Posts by Noc Team | HiPakistan

Bilawal Bhutto returns to Pakistan

Bilawal, who heads the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as chairman is returning back to home in September after finishing his studies at Oxford University.

While conversation with President Asif Ali Zardari, he said that Bilawal will need quite some time to familiarize himself with the political environment before effectively assuming the political responsibility and party mantle. Under the Oxford University rules, Bilawal stayed away from active politics, but the restriction will end in September this year when he will come back to Pakistan.

Bilawal would turn 23 on September 20 this year and would need another two years to attain the minimum age of 25 to contest election to the National Assembly for a bigger political role. The next parliamentary polls are due in early 2013 if all goes well.

Nawaz Sharif support to Shahid Afridi

Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister and head of Pakistan Muslim League-N, has become a helping hand for Shahid Afridi when he said that PCB is not treated fairly with him. Talking to reporters at the Bagh-i-Jinnah Gymkhana ground here on Tuesday, Nawaz Sharif said under Afridi’s captaincy Pakistan had reached the semi-final of the last World Cup in India and as a bowler his performance was also impressive in that mega event.

Nawaz said that in the past some Pakistani cricketers had defamed the country and had the PCB taken timely action, the ICC would have stayed away. The PCB, he said, should be held accountable for its negligence.

Former Prime Minister has assured Afridi that he is not alone in this matter and PML-N will raise the voice for injustice with superstars.

Petrol and diesel shortage, citizens in trouble

Due to annul shutdown of Attock Refinery (ARL), which is the key supplier of petrol, diesel and other fuels in the region, the supplies have been cut to different cities. With this shortage the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) finally issued show cause notices to the oil companies on Tuesday asking them to resolve the issue and improve the stocks.

The oil companies have managed to maintain supplies to some selected places in Rawalpindi and the federal capital but vast majority of the pumps in northern Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa almost ran dry due to limited or negligible supply.

Shortage of petrol continues haunting citizens, forcing them, especially motorcyclists to search fuel in the severe hot days of summer. It is now about two weeks since people have been facing shortage of petrol at filling stations. Motorists have to face immense problems, especially during two weekly holidays of CNG. Long queues of vehicles are seen at filling stations where some supply of petrol is available.

A House Found on Mars

David Martines, an amateur American astronomer has observed a house or a kind of building on Mars Planet from a flyby of the Google Earth Mars explorer.

The observations of David are interesting – he has apparently seen a cylindrical object that would be around 700 feet long and 150 feet wide. His naming it ‘Bio Station Alpha’ is logical assuming that it either houses living beings or did so in the past if it has since been abandoned. Or – that someone had kept it there as a store to hold equipment. He has the co-ordinates and claims that anyone who has downloaded the Google Earth software can view it and draw his own conclusions.

NASA would certainly be pleased with this news and could get a sanction from the President of the USA to reactivate their efforts to land on Mars.

3-day Mango Expo 2011 in Hyderabad

Mango, “King of Fruits” is one of the most popular and loved fruits worldwide. The most popular commercial varieties – all different in colors and sizes, and each with a distinct flavor and taste – include Anwar Retol, Dasehri, Langra, Chaunsa, Sindhri, Saharni, Alphonso, Pairi, Fazli and Neelam.

The 3-day Mango Expo 2011 will be held in Hyderabad at Expo Center from June 23 to 25 under the auspices of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

A four member-delegation of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry Dr. M. Fareed Qasim, Saleem Arain, Zaheer Jan and Naeem Aslam visited Mirpurkhas Mango Exhibition and met with Sindh Agriculture Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah to seek his support.

The minister assured HCCI delegation of his full support. He also asked the Director General Agriculture Extension Hyderabad to provide full support to organizers of the Mango Expo 2011.

Enrolling of 1million children in Schools

As per orders of President Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh Government has prepared a comprehensive plan to ensure that 1 million children are enrolled in schools.

Provincial Minister of Information, Sharjeel Inam Memon, told that government has provided free of cost textbooks to some 4 million students. He told that in last 3 years 14,000 teachers have been appointed on merit in the province, 4,000 schools were provided all basic facilities and 0.4 million girls were provided funds, on monthly basis, to acquire education.

He informed that with cooperation of IBA (Sukkur), 4 community colleges in Dadu, Naushehroferoze, Jacobabad and Khairpur are being established and Cadet Colleges are being established in Mithi, Dadu, Benazirabad and Garhi Khuda Buksh. (PPI)

Afridi refused to appear before PCB disciplinary committee

Syed Ali Zafar, Lawyer of Shahid Afridi told media that Afridi will not appear as summoned before a PCB disciplinary committee on June 8 to face charges of violating a code of conduct.

He said that “The process followed by the PCB does not conform with the law as even under Pakistan’s constitution there is a right given to everyone to be heard before a case is decided,”

The PCB said Afridi violated the players’ code of conduct in announcing his retirement and suspended his central contract and revoked all no-objection certificates (NOCs) that would have allowed him to play abroad.

Zafar said the PCB had taken strict steps without giving Afridi a chance to tell his side of the story. Afridi also disagreed with the process of the disciplinary action.

Afridi said “I have never cared about the captaincy. I have played under a number of players. A lot of other senior players also feel humiliated by treatment from the PCB but they can’t stand and fight because of the central contract and many other things, but for me personal honour comes first”.

Reshuffling Marketing and Sales Heads in Mobilink

It would be surprised to know that two experts in their own field reshuffled to such departments in which they have no experience. From some reliable source Mobilink Management decided to shuffle its Marketing and Sales head.

Bilal Munir Sheikh, who is currently the vice president, marketing department, will be given the headship of sales department, while Jehanzeb Taj, who is currently heading the sales department will look after the marketing of Mobilink.

This decision is very surprising that Bilal Munir Sheikh is known for his expertise in marketing and brands, while Jehanzeb Taj’s strength is sales and with this development, they both will be heading their respective departments with almost no prior experience.

Some industry analysts said that Mobilink is probably trying to diversify the skill set of both the VP’s but such tries could be harmful in related decisions.

Supreme Court ordered PEMRA to issue License to GEO Super

Geo news reported that a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry today ordered Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to issue a broadcasting licence to Geo Super immediately and submit the compliance report in three days.

The Chief Justice during the hearing inquired as to what it was about the channel that still remained to be given a security clearance and how the other channels of Geo were running. Bench member Justice Tariq Pervez in his remarks said that security issues are more concerned with news channels but it is not understood that why it is considered security risk for sports channel.

Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the SHC had decided the case against PEMRA, but PEMRA was defying the decision. “Defying the court verdicts seems to have become a fashion these days,” he remarked.

On this, Abdul Jabbar said he, being an acting chairman of PEMRA, was not authorized to issue a license.

The Chief Justice, in reply, said: “Then you better go home and let the regular chairman take care of the affairs of PEMRA.”

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry warned PEMRA that it could be fined Rs500,000 per day for failing to issue the license.

Old Pakistan back in 1800-1900

Most of us have seen newly developed cities of Pakistan, but this time we have brought some old collection of picture of most well known places, lets see how many of you recognize the old picture in first seen. These pictures are more than 100 years old, I hope you will enjoy the collection and share with your friends.