Month: January 2019

KARACHI:Trade unions, labour organizations and human rights activists took out a rally from Regal Chowk, Saddar to Karachi Press Club on Thursday in support for demands of the Port Qasim workers who are on strike for over three months.

Hundreds of workers, led by PILER Director Karamat Ali, NTUF General Secretary Nasir Mansoor, veteran trade union leader Habibuddin Junaidi and Port Workers union general secretary Hussain Bad Shah, marched through various streets of the city against the high handedness of port authorities and a Chinese company.

Badshah, while addressing the rally, announced to hold a protest sit-in outside Parliament House in Islamabad this month, for which hundreds of workers would leave from Karachi soon. He said that despite over 100 days strike, the government was not listening to their genuine demands; hence, they had been compelled to go to Islamabad and stage a sit- in outside the parliament house.

Director PILER said: “We ask the government to accept the demands of the workers without any delay as they have been sitting at the protest camp since more than three months. He urged the federal government to pay attention to workers just demands.”

He paid rich tribute to the protesting workers for their peaceful protest sit-in outside KPC for the last 108 days. All trade unions and labour organizations are supporting the struggle of Port Qasim workers, he added.

The workers union of Port Qasim is demanding provision of all the labour rights under the country’s laws. The dock labour is not receiving salaries from a Chinese company at the Port Qasim for many months. Workers’ rights are not accepted by Chinese companies who have been allocated two berths (No. 3 and 4) by the Port Qasim Authority. The Chinese companies are denying rights of the Port Qasim Dock workers. “

Nasir Mansoor, General Secretary of National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) announced that workers from all over the country would join the protest of port workers and a large number of them would accompany them to Islamabad.

He warned that if genuine demands of working class are not addressed, this will result in unrest that is not good for country. “Best way is to resolve issues by having dialogue with workers.”

Liaquat Sahi of State Bank Union assured the rally that he and his federation stood in support of workers and would stand with them in all circumstances.

Fahim Siddiqui of Karachi Union of Journalists assured support from media workers and demanded the government to immediately resolve the issues.

Those who spoke and present on the occasion included Manzoor Razi, Zohra Khan and others.

KARACHI:Pakistan Navy Coastal Command Annual Efficiency Competition Parade was held at PNS QASIM, Manora. Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of the Naval Staff graced the occasion as chief guest. Upon his arrival, he was received by Commander Coast, Vice Admiral Muhammad Fayyaz Gilani.

Efficiency Competition Parade is conducted annually by Coastal Command of Pakistan Navy to mark the culmination of its operational year wherein efficiency shields are awarded to the selected units based on their achievements throughout the year.

While addressing the ceremony, the Naval chief highlighted that Coastal Command of Pakistan Navy has been entrusted with the onerous task of safeguarding the Coast from Sir Creek to Jiwani, under challenging internal and external security situation and harsh topographic environment.

The Naval chief also expressed satisfaction over operational readiness of Pakistan Navy in prevalent maritime challenges including security aspects related to Gwadar Port and maritime components of CPEC Project. The Naval Chief reiterated Pakistan Navy’s unflinching resolve to ensure seaward defence of vital maritime infrastructure and protection of maritime interests of Pakistan against all threats and challenges.

Abbasi stated that Pakistan Navy is maintaining a robust security posture along the Pakistani Coast and in regional seas to deter the nefarious elements from any illicit activities. This effort, however, requires constant struggle and Pakistan Navy is ready to defend the motherland from all external and internal threats at all cost.

The Naval Chief emphasized upon the three pillars of Pakistan Navy’s vision for achieving desired goals which include Combat Readiness, Jump-start the Maritime Sector and Ideological Domain. While emphasizing significance of Blue Economy and Pakistan’s Maritime potential, the Naval Chief remarked that for Pakistan’s economic prosperity, focus towards Maritime sector, its development and security is indispensible. Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi underscored various initiatives of PN including conduct of National Maritime Security Workshop, Seminars and linkage with Business community to provide an insight and a good grasp over what tremendous potential maritime sector holds and to tap these resources for the country’s economic prosperity.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Commander Coast Vice Admiral Muhammad Fayyaz Gilani highlighted the operational achievements of Coastal Command and presented a resume of activities undertaken during the year 2018. He stated that the Coastal Command, besides other operational activities had also actively participated in major Maritime Exercise “Seaspark 2018”.

Later, the Chief Guest gave away efficiency shields to the units for their best performance, during the year 2018.

Karachi:A three-day long second international conference on Sustainable Development: Halophytes for Green Revolution concluded with a round-table discussion, in which UNESCO experts and renowned local and foreign scientists participated and give several recommendations for betterment of the society.

They suggested that a society should be made, which would function as a common platform to promote the judicious use of halophytes for food, biofuel, landscaping, combating climate change and coastal management.

Meanwhile, they think that all possible means such as social, print and electronic media should be used to disseminate benefits of the halophyte utilization among masses and policymakers.

They also urged to organize follow-up meetings on regular basis to promote these objectives by gathering other stakeholder working in the areas of saline agriculture. Earlier, a day-long trip was arranged to coastline of the metropolis where local and foreign experts under the supervision of the Vice Chancellor of University of Karachi Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan study mangroves and other halophyte plants and collected samples for examinations at their respective laboratories.

The Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization (ISHU) of the University of Karachi (KU) has organized the event at the Karachi University Business School (KUBS), KU, from January 07 (Monday) till January 09, Wednesday.

Meanwhile, one of the expert, Dr. Benno Boer from UNESCO Thailand informed audience of the conference about long-term commitment of UNESCO for sustainable development in the developing countries of the world.

He said that UNESCO office in Thailand considers currently barren saline wastelands and salty water as resource for future to end hunger. Waste acreage of saline land can be turned into green pastures with the help of halophyte cultivation, which would not only improve environment but also support livestock industry.

He further aid that he has a long-time collaboration with the ISHU and is impressed by the achievements of this institute in the field of halophyte biology and utilization. He praised the organizers of the conference and declared it need of the time to combat global climate change and fight hunger.

Another speaker, Dr. Ali El-keblawy, Professor of Environmental Sciences in the Sharjah University presented research outcomes of his team and shared the idea of using halophytes for greenification and landscaping in the arid world.

He highlighted many examples of halophytes which hold immense potential as horticulture and landscaping plants. These plants can be cultivated along roads and highways within and among cities without using freshwater, where they can help in improving environment, he said. However, he stressed on the use of local flora for this purpose, as introduction of non-native plants from other countries may seriously damage the ecosystem.

KARACHI:Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Election Committee has re-elected Qasir Imtiaz as Chairman Enterprise and Investment Promotion for KMC.

Qasir Imtiaz while talking to media persons at KMC Building here on Thursday said all illegal bazaars to be removed next week.

Earlier, KMC’s EandIP Department had issued noticed to the owners of these bazaars, directing them to close down their bazaars.

KARACHI:A two-member delegation of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), led by DG Ahmed Taimoor Nasir, called on Governor Sindh Imran Ismail.

The delegation informed the governor about the working of the BISP in detail. It said that the data of 155 million people had been set up under the BISP so far. DG BISP said that the data for the National Health Card was also being provided under the same program.

He further said that people eligible under BISP were being paid under biometric system. He said that NADRA, FBR, Passport and Immigration departments and others were also in coordination with the BISP.

He said that delivering the basic facilities of life to the people of their country was the primary priority of the present government. “The requirement is to make sure the correct need for the needy is made. In this case, BISP’s work is satisfactory,” he added. The governor said that the program was important to improve the life of a common man.

The governor also issued instructions to improve the efficiency of the NGOs working in coordination with the BISP.