Rawalpindi Mega Road Construction Project starting soon
The development authority has approved the construction of at least three major roads in the city with an estimated amount of Rs 1.17 billion.
According to the Authority, the construction and maintenance of Airport Road, Adiala Road and High Court Road was approved by Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).
These projects would be the second major construction work in Rawalpindi ever since Metro Bus Project was initiated earlier this year. Although Adiala Road is in a good condition even right now but it will be widened and make a two-way passage. Likewise, the High Court Road and Airport Road had have underwent maintenance few times before as well.
Gas-based power projects: Plan to add 2,600MW to grid before summer
Energy Boos: 28% additional power will be added to the national grid by the Nandipur, Guddu and Quaid-eAzam Solar Park projects. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
As Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf continues to ramp up pressure, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) -led government has decided to add 2,600 megawatt (MW) of electricity to the national grid through gas-based power projects to placate the public before the next summer.
The power load-shedding and high electricity prices have been a major concern for the masses, which are still facing worst power crisis despite decrease in demand due to diversion of gas from power plants to powerful lobbies of the textile industry.
Under the agreements, the textile units are supposed to get gas for nine months but now they are getting gas supply for the entire year due to the intervention of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
However, sources in Ministry of Water and Power said Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE), in its November 21 meeting held under the chairmanship of the PM, gave the nod to gas-based projects for adding 2,600 MW of energy to the system by April 15, 2015.
According to sources, the prime minister was informed that the additional 2,600 MW electricity will be produced through 325mmcfd LNG allocations, on-site power generation through raw gas and short-term LNG power projects. It was also decided that the excess LNG would be given to the CNG industry.
It was also proposed that 3,600 MW be generated by use of 600mmcfd LNG as permanent solution. Under this programme, six power plants with capacity of 600MW each will be installed. After completion of the programme, it will become possible to overcome the energy woes of the country.
Sources said the PM is also actively pursuing Clean Affordable Reliable Energy (CARE) programme, which will add 2,600 MW of power to the existing system, which currently has a generation capacity of 21,000 MW.
During the meeting, the premier was told that after their completion, CARE programme, Nandipur, Guddu and Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park power projects will add 28% additional power to the national grid and load shedding will reduce significantly.
The CCE was told that negotiations were underway with Chinese investors to set up coal-based power plants in the country. The meeting was further informed that Chinese leadership had conveyed the importance of completion of power projects by 2017.
The prime minister advised to take up the issues of power projects with Chinese counterpart very carefully. He emphasised that every effort must be made not to disappoint the Chinese, whose biggest concern was the security of their manpower in Pakistan.
The PM also categorically directed to complete energy projects on fast track basis by overcoming all impediments.
Pak-China Economic Corridor to help all
Pakistani and Chinese leadership have reached an understanding for investment to facilitate road and railway links, said Xinjiang province influential personality Yuan Jianmin STOCK IMAGE
ISLAMABAD: The establishment of the Pak-China Economic Corridor would upgrade the border regions of both countries by connecting Gwadar port to the northwestern region of Xinjiang via highways, railways and pipelines.
This was stated by Yuan Jianmin, an influential personality of the Xinjiang province of China, while speaking on the topic “Pak-China Relations: Pak-China Economic Corridors” at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML).
“The Pak-China Economic Corridor isn’t aimed to undermine the interests of any country,” said Yuan, who holds portfolios of deputy secretary general at the China Council for International Investment Promotion, vice chairman of the Xinjiang International Chamber of Commerce, China among others.
Yuan said that the idea of connecting different countries of the region with one common route was quite old. Different programmes had been proposed at different times. American Foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton, during her visit to India in 2011, floated the idea of an economic zone, Russia president proposed the idea of Euro-Asia silk route, while Japan extended the concept of Asian Silk route for the region, he added.
He reiterated that Pakistani and Chinese leadership held a number of meetings and reached an understanding for the investment of billions of dollars to facilitate road and railway links between the two countries, energy and power provision, development of telecom, trade, livestock, export of sea food to China and many other products between the two countries, he said.
Government is all set to indigenously produce drone aircraft
Pakistan is all set to indigenously produce drones capable of carrying missiles, as the programme to develop unmanned aircraft is expected to be completed within coming months. Talking to
Business Recorder at IDEAS 2014, Faisal Jahanzeb, developer of drones from Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS), a premier defence company of Pakistan, said that they had been working on drone technology for a decade and now Pakistan had finally developed indigenous drone technology, which could be compared with any developed nation including United States of America.
"Presently, drone technology is being used for surveillance and development of unmanned aircraft carrying missiles is in final stage, which is expected to be completed in coming months," he added. He said that GIDS had developed tactical UAV system of multiple ranges with autonomous take-off and landing and added that it carried various types of payload integrated for reconnaissance and day and night surveillance.
Moreover, Faisal said that other features of tactical UAV system include accurate lateral, longitudinal trajectory control, mission planning, management and control, geo referencing and geo-pointing for terrestrial targets. He said that for day and night surveillance, GIDS had developed highly stabilised system 'Zumr-1 (EP), which was low in weight and small in size.
Zumr-1 (EP) has the capability to track targets either person, land or any moveable objects from the height of 20000 feet besides sending real time video and telemetry through infrared from 250km distance, he added. He answered that two different types of technologies - target the object through chip and laser guided target were being used in unmanned armed aircrafts. He claimed that GIDS was working on both technologies and in next few months, Pakistani drones would be capable to carry missiles and used for combat.
Improving relation: Switzerland looks to harness Pak potential
$72m is the value of Pakistan’s exports to Switzerland in financial year 2014, while imported goods were worth almost $678 million. CREATIVE COMMONS
KARACHI: Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Switzerland Roger Kull has said that Pakistan with a population of more than 190 million consumers holds a huge potential but this largely remains untapped as this can only be realised in a positive investment climate.
“Substantial improvements have to be achieved in key areas such as security, good governance and energy supply,” he said while speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
Kull appreciated the tireless efforts being made by the Swiss Consulate in Karachi under the supervision of Consul General Emil Wyss, who was also present in the meeting, in strengthening trade relations between the two countries.
He was of the view that economic ties between Pakistan and Switzerland were built on solid ground and the volume of trade between the two countries has been significant in recent years.
He noted that currently 24 companies are operating successfully in Pakistan with a substantial stake in the economy whereas this year, two more Swiss-based multinational companies Mövenpick and Givaudan have entered Pakistan.
He also said that besides trade, Switzerland was also associated with Pakistan through its aid related activities via Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) since 1966. Until 1980, SDC supported vocational education and training in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, community village development and hydropower.
“In the 90s, the focus was shifted to assisting small enterprises, sustainable land usage, community infrastructure and human rights. Today, we are more concentrating our efforts on the northern part of the country, particularly Fata and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,” he added.
Ariel view of Jhimpir wind Far
Ariel view of Jhimpir wind Far
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