challenges in these difficult times". Additionally, BOC Pakistan is allowing each of its employees to take two days paid leave to assist with volunteer efforts associated with flood relief. -NNI
35th batch of Pak Marines graduates KARACHI: The 35th batch of Pak Marines comprising 134 men has formally joined Naval Marines Force. The passing out parade was held at Marines Training Centre PNS Qasim, Manora where Commodore Sohail Abid, Chief Staff Officer of Coastal Command was the Chief Guest. Marines undergo rigorous professional training which consists of four phases. In the first two phases they undergo basic academic and computer training. This follows infantry training which includes basic war tactics on land and study of military subjects. The final phase includes training of anti-amphibious operation, security of important installations, air defense and beach assault operations. Addressing the ceremony, the Chief Guest said that peace and security is imperative for sustainable growth and prosperity of a country. "It is, therefore, important for us to have a credible defense capability to counter internal and external threats", he added.-PPI
4
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Counterintuitive thinking to get out of flood mess
The Financial Daily International Vol 4, Issue 47
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Amir A. Ashary Editor: Shakil H. Jafri Executive Editor: Manzar Naqvi Honorary Advisory Board Haseeb Khan, FCA
S. Muneer Hussain Rizvi
Asim Abbas Ashary, CPA
Khurram Shehzad, CFA
Akhtar M. Zaidi, FCA
Prof. Zakaria Sajid (KU)
Dr. A. Hadi Shahid, FCA
Zahid Bukhari SVP HBL (retd)
Muhammad Arif
Ismat Sabir Head office
111-C, Jami Commercial Street 11, Phase VII, DHA Karachi Telephone: 92-21-5311893-6 Fax: 92-21-5388428 URL: www.thefinancialdaily.com Email Address: editor@thefinancialdaily.com
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Changing US policy toward Afghanistan US president Barack Obama is expected to present the new policy toward Afghanistan in November this year. However, the changing facets of the policy have become a grave concern for Pakistan. It seems that the US administration wants to get out of this bizarre war to avoid the eventual defeat. Its policy of crushing as well reproaching Taliban and supporting the corrupt regime of Hamid Karzari is making face saving even more difficult. Some of the critics are now openly saying that deployment of additional forces last year to stabilise Afghanistan is more likely to fail and that the death toll in the conflict was too high a price to pay. They also say Taliban are winning and allied forces losing. Taliban have high morale and want to continue the insurgency. If plan A is not working plan B has to be implemented which is to let the Taliban control the Pashtun south and east because price for preventing that is too high. Robert Blackwill, a former senior US official in the Bush Administration, has argued that Afghanistan should be allowed to partition along ethnic lines by pulling back Nato forces and acknowledging that the Taliban will not be defeated in their heartland. He also said President Obama needs to make drastic changes in the war's objectives. Blackwill said that there had been a decade of innumerable errors in the Western approach to Afghanistan. Most notably American policy shifted after the attacks on September 11, 2001 from expelling al Qaeda from its Afghan sanctuaries to crushing the Taliban and installing a democratic government in Kabul. The result was that America now had 1,000 soldiers deployed for every one of the estimated 100 al Qaeda operatives now believed to be based in Afghanistan and was losing $100 billion a year on the conflict. Blackwill believes the US should only seek to defend those areas dominated by Afghanistan's Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara minorities by pulling out of bases in the south. He actually supported the idea of letting Taliban to control Kandahar and other big population areas. "How many people really believe that Kandahar is central to Western civilisation? We did not get to Afghanistan to control Kandahar," he said. We consider it our ardent duty to remind the US administration not to desert Afghanistan in hurry, despite huge collateral losses. Splitting Afghanistan also does not provide any solution. Any fragmentation would lead to civil war among different ethnic groups. Considering dislodging Hamid Karzai and installing a consensus government comprising of all the ethnic groups could bring peace. Don't waste dollars on arsenal, spend them on reconstruction to win the hearts and minds of Afghans who have seen nothing but war over the last four decades.
Disclaimer:
All reports and recommendations have been prepared for your information only. Summary and Analysis are not recommendation to buy or sell. This information should only be used by investors who are aware of the risk inherent in securities trading. The facts, information, data, indicators and charts presented have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. The Financial Daily International and its employees are not responsible for any loss arising from use of these reports and recommendations.
I
n response to floods unprecedented in Pakistan's history, the authorities are taking popular steps that seem obvious-stricter price controls, a flood surcharge-tax and controls on charities. What we really need is bold, non-populist and counterintuitive thinking. History reminds us that in 1770 Lower Bengal's rice harvest failed utterly and fully a third of the population died. The government's response to the shortages was to prevent prices from rising and thereby prohibit what it called the monopoly of grain. The predictable result was to intensify the famine and discourage transporting food from areas where it was more plentiful. A century later, in 1866, the government of Bengal faced a famine and reacted with a very different policy. Far from trying to control prices the government facilitated competition by publicizing weekly returns of prices in every district, causing businesses to transport rice from areas of relative abundance to places of worst scarcity. Pakistan solved the problem of electricity shortage in late nineties by relaxing the price of electricity.
We can also ensure the availability of food and other essential items in flood areas by relaxing price controls. As for supply, donors and government would find it more effective to introduce some kind of "flood vouchers" to help the needy purchase their daily needs instead of government supplying food and
obey but would then refuse to give to all charitable organisations. Thus a flood surcharge would only increase the flow of cash to government coffers instead of going to the many fairly effective humanitarian charities. The counterintuitive policy would be substantial tax exemptions on all flood-related expenses and dona-
The counterintuitive policy would be substantial tax exemptions on all flood-related expenses and donations by individuals and corporations. This would encourage more private contributions to direct, reliable and rapid flood relief and rehabilitation aid. other aid. The government is also considering a flood tax aiming to raise Rs138 billion ($1.6 billion). In the current economic meltdown, such a claim looks very implausible. Moreover, taxes always discourage private and philanthropic giving. If I were taxed in the name of flood relief, I would
tions by individuals and corporations. This would encourage more private contributions to direct, reliable and rapid flood relief and rehabilitation aid. But national and provincial governments are imposing licences to collect funds on all charitable organisations. Although financing terror-
ism remains a problem, such a requirement will only discourage the people's spontaneous response and will only increase government intervention in times of emergency. The major brunt of such restrictions will almost always be taken by the most deserving groups. The government must immediately lift all such bans. Altaf Hussain, the London-based leader of the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM), which dominates Karachi, the commercial capital of Pakistan, has advised flood victims to grab the private property of landlords. The protection of private property remains the top responsibility, after protection of life, of a government. If some individual landlords have violated any laws, they must be taken to task in law, before the courts. Under no circumstances can people be allowed to grab private property. That way lies anarchy and chaos. Avoiding populist and intuitive thinking defines true leadership. The unprecedented crisis demands rational and hard decisions for the long term, not the temptation of the short-term gains. (Courtesy: Khaleej Times)
Pildat’s reports - Manna for the chatterati
T
his week the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) came out with two reports: "How Rich are Pakistani MNAs (Members of the National Assembly)? Analysis of Declaration of Assets 2008-2009" (on September 14) and "Mid-Term Assessment of the Quality of Democracy in Pakistan March 17, 2008 - September 16, 2010" (on September 15). Needless to say, the media and Pakistan's chattering class have since been salivating at the analysis of assets held by the MNAs. Tuesday's bulletins (September 14) and Wednesday morning's newspapers (September 15) headlined the report which, in turn, spawned its fair share of discussions on television channels and newspaper editorials. As for the mid-term assessment of democracy in Pakistan, it got practically ignored despite a below average score and Pildat timing its release to coincide with the International Day of Democracy. Report on MNAs Given the dominant narrative of the past few weeks - particularly after Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain's call to patriotic generals to take martial-law type action against corrupt politicians and feudal lords - the report on the assets held by MNAs was like manna to the politician-bashing
chatterati. Here was further confirmation - if it was ever needed - of the machinations of the political class. Much was made of the fact that the average value of an MNA's assets had increased three-fold in six years from 2002-2003 to 2008-2009. No doubt questions ought to be asked about the source of income and assets of legislators, but in a country where democracy has never really got a chance, again the focus was on trashing the political system while demanding no accountability from other institutions. And in that din, some telling statistics were ignored by design or default. The percentage increase in the average value of an MNA's assets in 2008-2009 was 9.5 per cent; way lower than the 87.1 per cent increase recorded in the previous year which was presided over by the last of Pakistan's four military rulers, Pervez Musharraf. In fact, the Musharraf years, for which data is available, show great fluctuations in the rate of increase in the average value of an MNA's assets. In 2003-2004, the average value of assets increased by 2.6 per cent over the previous year. The following year saw a 15.6 per cent increase and the rise continued in the next fiscal to 22.6 per cent before plateauing at 2.6 per cent and then recording the steepest of increases: 87.1 per cent.
This should have provided food for thought to all those gunning for the civilian administration and blaming it for the trust deficit that has impacted the flow of international aid for flood relief but this is a season when condemning politicians is high fashion. Though some reason for the trickle is the mismanagement of funds that poured in after the 2005 earthquake, it is the current dispensation that is taking the flak. Undoubtedly, the floods have exposed the inefficiency and myopia of the Pakistan People's Party-led government at the centre and in the provinces, but the Pildat study shows they alone cannot be accused of prospering. Their predecessors under khaki rule stand equally exposed as do politicians from across the political spectrum. And, if the very same Pildat's midterm assessment of democracy in Pakistan is anything to go by, then "a democratic Pakistan alone is a secure Pakistan". Though democracy in Pakistan scored only 45 per cent as in an assessment strategy created by the UK-based Democratic Audit, the report card clearly states that "disappointment at the performance of elected legislatures and governments in a particular phase cannot become the justification for abandoning the democratic process".
On democracy Analysing the low score, Pildat states that dissatisfaction with the performance of the elected government at the federal level and in the provinces over the past two-and-ahalf years, it is equally misleading because it does not reflect the fact that these elected legislatures "transformed the mutilated, authoritarian dimensions of the original muchamended 1973 Constitution into an authentically new Parliamentary framework". Making no bones about the need for the political class to mend its ways, the mid-term review states that the very floods - that have raised questions on the efficacy of democracy - have provided the reason to sustain democracy. "It is only the participation of people themselves and active role of their elected representatives in taking decisions that affect the process of recovery and rejuvenation which will facilitate fair, orderly and enduring reconstruction and renewal." Indeed, people need to be made stakeholders in democracy as they now feel that democratic governments are equally or more incapable of addressing their needs as nondemocratic dispensations. And, so they remain indifferent - and sometimes even warm - to threats to democracy. (Courtesy: The Hindu)
Islamophobia equals anti-Semitism‌
H
ow do you reconcile the traditions of many Muslim immigrants with the freedoms and values of 21st century Western Europe? It's a question that has led to periodic outbursts of vigorous debate from France to Holland and Switzerland. In Germany, the discussion has been relatively subdued. Until now. Why? A passage in a book considered so unsettling that its author, Thilo Sarrazin, was forced to resign from the board of Germany's central bank this month, provides part of the answer. Criticism of Islam and Muslim immigrants, he writes, is wrongly seen to "equal Islamophobia which equals racism which equals antiSemitism which equals right-wing radicalism which equals national socialism (Nazism)." In a country deeply ashamed of its 1933-1945 Nazi past, that's enough to mute debate. Sarrazin's book, "Deutschland schafft sich ab" (Germany abolishes itself), came under withering assault from Germany's political and intellectual elite even before its publication and (judging from some of the comments) even before many of the critics waded through its 461 dense, statistics-laden pages. It is not an anti-immigration, antiIslam tirade, it is an argument against a combination of flawed immigration and social welfare policies that, according to Sarrazin, have tended to attract a sizeable number of immigrants more interested in living off
generous government handouts than in finding a place in the labour market, climbing up the economic ladder and integrating into German society. Immigrants from Muslim parts of former Yugoslavia, from Arab and North African countries and from Turkey (the largest group) "are the core of the integration problem," Sarrazin writes, citing dismal statistics on scholastic achievement, unemployment, dependence on welfare payments, crime and reluctance to learn German, an essential step towards integration. In contrast, immigrants from Asia or India were doing particularly well in integrating and in making economic progress. Sarrazin's arguments are part of a European backlash against multiculturalism, the notion that all cultures are equal and society is enriched by encouraging separate cultures to exist side by side rather than blending into one. The first serious critique of the concept came from the left, with an essay in 2000 by the Dutch author Paul Scheffer who said multiculturalism had blinded politicians to the fact that ethnic minorities, mainly Muslims, had higher rates of unemployment, poverty, school dropouts and crime and that they failed to integrate. Scheffer's controversial piece preceded the murder in 2002 of Pim Fortuyn by a Dutchman who objected to his criticism of Muslim immigration and the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Muslim extremist. Scheffer's essay was followed by
others, outside Holland and from both sides of the political spectrum. Some political leaders agreed. Before he became Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron said multiculturalism contributed to "deliberately weakening our collective identity." FRENCH BAN BURQAS, SWISS BAN MINARETS In the week the German debate over Sarrazin's book reached a crescendo, the French parliament banned burqas and niqabs, the head-to-toe robes worn by devout Muslim women. Switzerland drove another nail into the coffin of multiculturalism last year with a referendum that ended in a ban on the construction of minarets. Back to Germany, where those who rebuked Sarrazin included chancellor Angela Merkel and the head of the conservative Christian Social Union, Alexander Dobrindt, who remarked "this guy is nuts." Embarrassingly for politicians and political commentators of all stripes, much of the citizenry disagreed. The first edition of his book was sold out nationwide within days. By mid-September, there were long queues in one of the few bookshops in central Frankfurt that had stocked ample supplies. A few days later, the publisher said the total print run would be 250,000, ten times what had been expected. A public opinion poll in September showed that 70 per cent of those surveyed partly or fully agreed with Sarrazin, who is a member of the leftof-centre Social Democratic Party from which he now faces expulsion
after close to 40 years of membership. Party leaders deem some of the arguments in his book racist. The front page of the German news magazine Der Spiegel carried a portrait of the bespectacled, 65-year-old ex-banker with the headline "Folk Hero Sarrazin." Sub-headline: "Why so many Germans are seduced by a provocateur." Provocation is in the eye of the beholder and one commentator, Susanne Gaschke of the liberal weekly Die Zeit ascribed the "enthusiastic acceptance for Sarrazin's belated taboo-breaking" to a retroactive settling of accounts for the years in which politically correct multiculturalism made it difficult to touch the subjects he covers. One is demographics and boils down to a gloomy forecast: ethnic Germans are dying out, slowly but surely. If present trends continue, ethnic Germans will be a minority in their own country by 2100, comfortably outnumbered by Turks. Longrange demographic forecasts have to be taken with a pinch of salt but there is no dispute that Germany's birth rate, the lowest in Europe, has fallen way below the so-called replacement rate. There is no dispute either that the higher a woman's education, the fewer children she has. Conversely, the lower a women's education, the higher her fertility. That applies to a large proportion of Muslim immigrants. And that leads to Sarrazin's nightmare and controversial prediction: a smaller, older and dumber Germany. (Courtesy: Reuters)
VIEWS & OPINION
Sunday, September 19, 2010
5
Europe’s Religious Intolerance H
ow do you reconcile the traditions of many Muslim immigrants with the freedoms and values of 21st century Western Europe? It's a question that has led to periodic outbursts of vigorous debate from France to Holland and Switzerland. In Germany, the discussion has been relatively subdued. Until now. Why? A passage in a book considered so unsettling that its author, Thilo Sarrazin, was forced to resign from the board of Germany's central bank this month, provides part of the answer. Criticism of Islam and Muslim immigrants, he writes, is wrongly seen to "equal Islamophobia which equals racism which equals antiSemitism which equals right-wing radicalism which equals national socialism (Nazism)." In a country deeply ashamed of its 1933-1945 Nazi past, that's enough to mute debate. Sarrazin's book, "Deutschland schafft sich ab" (Germany abolishes
itself), came under withering assault from Germany's political and intellectual elite even before its publication and (judging from some of the comments) even before many of the critics waded through its 461 dense, statistics-laden pages. It is not an anti-immigration, antiIslam tirade, it is an argument against a combination of flawed immigration and social welfare policies that, according to Sarrazin, have tended to attract a sizeable number of immigrants more interested in living off generous government handouts than in finding a place in the labour market, climbing up the economic ladder and integrating into German society. Immigrants from Muslim parts of former Yugoslavia, from Arab and North African countries and from Turkey (the largest group) "are the core of the integration problem," Sarrazin writes, citing dismal statistics on scholastic achievement, unemployment, dependence on welfare payments, crime and reluctance to learn German, an essential step
towards integration. In contrast, immigrants from Asia or India were doing particularly well in integrating and in making economic progress. Sarrazin's arguments are part of a European backlash against multiculturalism, the notion that all cultures are equal and society is enriched by encouraging separate cultures to exist side by side rather than blending into one. The first serious critique of the concept came from the left, with an essay in 2000 by the Dutch author Paul Scheffer who said multiculturalism had blinded politicians to the fact that ethnic minorities, mainly Muslims, had higher rates of unemployment, poverty, school drop-outs and crime and that they failed to integrate. Scheffer's controversial piece preceded the murder in 2002 of Pim Fortuyn by a Dutchman who objected to his criticism of Muslim immigration and the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Muslim extremist. Scheffer's essay was followed by others, outside Holland
and from both sides of the political spectrum. Some political leaders agreed. Before he became Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron said multiculturalism contributed to "deliberately weakening our collective identity." FRENCH BAN BURQAS, SWISS BAN MINARETS In the week the German debate over Sarrazin's book reached a crescendo, the French parliament banned burqas and niqabs, the headto-toe robes worn by devout Muslim women. Switzerland drove another nail into the coffin of multiculturalism last year with a referendum that ended in a ban on the construction of minarets. Back to Germany, where those who rebuked Sarrazin included chancellor Angela Merkel and the head of the conservative Christian Social Union, Alexander Dobrindt, who remarked "this guy is nuts." Embarrassingly for politicians and political commentators of all stripes, much of the citizenry disagreed. The first edition of his book was
sold out nationwide within days. By mid-September, there were long queues in one of the few bookshops in central Frankfurt that had stocked ample supplies. A few days later, the publisher said the total print run would be 250,000, ten times what had been expected. A public opinion poll in September showed that 70 percent of those surveyed partly or fully agreed with Sarrazin, who is a member of the left-of-centre Social Democratic Party from which he now faces expulsion after close to 40 years of membership. Party leaders deem some of the arguments in his book racist. The front page of the German news magazine Der Spiegel carried a portrait of the bespectacled, 65year-old ex-banker with the headline "Folk Hero Sarrazin." Subheadline: "Why so many Germans are seduced by a provocateur." Provocation is in the eye of the beholder and one commentator, Susanne Gaschke of the liberal weekly Die Zeit ascribed the "enthu-
siastic acceptance for Sarrazin's belated taboo-breaking" to a retroactive settling of accounts for the years in which politically correct multiculturalism made it difficult to touch the subjects he covers. One is demographics and boils down to a gloomy forecast: ethnic Germans are dying out, slowly but surely. If present trends continue, ethnic Germans will be a minority in their own country by 2100, comfortably outnumbered by Turks. Longrange demographic forecasts have to be taken with a pinch of salt but there is no dispute that Germany's birth rate, the lowest in Europe, has fallen way below the so-called replacement rate. There is no dispute either that the higher a woman's education, the fewer children she has. Conversely, the lower a women's education, the higher her fertility. That applies to a large proportion of Muslim immigrants. And that leads to Sarrazin's nightmare and controversial prediction: a smaller, older and dumber Germany.-Reuters
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Rehman Malik’s Somersaults Zardari's Rehman Malik is playing BB's Khalid Kharal. Both have earned no credibility or good repute for PPP governments. Backtracking on an earlier statement, the Interior Minister said that no military operation was being planned for Balochistan. "I never said so", he told reporters. But this is not the first time. Similar statements he has given about Karachi, North Waziristan and against 'Punjabi' Taliban in southern Punjab, which later he either withdrew or clarified. This means either he is confused, lacks information or he does on the indication of someone else to gauge people's reaction or the Armed Forces' response. But one thing is clear that whenever the government finds itself in trouble and dwarfed by the rising image of the army, Rehman Malik gives such statements in a bid to dent Gen Kayani's resolve of not to meddle in the political affairs of the government. No matter the Swat and Waziristan people have taken a sigh of relief as they themselves demanded the military operation in their areas, yet to Rehman Malik talking of military operation means sowing hatred among the masses against the armed forces. This also means to engage the military on multiple fronts so as to minimize the fear of coup against the government. He should have been concentrating on giving advice to the government to do something to mitigate suffering of the masses and win their hearts and minds by its own deeds. Though surgical operations sometime become imminent given the situation on ground, but this is perhaps not Rehman Malik to single-handedly decide. One must advise him to stop statements which he later has to withdraw. Jiya Lajja, Wazirabad
worthy Content provider. Over the time, it has become a popular platform for clients and advertisers alike. Brands and service providers aiming to keep in touch with their customers along with to promote themselves to a greater market, here is their chance to utilize Twitter.
website with strong profile rankings like Facebook, but in terms of professional networking thus uniting all professionals at one place to create a mutual bond of marketing. LinkedIn is an effective source for both you and your company. Along with setting up a profile page (with a fol-
lowed link), you can also make the most of its available groups, events and fan pages to connect with a big online network of people doing both doing business and building customer relations as well. 4. Myspace Though in comparison to Facebook or Twitter, MySpace holds less market presence but still it remains a highly trafficked social media website that is highly effective for marketing of your business or service. From creating profiles to connecting with group, making friends and finding people who are interested in relevant products or services that may interest them. Another good option is to use group bulletins that play a good connective role among both, customers and potential customers 5. Youtube Video watchers heaven as it is known, a well executed video with the right type of title and content, can have amazing public-
ity impacts for your brand, especially if your video reaches the most viewed pages. In addition to that, there are also many other methods like tagging, thumbnail, good presentation that can be used to optimize your videos and its appeal for your customers. 6. Digg Appearing on the Digg homepage can do wonders in terms of your coverage and marketing. Depending on your users, it can at times result in significant increase in sales. Digg is equally effective for bloggers who write regularly. 7. Deviant Art At times, along with many business people and service providers, unconventional people like artists, photographers, graphic designers and video graphers finds difficulty in getting their place in market. Deviant Art is a good social website to create a profile, submit content, and increase exposure for one's work which results in fame and
good rush of money for your creativity. 8. Epinions Epinions is a consumer review social website. Potentially, being crowded, it is a great place to manage and market your brand. Also, reviewers who bring together lots of trust can extend a large reach within the Epinions community. 9. Yahoo Buzz A heavy trafficked social website with a strong network of friends, articles about popular topics with interesting titles that can play an important role in promoting your name on Yahoo Buzz. However, for maximum exposure you must participate in all buzz activity and develop a everlasting relation with your customer resulting in great returns. 10. Yelp Specialists in giving reviews, Yelp with its strong profile with friends, positive reviews and pictures can give high marketing and good customer feedback.
Disastrous Policies The Indian stance over the Kashmir freedom struggle has always been tyrannical as suppression of rights of locals and exertion of force has been the norm in IHK for the past 63 years, which is apparent from the various incidents that flare up in the occupied valley as soon as anyone mentions a resolution of the issue thus drumming up the Indian beat of Pakistani involvement in Kashmir, such as soon after the Thimpu meeting and the ministerial level talks in Pakistan that closed all doors of reaching to any conclusive point. Keeping a firm military control over the Kashmir valley is the only means India has to maintain its hegemony that is gradually slipping from its hands despite a renewed campaign of amplified Indian brutalities. The failure of the all parties conference, which was convened by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to resolve the Kashmir upheaval as Kashmiri youth are protesting too loudly for the Indian comfort against the horrible episodes of unabated militancy and killings of hundreds of innocent people in the valley by Indian forces. Despite being aware of the fact that the increased intensity of brutal suppression of the freedom seeking Kashmiris can only aggravate the situation as the Indian PM Manmohan wanted calm to prevail in the region and accepted that "the only path for lasting peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir is that of dialogue and discussion,". Why the Indian PM should feel "shocked and distressed" over the rising discontent of the Kashmiri youth and the heightened wave of antiIndia and anti-Indian army protestations in the valley, is a complete mystery to me. Perhaps he too, does not keep track of what is going on in his country and what the Indian army is up to these days, for which he needs to be given a refresher course of the atrocities born by the innocent Kashmiris for the past 63 years at the very hands of the Indians who have been suppressing the Kashmir liberation issue at both the global and regional level. Instead of connecting with the common man, the Indian policy in Kashmir had always replicated that of an imperial power, using brute force to strangle the very desire of freedom. It has been established and thus should be accepted that India's current policies are a disaster for the South Asian region as it has reduced India to the deplorable level that it is now present at. The unabated neurotic obsession with Pakistan and the fixation over the Kashmir occupation in the name of 'national security concerns' justifies its double standards while enabling external players to meddle in the regional affairs, creating turmoil and consequently exacerbating regional tensions. Lubna Umar, Islamabad
Drone attacks for Improved Security? US drones rain missiles over Pakistani soil while the government and military representatives remain totally mute over the issue, refraining even from issuing an open statement to condemn the use of such horrific gadgets. What was hitherto being predicted is now out in public as Richard Holbrook, the US representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, has confirmed the fact in a loud enough voice that these vicious attacks through unmanned planes by the people sitting in the US are carried out in "close collaboration" with the civil and military leadership of the country. According to Holbrook, these drones helped improve the security environment at a "very minimum cost". What is this minimum cost one is compelled to ask. Is it the lives of the innocent and poor Pakistani people who are already leading a devastated life in the margins that includes mostly women and children who cannot dare to raise a voice for their fundamental right to live? How, one needs to ask, are these drone attacks instrumental in improving the security environment? Has militancy dwindled in the region? Have incidents of suicide bombing and target killings receded in Pakistan? Have ethnic and sectarian clashes transformed into chapters of history? Do the people of Pakistan feel secure? Has peace finally prevailed? Unfortunately, the answer is a big NO! The only achievement the drones attacks can boast of is the empowerment gained by the US to attack Pakistani people and territory as they desire and please, which is being done as discontent and unrest is brewing in the region where US operatives roam around freely in big cars with dark glasses creeping the local populace as they go about their mysterious and sinister activities. The least the leadership can do is to keep an eye on what the US officials are doing in Pakistan and force those who are operating drones to provide a complete picture of each and every attack with a video footage from the camera installed in the unmanned vehicle so that we may be informed of all those who have been targeted, surely that is how they know who they are killing in the process, so that there remains no room for ambiguity. Umar Qayyum Malik, Islamabad
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INVESTORS SEEK GOLD EAR of inflation has always been one of the prime reasons for investing in gold, yet in an era of nail-biting uncertainty, investors are buying the shiny stuff to ward against price swings in either direction. This was to be the year when the world economy flourished after suffering recession in 2009, corporate profits would bloom and central banks would remove their policy safety nets. Investors would be ready to assume more risk, leaving their well-worn security blankets like gold to gather dust. Things could not be more different. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep U.S. monetary policy loose as the economy struggles, global stocks are still a good 30 percent off pre-crisis highs and analysts are likely to trim their 2011 earnings forecasts, at least in Europe. Market gauges of inflation expectations show little more than a muted rise in price pressures, but the more wary investors are taking no chances, and their hunt for safety has driven gold to new record highs this week above $1,270 an ounce. "Forgetting the present, generically speaking, gold is a hedge against inflation. In normal times, it would not be a hedge against deflation ... but because this time the association with deflation is panic, then that flight to quality and liquidity is worth something," said Charlie Morris, head of the HSBC Asset Management Absolute Return Fund.
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"Given value credentials of gold, it would survive the current era of inflation and win mandates on the quality angle as opposed to anything else." THEORY AND PRACTICE Theory dictates the value of gold rises as other prices rise, unlike the value of a currency, which is eroded by inflation, leaving long-term investments such as government bonds at the mercy of the swings in consumer price indexes. In nominal terms, the price of gold has more than tripled in the last 20 years, to around $1,270 an ounce, from roughly $400 an ounce in 1990. Adjusted for inflation however, the price has risen by some 70 percent in that time, so in 1990's money, today's gold price is only worth about $700. Europe's sovereign debt crisis has unleashed austerity policies across the region that could quash consumer spending, while growth in the United States remains stubbornly anaemic and even China's economy is showing signs of moderating. Policymakers are bombarding the markets with cash to keep credit flowing to the interbank lending mechanism, which has not fully recovered from the shock of the 2007 credit crunch. "In a deflationary environment where asset prices are plunging, then by holding its value, gold will outperform. It is a bit of a chameleon and that's what attracts people to it," said RBS head of com-
modity research Nick Moore. That said, Moore added he only places a 10 percent weighting in his gold price expectations on the inflation argument itself. He believes gold's safe-haven appeal will ultimately be what spurs it to outperform other asset classes. Japan is the most widely used example of a developed nation caught in a deflationary spiral, in which prices have essentially declined for more than a decade.
This has not been the case in the United States. The core PCE, the Fed's preferred measure of inflation, has fallen since late 2008, when the credit crunch unfolded, but is still within the bank's target band of 1 to 2 percent. In the last two decades, the U.S. consumer price index has risen by 65 percent, while gold has risen by 250 percent. Looking at the most common market measures of U.S. inflation expectations,
the five-year breakeven inflation rate -- derived from subtracting the yield of the benchmark inflation-linked bond from that of the nominal bond -- shows fixed income investors anticipate an inflation rate of around 1.35 percent. Further out, investors are less sanguine. The 10-year breakeven rate is around 1.80 percent, which although low by historical standards, is up from around 1.5 percent in August. "This is important for pre-
cious metals, not necessarily because we expect inflation to run rampant and push precious metal prices higher, but it signals a move away from deflation fears. A world where debt is an issue, falling prices will only amplify the problem," said Standard Bank analyst Walter de Wet. Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan himself said more than 10 years ago that gold was "the ultimate means of payment". "There are definitely
going to be a group of investors holding gold for financial reasons and that will be inflation/deflation. There will be others who hold it as a safe-haven play," RBS' Moore said. "It's been a great performer over the last ten years and now it's properly valued and accepted and part of society. Gold before was a bit of a pariah, one of these barbaric relics that no one understood and no one needed and that's now changed." -Reuters
Europe investors ponder change after US mid-terms "Emerging markets E
uropean investors are wondering whether the historical trend of U.S. stocks rising in the year or so after congressional mid-term elections is about to happen again. One clear issue is whether any loss of control by the ruling Democrats would lead to more-entrenched gridlock and leave the Federal Reserve alone to carry the economic policy can. But equally, some Europeans wonder whether the removal of political uncertainty, whatever the result, will outweigh the current benefits investors are finding in putting their money elsewhere, given the weak state of the economy. Reuters latest asset allocation poll of European investors showed exposure to U.S. equities fell in August to their second lowest level in 12 months. By contrast, holdings of euro zone and UK equities - both of which are benefit-
ing from exposure to ramped up emerging market growth -- rose. Economic news has favoured non-U.S. equities too as the U.S. economy has stumbled worse than others. Economists surveyed by Reuters in early September forecast U.S. GDP to average 2.7 percent in 2010, down from a 2.9 percent projection in an August poll and 3 percent in a July poll. This has left many large European investors neutral to bearish about U.S. stocks. Britain's Standard Life Investments, for example, says improved U.S. corporate cash flows are being offset by restrained domestic demand linked to consumer debt and the housing market. Equity markets themselves reflect the view. It is a lowreturn year in most places, but while emerging market shares are up more than 5 percent and Europe's FTSEurofirst 300 is up nearly 4 percent, the S&P 500's
gains are less than 1 percent. And year-to-date, U.S. equity funds have seen a net outflow of about $48.4 billion, according to EPFR Global. POLITICAL VOLATILITY While a good portion of all this clearly has more to do with relative economic growth than it does with elections, the approach of the vote for the U.S. House of Representatives and a third of the Senate is part of the mix. "The run up to the elections will be quite volatile and could make things more uncertain," said Mike O'Sullivan, head of global asset allocation at Credit Suisse's private bank, which is underweight U.S. equities. For the Europeans, it is not who wins or who loses the vote that is the main issue. What is key is what is left afterwards. Michael Dicks, head of investment strategy at
economically are just a lot stronger," Credit Suisse's O'Sullivan said.
Barclays Wealth, wonders about the impact of the Republicans capturing one or both of the U.S. congressional chambers, which some polls suggest is a possibility. "My main concern is that, post the elections, it will be difficult to get policy shifts through of any significance. Were a negative shock to come along, that would mean that the Fed would be on its own ... and (accordingly) might find it very hard to stimulate activity," he
said. By contrast, Mark Stoeckle, who runs U.S. equities in Boston for France's BNP Paribas Asset Management, reckons any result will allow for more action on taxes and the deficit, neither of which can be dealt with while a political campaign is going on. He is also hoping that the removal of political uncertainty at least for a while will let U.S. companies feel they can start using some of the cash that they have built
up and not spent. "I'm not totally convinced that they (company managers) are not using the midterm elections as part of the excuse not to do something," he told Reuters on a trip to London. This seems to be echoed by others. Median forecasts from 46 respondents surveyed by Reuters over the past week showed the Standard & Poor's 500 index closing the year at 1,195, 6 percent higher than Thursday's close. STILL LAGGING? But the big question for globally-focused investors is whether the elections will actually change anything. If, for example, the likes of Standard Life Investments is keeping a moderate distance from U.S. equities because of consumer debt and the housing market, it is likely that only a change in those economic fundamentals would change the stance.
Similarly, the U.S. elections in themselves are unlikely to change a global investment environment that favours hot emerging markets and countries tied to them through trade. "Emerging markets economically are just a lot stronger," Credit Suisse's O'Sullivan said. So the good news for those hoping that the mid-terms are only a temporary barrier to U.S. equity growth remains historical. Strategists at U.S.-based brokerage Auerbach Grayson have calculated that since 1914, the Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI has gained on average 49.2 percent from its mid-term election year low to its subsequent high in the following presidential election year, two years hence. Currently, that would put the Dow at more than 14,300 sometime in 2012, above its all-time high back in October 2007. -Reuters
Taiwan bourse set to be new funding hub in Asia Key is to attract big-name China firms
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aiwan's stock exchange looks set to become a sought-after destination for share listings by overseas and Chinese firms and notch up its ranking in Asia after rising popularity of Taiwan depositary receipts (TDRs) listings. Singapore-listed Chinese shipbuilder Yangzijiang's TDRs made a strong debut last Wednesday and have risen nearly 30 percent since then, boosting confidence among other companies to go public in Taiwan.
Several other Chinese firms, including Singaporelisted Ziwo Holdings, are in the pipeline to capitalise on higher valuations in Taiwan, where many companies price TDRs at a premium to their Hong Kong or Singapore shares. A landmark trade deal with China that will deepen economic ties, along with a deep local pool of cash-rich institutions and individuals and the premium that Chinarelated shares attract, make the bourse attractive for either primary or TDRs listings. "Liquidity in the market is ample and investors can participate in China growth. That's a very good selling point," said Andrew Deng,
assistant vice president at Taiwan International Securities. "The TDR effect will be seen and if sizeable companies, especially state-owned enterprises, can come to Taiwan, chances are high Taiwan's bourse can overtake South Korea's in size in the next three to five years." BOOSTING VISIBILITY Taiwan's bourse has a market capitalisation of some $679 billion, ahead of Singapore's $668 billion and just below the $797 billion of South Korea. But it is well behind the $3 trillion of Hong Kong and the $2.7 trillion of Shanghai. With China taking the global No.1 spot this year for
IPOs, Hong Kong still preeminent as a fund-raising centre and the Singapore exchange looking to grow by allowing trading of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Taiwan's bourse is seeking to ensure it does not fall behind. "Our strategy is doing things step by step," said Stanley Chu, a vice president at the Taiwan stock exchange. "We've seen TDRs from Singapore and China, but we will target Japan, and even the United States. "TDRs are the first leg and overseas primary listings are the second. They will support and boost the visibility of our market." The number of TDRs will double to 20
this year, helping the total number of IPOs to 50 in 2010 from 36 last year, the exchange said. Valuation differentials are attracting companies to Taiwan and investors to the firms. Among other TDR issuers, Solargiga Energy's TDRs have a premium of 71 percent and Ju Teng International's about 20 percent, respectively, over their Hong Kong shares. U.S.-based chip designer Integrated Memory Logic (IML) said it was attracted by Taiwan investors' interest in hi-tech firms for making a primary listing in Taipei. It surged 22 percent on its debut on May 18, though it has fallen 96 percent since
then. Total capital raised from TDRs was T$11.1 billion ($344 million) in JanuaryAugust, compared with T$33.7 billion in the whole of 2009, when there were two big TDR issues by Want Want China and Tingyi. Its scale, however, is still far smaller than Hong Kong, which saw the record-breaking $22 billion IPO of Agricultural Bank of China Ltd in July, and is readying for AIA Group's planned $15 billion IPO.. Some 59 companies are preparing to list in Hong Kong this year, according to Reuters data. The key for Taiwan, analysts say, will be to attract big-name Chinese firms such
as China Mobile or TCL. "If the relationship between Taiwan and China gets closer and closer, Taiwan's capital market will definitely be a major beneficiary," said Janet Tseng, a vice president at Taiwan's Yuanta Securities, which managed IML's IPO. But one cloud on the horizon is any tightening by China, which could hurt sentiment for TDRs. "We really have to keep a closer eye on what China will do next," said John Chiu, a vice president and fund manager at Taiwan's Fuh Hwa Securities Investment Trust. "If the overall stock market does not do well, (TDRs) will suffer." -Reuters
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Sunday, September 19, 2010
Acer, HTC, Avaya Joining Tablet Race
Mobile Prices Updated on 18 September, 2010
SYED ABUL ABBAS NAQVI
Nokia 1202 1203 1208 1209 1280 1616 1661 1650 1680 Classic 1800 2220 Slide 2330 Classic 2600 Classic 2690 2700 Classic 2730 Classic 3600 slide 3610 Fold 5030 5130 5220 5230 5233 5310 5320 5530 5630 5730 5800 6120 6220 Classic 6300 6303 6303i 6600 Slide 6600 Fold 6700 Classic 6720 Classic 6730 Classic 6760 Slide 7210 7230 7310 7510 7610 C1-00 C5 E5 E52 E55 E63 E66 E71 E72 E75 N78 N79 N82 N85 8GB N86 N95 8GB N96 N97 N97 mini N900 X2 X3 X6 16GB X6
2,100 2,050 2,200 2,250 2,075 2,350 2,625 3,250 3,650 2,750 4,300 4,450 4,950 5,300 6,700 7,900 12,900 9,600 3,025 7,800 10,400 13,400 12,200 12,400 14,900 17,300 17,200 23,000 21,700 11,700 17,900 10,800 11,300 10,700 18,900 19,000 19,800 20,200 15,200 18,800 8,550 10,750 11,000 14,000 13,200 3,200 14,200 21,300 21,200 23,000 16,800 20,000 21,300 27,500 24,000 19,800 26,300 26,000 22,800 31,500 36,000 36,500 39,000 33,000 39,500 9,800 11,900 31,500 57,000
Sony Ericsson T303 T707 W302 W380i W350i W395 W595 W705 W980 W902 W995 F305 S302 C510 C901 C902i C903 C905 G502 G700 XPERIA X1 Aino Jalou U100 Yari Satio Idou
8,700 16,800 9,600 8,800 7,700 9,700 13,200 19,000 18,200 43,500 25,600 9,400 8,200 12,700 14,800 15,600 16,100 21,400 14,500 12,800 33,000 30,800 17,300 18,700 38,700
Samsung B130 B200 B220 Guru B300 B3210 CorbyTXT B3410 B3410W Chat WIFI B5722 B7300 OMNIALite B7320 Omnia PRO Guru B100 E1080 E1100 E1125 E250 D980 (Dual Sim) J150 J700 M150 M200 M620 M3510 Beat b M3710 Corby Beat M7500 Armani M7603 Beat DJ M8910 Pixon 12 C3010S C3053 C3212 C3303k Champ C3510 Genoa C5212 DUOS S3310 S3653 Corby S3653 WIFI Star S5230 S5230W Star WIFI S5350 Shark S5550 Shark 2 S5560 Marvel S5620 Monte S7220 Ultra b S7350 Ultra s S8003 Jet S8300 Tocco Ultar Edition
2,050 2,600 3,900 3,600 9,700 12,000 13,400 15,400 24,000 19,200 2,450 2,200 2,450 3,200 5,200 20,300 6,550 7,550 5,100 6,200 6,250 9,200 12,700 30,300 32,000 40,600 5,700 6,000 8,000 7,600 8,800 9,800 7,900 10,600 13,400 11,000 12,300 12,000 14,500 15,600 15,500 21,000 22,100 24,000 28,200
LG KP110 KP199 KP220 KP320 KP175 KG288
3,700 6,600 6,500 8,500 5,950 2,450
NOTE: Always visit your local shop for the exact Mobile Phone prices.
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nother day, another tablet announcement. Computer maker Acer is reportedly planning to roll out a device that would fall between a smartphone and a tablet and would be similar to the Dell Streak, as well as two larger Android-powered tablets in the first quarter of 2011. HTC and Google are also reportedly collaborating to launch a tablet early next year that will run Google Android 3.0, DigiTimes is reporting. And Avaya Wednesday also announced plans for a 6-inch Android touchscreen tablet called Flare, which would rival Cisco's Cius communications tablet, announced in June. DigiTimes is reporting that the three Acer models would
have 5-inch, 7-inch, and 10inch panels. The 5-inch model is expected to fall between the
Halo Reach Breaks Xbox Live Record
Adobe Adds HTML5 Support To Illustrator
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dobe appears to be determined to continue its relationship with HTML5 despite its Appleorchestrated shotgun wedding earlier this year. On Monday, Adobe introduced Illustrator CS5 HTML5 Pack, a set of plug-ins for its drawing program that provide preliminary support for HTML5 and CSS3 and extend Illustrator's SVG capabilities. In April, Apple CEO Steve Jobs criticized Adobe's Flash technology and urged Adobe to "focus more on creating great HTML5 tools for the future, and less on criticizing Apple for leaving the past behind." HTML5 is the emerging standard for the next generation of Web applications. Both Apple and Google have been pushing HTML5 as an open development platform, though Apple's support for the still-limited technology has also served to underscore the value of writing more powerful native iOS apps. At the time of Jobs's denunciation of Flash, it appeared that Adobe had no choice but to increase its support for HTML5 in its Creative Suite software if the company was to continue to provide content creation tools that were relevant to iOS developers. Adobe CTO Kevin Lynch declared his company would make the best tools in the world for HTML5 because Apple's iOS developer rules effectively banned Adobe's Flash technology, among others. But Adobe's criticism of Apple reached ears in Washington and the possibility of regulatory action, coupled with complaints from the developer community, prompted Apple to reconsider its rules. Though pushed to support HTML5, Adobe isn't giving up on the technology now that Flash is back in the game. Earlier this year it delivered HTML5 support for its Dreamweaver Web authoring application. Now it's Illustrator's turn, and there's apparently more to come.
smartphone and tablet markets. Acer is in talks with both Compal Electronics and
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alo Reach, the new first-person shooter from Microsoft and Bungie, broke the record for online play on Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming service Tuesday-the same day it was released. "Reach already surpassed the all-time highest record for Halo 3 concurrent users on LIVE. Woot!" said a Bungie developer, in a post on the company's Twitter page. The developer did not specify how many gamers
logged in to play Halo Reach at the same time, but the numbers were likely significant. Microsoft and retail partner Best Buy held launch parties Monday night in New York, Seattle, and London,
England to mark the game's release. At the New York event, crowds lined up for blocks around the city's famous Times Square area to be among the first to purchase the game. Halo Reach, an Xbox 360 exclusive, is billed as a prequel to the original version of Halo. "Halo Reach follows the story of Noble Team, a squad of heroic Spartan soldiers as they make their final stand on planet Reach, humanity's last line of
defense between the terrifying Covenant and Earth," according to Microsoft. The game features a new graphics and audio engine that offers enhanced visuals and sounds over its predecessors, Microsoft said.
Quanta Computer to develop the tablet, DigiTimes said. In terms of a processor, the computer maker is said to be still evaluating Qalcomm's Snapdragon and Nvidia's Tegra 2 and has not made a decision which one to use for its Android tablet PC. The 5-inch tablet would let consumers have functionality for both handset and PC features. On the heels of the wildly successful Apple iPad, Acer, HTC, and Avaya are joining the ranks of the many other companies that have plans to launch tablets in 2011, including Research in Motion (RIM), Nokia, Motorola, Samsung Electronics, HewlettPackard, and LG Electronics. Many of those are expected to be 7-inch devices running Android.
Twitter Touts Redesign's Advantages For Marketers
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he latest enhancements to Twitter will make the microblogging site more effective and engaging for both consumers and marketers, Twitter chief operating officer Dick Costolo told more than 2,000 marketers on Thursday. Speaking at Connections '10, the annual three-day conference for users of ExactTarget's ondemand email marketing and interactive marketing solutions, Costolo said the revamped Twitter makes it easier for users to see information about the authors of Twitter posts, engage in conversations, and more easily link to photos and videos. "The new Twitter provides a richer, more compelling environment for businesses and customers to engage in conversation," he said. Costolo spoke after the unveiling of the ExactTarget Interactive Marketing Hub and CoTweet 3.0 Enterprise Edition. The Interactive Marketing Hub is designed to allow marketers to power all forms of real-time, interactive marketing across email, social media networks, mobile devices, and websites. Marketing professionals can plan, monitor, and track these marketing programs via one dashboard that aggregates all customer interaction, according to ExactTarget.
Google Voice Gains Widgets on Android Smartphones
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idgets are one of the better tools offered by Android handsets. Google has updated its Google Voice for Android app, and loaded it up with two new widgets that can be used to access user inboxes and account settings. The first widget is called the Google Voice Inbox widget. Once installed on an Android device's home screen, the widget lets users easily check their Google Voice messages. That includes both voice mails and text messages received through Google Voice. There are tiny arrows at the edge of the widget that, when pressed, advances to the next or previous message. See a message you want to read in its entirety? Select it, and the message will open in the full Google Voice application. The second widget is called the Settings widget. Google explains that it provides access to four Voice features. It can be used to: The settings widget also displays the amount of credit a user has left in his/her account. The two new widgets are added to the widget library once the new version of Google Voice has been installed on a device. Users can ignore them, add both, or add one or the other. After using them for a few moments this afternoon, my only complaint is that they are awfully small widgets, and can't be resized. These widgets were first spotted several weeks ago when a ROM of the then-unannounced HTC G2 leaked across the Internet.
Yahoo to Refresh Mail, Search
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ahoo, which has seen its relevance as a web portal diminish with the rise of social networks, is hoping to make a comeback through a major refresh of its services, starting with online search and email. The company on Thursday launched a product roadmap that
easier use of features and navigation through the inbox, Yahoo said. The same look-and-feel of the interface will be available on a PC browser, smartphone, tablet and other mobile devices. Yahoo also is claiming to have implemented technology within its data centers to make Yahoo Mail
will involve more frequent updates of all its services starting in the fall. Besides search and email, Yahoo services include instant messaging, applications for mobile devices and televisions and a number of content properties, such as news, finance and sports. A new version of Yahoo Mail will be available in beta in a few weeks. Yahoo claims to have 281 million users of the service. Among the improvements is a "cleaner, sleeker" interface for
faster. In a nod to the most popular social networks, users will be able to view and update Facebook and Twitter pages from the inbox. Other features include a new version of Yahoo's instant messaging service and a refurbished inbox search page. With search, Yahoo is focusing on the client, offering "more visually compelling search results that let you discover information and be entertained all on one search result page," the company said.
Android Owns Wirefly's Top 10 Summer Phone List
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t probably isn't much of a surprise to anyone that Android phones are flying off the (virtual) shelves. Given the wide popularity of Google's platform and the success of handsets such as the Motorola Droid, Android is the mobile industry's hottest ticket. A list of Wirefly.com's top 10 selling handsets for the summer of 2010 proves that U.S. buyers have Android on the brain. Keep in mind, this data comes from but one online retailer, and doesn't necessarily correlate to the wireless market as a whole. Still, it is an interesting snapshot nonetheless. Here is the list, ranked from
the highest-selling to the lowest: 1. Motorola Droid (Android) 2. HTC Aria (Android) 3. BlackBerry Bold 9700 (BlackBerry OS5) 4. Motorola Cliq XT (Android) 5. Samsung Intercept (Android) 6. Motorola Backflip (Android) 7. BlackBerry Curve 8530 (BlackBerry OS5) 8. LG Sentio (proprietary) 9. Nokia Nuron 5230 (S60 5th Edition) 10. LG Ally (Android) Six of these top 10 sellers are Android devices. That's a huge percentage.
"Android's recent ascent as the operating system of choice, combined with Wirefly's incredible pricing without the
hassles of rebates, makes it no surprise that Android devices were among our best sellers this summer," said Andy Zeinfeld, Chief Executive Officer of Simplexity, parent company of Wirefly.com in a prepared statement. "In fact, had the entire country not experienced mass shortages of such highly-touted Android smartphones as the HTC Evo 4G, Droid Incredible and Droid X, i's likely that more devices utilizing Google's open source operating system would have made it on our list."
Latest Gadgets Mophie already have the Juice Pack for the iPhone. The company has now launched a similar version, this time for the iPad. What it does is provides extra juice for the iPad while you are on the move. Up to 2.1 amps of charging output can be achieved. The capacity of the battery is 3600mAh making it the most powerful external battery pack for the iPad available.
HyperDrive iPad-Compatible 750GB Storage
iPod nano Watch
Powerstation for iPad Dell 10 inch Netbook / Tablet Dell has demoed a rather crazy looking convertible netbook/tablet device. The new device is called the Dell Inspiron Duo 10 and has a screen that swivels around to make the netbook in to a tablet form factor. The screen then rotates within the frame which can then be folded back down as needed which puts the screen on the outside of the device.
When Apple announced the iPod nano last week, the music player was seen with a watch filling the small square screen. This of course made a number of people look at comparing this thing to a watch and wearing it around a wrist. The strap is 22mm wide and is a Matatac Nylon band that has a section cut out for the clip to attach to. It comes in a number of colours.
The iPad comes in three capacities of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. If that isn't enough for you while you are on the road then perhaps the HyperDrive HDD with a 750GB capacity could be for you. The HyperDrive HDD is built by HyperMac and is capable of connecting up to the iPad via the camera connection kit.
Nikon CoolPix S80 Digital Camera Nikon has also announced the CoolPix S80 digital camera. The CoolPix S80 has a 3.5 inch ultra high resolution OLED touchscreen on the back that uses an enhanced user interface to help the user more easily work the camera. The touchscreen interface allows the user to take control of the shutter speed, zoom, playback amongst other features of the camera
BCCI admits Irfan Pathan approached by stranger NEW DELHI: The Cricket Board admitted that Irfan Pathan was approached by a "stranger" a few years back and said the discarded pacer had done the right thing by informing it to the team manager. Pathan did not disclose when exactly the incident happened and which team he was playing against at that time but said expensive gifts were sent to his hotel room during a series, reportedly in Pakistan in 2006, and he brought the matter to the team manager's notice."I was in a team hotel when a stranger approached me. He sent three expensive gifts to my room. He later sent me two more expensive gifts. I thought it was wrong as I didn't know this person. I reported to the team manager who then alerted the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit Officer," Pathan said.-Online
Pedrosa quickest in rain filled practice lap MADRID: In-form Dani Pedrosa celebrated this week's signing of a two-year contract extension with Honda by setting the fastest time in practice for the Aragon Grand Prix on Friday. The Spaniard, second in the MotoGP championship standings and bidding for a third straight victory after wins in San Marino and Indianapolis, was more than four-tenths of a second quicker than Ducati's Nicky Hayden in the dry morning session. Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo, who has a 63-point advantage over compatriot Pedrosa with six races remaining, was third fastest, 0.01 seconds behind American Hayden. Rain soaked the new track to the north-east of Madrid for the afternoon session and none of the riders came close to matching Pedrosa's earlier time. Australian Casey Stoner, who was fourth in the morning session, was quickest in the wet ahead of Lorenzo in second and Hayden in third. Pedrosa came in before the end of the session and was 13th.-Reuters
Colombian football on brink of collapse BOGOTA: The Colombian football federation is in such dire financial straits that the government is set to pass a bill that would open the country's professional clubs up to private investment. Officials recently revealed to having debts equivalent to 45.9 million euros. Federation president Louis Bodoya has warned that the federation runs "the serious risk of going bankrupt". Currently, around half of the 36 clubs in the top two divisions are experiencing financial woe. Some clubs have been unable to pay players' wages, leading to strike threats and half-empty stadiums. Carlos Gonzales, a member of the Professional Players Association, told AFP: "It's terrible. Even in the first third of the season a lot of clubs were unable to meet their commitments. And the second (third) of the season looks as though it will be even worse."-APP
Zar Ni Htet of Myanmar competes during the 4th South East Asian Archery C’ship
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Sunday, September 19, 2010
ICC sets up probe on Pak’s win Probe comes after newspaper provides info Scoring patterns at centre of investigation
Stoke City's Whitehead challenges West Ham United's Cole during their English Premier League soccer match in Stoke-on-Trent
English Board to talk over corruption scandal LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will meet on Saturday to discuss an ICC investigation into possible corruption during Friday's one-day international against Pakistan at the Oval. The International Cricket Council said on Saturday it is investigating the match after receiving information from a British newspaper alleging a suspicious scoring pattern in Pakistan's innings. Pakistan won the third game of the fivematch series by 23 runs. "The ECB is seeking clarification and details from the ICC and the ECB board will meet later today to discuss the matter," the board said in a statement on Saturday. Earlier ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the investigation followed a report in the Sun newspaper
which said bookmakers knew details of Pakistan's innings before the match began. "A source informed The Sun newspaper that a certain scoring pattern would emerge during certain stages of the match and, broadly speaking, that information appeared to be correct," Lorgat said in a statement. "We therefore feel it is incumbent upon us to launch a full enquiry into this particular game although it is worth pointing out at this stage that we are not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred. "The ICC maintains a zerotolerance approach to corruption. Any player or official found guilty of an offence will face the full rigour of our robust Anti-Corruption Code so that we can ensure the integrity of the sport is maintained."-Reuters
KRL, Army Wapda get victories in PPFL LAHORE: Four matches were decided in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) as defending champions KRL and Wapda, PEL and Pakistan Army gained full three points at Peshawar, Faisalabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi respectively on Saturday. KRL recorded one goal in each session to beat PAF 2-0 at Qayyum Stadium Peshawar Cantt. Samar Ishaq-led team dominated the show and gave no room to the airmen. Lanky Winger Muhammad Qasim broke the deadlock in the 37th minute as Rawalpindi-based team lead 1-0 at interval. Other winger Kalim Ullah Khan made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute when he side stepped three markers to seal the fate of the match. Army came out winner with last-ditch goal. The all-services clash between Navy and Army turned out to be listless affair as both teams relied too heavily on defensive tactics and moves were far and few in between at Rawalpindi.-APP
ISLAMABAD: Group photo of Andreas Dauth, Third Secretary Press & Commercial Section; Cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany with players of Mescon Football Academy. -APP
LONDON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched an investigation into Friday's one-day international between England and Pakistan, the sport's governing body said on Saturday. The decision was taken after the ICC received information from a British newspaper on a scoring pattern during the match, which Pakistan won by 23 runs, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement. "A source informed The Sun newspaper that a certain scoring pattern would emerge during certain stages of the match and, broadly speaking, that information appeared to be correct," Lorgat said. "We therefore feel it is incumbent upon us to launch a full enquiry into this particular game although it is worth pointing out at this stage that we are not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred."
A report in the newspaper said illegal bookmakers knew the scoring pattern in Pakistan's innings before the start of Friday's match at the Oval in London. "The ICC maintains a zero-tolerance approach to corruption," said Lorgat. "Any player or official found guilty of an offence will face the full rigour of our robust Anti-Corruption Code so that we can ensure the integrity of the sport is maintained." Three Pakistani cricketers -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir -- have already been provisionally suspended by the ICC following the spot-fixing scandal during a test match in England last month. A fourth player, Wahab Riaz, was quizzed by British police. HARSH DECISIONS Pakistan sports minister Aijaz Jakhrani said the government would not take action unless there is clear evidence against a player. "The ICC has the power
and an anti-corruption unit and they should go ahead and use that," Jakhrani told Indian news channel CNNIBN. "If they get any proof then we will definitely look into it." He added that if the government had cracked down on corruption in the past the recent scandals would not have happened. "If we had made some harsh decisions in the past it would not have happened. If we had taken some harsh decisions young players would not dare to do something wrong," he added. "This is the time when we have to take some tough decisions. This time we will not spare anybody." Jakhrani was also unhappy with the role of team management and felt they were not strict enough. "This is the thing management has to do. Access to players should not be easy and mobile phones should not be available to the players when they are playing."-Reuters
Hamilton impressed by Indian GP features
Nat’l cycling ship from 25th
NEW DELHI: McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was impressed by some of the features of the track for next year's Indian Grand Prix but would rather wait to drive there first before giving his verdict. "I have seen a couple of features of the track here in New Delhi but I have not used and tried that on simulator. It looks impressive," the 2008 champion, who has yet to see the track in person, told Times Now channel on Friday while on a promotional tour in Chennai. "You can never know what it's going to be like unless you go there and actually drive there." Subject to a final inspection, the October 30 Indian Grand Prix will be the 18th leg of next year's championship. Although Hamilton has yet
to see the track in person, the Briton was given a feel for it by race promoters who shared the original track design with some of the drivers. Hamilton was confident the race will put India firmly on the Formula One map. "I think it's really special and great that India has truly embraced this world of Formula One," he said. "We have Force India, we have (Hispania driver Karun) Chandhok and we had a couple of Indian (Formula One) drivers. The great thing is that we now actually have a Grand Prix here. "People here will get a real taste of what Formula One is all about. You see it on TV but you don't get the true feeling. When they come, see and breathe Formula One, they will be hooked for life."Reuters
LAHORE: The 58th edition of national cycling championship will be held here from September 25-28 at cycling velodrome. Pakistan Railways Sports Board in collaboration with Pakistan Cycling Federation is hosting the four-day premier activity which aims at further promoting cycling. All the affiliated units, Pakistan Army, Railways, WAPDA, Sui Southern Gas Company, all the four provinces and FATA will be the fielding strong teams in the event. Muhammad Junaid Qurashi President,PPRSB will inaugurate the competition at the velodrome. "All Arrangements have been finalized to hold the event in a befitting manner ",said Rashid Mahmood Butt,Organising Secretary of the championship while talking to this agency on Saturday.-APP
Gul hands over victory to Pak LONDON: Umar Gul took six wickets in a devastating display of quick bowling as Pakistan kept the one-day cricket series alive with a 23run victory over England at the Oval on Friday. Fawad Alam made 64 as Pakistan set England a seemingly unimposing total of 242 for victory. The hosts began their run chase in confident fashion with opener Andrew Strauss making 57 from 54 balls, but they lost five wickets for 68 runs as Pakistan tightened the screw. Eoin Morgan, in tandem with Luke Wright, steadied the England ship but Gul, who had earlier claimed the wickets of Strauss and Michael Yardy, tore through England's lower order. He dismissed Morgan and Tim Bresnan in the same over,
Pakistan's Umar Gul appeals for the wicket of England's Wright without success during the third one-day international cricket match at the Oval cricket ground in London
before taking the wickets of Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann to leave the tourists on the brink of victory. Abdul Razzaq finished off
the job with the wicket of James Anderson to leave the five-match series poised at 2-1 in England's favour. "Chasing 242 you would
back yourself to win at the Oval but Umar Gul in particular was outstanding," England captain Strauss told Sky Sports.
"Any time a bowler gets six wickets for 42, generally he is going to be in the winning side. "To be fair to Umar, he got the ball reversing both ways and that is always tough to contend with." England's bowlers quickly took the fight to their opponents, reducing Pakistan to 313. Alam and Asad Shafiq steered Pakistan out of immediate danger, adding 64 runs before the latter was caught off the bowling of Swann. Alam dug in and scored 64 before he was caught by Strauss at midwicket having lifted the tourists to 181-6. Anderson and Bresnan, who claimed three wickets apiece, cleaned up the tail and England began their run chase brightly. Openers Strauss and Steven
Davies put 35 on the board before Abdul Razzaq up-rooted Davies's off stump and Shoaib Akhtar ensured Jonathan Trott quickly followed him back to the pavilion with a difficult, inswinging yorker. England collapsed to 103-5 before Morgan and Wright brought some stability, adding 98 runs without loss. Then Gul, who finished with figures of 6-42, took control as England's last four wickets fell for just 18 runs. "I think we are capable of beating any good team," Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said. "I didn't think our total was enough; I thought we were 30 or 40 runs short, but good teams can defend any total. Umar Gul was amazing."Reuters
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We want cricket back in Pakistan: Waqar ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Coach, Waqar Younis is hopeful that Pakistan will play cricket at home someday saying that Pakistani people are waiting for cricket to come back home. I hope it comes as soon a possible. We want to take cricket back into Pakistan, there are heaps of stadiums there and the people are waiting for cricket to come back," Waqar said. "I don't know how long it will take but I want it to happen as soon as possible." Meanwhile, Waqar has urged his Pakistan side to go on and win the current One-day series against England after their stunning display at The Oval on Friday, according to cricket365 website. Their 23-run victory, built on Umar Gul's brilliant show of reverse swing bowling, left the series 2-1 in England's favour with
Junior Kabaddi team trials today FAISALABAD: The trials for the selection of Pakistan Junior Kabaddi Team will be held at Bohranwali Ground here on September 19. A spokesman of Pakistan Kabaddi Federation told the media persons that Kabaddi players having 70 kilogram weight are eligible to participate in the trials. He said the selected Junior Kabaddi Team will visit India in October where it would face Junior Kabaddi Team of Indian Punjab in various Kabaddi matches to be held at Amratsar, Jalandhar, Ludihana, Hushyarpur, Chandigarh, Patyala and Gardaspur.-APP
a game at Lord's on Monday and the final match in Southampton on Wednesday to come. Pakistan's tour has been dogged by spot fixing allegations although they have managed a Test win against both Australia and England on the trip but Waqar still
believes his side can come back and seize an unlikely series win despite the off field troubles. "The series is still alive and it gives us the incentive that we can come back and win the series now," said Waqar. "The momentum is with us. It is
outstanding to be going to Lord's with this win behind us and we will be looking to make it 2-2. There is no reason why not. It has been a real tough tour on and off the field with a very young side. We have done pretty well. We won two Test matches and I am pretty pleased if you look at the bigger picture but there is still work to be done." "Hopefully in the next two games we can produce some better cricket. In the first two games we produced some pretty good cricket but we just couldn't finish. I am happy with the overall performance but we probably could have done better and we will discuss that. We could have put another 30 or 35 runs on the board. We are a really young side with young bowlers and we have always been very good when it comes to reverse swing."-APP
PCB refutes recent match-fixing report KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday rejected reports that the ICC is investigating the national team's third one-dayer against England for suspected match-fixing, saying that there is "no truth" in them. British tabloid 'The Sun' claimed that the ICC is investigating the match, which Pakistan won by 23 runs on Friday, "after its probe exposed evidence apparently showing that bookies knew details of Pakistan's innings before the match even began." But PCB chairman Ejaz Butt rubbished the report. "These are meaningless allegations without any proof. I haven't read the report so I can't comment any further," Butt said. "The ICC has not got in touch with us on any such accusation. That is total imagination. There is
no truth in it," he added. The latest report comes close on the heels of the spot-fixing scandal that led to the suspension of Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and the pace duo of Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif. "The new investigation will center on suspicious scoring patterns in Pakistan's innings and on two suspect overs during yesterday's match at The Oval," the report stated. "Illegal bookies in India and Dubai apparently knew in advance what would happen so they could launch a betting coup. But The Sun's undercover team was able to pass details to ICC inspectors before the match began." According to the newspaper, the scoring pattern of the game matched with the "target that bookies had been told in advance by a fixer." The tabloid
claimed it "received details of calls between a notorious Dubai-based match fixer and a Delhi bookie." "We alerted ICC corruption busters led by ex- police Chief Sir Ronnie Flanagan. After a frantic round of calls the ICC decided to issue a general warning to Pakistan's players, but by then the game had started," it said. However, Butt remained dismissive of the report and said, "No point in giving a comment on this. No truth in it." The tabloid claimed that ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat "thanked it for its investigation and pledged tough action on any players found guilty." It said the ICC is also "investigating whether the same cartel rigged a Test between Pakistan and Australia in July after allegedly paying players 700,000 pounds."-Online
Serbia and Czech Republic tied in Davis Cup Tennis Stepanek beats Troicki to put Czechs ahead n Tipsarevic upsets Berdych to redress balance n
BELGRADE: Janko Tipsarevic upset Wimbledon 2010 finalist Tomas Berdych to pull Serbia level with the Czech Republic after the first day of their Davis Cup world group semi-final on Friday. Tipsarevic outgunned Berdych 7-5 6-2 2-6 7-6 to take the score to 1-1 after Czech Radek Stepanek had fought back from a set down to beat Viktor Troicki, who stood in for the ill and exhausted Novak Djokovic, 4-6 6-2 6-4 6-4. Under pressure after Troicki lost his match and facing a rival 30 places above him in the ATP rankings, Tipsarevic produced outstanding tennis to down world number seven Berdych after three hours 38 minutes. "It was a great atmosphere and I am glad the fans got behind me when I needed their support most," Tipsarevic said in a courtside interview after coming back from a break down in the fourth set. "The opening day has shown that Serbia is still a good team even if Djokovic has to take a day off, while we are one of the best teams in the world with him," he told a news conference after getting a standing ovation from the fans. World number two Djokovic, who was exhausted on arrival in Belgrade from New York late on Wednesday after he lost the delayed U.S. Open final to Rafael
Nadal, said he hoped to be fit for Saturday's doubles or Sunday's reverse singles. Tipsarevic added: "I headed into this match like I would in a grand slam event or an ATP tournament, without putting any more pressure on myself than I had to because we were 1-0 down. "I would have done the same if Troicki had won because it's the only way to beat a top-ten player like Berdych." The Serbian took the opening two sets with a flurry of forehands down the line, backhand returns and cross-court winners which left Berdych bedazzled. He appeared to run out of steam after the Czech adopted a more aggressive approach to take the third set and a 3-1 lead in the fourth, but regained his composure to break back straight away and force a tie-break. Berdych, who turned 25 on Friday, fought back from 5-2 down to reach 6-5 but failed to hold his nerve and blasted a forehand wide to send the home fans into raptures. THOROUGHLY OUTPLAYED Troicki was thoroughly outplayed by Stepanek after winning the opening set. Roared on by a small band of vociferous Czech fans among 15,000 home supporters in the Belgrade Arena, Stepanek tor-
mented his rival with a series of forehand winners and sliced dropshots. Stepanek converted five of his seven break points and 24 of his 29 net points, while Troicki made 50 unforced errors, including a wide backhand down the line which handed Stepanek victory after three hours. "I expected to play Djokovic and not Troicki so I had very little time to adjust and prepare a different strategy, hence I am very pleased with my performance," said Stepanek. Troicki said: "This is one of the most painful defeats of my career. I can't explain what happened after the opening set, I just lost my rhythm and focus."
Serbia's doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic is certain to play on Saturday but team captain Bogdan Obradovic faces a dilemma over who to put alongside him. "We have to think it over, it will probably be a last-minute decision because we have several good players at our disposal to team up with Zimonjic," he said. The Czechs are hoping to reach their second successive final after losing to Spain last year, while Serbia are aiming for their first after getting into the competition's top tier for the first time in 2008. In the final, the winners of the Belgrade tie will play either France or Argentina who were meeting in Lyon, with the French leading 2-0 after Friday's opening day.-Reuters
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Melting ice baring ancients ruths Alister Doyle
C
limate change is exposing reindeer hunting gear used by the Vikings' ancestors faster than archaeologists can collect it from ice thawing in northern Europe's highest mountains. "It's like a time machine...the ice has not been this small for many, many centuries," said Lars Piloe, a Danish scientist heading a team of "snow patch archaeologists" on newly bare ground 1,850 meters (6,070 ft) above sea level in mid-Norway. Specialized hunting sticks, bows and arrows and even a 3,400-year-old leather shoe have been among finds since 2006 from a melt in the Jotunheimen mountains, the home of the "Ice Giants" of Norse mythology. As water streams off the Juvfonna ice field, Piloe and two other archaeologists -working in a science opening up due to climate change -- collect "scare sticks" they reckon were set up 1,500 years ago in rows to drive reindeer toward archers. But time is short as the Ice Giants' stronghold shrinks. "Our main focus is the rescue part," Piloe said on
newly exposed rocks by the ice. "There are many ice patches. We can only cover a few...We know we are losing artefacts everywhere." Freed from an ancient freeze, wood rots in a few years. And rarer feathers used on arrows, wool or leather crumble to dust in days unless taken to a laboratory and stored in a freezer. Jotunheimen is unusual because so many finds are turning up at the same time -600 artefacts at Juvfonna alone. Other finds have been made in glaciers or permafrost from Alaska to Siberia. Italy's iceman "Otzi," killed by an arrow wound 5,000 years ago, was found in an Alpine glacier in 1991. "Ice Mummies" have been discovered in the Andes. RESCUE Patrick Hunt, of Stanford University in California who is trying to discover where Carthaginian general Hannibal invaded Italy in 218 BC with an army and elephants, said there was an "alarming rate" of thaw in the Alps. "This is the first summer
since 1994 when we began our Alpine field excavations above 8,000 ft that we have not been inundated by even one day of rain, sleet and snow flurries," he said. "I expect we will see more
as a likely side-effect of global warming caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases, the U.N. panel of climate experts says. The panel's credibility has suffered since its 2007 report
we have had a worldwide trend of glacial retreat," said Michael Zemp, director of the Swiss-based World Glacier Monitoring Service. While many factors were at play, he said "the main driv-
'ice patch archaeology discoveries'," he said. Hannibal found snow on the Alpine pass he crossed in autumn, according to ancient writers. Glaciers are in retreat from the Andes to the Alps,
exaggerated a thaw by saying Himalayan glaciers might vanish by 2035. It has stuck to its main conclusion that it is "very likely" that human activities are to blame for global warming. "Over the past 150 years
er is global warming." In Norway, "some ice fields are at their minimum for at least 3,000 years," said Rune Strand Oedegaard, a glacier and permafrost expert from Norway's Gjoevik
Air pollution can arrest your heart B
reathing in soot and other fine particles from the urban air may increase the risk of suffering a deadly heart stoppage, suggests a new study of more than 8,000 cardiac arrests in New York City. "As the levels of particulate matter air pollution increased, more cardiac arrests occurred," lead researcher Dr. Robert A Silverman of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, in New York, told Reuters Health in an e-mail. Research had already linked air pollution to health problems such as cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, asthma and chronic lung disease. But Silverman and his colleagues wanted to know if these airborne chemicals, particularly tiny particles and liquid droplets produced by the combustion of cars and coalfired power plants, might also raise the risk of sudden death from a cardiac arrest -- a severe event brought on when the heart muscle's rhythm becomes erratic. Cardiac arrest accounts for more than 300,000 deaths in the US each year. When cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital, victims typically have less than eight percent chance of survival. So the team compared readings from air quality monitors around New York City with the records of 8,216 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that happened between 2002 and 2006. When they looked at fine particulate matter (particles 2.5 micrometer or less in size), they found that the risk of having a deadly cardiac arrest rose by between four and 10 percent
with every 10-microgram-per-cubic-meter increase in fine particulates. (To protect public health, the US Environmental Protection Agency has set the safe air quality standard for this pollutant to 35 micrograms per cubic meter.) The greatest risks appeared in the warm weather seasons. No differences in effects were seen between men and women, or between middle-aged and older individuals. In addition to the potential hazards of particulate matter, the researchers also examined ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, but none of these showed a significant association with the risk of cardiac arrest. "This is not to say that these gaseous pollutants do not affect the heart," Silverman said. "What we observed was that small particles have the strongest link." And, of course, the behavior of air pollution can be complicated, explained Dr. Robert A. Kloner of the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles. Gaseous pollutants will mix with fine particles, he said, essentially becoming part of the particulate matter. In a separate study, Francesca Dominici of the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, and her colleagues recently identified a link between heart failure hospitalizations and rises in particulate matter across several US urban areas. She noted that her team's results were consistent with the findings from New York.
Despite the density of hospitals in cities, Silverman suggested they might be especially risky places in terms of sudden cardiac death from air pollution. It may take extra time for rescue workers to reach a victim in a tall building or a crowded office complex, and severe pollution may be more common because of congested roadways and oil-burning buildings. "Being indoors may offer only limited protection since small particles can penetrate into buildings and homes," said Silverman. He and his colleagues are currently studying whether being in close proximity to vehicle traffic increases the risk of sudden death. "Bottom line for large cities," he added, "more pollution, more arrests and very little chance for survival." Further, the problem isn't limited to New Yorkers. The American Lung Association estimates that a third of people in the US live in areas where fine particulate matter reaches unhealthy levels. "Controlling air pollution may be a preventative way to decrease the number of deaths from heart disease," noted Silverman, pointing out that the levels of fine particles seen in their study rarely exceeded the current EPA standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter. "In this sense, the current standard does not adequately protect human health." Kloner agreed. "Regulatory acts and strict adherence to clean air standards," he said, "are the best ways to combat negative cardiovascular effects of air pollution."-Reuters
Mood swings shorten with fertility treatment W
omen who undergo fertility treatment with drugs known as GnRHagonists run a risk of depression and anxiety symptoms, even if they have a relatively shorter course of therapy, a new study suggests. Published in the journal of Fertility and Sterility, the report concludes that the medications themselves may not be triggering mood symptoms, but that another factor -- like the stress of infertility treatment -- may be at work. The study followed 108 Israeli women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) at one infertility treatment center. As part of the treatment, the women received injections of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a), one of the drugs used to help stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. The agonists act by first boosting the body's production of two hormones that stimulate the ovaries to churn out estrogen; after that initial surge, however, a woman's estrogen levels drop for a time. This estrogen depletion can trigger temporary menopause-like symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness and mood disturbances. Women in the current study were randomly assigned to have either a "short" or "long" treatment protocol -- under the theory that the shorter course would be less likely to increase depression and anxiety symptoms if the drugs were indeed responsible for them. Forty-eight women were randomly
assigned to the long course, beginning with GnRH-agonist injections for two weeks, which caused the women's levels of estrogen and progesterone to drop. The subjects then began additional hormonal drugs to stimulate egg production. The remaining 60 women underwent the short protocol, which bypassed the initial GnRH-only, estrogen-depleted phase. The long IVF course lasted about six weeks total, and the shorter one about four weeks. Using standard questionnaires on depression and anxiety, the researchers found that the average symptom scores increased in both groups during the second half of the treatment -- after the women had received the hormone gonadotropin and their estrogen levels were elevated. The findings "strongly argue against the possibility that GnRH-a exacerbates or induces mood symptoms during (IVF) cycles," write the researchers, led by Dr Miki Bloch of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel. Instead, Bloch told Reuters Health in an email, it may be that "the emotional response to the fertility treatment and the stress involved is a strong enough trigger to induce significant mood symptoms in many women, and this is irrespective of the short-term use of a (GnHRagonist)." Bloch added, however, that none of this means that in other treatment contexts -including with longer-term use -- GnHR-ago-
nists would not affect mood, as "they obviously do." The paper also notes that in other situations -- premenstrual dysphoric disorder, postpartum depression and perimenopause -- mood syndromes are often related to hormone fluctuations, rather than just low hormone levels. In this light, the lack of a connection between the GnHR-agonists and mood problems, the authors speculate, may be that it's not the extremely low estrogen levels the drugs induce, but rather the "rapidity and magnitude" of changes in hormonal levels inherent in the IVF process that might contribute to mood symptoms. In the study, the changes in depression and anxiety scores in both treatment groups were small, and would not be considered "very robust clinically," according to Bloch. However, he pointed out that the study looked at the two groups' average scores, so the increases would indicate that some women did have a meaningful change in symptoms of depression and anxiety. The bottom line for women having IVF, according to Bloch, is that they should anticipate some effects on mood. "However," he added, "there seems to be no advantage from the emotional point of view to the shorter protocol that 'bypasses' the (low hormone) state." The study was funded by National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel.-Reuters
University College. The front edge of Jovfunna has retreated about 18 meters (60 ft) over the past year, exposing a band of artefacts probably from the Iron Age 1,500 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating. Others may be from Viking times 1,000 years ago. Juvfonna, about 1 km across on the flank of Norway's highest peak, Galdhoepiggen, at 2,469 meters, also went through a less drastic shrinking period in the 1930s, Oedegaard said. REINDEER Inside the Juvfonna ice, experts have carved a cave to expose layers of ice dating back 6,000 years. Some dark patches turned out to be ancient reindeer droppings -- giving off a pungent smell when thawed out. Ice fields like Juvfonna differ from glaciers in that they do not slide much downhill. That means artefacts may be where they were left, giving an insight into hunting techniques. On Juvfonna, most finds are "scare sticks" about a meter long. Each has a separate, flapping piece of
wood some 30 cm long that was originally tied at the top. The connecting thread is rarely found since it disintegrates within days of exposure. "It's a strange feeling to be tying a string around this stick just as someone else did maybe 1,500 years ago," said Elling Utvik Wammer, a archaeologist on Piloe'ss team knotting a tag to a stick before storing it in a box for later study. All the finds are also logged with a GPS satellite marker before being taken to the lab for examination. The archaeologists reckon they were set up about two meters apart to drive reindeer toward hunters. In summer, reindeer often go onto snow patches to escape parasitic flies. Such a hunt would require 15 to 20 people, Piloe said, indicating that Norway had an organized society around the start of the Dark Ages, 1,500 years ago. Hunters probably needed to get within 20 meters of a reindeer to use an iron-tipped arrow. "You can nearly feel the hunter here," Piloe said, standing by a makeshift wall of rocks exposed in recent weeks and probably built by an ancient archer as a hideaway.-Reuters
Coffee guzzling grans less likely to get gout A few cups of java every day over many years cuts the risk of gout in postmenopausal women in half, Boston researchers report. Characterised by a buildup in the blood of uric acid that forms needlelike crystals, gout is rare in younger women but occurs in about one in 20 postmenopausal women. It comes and goes and in early stages mostly affects the feet. "The pain is described as one of the most severe pains a human being experiences, like a breaking bone. You can't walk and even the weight of a bed sheet is not bearable," lead author, Dr Hyon Choi of Boston University's School of Medicine, told Reuters Health. Previous research by Choi demonstrated drinking coffee lowers gout risk for men. He and his colleagues wanted to see if the same held true in women, especially older women who, after menopause, lose the uric-acid clearing benefits of estrogen. The Choi team looked for cases of gout in 89,433 women enrolled in the large and long-term Nurses' Health Study that began in 1976. The researchers also analyzed the lifestyles, diet, and beverage consumption habits of the women documented since 1980 through questionnaires filled out by study participants every two to four years. After statistically controlling for other gout risk factors such as body-fat mass, alcohol consumption, use of diuretics and dairy intake, they found that a lifetime of drinking coffee appeared to make a significant difference in the risk of a first attack of gout. "The higher the consumption level, the lower the risk," Choi said. Eight-hundred ninety-six cases of gout were confirmed among the study participants. But within that group, the number of cases dropped as coffee consumption increased from less than a cup a day (226 cases) to more than four cups a day (85 cases). "The risk of gout was 22 per cent lower with coffee intake of 1-3 cups a day and 57% lower with a coffee intake of more than 4 cups a day" compared to those with no coffee consumption, the authors wrote in the August 25 issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Similar risk reductions were not seen in women who drank a lot of caffeinated tea or soda pop, whereas drinking decaffeinated coffee did offer a "modest" benefit. That observation led the researchers to conclude that "components other than caffeine may also contribute" to the risk reduction. But what it is about coffee that staves off gout is still not clear, Choi said. And not everybody can tolerate it, he added, so he is not advocating that all older women start gulping coffee. As a practicing doctor, it would be "too much of a jump" to recommend someone, especially an older woman, take up coffee drinking to reduce their gout risk, he said. Not only can caffeine raise blood pressure and leach calcium, upping the risk of osteoporosis, he noted, the research only speaks to a benefit in long-term consumption. "If you start coffee in a gout patient, it's possible this benefit does not exist and might make it worse," he said. On the other hand, if you already drink coffee, and have a family history of gout -- it does run in families -- "I wouldn't stop," Choi said.-Reuters
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Sunday, September 19, 2010
Global pharma eyes China as patents end l Foreign pharmas tap China's talent pool, low R&D costs l Eye Asia, as chronic non-communicable illnesses spread l China set to become world No.3 pharma market by 2011 BASEL: A logo is pictured on Swiss drug makers Roche plant in Kaiseraugst near Basel.
Flood victoms
PPMA hands over two truckloads of medicines LAHORE: Pakistan P h a r m a c e u t i c a l Manufacturers Association (PPMA) here on Friday handed over two truckloads of medicines worth Rs 20 million to the Punjab government for flood victims. Provincial Minister for Education and Excise Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman received the medicines in a ceremony held here at Schazoo Laboratory. Special Secretary Health Abdullah Sumbal, Additional Secretary Health Muhammad Mushtaq, Director Health Dr Attiq-urRehman and executive member of PPMA Riasat Ali Bhatti were also present. Chairman Pakistan
P h a r m a c e u t i c a l Manufacturers Association (PPMA) Mian Asad Shujaur-Rehman and Co-Chairman pricing Committee Khawaja Shahzeb Akram said that the Pharmaceutical Industry had fulfilled its commitment of donating medicines worth Rs 100 million to flood victims. They said that Pharmaceutical Industry would cooperate with the government at all level for the availability of medicines and would continue this mission till the rehabilitation of floodhit people. Chairman PPMA Mian Asad Shuja-ur-Rehman while elaborating the details of donations of medicines by pharmaceutical Industry said
that the PPMA had already donated medicines worth Rs 30 million to the Punjab government. He said with the donation of two truckloads, the value of medicines donated to the Punjab government would reach to Rs 50 million. The PPMA had also donated medicines about Rs 50 million to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, Sindh, Federal Govt, Pakistan Army and different NGOs, he added. Mian Mujtaba Shuja-urRehman appreciated the contribution by the PPMA and extended gratitude on behalf of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. APP
Abbott Labs posts higher profit KARACHI: The Abbott Laboratory Ltd has posted a higher profit after tax of Rs 838.126 million for nine months ending August 31, 2010. According to financial results of the pharmaceutical company despatched to Karachi Stock Exchange here Thursday, the profit before tax has surged to Rs 1.182 million as earning per share also improved to Rs 8.56 compared to Rs 5.56 in the same period last year. -APP
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inducted in government departments. Among these beneficiaries former secretary Hussain Haqqani was appointed as Ambassador in US and Wajid Shams ul Hassan High Commissioner in UK. Majority of beneficiaries were employees of Wapda, PTCL, NADRA, Irrigation Department, Auditor General of Pakistan, Food Department, Accounts Department, Education and Customs. Former DG IB, Brig (Retd) Imtiaz Ahmad and former DG OGDC, Adnan A Khawja are also among the NRO beneficiaries and Supreme Court has already issued directives to take action against them. They are charged with accumulating wealth beyond their known sources of income. - Agencies
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Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi, Federal Ministers Makhdoom Amin Faheem and Sardar Asif Ahmed Ali besides provincial ministers, foreign dignitaries and elite of the city were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, Prime Minister has asked Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to resolve all issues relating to higher education. Reiterating his commitment to accord high priority to the education, he assured that the government would provide financial assistance to students studying abroad as per commitment. He further said that despite resource constraints on account of the flood devastation, education remains a high priority for the democratic government. In the light of the prime minister's direction, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has constituted a committee consisting of deputy chief of the Planning Commission, Secretary Education, Chairman Higher Education Commission and three vice chancellors of the universities to sort out the matters pertaining to the budgets of the universities. Earlier, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani inspected a low-cost pre-fabricated house specially manufactured for flood affected areas at Prime Minister's House on Saturday. The model was prepared by the Pakistan National Steel Association. The Prime Minister observed that the low-cost pre-fabricated house built with the galvanised sheets would be a suitable shelter mainly in the winter and rainy season yet would become quite uncomfortable during the summer months. The manufacturers apprised the Prime Minister that this 10x10 feet room including a separate toilet will be available at Rs65,000. They also informed the premier that the low-cost rust-free prefabricated house was suitable for winter season as well as hilly areas but the same can also be used in the hot regions by covering it with a thatch or applying reflecting paints. - Agencies
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responsible, must be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. The security of advocates in different parts of the country has also been found inadequate, particularly in respect of the cases of M Sardar Khan from KPK, Raja Riaz and Sardar Zulfiqar from Karachi, M Zaman Marri, Wilayat Hussain and Munir Ahmed Mirwani (reported missing and no recovery affected yet) from Balochistan. Similarly, the incident faced by the son-in-law of Justice Asad Munir of Lahore High Court has not been dealt with properly, so far. The Secretary Interior has been directed to remain in touch with the concerned authorities and make all possible efforts for bringing the culprits to book. - PPI
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started after Eidul Fitr vacations. He further stated that more shipments were arriving in the country with additional stock of petroleum and the government have been taking concrete measure to eliminate circular debt. - Online
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if we calculate at export of $10 billion, the cost of raw material being $5 billion, with this 15 per cent sales tax the government will generate $750 million which amount will remain be held up with government as interest free liquidity / loan of the exporters.
SHANGHAI: Western drug companies, struggling with expiring patents, a dwindling pipeline of new drugs and burgeoning costs, are looking to Asia's vast markets for new ideas, partnerships and customers. The biggest draw is China and many pharmaceutical giants, with their eye on the ageing population of the world's No. 2 economy, are lobbying to have their drugs included on key government lists for subsidised drugs and seeking collaborations with Chinese firms. "The focus has shifted in the last two years to the unique medical needs of Asia and of course, China is the most important part," said Bradley Marchant, Pfizer Inc's head of clinical development in Asia, told Reuters on the sidelines of a pharmaceutical forum in Shanghai. China is expected to become the world's thirdlargest pharmaceutical market by 2011, from ninth in 2003, according to IMS Health Inc. Chronic illnesses like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer now account for 83 percent of all deaths in China. It is also troubled by a very high prevalence of hepatitis B, smoking- and pollution-linked respiratory dis-
He said sales tax was paid by the exporters and then refunded which not only involve cumbersome procedure, extra expenses on sales tax staff but also huge liquidity of the textile industry was blocked causing them immense hardship. He said that discontinuing the zero rating on exports would open floodgates of corruption and encourage large number of fake firms to make flying invoices and make easy money which would be a huge loss once again to the government. Appreciating the efforts of the foreign minister at Brussels for getting the grant of duty free access from EU, he said that all this would go in vain with the discontinuing zero rating of exports. He wondered what will be the fate of our exports after phasing out of zero rating when with our entire capital and liquidity blocked, the banks also are not prepared to give loans to the textile sector. We strongly suspect that someone in the government is misguiding the government and intends to open floodgates of corruption by promoting discontinuation of zero rated which will result in many units to close down and creation of large number of sick units. He stated that in the present most difficult scenario when gas and electricity prices are skyrocketing and in the face of the flood disaster when more than 10 million people have become homeless and with losses of $43 billion initially as estimated by the government, it will be impossible to absorb the large number flood-affectees in jobs. He pointed out that recently FBR issued a general procedure for active taxpayers which include a harsh provision of declaring them non-active on the basis of discrepancies on e-filing if not responded within 15 days, despite the fact that generally it is a part of the systemic problems. These sorts of draconian laws will further create mistrust among taxpayers community resulting in great mess and chaos. Zubair Motiwala stated that today we have to create jobs due to exodus of flood-affectees and we appeal to the government to prevail upon the US for duty free access. In this regard he proposed that the US government creates an endowment fund at customs stage and US government helps to pay custom duty which would amount to totally $300 million which will prove US long term relationship with Pakistan. Jawed Bilwani, Coordinator CAPTA stated that we are well aware that the government does not have any liquidity as a result of which apart from pending sales tax refunds' claims of approximately Rs12 billion, huge amount of drawback claims of the exporters have not been cleared since last couple of years with all their capital and liquidity blocked indefinitely with the government. He said that with the introduction of inland revenue already all refund affairs have come to a complete halt since last one year. Numerous notices of audit and discrepancies have become part of routine affairs which is adding to misery of the taxpayers. Jawed Bilwani said that the government should charge sales tax on retail sales which is not paid back and must exempt the manufacturerscum-exporters because sales tax is taken and then given back which involves large government machinery and proves to be an exercise in futility. Due to shortage of collectors, auditors and staff, government instead of incurring huge amount of money on such overheads can use them for generating sales tax from retail sales. He warned that if the government discontinues zero rating, flight of capital to Egypt, Sri Lanka etc would increase and lead to great problems and chaos in our country. Yaseem Siddique, Acting Chairman, APTMA endorsed the views expressed by Zubair Motiwala and Jawed Bilwani and said that the government by discontinuing zero rating will definitely go once step back, he gave example of imposition of wealth tax which was implemented and then again withdrawn and wondered why the government first learns and agrees with the advantage of a policy and then again repeat mistakes. He said that in case of turnover tax the government increased this from 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent when even 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent is determining factor and greatly affects the industry. With rising costs of electricity, gas and other utilities and rising cost of doing business the whole exercise of discontinuing zero rating will crush the entire textile sector. In conclusion, the entire 16 textile associations assembled at PHMA House, Karachi appealed the government specially President, Prime Minister and Finance Minister to continue zero rating of sales tax on the textile sector which would save huge amount of revenue. - Online
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issues affecting peace and security. The foreign minister will address the General Assembly on September 28. He is also scheduled to address US think-tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations and Asia Society in New York. - Online
eases. Markets aside, China's appeal lies also in its drug research units, many headed by Chinese scientists who have returned after years of studying and working in the United States and Europe. For the western drug firms, the imminent prospect of a large drug patents set to expire has added a sense of urgency to their search for partners. The top two drugs faced with patent expiry are Pfizer Inc's cholesterol fighter Lipitor and the anti-clotting Plavix, sold by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and SanofiAventis. Marchant said Pfizer would be interested in collaborating with partners in China on liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, and cancer. Liver related diseases are especially prevalent in Asia, and in particular China, because of the endemicity of hepatitis B, which is a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis, or hardening, and liver cancer. Swiss drugnaker Novartis AG said it was also looking to form partnerships. "We have only about half as many new drug candidates as we really want to have coming into our pipeline, so we need new and good ideas from
No #7
the outside," said Douglas Hager, Novartis' vice president of business development and licensing. And then there is the issue of cost. The need for drug firms to cut costs, driven by a generally tougher business environment, is made worse by cutthroat competition. While it cost $100 million to push out a drug back in 1979, by 2005, the cost had risen to $1.3 billion. Research chiefs of major drug companies say intense industry competition and high costs mean the market can no longer support the old way of drug research -- when firms kept large teams of in-house researchers and waited for results. "The old model for pharmaceutical research and development does not work and we have to find a new approach, an approach where we share risks and go into partnerships," Marchant said. "What we are seeing is an evolution of strategies, evolution of companies' mindsets in order to thrive in a very difficult environment. We can basically do full research using partners instead of our own labs." Patents too have become devalued because of a much
faster pace in drug discovery. While new drugs in the 1960s would find no competitors till more than a decade later, by the late 1990s, drugs would be faced with directly competing newcomers just months after being put on shelves. By "external innovation", Lee meant teaming up with local biotech companies and research institutes to share risks and costs. In China, research outfits such as the School of Biological Science at Nanjing University are increasingly seen by western pharmaceutical giants as ideal working partners. Researchers there are designing tests for early diagnosis of lung and pancreatic cancer through detection of certain molecules or biomarkers in the blood, called microRNAs. "Using microRNAs, we have been able to detect cancer 33 months before (conventional) clinical diagnosis," Zhang Chenyu, dean of the school, told Reuters in an interview. Zhang's team will be conducting larger clinical trials in the months ahead and hopes to win domestic approval from China' State Food and Drug Administration. Reuters
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Pakistan, India should undertake serious introspection of its policies that are in sharp variance to its international commitments including adherence to accepted human rights standards," the Foreign Office spokesman said. Earlier, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that India has once again asked Pakistan to take effective action against "infiltration from across the LoC and dismantle terror infrastructure there as it is the people of the state who suffer from the consequences of terrorism fomented from across the border." Indian Ministry of External Affairs' official spokesperson Vishnu Prakash's statement wherein he said: "India firmly rejects gratuitous statements issued by Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir, which amount to interference in the internal affairs of India. India has hit back at Pakistan rejecting as 'gratuitous' its statements on Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that they amounted to interference in the internal affairs of the country," PTI reported. - NNI
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Life gradually is returning to normalization in some areas of the provincial metropolis including Gulshan Iqbal, PECHS, Tariq Road, Kharadaar while transport was also partially restored at Faisal Highway, MA Jinnah road and Korangi. People faced severe miseries due to shortage of traffic in the city particularly students and job holders were compelled to travel at the roofs of vehicles. Attendance in the offices was very low due to lack of proper transportation in the city. -Online
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"This is a small but significant gesture from the highest levels of the Indian government conveying that the people of India stand by the people of Pakistan in their hour of need," Puri said and added that India has given an additional $5 million to the World Food Program. -PPI
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While responding to another application filed by the prosecution for summoning 16 Indian doctors who conducted the post-mortem examination of 166 victims of the Mumbai attacks, the defence lawyers sought autopsy reports of the victims and medico-legal reports on 300 people who were injured. The judge issued a notice to the prosecution in this regard and asked it to respond at the next hearing. Sources said arguments on the applications filed by the prosecution would be resumed during the next hearing on October 2. -Online
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CRPF men, were fired upon in Nai Basti area. A civilian identified as Noor-ul-Amin Dagga, 30, was killed and many others including two women were critically injured in the firing. On the other hand, two other youth, who were injured in the firing of men in uniform in Bemina and Shopian areas during anti-India protests succumbed to their injuries. Thousands of people took to streets in defiance of curfew amid pouring rain Saturday morning and joined the funeral procession of Ma'roof Ahmad alias Raju whose body was recovered from River Jehlum previous night. Police in Srinagar said body of Maroof was recovered from the river near Bhijbehera town. Maroof, according to the eyewitnesses, had jumped into the river on Monday to escape wrath of police which was chasing protesters during clashes in the area. Thousands of residents defied curfew and joined the funeral procession of the boy this morning. Reports said the police and paramilitary personnel first lobbed tear smoke shells and then fired directly at the procession, resulting in injuries to 15 people. One of the injured, Noor Amin died while being shifted to hospital. Indian army is now patrolling key roads of Srinagar and other major towns along with paramilitary forces as protests against Indian rule show no signs of abating. Meanwhile, international human rights body, the Amnesty International has urged Indian government to respect right of life in Kashmir. With the death toll continuously rising in protests, Amnesty called on the Indian authorities to take urgent steps to ensure respect for the right to life of Kashmiris. Meanwhile, curfew continued in the occupied territory for the seventh consecutive day on Saturday. Indian army and police personnel with guns and bullet proof vehicles were seen patrolling in Srinagar and other parts of the occupied territory. From midnight police vehicles could be heard making announcements that nobody should dare come out of his house warning that anybody violating the curfew orders would be shot dead. -NNI
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to its prices in international market; however, Rs43,000-level is just around the corner. Nazish Lutfi of ISMAR (Institute of Securities Managment And Research) said gold accounts for at least 26 per cent of Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves, indicating its feasibility for investment. He said gold burgeoned 300 per cent during the last ten years that is quite alarming, adding yellow metal could be sold if the economies around the world perform well, leading to the markets' crash. However, the investors should be cautious, he stressed.
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According to SC spokesman that a copy of new notification has been received from Establishment Division wherein it is laid down that notification in respect of promotion of officers from grade 21 to 22 is being withdrawn in commensurate with SC April, 28, 2010 judgment. The Registrar office of the Supreme Court has received a letter Saturday on 18.09.2010 from Establishment Division containing copies of fresh notifications wherein it is notified that Establishment Division's Notification No. 41/340/2009-E-I dated 04.09.2009 promoting officers from BS-21 to 22 is rescinded ab initio and declared to be of no legal effect as per Supreme Court of Pakistan's judgment dated 28.04.2010, given in Human Rights Cases No. 8340, 9504-G, 13936-G, 13635-P and 14306-G to 14309G of 2009, and the Establishment Division's notifications of even number dated 29.04.2010 and 16.09.2010 stand withdrawn. - Online
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Political motive seen in Imran Farooq’s murder LONDON: While it is too early to reach a judgment about the motives behind gruesome murder of Muttehada Qaumi Movement (MQM) senior leader Dr Imran Farooq in the residential street of north London on Thursday, yet detectives and senior staff members of Scotland Yard said they are working on the assumptions that the murder was politically motivated. Scotland Yard has passed the investigation responsibility to counterterrorism command SO15, indicating politicallymotivated assassination. The command is probing into the assassination of Dr Imran Farooq who was stabbed and beaten to death near his home in Green Lane, Edgware, north London when he was on his way to home from his job at a local pharmacy, said Mohammad Anwar, a friend for 25 years who worked with Farooq on the MQM's central coordinating committee. London Metropolitan Police confirmed on Saturday that Dr
Imran Farooq died from multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma to the head. A postmortem examination took place at Finchley Mortuary on Friday. Met spokesman also said: "Police want to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time or saw the attack." Farooq Sattar, MQM's deputy convener, said the timing suggested a political motive. "The date looks like it was selected by design," he told The Daily Telegraph, but added that a number of other possibilities remained. "If someone took the time to watch him they would know what time he came home every night. It would be very straightforward. He didn't take any precautions because he didn't believe he was in danger," Anwar said. "We all thought that we wouldn't be under threat here." "There is no reason to indicate that this was a robbery or mugging," he told the Guardian at the MQM's headquarters in an office block
close to Farooq's home. "It could be a signal to Hussain, to weaken resistance. Whoever did it could be telling him - and all of us - 'If we can reach him we can reach you.'" Other party members were reviewing their security, he added. The party had previously told police and the Foreign Office of threats to Hussain's life, but these did not appear to be taken seriously, Anwar said. Neighbours in Farooq's street said the alarm was raised around 5.30 pm on the day of incident when a woman saw what she believed was a fight between two Asian men on communal ground below her flat. "She saw him being knocked on the head a couple of times. She heard screams and she saw someone beating him," said Sam Igbi, who lives nearby. "She said he struggled and then the guy stabbed him." Analysts said they were keeping an open mind as to the identity of Farooq's killer. A diplomatic source said the
26/11 Mumbai attack
Defence opposes suspects’ debriefing RAWALPINDI: Lawyers defending Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks on Saturday opposed the prosecution's proposal to appoint a commission to visit India to record statements of key witnesses, including Ajmal Kasab. The defence lawyers told Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan of the Rawalpindi-based antiterrorism court that a "high level of risk" is involved with the proposal to send the commission to India, reported PTI. The lawyers made it clear that a representative of the defence lawyers would not join the commission due to "security concerns", including the perceived
threat in India to persons defending the Pakistani accused, sources said to a news agency. Judge Awan, who is conducting the trial within the heavily guarded Adiala Jail for security reasons, took up several applications filed by the prosecution during Saturday's hearing in the Mumbai attacks case. One application sought the formation of a commission to visit India to record the testimony of 24 key witnesses, including the lone surviving attacker Kasab. The second application sought the court's permission for recording voice samples of the seven accused. The defence lawyers opposed both applications, saying they went against the provisions of
Indian forces open fires on procession in Kashmir
WB starts survey of flood losses in KP
SRINAGAR: Kashmir woke up Saturday to another day of bloodshed as government forces opened fire on a funeral procession of an 11 year old boy in south Kashmir resulting in the death of at least one civilian and injuries to scores of others. Hundreds of people carrying the body of a 14-year-old boy, who was forced to jump into river Jhelum while being chased away by police and See # 11 Page 11
PESHAWAR: World Bank has started the survey to asses the losses incurred by flood devastations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. KP government has stopped the notification to declare all affected districts calamity hit till completion of the World Bank survey report. KP government also completed survey of damages of 22 flood-hit districts but it could not start the survey in other three districts. Provincial government
Pakistani laws. They also described the application for forming a commission to go to India as "premature". Judge Awan sought a clarification from the prosecution on whether the Indian government had given permission for the proposed commission to visit India. He asked the prosecution to provide this information at the next hearing on October 2. The prosecution had filed another application seeking permission from the court for key Indian witnesses to testify by video-conferencing but this was withdrawn after the judge questioned the need for it in light of the government's move to form a commission to visit India. See # 10 Page 11
requested to the world and Asia Bank to start the survey for estimating the damages of flood affected people. According to official sources, the World Bank teams has started the survey of floodhit areas with collaboration of different NGOs but ADB has yet to start its survey. World Bank teams will survey the different flood-hit areas step by step and prepare a detail report on casualties, homeless people, damaged houses and crops. -Online
killing appeared particularly unusual because of Farooq's lack of recent political activity: "He was lying low in the past two years. He had expressed no concern for his own safety." Detectives in London have not ruled out the possibility that Dr Farooq was killed in a random mugging. A political motive could spark political clashes in Karachi or undermine the stability of Pakistan's governing coalition, which includes the MQM. "Because we did not find any symptoms of robbery, we feel that there may be an element of conspiracy and therefore, hence, we can think that this was an assassination," Anwar said. The 50-year-old Dr Imran, who was married with two young sons, claimed UK asylum in 1999 alongside Altaf Hussain, who remains the MQM's leader and has been outspoken in condemning Islamist militancy in Pakistan and the Islamabad government's response to devastating floods. -Agencies
Uneasy calm prevails on second day in Karachi KARACHI: Strained situation was observed on the second day of the 10-day mourning announced by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) after the assassination of Dr Imran Farooq, the founding member and former convener of the party. Most of the shopping and commercial centers, petrol pumps and institutions remained close in the day. Fears and fright gripped the various areas of the city including Korangi, Landhi, Liaquat Abad, and New Karachi. However, no unpleasant incident was reported. See # 8 Page 11
India hands over UN $20mn for flood relief NEW YORK: India handed over a cheque of $20 million to the UN chief Ban Ki-moon, for relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected in Pakistan. Welcoming the contribution from the Indian government, Ban said: "I hope this money will be used for those who really need the warm hands of the international community." "Natural disasters do not respect national boundaries," India's Envoy to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, said after handing over the cheque to Ban in the presence of Pakistan's envoy to the UN, Abdullah Hussain Haroon. See # 9 Page 11
KARACHI: President Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and General Secretary Mushahid Hussain Syed called on President PML (Functional) Pir Pagara at Kingri House. -Online
Ahmadinejad vows stiff resistance against West DAMASCUS: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that resistance to the West is on the rise across the Middle East, after meeting his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad. Their brief meeting at Damascus airport in the presence of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem came just two days after US President Barack Obama's special envoy sought support in Damascus for Washington's latest peace push. "The front of resistance is
increasing in the region, (and) the people of the region support the policy" pursued by the Iranian and Syrian governments, Ahmadinejad said. "We have achieved a great victory because we were able to defeat the enemy plans to change" the political map of the Middle East, the Iranian hardliner told reporters before departing the Syrian capital. Before leaving Tehran, he had told reporters that Iran's relations with Syria were "solid and strategic with a unified view on all issues."
On Thursday, US Middle East envoy George Mitchell said in Damascus that Washington was interested in a comprehensive resolution of the regional conflict that also included peace between Syria and Israel. Mitchell said that for Washington a Middle East peace deal meant an "agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, between Israel and Syria and between Israel and Lebanon and the full normalisation of relations between Israel and its neighbours." - APP
Breaches in Manchar’s dykes deluge 190 villages Monitoring Desk SEHWAN: As the breaches in the Manchar Lake dykes are widened to one kilometer, as more as 190 villages of Dal, Chana and Union Council Bobak of Tehsil Sehwan, as well as standing crops over several acres have been deluged with floodwater, a private TV channel reported on Saturday. The floodwater amassed on inundated places mounted 9 to
12 feet, as 42-km important link road between Bhan Saeedabad and Chhani lay sunk under water, cutting off the link between the two cities. The flood torrent has raged near Bhan Saeedabad's last defence line of Indus Link, where work is fast in progress to buttress the feeble dykes by plugging the fissures. In a bid to save Bhan Saeedabad, people from Shehar Bachao Action
Committee and officials from Irrigation Department are busy with strengthening Indus Link. According to Irrigation Department, the persistent outflow from the Lake has contributed to water level to go down by over two feet. The residents of Mehar city has started to come back home. However, Tehsil Juhi is still cut off with other provinces thanks to besieging floodwater present all around.
Iran to set up medical camps for flood-hit TEHRAN: Iran says it plans to set up several medical camps in Pakistan after devastating floods hit the South Asian country. Mobile hospital includes nine camps and three ambulance buses, Iran Health Minister Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi said. He said hospital will be set up according to decision made by Iran's med-
ical team sent to Pakistan. Dasjerdi expressed Iran's readiness to send more humanitarian aid to Pakistan including blood and medicine. Iran increased its humanitarian aids to flood-stricken people by offering Pakistan $100 million aid package. Earlier, Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said
measures taken to aid Pakistani people were insufficient, urging all Muslims to help their brothers in Pakistan. He described flood disaster in Pakistan as the "most urgent" issue of Muslim world. He expressed deep sorrow over catastrophic floods and lingering humanitarian crisis it has brought to the country. -PPI
10 killed as Taliban attack during Afghan poll KABUL: A string of attacks hit Afghanistan's parliamentary election on Saturday, killing at least 10 people as the Taliban tried to disrupt a poll that is testing the credibility of the government and security forces. Voters appeared hesitant to go to polling stations after a series of rocket strikes in provincial centers across the country, including one which landed near the US embassy and the headquarters of Nato-led forces in central Kabul about three hours before polls opened at 7 am (10:30 pm ET). Officials reported violence across the country. In the worst attack, police said the Taliban killed one Afghan soldier and six pro-government militiamen in a raid on a security outpost next to a polling sta-
tion in northern Baghlan province. Significant security failures would be a major setback, with Washington watching closely before US President Barack Obama conducts a war strategy review in December likely to examine the pace and scale of US troop withdrawals. A poll flawed by violence and fraud would also weigh on Obama when his administration faces mid-term Congressional elections in November amid sagging public support for the war, with violence at its worst levels since the Taliban were ousted in 2001. Saturday's election followed a similar pattern to last year's flawed 2009, which the Taliban also threatened but failed to disrupt significantly despite scores
of attacks. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said eight per cent of the 5,816 polling centers had either not opened or not reported in, mainly because of security fears, IEC chairman Fazl Ahmad Manawi told a news conference. It had already decided not to open another 1,019 sites in light of a Taliban vow to disrupt voting. The attacks, and the number of polling stations that remained closed, raised fears about low voter turnout that could affect the outcome and credibility of the vote. "As in every election, we do hope that there will be a high voter turnout and that nobody will be deterred by security incidents," President Hamid Karzai told reporters after voting at a
high school near the presidential palace in Kabul. Rocket strikes in northern Takhar province and eastern Kunar killed three and wounded nine, officials said. Two Afghan election observers were wounded by an explosion inside a polling center in eastern Khost province, a Taliban stronghold near the Pakistan border, local police chief Abdul Haqim Eshaqzai said. Similar attacks on polling stations and government buildings were reported in Badakhshan and Kunduz in the north, Jalalabad in the east and Herat in the west. "People are in their homes and they want to see the security situation. They will come out later and vote," Mohammad Omar, governor of Kunduz
province, told Reuters. Four polling centers were closed after Taliban assaults in Logar, south of Kabul, and many stayed home after the Taliban threatened to cut off the ink-stained fingers of those who voted. "I don't want to go and vote because of the Taliban's intimidation. I don't want to risk my life, just for a candidate," said a Logar resident named Naveed. Others defied the Taliban's threats. "This is for Afghanistan's future," said student Sohail Bayat after casting his vote in Kabul. "People don't want the Taliban back, so every Afghan needs to go out and vote." Corruption and fraud are also serious concerns after a deeply flawed presidential ballot last year when a third of Karzai's
votes were thrown out as fake. Even though he is not standing, Saturday's vote is seen as a test his credibility. Washington believes graft weakens the central government and its ability to build up institutions like the Afghan security forces, which in turn determines when troops will leave. Obama has pledged to start drawing down US forces from July 2011. Election watchdogs reported thousands of fake voter registration cards across Afghanistan before the poll, although the IEC maintains it has put measures in place to guard against major fraud. It will not be clear for several weeks who among the almost 2,500 candidates have won the 249 seats in the wolesi jirga, or lower house of parliament.
Early results will not be known until at least October 8, with final results not due before October 30. Election observers expect thousands of complaints from losing candidates, with Afghanistan's own poll watchdog expecting a "disputatious" election, which could delay the process further. Almost 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police are providing security for the poll, backed up by some 150,000 foreign troops, but that was not enough to convince some disillusioned Afghans. "I'm not voting. I'm more interested in finding a job. My family doesn't have anything to eat," said Faqir Jan, an unemployed Kabul man. "If I saw an honest man, I'd vote for him." -Reuters
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