Kachhi Canal to be ready in August

on 23/07/2017

WAPDA Chairman Lieutenant General (R) Muzammil Hussain has said that Kachhi Canal project will be completed in August 2017. The project, which started in 2002, was almost abandoned due to grossly cost and time overrun for various reasons. He said the federal government’s support and excellent work by the Wapda engineers re-energised the project. The authority he said was planning to release water into the main canal gradually during current month from its head regulator located at Taunsa Barrage in Muzaffargarh district to test the canal and its structures. Thereafter, water will be discharged to the distribution system for irrigation in August. He said that 72,000 acres of virgin land will be irrigated in August this year. Kachhi Canal is a vital project to ensure economic development and social uplift in the far flung areas of Balochistan by promoting agriculture and agro-based economy. With completion of Kachhi Canal project, Balochistan will be able to draw its share of water from the Indus River System, people in the area will cultivate their lands and accrue the benefits, he added. During the visit, the Wapda chairman had a detailed round of the various sites and witnessed pace of construction work on the project. Earlier, the chairman also visited Chashma Barrage, and Jinnah and Chashma hydel power stations. Different issues relating to the two hydel power stations came under discussion. In addition, detailed deliberations were also made to enhance efficiency of Jinnah and Chashma hydel power stations.

 

Why MD NTDC was removed

on 23/07/2017

The federal government has removed Managing Director, National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) Dr Fiaz Ahmad Chaudhry reportedly for failing to complete CPEC-related projects on time. The Board of Directors of the company adopted procedure under Companies Act 2017 under sections 190(1) and 190(2) and unanimously decided to remove Dr. Fiaz. The board appointed Zafar Abbas as new MD of the company. He was working earlier as director, NTDC. Dr Fiaz who was appointed on June 30 last years an electrical engineer with over 31 years of experience in power sector. The BOD, reports said had noticed that the interconnections of main projects of CPEC like 500 KV Port Qasim line, 220 KV Gharo line, 500 KV Rahim Yar Khan-Moro line (3rd Circuit) had not been handled in proper way and thus jeopardized completions of full transmission of new generation. Also, delay in 132 KV line Patrind hydropower project added up fuel to the fire as it caused damages to the tune of Rs200 million per month.  Similarly, non-provision of appropriate evacuation for wind projects, generation is being curtailed resulting in Rs329 million capacity charges penalties on the power purchaser. On removal of key system constraints to allow full flow of power in 2017 for which comprehensive exercise was conducted by the ministry in 2016, the NTDC missed major timelines. Resultantly, the system witnessed critical shortcomings during the month of Ramazan. An NTDC handout said national transmission stabilisation remained a major challenge which could not be achieved. Moreover, the situation in southern part of the country was further aggravated resulting in the system collapse on 1st and 2nd Ramazan plunging large parts of southern grid in darkness. The situation was further compounded by the frequent collapse of 500 KV circuit towers due to lack of maintenance as per SOPs. The response to restore the system was highly dissatisfactory resulting in discomfort to the consumers.

کچھ لفظوں کی کہانی۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ سو شل

on 22/07/2017

امی ابو کہتے ہیں رشتے داروں سے ملا کرو اچھے برے وقت میں رشتے دار کام آتے ہیں

مجھے رشتے دار اچھے نہیں لگتے میں سوشل میڈ یا کا دیوانہ ہوں

فیس بک پر ڈھائ ہزار دوست ہیں، ٹیوٹر پر تیس ہزار فالوورز ہیں ، بیس واٹس اپ گروپز کا ممبر ہوں

آج میرا جنازہ ہے، میرا خیال تھا کہ ڈیڑھ دو ہزلر لوگ تو آئیں گے لیکن یہ تو صرف ساٹھ پینسٹھ لوگ نظرآرہے ہیں، وہ بھی  سارے رشتہ دار۔ میں نے فرشتہ سے پوچھا ایسا کیوں؟

تیرے اماں ابا کی مہربانی ہے ورنہ چار مزدور بلانے پڑتے تیرا جنازہ اٹھانے کے لیے

سوشل میڈیا پر ہونے اور سوشل ہونے میں فرق ہے۔ لوگوں سے ملنا اور ان کے دکھ درد میں شریک ہونا پڑتا ہے۔ لوگوں کو وقت دیتے ہیں تو ان کا وقت ملتا ہے۔

Four companies get nod for auto plants

on 21/07/2017

The federal government has granted permission to four automobile companies to set up their assembly/manufacturing plants in Pakistan. In June, three companies were granted permission by the government, a move that would result in a total investment of $372 million. The government is expecting a total of $2 billion to make its way into the country as the number of companies interested in setting up their plants goes up. As per estimates, one plant needs an investment of around $500 million and all four auto manufacturing plants are believed to invest $2 billion in the industry.” In July, two more firms will be allowed to set up plants which is expected to attract around $1 billion as investment. A total of nine companies had applied to set up new manufacturing plants of them four have been granted permission whereas two are in process of completing documents. It was earlier reported that United Motors Private Limited, Kia-Lucky Motors Pakistan Limited and Nishat Group, which is collaborating with Hyundai, have been granted permission. Moreover, the official said that Regal Automobile Industries Limited Karachi has also been given permission. The remaining five entrants who have applied include Habib Rafiq Private Limited, Khalid Mushtaq Motors, Pak-China Motors, Foton JW Auto Park, and Cavalier Automotive Corporation.

Pakistan ensures $8 billion for ML-1

on 21/07/2017

Linking Gwadar with railways networks is underway: Saad Rafique

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has urged the Islamic Development Bank and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Trade and Development Bank to promote investment in railways to ensure better connectivity among ECO states. “I have already talked to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and would urge IDB and ECO Trade and Development Bank to contribute to economic and social development of the ECO region,” said Rafique, while addressing the 9th high-level working group meeting of ECO Container Train on Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul route. He said that the government is determined to provide sovereign guarantee to IDB and the consortium and may provide financing terms of trade to Pakistan from Quetta/Taftan section connecting Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey. “We have already arranged approximately $8 billion financing to upgrade the main line ML-1 with the Chinese institutions. Arrangement of finances for linking Gwadar with railways networks is also underway.”The minister said that in 2015 the overall GDP of the ECO countries was $4.7 trillion and total intra-ECO trade volume stood at only $58 billion, which was far below its true potential. “I am confident that the target of ECO union 2025 will be realised through trade, transportation and cross border movements and infrastructure improvement.” He informed that Pakistan Railway is working on a master plan to upgrade its three main arteries; ML-1 from Peshawar to Karachi, ML-2 from Attock to Kotri and ML-3 from Quetta to Taftan and from Iran and Turkey. The minister said that poor condition of railways track from Quetta to Taftan is a major bottleneck in regional connectivity and onwards to Europe while the rail links from Chaman to Spin Boldak to Kandahar and onwards connecting to Turkmenistan is also under consideration. “This will ensure that Gwadar sea port is used to its full potential to transport goods to Afghanistan and landlocked Central Asian Republics.”