Larkana: Hesco chief sees reduction in loadshedding

Wednesday, May 05, 2010: There may be a drastic reduction in the existing loadshedding spells soon, as the Hydro Electric Power Supply Company (Private) Limited inducted 271 megawatts into the national grid in the last 24 hours, Hesco Chief Executive Nazir Ahmed Shaikh said on Tuesday.“Energy conservation measures are low cost and the quickest way of saving energy.

Hence, all the distribution companies will have to ensure the implementation of the energy policy in their areas through concrete measures,” Shaikh told a meeting at the Wapda House, attended by the managers operation and other senior officials in the distribution companies.Shaikh suggested to all the managers to strictly work on a three-point agenda of load management, reduction in system losses and power theft, along with additional measures to improve recovery from the defaulters.He directed the managers to follow the modalities with the provincial government officials in their departments, traders, industrialists and agriculturists as well as customers. He declared 2010 the year of elimination of power theft and urged the managers to make extra efforts while augmenting the infrastructure and introducing state-of-the-art metres and billing system to curb power theft, monitor consumption patterns and ensure accurate billing.“

Hesco will find the solution to reduce power theft by using latest techniques with an aim to facilitate its consumers and general domestic users,” he added. Shaikh reiterated that the elimination of power theft was not possible without the cooperation of the people. He said services of the staff of the National Transmission and Distribution Company and other distribution companies should be sought for an equal distribution of load to avoid overloading and burning of transformers in future.

NHA road work stopped near Moen jo Daro

An inquiry has been ordered into the possible damage the Larkana-Moen jo Daro expressway may have caused the ancient ruins.
The Sindh government recently received a letter from the Federal Department of Archeology and has asked the DCO to investigate the matter, Express News has learnt. The federal government had given permission for the expressway project that is being undertaken by the National Highway Authority. Sindh Interior Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan has written the DCO Larkana ordering him to ensure that the construction is stopped and an investigation started.

“[The work] may affect the remains under the site,” said Ali Hyder Ghadhi, conservator of Moen jo Daro, while speaking to The Express Tribune on Monday. He said that about one and a half months back, when the NHA started work near the site, they asked them to stop the construction, saying that the area was demarcated by the Archeology Department. “We approached the DCO Larkana, but he did not give us a positive response,” Ghadhi said.
“We are not opposing any development work, but demand that an archeological examination be conducted in order to ascertain whether more remains are in the area.” The Moen jo Daro archeological remains, spread over 555 acres, is a protected world heritage site according to Unesco. And while the federal government granted Sindh custody of 129 of its archeological heritages, Moen jo Daro stayed with Islamabad. For its part, the National Highway Authority has said that it is incurring a loss of Rs2 million every day for the past 12 days because the Ministry of Culture has stopped work on the Moen jo Daro Highway Project.

In November 2009 and then in February and April, the Ministry of Culture has been reminding the NHA of the importance of the site. The Department of Archeology has confirmed that the site has been damaged by destruction of a water channel built to drain rain water and salt water from the site as instructed by international archeological experts. It is believed the safety bund has been destroyed and illegal digging has taken place. “Yes, it is of great concern,” said an official from the archaeology department.

“Does the NHA consider the importance of this great heritage as it is considered a criminal activity to build a road though the remains of this national treasure.” Culture secretary Moinul Islam Bukhari said that the NHA should have consulted the ministry before starting construction. He said that the ministry has asked the Department of Archeology to consult them and come up with a possible solution. One option could be the realignment of the four-lane road.
He said the NOC will not be issued until the Department of Archeology clears the project. Confusion The project is a 28km four-lane expressway with four bypasses, connecting Larkana city to the Moen jo Daro Airport and the NHA maintains it is 100 to 150 feet away from the protected site. NHA Chairman Chaudry Altaf said, “The DCO Larkana approved the project. I do not understand the reason for the delay regarding the NOC which was supposed to be given after a few days of the submission of the application.” He pointed out that another road was constructed there over two years ago by the local government and no objections were made then.

NHA Sukkur General Manager Abdul Aziz said that the mega project was in the “greater national interest” and its orders came from the president. “We are outside the protective bund (embankment) and there is no threat to the archaeological site,” he maintained. “The NHA was only increasing the number of lanes for the already existing road to the north of the Moenjadaro Road.” It is believed that Unesco has written its head office in Paris for advice. The body provides technical assistance and facilitates Pakistan’s government only when requested, otherwise under no circumstances do they interfere.

“We are following the news which is being published and are still puzzled as to why the government has not approached us yet,” said a Unesco representative in Islamabad. According to Unesco, the protection of Moen jo Daro started in 1973, came to a halt in 1997 and the programme was reactivated in 2002. There are seven sites from which Moen jo Daro is listed at the top. Unesco developed a master plan for the Lahore fort and Shalimar. The Shalimar gardens’ hydraulic system was damaged during Shahbaz Sharif’s tenure when they were building a road through the gardern.

3rd parliamentary year of Sindh Assembly begins, SA has passed 29 bills in past 2 years

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly two-year performance report from 5 April 2008 to 4th April 2010 was presented here on Wednesday. The Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro while addressing a press conference at the Sindh Assembly's Committee Room presented the report, saying that a total of 29 bills, 13 resolutions and 54 joint resolutions were passed during the period while 11 ordinances, 20 private bills, 10 privilege motions, 11 adjournment motions and 103 motions were received by the assembly in the past two years. As many as 3,408 questions were received of them, 2,343 were allowed, 1,254 were laid on the floor of the house, 21 were withdrawn and 320 were processed.

The Sindh Assembly held 17 sessions during the past two years which comprised of 145 total days and 101 actual sittings. Nisar Khuhro said that no agenda remained uncompleted in the past two years of the provincial assembly and whatever resolution or bill was presented in the assembly, the members discussed it . 

He said that the credit goes to Sindh that pioneered live telecasting of the assembly proceeding so that the people can know that what was going on in the assembly. Commenting on the opposition's participation, he said that the opposition itself admitted that it was given sufficient time to speak on the assembly floor.

MNA Faryal Talpur opposes Jirga system

 

LARKANA: The present democratic government succeeded to bring the 18th amendment in the constitution and passed the NFC Award in the parliament unanimously by implementing the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and her reconciliation policy. This was stated by the PPP MNA Madame Faryal Talpur while talking to newsmen at the Larkana Press Club after inaugurating a newsroom at the press club on Friday.

She said that the media plays an important role for a positive change in the society by pointing out problems of the people. The government started the Shaheed Benazir Income Support Program and allotted government lands to the landless women, besides providing job opportunities to the educated youths because the PPP is the party of poor and downtrodden people, she added. She condemned the Jirga system and added that this system only helps the influential men to be dominant over the poor people. She opined that the Jirga system will be stopped in the interests of the masses. While replying to a question, she said that the financial problems of the Women Crisis Centre Larkana will be resolved very soon. State Minister Shagufta Jumani, Chairman SPDC Larkana Dr Shafqat Hussain Soomro, DCO Larkana Syed Hassan Naqvi were also present on the occasion. Madame Faryal Talpur also inaugurated the installation of 300 KVA generator at the city block of the Chandka Medical Hospital Larkana last night, where MS of the Hospital Dr. Zulfiqar Siyal briefed her about different issues related to the hospital staff. She also presided over a meeting of the members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Larkana at the local Circuit House. President of the Chamber Khair Muhammad Shaikh and Nisar Ali Shaikh (Shaikh Brothery) briefed the MNA about different problems, which are being faced by the citizens. 

Nisar Ahmed Khuhro hands over lease papers of Katchi Abadis

Sunday, April 25, 2010
LARKANA: Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, along with Sindh minister for Katchi Abadis, distributed 105 lease documents to the people in Haidri Mohallah here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Khuhro said that in Larkana district, 15 Katchi Abadis out of 34, were notified and the remaining would also be notified within a month.

He said the government was trying to follow the manifesto of the party which gives the slogan of Roti, Kapra Aur Makan. “We are implementing it in letter and spirit,” he said.

Khuhro said Benazir rendered services for the rights of the poor and restoration of democracy in the country.

Sindh Minister for Katchi Abadis Engineer Muhammad Rafique said that all the Katchi Abadis in the province would be regularised. He said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also desired that ownership rights be transferred to the residents of the Katchi Abadis.

He said that Katchi Abadis established before 1985 would be regularised and lease would also be provided.

24th April:

Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Friday said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and her daughter Benazir Bhutto had sacrificed their lives for democracy. He was addressing a gathering at Khalique Colony here. Earlier, the speaker inaugurated the PCR Centre and the blood bank laboratory of the Chandka Medical College Hospital.

DCO vows for clean and green Larkana

LARKANA:  The District Coordination Officer Larkana, Syed Hassan Naqvi has said that all out efforts are being made to ensure Larkana as clean and green, in order to provide healthy atmosphere for the people of Larkana. This he said while presiding over a meeting of district officers to review the progress of clean and green Larkana at his camp office here on Friday.

On the occasion, District Forest Officer Larkana informed that one lack 90 thousand plants of different trees were being panted in the district to make Larkana green and clean.

The DCO directed the District officer forest Larkana to prepare the feasibility report regarding more plantation on the both sides of roads included the CMC Hospital road , Railway Station road, District Council road, Police Lines as well as Rice Canal paths.

The DCO also directed TMO Larkana to ensure the cleanliness of city and to remove the encroachments

from both sides of roads at Shaikh Zaid Women Hospital Larkana and other areas, added that prepare feasibility report regarding the repair of drain disposal of Lahori Mohalla Larkana regarding the sewerage water. The meeting was largely attended by concerned officers on the occasion.

Govt after a long struggle has removed dictatorial amendments from the constitution: Nisar Khuhro

LARKANA: The Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said that the vision of Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhutto was to establish the Chandka Medical College at Larkana in order to provide medical facilities to the people of the upper Sindh area as well as the adjoining areas of the province of Balochistan and parts of Punjab.

This he said while addressing the concluding ceremony of the 3rd Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Annual Sports Week and musical night at SMBBMU at CMC Campus last night.

Addressing on the occasion, he criticized the rule of dictators in which the students of the CMC were arrested and punished in a severe manner, but the students proved themselves as true Pakistani and faced all challenges in those difficult days. After struggling for 30 years, the PPP Government has succeeded in getting the 18th amendment passed to remove the remnants of dictators from the constitution through the democratic process.

He also said that Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto always served Pakistan and they sacrificed their lives for the right of the downtrodden people of the country and for the restoration of democracy.

The Sindh Minister for Culture Sassui Palejo while addressing on the occasion said that she was very happy to see the extracurricular activities taking place at SMBBMU at CMC Campus Larkana.

The Minister advised the students of SMBBMU to follow in the footsteps of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who also belonged to Larkana and became a great leader of the world. She further said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s mission will be completed at all costs by the government under the dynamic leadership of the President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari.
The Minister further said that the culture department is taking steps to preserve the cultural heritage besides the “Latif Chairs” were opened at Karachi and other universities in the province, so that the message of Shah Latif may be provided to the students in the proper way.
Earlier, the Culture Minister inaugurated the photo exhibition of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, which was arranged by Masood Khoso.
On the occasion, MPA Haji Munawar Ali Abbasi, Dr. Ayoub Shaikh, Nisar Ali Shaikh, Nazir Ahmed Shaikh, Khair Muhammad Shaikh and other PPP leaders including SMBBMU officials were also present.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death anniversary observed countrywide

LARKANA: The 31st death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), former prime minister and founder of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was observed with great fervour and solemnity on Sunday.

The PPP and PPP-Shaheed Bhutto (SB) arranged functions separately to commemorate the death anniversary. Quran khawani’s were held in every corner of the country to pray for the departed soul of ZAB. People from all walks of life paid rich tributes to the former prime minister for his services to the nation and long life struggle for the promotion of democracy. The main function in this regard was held at Bhutto’s mausoleum at Garhi Khuda Buksh Bhutto, where Quran Khawani was also held throughout the day. PPP leaders including President Asif Ali Zardari, Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, Senate Chairman Farooq H Naek, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar and others visited the ZAB’s mausoleum to lay floral wreaths and offer fateha. PPP leaders from all over the country including Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and FATA also participated in the functions, which were held to mark the occasion. PPP senators, members of national assembly, members of provincial assemblies, PPP central executive committee (CEC) and federal council (FC) members also paid their tributes to ZAB.

Caravans and rallies of PPP workers continued to reach and leave Garhi Khuda Buksh Bhutto and the place remained jam-packed with people all the day. A ‘mushaira’ was also held on the occasion in which prominent poets from all over the country paid rich tributes to the former prime minister. Following the tradition, a joint meeting of the PPP CEC and FC was held, which was chaired by PPP Co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari. Participants of the meeting hailed ZAB’s services to the nation and democracy and expressed their full confidence in the leadership of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The overall political situation of the country and matters relating to the party functioning were also discussed in the meeting. Rich tributes were also paid to former PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto for sacrificing her life only to achieve the rights of the downtrodden and to strengthen the democratic system in the country in order to provide the poor masses basic facilities under her party manifesto including the provision of employment, education, energy, environment and improvement of economy of the country in the national interest. Peoples Doctors Forum (PDF) Larkana district and District Health Department Larkana also established free medical camps to provide medical assistance to the participants of the death anniversary at Garhi Khuda Buksh Bhutto.

On this occasion a documentary film on the life of ZAB was also shown, which included his highly charged speeches at the UN. Strict security arrangements were in place to avoid any untoward incident

President Zardari inaugurates power plant in Larkana

LARKANA: President Asif Zardari Sunday urged foreign investors to take advantage of the business opportunities in Pakistan and establish energy and infrastructure projects in partnership with provincial governments.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the first gas fired rental power plant of 51 Mega Watts at Naudero, district Larkana. President Zardari said power producers were of benefit to Pakistan, as they kept the country out of darkness.

President Zardari thanked the Walter Power International, which has set up the power plant for making investment in the interior of Sindh saying it will create thousands of jobs for people. The company has a history of setting up power projects in Pakistan, he added.

Zardari said the government is pursuing the policy of setting up projects through public-private-partnership while ensuring rights of provinces. 
The provinces would have equity in the power projects by providing gas and the land, which would help in creating projects worth billions of dollars. 
He asked the Sindh government to establish a special incentive zones for new industries. The president stressed on people to put their trust in the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government so that it can build a better future for Pakistan.

“I remember challenges of the days when the government of Benazir Bhutto was dismissed and the power projects were also derailed,” he recalled.

He said the investors came at the invitation of first Benazir Bhutto government and in her second stint they set up the projects like Hubco with the generation capacity of 1,500 MW. He said Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had the foresight to see the rising electricity demand due to growth in population. 

The Benazir Bhutto government managed to sign Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs) of 40,000 MW of which 4,500 MW was to be produced from coal, he noted. 

He said PPP has a vision for tomorrow and it understands needs of the future. It fulfilled its promise by making operational, the first power plant of Sindh in Larkana. He reminded that in the past PPP was criticized for bringing independent power producers to Pakistan. 

The Naudero power plant has been assured 12mmcfd gas for five year through PEPCO's Generation Company and an SSGC gas transmission pipeline has been linked to it besides laying of 132 KV transmission line to connect the power to national grid.

It will provide power to 2,500 tubewells which are designed to irrigate 75,000 acres of land that produces 1.2 million tons of wheat and rice besides ensuring stable power to over 1,000 average sized villages in the area.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Water & Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Interior Minister A. Rehman Malik, Minister for Privatization Syed Naveed Qamar, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Nisar Ali Shaikh (Shaikh Brothery), Provincial Ministers, Central Information Secretary of PPP Fouzia Wahab, MNAs, MPAs, PPP leaders and high officials were present on the occasion. -APP

Nation need fair and free election system in Pakistan. Nisar Khuhro

LARKANA: 15th March: The Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said on Sunday that the country needs strong institutions to nurture political leadership and transparent electoral system for true democracy. This he said while in an Open Discussion Forum of N.A 205 and its constituencies regarding the fair and free election Network Pakistan’s title on “Democratic Government Program (DGP)” arranged by the local NGO Mathini Women Development Organization here at local hotel.

The DGP session in Larkana was also attended by the Federal Minister for Youth Affairs Shahid Hussain Bhutto, Provincial Minister Sindh for Women Development Tauqir Fatima Bhutto and other members of Provincial Assembly Sindh, NGOs, Civil Society and large number of women and citizens.

Addressing the participants Nisar Khuhro said the public expectations are high and present democratic government priority to resolve complex issues of the constituencies and peoples basic problems he said. He said PPP believes that social policy objectives drive economic policy and the party is committed to provide better social and living standards for the people of our country.

He said the community is aware about their rights and the dream of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was that the the people of this area must be educated regarding the democratic governance and play their part in the election process and further in their system in country, as the fulfillment of this dream by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who also sacrificed her life for the country people and democracy he said.

Nisar Khuhro further said in country majority of people living in poverty, in this regard the poverty alleviation is the basic agenda to resolve problems of people and financial assistance was being given to poor by helping women under women Development Support Program and other objectives.

Before this, Speaker distributed the 127 orders among the sanitary workers and other employees and said that it is the dream of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to give jobs to unemployed; he also distributed cheques of Rs. 80000 to 40 poor people 2000 each one, besides three wheel chairs, 1 tri-cycle was also given to the disable persons.

Sindh Minister for Women Development Touqeer Fatima Bhutto said that present government was trying to resolve the problems of masses, because of great sacrifice of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, which was given only for the rights of the people and restoration of democracy.

She said the the people gave mandate to the present government, and the FAFEN objectives are also to take the masses in General elections and franchise their vote according to the will by aware them in the different sector she said. She said there is need of education and awareness among the society and provide them health, roads, electricity, sui gas facilities at their door steps with out any discrimination is also the objective of present government she said.

The Provincial Minister also said that the president of Pakistan was implementing the principle of political reconciliation with all political parties and trying utmost to strengthen the democracy in the country.

She said we are struggling to our best to implement the manifesto which is also the objectives of FAFEN wants to aware general masses in this regard she said.

On the occasion, Organizer and Program Manager FAFEN Nishata Mumtaz interact the audience regarding democratic governance and advocate the main agenda.

Other participants including Nisar Ali Shaikh (Shaikh Brothery) Chairperson Mathini Women Welfare Development Organization Farida Abbasi, Shams Jokhio, Imran Abbasi, Nasreen Baloch, Dr. Tanvir Ahmed and Dr. Ghulam Abbasi and others were present.