Pakistan Economy - News & Updates - Archive

[Neo]

KPT works on big projects to be of world standard ​

Sunday, February 10, 2008

KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust has realised the changing shipping trend as large vessels are now calling at ports, which carry more goods and save freight charges. To keep in line with the global trend, the KPT has started Pakistan Deep Water Container Port, the deepest port in the region and a very large project consisting of 10 berths.

The KPT has signed an agreement with Hong Kong’s Hutchison Port Holdings on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis for the first four berths of the Deep Water Port. This is phase one of the project, whose total area exceeds five kilometres, and there might be two other phases.

These things were shared by Karachi Port Trust Chairman Vice Admiral Ahmad Hayat in an exclusive interview with The News, in which he discussed various plans and projects of the KPT.

He stressed the need and importance of the project, saying all over the world the shipping trend was changing. Previously, smaller vessels were coming to ports, but now larger and larger ships are being manufactured in various parts of the world. Therefore, “we realised that getting larger ships will help the economy because on these vessels more goods can be loaded. In this case, freight charges will drop substantially as these days fuel prices are high so freight is high.”

At present, large vessels go to Dubai, Kandla, Mumbai and Colombo ports and from there smaller feeder vessels come to Pakistan, resulting in double handling charges and high freight. He said “our motive is to bring mother vessels to Karachi port and avoid feeder vessels, which can be sent from Karachi to the eastern African coast, to the Indian coast and even to Colombo.

“We are making the deepest port in the region which will be 18 metres in depth. At present, the deepest container vessel is about 15.5 to 16 metres which has been built by Maersk Line, which has 22 to 23 per cent share in the world’s container shipping.”

Maersk Line has made six big ships, three more are in the pipeline, which are called ‘E-type’ ships that carry 13,000 to 14,000 TEUs (twenty feet equivalent units). There are only a few ports in the world which can handle these vessels. Shanghai and Hong Kong are among those ports, but Dubai cannot handle these large vessels.

“Therefore, we are hoping that once this project (Deep Water Container Port) comes up, we will be one of the few ports in the region which will be able to handle these vessels.” In the first phase of the project, which may take 60 years, the KPT will not dig up 18 metres, but it will be 16 metres as dredging is very expensive. Once demand comes in and larger vessels call at the port, then dredging will be extended to 18 meters.

That would bring a lot of transshipment business, he said, adding the vessels would come here and unload their containers and from here feeder vessels would take the goods to third country. “At present, we only handle that cargo which the country imports or exports.”

Another major project of KPT is Cargo Village, which is on the western side and a bridge will be built to connect the Deep Water Port with the village. The Cargo Village will be constructed in three phases and the first phase will cover 1,300 acres and it has been designed by German designers.

Ahmed Hayat said “we have floated a tender for dredging of the Deep Water Port along with dredging for Cargo Village. The tender covering the two projects will be awarded to one company in order to cut cost.”

The Cargo Village, which will also serve as an industrial complex like in China, will have a 600-metre quay wall at a depth of 16 metres. The Deep Water and Cargo Village are dependent on each other. The Cargo Village will also be linked with National Highway as “we are making roads to connect the village to Lyari Expressway and Northern Bypass. Similarly, we are also laying a railway track which will connect the railway to the national grid so whatever cargo comes to the Deep Water Port, through the bridge it will land into the Cargo Village and from there can go to its final destination,” Ahmed Hayat said.

In Cargo Village, only infrastructure will be developed by the KPT and the private sector will be invited to do other development work. In this project, the KPT will bear a cost of nearly $200 million.

He said the connect bridge was a very expensive project, which was being designed by a German agency. “We are looking to arrange $600 to $700 million for the bridge as we may not be able to make the bridge on our own, so we are talking to Japan Bank of International Credit.”

The timeframe for completing work on the bridge is four to five years and it will be a very high bridge because vessels will cross underneath it. In the case of Deep Water Port, he said, first dredging would be done to 16 metres, second marine protection work would be undertaken and third 1,500 metres quay wall would be built.

“We are looking to provide $600 to $700 million of KPT money and around $400 million private sector money, together this will be around $1 billion in these three projects.” About competition with Gwadar deep water project which has a depth of 14 metres, but not as deep as KPT’s deep water project, he said there was great market demand, so the Gwadar project would not hamper the business of KPT as container traffic growth in the international market was about 13 to 15 per cent annually.

“We are trying to make KPT as user-friendly as possible and all projects and policies which are initiated are all on market demand. We are trying to change work culture and automate things in a big way and one of the examples is the wharfage payment system,” Ahmed Hayat concluded.

KPT works on big projects to be of world standard

 

[Neo]

Trade deficit hits $10.3bn in 7 months ​

Sunday, February 10, 2008

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy during July-January 2007-08 has racked up a huge $10.32 billion trade deficit with imports at $20.48 billion and exports at only $10.15 billion.

Running this endless huge string of annual trade deficits by importing more goods and services than it manages to export each year, send a worrisome signal. The Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) trade figures released on Saturday reveal that during these seven months, imports were more than double that of exports, which is not a good indication for the economy.

In percentage terms, the trade deficit grew by 35.15 per cent during the period under review against the same period of the last fiscal year ($7.64 billion). During July-January of this fiscal, the country exported goods worth $10.15 billion as against $9.58 billion of the last fiscal, showing a sluggish growth of 5.95 per cent while, imports grew my 18.9 per cent to $20.48 billon against $17.22 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the last fiscal.

In January 2008, trade deficit in absolute terms stood at $2.05 billion as Pakistan purchased goods worth $3.52 billion while sold goods of $1.47 billion in international market. In January 2007, Pakistan exported goods amounting to $1.17 billion as against the imports of $2.32 billion.

Though during the month under review, exports grew by 25.6 per cent, however, imports grew beyond 51 per cent over the same month of the last year.During the January 2008, exports grew by 10.7 per cent to $1.47 billion as against $1.33 billion recorded in December 2007. On the other hand, imports grew by 50.18 per cent to $3.52 billion against $2.35 billion imports of December 2007.

Trade deficit hits $10.3bn in 7 months

Trade deficit swells to $2.053 billion​

ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: Pakistan’s trade deficit increased by 77.84 per cent in January and swelled to $2.053 billion against $1.154 billion last year, mainly due to surging crude oil prices.

The trade gap ballooned as imports rose at a faster pace than exports during the month under review after a slight cut in the deficit in the previous month owing to 15 reduced working days on account of Eid holidays, Quaid-i-Azam’s birth anniversary, assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and disturbances after her death.

Official figures available with Dawn showed that the import bill increased by 51.48 per cent to $3.529 billion in January 2008 against $2.329 billion last year.

Exports grew by 25.60 per cent to $1.476 billion in January 2008 against $1.175 billion last year.

This growth in import and export was mainly due to delayed shipments, which were due in December last, but could not be shipped due to reduced working days.

For the first seven months (July-January) of 2007-08, the trade deficit increased by 35.15 per cent to $10.327 billion against $7.641 billion over the same period last year.

With the rising import bill, economists estimate that the trade deficit this year would easily cross $15 billion mark, the highest ever recorded in the history of the country.

Analysts said the trade account worsened sharply because of rising oil import bill, and heavy import of food grains, particularly wheat and pulses. But export growth has also slowed down, which also slightly worsened the trade account.

With the increasing oil prices, hopes for a narrow trade deficit in future have faded, and it may create a serious balance of payments problem for economic manager of the newly-elected government.

Pakistan’s exports to major US markets have slowed down owing to slow demand in the wake of recession in the US economy.

Official figures showed that exports grew by 5.95 per cent to $10.152 billion during the July-January period of the current fiscal year against $9.582 billion last year.

The government had projected an export target of $19.2 billion in the trade policy last year. For achieving this target, export proceeds should be in the vicinity of $9.048 billion in the next five months (February-June) 2007-08. However, with a slow growth in exports in the last seven months, there is no likelihood that the commerce ministry would even be close to their projected target.

On the other hand, the import bill reached $20.480 billion in July-January period of the current fiscal year, up by 18.90 per cent from $17.224 billion.

Though the government did not project any target for import bill in the trade policy, estimates show that it would easily reach around $35 billion by the end of June. Last year, the import bill had crossed the figure of $30 billion.

Trade deficit swells to $2.053 billion -DAWN - Business; February 10, 2008

 

[Neo]

Investment activity declines sharply: Pre-election uncertainty​

KARACHI, Feb 9: Banking activity has dropped sharply as up to 40 per cent accounts remain idle reflecting the unfriendly investment environment.

Bankers said the prevailing uncertainty linked with the elections had seriously affected the banking activity. They said 30 to 40 per cent account holders were not using their accounts or withdrawing money to invest in the market.

“In countries like Pakistan uncertainty before elections is not an unusual thing but it has hit the investment-related activities, which slid significantly over the past couple of months,” said a senior banker.

Bankers said that the trade-related banking business was normal but the investment by the private sector had witnessed a slowdown.

“One of the major reasons is the slump in the shares market, which is the centre of activities attracting billions of rupees every day but the uncertainty has marred the charm,” said treasurer of a large privatised bank.

He said thousands of account-holders used their accounts daily when they deal in the capital market, which is now a ‘risky’ place to move around. He said only big players were in the market while the middle-class investors were avoiding investing these days.

Another senior banker of a semi-privatised bank said the real estate was another area where investment had dried up.

“The real estate business has lost attraction as the risk is very high due to uncertainty linked with the elections,” he added.

He said the speculation about the elections outcome had created more uncertainty, especially for the real estate business, which has a tendency of slow movement, whether the prices go up or come down.

The real estate business flourished during the last three years and the banks earned record profits. However, most of the investors got the real benefit when the interest rates slipped below two per cent in 2002.

Bulk of the money went into the real estate sector, especially in land purchasing. When the interest rates went up after a couple of years the land prices shot up and paid huge dividend to the investors.

“The real estate transactions these days are insignificant as the investors find it better to sit with their money instead of investing and taking risk,” said the banker.

He was hopeful that the situation would change soon after elections. Most of the bankers were of the view that the phenomenon was temporary and would see a change after elections.

Analysts said the decline in investment activity would hurt the economy and the real impact would be felt at the end of the current fiscal.

“If the investment activities do not revive just after the elections it would certainly hurt the economy already under stress due to poor agriculture performance and low manufacturing growth,” said Abid Saleem, an analyst of a local brokerage house.

Investment activity declines sharply: Pre-election uncertainty -DAWN - Business; February 10, 2008

 

[Neo]

2.16bn Neelum-Jhelum hydel project launched​

ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: President Pervez Musharraf launched here on Saturday the $2.16 billion Neelum-Jhelum hydro-electric project, saying that its completion would contribute in a big way to socio-economic development of the country.

He said the project had a strategic importance and was needed to meet the growing power requirements.

He thanked the Chinese for their assistance, terming the project another symbol of Sino-Pak friendship.

The president said Pakistan had proposed extending oil and gas pipelines and rail network up to the Chinese border, which would be another wonder.

About the project, he said it would have a 47 kilometre-long tunnel and generate 1,000MW of “inexpensive” hydel power.

The president said the shortage of energy was due to the growing industrial sector which would be overcome through a series of power projects, including hydel, coal, alternative and nuclear. He said the country has to move forward on fast-track basis to generate power to sustain its economic growth.

He said in 2000, there was a surplus of 4000MW of electricity and even it was contemplated to export it to India. He said the industrial growth doubled and economic growth remained over 7 per cent of the GDP during the last seven years resulting in the shortage of electricity and gas.

“Today Pakistan needs electricity and gas. We should have moved forward to keep pace with the industrial and economic growth but now all efforts will be made to generate power and explore more gas reservoirs to help meet fast expanding energy requirement of the country”.

He said Bhasha dam had already been launched and other water reservoirs including, Kalabagh dam, Akori, Kurram Tangi and Gomal Zam would be constructed to generate electricity.

He said Pakistan was also planning to utilise Thar coal reservoirs. He said China was producing 70 per cent of its energy from coal while Pakistan was producing only 1 per cent of its electricity from coal.

He said the magnitude of the coal reservoirs in Pakistan could be gauged from the fact that their capacity to generate electricity was more than the capacity of Saudi and Iranian oil put together. The president said the gas exploration was being speeded up and new reservoirs were being discovered.

$2.16bn Neelum-Jhelum hydel project launched -DAWN - Top Stories; February 10, 2008

 

[Neo]

SBP governor defends monetary policy stance​

* Brushes aside criticism against increase in discount rate by saying these are ‘allegations and irrelevant’

KARACHI: Governor, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr Shamshad Akhtar has strongly advocated the tightening of monetary policy to contain the inflationary pressures by rejecting the notion that it will adversely affect the economic growth.

“Inflation is a monetary phenomenon and talks of irrelevance of monetary policy tightening to curb the inflation is nothing but irresponsible and absurd statements,” central bank Governor contended in response to reservations of business community on the issue.

Talking to members of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and representatives of business and industry at Federation House, she emphatically defended the monetary policy stance of central bank and even termed the statements and comments of some members opposing the discount rate hike as “allegations and irrelevant.”

However, business community people seemingly unconvinced kept raising flaws in monetary policy, which invited a bit of harsh response from, otherwise, soft-spoken SBP Governor.

“This tightening of monetary policy is to contain the inflation, which has been brought down with the effective monetary stance since 2005, which otherwise have been in the range of double digit,” she stated while talking about the rationale behind the discount rate raise. Also, to reduce the demand pressures and absorb the excessive liquidity in the market, it has become inevitable to further tighten the monetary stance.

SBP chief allaying the apprehensions of industry representatives said that discount rate hike would have minimum affect on the interest rate and there would be no problem to obtain working capital.

Agreeing with the FPCCI President and other participants’ views that food inflation is rising because of supply side constraints, she described tight monetary policy to hit the core inflation (non-food), which has over 50 percent weightage in CPI basket. “We have nothing to do with the supply side constraints but we would be acting to contain the inflation through monetary policy tools to keep it within the range,” she added.

She revealed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) even recommended Pakistan to increase the policy discount rate by 200 basis points “but we only raised by 50 basis points in view hardships and difficulties of industrial sector.”

SBP Governor described the monetary policy a prerequisite to curtail the macroeconomic imbalances and to boost the growth when some participants talked of its irrelevance in an economy like ours.

Other officials of SBP, who were present on this occasion also held the excessive borrowings of the government from central bank as a major factor in pushing up the inflation. Government borrowings from central bank shoot up to Rs 335 billion by January 26, 2008.

“We are trying to persuade the government to borrow from commercial banks instead of central bank as borrowing from latter has inflationary impact,” Dr Shamshad Akhtar pointed out. However, she hoped that with more flows in the coming days, the government would be able to pay off these loans, which would be helping to control money supply growth.

Earlier, FPCCI President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh in his speech said that this tightening is going to be counterproductive to the exporters in particular and industry in general. “The ratio of finance costs to sales for the textile spinning industry was three percent during 2005 and it increased to eight percent in year 2007,” he added.

FPCCI chief, while talking about inflation pointed out that excessive government borrowing and expenditure on unproductive and wasteful schemes and total mismanagement of our agricultural and supply management policies are real causes of the soaring inflation.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Neo]

Monetary policy to target core inflation

KARACHI: The Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Shamshad Akthar, has said that the central bank does not want to stifle growth. “We want to ensure adequate macro economic stability which is a prerequisite to attract investment,” she emphasised while talking to businessmen at Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday.

Dr Akhtar said that monetary policy has more distinct impact on reducing core inflation that excludes food and energy items, which have 51 percent weight in the CPI. It is notable that Pakistan was able to bring down the core inflation to 5.2 percent by May 2007 from a peak of 8.3 percent in October 2005, she said. According to a press release issued by the SBP it was also explained on the occasion that the instructions regarding the provision of bank financing by the commercial banks for procurement of wheat by the functional flour mills during wheat procurement season 2008 shall be issued in consultation with Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock. However, the borrowers from private sector who availed bank financing for procurement of wheat during last year and have failed to retire their loan by 31st January 2008 would be penalised.

The governor dispelled the impression that consumer financing by banks is hurting financing to other sectors. She explained that unlike other countries where proportion of consumer financing to GDP is very high, this ratio is nominal in Pakistan. She also explained that though the SBP has set limits for banks to extend consumer finance as a proportion of their equity, banks would have to provide for the non-performing loans. Dr Akhtar, however, commented that a large proportion of it has benefited the automobile sector as banks have extended a substantial amounts for buying cars and motorcycles.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Neo]

Industries to face 1,400MW power shortage by 2010​

ISLAMABAD: Export oriented and labor intensive industries of the country would be faced with power shortages by 2010 due to demand-supply gap of around 1400 MW, a senior official told Daily Times here Saturday.

He said that new power projects would take some time to cover the power shortage crisis. The main reasons behind the major power crisis are the power and gas shortage and non-construction of dams, he added.

The official said that Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) would add 2000 MW power to the current power generation that stands around 10,000 MW surpluses by December 2009. However, the official added that the country would also be facing power shortage after adding 2000 MW power to the current power generation.

He said that 2000 MW power would be generated by rental power plants with which the government has entered into agreements for three years including one year extended period to supply power.

At present, domestic consumers are facing 4-hour load shedding, textile industry 3-hour load shedding and steel melting and re-rolling units 7-hours loads shedding during the day. Total power generation stands at around 10,000 plus MW against the demand of 12300 MW.

However, according to the official, a relief for the domestic consumers and industry is in sight from February 11 by reducing load-shedding hours after increase in 10,000 cusecs water releases from Tarbela and Mangla dams. Pakistan Electric Supply Company (PEPCO) will reduce the load shedding hours from 4 to 3 hours for domestic consumers on February 11 and the reduction in load shedding hours for important industrial sectors is also under consideration.

Indus River System Authority (IRSA) made an increase of 5000 cusecs water from Tarbela to 35,000 cusecs on February 8. It would add 108 MW power generation to the current power generation. After the further increase of 10,000 cusecs water from February 11, 216 MW power generations will further be added.

IRSA is releasing 57000 cusecs water from these two dams that would be increased to 67,000 cusecs water on February 11. It would add power generation of over 216 MW to existing over 2600 MW hydel power generation.

In the medium and long-term power projects plan aimed at generating 5842 MW power in future include 12 power projects to be initiated by independent power producers (IPPs) that would generate 2376 MW power by 2010. These projects would be launched by IPPs during the current calendar year. Medium and long term plans included five other projects aimed at generating 2450 MW power. Wapda is also working on small dams that would generate 516 MW power. Wapda in its long-term plan has also included 400 to 500 MW rental power projects that would be completed during the next six months.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Neo]

WB proposes reform package for construction industry​

ISLAMABAD: World Bank (WB) has proposed fiscal incentives package for construction industry. The Bank has suggested Pakistan’s economic managers that implementation of this package and other recommendations within three years time could improve health of the industry.

WB has projected that this would help the country not only to reduce the cost of doing business but will also help to complete mega infrastructure projects on competitive rates.

This has been proposed in short term recommendations submitted to the government through Pakistan Infrastructure Implementation Capacity Assessment (PIICA). The bank has said that lack of access to financial resources is a major impediment faced by the industry and also acts as a barrier for many potential new participants.

World Bank has asked to establish tax laws and related policies that would stimulate growth of the industry. Presently multiple, high and at source tax deductions restrict cash flows and impede progress.

However, presumptive tax should not be the only tax mechanism available; contractors should be encouraged to maintain detailed books of accounts and file annual returns for payment of tax liabilities. This will enhance the credibility of the construction industry, encourage a corporate culture and instill confidence in the banking sector to offer financial facilities, the bank added.

Duties and taxes should be rationalised on spare parts, plant and equipment in order to encourage import of new equipment and lower the cost of doing business. They should be also reduced on construction materials to make cost of inputs comparable with regional and international prices.

Pre-qualification requirements should be simplified with a focus on technical and managerial capability instead of “works in hand” or “projects completed” criteria. Procurement on the basis of least evaluated bid criteria should also be enforced.

Project cost estimates should be based on market rates instead of “scheduled rates.” A price review committee should be formed to review and set prices of construction inputs on a quarterly basis which should be published for industry wide distribution. The committee can also have the mandate to determine escalation in material prices and rates. The engineers’ project costs estimates should be realistic with appropriate allowances for profit.

Improve charge rates and construction rates, increased salaries and pay structures will not only motivate existing workers to perform better but also attract better qualified people. At present, professionals are paid 1/6th to 1/12th compared to the remuneration in regional countries. There should be an immediate increase in current contract rates to rectify and reverse brain-drain. Charge rates could be fixed as par with regional countries on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis.

The clients should provide mobilisation advance of at least 30 percent of project costs and recoveries designed according to the planned financial cash flows. Up to 75 percent of the running bill should be paid in advance immediately as an ad hoc payment while the interim payment certificates are being processed. Construction Ombudsmen may be appointed at federal and provincial levels to deal with construction related disputes if arbitration fails.

The Government should proactively establish and fund short-term training programs for professionals in the private and public sector. Linkages between academia and industry should be proactively developed in order to ensure entry-level professionals to have required sets of skills. Simplification of the process to allow suitably qualified professionals in public sector to take on private sector short-term consultancy work should be done.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Neo]

Bachat Cards to benefit 6.8m families: Taseer​

ISLAMABAD: The Bachat Card scheme, initiated by the government will benefit 6.8 million families living below the poverty line and they will get daily useable items at 25 further subsidised rates at Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USC).

Federal Minister for Industries, Production & Special Initiatives Salmaan Taseer expressed these views during a press conference here on Saturday. Through USC, he said the government is currently providing relief of up to 20 percent on basic essential commodities like flour, rice, pulses, oil/ghee and sugar.

The minister said the government has decided to provide relief up to 25 percent on these items to the targeted population of the society. For this purpose, he said, the USC would issue Bachat Cards to the families already identified by such relief schemes Baitul-mal, Zakat and other provincial schemes.

The cards would also be issued to the special venerable sections of the society such as low-income pensioners, senior citizens, low paid government employees, widows and illiterate unemployed population etc. Initially, the minister said verified data of Baitul-mal would be utilised for issuance of the Bachat Cards. Later on verified data of the other similar safety network schemes and all special venerable population would also be included in the scheme within three months.

To provide easy access to the targeted population, the minister said, USC would also arrange for Mobile Stores and Sasta Bazar in remote and inaccessible areas of the country. This scheme would cater to the entire 6.8 million targeted population, it involved a relief of Rs 3.4 billion per month.

For transparency of the system and to reduce the chances of misuse, a highly developed integrated financial and monitoring system would be put in place to control the entire operation, he assured. According to the minister, the scheme would also ensure availability of essential food items to the targeted population during the crises and shortages.

Taseer reiterated that the scheme reaffirmed government’s commitment to provide relief to the poorest population of the country.

About USC, the minister said the government had decided in the budget to increase the network of utility stores up to union council level. He informed journalists that the corporation is now operating 52 warehouses and 4,500 stores as against the target of 6,000 by March 2008 and assured that the remaining 1,500 stores would be open soon.

“It is the obligation of the state to help those who do not have enough means and we will ensure that everyone is able to get food at affordable rates,” the minister added. He said that the entire target of 6.8 million families would be achieved in three phases.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Neo]

Energy saving scheme: Strategy finalised for efficient use of fans and pumps​

ISLAMABAD: To make efficient use of power, the Engineering Development Board (EDB) on Saturday finalised strategy to enhance the efficiency of domestic fans and pumps.

The leading manufacturers of these products were present to give their inputs. Representatives of concerned government departments also attended these meetings. The increased efficiency will result in lower consumption of the energy and would strengthen the government’s endeavors to conserve energy. Discussions focused on different aspects of the products including general design, quality of input materials and the relevant benchmarks.

Zahid J. Yaqub, GM, EDB, who chaired these meetings briefed about the initiatives taken by the government to overcome the energy crisis in the country. One of the strategies adopted is to enhance the efficiencies of the different energy consuming household products currently being produced in the country in collaboration with the relevant private sector industry, he added.

The meeting was informed that 45% of Pakistan’s electricity consumption was used by domestic sector. It was estimated that every household in Pakistan has minimum of 2-3 fans, putting their strength to more than 30 million.

The president of fan manufacturers association (FMA) called for reduction in rate of sales tax on various components of fans. He alleged that small units were using substandard components in order to keep the price low and ignoring energy conservation. According to him the industry was manufacturing 5 million units out of which 1 million were exported earning foreign exchange of 30 million dollars. The industry also called for banning export of copper, which was the main component of fans.

The meeting on pumps was told that the enhancement of efficiency of motors used in domestic industrial and agricultural sectors could save 3% to 5% of the total electricity consumption.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Neo]

Need for quality infrastructure highlighted​

ISLAMABAD: The participants of roundtable on infrastructure and energy agreed here on Saturday that high-quality infrastructure reduces the effect of distance between suppliers and consumers in and outside Pakistan, with the result of truly integrating the national market and connecting it to markets in other countries and regions.

The existence of quality infrastructure is critical for ensuring the efficient functioning of the economy, as it is an important factor determining the location of economic activity, this was the conclusion of the roundtable on Infrastructure and Energy conducted by the Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) for the State of Pakistan’s Competitiveness Report 2008. Stakeholders attended the roundtable from the energy and petroleum, telecommunications, media and services sectors. Representatives from the Board of Investment and the World Economic Forum (WEF) also attended the meeting.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Introvert]

Pakistani Oranges exports may fetch 100 million dollars
​

As compared to last year, exports of kinnow are likely to fetch $100 million this year, thereby exceeding last year's exports by 30 percent to 40 percent, a spokesman for the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) on telephone from Lahore on Saturday. One of the brighter sides of kinnow export is that Russia is enthusiastically engaged in importing Pakistani kinnow this season following the lifting of ban which it had imposed in 2006-end.

Having satisfied with strict quarantine measures conforming to Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary requirements taken by the authorities, Russians had by January 31, 2008 imported about 14,000 tonnes of kinnow worth $10 million in 544 containers.

The PHDEB spokesman said by the end of kinnow export season ie April-end, Russia is likely to import kinnow worth between $20 million and $25 million. Last season, only 55,000 tonnes of kinnow were exported to Russia.

Pakistan has since the start of the season exported over 70,000 tonnes of kinnow to different countries. Last year, it had exported 122,000 tonnes, but this year the export figures may hit over 200,000 tonnes fetching around $100 million, he said.

It may be recalled that Russia had announced lifting of ban on the import of kinnow and hinted at re-opening its market for mango export as well following negotiations with officials in December last year. The ban had adversely affected the overall performance of the country's agricultural exports and its future prospects.

Russia had banned import of Pakistani agri products after its Phyto-Sanitary watchdog had found an insect, Khapra Beetle in a rice shipment sent from Pakistan. Following the lifting of ban, Moscow had issued a notification directing customs authorities to immediately facilitate unhindered access of Pakistani citrus fruits to its market.

Now the seven Central Asian states, once part of then USSR, would also re-open their markets to Pakistani agri products, Pakistani officials hope. These countries followed the Russian food and health safety standards and did not allow import of products, which had been banned by Russia.

The PHDEB has also launched a "pre-shipment inspection" scheme to export citrus fruits this year for all destinations except for Middle East and Iran. The matter had also been finalised with the customs authorities and other related agencies. Co-ordination among different departments would help inspect the shipment at one place instead of at different stages of the export process.

With globalisation and loosening up of territorial boundaries under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), every country is trying to increase its export share in the world market. This situation not only leads to intense competition, but also to strict compliance to quality and safety standards. The compliance is vital in case of food products, particularly of horticulture.

Foreign importers demand compliance to safety standards and quality assurance steps at the cultivation, processing and packaging stages before export. This necessitates enforcement of minimum grades and quality standards.

Taking cognisance of this international sensitivity, the government, in consultation with the stakeholders, including growers, processors and exporters, has revised national grades and quality standards and decided to enforce them through third party pre-shipment inspection process.

Pakistani Oranges exports may fetch 100 million dollars - Unique Pakistan

 

[solid snake]

In order to save electricity, all government buildings across Pakistan should install sensor-controlled lighting. Here in our college, there are some restrooms which only switch on their lights when someone opens the door and crosses the threshold into the bathroom. There is a sensor right by the door, and it detects a persons movement inside. This way, lights don't have to be on all 12 hours of the night, they switch off about 10-20 minutes after the last movement. Streetlights across Pakistan could be powered by solar technology - taking in sulight during the day and staying on for the night.

 

[salman nedian]

In order to save electricity, all government buildings across Pakistan should install sensor-controlled lighting. Here in our college, there are some restrooms which only switch on their lights when someone opens the door and crosses the threshold into the bathroom. There is a sensor right by the door, and it detects a persons movement inside. This way, lights don't have to be on all 12 hours of the night, they switch off about 10-20 minutes after the last movement. Streetlights across Pakistan could be powered by solar technology - taking in sulight during the day and staying on for the night.

I second your post and want to add that alternative sources of energy such as sunlight and wind should be used in households and industries also local trains/tubes should be used as mass transit to save the energy.

 

[bhangra12345]

In order to save electricity, all government buildings across Pakistan should install sensor-controlled lighting. Here in our college, there are some restrooms which only switch on their lights when someone opens the door and crosses the threshold into the bathroom. There is a sensor right by the door, and it detects a persons movement inside. This way, lights don't have to be on all 12 hours of the night, they switch off about 10-20 minutes after the last movement. Streetlights across Pakistan could be powered by solar technology - taking in sulight during the day and staying on for the night.

cost.

Solar energy has not become widespread only because it is not costeffective without HUGE tax breaks amounting to almost 40-50% installation costs.

Sensors cost money, they can be stolen, so security. A govt school, in which teachers themselves are absent (situation across the subcontinent), you expect them to install all these fancy gadjets?