A misguided approach from PTI

Hakimullah Mehsud who remained a symbol of tyranny and cruelty throughout his life, is still haunting Pakistan after his death. Though, in his last days he gave few signs of making peace with the states on his own ‘unknown’ terms.

But as he got droned by the US, the right wing parties who always had their reservations on the use of force against the TTP, came out of the shell and termed Hakimullah’s killing as a great loss to peace-process.

The peace process with those forces who don’t accept they system and constitution of our country but some forces are openly supporting TTP  and asking federal government to take stern actions against drones. Some right wing parties like JI, PTI and JUI who have never condemned the brutality and barbarism of Taliban, raised so much hue and cry on the killing of TTP militants that even the new TTP chief couldn’t hold himself back from thanking Imran Khan, Munawer Hassan and Maulana Fazlur Rehman for their strong stance against drone attacks.

PTI and JI who are ruling KPK, and JUI which is the leading opposition party in KPK, all seem to be on one page when it comes to blocking NATO supply routes from KPK in order to build pressure on the US to stop drone attacks.

But we don’t see any demand of actions against TTP will who slaughtered armed personals and  killed innocent Pakistanis from Khyber to Karachi, and shamelessly accepted the responsibility of all the actions. Recently they claimed the responsibility of Ancholi twin blasts which claimed 8 precious lives, just before a day when PTI, JI and JUI were holding a sit in to block NATO supplies.

This is a crucial time when Pakistan’s sovereignty is on the stake from both the external and the internal front and we can’t afford any sort of adventurism. all the liberal parties mainly (MQM); which has always kept a firm stand against increasing religious extremism as well as drone strikes ;has come up with a reasonable idea.

MQM Chief Altaf Hussain in his most recent statement urged all the parties protesting against drone strikes to hold sit-ins until government issues the directives to shoot down drone, which is a reasonable demand because if they are sincere with the cause then they should remain committed to it, until some sort of result comes out of it.

If we will revisit the past we’ll see that despite condemnation, protests and sit-ins, the drone strikes are continuously carried out in Pakistan’s tribal areas and the time has come to take practical steps against these attacks.

In spite of political differences with parties holding sit-ins against drone strikes, Altaf Hussain said in national interest that if those political parties who are holding sit-ins against drone strikes also announce jihad against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaeda and other banned outfits who have killed 40,000 innocent Pakistanis and have blood of Pakistani soldiers on their hands, his party MQM would also participate in their protest.

Altaf Hussain has also asked Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to stage protests outside the Prime Minister House, the Presidency, the GHQ and the embassies of US, Britain and other NATO countries, until the federal government orders Pakistan Air Force to shoot down the unmanned aircraft.

Some analysts may disagree with MQM chief ‘s last suggestion but to me this suggestion seems to be the one solution for all problems because once there will be no drone strikes in Pakistan, no political party would be able to misguide the nation on TTP issues.

It will give an impetus to the nation as well, and the nation will be able to differentiate between who is loyal to the country and who is loyal to the enemies of Pakistan like Al-Qaeda and TTP etc.

Putting an end to the drone strikes will also automatically eradicate the widespread excuse that TTP kills innocent Pakistanis in order to avenge for their members who got killed in drone attacks. Then government of Pakistan will be able to take stern action against those groups who are challenging the writ of government without any pressure TTP apologists.Till today are misleading the nation by justifying TTP’s horrific killings as reaction of drone attacks.

China to launch moon rover on Monday

The Long March II-F rocket loaded with Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft flies over the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province. PHOTO: REUTERS

BEIJING: China will launch its first ever moon rover mission on Monday, state media said, as Beijing embarks on the latest stage in its ambitious space programme.

A rocket carrying the vehicle, named “Jade Rabbit” in a nod to Chinese folklore, will blast off at 1:30 am local time.

“The Chang’e 3 is set to be launched for its moon mission from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Dec 2,” state broadcaster CCTV said on its verified Twitter account on Saturday.

Official news agency Xinhua also confirmed the launch date, citing officials at the satellite launch centre.

If successful, the launch will mark a major milestone in China’s space exploration programme, which aims to create a permanent space station by 2020 and eventually send someone to the moon.

But its technology currently lags behind the expertise of the United States and Russia.

Beijing sees its military-run space programme as a marker of its rising global stature and growing technological might, as well as the ruling Communist Party’s success in turning around the fortunes of the once poverty-stricken nation.

China has previously sent two probes to orbit the moon, with controllers sending the first of them crashing into the lunar surface at the end of its mission.

Early in November, Beijing offered a rare glimpse into its secretive space programme when it put a model of its six-wheeled moon rover on public display.

The rover was later named ‘Yutu’, or jade rabbit, following an online poll in which more than three million people voted.

The name derives from an ancient Chinese myth about a white rabbit that lives on the moon as the pet of Chang’e, a lunar goddess who swallowed an immortality pill.

Ouyang Ziyuan, head of the moon rover project, told Xinhua earlier this week that the ancient beliefs had their origins in the marks left by impacts on the lunar landscape.

“There are several black spots on the moon’s surface. Our ancient people imagined they were a moon palace, osmanthus trees, and a jade rabbit,” he said.

The rover’s designer, Shanghai Aerospace Systems Engineering Research Institute, claims several technological breakthroughs with the vehicle.

The Shanghai-based institute, a unit of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, which is linked to the military, says the advances include its “autonomous” navigation system and the way the wheels are able to grip the powdery surface of the moon.

It can climb inclines of up to 30 degrees and travel up to 200 metres per hour, according to the institute.

Consistency key to perfect skin: Cate Blanchett

Actor Cate Blanchett. PHOTO: AFP

LOS ANGELES: Actress Cate Blanchett says she always strives to ensure that the products she uses to wash and cleanse her face are always the same.

She believes the consistency in the skincare products one uses, is vital to have a glowing face.

“Being an actress, you have a lot of different products on your skin, and that’s one thing for beauty, but for skincare, I find that the consistency has really paid off for me,” contactmusic.com quoted Blanchett as saying.

She says her persistence has paid off as it means she can skip some base products when she is short on time.

“Working with really great make-up artists, I realised that they prime your skin like a canvas, and I had never thought of that before. So the moisturiser you put underneath has to work with the foundation.

“I am pretty time poor like everyone, so often I won’t put the foundation on – I will just prepare the skin,” said the 44-year-old.

Bonanza makes a play for the big-time with Satrangi

Stunning new campaign by NKF films and Maha Burney takes the brand’s image to new heights. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: 

Bonanza has just launched its Satrangi winter collection and boy, has it been done in style. An uber-stylish shoot and TV commercial by NFK films, styled by Maha Burney, announces that Bonanza is upping the ante. Smaller players like Fifth Avenue and Crossroads may rely on dull shoots of models in coats but Bonanza has shown that its winter gear can make a very chic style statement.

The rustic ski-lodge setting, the luxurious layered looks and the overall up-scale feel of the shoot give you Bonanza as you’ve never seen it before. Bonanza is a high-street brand that caters to a very wide spectrum of customers but it is rapidly establishing itself as a brand with serious fashion credentials. With lines by Maheen Karim and Sanam Chaudry, and now a shoot styled by Maha Burney, this is a brand that’s aiming at the high fashion end of the high street.

Maha Burney is Karachi’s stylist of choice particularly for Western or fusion wear. She has an A-list pedigree, having worked in New York with the likes of DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger and Ted Baker. She is known for her very sophisticated aesthetic and modern style sense. In Pakistan, she’s styled shoots for many leading designers including Shehla Chatoor, Sania Maskatiya and Nida Azwer.

For this shoot, Maha has sourced materials from everywhere. High street leather tights, smart belts, elegant boots and Sunday bazaar finds are layered with rather gorgeous knits by Bonanza. With this collection, Bonanza has channeled international fall/winter 2013 trends like long cardigans, fluffy jumpers and cool modern twists on animal prints. With clever layering and savvy styling, Maha has given the brand a high-end luxe feel.

The muted neutral palette with only an occasion pop of red/maroon, the use of plaid and the designer interior, all add to a very sophisticated look.  The rustic location was purposely chosen to give the shoot relevance in the Pakistan market, as it was felt that customers would relate better to this then to a glassy modern environment. The fact that the knitwear is styled exclusively with Western wear is irrelevant. Only the younger urban crowd will easily slip from Eastern wear to Western wear, but there’s something about knitwear that begs a Western touch.  The majority of Pakistanis may actually wear their cardigans and jumpers on shalwar kameez but, judging from many campaigns by a host of different brands, they like to see the knitwear styled with jeans and the like.

This particular shoot, with its outdoor/indoor scheme, presented various technical challenges. Despite the rural snowbound setting, the commercial was actually shot entirely on set in tropical Karachi. The snow-filled wood was actually built in-house and the team experimented with dozens of materials to achieve just the right type of flyaway snow.

The team behind this ad campaign is a very strong one. The project was masterminded by husband-wife team Nadir Firoz Khan and Maha Burney, who own NFK films. They brought in talented event planners Amina & Anisa Rashid Khan of RAK Associates who helped design the set. Zoe Viccaji and Zohaib composed original music for the commercial. This was a campaign where every detail was designed to fit the concept. Beautifully conceived and shot, it’s a campaign that has raised the bar in the advertising industry. The cinematography, the styling and the ambience are simply top notch. Just think what this team could do if let loose on a film or drama serial. Maha has previously been responsible for styling serials but that has been little more than a costuming job. Just think what could be achieved if this team were put in charge of the entire look of a serial or film.

With this campaign, the NFK team has firmly placed Bonanza’s winter collection centre stage. Bonanza has a certain prestige in the Pakistan market when it comes to sweaters and other winter woolies. Their sweaters are known for their quality, style and durability. The collection remains accessible to Bonanza’s core mass market including cardigans that can be worn as jackets and plenty than would look great with shalwar kameez. What this campaign does is project a luxurious image for the brand. For those who do wear Western clothes, the campaign gives a template for chic international look. It shows that Bonanza’s knitwear can compete with international chains in terms of style. Bonanza and NFK are great advertisement for Pakistani talent.

Energy, Sc & Tech, Education: Govt ready to implement 38 developmental projects worth 244b

ISLAMABAD – The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development & Reform.

The meeting considered 42 development projects and approved 38 of them costing Rs. 244.5 billion with Foreign Exchange Component of Rs. 68 billion covering Energy, Water Resources, Education, Governance, Science & Technology, Social Welfare and Agriculture sectors.

Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal directed that all project proposals should be put up on website for scrutiny by experts and citizens to bring transparency in development programmes. He directed Ministry of Water & Power, and Chairman WAPDA to set up Expert Advisory Group for helping provinces to prepare small hydro power projects.

He asked Ministry of Water & Power to expedite investment policy for private sector to invest in small hydro power projects, as the availability of fund in public sector is limited and constrained. Therefore, we must promote private sector in energy sector. If there is pro-private sector policy, we may harness more than 30000 MW by developing small dams in Northern Areas of Pakistan.

He directed the NCHD to develop key performance indicator in development to achieve universal primary education, as achieving 100% literacy is critical for Pakistan’s future. He said, in the past, we have ignored human and social capital and today are paying a big price for this mistake. Knowledge, energy and infrastructure sectors are critical for our future development.

He directed Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform to ensure discipline in project management and a committee was formed with representatives of all provinces, AJ&K and Gilgit Baltistan to make recommendations on eliminating wastage in development projects and streamlining the procedure in developing sector.

Pakistan China Economic Corridor feasibility study for rail track to connect Gwadar to Karachi through 700 km, rail track from Gwadar to Basima and Basima to Jacobabad via Khuzdar measuring 1048 km were approved. Feasibility study for new rail from Havelian to Pak.China border was also approved. Feasibility study for Karachi – Lahore 1160 km motorway, and Muzaffarabad-Mirpur-Mangla N-5 express way were also approved.

A project costing Rs.400 million to upgrade Larkana Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy (LINAR) was also approved. Project costing Rs. 880 million for construction of Abbas Institute of Medical Science, Muzaffarabad AJ&K (Phase-II) was also approved.

Three (03) projects for construction of Barracks for Gilgit Baltistan Scouts were approved. In water resources, project feasibility study of small dams in KPK costing Rs.128 million, Chao Tangi Small Dam in South Waziristan Agency (FATA) costing Rs.798 million, construction of Palai & Kundal Dam District Charsadda, KPK costing Rs. 999 million, flood protection on river Chenab  at Muzaffargarh-Khangarh Bund costing Rs. 395 million, feasibility study for construction of Bhimber Dam project, AJ&K with the cost of Rs. 86 million, Construction of Shadi Kaur Storage Dam with cost of Rs. over 6 million, Revised Project of Kachhi Canal costing 57 billion rupees which will irrigate 100,000 acres of land in Dera Bugti were approved.

In energy sector, Harpo Hydro Power Project costing Rs. 11.6 billion, Dubair Khawar Hydro Power Project costing Rs.27 billion, Distribution Rehabilitation Energy Loss Reduction Project (ELR) of PESCO with the cost of Rs. 7.8 billion, Power Distribution Expansion (DOP) of PESCO, Rs. 17 billion Land Acquisition Project for Dasu Hydro Power Project, establishment of Hydro Power Training Institute (HPTI) at Mangla costing Rs. 568 million, Refurbishment and Up-gradation of generating units of Mangla Power Station enhancing the capacity from 1000 MW to 1310 MW costing Rs. 50 billion, Power Distribution Enhancement Investment Programme LESCO, GEPCO, PESCO, IESCO, FESCO & HESCO over 160 million dollars, Construction of 35 MW Nagdar Hydro Power Project costing Rs.7 billion, construction of Dowarian Hydro Power Project Neelum Valley were approved. Project for establishment of Federal Government College of Home Economics, Management Sciences, and a project for improving Human Development Indicators and literacy through NCHD for Rs.13 billion were also approved.

Project to improve agriculture growth in Sindh costing Rs. 9 billion and project of Nutrition Support for Sindh with the cost of Rs.4 billion were also approved by the CDWP.

Murree Brewery soon to brew in India

Company franchises Bangalore-based entrepreneur to bottle and sell its brand in India. PHOTO: murreebrewery.com

AMRITSAR: Pakistani beverage company Murree Brewery has given a franchise to a Bangalore-based entrepreneur to bottle and sell its brand  in the Indian market, The Economic Times reported on Friday.

Murree Brewery CEO Isphanyar Bhandara told The Ecnomic Times that ”it was not permissible to export to India through the Wagah-Attari border so we decided to offer our company’s franchise to an entrepreneur in Bangalore to brew, bottle and market Murree in India.

“This will also strengthen trading ties between India and Pakistan. The product will hit the market soon.”

Bhandara said Murree Brewery produces a range of beverages.

He said under the Pakistani law, Muslims are prohibited from consuming alcoholic drinks, whereas non-Muslims and foreigners require consumption permits.

“We sell our alcoholic products in five-star hotels only. Pakistan also prohibits export of alcoholic products. For now we are interested in finding distributors for our products in India,” Bhandara said while explaining his company’s business plans.

Bhandara, who is a Parsi, said Murree beverages will be made in India in the brewery of an Indian actor under their brand (Murree) and formulation.

“Murree Brewery was established in Ghora Galli (a tourist mountain resort town in the Galiyat area of northern Pakistan) in 1860 in response to demand for beer by the British officers. It is the oldest running enterprise in Pakistan,” he proudly stated.

“Indians may import onions and tomatoes from us but they are sceptical about buying beverages from Pakistan since there is no dearth of fizzy drinks in India,” said Bhandara.

He said they were keen on finding distributors for their brand in India, especially in Punjab.

Twitter users in Arab world increase by 85%

The number of Twitter users in the Arab world has leapt by 85 percent to 3.7 million in the last year, with over half of all active users of the site based in Saudi Arabia, according to new research.

The Arab Social Media report, released on Saturday by the Dubai School of Government (DSG), also reveals that the kingdom is also the source of 47 percent of all tweets in the region.

Twitter has gained huge popularity in the kingdom as it allows Saudis a public forum in which to debate a range of issues, including politics and religion.

In March, local media reported that the Saudi government could attempt ban anonymity for Twitter users in the country.

The number of Arabic-language tweets sent has risen sharply in the previous year, reaching 74 percent of the total, up from 64 percent.

Kuwait was the most penetrated country in the region in terms of Twitter usage. Nearly 8 percent of the population is an active user of the website, compared to 6.4 percent for Saudi Arabia.

Facebook has also seen a strong rise in regional take-up, with active users increasing by 22 percent to 55 million over the course of the year.

The UAE is the largest market for Facebook in terms of penetration; 41 percent of the population are active users of the site. Egypt constitutes one quarter of all regional Facebook users in the region.

The report also revealed that there are 4.7 million active LinkedIn users in 22 countries covered by the DSG survey, a  10 percent gain on the previous year.