3G auction: International consortium chosen as consultant

Govt to engage foreign consultant to ensure transparency. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: 

In the first practical step towards the much-awaited auction of next generation mobile services (3G), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Monday completed the evaluation process for the selection of a consultant.

The selection has been made following a detailed review of financial bids opened on November 23 in the presence of all five bidders who had qualified the technical evaluation stage. A statement issued by the PTA said that the successful consultant, after the completion of further formalities, is expected to be invited to formally sign a contract soon.

With the appointment of consultant, a major step in the auction of spectrum has been completed that will help in timely finalisation of important aspects of the auction that include Information Memorandum (IM) for intended bidders, method of auction and the base price.

Value Partner Management Consulting Limited, a consortium of consultants from the United States, Britain  Singapore and Spain has been declared successful. Arthur D Little Middle East FZ-LLC, Booz & Company, Detecon International GmbH and Frontier Economics Limited had also qualified the technical stage.

The government had decided to engage an internationally reputed consultant in order to ensure transparency in the auction process of 3G spectrum licence, estimated to be worth more than $1.2 billion in value. It is expected that by engaging a consultant, the government will be able to ensure maximum gain for the national exchequer.

On October 7, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the allocation of the spectrum licence be technology neutral (3G or 4G) and auction be open for new entrants as well.

As per policy directives approved by the PM, the consultant is supposed to identify the number and size of blocks to be auctioned considering the market situation, recommend the most appropriate auction methodology and plan, recommend reserve price of the auction, design and management of the auction process, analyze potential impact on auction price with respect to upfront payment of bid price versus staggered payment over a period of five years and the optimal bidding procedure and develop a licence template for new licence.

Energy crisis: US govt commits over $20 million Diamer-Bhasha dam

US will also spend $14 million on the installation of smart meters at substations. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The United States government has so far committed $20.56 million for construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam, according to a US embassy official.

Out of this amount, $560,000 is for three additional feasibility studies for the dam, the official said.

He also said that as part of its ongoing programmes in Pakistan, the United States government will spend $14 million on the installation of smart meters for gauging electricity use at substations and countering the problem of power theft.

The Bhasha dam project has been revived by the current government. The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Syed Raghib Abbas Shah recently announced that the Gilgit-Baltistan government had transferred 1,700 acres of land to WAPDA for the project, and further work was underway.

Accolade: Pakistani scientist features on leading American journal

“We have demonstrated the fundamental concept of the technology and are now getting ready for field tests later this year” Muhammad Hamid Zaman. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: 

A leading American science magazine has listed a technology by a Pakistani scientist in its ‘World Changing Idea’ list– the magazine’s annual feature for the recognition of the world’s top ten technologies that have potential to change the world.

On November 19, Scientific American – a reputable science journal based in the United States (US) – recognised Muhammad Hamid Zaman, a Pakistani biomedical engineer, for his innovative product Pharmacheck, which was chosen by the magazine as one of the world’s top 10 technologies for its December, 2013 issue.

Every year, the magazine chooses 10 technologies that have the potential to change the world and publish this list. The selection process, Zaman told The Express Tribune, is controlled only by the journal and no one can nominate himself as they make their own selections based on the potential impact of the discovery or technology.

Pharmacheck is a technology that is able to test the drug quality and its potency in a matter of minutes, Zaman said. It is not just a scratch code to see if the packaging is right, it tests the ingredients of the drugs and whether they are in the right amount and right chemical composition, he said. “We hope to bring it to the market for commercial use within the next 12 to 18 months.”

According to the Scientific American, up to 30% of medicines in developing countries are substandard that can cause severe side effects and death. Many of these countries lack routine inspections or have scarce testing equipment. Pharmacheck, it says in its November 20th-report, may offer a portable, inexpensive and informative solution.

Though this recognition is awarded from a global perspective, the product has huge implications for Pakistan and its medicine regulation, believes Zaman who is Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and International Health at Boston University.

“I grew up in Pakistan so I have always known the challenges associated with drug quality,” the biomedical engineer said, explaining what led him to come up with this idea. “But it was two years ago that we were approached by the US Pharmacopeia and the United States Agency for International Development to address the global problem of substandard and counterfeit drugs that kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.”

Though he was already working on his product, his homeland suffered a major setback that such a product might have prevented.

“The Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) tragedy in Lahore further strengthened my resolve to do something in this regard,” Zaman said.

The 2012 PIC incident is, arguably, the biggest medical tragedy in the country’s history. As per official data, as many as 165 people died after consuming spurious drugs that PIC provided to heart patients.

While the PIC tragedy still haunts the nation’s memories, what may be even more painful is how Zaman’s requests for field tests of the product were treated by his country.

“We have demonstrated the fundamental concept of the technology and are now getting ready for field tests later this year,” Zaman said. “I would love to do this in Pakistan as well, but despite multiple requests, no one seems to be interested in addressing this comprehensively,” he said.

“Right now, we are looking at life-saving drugs, including antibiotics, anti-malarials and uterotonics – given to save mothers dying from post-partum bleeding,” Zaman said describing the drugs they will test first. “All of these have high impact in Pakistan with its high burden of disease,” he said.

Zaman said he is hopeful that the country’s drug industry and regulators would take the challenge of substandard drugs seriously and ensure public safety and public health as poor quality drugs not only kill but also inflict financial damage.

“Many of Pakistan’s challenges are also felt in other parts, so our solutions will not just impact Pakistan but many other nations and people around the world.”

Karachi Power Project first step towards loadshedding-free Pakistan: Nawaz

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

KARACHI: The Karachi Coastal Power Project is the first step towards a loadshedding-free Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday

He was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the nuclear power project in Karachi.

Thanking the Chinese government for its support in energy-related projects, Nawaz said these schemes will take the Sino-Pakistan friendship to a higher level.

“The beginning of this project is a proud moment in the energy history of the country,” the prime minister said, adding that he is grateful to China for helping Pakistan in this hour of need.

“We are fully committed to take Pakistan into an era with no poverty and ignite hope for a prosperous future,” the prime minister added.

“Things in this country are going to change, inshallah (God willingly); we have promised our people a better Pakistan and wish God will help us achieve this,” he said.

The prime minister said he wants to have a Pakistan where trade flourishes, where minds are opened to new ideas and where everyone has equal opportunities.

“This is our dream; things seem impossible until they are done. We will fulfil this dream,” he said.

Speaking about Karachi and its immense potential, Nawaz said he wishes to see the port city in the list of renowned harbours and industrial hubs like Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Singapore.

“I believe the people of this city have been wanting the government to lend a hand and restore peace and business activities in the city,” he said, adding that the federal government has been successful in achieving these targets with the help of the provincial government and stakeholders.

Spanish PM Rajoy backs Ronaldo for Ballon d’Or

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has backed Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Fifa Ballon d'Or.

Madrid fan Rajoy, who is the leader of Spain's People's Party (Partido Popular) and has been in government since December 2011, revealed he would vote for the Portuguese ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.

'As a madridista, if I had to vote, I would give it to Cristiano Ronaldo,' he said in an interview with Radio Nacional de Espana.

On the other two top contenders for the prestigious prize, the 58-year-old added: 'Messi had a magnificent season and Ribery won everything.'

Meanwhile, Madrid legend Raul has also lent his support to his former team-mate in the build-up to the award, which will be handed out in Zurich early next year.

'Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world,' the forward told reporters at an official event organised by his club, Al Sadd.

Ballon d'Or voting has been extended by Fifa to November 29, with those who have already voted also permitted to change their selections.

Rosell: Only ‘political pressure’ will stop Messi from winning Ballon d’Or

By Ben Hayward in Barcelona

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell believes Lionel Messi deserves to win the Fifa Ballon d'Or and says only 'political pressure' will deny the Argentine a fifth straight success.

The 26-year-old attacker is one of 23 players in the running to claim the award, along with rumoured frontrunners Cristiano Ronaldo and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.

The award has already caused controversy, with Ronaldo apparently set to boycott the ceremony in protest at comments Fifa president Sepp Blatter recently made about the Portuguese, but Rosell said the only outrage would be if Messi did not triumph again.

'First Leo, second Leo and third Leo,' the Barca chief joked after the attacker picked up his Golden Shoe in the Catalan capital at an event on Wednesday.

'Then Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta and in sixth, [Sergio] Busquets.

'As long as people (the voters) take no notice of political or media pressure, the Ballon d'Or will be for Messi.'

However, Barca legend Hristo Stoichkov believes lobbying from Uefa president Michel Platini will see the Frenchman's compatriot Ribery walk away with the prestigious prize in January.

'The Ballon d'Or disgusts me,' the Bulgarian great said shortly after presending the Golden Shoe to Messi. 'Platini moves well: Ribery is French and he has won a lot of titles [this year].'

Zayn Malik found fame hard

Zayn Malik found life 'pretty hard' when he first found fame.
The One Direction singer became a household name when he, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Niall Horan were put into a group on the UK version of 'X Factor' in 2010 - on which they finished third - and he is grateful to have had bandmates to share the experience with as he was so overwhelmed by his early success.
He said: 'We've all changed. I definitely found it pretty hard to begin with. None of us really knew each other that well and none of us was really prepared.
'We were thrown in it together. We went through the same things. Our mums crying when we left home because they weren't prepared either. 
'I found it pretty hard at first. I was always trying to be too cool, like you do in school.
'I found it really hard talking to people, answering questions - you don't want to sound like an idiot, so a lot of the time you don't say anything at all.
'Then you realise everyone is in the same boat. None of us knew what we were doing. You can't take yourself too seriously, and you all start to relax into being who you are. I can't imagine how hard it would be to do this on your own - if you weren't in a band.'
While the quintet all attract a lot of attention, Liam, Zayn, Niall and Louis believe Harry - who has been romantically linked with a string of high-profile women, including Taylor Swift, Cara Delevingne and Kendall Jenner - have it the hardest and are amazed by how well he copes.
Liam told Event magazine: 'I would absolutely hate to be Harry. Because I don't think I'd cope with that extra level of attention.'
Niall added: 'He definitely found the whole experience all very easy.'
Harry says knowing how 'lucky' he is means he doesn't get worried or stressed by the scrutiny he is under.
He said: 'It wasn't that long ago I was working in a baker's, and now I'm doing this. I'm very lucky, and as far as I can see it's all good. I don't overthink anything.'
'Everybody else analyses you from your hair to your eyebrows to the way you wave your hand.
'If you start worrying about it and overthinking everything you do, it all just becomes false, so I think, 'Just carry on as you are, do what you do and get on with it.' '