The Express Tribune Newsletter: August 10, 2012

Today's Headlines Sindh tour: 'Polls soon; no clash with institutions' Z Ali / Hafeez Tunio / Sajid Bajeer To the murmurs of his imminent ouster, and early elections as a result, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had one thing to say: the countdown to the current government's dismissal had begun the day it assumed charge. Goodwill ambassador: First to be vaccinated, Aseefa vows to eradicate polio Sumera Khan She was the first child in Pakistan to be administered polio drops by her mother, and former premier, Benazir Bhutto. Today, at 18, she is Pakistan's goodwill ambassador for polio eradication. Tehran conference: Khar opposes coercive measures in Syria Our Correspondents With violence engulfing major cities in Syria, including Damascus and Aleppo, Pakistan has voiced its opposition to any "coercive" measures in Syria which could worsen an already volatile situation in the troubled country. For political parties & their victims, Karachi's Fitra collection more sin than sawab Rabia Ali / Faraz Khan / Sohail Khattak We bring you silence – of the police, the Orangi family who lost their son and the businessmen. This silence is about the gouging of the city's populace before Eid when charity gathering turns into extortion.   Business LNG import plans: Consumers may soon face doubled gas prices Zafar Bhutta Gas consumers may face over a 100% rise in natural gas prices if a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import plan proposed by the petroleum ministry is implemented. Pakistan underground water supplies over-exploited: expert Our Correspondents The heavily-populated regions of Asia, the arid Middle East and parts of the Unites States corn belt are dangerously over-exploiting their underground water supplies, according to a study published on Wednesday in the Nature journal. _______________________________________________ Sports Olympics failure: Cut hockey funds and help other sports, says chef de mission Fawad Hussain The Pakistan contingent will be returning home empty-handed from the Olympics for the fifth time in a row and the country's chef de mission, Aqil Shah, suggested a more equitable share of resources for all athletes, while lamenting the attention that hockey got for the mega event. At least we did better than India: Pakistan coach Our Correspondents Pakistan edged out South Korea 3-2 to finish seventh in the hockey event of the London Olympics – an improvement on Beijing 2008 by one place – and coach Khawaja Junaid saw consolation in India's misery who will be fighting for the 11th spot. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Where art thou, Lollywood? Sher Khan If one enters a regular DVD store in Pakistan with the intention of buying some Lollywood flicks, there will be disappointment. Try it out, and you will realise that there is a relatively small collection to choose from. Through his couplets, Afzal Saahir writes about life Nabeel Anwar Dhakku The long wait for Punjabi poetry enthusiasts has finally come to an end. Renowned radio show host and poet Afzal Saahir – also known as Pakistan's Shiv Kumar Batalvi – has published 63 pieces of eloquent poetry in "Naal Sajjan De Rahiye" (Live With Your Loved One). _______________________________________________

Opinion Playing big boy games ... Kamran Shafi Cheating on wives Asma Jahangir Why are Chitrali youths joining the Afghan army? Siraj Ulmulk  We must, at Wagah Prakash Belawadi Anchors and education Dr Pervez Tahir   Blogs Aunty, don't you know? Arshiya Kausar The importance of critique from a journalist Sehrish Ali Why I regretted buying Fifty Shades of Grey Neha Arif Riar Intolerance in Ramazan: A new phenomenon or a revision of Zia's era? Paras Abbasi   Poll In your opinion, should PTI make an electoral alliance with Sheikh Rasheed's AML? No (33%, 708 Votes) Yes (67%, 1,417 Votes)  Total Voters: 2125 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

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The Express Tribune Newsletter: August 9, 2012

Today's Headlines Déjà vu: Apex court summons Premier Ashraf Azam Khan Having seemingly lost patience with the attorney-general's dilly-dallying, the apex court on Wednesday summoned Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to appear before it on August 27. IMF wants Pakistan president to endorse future bailouts Shahbaz Rana Wary of inadequate reforms and under-utilisation of resources, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) now wants Pakistan's president to endorse any new bailout programme. Time-buying: Govt seeks review of old orders to new PM Our Correspondents In a huddle at the Presidency on Tuesday night, the government had resolved to buy more time for Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf – and followed through in that effort on Wednesday. PTI agrees to electoral alliance with AMLPTI agrees to electoral alliance with AML Zia Khan  Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has finalised an electoral alliance with the Awami Muslim League (AML) in the upcoming elections. Business Pay up, or else: OGDC serves legal notice on Byco for unpaid dues Zafar Bhutta The Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), the country's largest explorer, has served a legal notice on Byco refinery for defaulting on payment of dues against crude oil supply. KESC switches to profit after six years of losses Our Correspondents Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has switched to a profit regime in fiscal 2012 after a gap of six years. _______________________________________________ Sports Campaign not a failure: hockey coach Fawad Hussain Dismissing calls from various quarters to offer his resignation and be held accountable for Pakistan's dismal Olympics campaign, the team management defended the team's performance with coach Khwaja Junaid insisting it did 'reasonably well'. Olympics: Rabia unable to make an impression either Nabeel Hashmi Pakistan's hockey match against Korea for seventh place will be the country's final representation in the London Olympics after its second athlete, the 800m runner Rabia Ashiq, was knocked out of the event as she finished a disappointing sixth in her heat. _______________________________________________ Life & Style A 'Coke Studio' wish list Rafay Mahmood "Coke Studio" season five was criticised for being one of the most forgettable seasons in the history of the programme. No more phone calls — just click for food delivery! Rabia Ali The internet and social media seem to be at an all-time high in Pakistan, and the launch of food portals — offering new and convenient avenues of ordering food online in busy, bustling cities — are just another sign. Young entrepreneurs are taking the initiative and setting up their own websites, with the aim to provide easy access to food and beverages to people from their favourite restaurants in a more efficient way. _______________________________________________

Opinion Institutions or individuals? S Akbar Zaidi Rethinking drone wars Ali K Chishti The pricing of water Ahmad Rafay Alam India key to internal peace? Imtiaz Gul A tale of two Tatas Arif Rafiq   Blogs Let's love Pakistan: A new resolution (V) Saad Zuberi Seekeress@0: Why you should work at The Express Tribune Yousuf Saifuddin Let's love Pakistan: A new resolution (V) Hala Syed London Olympics 2012: The odds of dying in a terrorist attack Zeeshan Usmani Pakistan and India do not care about Kashmiris Saadut Hussain Poll Do you feel your online personality is different from your real one? No (53%, 303 Votes)  Yes (47%, 274 Votes)  Total Voters: 577 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

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The Express Tribune Newsletter: August 8, 2012

Today's Headlines Controversial decisions: ECC toys with idea of wheat export to Iran Shahbaz Rana The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Tuesday took decisions which did not go down well with the finance ministry. NRO implementation: Crucial day in SC for immunity-less premier Irfan Ghauri Running short of time and options, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said it is adamant to "resist" what it terms "new centres of legislative power" – a thinly veiled reference to the striking down of a contentious law last week by the Supreme Court. Afghan reconciliation: Pakistan may release 'former chief of Quetta Shura' Kamran Yousaf  Pakistan may release a key Afghan Taliban commander to provide impetus to Afghanistan's ongoing reconciliation efforts with the Taliban, a move signalling Islamabad's latest approach to seek an end to the decade-long conflict in its neighbouring country Extreme poverty: Desperate mother chokes 'starving' children to death Owais Jafri It is said that, when all doors close, a window opens. But when mother-of-two Aasia was driven into a corner by extreme poverty, her only escape seemed to be killing her children and burying them underneath her bed. Business Another unit in trouble: Govt likely to restructure ZTBL's Rs80 billion debt Shahbaz Rana The government is likely to restructure a whopping debt of Rs80.4 billion that the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) owes to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) as the former's bad debts rise alarmingly to 21% of its total lending portfolio. Expanding horizons: Takaful rules to result in segment's evolution Our Correspondents Pakistan's regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has introduced new takaful (Islamic insurance) rules designed to boost competition and lift the sector's market share by allowing the entry of conventional insurers, prompting a legal challenge from specialised takaful providers. _______________________________________________ Sports Hockey: Routed Fawad Hussain It seemed like the World Champions were gifted a club-like opposition – Pakistan fell behind against Australia in the second minute and there was no respite for them until the 70th. 'Officials, selectors and coaches must all resign' Our Correspondents Pakistan's thrashing at the hands of Australia that put the Greenshirts out of the medals race has forced former players and Olympians to demand resignations from the Pakistan Hockey Federation's (PHF) top brass. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Racy Sunny Leone features in Ali Azmat's song – so what? Rafay Mahmood Ali Azmat is a true Pakistani rock star. Where his grooves and music never fail to impress us, his peculiar quirks and extreme-right political views simply add to his eccentric personality. But this time around, it's not his political ideology that has brought him into the limelight – it's the songs he has sung for the freshly released, racy B-town film, Jism 2. Jal: 'We are still alive' Sher Khan Following the nationwide success of "Aadat", the band Jal received great acclaim for creating something so remarkable out of simplistic compositions and basic guitar chords. Not only did they create an impressive fan following, but also successfully attracted the youth's attention. After enduring an intense year, the band is now ready to make a comeback, with Goher Mumtaz, the band's lead vocalist. _______________________________________________

Opinion The Laws of Thermostasis Ejaz Haider Supplying power to Karachi Adil Murtuza Gender-neutral Pakistan, a distant dream Tazeen Javed Reading the Assam violence Kunal Majumder Romney's antics in Jerusalem Tariq Fatemi   Blogs Khurshid Khan's dismissal was uncalled for Amna Lone The day a beggar outshone me Azfar Imtiaz Karim bhai: Love and cherish before it is too late Sarfaraz Rehman We are all party to the naked parade Anam Abbas   Poll Do you think local TV channels are spreading vulgarity? No (34%, 485 Votes)  Yes (66%, 956 Votes)  Total Voters: 1441 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

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The Express Tribune Newsletter: August 06, 2012

Today's Headlines 'Three Es' plan: PML-N unveils ambitious plan to end energy crisis Abdul Manan The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Sunday unveiled a roadmap to drive the country out of the current crises in the three main sectors of energy, economy and education – the 'three Es' – including a pledge to make Pakistan one of the top 10 economies of the world. Contempt of court act: Cautious govt seeks review of apex court ruling Zia Khan Dropping the option of either re-enacting the defunct Contempt of Court Act or promulgating it through a presidential ordinance, a seemingly subdued government on Sunday decided to seek a review of the Supreme Court ruling on the law. Faisal Raza Abidi demands Chief Justice's resignation Sidrah Moiz Khan While hurling fiery allegations at Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Faisal Raza Abidi on Sunday demanded a resignation from him and other judges who were reinstated under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO). Seven dead at US Gurdwara shooting Our Correspondents At least seven people were shot dead, including a suspected gunman, during a shooting at a Sikh Gurdwara in Wisconsin, local police said. Business Halal industry: Pakistan has more potential than Malaysia to thrive Humayon Dar Sitting in McDonald's in Pakistan, one cannot help notice the halal sign on the packaging of their delectable quarter pounder. Although there is uncertainty on who issues halal certification for McDonald's food sold in Pakistan, there is no ambiguity at all on the importance of eating halal in the life of over 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. Line up: Pakistan among chosen 22 to lead economic growth Saad Amanullah Khan 22 economies of the world have been individually selected by global institutions and have been earmarked to lead global economic growth into the 21st century. These countries currently account for 75% of global GDP and 70% of its population. It is pertinent to note that these 22 nations account for a mere 10% of the countries in the World Bank's global database. _______________________________________________ Sports Hockey: Pakistan down South Africa in sea-saw battle Fawad Hussain Pakistan hockey team regrouped quickly after a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Great Britain, edging out South Africa 5-4 in a crucial Pool A clash to keep their London Olympics medals hopes alive. Olympics: Golden goodbye for Phelps Our Correspondents Michael Phelps savoured one last golden moment, capping his remarkable Olympic swimming career with an 18th gold medal in the final event, the 4x100m medley relay, in the Aquatics Centre competition pool. _______________________________________________ Life & Style From behind the lens, Madhur Bhandarkar reveals the truth Rafay Mahmood There exists only a handful of unconventional film-makers in B-town and, since the advent of the Dabangg formula of film-making, the number of such directors has dropped considerably. But one such director who has maintained his unique edge is Madhur Bhandarkar. Four designers showcase Eid collection at Ensemble Saadia Qamar The House of Ensemble hosted their Eid exhibition on Friday night, showcasing the works of Body Focus, Maheen Khan, Shamaeel and Nomi Ansari. _______________________________________________

Opinion The fallacy of the PML-N's allegations Daud Munir Balochistan: now or never Furrukh Khan Pitafi Steps towards greater South Asian cooperation Shahid Javed Burki A solution to Karachi's traffic woes? Amna Lone Putting out the Arakan fires Tanvir Ahmad Khan   Blogs Say 'yes' to foreign aid! Syed Saadat Shafilea's honour killing: Will we ever learn? Zab Mustefa The mute existence and extinction of peacocks Ayesha Dars Harud: The story of a soul-less Kashmir Jehangir Ali   Poll Do you think Pakistan should invest in better sports facilities at home than spend on sending athletes to mega events? No: 11% (47 votes) Yes: 89% (378 votes) Total Voters: 425 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

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