Pakistan Economy - News & Updates - Archive

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Punjab government spends record amount on uplift projects ​

LAHORE (August 13 2007): Punjab Food Minister Hussain Jahanian Gardezi has said the provincial government has spent record funds on the development of education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, sewerage, sanitation and other sectors of social development.

Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) workers he said billions of rupees have been utilised in various sectors for the uplift of entire districts of the province, which has accelerated the pace of social development. He said educational budget has been increased manifold and a sum of Rs103 billion has been spent for the promotion of education.

The minister further said that as the dream of progress cannot be realised without education, therefore, the government is strengthening education sector on priority basis. He said that missing facilities in educational institutions have been ensured and 60 thousand new teachers have been recruited.

Hussain Jahanian Gardezi said that due to distribution of free textbooks, provision of educational stipend to girl students and free education up to matric level, 2.2 million new students have been enrolled in schools. He said that 15 percent increase has been registered in the literacy rate due to the measures taken by the government. He said that special attention is being paid to the education of special children so as to make them useful citizens of the society.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605182&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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'Tianjin investors to contribute in economic development of Pakistan' ​

BEIJING (August 13 2007): The Mayor of Tianjin Dai Xianglong has expressed the hope that the Tianjin entrepreneurs would work together with their Pakistani counterparts to help make contribution for the prosperity of the people and for the economic development of the South Asian country by making investment in various projects.

He was talking to a group of foreign journalists during a visit to Tianjin conducted jointly by the Information Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Municipal Government of Tianjin.

"China and Pakistan maintain very good relations", he said and added that "we really want to see the stability and development in Pakistan". The Mayor told APP special correspondent during Q&A session after a briefing on various development projects being carried out in the port city of Tianjin that he maintains old friendship and has very good relations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

He observed that when China makes investment in foreign countries we give priority to those having good relations with us and of course Pakistan is one of them.

Mayor Dai Xianglong said China maintains huge foreign exchange reserves and there is no bar on Chinese companies as well as individuals to make investments in foreign countries by using foreign exchange.

The central government, in this regard has devised a policy to encourage and support the Chinese enterprises and individuals for investments in foreign countries, he said.

China, he said has already invested in countries in Central Asia as well as in Egypt and most of these investments have been done in the industrial zones.

The Mayor said that he is very much supportive of economic globalisation and firmly believe in free flow of capital, investment and the labour technology.

He expressed the hope that the Tianjin entrepreneurs would make investment in Pakistan and work together to contribute for the building of Pakistan and to help achieve prosperity in the South Asian country.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605211&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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Strategy for SME industrial estates in Punjab evolved ​

SIALKOT (August 13 2007): Punjab government has evolved a strategy for the establishment of SME industrial estates in the Punjab. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that under the plan SME industrial estates would be set up in major industrial towns including Sialkot and work on the plan would be executed in near future.

The step was being taken for redressal of the problems being confronting by the SME sector, which is the backbone of the national economy of the country. All basic facilities would be ensured to the SMEs in these proposed SME estates, sources added.

Special attention was also being accorded on the development of industrial sector on modern and scientific lines aimed at enhancing export volume and to bring industrial revolution through setting up large-scale industries including agro-based industries in the province.

Under the programme, the government has introduced certain schemes for the development of small and medium industries besides loan facilities was being extended to the small and medium businessmen enabling them to upgrade their industrial units and for setting up new industrial projects in the Punjab.

More than Rs one billion had been set aside to diminish the financial problems being faced by the businessmen engaged with small and medium industries as well as for removing the hitches which were hindering the process of setting up of new industrial projects.

Apart from this, government was also providing loan facilities for the advancement and expansion of agro-based industries and dairy development, engineering and Information Technology in the Punjab.

The prime aim of setting up of large-scale industries was to ensure strong industrial base and to keep the economic wheel in to gear in the Punjab. The maximum establishment of industries will not only help in doubling the export volume but also create wide job opportunities for the jobless educated, skilled and unskilled labour, sources added.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605185&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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Inflation surges by 6.37pc​

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: Consumer price inflation rose modestly by 6.37 per cent in July over the same month last year owing to tight monetary policy. This would be the lowest increase in inflation, so far, recorded in any month of the last fiscal year because of falling prices, particularly freezing of oil prices which helped control non-food inflation.

The government has projected 6.5pc annual inflation to be achieved during the year 2007-08.

The annual inflation in 2006-07 was 7.77 per cent as against the projected target of 7 per cent.

Official figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics here on Saturday showed that inflation measured through consumer price index (CPI) declined by 1.01pc in July 2007 over the previous month (June 2007).

This showed that the tight monetary policy had resulted into bringing down the core inflation — non-food, non-energy — which pushed down overall inflation during the first month of the current fiscal year.

However, the challenging issue of food supply and overcoming shortage of food items still remains the same as the food inflation is still on the higher side, which recorded a growth of 8.47pc during July 2007 over the last year’s figures in July.This means that the scaling down of overall inflation will not bear any fruits as food prices, which were mostly consumed by the poor people, are still on the higher side.

Similarly, the government had frozen oil prices in the domestic market that also resulted in lowering of the transportation cost and fares.

With this, the non-food inflation also witnessed a steep decline during the month under review.

The slowdown in inflation during the month under review was mainly due to decrease in non-food inflation and core inflation. Though the government recently constituted a ministerial committee on core food inflation for working out short-and long-term policy measures, it is yet to come up with some solution for arresting prices of some essential commodities.

Analysts said food inflation would further rise as supply of essential commodities, like potatoes, onions etc., in the market might decrease, coupled by increase in the price of sugar, wheat, meat and some vegetables.

Apart from the increase in food items, the medicare charges and education went up by 13.99pc and 6.22pc, respectively, in July 2007 over the same months of last year.

This indicates that charges of basic facilities, like life-saving drugs and education fee, sky-rocketed, thus affecting the monthly budget of the poor people.

The house rent recorded a growth of 6.91pc in July 2007, textile products 7.41pc, household furniture 6.15pc, fuel and light 2.56pc and laundry 4.96pc over the same month of last year.

The only area where some decrease was witnessed was transport and communications which recorded a negative growth of 3.07pc and recreation charges 0.01pc during the month under review over last year.

WPI: The wholesale prices of commodities increased by 7.60pc in the month of July 2007 over the same month last year.

Official figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) showed that on a monthly basis, the wholesale price of commodities witnessed an upward trend, indicating that prices of products would increase at retail stage.

The WPI measures changes in average ex-factory and wholesale prices of 425 items grouped into five broad categories.

The categories include food items, raw material, fuel, lighting and lubricants, manufacturing and building material.

The main commodities, which showed an increase in their prices during July 2007 over June 2007, are as under:

Food: Vegetables (15.22pc), eggs (12.69pc), basEn (10.98pc), onions (9.89pc), gram split (8.57pc), potatoes (8.50pc), wheat flour (6.09pc), maida (6.04pc), masoor (6.01pc), bajra (5.86pc), wheat (5.46pc), cotton-seed oil (5.43pc), chicken (5.27pc), sugar refined (4.02pc), mustard and rapeseed oil (3.25pc), powdered milk (3.21pc), rice (2.54pc) and salt (1.50pc).

Cotton (6.84pc), mustard/rapeseeds (5.21pc), tobacco (1.28pc), coke (13.64pc), furnace oil (7.38pc), chemicals (3.81pc), fertilisers (2.23pc), soaps (1.69pc), iron bars and sheets (3.25pc) and bricks (1.63pc).

The main commodities which showed a decrease in their prices in July 2007 over June 2007 are in food: tomatoes (39.86pc), moong (4.03pc), maize (2.75pc), jowar (2.48pc), gram whole (2.44pc), fresh fruits (1.79pc), gur (1.67pc), fish (1.63pc), pig iron (5.89pc), skins (3.30pc) and paper (1.12pc).

http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/14/ebr1.htm

 

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Engineering sector without regulatory check​

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The government plans to provide “regulatory mechanism” to the engineering industry to stop large-scale smuggling of electrical goods, including air-conditioners, fans, household appliances, automotive parts and steel products.

Informed sources told Dawn on Monday that the regulatory mechanism was currently missing and was hitting the engineering industry badly.

The government has been proposed by its planners to accelerate the growth of the engineering sector by also rectifying the existing irrational tariff structure.

One of the many reasons for slow growth of engineering sector was said to be the absence of long-term vision for development.

There was hardly any integrated and consistent approach towards the engineering sector. The productive sectors have been marred with irrational tariff structure.

“Now that the government has approved a broader vision for industrial development, our recommendations, especially to have some regulatory mechanism for the engineering industry, will help improve the performance of the sector,” said one senior planner of the government.

The progress of the engineering sector has been described as “less than satisfactory”.

The contribution of engineering industry to the GDP is currently only $2 billion and it provides employment to a mere 600,000 people. Pakistan saves $3.75 billion per annum through import substitution. The rising trade deficit has been attributed mainly to import of engineering sector which is more than $2 billion (Rs132 billion).

The present share of the engineering industry in meeting the total demand is merely 25 per cent while the remaining is met through imports which have almost doubled over the last eight years.

Its share in total imports has varied from 33 to 42 per cent. The share of engineering goods in Pakistan's exports is only three per cent.

Pakistan exports $0.27 billion worth of engineering goods which is negligible share of the world trade. Major areas of imports include equipment for the textile industry, energy sector, cement plants, agricultural machine, electrical machinery and automobiles etc.

The local consumption of steel which is one of the major indicators of industrial development did not rise due to high prices of steel. Moreover, for most of the engineering industries, effective protection was negative.

The main reason for the negative protection was due to high duties on inputs whereas outputs were generally imported duty-free, under various concessionary tariff regimes or outright smuggled. Therefore, local engineering industry has been deprived of a major business opportunity.

The main causes of poor performance of engineering sector was the absence of integrated approach for balanced growth of all economic sectors; lack of consistent policies and political will in developing the local industry manifested in widespread smuggling of engineering goods; ad hoc approach in policy formulation and preferences for turn-key imports of plant and machinery; irrational and discriminatory tariff structure with relatively high import tariff on inputs and low zero rates on output/finished goods along with cumbersome procedures for customs clearance of imported inputs; priority to less value-addition areas for investment and tariff support and lack of incentives to attract investment in high value-added sectors; lack of institutional support and incentives for acquisition and absorption of foreign technologies.

Unfavourable cost structure was due to factors, such as lack of economy of scale in production, high financing cost, high inventory carrying costs, low labour productivity, high utility costs, and high cost of local inputs, particularly steel products.Lack of R&D and design, quality standards and engineering support have resulted in the inadequate vending sub-contracting facilities and lack of entrepreneurship and management skills.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/14/ebr4.htm

 

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World Bank to be asked to redefine IT projects scope of funding ​

ISLAMABAD (August 14 2007): The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will ask the World Bank (WB) to redefine the scope of funding for information technology (IT) projects being completed under the Tax Administration Reforms Project (TARP). Sources told Business Recorder on Monday that WB has allocated around $80-90 million for IT projects under the TARP.

However, most of the IT-related functions have been completed without utilisation of WB loan. Despite the fact that the WB wanted utilisation of funds, the priority is to complete projects with minimum donor's funding through domestic resources.

Sources admitted that out of the allocated amount, a meagre amount has been spent on IT projects. They said that the major projects like One Customs,; Customs Administrative Reforms Project; e-filing; Tax Management System (TMS); banking automation system etc are being finalised utilising board's own resources.

So far an amount of US $8-10 million has been spend out of WB funding for the procurement of computers and other IT related equipment during the last few years. In the next phase, more procurement would be done for the reformed units like Regional Tax Offices (RTOs).

An amount of $40 million has been allocated for the integrated tax management System (ITMS). Many important features of ITMS like e-filing etc have already been implemented by the board. If the board achieves all objectives of ITMS with domestic resources, the FBR may utilise much less amount against the actual allocation for this project. Taking into account huge amount of US $40 million for ITMS, it is important to analyse all aspects. Sources said that the customs projects like Pakistan Customs Computerised System (PACCS) are no more part of the TARP.

During the upcoming midterm review by World Bank, the board will request the WB to redefine the scope of funding. It could be seen that the IT project in terms of deliverables are ahead against what is conceived in the actual plan. As the board has indigenously enhanced its IT systems, the board may request the WB to readjust the amount for some other project etc.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605369&currPageNo=2&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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Foreign investment increases manifold, says Zahid ​

SIALKOT (August 14 2007): Federal Privatisation & Investment Minister Zahid Hamid has said that with increased economic growth in the country, the pace of foreign investment has increased manifold in the last few years.

In an interview with APP here on Monday, he said that the government has formulated investment-friendly policies aimed at providing even business opportunities to foreign and overseas Pakistanis to invest in Pakistan.

"Due to positive economic policies, foreign investment here today is touching over $8.4 billion, with direct foreign investment (***) accounting for $5.1 billion, a record in the country's history," he said.

He said more foreign investment is expected in the next couple of months as a result of which the foreign investment index will rise further. The minister further stated that the process of privatisation is being carried out in a transparent manner and in accordance with the rules and regulations, adding that the government has earned $2 billion through the privatization process.

The privatization of Habib Bank Limited, National Bank, Jamshoro power project, Kot Addu power station, Heavy Electrical Complex, coalmines and hotels is also in the pipeline, Zahid Hamid revealed.

"Our privatisation policy is crystal clear, keeping in view national interests," he said, adding that efforts are on to attract more overseas Pakistanis, as well as foreign firms, to invest here. Due to effective polices, the national economy has attained a position of strength, which will be further strengthened with the passage of time, he observed.

Responding to a question, the minister said that the coming general elections will be held on schedule, in a free and fair environment, adding that PML-Q has worked, and continues to work, with sincerity for the progress of the country and the people.

"The masses have been provided with all basic facilities like education, health, telecommunication, gas and electricity, road networks, even in remote rural areas that were totally neglected by past regimes," he said, adding that PML-Q is the first government to have worked practically for the welfare of the common man.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605460&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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Chinese Group keen to produce petrochemicals from Thar coal ​

KARACHI (August 14 2007): A Chinese Group has shown keenness in producing a range of petrochemical products from Thar coal, Business Recorder learnt here on Monday. According to sources in Sindh Mines & Mineral Development Department, the Chinese company has indicated that it is willing to invest $400 million to $500 million on the project.

They said that China National Chemical Engineering Company (CNCEC) has asked the Ministry of Petroleum to facilitate the company to produce petrochemical products from Thar coal.

They said that the company has carried out a comprehensive research and survey of the Thar coal field and has claimed in its report that the coal of Thar is not suitable for power generation. This is the reason that it not expressed interest in coal-based power projects.

Sources said that CNCEC has offered that in case Shenhua Group Corporation of China did not resume work on the construction of two 350 MW coal-fired power plants in Thar then it could start work on producing chemical products from Thar coal.

The project would be first of its kind as Mines & Mineral Development Department has shown interest only in coal-based power projects, instead of other projects. According to sources, a delegation of the company had met with senior officials of Ministry of Petroleum in November 2005 to finalise the project of producing coal related chemicals. However, the project remained in doldrums because of lack of interest of Sindh Mines & Mineral Department.

Ministry of Mines & Mineal Development, however, is now persuading CNCEC to start the project as soon as possible, and Minister Irfanullah Khan Marwat wants CNCEC to start work. On his directive, an official of the department has contacted the Chinese Consulate in Karachi for contact number of any focal person of CNCEC group to initiate the work on the project.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605363&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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Nespak to prepare 'Nai Gaj' dam design ​

LAHORE (August 14 2007): The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has signed an agreement with Nespak to map out a detailed engineering design and tender of the 'Nai Gaj' dam project documents.

Wapda Planning and Design General Manager Dr Muhammad Siddique and Nespak Geo-technical and Geo-environmental Engineering Design Vice President Muhammad Ilyas signed the agreement on behalf of their organisations.

The engineering design and the tender documents will be completed in 18 months at a cost of Rs 88.37 million. The 'Nai Gaj' dam will be built on the Gaj River in Sindh's Dadu district, helping to irrigate more than 44,000 acres land and generate 2.3 mega watts hydropower.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605442&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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Two million tons kinnow output expected this year ​

KARACHI (August 14 2007): Pakistan expects around 2 million tons kinnow production during 2007-08 in the wake of a 'good crop' at kinnow orchards, sources told Business Recorder on Monday. "This year, kinnow production is likely to touch 2 million tons mark as so far a good kinnow crop is being reported from the orchards," sources in Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) said.

In this season, which tentatively starts from mid-October and ends by mid-April, growers expect kinnow production to be almost equal to the country's output in 2005-06, which was near about 2 million tons. "Though expectations are high for producing the same output of kinnow as in 2005-06, it depends on favourable weather", sources in the Board added.

Last year, in 2006-07, they said, due to bad crop around 1.6 million tons kinnow were produced, and quality also was not very good. It is worth mentioning that the prospects of the country's kinnow exports have become somewhat uncertain this year in the wake of Russian ban on imports of agricultural products from Pakistan, on quality ground.

Russia used to import Pakistani kinnows worth around $36.80 million annually, but this year exporters fear that kinnow exports to Moscow is likely to face a setback after the cancellation of a $0.4 million mango exports order in June 2007. The only ray of hope in this regard is the visit of a Pakistan delegation, which is due to leave for Moscow some time in September.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605359&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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Unemployment to remain at 6.2% in 2007-08​

ISLAMABAD: For the current fiscal year 2007-08, the number of unemployed people is forecast to increase to 3.23 million from 3.18 million. However, the unemployment rate is expected to remain at 6.2 percent, same as it was in the last fiscal year.

According to the annual plan for the year 2007-08, the population of the country is expected to reach 162 million in the current fiscal year, from 159.26 million last year. It is also forecast that the labour force will constitute 52.16 million people in the current fiscal year from 51.33 million in last fiscal year.

To reduce unemployment, the government has allocated an amount of Rs 198.4 million in the public sector development programme for the year 2007-08.

This amount will be spent on 14 projects including some new initiatives. The government has also decided to continue some of the ongoing employment generation projects in the fiscal year 2007-08. These projects include, Training of Trainers for Skill Development (Rs 12.3 million), Labour Market Requirements and Analysis System (Rs 9.1 million), Policy Planning Cell, (Rs 14.0 million) and Computerisation of the Data of Outgoing Emigrants and Returning Migrants (Rs 25.3 million). These allocations will further the objective of the ongoing projects in the employment and labour sector.

Officials in the planning commission told this scribe that creating employment opportunities is the top priority of the government. The officials said that sustaining and accelerating the current momentum of GDP growth in the current fiscal year 2007-08 would undoubtedly generate more employment opportunities.

The Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) 2005-2010 has projected an increase of 6.97 million jobs from 43.15 million in 2004-05 to 50.12 million in 2009-10. As per the labour force in 2005-06, the employed labour force stands at 46.94 million. Thus 3.18 million jobs need to be created in the next four years to achieve the targets of MTDF. The ongoing economic reforms and expansion of vocational and technical training will further enhance the productivity of the employed labour force.

Employment generation is the main focus of the MTDF that will help in raising productivity and technical competence of the labour force. In this regard, information and analysis is needed on key labour market indicators for important insight and development of appropriate policies. Realising the fact, a project named “Establishment of Labour Market Information and Analysis” has been launched by ministry of labour.

This project cross-cuts the three pillars of the MTDF employment strategy and will contribute to understanding of the labor market dynamics and its various characteristics in order to improve policy formation for employment generation, employee protection and employee enhancement.

Main objective of the project is to develop and consolidate the collection and usage of labour market information in the country. It is a pre-requisite for effective program for employment promotion, and manpower planning and development.

The government has already initiated the President’s Rozgar Scheme with the partnership of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in March 2007. The scheme covers the areas of transport, utility stores under Utility Stores Corporation (USC), mobile utility stores, mobile general store, NBP Karobar PCO and NBP tele-centre.

To generate employment opportunities, the government has also kicked off National Internship Program for the benefit of fresh graduates. The objective of this scheme is to enhance their capacity and employability in the country.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\08\14\story_14-8-2007_pg5_13

 

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Sindh seeking $1.944 billion loans from donors ​

KARACHI (August 15 2007): Sindh Government is negotiating a $1.944 billion loan with foreign donors for six different development projects for which concept papers have been cleared, it is learnt. Advisor on Finance to Sindh Chief Minister M A Jalil told Business Recorder that these loans would improve the lives of the coastal people, water supply schemes, education, civic infrastructure in cities.

To assist in Karachi Mega City Development Project (investment programme), and help in Sindh Rural Road Construction Phase-II Project. He said that ADB will provide three loans ($36 million) for Sindh Coastal and Inland Community Development Project, Sindh Cities Improvement Programme ($500 million to $800 million), and Karachi Mega City Development Project (investment programme) ($800 million).

Two credits would be available from IDA: one for Sindh Water Sector improvement Phase-I ($150.20 million), and for First Sindh Education Sector Development Policy Credit. The sixth loan, for which negotiations are expected soon, will be for Sindh Rural Road Construction Phase-II Project from JBIC (ODA Loan).

Despite efforts by the provincial government to accelerate completion of development projects the executing departments do not comply with accounting practices prescribed by the donors. The delays in working and inadequate accounting often cause delay in release of funds, on the one hand, and affect completion schedule, on the other. Planning and Development Department sources said that auditing of foreign fund expenditure was underway.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605683&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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Hyderabad airport soon to be operational ​

HYDERABAD (August 15 2007): Hyderabad Zila Nazim Naveed Jamil said on Tuesday that the Hyderabad airport would soon become an operational airport of the country. He said that struggle continues for making Hyderabad airport operational. He stated this at a gathering of people organised by Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said that the industrial development is the need of the time.

The Nazim said that the enthusiasm of industrialisation would control the unemployment. He said that there are three big barriers in the development of industry and trade--lack of airport, lack of large industrial area and lack of good infrastructure.

He said that as some members of the Chamber had pointed out in seminars, the district government has kept this as first priority. He said: "We are trying to solve the problems of the people according to our resources. When I met the Prime Minister and President I asked them to make Hyderabad airport operational."

He said that 300 acres land would be handed over to Sindh Industrial Trading Estate for widening the area of industrial zone. He added the plots would be allotted to genuine industrialists.

On this occasion, the President of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yousuf Sulaiman, said that air flights was the main demand of industrialists, businessmen, and other people. PIA will start service by flight ART-40 from Hyderabad. He said that it is believed that PIA would start both passengers and cargo services.

A former president of HCCI, Muhammad Yaqoob, said that the Smeda had announced to allot land for establishing Hyderabad Chamber of business development centre. He said one draft agreement has been prepared between Smeda and Taluka municipal administration of Latifabad that the project work would be started in near future. Vice President Muhammad Ammin said that PIA would no loss from the air service to Hyderabad.

On the occasion, DCO Hyderabad Afitab Ahmed Khateri, DIG Police Shouket Shah, DPO Investigation Khalid Mustafa Korai, SP Headquarters Zulifqar Ali and other officials, members of HCCI and people from other walk of life were also present.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=605776&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

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Sindh to train 6,500 in modern trades​

KARACHI, Aug 14: A total of 6,500 workers will be trained in modern trades in Sindh under the Prime Minister Programme for Special Initiative to be launched in December this year.

The programme is aimed at training youths in fields where employment opportunities exist. These fields include building electricians, painters, steel fixers, mobile repair technicians, telecom technicians, computer programming, and farming skills, tractor driver-cum-mechanic to the people of the rural areas.

The training being launched by National Vocational Training and Education (Navtech) will be undertaken at 10 centres of the directorate of training and manpower as evening programmes apart from other institutions, like Sindh Directorate of Technical Education and Pakistan Institute of Training in Hotel Management (Pithom) organising training for jobs in hotel and tourist industry.

The training will be imparted to people in Karachi and other major interior towns, like Hyderabad, Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana and Dadu.

The trainees will get a monthly stipend of 1,000 during the six months training along with a free of cost tool kit. The curriculum for training in 51 trades and vocations has been developed with the help of ILO.

The programme, which will continue for three years, is part of the government efforts to provide employment to the people. This is in line with the earlier programmes of National Internship Programme and President’s Rozgar Scheme.

The directorate of training and manpower has also designed a course for training of prisoners in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur jails to help them earn a respectable living after their release.

The curriculum of training has been designed keeping in view the special mental frame of the prisoners, who mostly commit crimes on reasons based on socio economic factors.

In the first phase about 4,000 prisoners will be trained and they would be handled by an NGO after their release to help them get suitable jobs. The project has been designed on a concept taken from Irish rehabilitation centres and it has been sent to the Planning and Development (P&D) for funding.

Presently, prisoners getting rigorous imprisonment are trained on outdated looms (khuddy) for weaving cloth. Hence most of them fail to get any job in trades prevailing in the market after their release. When they fail to get a job and suffer from starvation they again tend towards committing a crime.

Under the rehabilitation project designed by the directorate of training and manpower the prisoners would be trained as electricians, painters, mobile phone repairing, computer programmers, surveyors, farmers and shuttering fixers, etc.

The directorate is also running three centres for training women in various trades. A new training centre for women will be opened at Yaqoubabad in Orangi. Women are mostly trained in computer programming and apparel designing but for housewives there are courses in cooking, repair of domestic appliances and art of applying mehandi for special occasions.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/15/ebr1.htm

 

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15 Pakistan firms eyeing India cement market​

NEW DELHI, Aug 14: Fifteen Pakistani firms have sought approvals to sell cement to India, which is facing a shortage to feed hectic construction activity in the rapidly growing economy, a minister said in parliament on Tuesday.

Junior Commerce Minister Jairam Ramesh did not disclose the name of the firms or the quantity that will be imported in his written reply to law-makers questions.

The Pakistani firms have sought clearance certificates from the Bureau of Indian Standards to sell the cement in India, he said.

Earlier this month, Pakistani Commerce Secretary Syed Asif Shah said in New Delhi the first consignment of cement from his country would arrive in India by the end of August. Pakistan has an annual production capacity of 37-38 million tons, while it consumes only 22-25 million tons. ndia's cement supplies grew 7 per cent to 41.60 million tons during April-June from a year earlier, data from the Cement Manufacturers' Association showed, but demand expanded by 10 per cent in the same period.

This had pushed up prices by about 10 per cent from a year earlier.

India’s top cement producers such as Grasim Industries Ltd and UltraTech Cement and ACC Ltd and Ambuja Cements Ltd, both partly owned by Switzerland's Holcim are running almost at full capacity.—Reuters

http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/15/ebr7.htm