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Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - acharya - 06-12-2006
A man drinks water from a hose while another takes a shower at Minto Park. Abid Nawaz
<img src='http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2006/06/11/20060611_z02.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Naresh - 06-12-2006
<b>Gwadar rail link hits snags over terrain issues</b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Lahore â The Rs 70 billion worth mega project to link Gwadar port with the national grid through select destinations in Balochistan might hit snags over steep terrain hampering linking of key cities to the proposed railway line. The 961 kilometres project would emanate at Mastung railway station, which is linked to Quetta and Sibbi. As per the original plan, the line from Mastung station would have touched Kalat before passing on to the following stations namely Surab, Besima, Panjgur, Hashab, and Turbat and onwards to Gwadar port.
As per the available information technical hands in the Railways are advising against taking the track to steep terrain around Kalat and want the same to be struck off the list of stations proposed. They argue that area around Mastung, Besima and especially Kalat is reportedly mountainous with average altitude above the sea level reaching around 1,800 meters. The average gradient for the locomotive movement along the mountainous track is estimated to be 1:66 feet. The terrain being mountainous, there are going to be a number of bridges as well as tunnels along the route.
The cutting off of the Kalat point would mean that the city would be 15 kilometres away from the nearest track. Despite the technical advice against the inclusion of Kalat, the high ups are somewhat reluctant to go ahead with the amendment on the premise that the area where the lines are to be laid out being politically sensitive, the technical advice might not carry through to the âIslamabadâ and they might have to include Kalat in the final plan, sources maintain.
It is pertinent to note that all the stations, which would be constructed along the path, will have to manage their power generation issues themselves, as there are no linkages with WAPDA national grid. Provided the project is approved at the highest level and granted the proposed allocation, it would in all probability take around 10 years to be anywhere near the launching time.
The selection of linkage through much of the Balochistan terrain is one of the reasons that despite close proximity to Karachi along the coast line, there is no direct linkage between Gwadar and Karachi, either directly or through any of the stations in Sindh like Hyderabad or Sukkur. The sole connection of the port city to the national railway grid is to go through Kalat. Goods routed on rail from Karachi will be passing through Balochistan to reach Gwadar port. Given the importance of Kalat linkage it would be a difficult decision both at the HQ and the ministry level to go ahead.
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Guest - 06-12-2006
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Gwadar rail link hits snags over terrain issues<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It seems Chini and Paki skipped feasibility study, I know skipping feasibility is very common in Chini projects, but this is only affordable in Chini land.
<!--emo&
tupid--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pakee.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pakee.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Naresh - 06-12-2006
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Jun 12 2006, 09:14 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Jun 12 2006, 09:14 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->It seems Chini and Paki skipped feasibility study, I know skipping feasibility is very common in Chini projects, but this is only affordable in Chini land.
<!--emo&
tupid--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pakee.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pakee.gif' /><!--endemo-->[right][snapback]52396[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Mudy Ji :</b>
The Problem is the Terrain.
The Chinese would like a Link from Gwadar to the Karakorum Highway.
The easiest and most logical way is to link Gwadar with Karachi via a Coastal System like the Konkan Railway. For the Chinese the Gwadar â Karachi - Karakoram route will be a much longer route.
In addition by connecting Mastung 29° 50â N 66° 56â E Pakistan will open up the Interior of Balochistan whereas the Karachi-Gwadar link will not give any Links to the Interior.
Let us wish The Pakistanis Ten Times of What they wish for Us!
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Guest - 06-12-2006
<b>Baloch Nationalism its Origin and Development </b>
A MUST READ BOOK
http://balochwarna.org/files/BalochNationa...Development.pdf
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Guest - 06-12-2006
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In addition by connecting Mastung 29° 50â N 66° 56â E Pakistan will open up the Interior of Balochistan whereas the Karachi-Gwadar link will not give any Links to the Interior.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They can survive with Karachi-Gwadar link. Atleast they have option. Or they can dig tunnel. <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - acharya - 06-13-2006
<img src='http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2006/06/12/20060612_a4.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Child labour inevitable?
Poverty making families depend on childrenâs income
By Afnan Khan
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...2-6-2006_pg13_8
LAHORE: Child labour in Pakistan is not a choice but an inevitability, and underprivileged children are deprived of their basic rights including education because of financial constraints.
Daily Times talked to a number of families with working children about the International Day Against Child Labour on Monday. Widows, and disabled or poor parents said they had no choice but to send their children to work rather than school because of poverty.
A widow from Ichhra told Daily Times she lived in a rented house with three daughters and a son and her husband had died of cancer five years ago. She said she belonged to a religious family and could go out to work, but she sewed clothes at home, which earned her Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per month. She said her son Ali Ahmed was an apprentice to a motor mechanic, and had no choice but to work. She said she did not know how to get the Rs 500 Zakat being given by the government, and that the sum was too small to make a difference.
She said it was impossible for thousands of parents like her to send their children to school despite free education, because they could not survive without the childrenâs income. She said if the government would ban child labour, she would either have to commit suicide or become a prostitute. If the government was serious in educating children, it must eliminate poverty, she said.
Abdul Kareem, a daily wage labourer who lost his legs in an accident a few years ago, said he had two sons who worked at a tandoor. He said it was impossible for him to send his children to school without an alternative income source.
The government should pay a Rs 5,000 stipend and free shoes, uniforms and transport to schoolchildren if they wanted to increase literacy.
Safia, a garbage collector, said she was 8 and had never been to school. She said she wanted to make friends, play with dolls and go to school but could not because her parents were poor. She said she did not know where her father was and she collected papers from the garbage with her mother and sold them to a junkyard owner.
âThe government has failed to eradicate child labour and ensure free education,â said Muhammad Asif, a human rights activist from South Asia Partnership. The government was busy developing âexcessive military mightâ instead of focusing on education, he said, although it had signed the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Children (CRC) in 1991. He said there were more than 10 million child labourers in Pakistan, but the government said there were only 3.3 million.
The government should create appropriate atmosphere for childrenâs education and it was the stateâs responsibility to compensate parents, Asif said.
Social Welfare Minister Zubaida Jalal was not available for comment. Provincial Social Welfare and Special Education Secretary Tauqeer Ahmad said the Punjab government had taken a number of measures for promotion of education.
He said the Child Protection Bureau (CPB) was educating hundreds of beggars in collaboration with the UNICEF from Lahoreâs streets but it was not possible for the government to bring up their families. The CPB, he said, had facilitated the return of 80 children kidnapped and made child jockeys in the Middle East.
Tauqeer Ahmed said the Punjab government was running several orphanages for protection and education of orphans and lost children.
Home | Lahore
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Naresh - 06-13-2006
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Jun 12 2006, 08:01 PM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Jun 12 2006, 08:01 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->They can survive with Karachi-Gwadar link. Atleast they have option. Or they can dig tunnel. <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->[right][snapback]52411[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Mudy Ji :</b>
Karachi Port will have facilities similar to Gwadar and so why should Karachi <b>Urgently</b> need a link with Gwadar?
To land Cargoes in Gwadar for further Transport to Karachi by Rail â or vice-versa - would be a waste of time, effort along with loads of money.
The statement in the Third Paragraph <b>it would in all probability take around 10 years to be anywhere near the launching time</b> is most heartening!
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Naresh - 06-13-2006
<b>Five killed in Quetta due to Short Circuit in Air Vacuum</b>
Cheers
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Guest - 06-13-2006
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->PAKISTANI FACTOR IN CANADIAN TERRORISM
Monday, June 05, 2006
The Daily Times
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=..._5-6-2006_pg3_1
Twelve Pakistanis and Bangladeshis have been arrested in Canada before they
could allegedly cause an explosion three-times bigger than the one in
Oklahoma by the American terrorist Timothy McVeigh in 1995.
The police recovered three tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser from the
suspects in a Toronto suburb.
Some members of the group had allegedly attended a "training camp" north of
Toronto where they had made a video imitating military warfare. The suspects
had allegedly acquired weapons and decided upon their targets in Ontario.
The group is being charged under new anti-terrorism legislation introduced
into the criminal code in December 2001.
It has been revealed that the explosive material was planted on the would-be
terrorists as part of an elaborate sting operation by Canadian police. No
matter.
It is saddening that the Pakistanis were planning on using it for purposes
of terrorism. A Bangladeshi angle has existed ever since the Afghan jihad
and the training of Bangladeshi mujahideen in camps located in Afghanistan
and on the Pak-Afghan border.
On May 29, a Bangladeshi court sentenced two such trainees to death. The
convicting tribunal ruled that "Bangla Bhai" and Abdur Rahman were
responsible for killing two judges in a bombing in the south of the country
in November last year. The two were also believed to have been the
masterminds of a series of other attacks, including a coordinated terrorist
attack in August last year in which 500 tiny bombs exploded almost
simultaneously in 63 out of 64 districts of Bangladesh. The two were
veterans of jihad with credentials from a Karachi seminary and were now
"Talibanising" Bangladesh.
On Saturday, London police attacked a house with a 300-strong anti-terrorist
posse to catch a Bangladeshi family making a "chemical" bomb similar to the
one planned in Toronto, but thankfully found that its intelligence on the
house was faulty.
Earlier, two Muslims were indicted in London for trying to make a fertiliser
bomb. This year London also put behind bars Abu Hamza Al Masari, the
Egyptian-born former imam of the Finsbury Park mosque who had gained
notoriety for his fire-and-brimstone preaching against the "non-believers"
and for his links with terrorists.
When detectives raided the mosque in January 2003 they found an arsenal of
suspect items, including a stun gun, CS spray, chemical warfare-protection
suits, blank-firing pistols, false passports, knives, radio equipment and an
encyclopaedia of terrorism associated with Al Qaeda. Among the protesters
against his arrest were Pakistanis carrying the banner of the Al Fuqara
organisation whose chief in Pakistan was allegedly involved in the murder of
Daniel Pearl.
Canadians need to worry but anything they do will have a negative fallout
for Pakistanis needing to do business or visiting their relatives in Canada.
In 2004, Abdur Rahman Khadr testified in a court hearing in Canada that he
and his father were linked to Al Qaeda. Khadr, a 21-year-old Toronto man who
underwent weapons and explosives training at four camps in Afghanistan, said
that he had given CIA agents the names of several Canadians who had trained
at camps in Afghanistan. His father Ahmed Khadr was the central figure in
the Canada-based Al Qaeda and raised huge amounts of money for Abu Zubayda,
the Al Qaeda number three caught in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Ahmed Khadr himself was caught in Pakistan for blowing up the Egyptian
embassy on orders from Al Zawahiri but was sprung from jail by the then
Canadian prime minister after an appeal to his Pakistani counterpart. Ahmed
Khadr was finally killed in Peshawar in 2003. Two of his sons have landed in
Guantanamo Bay.
Pakistan needs to worry too because of the image its Islamists are giving
it. Pakistan's "rich man's preacher" Farhat Hashmi, after making a lot of
money off the penitent upper crust, has landed in Canada and bought property
for her big Islamic institution. The school is the latest extension of
Al-Huda International which Dr Hashmi founded in Pakistan in 1994 after
graduating with a PhD in Islamic studies from the University of Glasgow. The
school now counts more than 10,000 graduates and she has offered lectures to
women in Dubai and London. She has moved to Toronto with her husband and
family "in response to demand from young women in the city to gain a deeper
understanding of Islam". For a nominal fee of $60 a month, students attend
classes four days a week for five hours a day. The moderate Muslims of
Canada call her Wahhabi because of her unbending doctrines.
"Hardline" political Islam has been leveraged in Canada with Saudi-Wahhabi
funds. A 2004 study found that millions of dollars were funnelled to
extremist Islamic institutions. It said Saudi Arabia spent hundreds of
millions of dollars to fund 210 Islamic centres and 1,359 mosques around the
world, including in Canada. It cited an official Saudi report in 2002 that
stated "King Fahd donated $5 million for the cost of an Islamic Centre in
Toronto, Canada, in addition to $1.5 million annually to run the facility."
The Saudi factor has since faded away but the "zone of contact" of
Pakistanis with their Arab brethren remains the mosque, facilitated by the
English language, not available as effectively in the Arab world where a
large number of expatriate Pakistanis live.
Pakistan is trying hard to clean up its international image so that it can
get its economy to move forward and its trade gap to narrow. In Canada there
is a strong moderate Muslim organisation, which protects the rights of
Muslims while opposing the extremist elements among its own community. It
has thanked the Canadian authorities for capturing the latest gang of
alleged terrorists and for their vigilance, and assured them that "such
elements do not represent the Muslim community or Islam". Its leader was
fearful that "unless we eliminate from among our ranks people with such
distorted thinking and utterly erroneous interpretations of Islam, I fear
the future of Muslim communities in the West is riddled with uncertainty".
It hardly helps if the extremist in Pakistan is pacified but expatriate
Pakistanis and Muslims remain radicalised because of the conditions in which
they live and the hardline ideologies that are still being instilled in them
by the proponents of Wahhabism. *
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - acharya - 06-13-2006
Yashwant Sinha meets Mahmud Kasuri
Nirupama Subramanian
``The Pakistan Foreign Minister said he would not know who to talk to in Delhi"
# Says Islamabad is concerned by the issue
# Reiterates BJP's commitment to peace process
ISLAMABAD: "Practical problems" could arise in bilateral relations between India and Pakistan for want of a Cabinet Minister of External Affairs, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha said on Thursday.
The former External Affairs Minister made the remark soon after his meeting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, and said the issue was beginning to concern Islamabad.
A review of the third round of the composite dialogue process, which has nearly ended, is due soon and a decision needs to be taken about dates for starting the fourth round. "But Mr. Kasuri said he would not know who to talk to in Delhi," Mr. Sinha said.
He said the BJP had been demanding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of K. Natwar Singh following the Iraq oil-for-food scandal.
At his meeting with Mr. Kasuri, Mr. Sinha said he reiterated his party's commitment to the peace process "in the context of the January 2004" agreement between Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was then Prime Minister, and President Pervez Musharraf. "<span style='color:red'>That means the violence in Jammu and Kashmir must stop," Mr Sinha said.
"We cannot have blasts in Srinagar when the Prime Minister is to go there for a round table conference, we cannot have killings in Doda on a communal basis and still expect everything to be normal," he said.</span>
Pakistan maintains it has nothing to do with these incidents and that it is doing everything to prevent violence, but India must see "concrete evidence" of that, he said.
Mr. Sinha said the statement by BJP president Rajnath Singh asking for Pakistan to be declared a "terorrist state" had to be seen in the context of the Doda incident. While assuring Mr. Kasuri of the BJP's support to the peace process, Mr. Sinha said he also made clear that any solution "that will be finally arrived at should have bipartisan consensus".
Counterproductive
He said although Pakistan complained that the process was progressing far too slowly, it would be "counterproductive" to set a deadline for arriving at solutions. "What if we cross the deadline? What is the option to talking? If you are committed to talks, what is the use of a deadline?" he asked.
The former minister is here at the invitation of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency. He addressed Pakistani parliamentarians on the budget process in the Indian Parliament.
Mr. Sinha said he met several parliamentarians from Sind who said pending the reopening of the Indian and Pakistan consulates in Karachi and Mumbai respectively, the Indian High Commission must put in place a method to collect visa applications from Karachi.
Indian officials say that at present, applications are collected by means of a drop-box system for those who cannot travel all the way to Islamabad.
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Naresh - 06-13-2006
<b>Foreign firms eye Pakistan</b>
<b>Software exports jump 50 per cent</b>
KARACHI: The countryâs software exports have for the first time crossed $70 million during 2005-06, registering a growth of 50 per cent as more and more western firms are turning towards Pakistan for IT-enabled services to cut costs and raise profits.
Officials and industry players believe the rising export figures indicate Pakistan is fast catching up with rapidly developing software industry and at such rate, the countryâs global IT revenue may touch $9 billion by the end of 2009-10.
âThe $72 million exports are those recorded by the State Bank,â said Yousaf Hasan, Managing Director Pakistan Software Export Board - a federal body set up to promote outsourcing and software exports. âIf you count such numbers independently, which are not documented, these will be far ahead and may be more than double the exports registered every year.â
He said the latest data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan suggested software exports and service outsourcing reached $72 million during 2005-06 and could hit $80 million or above by the close of fiscal year on June 30.
âIt shows software export growth at 50 per cent,â said Hasan. âWe managed to surpass growth rate of 2004-05 as in that year exports of software and IT-enabled services reached $48.5 million against $32.88 million during 2003-04.â
The IT industry has emerged as the fastest growing sector this fiscal, mainly supported by phenomenal rise in call centresâ operations during the last two years. More than 140 centres are currently operating mainly in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad offering employment to around 5,000 people.
Defined as a unit, the call centres have adequate telecom facilities, trained manpower and access to database providing information to customers. The advancement in telecom technology has made it possible that the person handling a call could be anywhere provided that communication and interaction is properly handled.
Growth in business from western companies has inspired local investors to explore new opportunities. Though Pakistan remains far behind India, operators believe they are on the right path now.
âThe good thing is that western companies are looking at Pakistan to outsource services,â said Jehan Ara, President Pakistan Software Houses Association. âItâs an important development as after 9/11 local companies faced a tough time in terms of winning business from these companies.â
She said the growth on one hand boosted exports while on the other proved a boon for local skilled workers and professionals, who once had no option but to fly abroad mainly to the United States and Canada to build careers.
âIt also saved brain drain to some extent,â said Jehan Ara. âBut the potential is much more than what we are getting. So itâs time to plan a comprehensive strategy, which involves operators, regulators and professionals.â
The authorities appeared aware of the approaching opportunities and claimed to spend Rs115.2 million during fiscal year 2004-05, for subsidising various activities of immediate relevance to the industry, like participation in international exhibitions and acquiring quality certifications.
The PSEB says it plans to continue projects it initiated during the last two years and plans more in the new fiscal for the growth of software exports and call centre operations. Industry players say jump in business has also triggered competition among local operators, who now plan more for better marketing and some have designed aggressive plans to win contracts from foreign firms. <b>âSome of our members have set up front offices in the US and other countries to win deals,â said Farrukh Aslam, Coordinator Call Centers Association of Pakistan.</b>
The above is a bit of a come down as an earlier Article gave the following :
<b>Pakistan's exports of software and IT-enabled services are forecast to rise sevenfold to <span style='color:red'>$4.3 billion by 2010, from $600 million in the current fiscal year ending June 30</span></b>
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Guest - 06-13-2006
Hindu temple in Lahore demolished
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The <b>only Hindu temple in the Pakistani city of Lahore</b>
has been demolished to pave the way for construction of a multi-storied
commercial building.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Paki Muslim always reacts to events in India. This was response to demolition of Dargah in Gujarat.
Indian Hindus never reacts to events in Pakistan, but inferiority complex of Pakistani Muslim even after having separate Islamic country never shy away showing reaction. For Pan Islamic Muslim this is another sign that they got defeated by Hindus, a non macho religion.
Funny thing Indian Muslims still believe in Pan Islamic feeling or connection and reacts to Islamic brotherhood.
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Guest - 06-13-2006
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Pakistan's exports of software and IT-enabled services are forecast to rise sevenfold to $4.3 billion by 2010, from $600 million in the current fiscal year ending June 30<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
My UK based friend, who was working in Karachi packed his Software company within 3 months after March-April bomb blast in Karachi.
Ya, IT will grow on Pipal tree on Karachi sea coast. <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Naresh - 06-14-2006
<b>Mudy Ji :</b>
No, I havenât made this up. It is the Real McCoy. This <b>Gem</b> could only emanate from the 400% Better Educated Pakistani Railway Engineers who have recommended such an action in the Pakistani National Interest!
[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Sabotage & train tracks</span></b>[/center]
TRAIN tracks are being sabotaged and their fish-plates are removed, causing unsafe situations. <b>According to a recent news report, the Pakistan Railways is considering <span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'>welding of the fish-plates to the tracks</span>, eliminating this possibility.</b>
Modern train tracks are welded together and the length of a single track is 400 metres against the current run length of 10 to 12 metres. This not only reduces maintenance but it also makes the journey smooth. In Japan bullet train Shinkansen runs on welded lines. If we replace our current train tracks with the upgraded materials, the chances of sabotage will be reduced 40 times.
<b>S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi</b>
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Guest - 06-14-2006
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->According to a recent news report, the Pakistan Railways is considering welding of the fish-plates to the tracks, eliminating this possibility.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Best way to reduce paki population. <!--emo&
tupid--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pakee.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pakee.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Naresh - 06-14-2006
[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>New documentary denigrating Islam ready for release</span></b>[/center]
WASHINGTON: A new documentary aimed at denigrating Islam and attempting to show that it is not a religion of peace but war and conflict is due to be released in three US cities on July 7.
The documentary called âIslam: what the West needs to knowâ has been produced by a company with the improbable name of Quixotic Media and will be initially released in Washington, Atlanta and Chicago.
The 98-minutes filmâs main idea, according to the producers, is that it is not correct that those who commit violence in the name of Islam misinterpret the religionâs teachings, because Islam is a âviolent, expansionary ideology that seeks the destruction or subjugation of other faiths, cultures and systems of governmentâ. The documentary consists of interviews, selected citations from Islamic texts and Islamic artwork, computer-animated maps, Islamic television broadcasts and footage featuring Western leaders. The producers claim that the filmâs tone is âsober, methodical and compellingâ.
The documentary starts with prominent Western leaders stating that Islam is a peaceful religion and those who commit violence in its name are âheterodox fanaticsâ. <b>The first part of the film will seek to make the point that Islamic violence is entirely orthodox behaviour for Muslims and stems directly from the teachings of its founder (pbuh) and the commands of the Quran. The second part will make the point that jihad does not denote âstruggleâ but war fought against non-Muslims in order to bring the rule of Islamic law to the world. Part three will try it establish that Islam did not spread through evangelism or its own natural appeal, but through âaggressive wars of conquestâ. The Crusades will be projected as largely a belated response on the part of Christian Europe to ârescueâ Christians in the Holy Land suffering under Muslim âsuppressionâ. The Muslim world of today, the movie will allege, is responsible for the vast majority of conflicts and for almost all international terrorism.
Part four of he documentary will stress that the West has failed to understand that âreligious deceptionâ is central to Islam and Muslim groups employ it in the West to create the impression that their religion is a religion of peace. Islam, the documentary will state, is more a system of government than a personal religion, as throughout its history, it has never recognised the distinction between the religious and the secular/political.
âIslamic theology,â the film will attempt to prove âdivides the world into two spheres locked in perpetual combat and it is incumbent on the sphere where Islamic law prevails to fight and conquer the one where it does not. Muslims in Western societies, the documentary alleges, are called to subvert the secular regimes in which they live. <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>As such, the âdanger posed by observant Muslims in the West remains largely unappreciatedâ.</span></b>
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Naresh - 06-14-2006
<b>Wild dogs, rats on rampage in Pindi</b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->RAWALPINDI: Population of stray dogs and rats has been on a steady incline in certain parts of Rawalpindi. Residents of Chatian Hatian, Bohar Bazaar, Lal Haweli, Mohan Purra, Dhok Khaba, Jamia Majid Road, Muslim Town and Sadiqabad have asked authorities concerned to take notice of the situation as several children were bitten by stray dogs. The residents of the area urged the nazim of Rawal Town and health officials to launch campaigns against stray dogs and rats.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - Naresh - 06-14-2006
<b>Pakistan Software Export Board</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Even so, the export industry remains small.</b> In 2004, although the software and IT enabled services business was worth $300 million, (including hardware the figure is $600 million), <b>exports and outsourcing made up for just $33 million of that. By comparison, India logged $12.8 billion in software and services exports in 2004.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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Pakistan - News and Discussion 6 - acharya - 06-14-2006
<img src='http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2006/06/14/20060614_16.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
A Lychee vendor sleeps by his cart, on a sidewalk in the shade of a tarpaulin. app