Infrastructure Development in Pakistan

[Omar1984]

Islamabad: Jinnah Stadium

Beijing 2008 Torch

 

[Omar1984]

Quaid e Azam Stadium, Mirpur

National Hockey Stadium, Lahore

Multan Cricket Stadium

 

[Omar1984]

Grand Hyatt Tower Islamabad:

Updates on render and construction site:

One Constitution Avenue 25X2 (Grand Hyatt), Islamabad

Road to the site

 

[Omar1984]

New renders of center point karachi!

Updates:

 

[Omar1984]

100 more buses from next week

LAHORE - The Lahore Transport Company is all set to run 100 new Chinese buses in the City. They will start running from the next week. Another fleet of 250 buses is arriving in the City within one month, TheNation has learnt.

The Punjab government had entered into an agreement with different Chinese transport companies and had announced to ply 575 air-conditioned buses at various routes. It was learnt that all the buses would reach Lahore in this year.

The city during last four years of the Punjab government had witnessed severs shortages of public transport and only 250 buses were available at Lahore’s 54 routes against the need of about 2,000 buses.

But now the provincial government has accelerated the process of providing satisfactory transport facilities to the Lahorites and in other big cities of the province as well. About 60 new buses had already entered into the existing fleet of 250 in January.

An official of the LTC while talking to TheNation said that number of buses would cross 500 after April. He said that the different Chinese and Turkish companies were willing to invest in Lahore urban transport sector. One Chinese company is already plying buses in the City, he added. “The rout dimensions for the 100 new buses are yet to be finalised,” he said when asked at what routes buses would operate. The official told this scribe that the LTC had also planned to fix some buses for only female passengers in next fleet of buses.

Meanwhile, a separate statement issued by the LTC on Tuesday stated that fresh pilot project of Pink Bus Service was being implemented successfully for women. He said female students and working women were being facilitated through efficient and affordable service launched for them. More pink buses would ply on various routes of the city in order to cater the transport needs of female passengers, the statement added.

LTC Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassan while presiding over a meeting held to monitor Pink Bus Service operation said that the service was operating exclusively for women passengers and LTC enforcement wing had been directed to take action against those operators who were violating the policy designed for pink buses.

It is worth mentioning here that the LTC on the reports of misuses of pink buses by the male passengers had called the meeting to check the progress of the buses. Total three buses for females are plying on route number B-01, RA Bazaar to Saandha, route number B-33, Green Town to Railway Station, and route number B-22, Thokar Niaz Baig to Jallo Mor.

“The Chairman has directed the GM (enforcement) to take action against those who are acting against the objective for which the service was designed,” said the statement.

The meeting vowed the same buses would also be introduced on the rest of the route of the City.

It was stated that though there was demand from the citizens and the private transport companies to allow families and male aged passengers to avail the facility of pink bus when women passengers were not adequate on particular timing, the proposals are being discussed for developing the project on sound financial footing.


100 more buses from next week | The Nation

 

[Omar1984]

World Trade Center Islamabad:

World Trade Center construction site:

This is how World Trade Center Islamabad will look like when construction is complete inshAllah.

Updates:

 

[Omar1984]

Islamabad Gold Crest DHA


Render:

Updates:

 

[SHAMK9]

muslim town flyover's one side was opened for public yesterday

 

[Edevelop]

I think we should stop or reduce building road infrastructure now. its just waste of money. I mean only 10-20% of people in Pakistan have cars and that too mostly in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad. Just think about it, we could use this same amount of money on Metro/Subway rail networks. This initially should be our first step. At the end of the day what is more important? luxury (affordable for the rich only) or getting from point A to point B (for everyone)? Japan, China, and India have a big population and this is what they to do, an efficient/cheap/sustainable method.

 

[Omar1984]

Updates:

The fast-track growth of foreign retail franchises in Pakistan

Interior views of Dolmen Mall that will house several big brands such as Mango, Next and Debenhams. Hyperstar opened here a short while ago as well. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS


KARACHI: When Pizza Hut opened its first franchise in Pakistan in 1993, few were familiar with the concept of franchising. Soon it became a household name, and was followed by other fast food franchises. Many observers viewed these import-oriented luxuries in an underdeveloped country like Pakistan, with scepticism and considered it a waste of our precious foreign exchange. However, the trend of foreign retail outlets continues to expand into other products, services, and brands.

The press launching of the 200 years old British department store, Debenhams’ branch in Karachi earlier this month on 27,000 square feet space, at the upbeat Dolmen City Mall, was attended by important personalities, like, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Stephen Green and UK Cabinet Minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi. It appears to have pushed the retail franchising business to another level. The skeptics are turning into fans.

This will be the first international department store in Pakistan offering a complete range of product categories synonymous with Debenhams, including a full range of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, as well as, home, beauty and accessories. It is promised to be a truly world class shopping experience.

“I am very bullish on retail, not just for local but also foreign brands,” said Yasin Paracha, Managing Director, Team-A Ventures (Pvt) Ltd, which is the franchisee in Pakistan for Debenhams. “Foreign brands will perhaps give Pakistan that softer image we need; that we are normal people, with normal tastes and preferences and actually do drive in cars and wear western clothes! Furthermore, foreign brands will give the local brands the required positioning on the brand scene and will give customers the choice to decide where they want to spend their money.”

It is worth noting that before the fast food franchises, auxiliary industries like the home-delivery service and suppliers of quality poultry, meat etc, according to modern quality standards, hardly existed.

Paracha is very upbeat about the employment possibilities this presents. “This creates immense number of jobs; the average requirement per 1,000 square foot, of retail space is around six, which means Dolmen City, with a leasable area of 650,000 square feet will provide jobs to around 4,000 people! These will be mostly undergrads who might struggle to find good jobs in offices. Here they have the chance to work in a comfortable environment, look nice, and develop the discipline to deal professionally with customers. It also provides students the opportunity to work. Almost every teenager in the UK has worked in a retail environment.”
About government revenue and taxation, Mr. Paracha says, “This adds immense revenue, as most brands will progress towards declaring and paying taxes, they are too much ‘in your face’ to avoid it. Furthermore, instead of considering this as an outflow of foreign exchange, it actually saves it, as most people spend on shopping when they travel, they will convert to shopping within the country if they have the option and the right environment.”

Paracha does admit that there are still many challenges to changing perception about the high-end international retail outlets operating in Pakistan. “The challenges are lack of good quality retail space. Lack of expertise and training is probably our biggest challenge. People with good backgrounds do not consider retail a reputable or worthy profession, this too should change once students start to get involved, hence experiencing true retail at an early age. And of course lack of recognition of organised retail (which basically means good quality shops and products, and registered retailers who pay taxes) on a government level.” Paracha believes that taxation will increase once the process is made simpler. “We will pay for sure, but we need to know; how much, and how to pay. Last year alone, the Sales Tax policy changed so many times that we lost track!”

In the evolving world, if the rich who used to shop abroad start spending more within the country through these international franchises, it would not only retain foreign exchange but will also generate jobs and world class professional knowhow, besides enhancing our soft image in the world.

The contributor writes on socioeconomics and has a background in trading and exports in the private sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2012.


The fast-track growth of foreign retail franchises in Pakistan – The Express Tribune

Pakistan good place for British investment: HC

KARACHI: Adam Thomson, British High Commissioner to Pakistan promoted Pakistan as a good place for British businesses to make investments. Inaugurating UK beauty care retailer-Crabtree and Evelyn’s first store in Pakistan at Dolmen City Mall, Karachi he said, “Pakistan has the potential to be the primary target for all British brands who want to benefit from this relatively untapped market. We were delighted to work with Cosmo Group in helping Crabtree and Evelyn’s achieve this milestone”. They will be joining other British brands such as Next, Body Shop, Toni and Guy and Debenhams in bringing jobs and investment to Pakistan.

The UK government is fully committed to building on the bilateral trade relationship between our two countries. Encouraging more British companies, including those like Crabtree and Evelyn in the retail sector, to choose Pakistan, as an investment destination will be key to achieving this, he added. Director of Cosmo group, Fouad Sayeed said, “Opening of this facility is expected to not only enhance the friendly image of premium retail but also provide the emotional experience and aspiration to the consumers”. staff report


Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[VelocuR]

Amazing bridge in Sindh Province of Pakistan

Awesome, it reminds me a little of San Fransico bridge.

 

[Karachiite]

^^
Thanks to the British.

 

[VelocuR]

^^
Thanks to the British.

Yes, Lansdowne Bridge Rohri was completed construction in 1889, almost two hundred years.

 

[Musalman]

Yes, Lansdowne Bridge Rohri was completed construction in 1889, almost two hundred years.

123 years not two hundred

 

[Omar1984]

Karachi: