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Posts published in October 2013

Call for lifting ban on mining in GB

GILGIT, Sept 29: Gilgit-Baltistan mineral association on Sunday demanded lifting of ban on mining and transfer of the management of the mineral department. The association’s chairman Mohammad Ali Zarin told a press conference here that top officials of the mineral department were main hindrance in development of the sector. He threatened to boycott the upcoming international silk route festival if their demands were not met. Mr Zarin was flanked by other office-bearers of the association.…

: G-B bar association demands implementation of apex court’s orders

By Shabbir Mir  in The Express Tribune, Oct 3 GILGIT:  Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) Supreme Appellate Court Bar Association on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding the implementation of a Supreme Court judgment in the Al-Jehad Trust case. In the May 1999 judgment of the Al-Jehad Trust vs Federation case, the apex court directed the federal government to ensure the constitutional rights of G-B’s residents within the next six months. “The existing governance order called ‘Empowerment and Self…

World-renowned consortiums submit proposals on Diamer Bhasha Dam project

LAHORE: In what can be termed historic moment, three-world renowned consortiums submitted their proposals to the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) for consultancy services for main works of the 4500-MW Diamer Bhasha Dam Project. According to a Wapda spokesman, the pre-qualified consortiums led by AECOM of the United States of America, Mott Mac Donald Limited of the UK and Lahmeyer of Germany put forward their proposals for construction supervision and contract administration. The…

Canadian envoy reaffirms support to Pakistan, AJK

MUZAFFARABAD: The Canadian government has pledged to complete the construction of 37 school buildings at a cost of Rs2 billion in earthquake-hit areas of Garhi Dupatta and Hattian in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) by the end of this year. This was said by Canadian High Commissioner Greg Giokas while addressing the handing-over ceremony of five schools in Lawasi, Garhi Dupatta, some 30 kilometres from here on Tuesday. He handed over five school buildings to…

WAPDA raises Rs9.3 billion via TFCs for Neelum Jhelum Dam

LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) raised Rs9.3 billion via term finance certificates (TFCs) to expedite work on the Neelum Jhelum hydropower project, according to a press release on Tuesday. The funds raised will be paid to the contractor of the dam, which will then allow Wapda to expedite work on the project. The statement praises Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali for his active involvement in arranging much-needed…

Nanga Parbat massacre tarnishes tourism: By Shabbir Mir in Express Tribune, Oct 1

GILGIT: Although 17 foreign mountaineering and 87 trekking groups have visited Baltistan in 2013 – many left in the aftermath of the deadly attack at the foot of the second highest peak in Pakistan. Baltistan is home to K-2 and several other peaks. Ten foreign trekkers and their Pakistani guide were killed in an unprecedented attack in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) when militants wearing army uniforms attacked the Nanga Parbat base camp on June 22. Tourist economies: …