Rs 100 million to be spent on basic facilities in rural Sindh

KARACHI
(September 21 2008)

Sindh Minister for Rural Development Zubair Ahmed Khan on Saturday said Rs 100 million would be spent on providing basic facilities in rural areas of Sindh. "It is the all out effort of the government to provide all basic facilities including clean drinking water, gas, sewerage system and electricity in rural areas so that their living standard is improved."

Talking to various delegations, the minister said that besides cities, supply of electricity to villages was the government responsibility. Zubair Ahmed said that soon after Eid, he would visit districts of Sanghar, Badin and Mirpurkhas to take stock of problems of their rural areas and provided with basic facilities by Rural Development Department. These areas would have model villages where all basic facilities besides school, hospital, Masjid, Community Centre etc would also be made available, he added.


LAHORE
(September 21 2008)

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday greeted the President Asif Ali Zardari for addressing the joint sitting of the parliament and effectively safeguarding the national sovereignty and frontiers from external aggression besides giving top priority to agriculture and power sectors.

Talking to APP on telephone, the federation acting President Tufail M Zubair, Vice President, Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Iftikhar Ali Malik and Chairman Businessmen Panel and former federation chief, Tariq Sayeed hoped that government would continue to serve the people in same spirit and zeal throughout its term.

Tufail said that politically matured newly elected President Asif Ali Zardari has far-reaching approach towards the solution of all important issues and hoped that business community, the backbone of the national economy, especially, pak-exporters would also get due attention of the government to steer the country out of looming monetary crisis.

Iftikhar Ali Malik said that it was first time that entire business community including FPCCI and all its affiliated chambers and trade bodies have reposed full confidence in the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari. He said it is good omen that all national and international issues confronting the country will be discussed in the parliament.

He said that the Presidential address would help a lot to restore the confidence of foreign and local investors. He said rule of law, supremacy of constitution, promotion of democratic values and safeguarding the frontiers are the panacea of all solutions.

He hoped that Asif Ali Zardari would steer the country out of ever looming deep economic crisis under his dynamic leadership by taking PFCCI and private sector into confidence for evolving violable practicable monetary policies. Tariq Sayeed said that political stability, good governance and better law and order is pre requisite for strengthening of the national economy.

Inflation, high prices cut down purchasing power of people

TAHIR AMIN
ISLAMABAD
(September 21 2008)
Already under tremendous pressure of the high inflation, the low income group find it difficult to purchase clothes or other for their children as prices of garments and other accessories have shot up sharply with the nearing of Eid-ul-Fitr.

A survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed that as Eid comes close, prices of clothes, bangles and artificial jewelleries are soaring with each passing day in the capital. Consumers have been left at the mercy of shopkeepers, who have increased manifold, the prices of all Eid-related accessories.

The price of a single stitched suit for men has gone up to Rs 2500 to Rs 3000, as compared to Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 before Ramazan. Similarly the prices of unstitched clothes for men have gone up to Rs 1500 as compared to Rs 700 to 1000 before Ramazan.

Unstitched suit for female, which was available at Rs 1000 to 1500, is being sold at Rs 3500, which is quite shocking for any buyer. Similarly the prices of shoes have also gone up. A pair of shoes which was available at Rs 500 to 700 before Ramazan, is now being sold at Rs 1000 to 1200.

"Price of a dozen bangles ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 300, depending on their quality and style," a shopkeeper Ahmad Ali said. No haggling can be done with tailors, who are lurking these days in every nook and corner of the twin cities like elsewhere in the country to make most of the season.

In the holy month of Ramzan, tailors are busy like bees even in godly hours, making quick bucks with both hands in every small and large scale market and the people have no option but to yield to have their suits sewn for the Eid-ul-Fittar. These tailors have also raised their prices. In normal condition they stitch one suit at Rs 250 now stitching at Rs 300 to 500.

"We are having the real joy of Eid (Asal Eid tuo hamari ha) by making a lot of money", Tufail Khan, a tailor remarked when asked for comments on his business before Eid ul Fittar. In wake of the rocketing price hike, the poor and low-income group of our society are unable to buy cheerfulness and joy for their children in the shape of only normal clothes and shoes.

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