ITCN ASIA 2009

22.06.2009, 10:13: Int’l Conference on ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning to be held in conjunction with 9th ITCN Asia 2009 at Karachi Expo Centre on August 13, 2009
17.06.2009, 10:46: International Conference on Construction Industry-ICCI 2009 to be held on August 01, 2009 at Karachi Expo Centre
15.06.2009, 10:10: Trade/Corporate Visitors registration for 9th ITCN Asia Int’l Exhibition started. Ecommerce Gateway
01.06.2009, 10:03: Trade/Corporate Visitors registration for 5th Build Asia Int’l Exhibition started Ecommerce Gateway
08.04.2009, 17:10: 6th Textile Asia 2009 – Int’l Textile & Garment Machinery Show ended successfully today at Karachi Expo Centre
07.04.2009, 21:43: Federal Minister for Environment, Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi and other dignitaries visited the 6th Textile Asia 2009 Int’l Exhibition today
05.04.2009, 16:56: Textile Asia – Int’l Textile & Garment Machinery Show is being organized for the 6th consecutive year from 5th to 8th April 2009 at Karachi Expo Centre – Ecommerce Gateway
30.03.2009, 19:16: Power & Alternative Energy Asia & Engineering Asia Int’l Exhibitions incorporating Int’l Conference on Alternative Energy & Power ended up with grand success– Dr. Khursheed Nizam, President, Ecommerce Gateway
28.03.2009, 22:50: Askari Taqvi, Provincial Minister Sindh for Environment Alternative Energy alongwith Arif Allauddin, CEO, AEDB and Dr. Khursheed Nizam, President, Ecommerce Gateway inaugurated the 3rd Power & Alternative Energy Asia Exhibition, 6th Engineering Asia Exhibition and ICAEP 2009 Conference on Alternative Energy & Power today
13.03.2009, 18:28: 3rd Food, Agri & Livestock Asia 2009, 5th Health Asia & 4th Plastic, Packaging & Print Asia 2009 ended up with the grand success on March 13, 2009– Ecommerce Gateway
13.03.2009, 10:36: Pakistan is prepared to capitalize on the fast growing global Halal Food Market– Ecommerce Gateway
12.03.2009, 16:33: 5th Health Asia 2009 Int’l “Conference on Quality in Health Care” was held on the 2nd Day of the Event at Karachi Expo Centre – Ecommerce Gateway
12.03.2009, 11:00: 5th Health Asia 2009 Conference on Burns & Cosmetic Surgery at Karachi Expo Centre helped out professionals to evaluate the circumstances of improvement in Burns preventions – Ecommerce Gateway
12.03.2009, 11:00: Productive discussion at 2-days Pak-ASEAN Workshop pointed out opportunities in theGlobal Halal Market for Pakistan – Ecommerce Gateway
11.03.2009, 17:46: 5th Health Asia 2009 Int’l “Conference on Updates in Vaccination” held today at Karachi Expo Centre – Ecommerce Gateway
11.03.2009, 17:46: 5th Health Asia 2009 Int’l “Conference on Pharmaceutical Marketing” held today at Karachi Expo Centre – Ecommerce Gateway
11.03.2009, 17:46: Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Provincial Minister for Health, Sindh inaugurated the 5th Health Asia 2009 International Exhibition & Conferences today – Ecommerce Gateway
11.03.2009, 12:46: 3rd Food, Agri & Livestock Asia 2009 Int’l Exhibition & Conference commenced today at Karachi Expo Centre – Ecommerce Gateway
11.03.2009, 11:23: Pak-ASEAN Workshop on Halal Food Production Technology and Certification System commenced today at Karachi Expo Centre – Ecommerce Gateway
01.01.2009, 9:26: 5th Health Asia, Int’l Exhibition & Conferences incorporating Pharma Asia Exhibition to be held from 11-13 March 2009 at Karachi Expo Centre

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IPL: Deccan Chargers meet Rajasthan Royals

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Pakistan qualifies for Asia Cup semi-final after beating India

Sohail Abbas (C) celebrates with Waseem Ahmed after scoring Pakistan’s winning goal against India during the Men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuantan, 250 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur, May 10, 2009. –Reuters Photo/Zainal Abd Halim

KUANTAN: Sohail Abbas found his scoring touch just in time to lead Pakistan into the Asia Cup semi-final field hockey with a 3-2 win over India in a Group B match in Malaysia Sunday.

The Pakistanis had five penalty corners but Sohail was on target with only one attempt and that turned out to be the winner.

Pakistan had earlier on Saturday drawn 1-1 with China and needed a win to book their semi-final place.

Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan said that the recall of the four players from Europe made the difference in the match.

‘Sohail, Salman Akhbar, Waseem Ahmad and Rehan Butt gave us experience and were influential in the win. We needed the full points and credit to the players in achieving it,’ he said.

The match was an absorbing encounter with a lot of goal-scoring chances at both ends.

Pakistan took the initiative from the start. They had the ball in the back of the net in the fourth minute but Tariq Aziz’s effort was ruled out by South African umpire Jon Wright.

Prabhjot Singh gave India the lead in the 16th minute after a botched penalty corner attempt.

The Pakistanis drew level in the 33rd minute when Sandeep Singh fumbled with his clearance and allowed the 20-year-old Haseem Khan to score.

In the second half Pakistan went on the offensive early and took the lead just one minute into the game. Haseem Khan was the scorer when he deflected a long ball into the D.

Rain started to fall in the 43rd minute and India managed to score their equaliser in the 46th minute through Rajpal Singh before play was stopped.

Play resumed after 45 minutes. Pakistan attacked and in the 54th minute won a penalty corner. Sohail finally got it correct with a low flick to put his team in the semis.

India coach Herender Singh was disappointed with the result but remained confident that his team will make the semi-finals.

‘It was a good match and could have gone either way. Now we are under pressure and will have to get a win against China on Tuesday,’ he said.

‘My players did well and I have no complaints about their performances,’ he added.

Source: Dawn News

Hindu community opposes dam in Balochistan

Chairman Wapda Shakeel Durrani can be seen here with President Zardari in the background.-APP file photo

QUETTA: The Hindu community in Lasbela disrict has expressed its reservations over construction of a dam near their historic temple Hinglaj Mata.

Chairman Wapda Shakeel Durrani assured the community members that Hingol dam would be constructed only after removing all their reservations.

A high powered delegation comprising Chairman Wapda, Speaker Balochistan Assembly Aslam Bhootani, Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa and representatives of Hindu community in Sindh and Balochistan visited the site of the proposed Hingol dam on Sunday.

The representatives of the Hindu community had expressed their reservations that with the Hingol dam planned to be built along the costal highwa would submerge their historic temple ‘Hinglaj Mata’ and worshippers would have no way of accessing it.

The Balochistan Assembly had also adopted a resolution unanimously in this regard demanding that the plan of construction of hingal dam should be abandoned.

However, Chairman Wapda decided to visit the site of the dam along with representatives of the Hindu community to brief them about the ways and means to save the historic temple in the area.

Wapda engineers and experts informed the members of the delegation through maps that Wapda was making all possible efforts to built Hingol dam adopting measures to save the temple. ‘Hingol dam would be not being constructed until apprehension and reservations of Hindu community about Hingal Mata are removed,’ Chairman Wapda said. He said that he was also aware about the importance of the Hinglaj Mata temple.

He informed that with the construction of Hingol dam around 90,000 acres of land would be irrigated in Lasbela district and the dam would also generate electricity that would be enough to meet the power requirements of the area. The dam would be have the
capacity of storing around 210,0000 acres feet water.

Speaker Balochistan Assembly Mohammad Aslam Bhootani said: ‘We respect the worship places of minorities but on the other hand we cannot ignore the importance and benefits of the Hingol dam’.

He said that government would take steps to remove the reservations of the Hindu community. He claimed that the construction of the dam would bring a green revolution in the Lasbela district.

Source : Dawn News

Next few weeks pivotal for Pakistan’s future: Petraeus

US General David Petraeus (C), commander of the US Central Command, listen as Admiral Eric Olson (R), commander of the US Special Operations Command, speaks before a House Armed Services hearing on the new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan in Washington. –Reuters Photo

WASHINGTON: The next few weeks would be pivotal for Pakistan’s future, a top US general warned on Sunday, noting that the Pakistanis also realised this and had galvanised to protect their country from the militants.

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Gen David Petraeus, head of the US Central Command, pointed to Pakistan’s intensifying offensive against the Taliban in Swat as a sign its political leaders, people and military were united against the militants.

‘The actions of the Pakistani Taliban seem to have galvanised all of Pakistan,’ he said. ‘There is a degree of unanimity that there must be swift and effective action taken against the Taliban.’

The Obama administration has strongly backed the offensive launched last week when President Asif Ali Zardari was in Washington seeking support for fighting the militancy, which he said was a threat to the entire international community.

‘The next few weeks would be very important and, to a degree, pivotal in the future for Pakistan,’ said Gen Petraeus.

‘Certainly the next few weeks will be very important in this effort to roll back, if you will, this existential threat — a true threat to Pakistan’s very existence that has been posed by the Pakistani Taliban,’ he added.

The general dismissed the suggestion that if the fight against the Taliban intensified, it could also endanger Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

‘With respect to the nuclear weapons and sites that are controlled by Pakistan, as President Obama mentioned the other day, we have confidence in their security procedures and elements and believe that the security of those sites is adequate,’ he said.

The US general said the trilateral talks in Washington last week enabled him to have ‘some good conversations’ with Pakistani leaders and officials.

‘It was very clear in discussions with everyone, from President Zardari through the other members of the delegation that there’s an understanding that this does have to be a whole-of-government approach,’ he said.

‘In other words, not just the military but all the rest of the elements of government (are) supporting the military,’ the general said.

Gen Petraeus noted that besides the military offensive, Pakistani authorities were also trying to re-establish basic services, repair the damage done by the bombardment of these areas in which the Taliban were located, and to take care of the internally displaced persons.

The US, he said, was also backing an ‘enormous effort’ to rehabilitate the internally displaced persons.

Various US agencies, he said, were working with the government of Pakistan to help them deal with this problem while UN agencies also were playing a frontline role in helping the refugees.

‘This is not a US assurance that matters,’ said the general when asked if the US government could assure the success of Pakistan’s offensive against the militants. ‘This is a Pakistani assurance. This is not a US fight … this is a Pakistani fight, a Pakistani battle, with elements that, as we’ve mentioned, threaten the very existence of the Pakistani state.’

Al Qaeda leaders: ‘There’s no question that Al Qaeda’s senior leadership has been there and has been in operation for years,’ said the general when asked if he knew where they were hiding. ‘We had to contend with its reach as it sought to facilitate the flow of foreign fighters, resources, explosives, leaders and expertise into Iraq, as you’ll recall, through Syria.

‘We see tentacles of Al Qaeda that connect to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen, the elements Al-Shabab in Somalia, elements in north central Africa, and that strive to reach all the way, of course, into Europe and into the United States.’

The general said it was not possible to determine the accurate location for Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri other than a general description of where that might be.

‘Certainly, they surface periodically. We see communications that they send out. And of course, they periodically send out videos in which they try to exhort people and to inspire individuals to carry out extremist activities.’

Source: Dawn News

Talibanisation and identity crisis

Anti-Taliban vigils have been held, but what do protestors really yearn for? – AFP photo.

SINCE the Nizam-i-Adl Regulation, the status of which has now been rendered uncertain, Pakistani citizens have been trying to organise against the Talibanisation of the tribal and northern areas.

There has been a flurry of meetings, lectures, candlelit vigils, protest marches and letter-writing campaigns in all major cities. And yet, read through the discussions on local blogs or peruse letters to the editor in various newspapers, and the sense that Pakistanis are doing nothing about the crisis prevails.

When comparisons are drawn between civil society’s emphatic response to the deposition of Pakistan’s chief justice in 2007, its reaction to the virtual colonisation of part of the country by militants seems apathetic. In many quarters, the silence of Pakistanis is being perceived as complicity. As an open conflict between the military and militants rages in the Frontier province, it is worth deconstructing why civil society has not been able to articulate a united stance towards the Taliban.

What becomes apparent is that the Pakistani public is faced with a hydra-headed monster, and it is unable to agree on which is the greatest of all evils. Do we, the people, react to the lack of governance at the centre and the occupation of our territories by an ideological group? Do we, as a Muslim majority, protest the perversion of Islam at the hands of violent, suicide-bombing militants? Do we, as feminists, decry the violation of women’s rights? Or do we, as humanists, focus on the plight of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people who for too long have been written off as collateral damage? Indeed, understanding the paralysis of civil society in the face of the Taliban onslaught lies at the heart of the identity crisis that Pakistan has faced since its inception.

Many Pakistanis direct their outrage at the government. Brought to power in a memorable election, the government was tasked by the electorate with strengthening Pakistan’s democratic credentials. Instead, we have seen shabby power plays as the PPP and PML-N have wrestled like incorrigible schoolboys over the past year. These political intrigues have distracted the government from what should be its major concerns at the present: reviving the Pakistan economy and dealing a decisive blow to what was a militant threat in February 2008, but is now a full-scale invasion. For this reason, some citizens are arguing that the first step in addressing Pakistan’s problems is calling for mid-term elections and asking President Asif Zardari to step down.

But this is not the rallying cry of the people at large. For many, the government and the army’s lack of vision in dealing with the Taliban has been the top complaint. They criticise erratic policies that have the government and militants negotiating one day, and warring the next. This crowd is calling for a consistent strategy against the militants, with no clear consensus on whether that should be martial or diplomatic. As such, it remains unclear if public protest is directed against the government or the army (or do Pakistanis still treat those entities as if they are the same thing?). Meanwhile, there is a subset that is opposed to the Nizam-i-Adl for it threatens the integrity of the state. ‘One constitution for one country’ is their rallying cry.

On the other hand, in some civic circles, the major concern is that the government and army have failed to protect basic human rights. There is outrage at the blowing up of girls’ schools and CD shops in Swat, the flogging of women, and the displacement of thousands of people from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Malakand. Skipping over the essential existential crisis posed by Taliban dominance in the northern and tribal areas, many citizens are simply demanding that the government and/or army provide adequate protection and compensation to IDPs, ensure development in the form of schools, roads and hospitals, and bring peace (at whatever cost) to conflict-ridden areas.

In some quarters, the human rights argument has been spun as a women’s issue. Many public protests were launched in response to the infamous flogging video. Posters and graffiti in urban centres decry the victimisation of women and their abuse in the name of Islam. In this construction, women parliamentarians who did not oppose the controversial Nizam-i-Adl are the ultimate nemesis and the call is for safeguarding women’s rights, not suppressing the Taliban.

That said, there are many Pakistanis who openly describe themselves as anti-Taliban. But what exactly does that mean? Opposition to Talibanisation has been interpreted in myriad ways: anti-violence, pro-education, pro-nationalism, anti-sectarianism, pro-democracy and more.

Reframe the question in a religious context and the debate is endless. Some Pakistanis are outraged at extremist interpretations of Islam. Others are advocating that democracy be upheld and a separation of church, rather, mosque and state be enshrined in the constitution once and for all.

Still others are protesting the revival of sectarianism, arguing that Pakistan should define itself as a country where Sunni and Shia, Sufi and Salafi, Deobandi and Barelvi can all live together in peace.

Then there’s the camp that is championing that most nebulous notion, ‘moderate’ Islam. Worryingly, there are also those civil groups who are reluctant to have religious overtones cloud their anti-Taliban protests. But can you speak out against the Taliban without, at some level, speaking about religion?

If complaints against the government, military and Taliban weren’t enough, many Pakistanis are also organising around the America factor. Cooperation with the US in the war against terror has long been framed as a test of Pakistani sovereignty. As a result, Pakistanis are torn about what level of intervention they’re willing to live with. Some want to protest the drone attacks, others want to ensure greater transparency in the distribution of American aid. At a recent meeting of concerned citizens, I heard one hapless woman ask her friend, ‘is it alright if I’m both anti-Taliban and against the drone attacks?’

To this mix, add the voices that are less heard: Swatis who demand efficient justice systems, but do not want to live at the edge of the Taliban sword; Bajauris who want to keep their women in purdah, but send their sons to secular schools; religious minorities, including Sikhs and Christians, who want the government to protect their right to worship.

It is this lack of consensus as to what’s at stake that makes a unified civic response impossible. Pakistanis are able to mobilise when they knew what they are asking for, e.g. the restoration of the chief justice. But they’re in disarray when it comes to pinpointing why they object to Talibanisation.

In any other circumstance, I would celebrate Pakistan’s political and ideological diversity, pointing out that it is what distinguishes Pakistan from Iran or Saudi Arabia. But in the face of the Taliban, our plurality is proving to be our Achilles’ heel. The fact is, in organising against the Taliban, Pakistan is going to be forced to tackle its longstanding identity crisis. The first step to overcoming militancy is knowing ourselves. So before we can take to the streets with a single, articulate demand, we’re going to have to answer the question that we’ve been avoiding for over 60 years: who are we?

huma.yusuf@gmail.com

Source: Dawn News

JI amir predicts ‘big jihad’ against US

Munawar Hasan addresses party loyalists at the mall – AFP photo.

LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Amir, Syed Munawwar Hasan has predicted armed struggle against United States in the days to come.

Speaking at a ‘Go-America-Go’ rally on The Mall here on Sunday, he asked JI activists: ‘Announcement for the big jihad may be made during the coming days, so make preparations about it.’

Fearing that the United States would soon announce invasion of Pakistan on the excuse that Pak army had failed to eliminate terrorists’ bases in the country, Munawwar urged the people to step up their efforts to safeguarding solidarity and nuclear programme of the country and pushing the Americans back into Afghanistan.

Opposing the ongoing army operation in Swat and Buner, the JI amir warned the political leadership that such operations in the past had proved to be first step towards martial law.

Referring to the failure of armed forces in operation against their own people in former East Pakistan, he urged the authorities to desist from taking up arms against their own people.

Chiding the government claim that it was establishing its writ, he asked where was the so-called writ when scores of citizens were shot dead in Karachi on May 12, 2007 or when hundreds of citizens were kidnapped by the American agencies?Alleging that India was involved in the Lahore attacks and in Balochistan uprising, the JI amir demanded the government activate its foreign missions to expose New Delhi.He said either the United States itself was massacring Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan or was patronising other powers — Israel and India — engaged in anti-Muslim actions.

He said the United States had always tried to destabilise Pakistan and make India a mini-superpower of the region. He said it was for this reason that Washington was pressing Islamabad to withdraw its forces from the Indian border.

Despite being the first public event of the new JI amir, attendance at the rally was not impressive though it was not restricted to Lahore-based workers only and activists from nearby districts had also been transported to the show.

The party leadership had claimed that the strength of the rally would run into hundreds of thousands to give a strong message to the United States and Pakistani government that the masses were against the army operation alleged to be launched at the behest of Washington.

The rally also lacked spirit, enthusiasm and zeal, which has usually been the hallmark of the events organised by religious parties.

Source: Dawn News

Operation in Swat intensified: ISPR

Troops roll into the restive Swat valley – AFP photo.

ISLAMABAD: The operation in Swat and adjoining areas was intensified and nearly 200 militants and two security personnel were killed in clashes on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations.

Indiscriminate mortar firing and improvised explosive devices planted on streets and roads by terrorists in populated areas of Thana, Malakand and Mingora caused civilian casualties, said the ISPR.

In Swat, suspected locations of militants were attacked in Kanju, Mingora, Venaibaba, Namal, Qambar, Peochar, Fizagath, Tiligram and Chamtalai areas and 50 to 60 militants were killed.

Security forces urged citizens to remain vigilant and said that the terrorists had planted explosive devices in various areas of Mingora and Swat to put the blame of civilian deaths on security forces.

There are reports that militants destroyed two schools one in Barikot and the other in Maniar.

Terrorist activities continued in Swat where Zahid Khan, Imam of a mosque at Nishtar Chowk was killed.

Military authorities said that they had secured a large area in Shangla up to Biladram and advancing troops detected IEDs on the Chamtalai bridge where an intense exchange of fire took place.

In Shangla, security forces resumed operation from the important heights of 2,245 and 2,266 which had been captured on Saturday and secured the area up to Shalwal Kandao. One soldier died during the operation.

Troops found a number of bodies of militants and weapons left by them near Ramotai Loe Sar.

One soldier who was injured on May 8, died during evacuation.

The ISPR said a training camp of militants in Banai Baba was destroyed and 140 to 150 militants were killed. Troops secured the Shangla Top.

The Shangla DCO confirmed that 140 to 150 terrorists had been killed.

In Dir, troops secured the area from Kala Dag to Haya Sarai and during a clash with militants at Musa Jan and Sarai Kot, five militants were killed and one soldier was injured.

In a separate incident, militants kidnapped a reporter of a private TV channel from Chakdara.

Military authorities said that ground forces continued to consolidate positions on Gulabad heights and the area between Chakdara Bridge at Landakai had been secured by ground forces. Troops detected and defused three IEDs.

The militants suffered heavy casualties when helicopters attacked their hideouts in Barwada Char, destroying six bunkers and two ammunition dumps.

Troops secured the ridges around Sultanwas and the militants there were surrounded, the ISPR claimed.

The militants resumed their activities in South Waziristan and on Saturday night attacked a security forces convoy in Spin area South of Tanai.

During the ensuing clash 18 militants and an officer, Capt Muneeb, were killed and two soldiers were injured.

Later, the militants fled the area leaving behind bodies of their men. One injured militant was arrested.

Source: Dawn News

Protests against fees hike, student killing in Swat and Lahore

SWAT: The students of Jahanzeb College of Swat hold protest demonstration against increment in fees and blocked Syedo Sharif Road.

They were carrying placards and chanted slogans against fees increment. Meanwhile, students of a private university protest killing of fellow student who was hit by a car in Defence area. Two out of three persons traveling in the car that hit the student were arrested whereas third one was managed to flee from the scene.

The students of LUMS said they would continue protest till the arrest of third accused.

The negotiations between police and students in this connection ended at failure till the last reports came in.

IRSA says enough water available for Rabi season

ISLAMABAD: Enough water is available for the Rabi season especially for the crops of sugarcane, cotton and rice beside others as the water level is improving at Tarbela and Mangla ay by day, a senior official of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) said on Monday.

Water level at Mangla, the second largest water reservoir of the country, will cross 100 feet above the dead level in a couple of days as it reached 97 feet on Monday according to expected water inflow.

Water level is improving specially in both the major reservoirs of the country Tarbela and Mangla besides in Kabul river day by day due to impact of snow melting.

According to data released by Indus River System Authority (IRSA), water level at Mangla, the second largest water reservoir of the country was recorded 1136.90 feet which was about 97 feet higher than the dead level which is 1040 feet.

Mangla Dam received total inflow 56, 627 cusecs water on Monday morning and only 35,000 cusecs water was released according to the official data.

However, 1408.80 feet water level was recorded at Tarbela, the largest water reservoir of the country which was more than 40 feet higher than the dead level 1369 at the dam.

Tarbela Dam received a total inflow 42,200 cusecs and only 15,000 cusecs water was released from the Dam.

Water inflow 45,000 cusecs was recorded in the River Kabul and18, 086 cusecs inflow was recorded at Marala of Chenab River.