2nd edition of Made in Pakistan to be held in September

By Syed Sajid Aziz
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The 2nd Edition of “Made in Pakistan” exhibition is scheduled to be held in Mumbai from August 31 to September 5, 2014. This was announced by the Chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Arshad Aziz, during a press conference at PRGMEA House in Karachi on May 3. 

He disclosed said that following overwhelming response from the Pakistan exhibitors and Indian buyers at the 1st Edition of MIPEM 2014 held from April 3-7, 2014 at World Trade Centre, Mumbai, PRGMEA in collaboration with Evecon they have scheduled to hold the 2nd edition of ‘Made in Pakistan Expo Mumbai’ from August 31- September 5, 2014 at the World Trade Centre Mumbai, India. 

Arshad Aziz said that Pakistani exhibitors made an estimated sale of Rs400 million in just five days. He said that as many as Rs200 million’s contract were also signed by the exhibitors while one of the brand “Khaadi” is negotiating to open up its outlet in Mumbai while some spice manufacturers has decided to appoint its dealer due to massive demand of Pakistani spices in India. 

He revealed that the no untoward incident was happened and everything sailed on smoothly, adding that the 2nd Edition of MIPEM 2014 (from 31st August to 5th September 2014) will help Pakistani products in fetching world’s largest consumer markets. 

It will introduce high quality Pakistani products infused with rich culture to Indian business community and people at large and at the same time provide top Pakistani enterprises with a platform to meet Indian authorities and discuss trade-related issues. 

The main feature of the event and my thrust would be on arranging meetings of our exhibitors with their Indian counterparts so that they could procure long-term export orders especially for the readymade garments and other fabrics that’s why the PRGMEA has initiated this venture and is trying to establish this event as a regular feature in India. 

He said that India remained a lucrative market for Pakistani garments and textile made-ups. Maximum B2C and B2B meetings between the Pakistani exhibitors and manufacturers with Indian buyers would be arranged, so that Pakistani exhibitors could avail maxim benefit of the event. He said that the event is being organized in collaboration with EVECON at Mumbai’s World Trade Centre. 

He recalled that in the past, Made in Pakistan shows have been quite successful amongst the residents of Mumbai and the visitors’ turnout was enormous, estimated to be 18,000 to 20,000 footsteps daily, and the exhibitors returned satisfied to breakeven the expenditure the exhibitors will be allowed to spot sale.

Efforts to boost Pak-US trade to continue: Dodman

By Syed Sajid Aziz
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Consul General of the United States of America (USA) in Karachi, Michael Dodman, pointed out that his country was actively working on education, energy and health sectors in Pakistan and the focus is on capacity building rather than short term remedies. 

Talking to a delegation of Pakistan American Trade Expo 2014 at his office the diplomat said that USA would like to continue its support to foster the economy of Pakistan. The delegation comprised the Chief Executive Officer, Hasan Jalil, Resident Director, Naveed Anjum, and Director Marketing, Obaidullah Nadeem. 

“USA will do her all out efforts for providing full support to Pakistani businessmen for further improving the exports from Pakistan to USA,” adding that his country also desired an increase in its exports to Pakistan. He vowed to support the initiatives that help promote trade and investment relations between Pakistan and USA. 

Dodman appreciated the idea of the Pakistan American Trade Expo (PATE) 2014, which aims at bringing the business communities of the two countries together and provide a platform that, highlights tremendous opportunities for investment and bilateral trade expansion. 

The Consul General hoped that the event would be very successful and contribute to further strengthening the two-way trade. He assured of his full support and cooperation for the Expo 2014. 

Hasan Jalil, on the occasion, appreciated the Consul General’s support to the event and said that the PATE was striving to make the Expo 2014 a permanent platform to encourage a robust expansion in the bilateral trade and investment opportunities through discussion, exhibition and meetings between the entrepreneurs.

Pakistan to hold mango festival, single country exhibition in Malaysia

By Syed Sajid Aziz
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan High Commissioner to Malaysia, Syed Hasan Raza, has announced to promote Pakistan’s exports in Malaysia in a broader way and assist the business community to hold single country exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. 

Speaking at a seminar at FPCCI with the collaboration of Halal Association of Pakistan the other day, Hasan Raza also announced that Mango and Orange Festivals would also be held in Malaysia in order to promote Pakistan’s fruits’ export into Malaysia. 

The seminar was also addressed by the Chief Executive, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), S.M. Muneer and Kazi Asad Abid, Chairman Halal Products and Services Association of Pakistan (HPSAP). 

The High Commissioner highlighted the potential of fruits and vegetables, readymade garments and Halal products as his focus sectors. He also informed the initiatives he has taken for the promotion of Pakistan imports to Malaysia. 

S M Muneer, Chief Executive TDAP welcoming the High Commissioner appreciated his detailed presentation and informed the audience saying that he recently held a meeting with the Minister of Commerce and highlighted the importance of Pakistani foreign missions in promotion of exports. 

He said that he has taken up this matter with the ministry and a list would be updated of Pakistani foreign consulates / embassies officials which are not performing their duties as per the role assigned to them for the promotion of Pakistani exports. 

Kazi Asad Abid, Chairman HPSAP, recognized that Ambassador Hasan Raza has visited the FPCCI and Pakistan-Malaysia Business Council on the initiative of Founder and Senior Vice Chairman of Halal Association Asad Sajjad. 

He said that business community is well aware that for the last several years about the importance of halal branding and harmonization of standards, making efforts to bring Pakistan on the global map of Halal trade. 

He added that Ambassador Hasan Raza had also initiated and helped us organized the first Halal Trade delegation to Malaysia, under the leadership of then foreign minister. The delegation had literally opened Pakistan’s halal products export with Malaysia as most of the delegation members are now regular exporters to Malaysia. 

Kazi Asad Abid remarked that business community is very happy that Mr. Hasan Raza is now posted in Malaysia as the Ambassador and we are sure that he will do his best efforts to identify and create opportunities for our exporters to increase Pakistan’s exports to Malaysia for the Halal certified Food and non-food products. 

Appreciating the appointment of S M Muneer as the CE of TDAP, Kazi Asad assured the audience that HAP will organize similar lectures on regular basis, especially for the markets which are still not open for Pakistan, and would make efforts to resolve the issues and difficulties faced by the exporters under the dynamic leadership of S M Muneer, who hailed from the private sector and would be there for the promotion of exports.

China exposes Japanese massacre to foreign media

By Masood Sattar Khan in Beijing

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The horrifying massacre at the hands of Japanese carried out on innocent Chinese and using various tools to kill mass scale men, women and children were revealed to a group of foreign correspondents who visited Changchun and Harbin cities located in northeast of China recently. 

On the outskirts of Harbin, the Japanese Imperial forces established notorious Unit 731, the clandestine facilities comprising gas chambers, biological units, insinuators and special room where living human organs were chopped off mercilessly through saw and knives for medical research before throwing the bodies in burning chamber, Professor Jin Chengmin, Curator of the Museum of War Crime Evidence by Japanese Army Unit 731 said.

Unit 731 was a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base established in Harbin in 1935: the nerve center of Japan's biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during WWII, according to Prof. Jin having 25-year research experience under his belt.

He said that the retreating Japanese invaders blew up the base and infrastructure including hug housing, boiler units and other facilities when the Soviet Union army took Harbin in 1945.

Early in the 20^th century, the Japanese militarists flagrantly flouted the international convention, and clandestinely plotted a biological and chemical warfare in an attempt to realize the political ambition of dominating Asia and ultimately ruling the world.

Very quickly, such weapons were used in battlefield, making the Japanese militarists the most vicious, fascist, war criminal in human history, the journalists were told.

The Manchurian unit 731, which was entrenched in Ping Fang district, Harbine for 13 years was the nerve-centre of the Japanese militarists in executing the plot. Not only they conducted big scale germ weapons research, tests and production here, but also they used healthy human to conduct germ tests.

At least 3000 people were cruelly terminated in the laboratories from 1939 to 1945. During the whole germ-warfare, at least 300,000 people were slaughtered or maimed.

Forgetting about the history could mean betrayal. By exposing the criminal past of the Unit 731 China wants to preserve the fact in order to warn future generation. Let the history usher in peaceful, civilized and progress human society, and prevent recurrence of the historical tragedy.

Earlier in Changchun, the capital and the largest city of Jilin province Mu Zhanyi the curator of the Jilin Provincial Achieve briefed the journalists and shown archives comprising photos, letters and telephonic conversations of the Japanese soldiers.

Legendary poet Shaikh Ayaz remembered in Toronto

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

Pakistan News & Features Services

Shaikh Ayaz, a revolutionary and legendary poet was commended and highlighted at a literary gathering jointly organized by the Sindhi Adabi Sangat Canada and the Writers Forum.

Intellectuals and writers of Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi and Baluchi languages came together to share and discuss the works of South Asia’s intellectual giant Shaikh Ayaz who contributed his works in Sindhi, Urdu, English and other languages, and is considered an icon of Sindhi literature after Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, whose poetry and message of resistance against tyranny and dictatorships continues to resonate around the world.

Yousuf Shaheen, a legendary Sindhi intellectual, poet, writer and journalist in his address on the occasion from Pakistan through skype recited Shaikh Ayaz’s poetry.

He said that Shaikh Ayaz was a brave poet and writer who not only boosted the morale of progressive political struggles but also inspired other writers and intellectuals to become part of these movements meant for country’s true independence from tyranny.

Moonis Ayaz Shaikh, a respected Pakistani intellectual and son of Shaikh Ayaz also participated in the event through Skype along with his wife Sheeba Tabassum and shared the principles of Shaikh Ayaz’s philosophy. He congratulated the organizers for carrying the flag of Shaikh Ayaz’s message beyond the seven seas.

Moonis said that Shaikh Ayaz was a true son of soil who loved his nation and his land and also dreamt for the freedom and bright future of poor peasants and labourers and his struggle will continue until the tyranny and persecution is abolished.

Nuzhat Siddiqui, a Director and former President of the Writers Forum, opened the program and presented a detailed introduction and commentary on Shaikh Ayaz and his struggle in a thoughtful way which was lauded by all.

She said that though Shaikh Ayaz is no more with us physically but his presence is felt whenever a dictator comes up to deprive us from our rights. “We are fortunate to learn form a great poet and great revolutionary whose message of peace continues to win the hearts” she added.

Participating from Canada, Sindhi Adabi Sangat Canada’s Secretary Zulfiqar Shaikh came up with an audio visual presentation and commented on major themes of Shaikh Ayaz under the topic ‘Shaikh Ayaz, a legend, a revolutionary Poet.’

The presentation also included the heart rendering narration of poetry in Shaikh Ayaz’s own voice as well as sung by renowned artists Jiji Zarina Baloch, Shafi Faqeer and others.

Zulfiqar said that the soil of Sindh is not only fertile and rich with hidden resources but also rich with the characters like Shaikh Ayaz, Shah Latif, Sachal Sarmast, Ustad Bokhari and many more who set examples of resistance and selflessness.

He said that when Shaikh Ayaz was alive, some people considered his presences as second birth of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and many deemed him even greater than Bhittai, though some people also opposed him.

Zulfiqar offered his sincere thanks to the Writers Forum and especially to Abid Jaffery and Munir Pervaiz who invited them to celebrate the day of a world legend belonging to Sindh, Pakistan.

Representing the Canadian youth, Yasser Pervaiz commented that Shaikh Ayaz’s message is not limited to Sindhi, Urdu, or other languages of South Asia, but carries a universal resonance that moves all to work against tyranny and repression. He also shared English translations of three of Shaikh Ayaz’s major poems in a very passionate way.

Preetam Luhano who is a poet and also the joint secretary of Sindhi Adabi Sangat presented his article titled, “Shaikh Ayaz a continuity of Sindhi Literature” and presented several important examples from Shaikh Ayaz poetry.

Writer, Columnist and Editor of Ameeq magazine, Khair Mohammed Kolachi , brought the samples of Shaikh Ayaz’s prose to the attention of the audience, and advised that Shaikh Ayaz has the same command of the word, punch, and force in his prose that is the spirit of his poetry.

He said that Shaikh Ayaz sahib though was a Sindhi by birth but always fought beyond the differences of religion and languages, and became the voice of oppressed people of subcontinent.

Munir Pervaiz Saami, the Secretary of the Writers Forum moderated the program by reciting representative poems of Shaikh Ayaz.

On this occasion the senior members of Canada’s Sindhi intellectual community, Prof Ghulam Akbar Kazi. Syed Shahnawaz Shah and Shamim Junejo, lovingly presented the gift of Sindhi Ajraks to Abid Jafri, Nuzhat Siddiqui, and Munir Saami as a sign of respect.

An exhibition of Shaikh Ayaz’s books was also arranged at the event. Many observers commented that this was among the finest literary events in Canada’s South Asian diaspora.

On this occasion 21 copies from Shaikh Ayaz’s Books “Sahiwal Jail ji Diary”, and collection of article published on Shaikh Ayaz in Books under the titles, “Fikr e Ayaz”, and “Zikr e Ayaz” were presented to the guests as a gift from the Writers Forum. These books have been edited by Asif Farrukhi and Shah Muhammad Pirzada, and published by Maktab e Daniyal. 

Khawaja Saad Rafiq terms new locomotives as lifeline for Railways

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

Pakistan News & Features Services

Federal Minister for Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, has said that after many years new locomotives are being inducted into the system as they are the lifeline for the Railway system. He briefed the media corps after formally receiving nine locomotives from China at the port in Karachi.

Five engines had arrived early this month while the second consignment of four engines arrived on April 27.

So far nine locomotives had reached here out of total 58 engines being acquired from China and the remainders would be supplied by the manufacturers by the end of the current year.

The Minister said that a team of 50 Railway officials had been sent to China for training to operate and maintain these locomotives which will also serve as the master-trainers to guide other staff.

He said that contract for these engines was signed by the previous government, adding that that a Chinese and an American companies had jointly manufactured these locos and assured that these are of high RPM capacity made of durable material.

A modern shed had also been built for them where the trained maintenance staff would look after them, he informed.

He said that in the next three to four years 400 more locomotives for goods and passenger train operation and another 100 exclusively for coal operation would be needed by then.

The Railway Minister about train punctuality said: "When I took the charge of his ministry it had dropped to 10 per cent but since then it had improved to 50 percent due to discipline.”

“The Railways was now focusing more on quality than quantity and decisions were being taken on administrative grounds and not for political considerations,” he remarked.

Pakistan, China to strengthen parliamentary ties

By Masood Sattar Khan in Beijing

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Member National Assembly (MNA) Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, alongwith the 15-member delegation of young parliamentarians, was warmly welcomed by Vice Minister of International Department of Communist Party of China (CPC), Chen Fengxiang, in Beijing.

Welcoming the delegation at the CPC headquarters, Chen Fengxiang stressed the need for long-term regular and institutionalized party relations between the two countries. Both sides agreed to further strengthen and deepen party to party relations and exchanges at the party level. It was also discussed how both parties can benefit from each other’s experiences for improving the capacity of political parties.

The visit is a consequence of the MoU signed between the two countries during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s official visit to China in July last year. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) delegation is being led by Party Secretary General, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra also visited China in September last year. The CPC delegation also carried out reciprocal visit to Pakistan in Febraury this year.

Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, at a luncheon hosted by Ambassador Masood Khalid at the Pakistan House in Beijing, said that the visit provided an opportunity to both sides to discuss further strengthening of party relations between the two countries and share experience about the formation and structure of political parties in the two countries.

Highlighting the time tested, all weather friendship he said that this was a very special trip to a China with which we have cooperation and convergence in all areas. He also visited the metro orange line in Beijing to experience and observe the Beijing transportation system.

Pakistan’s parliamentarian delegation of ruling political party, the PML arrived in China on April 21 and will depart on April 29.

The delegation activities started from Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province where the delegation visited the grass roots organization of CPC ‘CPC Primary Unit.’ They also visited the Pakistan study center at the Sichuan University and held in depth discussion on formation, structure and capacity building of political parties in each other’s countries.

The delegation comprised Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Mohammad Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Marvi Memon, Jam Kamal Khan, Dr Darshan, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha, Muhammad Tallal Chaudhry, Mariyum Aurangzeb, Saud Majeed, Mohammad Khurram Gulfam, Qazi Adnan Fareed. 

Red Army veteran praises Nawaz visit; emphasizes to emulate President Xi welfare policies

By Masood Sattar Khan in Beijing

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A veteran of Red Army while praising Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif for his address and participation in the Boao Forum for Asia in China said that Pakistan need to emulate the policies of present leadership of China led by President Xi Jingping to address the economic woes.

“I was very delighted to see on television your prime minister addressing the Boao Forum and meeting Premier Li Keqiang,” Zhong Ming remarked in an exclusive interview.

Zhong, who will turn 100-year in coming August, said that “together we (Pakistan-China) can build a harmonious society. The cooperation between the two countries will have win-win situation for both the people, he added.

The veteran Red Army solder said that if welfare polices of China is emulated by the present government in Pakistan, it can also help improve the lot of the common people.

Zhong,on the directions of Chairman Mao Zedong served in various capacity in Red army and also assigned responsibilities in strategic important Shanxi province.

Highlighting the grass-root level policies of the Chinese government particularly for the down trodden masses lived in surrounding counties and villages of Ganzhou in below poverty line, he said that now prosperity can be seen on their face. It was possible because of upward trajectory of the socio-economic condition of the villagers, he noted.

Zhong, on the directions of Chairman Mao Zedong served in various capacities in Red army and also assigned tasks in strategic important Shanxi province.

Since 2012, when President Xi was holding the charge as Country’s Vice-President he had approved a number of welfare projects on the recommendations of the local party head Mr. He Shunping of Xingguo county in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province.

Now people even at the county level have uninterrupted electricity, well equipped schools, clinics, internet and even houses for old and retired service people, a senior local government   official said .

He pointed out that under a policy, farmers were provided new homes for which major chunk of money was arranged by the banks on the instructions of the government on very nominal interest rate.

 “We are very pleased and proud in living in new homes, as in old homes, life was miserable especially during monsoon season when we were constrained to live in mud-home where water used to creep from roof and walls,” Wu Guanghuang, a 78-year old farmer of Xinfeng county in Ganzhou, said who had fortunately survived from the massive flooding that inundated his muddy house built within his field of tobacco crop.       

SSUET alive to fast technological developments: Chancellor Adil Usman

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, Engr Mohammed Adil Usman has said that the university was alive to the staggering speed at which the technology was growing and also to the multiple dimensions the technology is encompassing for its growth.

“To keep pace with the developments we must undertake the cultivating, nurturing and mentoring of young minds, employing the best of the available human and material resources”, he said in an interview.

He pointed out that the SSUET was established with a view to adorning the youth with the most modern knowledge and the University made them available the best choices for study in the field of modern technology.

Since its inception, he said, this university has been performing this sacred duty of developing the youth, capable to meet the challenges of the modern world. It is due to this fact that engineer from the SSUET occupy respectable positions in National and Multi-national organizations in Pakistan and abroad.

He observed that relevance with the main stream of modern technical education is also very essential for the University and this will be possible with continuous improvement of curricula besides adding new disciplines.

Keeping this in mind the University introduced Software Engineering, Bioinformatics and   Architecture as new subjects of study and this journey of growth will go further in the subsequent years too, he added.

Chancellor Adil Usman said that the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys’ Association (AMUOBA), the sponsors of the SSUET, can look back with satisfaction that their efforts have really been crowned with success.

The graduates from the SSUET have earned good name for the University as well as for the country and serving honorably in the countries, which are touching the zenith of progress in Science and Technology.

The University, he noted, stands for humanism, tolerance, progress, adventure of ideas, the search of truth and for the new breakthroughs in technology and for onward march of the youth towards ever higher objectives.

“We keep promotion of human values as the keynote of schemes of our curricula and teach them importance of human values under the caption “Aligarh Movement”.

The young graduates, he said, must bear in their mind that they are living in the times where knowledge is the ultimate power. For them the road ahead may be long and full of perils and obstacles but the journey promises to be exciting, provided the honesty of the purpose is the guiding force.

Replying a question, Engr Adil Usman pointed out that countries in our geo-physical region have become the economic giants. This stature they have achieved through their progress in science and technology. The engineers and technologist have played a major role in their progress. In this age of competition, if we fail to take cognizance of the marathon of advancements, we will become economically pygmies.

 “We pin our hopes in our young engineers. They have full capacity to rise to the occasion and meet the challenges,” he stated.

The Chancellor recalled the services of late Chancellor, Engr Z.A. Nizami, and late Engr Zakir Ali Khan and remarked that “I cannot forget their memories for they were the founders of this great institution”.

Pakistan’s young parliamentarians visit Communist Party HQ in Sichuan

By Masood Sattar Khan in Beijing

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A delegation of Pakistan’s young parliamentarians visited Hangshui town in Sichuan province where they were briefed about grassroots structure of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The party building in the town was shown to the delegation and they also interacted with members of the local community.

Tang Wenjin, the Vice Secretary General of the CPC Sichuan Province, hosted a luncheon reception in the honour of the 15-member delegation, comprising of the young parliamentarians of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz).

Both sides discussed areas of mutual cooperation and discussed the current projects underway in Pakistan with Chinese collaboration.

Speaking on the occasion, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, a Member National Assembly, observed that he overwhelmed by the warmth and affection extended to him and his delegation by the Chinese government and the Communist Party.

He remarked that the Chinese investment of $30 billion which was announced during Punjab Chief Minister’s recent visit will play a big role in prosperity of Pakistan and bringing the people of the two nations even closer. 

The delegation also visited Sichuan University and the Pakistan Study Centre based at this varsity. The professors and senior university staff members briefed the delegation about the cooperation between the University with various Pakistani universities including the Punjab University and the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

The delegation expressed gratitude to the university administration for taking such keen interest in Pakistan studies and for enrolling Pakistani students at the university.