Infrastructure Development in Pakistan

[Muhammad Omar]

Karachi Trade and Commodities Centre in Bahria Town Karachi


Bahria Town Karachi introduces ‘Karachi Trade and Commodities Centre‘, spread on 2000 Acres, Pakistan’s first Purpose Built.

For the first time in Pakistan, opportunity to conduct business in an insured and state-of-the-art modern facility where you will have peace of mind and security, world class infrastructure and uninterrupted supply of electricity because your betterment and prosperity is directly related to the success of growth of Karachi and Pakistan.

New and Improved Joria Market, Cloth Market, Medicine Market, Timber Market, Electronics Market, Super Market, and other Wholesale Markets. Ideal Location with 2km from Bahria Town Karachi on Karachi Superhighway, close to the planned Karachi Lahore Motorway (M9). Inspired from Dubai Trade Zones and China Commodity City (Yiwu)




KTCC Salient Features:

* Off Dock Terminal - To ensure success and to ease the import/export, facility for customs, clearing, and forwarding

* Metro Bus - Complete Transport System. Through public and private partnership, connecting the project to all major areas of the city

* World-Class Security - Complete gated zone, Foolproof Security System, CCTV Cameras, and all Modern Security Systems

* International Exhibition Centre - To showcase products to local and international buyers

* Complete Emergency Services - Fire Brigades and Ambulances

* Warehouse and Storage - Equipped with all modern facilities

* Complete Insurance - All Shops will be completely insured

* Constructed Shops - With Bahria Town build quality

* Banks - With facility of Lockers



Benefits of Affiliation with Bahria Town Karachi

This zone will be affiliated with Bahria Town Karachi where complete lifestyle facilities and services are being provided. Pakistan’s first 27 Hole PGA Standard Golf Course, International Standard Theme Park, Night Safari, Food Street, School, University, Hospital, Shopping Mall and Gold Class Cinema.

Possession of Bahria Town Karachi ahead of schedule in a record time of 8 months only is a testament Bahria Town’s promise to deliver.


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Recently built cardiology hospital named as Wazirabad Cardiology Hospital 2nd largest hospital of cardialogy after punjab cardiology hospital lahore

Kinara Resort Wazirabad on the bank of Chanab

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Akbar Resort chanab river Wazirabad

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Rawalpindi institute of Urology

 

[Edevelop]

Rawalpindi and Islamabad:

World Trade Center

One Constitution Towers

Metro Bus Station in islamabad almost completed

68 Metro Buses for Rawalpindi and Islamabad

 

[Edevelop]

Faisalabad:

Paradise Valley Phase II

Development work of Citi Housing

Construction of Underpass at Gatwalla Chowk

New Lights installed in Food Street

Preparations of Bagh e Jinnah Garden

Tuftiles work on shoulder of Airport Link Road

 

[Edevelop]

Lahore:

Airport Expansion

PU Link Road and Bicycle Lane

Cladding Resumes on Kayre Hotel

Serena Hotel and Hyatt Pace Cirlce U/C

Ring Road

 

[Edevelop]

Aviation:

PIA's first ATR-72 in Toulouse, France for flight tests

PM launches Civil Aviation Policy

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday launched the Civil Aviation Policy 2015, saying said that the government is undertaking measures for multi-dimensional development of the country.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Sharif said the civil aviation industry plays an important role in economic growth but the sector remained neglected in the past and the present policy has come after 15 years.

The prime minister said this is one of the finest policies of civil aviation incorporating good features of modern policies. He described it as liberal, forward looking and progressive policy taking care of many problems, including those facing PIA.

He said PIA has to become a modern airlines and he has given directions to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to provide it necessary finances and resources for the purpose. He, however, said PIA should make a distinction between bad and good people if it has to move forward.

Sharif said Pakistan needs new airports and modern facilities at the existing ones. He said Karachi airport is presently meeting our requirements but there is need for expansion of Lahore airport. He pointed out that Lahore airport becomes congested if three flights land simultaneously. With this in view, he has given directions for its expansion on both sides. The airport will have a separate terminal for domestic passengers.

The prime minister said the present government inherited numerous challenges, including reviving the economy. Economic indicators are getting better and he was giving more attention to resolve the energy crisis, he added.

Sharif said he never gave any deadline for addressing the issue but in view of projects being undertaken by the government the menace of load shedding would be over by the end of its tenure.

He referred to 3,600 MW to be produced through LNG, 1,000 MW from Neelum Jhelum to be completed by the end of next year, Guddu 500 MW and another 1400 MW from Tarbela-4 and said the current shortages would be taken care of by the end of 2017.

The prime minister asked investors to start building their factories and there would be no energy problem by the time these factories are completed.

He said the government was also trying to fix the law and order problem in Karachi, which is business hub of the nation. He said it is his objective to make Karachi a crime free city and necessary resources are being provided for the purpose.

Addressing the ceremony, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar assured investors that the new policy would revolve around the principle of taxing the revenue and not the capital investment. He said this philosophy would be reflected in the coming budget.

The finance minister said the aviation policy is robust, investment friendly and shows road map for development of civil aviation in the country.

Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad airports to be outsourced

ISLAMABAD: Three large airports of Pakistan — Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad — will be outsourced as per the new National Aviation Policy-2015.

The policy prepared under the directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, by his Special Assistant Captain Shujaat Azeem and Federal Secretary Aviation Division Muhammad Ali Gardezi with the consultation of all the stakeholders will be announced tomorrow (Friday) in Islamabad.

The News has learnt the salient features of the new National Aviation Policy. These are that the investment in the aviation sector of the country will be exempted from tax. However, tax will be levied on revenues. An SRO in this regard will be included in the Finance Bill for the financial year 2015-2016.

First, the Lahore International Airport will be outsourced through a transparent process. An Open Sky Policy will be maintained but on a reciprocal basis. The Northern Sector’s airports of Gilgit, Skardu and Chitral will be outsourced to the private sector for the promotion of management tourism.

Two cargo villages will be set up in north and west for export of Pakistani fruits and vegetables. It has been decided to increase paid investment for airline operators from Rs100 million to Rs500 million. Chief operating officers will be deputed to airports.


Anti-terrorism exercise performed at New Multan International Airport

Air Blue Announces Flights between Islamabad and Multan

 

[Tacticool]

Keeping in view the riots ratio in Pakistan. The metro station design is really wrong. One stone fron an angry protestor and you get a deformed station left.

 

[خره مينه لګته وي]

Digital payments: NFC-enabled vending machines arrive in Pakistan

Karachi : Wavetec – a Pakistani technology company headquartered in Dubai – is launching the country’s first Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled vending machines in April 2015 in a move that would promote the digital payment solution.

Though vending machines were introduced in mature markets more than a century ago, Wavetec – which specialises in Queue Management and Financial Display solutions – is the first Pakistani company to manufacture and launch the NFC-supported vending machines in the country, according to its officials.

From its frame to software applications, the machine has been developed by Wavetec at its Karachi office, said officials. Having a height of six feet, a three-foot width and three-and-a-half-foot length (depth), these made-in-Pakistan vending machines have the capacity to hold 350 items – snacks and beverages – and operate on NFC technology.

A form of contactless communication, NFC enables users to wave over their smartphones or tap their plastic cards to an NFC-enabled vending machine, which then dispenses the item selected by the user.

“As evident from the statistics of plastic cards, use of electronic money is limited in the country so we wanted to create an avenue for digital payments,” said Wavetec’s Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Fraz told The Express Tribune at his Karachi office.

The electronics major from NED University of Engineering and Technology said that Wavetec’s vending machines will provide a platform to tap the unexplored market of digital payments in Pakistan.

Referring to what he terms as an inefficient system [cash-based transactions], the CEO said the cost of printing and moving currency – paper money and coins – is extremely high.

“If you convert atoms to bits, it can bring big efficiency to the [payment] system,” said Fraz, adding that “Pakistan is ready for this transition.”

Routes to enter the market

Since youth is quick to adapt to new technology, the company will start the rollout from educational institutes and corporate offices, Marketing Strategist Salman Arif says, and later expand it to other public places like hospitals, railway stations and airports.

The company will install up to 10 machines in the launching phase starting from Institute of Business Administration, Asian Institute of Fashion Design, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology and the headquarter of the United Bank Limited. It plans to add 20 to 30 machines every month and take the total to 200 machines by the end of 2015 and 1,000 machines in two years, said officials.

“The machines will operate on both NFC cards and a smartphone app at the time of launch,” said Wavetec Corporate Strategy Manager Saim Shibli Ehtesham.

How it works

It takes a couple of minutes to do a transaction, said Ehtesham, giving a demo as he tapped his card to the machine’s NFC device – installed below an LED screen on the top-right of the six-feet tall structure. He then inserted a hundred-rupee bill to top up the card and selected a soda can from the menu – he pressed the button and the item was dispensed, for which he got an immediate confirmation through a text message on his mobile phone.

However, one doesn’t need to use cash unless he runs out of balance on the pre-paid card. Users will also be able to top up their NFC cards directly through their bank account. The company plans to go cashless in the future by replacing cash with ATM cards. In fact, they don’t plan to restrict its use to snacks and beverages only.

“Going forward, we also plan to introduce a payment mechanism for mobile phone top ups through these machines,” said Ehtesham adding that they are currently in talks with Cellular Mobile Operators.

About 60% to 65% of the country’s population is young and cellular teledensity is very high, according to Fraz.

“Almost everyone has a phone and soon everyone will have a smartphone,” he said. “With this kind of power in your hand, you will see major changes in the digital payment system.”

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Wind power: NTDCL signs agreements

Lahore : National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDCL) has signed Direct Agreement to the Energy Purchase Agreements with three wind power producers and their lenders having total capacity of 129.5MW power.

NTDCL Managing Director Mohammad Arshad Chaudhary Engineer, signed the agreements with 30MW Tapal Wind Energy Private Limited, 49.5MW Master Wind Energy Limited and 50MW Gul Ahmed Wind Power Limited with the approval of the NTDCL Board of Directors (BoD). The wind power plants will be installed in Thatta and commencement of power generation is likely by the end of 2016..

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SALIENT FEATURES of National Aviation Policy 2015:
(i) Minimum paid-up capital requirement for airlines increased from Rs. 100 million to Rs. 500 million;
(ii) Minimum fleet of 3 airworthy aircraft fixed for domestic and 5 for international operations;
(iii) Maximum aircraft age at time of induction fixed at 12 years;
(iv) Aircraft to be retired upon reaching age of 20 years;
(v) Maximum wet-lease period increased from 90 to 180 days; (vi) Wet-leased aircraft cannot exceed more than 50% of airline fleet.

The Express Tribune

 

[Sulman Badshah]

Digital payments: NFC-enabled vending machines arrive in Pakistan

seen them in ISB stock exchange

 

[Edevelop]

2 x 2.5 Megawatt Hydel Power Projects at Chashma.

Nuclear plants capacity will likely be around 40,000MW by 2050, says Dr Ansar Pervaiz

KARACHI: Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) on its long-term strategy devised to overcome energy crisis said under Nuclear Power Vision, overall production of nuclear power would be raised to 40,000 megawatts (MW) by 2050 by setting up nuclear power plants across Pakistan.



Chairman of PAEC Dr Ansar Pervaiz highlighting long-term strategy ‘Nuclear Power Plants and K-2/K-3 Project’ at Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday said Karachi Nuclear Power Plant, Chashma Nuclear Power Unit-1 and Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2 were producing a total of 755 MW of nuclear power which would be raised to 3,535 MW by 2021 on completion of under construction C-3, C-4, K-2 and K-3 projects.



After 2021, PAEC will be focusing on commencing construction work on at least one Nuclear Power Plant project every year in order to achieve desired targets, he added.



With construction of K-2 and K-3 projects, 10,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created whereas annual financial impact will be Rs 10 billion and 10 million gallons of desalinated water per day will also be produced on completion of this project by 2021, he said.



K-2 and K-3 projects were based on Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) concept and a total of 279 PWRs were operating around the world including two in Pakistan. Many safety features have been added to meet enhanced safety targets of new generation (Gen III) of reactors, he added.



Pakistan’s first nuclear power plant-Karachi Nuclear Power Plant was established in 1972 and more than 42 years of its safe operation has provided confidence to pursue nuclear power option. The Chashma Nuclear Power Plants Unit-1 and Unit-2 built with assistance of China were also operating successfully, he added.



Highlighting overall global scenario of nuclear power production, he informed China has taken lead as construction of 25 nuclear power plants was underway followed by 9 nuclear power plants in Russia, 6 in India, 5 in United States and 4 in Pakistan.



20 new engines to be inducted in Pakistan Railways: Saad

Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has said twenty new engines will be inducted in Pakistan Railways to improve its performance.

He was talking to newsmen after inauguration of repaired and refurbished locomotives at Mughalpura in Lahore on Saturday.

He said that the PML(N) government is committed to convert Pakistan Railways into one of the best institutions of the country providing speedy and safe traveling facilities to the masses.

The Minister said black boxes have been installed in the railway engines.

To a question, Khawaja Saad Rafique said work is in progress to construct housing units for Railway employees.


Medical devices to be brought under government regulation

SLAMABAD: For the first time in Pakistan, medical devices such as cardiac stents, valves and pacemakers are coming under comprehensive regulatory control after the notification of Medical Device Rules (MDR) 2015.

According to the rules, a Medical Device Board will be established which would be responsible for the registration of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), licensing of manufacturing units and registration of medical devices. The board will also regulate import and export of these devices.

CABs are companies which have expertise in judging quality parameters of medical devices. Manufacturers register their products with CABs to prove compliance with international standards.

Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) Secretary Ayub Sheikh told Dawn the rules have been promulgated with immediate effect however practical implementation is likely to take some time.

An official of the ministry of NHS said the purpose of the regulatory body is to protect public health by providing safe and effective medical devices. It would also help in countering the alarming increase in blood born infectious diseases such as Aids, hepatitis B and C, viral hemorrhagic fever and septicemia, he said.

“The regulation will protect people from unsafe, non functional, sub-standard, spurious and fake medical devices and prevent the reuse of disposable devices. Moreover promulgation of the rules would prevent illegal import, helping in ensuring safe devices and income from import duties,” he said.

The official said that the Medical Device Rules have been made in accordance with guidelines by the World Health Organization (WHO). Moreover, health experts and other stake holders including federal ministries, health departments and private medical sector were consulted, he said.

“The rules cover procedures for registration of medical devices and CABs, licensing, classification and grouping of the devices, post market surveillance, import and export, labeling requirements, advertisement and other issues,” he said.

The promulgation of these rules has put Pakistan ahead of its neighbours including India and Bangladesh, with regards to regulatory mechanisms for medical devices. However, the rules for regulation of medical devices were introduced by the United States as early as 1976.

A Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) official, requesting anonymity, said that over one million medical devices which include spectacles, cardiac stents, pacemakers, laparoscopy machines, laboratory and clinical machines, machines used in manufacturing of drugs would be regulated through these rules.

“Substandard medical devices can give wrong readings and test results while poor quality devices put inside the body such as cardiac stents, valves, pacemaker and plates used to join broken bones can cause infection and death,” he said.

According to the notification, dated March 9, there is a grace period for gradual implementation of the rules so that there is no shortage of life saving medical devices in the market.

Companies have been instructed to register their products with the CABs within six months. High risk (class D) devices will be regulated after one year, high moderate risk devices (class C) in 18 months, moderate low risk (class B) and low risk (class A) will be monitored after two years.

Drap Chief Executive Officer Dr Muhammad Aslam told Dawn that surgical instruments fall in class A, syringes in class B, instruments used on or under the skin fall in class C and devices which are put inside the body such as cardiac stents fall in class D.

“At the moment anyone travelling from abroad can bring medical devices and supply them to the hospitals. These devices may be substandard but Drap never receives information about the quality of these products. Only proper importers and manufacturers should be allowed to import devices,” he said.

The Drap chief further said Pakistani companies exporting medical devices would also need to be registered.

He said that the Medical Device Board will be established soon, with a director as head of the board and representation of all stakeholders. “However, a final decision will be made in the meeting of the policy board,” he said.

Since 1976, the Ministry of Health was only regulating pharmaceutical drugs and a limited number of medical devices such as syringes, stents, and catheters were also registered as drugs.

The need for regulating medical devices was felt by the government in 1996 when it was realised that reuse of syringes was causing diseases such as hepatitis to spread.

When the government attempted to regulate the syringes market, manufacturers obtained a stay order from courts which remained in place, for over a decade.

Published in Dawn March 20th, 2015


PM announces Sialkot-Lahore expressway

SIALKOT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while addressing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sialkot on Saturday, announced plans for building a Sialkot-Lahore expressway.
"Progress has always been made in democratic times. In dictatorships, the country was pushed backward," the premier said, in reference to former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The premier also held a question and answer session with traders and businessmen present at the conference and addressed their concerns. He added that the whole country will benefit from investments in Sialkot.

PM Nawaz said he aims to eliminate power shortages in Pakistan. He added that in 1999, electricity was available in abundance.

"We are purchasing 4,000 megawatts of electricity from China, and creating 7,000 megawatts from ongoing projects," the premier said. He also said that planning for a reduction in electricity price is also under way.

While talking about the operation in Karachi, the premier explained that the operation is not against any organisations.

"The Karachi operation is against criminals only," PM Nawaz explained.

He further said that the government will only rest after gun-culture is eliminated from the country, adding that it is the government's responsibility to make Karachi and the rest of the country peaceful.

PM Nawaz was received at the Sialkot airport by members of the national and provincial assemblies, said a report published on Radio Pakistan. He was accompanied by Minister of Defence, Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

 

[Edevelop]

Reconstruction of Karakoram Highway

U/C bridge at Ayeenabad (Shishkat), Gojal. On completion, this bridge along with a number of tunnels will be part of the realigned Karakuram Highway, which is being developed as an alternate after the Attabad Landslide caused submergence and destruction of a stretch of the old KKH.

U/C Tunnel between Attabad and Ayeenabad (Shishkat).

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Pakistan to construct motorway from Peshawar to Kabul

ISLAMABAD – Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan Syed Abrar Hussain on Monday said that Pakistan had planned to construct a motorway from Peshawar to Kabul and a feasibility study about the project would soon be commissioned.

Ambassador expressed these views after hoisting National flag on the occasion of National Day at the Pakistan embassy in Kabul. He said that the motorway project will not only improve connectivity between the two neighbours and Central Asian States but would also bring economic prosperity to Afghanistan, said a press release.

He also underscored the need for intensifying bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of trade, economy, culture and defence. He said that Pakistan attached utmost significance to its ties with the brotherly country and would like to see a strong, stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

Talking to efforts to enhance trade with Afghanistan, the ambassador said that Pakistan had removed several trade impediments so as to facilitate and encourage bilateral trade. He stated that Pakistan had executed various projects in health, education and infrastructure sectors in Afghanistan which would tremendously benefit the Afghan people.

Pakistan day was celebrated in the Embassy of Pakistan, Kabul, with great enthusiasm and national fervor to commemorate the passage of historical Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940 which played a vital role in determing the destination of the Muslims of sub-continent. The Pakistan Day ceremony started with national anthem and hoisting of flag by the Ambassador.

Addressing the participants, he highlighted the historical significance of the day and paid tributes to the founding fathers who had rendered immense sacrifices for achieving a separate homeland. He said that the Pakistan's Resolution of 23rd March 1940 laid the foundation stone of an independent country.

He also paid homage, in his address, to the Father of Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, whose relentless struggle led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947. The ceremony was attended by members of Pakistani community including educationists, engineers, doctors, senior executives and businessmen.

CDA handed over Kashmir Highway extension project to NHA from Golra Morr to G.T Road & New Islamabad International Airport. After complete, this highway will have 10 lanes from Zero point to new airport. An interchange also include in this project in Golra Morr.

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Most of these images are over two months old but have a look at these doors. Spanish Engineers came over to help

Now I guess these things attached outside must be the electronic systems which will sense when a bus is coming

 

[Muhammad Omar]

 

[Muhammad Omar]