India minister ‘quits over graft’

Mr Maran has denied allegations of corruption Indian Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran has resigned following allegations of involvement in the country’s biggest corruption scandal, media reports say.

Mr Maran, who belongs to a key ally of the governing Congress party, is the second minister to be embroiled in the scandal over telecoms licences.

His DMK party colleague, former telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja, is already in jail on corruption charges.

The multi-billion dollar scandal has badly hurt the government’s reputation.

India may have lost as much as $39bn in revenue, a sum equivalent to the annual defence budget, the state auditor has said.

Mr Maran is being investigated as part of a broader probe into wrongdoing over a decade.

He has denied allegations that he coerced the founder of the mobile phone firm Aircel to sell off his stake to a firm favoured by the minister.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s second term in office has been hit by a series of corruption scandals that have triggered public anger and paralysed policymaking, diverting the government’s attention from stimulating India’s flagging economy.

Damaged reputation

Mr Maran left the telecommunications ministry in 2007 to be succeeded by Mr Raja and was until Thursday the country’s textiles minister.

India is the fastest growing mobile phone market

Prosecutors have already charged Mr Raja with fraud and forgery in a separate scandal related to the 2008 sale of cellular licences.

That sale, conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, netted India only 124bn rupees ($2.7bn), causing the government to lose billions of dollars in potential revenue.

In May another senior member of the Tamil Nadu-based DMK party to be implicated in the scandal was arrested.

Kanimozhi – a member of parliament and the daughter of the state’s former chief minister M Karunanidhi – denies conspiracy and bribery allegations in relation to the alleged mis-selling of the telecoms licences.

Several top company executives have also been arrested in connection with the so-called 2G case.

The government has been hit by a series of corruption allegations in recent months.

These include a parliamentary cash-for-votes scandal, the resignation of the head of the country’s anti-corruption watchdog after he himself was accused of wrongdoing and alleged financial irregularities at last year’s Commonwealth Games.

India has the world’s fastest growing mobile phone market, with about half a billion subscribers.

Russia to supply nuclear submarine to India: Report

Russia will deliver a nuclear submarine to India by the end of the year, Russia’s navy chief was quoted as saying on Friday by state news agency RIA. PHOTO: FILE

MOSCOW: Russia will deliver a nuclear submarine to India by the end of the year, Russia’s navy chief was quoted as saying on Friday by state news agency RIA.

India sees Russia as a strategic counterweight to China but New Delhi has been upset by repeated delays to major weapons orders from Moscow, including the Admiral Gorshkov heavy aircraft carrier.

The date for delivering the Nerpa submarine to India, Russia’s close economic and political partner since Soviet days, has repeatedly been put back.

“We shall definitely supply this vessel to the customer by the end of this year,” RIA quoted navy commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky as saying.

Vysotsky said a fully trained Indian navy crew was ready to receive the submarine, which some Russian media reported last year had already been handed over to India.

The Nerpa, an attack submarine codenamed “Akula” – or “Shark”, by NATO, is usually armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles. It can go down to depths of 600 metres (2000 ft) for about 100 days. It can carry 73 people.

Construction of the Nerpa began in 1991, the year the Soviet Union collapsed, but funding was frozen in the chaotic 1990s and the submarine was only launched and started sea trials in 2008, according to Russian media.

Twenty people died on the Nerpa after inhaling the toxic gas used as a fire suppressant when its fire extinguishing system switched on unexpectedly at sea trials in November 2008.

The accident was the deadliest to hit Russia’s navy since August 2000, when the Kursk nuclear submarine sank beneath the Barents Sea, killing all 118 sailors on board.

India agreed to buy the Gorshkov aircraft carrier and have it upgraded in 2004. But Moscow has repeatedly asked for more money and the latest price tag reported for the ship is $2.3 billion. It has still not been delivered to India.

Pak-India working committee Petroleum committee fails to make progress

Indian companies keen to export oil to Pakistan.

KARACHI: 

MUMBAI: Pakistan have been pencilled in to tour India Future tours programme: Pakistan to tour India in 2012

The two archrivals could play three Tests and five ODIs in March and April 2012. PHOTO: FILE

MUMBAI: Pakistan have been pencilled in to tour India for a full series of Test and One-Day Internationals (ODI) next year, in what would be a breakthrough in relations that were hit by the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Teenage fishermen reach Karachi after release from India

Released Pakistani prisoners meet with their relatives upon their arrival at a railway station in Karachi on June 30, 2011. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: Ten teenage fishermen, who had been released by India on June 27, reached Karachi on Thursday.

The fishermen had been arrested by the Indian Navy for alleged violation of international maritime borders. They were released via Wagah border and reached Karachi Cantt station today. <!–more–>

Speaking to the media on their arrival, the released boys said they had been subjected to torture and discrimination on the basis of religion in Indian jails.

Earlier, India had released 70 Pakistani prisoners including 52 fishermen. The imprisonment and release of fishermen from both sides of the border has been regularly taking place over the last few months. However, it often takes months for the release of such prisoners.

Pakistan slated to tour India in 2012

Pakistan have been pencilled in to tour India for a full series of Test and one-day cricket matches next year. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

MUMBAI: Pakistan have been pencilled in to tour India for a full series of Test and one-day cricket matches next year, in what would be a breakthrough in relations that were hit by the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The International Cricket Council governing body’s latest Future Tours Programme shows that the two South Asian rivals could play three Tests and five one-day internationals in March and April 2012.

India is designated as the host of the series, but an ICC spokesman told AFP on Thursday that the list was provisional and indicated that the matches were likely to be played at a neutral venue.

Any series would be organised entirely by both countries’ governing bodies, he added.

No one was immediately available for comment at the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

India severed cricketing links with its neighbour after the Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people and which New Delhi blamed on outlawed militants based across the border in Pakistan.

No major international cricket side has toured Pakistan since gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people and injuring seven others.

Pakistan now plays “home” games in the United Arab Emirates, England and New Zealand.

India last played Pakistan in this year’s World Cup semi-final at Mohali, beating them in a keenly-watched encounter attended by the two countries’ prime ministers Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Afterwards there were calls by players and politicians for the resumption of cricketing links, as millions of fans were missing out due to the neighbours’ strained political ties.

India’s foreign secretary, Nirupama Rao, even said that the country was ready to send its team to Pakistan, if provided full security.

The Pakistan Cricket Board welcomed Rao’s statement and said it was exploring options for playing a series at a neutral venue.

The last time Pakistan played a Test match in India was in the southern city of Bangalore in December 2007. India won the series 1-0.

Apart from the World Cup semi-final, their last one-day international on Indian soil was in November 2007 in Jaipur. Pakistan won the match but lost that series 3-2.

7TH EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLASTIC AND PACKAGING INDUSTRY EXHIBITION

PLASTI & PACK PAKISTAN – POWER OF INTEGRAL SECTOR

31may ti 3 june 2010

Karachi expo center

Ever since its inception; the International Plastic & Packaging Industry Exhibition – PLASTI & PACK PAKISTAN has established itself as an important platform for displaying state-of-the-art machinery, materials and process innovations under one roof. The show has attracted key professionals from major sectors including food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, household products and chemicals, thus has enabled the exhibiting companies to market their products to a highly targeted audience.

PLASTI & PACK PAKISTAN 2009 highlighted its position as an exclusive B2B event for accentuating profitable business decisions in the plastic, printing and packaging industries. It had the participation of 179 companies from 25 countries with dedicated pavilions of Italy, China, Taiwan and U.A.E. The exhibition was visited by more than 10,000 business professionals and was extensively covered by local and international media with the presence of over 50 electronic and print media representatives.

The 7th Edition of the International Plastic & Packaging Industry Exhibition – PLASTI & PACK PAKISTAN 2010 will offer the exhibitors an unparalleled opportunity to meet with their clients, discuss business prospects and close deals in a highly conducive environment.

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HOTELS INFORMATION

AVARI TOWERS Fatima Jinnah, Karachi 75530, Pakistan. Tel: + 92-111-282-747 Fax: + 92-21-3567-8524 Email: reservation_at@avari.com Website www.avari.com		MARRIOTT 9, Abdullah Haroon Road, Karachi, Pakistan. Tel: +92-21-111-22-33-44 Fax: +92-21-3568-0981 Email: reservation@marriott.com Website www.marriott.com.pk/
REGENT PLAZA Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi, Pakistan Tel: + 92-21- 3565-7000 Fax: + 92-21- 3563-1521 / 23 Email: rphcc@cyber.net.pk Website www.rphcc.com		BEACH LUXURY M. T. Khan Road, Karachi, Pakistan. Tel: + 92-21-35611031 Fax: + 92-21-35611625 / 35610673 Email: beachlux@khi.comsats.net.pk
PEARL CONTINENTAL Club Road, Karachi, Pakistan Tel:+92-21-568-5021 [50 lines],111-505-505 Fax: +92-21-3568-1835 Email: pchk@hashoogroup.com www.pchotels.com.pk/		SHERATON Club Road, Karachi, Pakistan Tel: + 92-21-35633333 Fax: + 92-21-35633225 Email: kshsales@cyber.net.pk

For Hotel Information kindly contact our Official Hospitality Partner Rakaposhi Tours.

Rakaposhi Tours is the pioneer tour-operating firm in Pakistan. With the advent of time, the firm has been able to establish a broad network of international agents worldwide. Adding new dimensions to its services, Rakaposhi Tours now specialises in making boarding & lodging arrangements and providing touring facilities for the exhibitors and trade delegations within Pakistan as well as abroad.

Contact:

info@plastipac.com.pk

CABS (Karachi)

METRO CABSTel: +92-21-111-222-787

WHITE CABSTel: +92-21-111-789-786

RED TOP CABSTel: +92-21-111-733-700

Rent A CAR

AVISTel:+92-21-3563-3129

HERTZTel:+92-21-111-365-247

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION

PLASTI & PACK Pakistan offers unlimited opportunities for its participants through establishing:

• Joint ventures with foreign firms to help raise the standard of the local industry’s manufacturing capabilities.

• Greater collaboration among scientists, researchers and industry specialists.

• Enhancement in value and standard of plastic & packaging products for both local consumers and international market.

• Research & development for evolving better techniques of preservation, packaging and value addition.

• Substantial financial and technical support to upgrade standard of exportable products in accordance with internationally established standards.

• Acquisition of latest technology in plastic & packaging industry.

Fire and Security Pakistan 2010

Fire and Security Pakistan 2010

19 – 22 MAY 2010

KARACHI EXPO CENTRE

FIRE & SECURITY PAKISTAN 2010 – MEETING YOUR SAFETY NEEDS

BRINGING FIRE, SAFETY & SECURITY MARKET TO YOUR DOORSTEP

The International Fire & Security Exhibition & Conference – FIRE & SECURITY PAKISTAN serves as an excellent platform in Pakistan for indigenous as well as foreign companies to showcase their product range.

FIRE & SECURITY PAKISTAN 2009 proved to be an interactive and rewarding experience for the participants. It had the participation of 92 companies from 16 countries including Austria, China, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, U.A.E., U.K. and U.S.A. The exhibition was visited by more than 7000 business professionals and was extensively covered by local and international media including 10 publications from countries like U.K., Russia, China and Pakistan.

The 6th International Fire & Security Exhibition & Conference – FIRE & SECURITY PAKISTAN 2010 will address multi-dimensional safety and security needs of the region. The exhibition will showcase a wide-array of fire fighting, safety and security equipments and systems by leading international and domestic manufacturers, traders and integrators. The show will bring a highly targeted audience from the related industries to witness state-of-the-art technology and reap benefits through excellent networking opportunities.

Scanners to be installed in major cities soon: Malik

ISLAMABAD : Scanners will be installed in major cities to ensure maximum security to the citizens. This was said by Interior Minister Rehman Malik Tuesday in an interview with a private TV channel.

The fixed scanners will be installed at rush locations, after which manual checking of vehicles will not be required, he said.

The mobile and fixed scanners will be imported from China , and the first shipment will reach soon.

In the recent past, about 62 terrorists and their facilitators have been nabbed on check posts; out of which 10 were suicide bombers.

The government will also establish a Students Elite Force, and about 5000 e-mails have been received so far from the students who wanted to work as volunteers under this force. -APP.

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Pogee 2010

19 – 22 MAY 2010

KARACHI EXPO CENTRE

Pakistan with an ideal geographic and strategic location serves as a corridor for the international supply routes of energy. Being a regional power house, the country possess opportunities of setting up the oil and gas pipelines as well as electricity grids within the region and with other neighbouring energy rich countries such as Iran, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Pakistan’s energy requirements are increasing every year and to meet the rising demand of energy, the government of Pakistan is currently focused on diversification of gas supplies, reconstruction of hydropower plants, construction of underground gas storage facilities, development of oil exploration & production, tapping of renewable energy resources, attracting foreign investment and privatisation of state-owned assets.

Pakistan is responding to the energy development challenge by pursuing a wide range of domestic and imported energy projects and in the year 2008 – 2009, the Oil, Gas and Energy industry has attracted Foreign Investment of about US$ 796 million.

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POGEE 2010

POGEE 2010

8th International Exhibition for the Energy Industry
(19 – 22 May 2010)

INTRODUCTION

Pakistan with an ideal geographic and strategic location serves as a corridor for the international supply routes of energy. Being a regional power house, the country possess opportunities of setting up the oil and gas pipelines as well as electricity grids within the region and with other neighbouring energy rich countries such as Iran, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Pakistan’s energy requirements are increasing every year and to meet the rising demand of energy, the government of Pakistan is currently focused on diversification of gas supplies, reconstruction of hydropower plants, construction of underground gas storage facilities, development of oil exploration & production, tapping of renewable energy resources, attracting foreign investment and privatisation of state-owned assets.

Pakistan is responding to the energy development challenge by pursuing a wide range of domestic and imported energy projects and in the year 2008 – 2009, the Oil, Gas and Energy industry has attracted Foreign Investment of about US$ 796 million.

OIL & GAS INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

The location of Pakistan at the crossroads of Central Asia and the Arabian Sea has brought into spotlight its significance as an attractive market and a regional transit route for energy. Oil and Gas are the two major components of the energy mix which contribute 79% to the 63 million TOE of energy requirement in the country. The Government is formulating investor-friendly policies to increase the share of indigenous resources in the country. As a result of these policies, the Oil & Gas sector has attracted foreign direct investment of over US$ 700 million in 2008-09.

Pakistan is one of the largest consumers of gas in the region. It has a well developed and integrated infrastructure of transportation, distribution and utilisation of natural gas with 10,285 km of transmission and 93,961 km of distribution network. The two gas distribution companies plan to invest about US$ 400 million to increase the capacity of existing distribution network.

Up till now 725 wells have been drilled by various local and international exploration and production companies with 219 Oil & Gas discoveries, bringing the gas reserves to 30 TCF. An investment of US$ 1 billion was spent in drilling activities with 60 new wells drilled in 2008-09. At the same time, the crude oil recoverable reserves are estimated at 313 million barrels. The current production of oil is 66,532 barrels per day, whereas gas production is at 4 billion cubic feet per day.

Currently seven refineries are operating in the country with a refining capacity of 13 million tonnes per year.

Pakistan is now the largest CNG user in the world. Currently, 2700 CNG stations are operating with an investment of over US$ 1 billion, serving 2 million vehicles in the country.

LPG

LPG is environment-friendly and an economical fossil fuel available in the country. It is mainly used by the people living in remote areas, having no access to natural gas. Annual LPG consumption is 600,000 tonnes out of which 20% is met through imports. Total investment of US$ 200 million has already been made to develop the LPG supply infrastructure.

COAL

Pakistan has the 7th largest coal reserves in the world, estimated at over 185 billion tonnes of Coal. The country is producing 2.4 million tonnes of coal to meet the current coal consumption of 6.4 million tonnes while 4 million tonnes is imported to fulfill the energy requirement of the country. The Government has allocated an annual budget of US$ 25 million for the development of Thar Coal Infrastructure. Thar Coal project has the potential to cater to the increasing national energy requirement for decades with a relatively low unit cost.

THE SHOW – OIL & GAS PAKISTAN

Oil & Gas Pakistan is geared to be an exclusive trade exhibition, showcasing state-of-the-art equipment and machinery providing its participants with a comprehensive technical insight into the regional Oil & Gas industry.

POGEE, featuring Oil & Gas Pakistan and Power Technology Pakistan exhibitions, has established itself as the premier event catering to the Oil, Gas & Energy sectors. It serves as a convergence point for national and international companies to explore business opportunities in Pakistan . With unprecedented experience and reach, POGEE is the ideal venue to interact with key decision-makers and government officials, discuss areas of mutual cooperation, implement government plans and fulfill the future requirements of this industry in Pakistan.

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3p, Plas Print Pack Pakistan 2010

EVENT PROFILE

3P Plas Print Pack Pakistan (PPP Pakistan) aims to provide a unique networking platform for key industrial players to exhibit new and cutting edge technology. PLAS PRINT PACK proves to be a comprehensive showcase, drawing the attention of international vital industrial players to Pakistan, where business alliance are forged, deals are sealed and new networking opportunities are found.
EXHIBITION INFORMATION

Main Event : Plas Print Pack Pakistan 2010 (3P10)
7th International Plastic, Printing & Packaging Exhibition Concurrent Event : Food + Technology Pakistan 2010 (F+T10)
7th International Food, Equipment & Technology Exhibition Venue : Karachi Expo Centre Date : 14-17 May 2010 Time : 10.30am – 7.00pm Organiser : CEMS Pakistan Pvt Ltd Co-Organiser : – Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd
– Chan Chao International Co Ltd Strategic Partner : CMEC International Exhibition Co Ltd Host : Pakistan Plastic Manufacturers Association

VISITOR’S PROFILE

Food & Beverage Manufacturers & Bottlers, Designers, Consultants, Distributors, Engineers, Material Handlers, Production Managers, Printers, Equipment & Material Buyers, Marketing & Brand Managers, Retailers, Logistic Management, New Product Development Managers & Printing/Packaging Specialists are the target visitors.

EXHIBITOR’S PROFILE

Profile for exhibit includes Processing Machines, Moulding Machines, Machinery & Plant for Finishing, Decorating, Printing & Marking, Controlling & Testing Equipment, Chemicals, Raw Materials & Auxiliaries, Digital & Silk Screen Printing & Scanning, Printing Materials, Printing Machineries & Equipments, Numbering Units & Machines, Drying & Folding Machines, Packaging Machinery, Bottling Plants, Fillers, Paper, Paper Products, Boards, Corrugated Boxes, Adhesives & Sealants.

Cited by the World Bank as “the top reformer in its region and in the top 10 reformers globally”, Pakistan’s economy continues to perform a commendable growth as outcomes of its past fiscal year indicate a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of approximately US$5.1 Billion, contributing to an increase in its annual growth rate of 6.6% in GDP for the last five years. Clearly, these results show a strong confidence of players, both local and foreign, in the resilience of Pakistan’s economy amidst a series of domestic and external events of an unprecedented nature.

This impressive performance in the economy says so much about the structural economic policies that the Government of Pakistan has outlined and pursued relentlessly in order to restore macroeconomic balance and to improve the overall economic environment. Through prudent fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies, financial discipline and consistent and transparent economic policies, a wide range of reforms was introduced in the areas of taxation, trade and tariffs, banking and finance, industry and agriculture, deregulation and privatization, fiscal transparency and governance. Indeed, they know their business more than anyone else. These efforts gained the interest of world industry leaders especially on the sectors of textile, machinery and transport equipment, food technology, minerals and lubricants, chemicals and manufactured goods like plastic, packaging and printing.

To date, Pakistan is a leading exporter of manufacturing goods as well as textile to bull markets such as US, UAE, UK and Germany. It is also a preferred market place for importers from China, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, US and Japan.

Pakistan’s economy is as powerful and strong as its population of 1.6B. It has gained its bullish momentum, and there is definitely no stopping it.

PLAS PRINT PACK PAKISTAN 2010 – TURNING POTENTIAL TO PROFIT

The 3P Pakistan 2010 is a product of significant collaboration among top players from the plastic, printing and packaging industries of Pakistan. Being its fastest growing economic sectors, these areas have gained enormous popularity from international players who are seeking for business opportunities in this part of the globe. PLAS PRINT PACK PAKISTAN 2010 is therefore committed to forge new as well as stronger business alliances between Pakistan and the rest of the world through an interactive showcase of cutting-edge tools and equipment, synergy of allied services for more networking opportunities and, most importantly, quality attendance of trade visitors from international and regional countries.

Set against the backdrop of the newest and most modern exhibition centre of Pakistan- the Expo Centre Lahore, the Plas Print Pack Pakistan 2010 promises another breakthrough international trade event that would serve as a benchmark for future industry showcases.