Chief justice Azad Kashmir High Court

Mr. Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal is the chief justice of Azad Jammu
 and Kashmir (AJK) High court. It works on similar lines as the high courts in 
Pakistan. Azad Kashmir has similar judicial system as we see in Pakistan
but it has its independent identity and jurisdiction.

Chief Justice Azad Kashmir Supreme Court

Mr. Justice Muhammad Azam is the chief justice of Azad Jammu
 and Kashmir (AJK) Supreme court that is the apex 
court in the AJK. Azad Jammu and Kashmir has seperate 
judicial system from Pakistan though it works on similiar lines 
as in Pakistan

Muammar gaddafi killed

Mummar Qaddafi has been killed in Sarrat . The Libiyan president has been killed in his home town , Sarrat . It is not clear as some media sources say that he has been arrested injured but it is not clear that the injuries are critical or not. He had left Tripoli when rebels were close to capture the city.He had been ruling Libiya for 41 years. He and his supporters were fighting rebels vigorously. The rebels were supported strongly by the West . Arrest warrants had been sought from Criminal Court of Justice.

Sarrat was strong hold of Qaddafi regime but it seems that it has been fallen in the hands of  Rebels.

Global textile market

A new challenge for Pakistani textiles to compete in very tough global market:
Federal Ministry of textile industry Pakistan plans to levy 1% turnover cess to increase badly needed billions of rupees from all the segments of textile industry and allied sectors.
The cess will be in addition to 0.25% Export Development Fund surcharge being already paid by the industry on exports and collected by the ministry of commerce.
The ministry on Thursday issued the draft of proposed Textile Industry Development Promotion and Standards Act, 2011. It has given time  period of four weeks for soliciting comments from the stakeholders starting from Oct 14, 2011.
The funds so raised will be spent by the textile ministry on development, promotion, regulation and setting of standards for textile industry to achieve growth, create jobs, and enhance productivity and value-addition throughout textile chain.
This cess may create new burden for Pakistani textile to compete in tough global market
.

Market Index

Recent history of KSE-100 index since the beginning of this calender year.
 Jan, 01,  2011           11849
Feb, 01,  2011           12273
March, 01, 2011        11608
April, 01, 2011           11887
May, 01, 2011           12035
June, 01, 2011           12264
July, 01, 2011            12484
August, 01, 2011       12253
Sep, 01, 2011            11162
Oct, 01, 2011            11868
Oct , 14, 2011           11988

Consumer price index

Consumer Price Index (CPI) Pakistan covers the retail prices of 374 items in 35 major cities across the country.
In september 2011 it has been recorded at 11.56% on new base year of 2008.


Average July –June over same period of previous year in Pakistan

Change of indices in %
Index      2010-11            2009-10           2008-09
CPI        13.90                 11.70                 20.80
SPI        18.20                 13.30                 23.40
WPI       23.35                12.60                 18.20

Auto parts in Pakistan

Pakistan's auto engineering industry has achieved on average 60%  localization, despite being stuck in the turmoil due to ever increasing inflation and adverse import policies of the current government. The industry has progressed well over the period of time.

Indus Motor Company  says that it has taken a commendable initiative by supporting Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts Accessories Manufacturer (PAAPAM) for organizing ‘Pakistan Auto Parts Show (PAPS) 2011’ being organized on 24 October,2011  in Lahore to display the development and advancement in auto part manufacturing in the country and seek new export opportunities as well because the quality of a lot of products among these is of international standards therefore they can get market access in different parts of the world.


This show is big step forward in promoting the business of auto parts manufactured in Pakistan.

Conservation grants for

CM Sindh  Qaim Ali Shah announced on Saturday a Rs.100 million grant for an endowment fund, earnings from this fund would be used for the conservation and preservation of Moenjodaro, an archaeological treasure of Pakistan.

Praising social services development in those old days, he said civic facilities such as well-planned drainage system and potable water from wells were available to the people of Moenjodaro. CM regretted that such facilities were not available to many people these days but did not talk about about the failure of PPP govts to provide and improve these facilities to the deprived.

He said encroachments would be removed from the protected sites, law and order improved and infrastructure would be developed in order to preserve this site.

Life insurance companies in Pakistan

The following are the life insurance companies in Pakistan.
1. State life insurance company of Pakistan. (the biggest)
2. EFU life assurance  (the best in quality and returns)
3. New Jubilee life insurance

Life insurance density is very very low in the country as compared to the
other countries around the globe . There is a lot of scope for these companies
in this field.

Insurance companies in Pakistan

Adamjee Insurance
Askari General 
Atlas 
Central Ins Co.
Century 
Crescent Star 
EFU General 
Habib 
IGI .
New Jubilee 
PICIC .
Premier 
Reliance 
Shaheen 
TPL Direct . and
Universal Insurance

Economy of Pakistan

 In 2011 :Indiacators and statistics of Pakistan economy are as follows.
Real GDP growth rate                         2.8% 2011
GDP                                               $213 billions
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)           $495 billions
GDP per capita - current prices           $1300
GDP per capita ( PPP )                      $3200
GDP (PPP) - share of world total         0.63%
GDP - composition by sector             agriculture: 20.0% 

•                                                     industry: 24.3% 
•                                                     services: 55.7%
• 
  

Forex reserves                                 $17.3 billions
Inflation                                            15% estimated
Public debt(General government gross debt as %GDP)      55%  

Unemployment rate                                   6.3% estimated

Rank of the Navy

Rank insignia in Pakistan Navy.

The following are the ranks of our navy and their equivalent in the Pak Army

Admiral/CNS       equal to COAS/General in Pakistan Army
Adm


Vice Admiral          equal to Lt. General in Army
V Adm


Rear Admiral          equal to Major General in Army
R Adm


Commodore        equal to Brigadier in Army
Cdre


Captain                 equal to Colonel in Army
Capt


Commander      equal to Lt.Colonel in Army
Cdr


Lieutenant Commander     equal to Major in Army
Lt Cdr


Lieutenant         equal to Captain in Army
Lt


Sub Lieutenant     equal to Lieutenant in Army
S/Lt


Midshipman     equal to Second Lieutenant in Army

Best schools of Pakistan

1-Karachi Grammar School

2-Lahore Grammar School 

3-Aitchison College Lahore

4-Beacon House School System


5.Cadet colleges

6-SICAS.

7-Sadiq Public School Bahawalpur

8-The City School

9-Lahore College of Arts and Sciences (LACAS)

10-The Punjab School


11. St. Joseph’s Convent High School.

12. St. Patrick’s Boys School.

13. The Mama Parsi Girls School.

14. Bloomfield school.

15. Fauji Foundation Model School.

16. Roots Montessori & High School.


17. Army Public School.

Investment opportunities in Pakistan

Pakistan is a developing economy which means it has a lot of potential to grow and it's also resource rich. This is a very good news for businesses. It has itself a huge market of 180 million people and most of the business sector markets are untapped e.g very very low population is ensured yet, teledensity is still a lot low when compared to advanced countries , processed foods are still a small portion of total food market and a lot gets perished, food stroage and their packaging , agricultural mechanization , internet and broadband , modern educational facilities , transportation and housing etc all have a lot of room to grow.

Labour is cheap but infrastructure is still poor for most of the sectors , fuel and electricity cost has gone up . Electricity price has gone up due to major portion from thermal plants. There is subsidy on gas for many industries but on the whole fuel is not cheap as around 80% is imported and govt also collects taxes on fuels.
Apart from this terrorism is still a big threat but it is subsiding slowly now.

Cost of doing business is still high as you can notice that instead of growing at 7 to 8% , our growth rate is around 3%. Loadshedding and gas shortage is still a problem which can not be resolved immediately. After completion of Basha Dam which may take six years from now we can not have somewhat cheap and abundant electricity . Though we can end loadshedding as thermal plants have sufficient installed capacity but govt lack resources to finance them due to huge circular debt around Rs. 250 billions. Gas loadshedding can not end soon too unless Pak-Iran gas pipeline project is not completed which seems difficult due to American      opposition .

One thing is very good for businesses that SPB has lowered discount rates by 200 basis points to 12% in few months and it seems probable that it will further reduce them. This will help create demand and more credit will be available to businesses by banks which will help growth in businesses.

Banking system in the country has developed a lot now as they are fully automated now and online banking facilities are provided now around the globe. Some banks have also opened their branches abroad. Telecommunication facilities are increased and teledensity is increasing rapidly which is very useful for businesses.

In spite of difficulties investment by companies from abroad and from locals have proven profitable and that's encouraging for others.

Flower shops in Lahore

Main wholesale market of flowers in Lahore is at Sukh Nain Chowk on Saghian Road . Retail flower shops in Lahore are located near Liberty market where famous Karachi Partha Roll is located. You can also find fresh flowers / bouquet at Regal Chowk , Mall road. Some shops can also be found near Paikhaywal Moor and individual shops at scattered places around the city.

Pakistan foreign trade

 Pakistan has decided to further liberalise its trading regime with her neighbouring countries especially India under the cover of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) in order to increase trade, growth and prosperity in the region.
As part of this, the commerce ministry on Wednesday announced to reduce the number of items from the sensitive list under Safta signed on January 6, 2004 between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka .
Under Safta the member states have agreed to maintain a list of some items which they do not want to consider for duty reduction on its trading with other nations.
However, Pakistan announced to reduce the list of sensitive items in a bid to move for more South Asian integration at least on trade  level if not politically at the moment .
An official press note of the commerce ministry of Pakistan sought feedback  by October 19 from all stakeholders over the list of items that were identified to be removed from the sensitive list .
“We have identified 233 tariff lines to be removed from the list. As a result, the number of items in Pakistan’s sensitive list will reduce to 936 tariff lines from existing 1169,” the note said.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral M Asif Sandila took charge as 19th CNS

6th Oct , 2011: President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed ,
 HI(M) M. Asif Sandila as new Chief of the Naval Staff upholding the principal of seniorityHe is the 19th Chief of Pakistan Navy.

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

Government of Pakistan has not retained Ijaz Butt as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and has appointed Zaka Ashraf to replace him.
Zaka who is a senior banker, will take over as PCB chairman with immediate effect, replacing Ijaz Butt who completed his three-year tenure on Oct. 8, 2011, Pakistan’s Presidency said.

Senate Elections in Pakistan , March 2012

The upper house of the Parliament in Pakistan is called Senate. The senators are elected for six years term and every three years half get retired and new ones elected , therefore Senate is a permanent body. Every bill must have to be passed by Senate to become law except the money bill and the budget. The importance of the Senate is that it gives equal representation to all federating units. 
 The next senate elections will be held in March, 2012. Dr Tahir  Javed, whose ‘advice’ to Punjab Chief Minister to dissolve the provincial legislature was the hottest subject of discussions during the past 24 hours, says he had not taken his Unification Bloc or the PML-N leadership into confidence. 
His suggestion has infuriarated PPP leadership who is hoping a good victory in next senate elections because if Punjab assembly is dissolved then Senate election can not be held for the time being .
Election for senate will be held on 2nd March,2012 for 54 vacant seats.
Total senate seats          104
For each province            17
For federal capital           02
For minorities                  04

Lahore Development Authority , new housing scheme announced

 The governing body of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has decided to launch a new housing scheme on  4,361 kanals of land  in Lahore.
The scheme will be developed along the road linking Khayaban-i-Jinnah and Defence roads. Presided over by DCO and LDA Chairman Mr. Ahad Cheema, the body meeting on Monday approved remodelling of the Model Town Link Road from Maulana Shaukat Ali Road to Pace shopping centre as well . The dual carriageway with service roads and parking provision on both sides will be built at a cost of Rs187 million.
The authority decided to auction off 49 plots of Venus Housing Scheme to generate revenue and complete development work in the scheme. Schedule of the auction will be announced later. The authority approved construction of incomplete roads in the scheme at a cost of Rs30  million.

Chairman NAB

President Asif Ali Zardari has recommended  Admiral Fasih Bukhari for the post of Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and has written letters to Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the House for their comments , Geo tv reported quoting Spokesman President House, Faratullah Baber.

Diamer-Bhasha dam , Pakistan’s biggest hydro-electric power project

 Diamir-Bhasha dam , the project is estimated to cost $12 billion and generate 4,500MW of electricity. The govt took it to the inter-provincial Council of Common Interests and got  approval and now its foundation-stone would be laid on Oct 18 , 2011.

The dam’s generation capacity will surpass the country’s present highest of over 3,400MW from Tarbela Dam. Tarbela is losing its storage its storage capacity due to silting so an other big dam was also a need of the hour for both electricity generation and irrigation.