MUHAMMAD SALEEM


LAHORE (December 03 2009)

The PML-N leaders urged the government to unfold a comprehensive and practical programme to improve economic lot of people by curtailing its expenditure on non-development work. They also asked the government to form an independent accountability commission to ensure good governance in the country as per provisions of Charter of Democracy (CoD).

They were of the view that manifold problems including terrorism confronted to the country are the result of long dictatorial regime. During dictatorship, institutions were destroyed and nepotism was promoted, they added. The PML-N leadership was sincerely striving for transforming Pakistan in accordance with the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal where equal rights and opportunities are available to every citizen, they added.

Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly and PML-N senior leader Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal said that Pakistan was facing a difficult situation, which could be tackled through unity. He urged the government to curtail its expenditures and provide relief to people.

He said that holding of mid-term elections was not solution to problems. The people had given mandate to democratic forces for a change, therefore, the government must bring real change by changing policies of Pervez Musharraf. In order to discourage corruption, the institution of accountability should be made more effective and functional while those who plundered national wealth should be punished.

Senior Political Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab Mohammad Pervez Malik has said the sacrifices of Sharif family for the nation and country could not be ignored. The government could not tackle the constitutional and financial crises without empowering the parliament.

The federal government during its 2-year rule had not taken any serious steps for restoring the confidence of local and foreign investors. The government had no agenda for making Pakistan a powerful economic state. The implementation of Charter of Democracy would help strengthen the economy and democracy in the country, he said.

Industrialists reject increase in POL prices

RECORDER REPORT
KARACHI (December 03 2009)

The industrialists have sharply reacted on increase of petroleum products prices and fear that prices of all the goods produced locally will go up sharply in near future. They feared that it would have very negative impact on the purchasing power of general public, sale of goods will decline due to high prices with ultimately lead to closure of more industrial units.

Frequent increase in gas, power tariffs, transport fares and oil prices have already accelerated capital flight and discouraged local and foreign direct investment. They said that law and order is already a serious problem and feared day-to-day increase in oil prices, gas, power tariffs may further create unrest among general public. They rejected the increase in POL prices terming it unjust at the time when other countries in the region are extending price relief to their people.

Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Razzak Hashim Paracha, while showing his utter surprise over the government's decision said that India has recently reduced petroleum prices by Rs 2 per litre while Pakistan is increasing POL prices unjustifiably. "If the other countries in the region are providing relief to their consumers by reducing POL prices why Pakistan government is making people's lives miserable", Paracha said.

He said that as compared to India Pakistan is producing 20 to 25 oil indigenously besides getting oil from Gulf states on subsidised rates while India does not have any of this advantage. He said that the pathetic attitude towards industry and export sector, the industry would resort to cut down expenses and it would result in massive unemployment in the country.

The President, Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), Mian Zahid Husain while condemning the increase in POL prices, said that there was no reason for the government to resort such a cruel decision at this juncture when the people have almost buried under the skyrocketing prices of utilities and food items.

He said that is seems that the government has decided not to pay any heed to the hue and cry of the masses over frequent and unjustified increases in utilities' prices and keep on increasing financial burdens on them without realising that there is an end to it. Chairman F B Area Association of Trade and Industry Shahid Ismail said that a large numbers of small and medium sized units were closed in the last six months as they could not compete owing to surging cost of production.

He feared that more units would close down after recent power and gas tariff hike. He said the association had no plan to call a strike but a joint strategy will be adopted to take up the anti-industry decisions with the government.

He said that increase in petroleum products will not only increase SPI and poverty but the outcome for trade and industry will also be negative and direct impact causing hurdles in pace of industrial and commercial activities. He said that developed world providing unexpected and unconditional relief package to trade and industry to accelerate the pace of industrial activates but in Pakistan trade and industries facing multiple hurdles such as power loadshedding, extortion and harassment of ransom and international recession.

He said that the government must take business community into confidence before taking important decisions. He demanded withdrawal of increase in oil prices. The patron-in-chief, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) S M Muneer, Vice Chairmen, Amjadullah Khan and Najmul Arfeen in a statement said that the frequent increases in utilities prices by the present government has caused massive increase of 14 percent in the cost of production rendering the industry incompetent not only in the international market but also in the region.

An emergency meeting was held at North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) and discussed increase in gas, power tariffs prices. The participants condemned government decision to increase oil prices. They were of the view that people already have been facing problems in purchasing essential goods to feed their family. Increase in oil, gas and power tariff further aggravates their living condition.

They noted that government has already allowed 18 percent increase in gas and 12 percent increase in power tariffs from January 1, 2010 and feared these increases will have negative impact on law and order condition and feared that the situation may get out of government control. The meeting was attended by Chairman Sadiq Muhammad, Syed Usman Ali, Syed Iqtadar Ali, Faraz, Noor Muhammad Khan and others.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2009

Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

RECORDER REPORT
KARACHI (December 03 2009)

The Karachi Port handled 111,062 tonnes of cargo including 66,740 tonnes import and 44,322 tonnes export cargo including 3,361 empty and loaded containers during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Wednesday. The cargo comprised of 81,562 tonnes dry cargo including 52,797 tonnes containerised and general cargo; 4,974 tonnes DAP; 6,616 tonnes urea powder; 7,022 tonnes coal; 7,778 tonnes cement and 29,500 tonnes oil/liquid cargo.

Five ships namely United Stars, Dina G, MOL Bravery, APL Dalian and Dandle sailed out to sea during the report period. Seven vessels viz Bunga Raya Tujuh, Sima Sahba, Jin Hua, Maharshtra, Al-Marwah, Al-Soor-II and HPMC P Fortune are currently at the berths. Two ships namely Sima Sahba and Bunga Raya Tujuh expected to sail on Wednesday, while another four vessels viz Palawan, Al-Soor-II, Al-Marwah and Yordan Lutibrodski are expected to sail on Thursday.

Five ships namely Andino Park, MT Swat, Hyundai Baron, Khairpur and Industrial Dawn due to arrive on Wednesday, while another five ships namely Bunga Raya Enam, APL Balboa, PAC Aries, Invicta and Bulk Chile are due to arrive on Thursday.

PORT QASIM

A total cargo volume of 36,518 tonnes comprising 29,698 tonnes import and 6,820 tonnes export inclusive of containerised cargo carried in 536 containers (TEUs) was handled during last 24 hours on Wednesday. The cargo comprised of 20,058 tonnes diesel oil; 4,120 tonnes chemicals; 811 tonnes rice; 3,993 tonnes cement and 7,536 tonnes containerised cargo.

Two ships namely Nedlloyed Oceania and Bunga Kantan Dua sailed out to sea during last 24 hours, while two more ships namely ACX Marguerite and Omega Queen are expected to sail on Wednesday. A total of ten vessels viz ACX Marguerite, Ville De Orion, Santa Catalina, Grigoroussai, Antarctic, Hiba Al-Nour-B, Vincanton, Wales-II, Dolphin-3 and Aqua Grace scheduled to load/offload containers, furnace oil, chemicals and cement are currently at the outer anchorage.

Seven ships namely CV Nedlloyed Oceania, MV Kom, Colina, MV Alexi-III, MV Sun rise-89, Omega Queen and MV Bunga Kantan Dua are currently occupying berths to load/offload containers, rice, cement, gas oil and chemicals respectively during last 24 hours. Six vessels viz Tong List, Donau Trader, Dubai Express, Al-Abdali, Maersk Novazzano and MSC Sierra carrying iron ore and containers are expected to arrive.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2009