The Express Tribune Newsletter: April 19, 2012

Today's Headlines   PPP's Seraiki plan sorely needs PML-N support Qamar Zaman The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), despite its continued call for the Seraiki province, has not yet sought the support of PML-N – without which the division of Punjab is unlikely. Intelligence leads: 'TTP chief convenes meeting to plan revenge attacks' Our Correspondent Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakeemullah Mehsud has convened a meeting in North Waziristan to plan targeted attacks in case of the expected resumption of Nato supplies, an intelligence agency's report reveals. NATO supply: 'Pakistan not given deadline to open routes' Our Correspondent Pakistan has not been given any deadline by the US to resume the Nato supply routes since it was already "moving in the right direction", the minister counsellor for public affairs of the US embassy said on Wednesday while speaking to a group of journalists in Peshawar. Pakistan to clock in 4% growth this year: Hafeez Shaikh Our Correspondent Pakistan's Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh says Pakistan is expected to cap this year with nearly 4% in growth, while the country has to pay $1.4 billion in loan repayments. _______________________________________________ Business Bid foiled: Ministry's plan to increase gas prices by 30% thwarted Zafar Bhutta The petroleum ministry had planned to bring LPG-Air Mix project into full swing by increasing gas prices by 30% even for those consumers who would not be using it. Pakistan needs to arrange Rs7.3t in upcoming year Shahbaz Rana Pakistan will need to raise a huge debt from the market equivalent to 30.3% of the country's economy or Rs7.3 trillion in next fiscal year to retire maturing debt and bridge the gap between income and expenses, according to an International Monetary Fund report. _______________________________________________ Sports Jahangir raising funds to revive squash's lost glory Nabeel Hashmi In a bid to revive the dismal state of squash in Pakistan, Jahangir Khan, along with the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), is raising funds in the US with an aim of helping national players settle there and pursue the sport. Bangladesh tour: This one's for us: Kamal Our Correspondents Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Mustafa Kamal has vehemently denied that his decision to go ahead with the Pakistan tour was due to a 'personal interest' and stressed that the step has been taken to keep relations intact between the two nations while helping the sport in the region. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Set your heart on Sher Dil Sher Khan Pakistani cinema has been struggling to hit a chord with the local audience for a long time. Film directors and producers have tried everything, from covering social evils to showing political corruption, to make the audience connect with their 'reel' treats. Another venture ready to test its value in the market is Sher Dil. It's basically a Punjabi film that portrays the theme of 'every man is a hero' with a number of sub-plots weaved into the main plot. Farhan Saeed: Back with a bang Our Correspondents Singer Farhan Saeed has always had the looks and the voice to make it big in showbiz, but what he had lacked in his music were good lyrics and an unforgettable melody. Maybe that was the reason why some of his solo endeavours, especially songs like "Khwahishon", couldn't really give him the right start.  _______________________________________________

Opinion Darkness at noon Khurram Husain Towards a Siachen peace park Ahmad Rafay Alam The Faqir of Ipi and the Taliban Nadir Hassan Bannu — an ominous attack Khalid Munir A chronicle of two cities Anwer Mooraj Blogs Cheating on exams: I blame the system Syed Nadir El Edroos Things you never say to an overweight person Faraz Talat Held hostage: When will I see my father? Mishal Jawaid Gilgit-Baltistan: Paradise turned bloody Peer Mohammad Poll Do you think Pakistan and India should withdraw troops from Siachen? No (19%, 215 Votes) Yes (81%, 935 Votes) Total Voters: 1150 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: April 18, 2012

Today's Headlines Resetting ties: Govt gives green light to reopening NATO routes Kamran Yousaf Pakistan's top decision-making body on national security gave its go-ahead for reopening vital supply lines for Western troops stationed in neighbouring Afghanistan on Tuesday. World's highest battleground: Pakistan should lead Siachen troop pullout, says Nawaz Shabbir Mir Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has advised the Pakistani government to take the lead and withdraw its troops from Siachen Glacier where 138 troops and civilians were buried by a massive avalanche over a week ago. Ephedrine case: No evidence against Ali Musa yet, says parliamentary panel Asad Kharal As the premier's son receives his first clean chit from a parliamentary committee in the drug quota scandal, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani criticised officials in the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) for stepping beyond their mandate. Bannu jailbreak: Peshawar High Court orders judicial probe Umer Farooq The Peshawar High Court has ordered a judicial inquiry into the Bannu prison break, appointing two officials who have been given three days to file their report to the provincial apex court. Business Internet censorship: Activists worry as authorities push for automated filtering Farooq Baloch After broadband operators' vocal support for the implementation of an automated URL filtering system, proponents of internet freedom have started worrying that the government will go ahead with its censorship plans. They say that if the government fails to ensure transparency and accountability in the system's working, it will be the last nail in the coffin of internet freedom. Analysis: How Pakistanis are discouraged from savings Hamad Aslam With interest rates in Pakistan consistently hovering above 10 per cent for the last five years, one would expect the masses to be encouraged enough to save and reap benefits of higher returns. _______________________________________________ Sports Bangladesh tour: A chance to play on watan ki matti Fawad Hussain After watching his elder brother Kamran don the national colours and play in front of a packed home crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Adnan Akmal imagined doing the same. Cricket: Law full of concern over Pakistan tour Our Correspondents Bangladesh cricket coach Stuart Law has expressed fears about the team's scheduled tour to Pakistan, where international cricket has been suspended for three years. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Artist Welfare Fund: What's the hold-up? Saadia Qamar They make us laugh, they make us cry. But when it comes to the sunset years of our nation's performers, there is no one to wipe off their tears. Day 3: PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week Momina Sibtain After Ammar Belal and Fahad Hussayn charmed the audience with their creative collections on the second day of PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, expectations were running high only to meet disappointment on the following day. There were more collections that did not work than the ones that did. _______________________________________________

Opinion Bannu offers no surprises Ejaz Haider Jailbreak despair Zafar Hilaly Vacate Siachen, already Farrukh Khan Pitafi Honour and shame Khaled Ahmed Monkey business Kamran Shafi   Blogs Connecting our cities not just with flyovers but with people Meiryum Ali 10 things I hate about being a Pakistani gamer Noman Ansari Gilgit-Baltistan: Paradise turned bloody Peer Muhammad The day I wore a niqab Mariam Magsi   Poll Musharraf claims Baloch separatists have foreign backing. Do you agree? No (23%, 173 Votes) Yes (77%, 592 Votes) Total Voters: 765 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: April 17, 2012

Today's Headlines Brazen attack: Bannu jailbreak reports suggest 'inside job' Our correspondents While the authorities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa blamed 'intelligence failure' for Sunday's brazen jailbreak in Bannu city, a confidential intelligence report claimed that the federal interior ministry was tipped about possible militant strikes three months prior. No evidence yet that Kabul attacks were planned on Pakistan soil: US CJCS Dempsey Huma Imtiaz  Following an 18-hour long attack on Afghan capital Kabul, the US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey declared that the US does not have any intelligence yet on whether the deadly weekend attack was planned in Pakistan. Benazir murder case: For fair probe, Malik should step down, says SC Azam Khan  The Supreme Court on Monday advised suspects in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, including Interior Minister Rehman Malik, to step down from public offices so that an independent investigation can take place. New inductees: Cabinet size breaches 50-minister mark Qamar Zaman The government on Monday inducted four more Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers as ministers of state – a move likely to invite opposition criticism over the bulging size of the cabinet. Business Corporate titan: After 27 years at Engro, Asad Umar calls it a day Farooq Tirmizi Corporate Pakistan lost one of its most admired CEOs on Monday, with Asad Umar taking an early retirement from the Engro Corporation, amidst rumours that he might be closing out a highly successful business career to begin a political one. Untapped market: Can Pakistan become a hub for medical tourism? Salman Siddiqui "Every country, except Pakistan, is concerned with medical tourism," say doctors, who bemoan the fact that our government is sleeping over a golden opportunity. _______________________________________________ Sports Depoliticising boards: 'PCB to avoid a standoff with the ICC' Fawad Hussain The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to avoid a confrontation with the International Cricket Council (ICC) with regards to the ban on government interference in cricket boards' functioning. Cricket: LCCA wants 'active' role in hosting BD Nabeel Hashmi As Pakistan gears up to host Bangladesh for a One-Day International and one Twenty20 later this month, the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) wants a role in organising the first international series in the country since March 2009. _______________________________________________ Life & Style 'Uth Records': Tunes of disappointment Rafay Mahmood The year 2011 marked the discovery of various musical gems through the emergence of Pakistani talent shows like "Uth Records". The show played a key role in turning raw Pakistani talent into seasoned musicians and singers of today. Every episode had a unique flavour and charm; as it showcased a different musician, singing a different genre, belonging to a different ethnic background and representing a different part of the country. Day 2: Bridal Couture Week Saadia Qamar The Pantene Bridal Couture Week (BCW) failed to wow the audience for a second night in a row. The  second day of the event was, however, saved by Zainab Sajid, the Indian duo Rabani & Rakha and by some parts of Hijab's collection. _______________________________________________

Opinion In defence of frivolous consumption Feisal H Naqvi Karachi: a Tower of Babel? Roland DeSouza Seeking a fresh mandate Rasul Bakhsh Rais Pakistan is serious —and means business Talat Masood US response to the Arab Spring Tariq Fatemi   Blogs Is Allama Iqbal relevant in today's politics? Ahmad Sultan Honouring heroes: A tribute to the men of Siachen Aima Iqbal Iran, Syria and the Muslim divide Farooq Yousaf 5 steps closer to being successful Talha Omer   Poll Are you for or against the formation of a Seraiki province? For (45%, 407 Votes)  Against (55%, 497 Votes)  Total Voters: 904 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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