FPCCI emphasizes genuine structural reforms Taking loans, failing to reform create problem

on 11/09/2020

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry has stressed the need for serious structural reforms, with a keen focus on value-addition for sustainable economic growth, recommending the government to raise exports to double-digit of the GDP till the end of its term, as Pakistan’s exports have bounced back after witnessing a decline in last four months. The country’s exports have fetched $1.99 billion in July 2020, witnessing 5.8 percent growth in dollar terms.
FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar said that consistent borrowing by developing economies to shore up its reserves in desperate times is only to lead towards a debt trap. He said that borrowing from friendly countries should only be seen as a short-term solution to prevent reserves depletion and consequent further depreciation of the currency.
Mian Anjum Nisar stressed that focus should be on promoting exports and restricting imports alongside making the domestic industry more competitive and subsequently expand its export market.
He said that exports of goods and services are an injection into the circular flow of income leading to a rise in aggregate demand and an expansion of output, helping raise per capita incomes, and reduce extreme poverty especially in developing economies like Pakistan.
He said that world trade has not still come out of the dip in the wake of the lingering corona pandemic, as exports of regional countries including India and Bangladesh registered a decline but Pakistan’s exports bounced back, reporting around 5 percent growth in July 2020 compared with regional players. The exports went up in July 2020 after registering continued decline pre and post COVID-19 pandemic.
Regarding market diversification, Mian Anjum Nisar pointed out that not much progress has been shown in this regard, as the exports still seem to be heavily dependent on traditional export markets. He underlined the need for evaluating geographical diversification to re-align the focus towards new opportunities. The government agencies will have to extend all kinds of necessary support to the exporters to achieve the targets, not only in terms of numbers but also with regards to intended policy outcomes.
Mian Anjum Nisar observed that the World Bank, IMF, and donor agencies should be considered as a stop-gap arrangement, which may have forced excessive devaluation, steep monetary tightening, cut in development, and defense expenditures. Loans simply serve to bridge the gap until the effects of the reforms take effect. The problem occurs if the country takes loans but fails to reform, he added.
While talking about tax policy, he maintained that the existing tax system is heavily skewed toward indirect taxation and a direct tax can certainly improve tax collection in some instances.
FPCCI president said the sustainable solution to Pakistan’s problems lies in the structural reforms, as we can see very large inefficiencies in tax collection. So, the tax compliance must be improved and the tax base is broadened. This cannot be achieved with a single policy change, but by a systemic approach, he added. He observed the government preferred direct taxation to meet revenue shortfall as opposed to resorting to increasing indirect taxes because direct taxes tend to be more progressive in nature, therefore, the burden on the lower-income strata of the population is lesser.
Mian Anjum Nisar emphasized that concentrating on import substitution is imperative to narrow import bills and certain imported products such as oil are of a fixed nature, therefore, the government needs to enhance focus on import substitution industries, as chemicals, agriculture, and steel are potential industries.
He said that undertaking structural reforms require political will. He said that the early signs from the government are positive and exhibit zero-tolerance against corruption. He said that enacting structural reforms, such as improvements in the tax collection system, bureaucracy, and ease of doing business requires major political will and strict implementation of policies, he added.
Quoting the central bank report, the FPCCI President said the current account deficit contracted to a six-year low, foreign exchange reserves increased, primary budget recorded a surplus, and core inflation eased. Importantly, export-based manufacturing showed signs of traction and construction activities picked up, indicating that the economy was on the path of recovery. However, further improvements need serious structural reforms to put the economy on a firm path of sustainable growth.

Multi Dimensional Methods of Spectroscopy

on 11/09/2020

The major concept in spectroscopy is a reverberation and its comparing full recurrence.
Resonances were first portrayed in quite a while, for example, pendulums. Mechanical frameworks that vibrate or waver will encounter huge sufficiency motions when they are driven at their full recurrence. A plot of sufficiency versus excitation recurrence will have a pinnacle focused on the reverberation recurrence. This plot is one sort of range, with the pinnacle regularly alluded to as an otherworldly line, and most ghastly lines have a comparable appearance. In numerous applications, the range is dictated by estimating changes in the power or recurrence of this vitality. The kinds of radiative vitality examined include: Electromagnetic radiation was the main wellspring of vitality utilized for spectroscopic investigations. Procedures that utilize electromagnetic radiation are regularly characterized by the frequency area of the range and incorporate a microwave, terahertz, infrared, close infrared, bright noticeable, x-beam, and gamma spectroscopy. Particles, as a result of their de Broglie waves, can likewise be a wellspring of radiative vitality. Both electron and neutron spectroscopy are generally utilized. For a molecule, its motor vitality decides its frequency. Acoustic spectroscopy includes emanated pressure waves. The dynamic mechanical examination can be utilized to give transmitting vitality, like acoustic waves, to strong materials. Nuclear spectroscopy was the principal utilization of spectroscopy created. Atomic retention spectroscopy and nuclear emanation spectroscopy include noticeable and bright light. These retentions and emanations frequently alluded to as nuclear unearthly lines are because of electronic changes of external shell electrons as they rise and tumble starting with one electron circle then onto the next. Particles additionally have particular x-beam spectra that are owing to the excitation of internal shell electrons to energized states.
Particles of various components have particular spectra and consequently, atomic spectroscopy takes into account the distinguishing proof and quantitation of an example’s essential arrangement. In the wake of creating the spectroscope, Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff found new components by watching their outflow spectra. Nuclear retention lines are seen in the sun based range and alluded to as Fraunhofer lines after their pioneer. An exhaustive clarification of the hydrogen range was an early achievement of quantum mechanics and clarified the Lamb move saw in the hydrogen range, which further prompted the advancement of quantum electrodynamics. A typical spectroscopic technique for investigation is Fourier change infrared spectroscopy, where substance bonds can be distinguished through their trademark infrared assimilation frequencies or frequencies. These assimilation attributes make infrared analyzers an important instrument in geoscience, natural science, and air science. For example, climatic gas checking has been encouraged by the advancement of economically accessible gas analyzers which can recognize carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, oxygen, and nitric oxide. Ultraviolet spectroscopy is utilized where solid retention of bright radiation happens in a substance. Such gatherings are known as chromophores and incorporate sweet-smelling gatherings, the conjugated arrangement of securities, carbonyl gatherings, etc. Atomic attractive reverberation spectroscopy distinguishes hydrogen molecules in explicit situations, and supplements both IR and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The utilization of Raman spectroscopy is developing for more authority applications.

ML-1 railway track project to be completed during current tenure

on 11/09/2020

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad has claimed that the new ML-1 railway track project would be completed during the tenure of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.
“We have full confidence in accomplishing the task of laying down a new track from Karachi to Peshawar before ending the period of this government,” he said in a private TV program.
ML-1 project was signed some fourteen years back and how he hoped that the mega railway project would provide a fast and comfortable traveling facility to the people of the country.
It merits mentioning that the Executive committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has already approved the project with the cost of $6.806 billion from Peshawar to Karachi (1872 KMs) including Havelian Dry Port and upgrading Walton Academy.
The project would cost $6.806 billion. According to the ministry of finance, the execution of the project shall be in 3 packages, and to avoid commitment charges, the loan amount for each package will be separately contracted.
Under this project existing 2,655 KM track will be upgraded. The speed of passenger trains shall increase from 65/110 KM/h to 165 KM/h and line capacity will increase from 34 to 137/171 trains each way per day.
Also, the project has a project steering committee for effective supervision and implementation of the project.
The line is 1,872 km long, including the 55 km long Taxila-Havelian section and 91 km long Lodhran-Khanewal section.
The project envisages upgrade of ML-1, the establishment of a dry port near Havelian Railway Station; upgrade of Pakistan Railway Academy Walton in Lahore; passenger facilities development of important railway stations, including Karachi, Hyderabad, and Rohri in Sindh;
Multan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi in Punjab and Naushehra and Peshawar in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Exxon, Mitsubishi to start building LNG terminals this year

on 11/09/2020

Of the five, two multinational companies are reportedly set to start physical work on setting up Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals during the next few months.
Under its ease-of-doing-business strategy, the government had allowed five private sector companies to establish their LNG terminals in Pakistan.
Exxon Consortium and Mitsubishi are ready to start physical work on their projects before the end of the current year,” a senior official privy to petroleum sector developments told APP.
All agreements, permissions, and arrangements in that regard have almost been finalized, he added. After setting up the terminals, he said, the companies would import and sell the commodity on their own without any involvement of the government except regulation matters. Replying to a question, the official said a formula already existed under which the private sector could import LNG as per its requirements, get it injected into the existing gas transmission network and receive at industrial units.
The official said private sector companies including Exxon, Shell, and Mitsubishi besides Spanish and French firms were poised to establish LNG terminals in Pakistan, having the capacity to re-gasify 500-700 Million Cubic Feet per day (MMCFD) gas each, in Pakistan. These companies are considered the world leading players in the energy sector. He said the federal cabinet had cleared the private sector companies, adding “A terminal, as per international standard, takes almost two years to complete once its construction starts.”
Currently, the official said, two LNG terminals were operating at Port Qasim Karachi and injecting around 1,200 MMCFD gas in the distribution network of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Sui Southern Gas Company. Replying to a query, he said the previous government itself made LNG import contracts at exorbitant that involved billions of dollars financial commitments.
But, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was importing additional LNG at around 20 to 25 percent reduced rate for the last one-and-half years as compared to the old deals made by the previous regime.
He said the country’s existing natural gas reservoirs were depleting fast at a rate of 9.5 percent annually, and the LNG was the only available instant remedy to bridge the increased gap between demand and supply of the country. Currently, the country’s indigenous gas production is around 3.7 Billion Cubic Feet per Day against the demand of 6 BCFD. According to a recent report of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, the gap between demand and supply of gas could increase by 5,389 Million Cubic Feet per Day (MMCFD) by 2029-30.

You Are Responsible

on 11/09/2020

By Engr. Imran Anees

Recently, I happened to interview a GIS Analyst for some GIS work. I inquired about his approach to calculate a distance between two points with coordinates (x1, y1) and (x2,y2). He showed me ways through attribute tables, measuring tools, Google Earth, GPS and finally a formula: Width = Area / Length… that’s when it really struck me.
I’ve come across many other GIS Graduates and GIS Professionals criticizing the lack of job opportunities amid multi-billion dollar projects like CPEC, renewable Energy, Housing and other infra structure which are under execution in Pakistan. Another point of their debate focuses more specifically on their “GIS Skills” going unnoticed in this modern age of technology and tools.
So, what really is happening? Who is actually responsible here?
GIS started off when it was still an immature, not-very-user-friendly technology, and few people knew how to use it. Publishers and Academia supported early GIS developments. Steadily with time, and with the realization of “Data”, “GUI” and “Usability”, the scope of geospatial data manipulation and visualization flourished. Various organizations began supporting subsets of the GIS Profession. This article, which offers my perspective only, will hopefully provide some understanding of how GIS is treated and, perhaps, provoke some thought in those who began their careers with GIS as well.
Maybe we have lost sight of what actually is the need in the increasingly competitive nature of GIS and its advanced functionality. I may not question the potential and abilities of GIS professionals to address the challenges faced in the industry. I may not even speak for the recruiters and employers. I most certainly do not question the academia. However, I would definitely re-direct their attentions to critically assess themselves.
It seems proper to initiate with a self-analysis. My career jump started as a Survey Engineer, establishing control networks and topographic surveys using Trimble 4000 SSI DGPS. A vital part of myregular workflow was to overlay the survey data on a Landsat ETM Image. Obviously, this could be done by adding a Raster file (Layer Stacked TIFF Image) and processed survey data files (DXF points & polylines) in an ArcGIS document. On the contrary, at that time I was only proficient in AutoCAD and AutoCAD Customization using programming skills in AutoLISP and VBA.
I can still recall the overwhelming excitement the day when I got hold of ArcGIS 8.0 in a CD. The anxiety and giddiness just before installing it in my computer for the first time. The sensation of invincibility rising with the progress of installation whispering that I’ll soon be ready to take on the world. Finally when it was installed, the feeling of confidence skyrocketing like I’ve got this on lock now and nothing can stop me…and suddenly the immediate realization of a black hole …Readers who are proficient in CAD, can realize how difficult and challenging it is for a CAD user to comprehend the GIS environment!
I owe thanks to the magic of “F1”for opening windows of knowledge (standard help CHM files) and Yahoo search (Google was not born yet). I started to learn about ArcGIS. The Spatial Analysis, SQL queries on attribute tables, 3D analysis and cartographic layouts were so interesting, fascinating and motivating to probe more into GIS and this lead to a better understanding and grip on ArcGIS. I gained popularity, slow and steady, among colleagues and coworkers as a GIS Analyst / GIS Specialist.
I applied for the post of GIS Analyst in one of the top ranking Engineering Consulting Firms of Pakistan. This was somewhere back in 2006, and the job advertisement published in newspaper indicated a mandatory degree in GIS and remote sensing for the applicants. I had applied with the shortcoming of a GIS related degree. Surprisingly, I was shortlisted and called for an interview. I managed to get through the interviewers who acknowledged my skills of Geodetic Survey and the proficiency I had in GIS. I got the job with a tailor-fitted designation of a“GIS Engineer”. After 16 months of making ArcGIS layouts, digitization, attribute editing with tedious repetition and no further creative or innovative task at hand to challenge my own ability, I resigned.
With all the due regards, it is seen that monotonous work routines usually tend to create an environment of depression. At times, with office politics, this may even aggravate to frustration. This paves way to kill any initiative, cause a serious decline in the learning graph and eventually becomes obstructive for a flourishing career. When faced with similar circumstances, my priority is usually to clear the atmosphere. This precisely is the reason that lack of consistency exists as another trait in my resume. Nevertheless, a new era dawned after my resignation where I wasn’t limited as an ArcGIS User. I realized there was much more beyond ArcGIS.
Enough said, my initiation to GIS was in the golden age for GIS graduates. Many public and private organizations had started to implement GIS by creating spatial datasets, maintaining geodatabases and developing applications. Obviously, the demand for the ArcGIS users was so high as compared to computer science & IT professionals.
Graduates from space science, geography, mountain research, town planning and other departments were being offered jobs as GIS Analyst, GIS Specialist or a GIS Expert. GIS Education back then was limited to a semi major subject named as Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing. The course contents of this subject were not beyond the basic understanding and interaction with industry leading products like ESRI, ArcGIS etc. Though not being taught the full range of GIS or remote sensing subjects, it was enough to pursue a career as GIS Professional in industry.
Initially candidates having ArcGIS software experience of 2 to 4 years were considered eligible.
With the passage of time, the eligibility criteria for GIS professionals changed. Hundreds of the GIS professionals were required to be recruited who may hold a Bachelor or a Master’s degree, along with ownership of an android mobile phone with GPS and at least 3.5 mega pixel camera. The advertisement snapshots below show the gradual changes in eligibility criteria as published in local newspapers.
It may be noted here that these jobs were not offered based on regular or long terms contracts rather these were very short term contracts for a couple of months. Apart from the short term contracts, the job description and responsibilities were limited to:
Digitizing the parcels from Google Earth Image
Data entry using Excel
Capturing photos of properties using Android phone
Entering attributes in an android app and editing.
Generating reports based on spatial queries
The above mentioned job description and responsibilities can be considered as a good start for a fresh GIS graduate. However, repeated continuation of such tasks for years gets you nowhere.
Definitely, projects like CPEC, infrastructure, studies regarding climatic change and other mega housing & town planning projects need professionals who can support and strengthen the engineers, architects, urban planners, geologists, hydrologists and geodetic survey professionals. But, let’s be practical here,the factual needs of the time are much more than parcel mapping, attribute editing or colorful layouts. Spatial data scientists & analysts are required nowadays who can work cordially with in various other but specific professional domains.
Property data collection using Android phones is realistically a non-technical task. I cannot consider this as the ultimate role of a GIS professional. GIS professionals should get into Geodetic Surveys where they can work with emerging technologies such as GNSS systems, Drones, 3D scanners, GPR and other latest equipment and software.
Geography is all about the relationships between the geometric objects surrounding us. A spatial sense can easily gather the geometry in everything and everywhere. CAD is a platform where geometry can be understood conceptually to utilize the full potential of GIS abilities. This opens avenues for GIS professionals in the engineering, architecture and construction industry.
3D modeling is again another vast field. It is not only for the graphic designers or CAD operators. There is a lot of stuff for GIS professionals to explore. Unity, Meshlab, Meshmixer, Blender, Revit, Fusion 360 and many more have the scope to indulge which is equally interesting, fascinating and mesmerizing to work.
Almost all degree programs include a course of programming or coding. Currently, C++ is being taught but with the emerging trends I would suggest Python, VBA or Javascript to be included for enhanced usefulness in rather practical fields. Either you are working in ArcGIS or QGIS or any image processing software, python is the best option to start learning programming.
There are several image processing software which can be interesting and explorable by GIS professionals. Matlab was a personal but productive experience while designing filters, processing different bands of images with morphological operators and writing different algorithms to process images. It actually helped me comprehend major image interpretation and image processing tasks done in top ranked image processing packages like ERDAS Imagine, ENVI, PCI Geomatica and others.
Unfortunately, majority of GIS professionals have spent more than a decade in organizations doing very basic tasks. They could not realize the advancements and exponential change of technology. Their skill set is still limited to ArcGIS software.
They could not explore the new industry standards, emerging technologies and software. Undeniably,the academia is dependable to some extent in playing an effective role by revising not only the curriculum but also resources on the basis of market demands. Then again without any exceptions, in my personal opinion, these GIS professionals themselves are responsible since the following options always exist for them to bridge the gap:
Grab opportunities to learn new things.
Expand and improve their typical skill set.
Innovate ideas to compete in the industry.
Propose curriculum updates accordingly in the academia.
Apart from Geodetic Surveys, CAD, 3D modeling, Coding, photogrammetry and image processing as advanced skills, there are many other noteworthy aspects. Technology is changing exponentially and to keep pace with the current trends, nowadays learning is just a click away. What matters most is the dedication an individual exhibits and the zeal and enthusiasm which drives your own life in a natural pattern. Where there is a will, there is always a way … and so in conclusion YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE