News | HiPakistan

Load shedding duration increased by KESC

The duration of load shedding in the residential and commercial areas of the Karachi city had been temporarily increased by KESC in view of the peak demand exceeding 2550 Mega Watts (MW).

The temporary increase in load shedding hours was strictly for the period when the KESC was receiving low gas supply from Sui Southern Gas Company and normal load shedding plan will return as soon as gas supply increases, or if Pakistan State Oil agreed to extend KESC’s credit limit to buy furnace oil.

Protests were staged in various areas. People burnt tyres on the roads, pelted stones on passing vehicles and damaged the public property. Citizens alleged that the KESC administration and CBA union were not considering the consequences faced by them in their fight of interests.

The posh areas of metropolis also witnessed long hours of load shedding along with voltage fluctuations that damaged their appliances.

TV Actress, Attiqa Odho, caught on airport with liquor

The Airport Security Force (ASF) spotted two bottles of liquor in the baggage of Attiqa Odho, a film actress and television host during security check. Attiqa Odho joined the APML of former President Gen Pervez Musharraf, came to Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Saturday to catch flight for Karachi and during a security check 2 bottles of liquor found.

The two bottles of liquor were spotted by the ASF staff when the security check-in of passengers of Karachi flight PK-301 for Karachi was underway at Benazir Bhutto International Airport last Saturday. Though she was allowed to continue her journey, the two bottles were seized by the customs staff.

APML Spokesman Fawad Chaudhary when contacted said it was no less than a surprise for him that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had taken notice of such a small issue, instead of taking notices on other national issues of vital importance.

Some sources said that attiqa Odho resigned from the party due to the liquor scandal in which wine recovered from her luggage.

A Nuclear Rabbit

An amateur footage of an earless mutant rabbit has sparked online panic in Japan. The person who made the video claims it was shot just outside the exclusion zone near Japan’s crippled Fukushima plant.

The clip has given rise to fears the radiation threat in the area is far worse than previously thought. The funny bunny has caused an online frenzy, with predictions that babies in Japan may soon be born with mutations.

Bilawal Bhutto returns to Pakistan

Bilawal, who heads the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as chairman is returning back to home in September after finishing his studies at Oxford University.

While conversation with President Asif Ali Zardari, he said that Bilawal will need quite some time to familiarize himself with the political environment before effectively assuming the political responsibility and party mantle. Under the Oxford University rules, Bilawal stayed away from active politics, but the restriction will end in September this year when he will come back to Pakistan.

Bilawal would turn 23 on September 20 this year and would need another two years to attain the minimum age of 25 to contest election to the National Assembly for a bigger political role. The next parliamentary polls are due in early 2013 if all goes well.

Nawaz Sharif support to Shahid Afridi

Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister and head of Pakistan Muslim League-N, has become a helping hand for Shahid Afridi when he said that PCB is not treated fairly with him. Talking to reporters at the Bagh-i-Jinnah Gymkhana ground here on Tuesday, Nawaz Sharif said under Afridi’s captaincy Pakistan had reached the semi-final of the last World Cup in India and as a bowler his performance was also impressive in that mega event.

Nawaz said that in the past some Pakistani cricketers had defamed the country and had the PCB taken timely action, the ICC would have stayed away. The PCB, he said, should be held accountable for its negligence.

Former Prime Minister has assured Afridi that he is not alone in this matter and PML-N will raise the voice for injustice with superstars.

Petrol and diesel shortage, citizens in trouble

Due to annul shutdown of Attock Refinery (ARL), which is the key supplier of petrol, diesel and other fuels in the region, the supplies have been cut to different cities. With this shortage the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) finally issued show cause notices to the oil companies on Tuesday asking them to resolve the issue and improve the stocks.

The oil companies have managed to maintain supplies to some selected places in Rawalpindi and the federal capital but vast majority of the pumps in northern Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa almost ran dry due to limited or negligible supply.

Shortage of petrol continues haunting citizens, forcing them, especially motorcyclists to search fuel in the severe hot days of summer. It is now about two weeks since people have been facing shortage of petrol at filling stations. Motorists have to face immense problems, especially during two weekly holidays of CNG. Long queues of vehicles are seen at filling stations where some supply of petrol is available.

A House Found on Mars

David Martines, an amateur American astronomer has observed a house or a kind of building on Mars Planet from a flyby of the Google Earth Mars explorer.

The observations of David are interesting – he has apparently seen a cylindrical object that would be around 700 feet long and 150 feet wide. His naming it ‘Bio Station Alpha’ is logical assuming that it either houses living beings or did so in the past if it has since been abandoned. Or – that someone had kept it there as a store to hold equipment. He has the co-ordinates and claims that anyone who has downloaded the Google Earth software can view it and draw his own conclusions.

NASA would certainly be pleased with this news and could get a sanction from the President of the USA to reactivate their efforts to land on Mars.

3-day Mango Expo 2011 in Hyderabad

Mango, “King of Fruits” is one of the most popular and loved fruits worldwide. The most popular commercial varieties – all different in colors and sizes, and each with a distinct flavor and taste – include Anwar Retol, Dasehri, Langra, Chaunsa, Sindhri, Saharni, Alphonso, Pairi, Fazli and Neelam.

The 3-day Mango Expo 2011 will be held in Hyderabad at Expo Center from June 23 to 25 under the auspices of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

A four member-delegation of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry Dr. M. Fareed Qasim, Saleem Arain, Zaheer Jan and Naeem Aslam visited Mirpurkhas Mango Exhibition and met with Sindh Agriculture Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah to seek his support.

The minister assured HCCI delegation of his full support. He also asked the Director General Agriculture Extension Hyderabad to provide full support to organizers of the Mango Expo 2011.

Afridi refused to appear before PCB disciplinary committee

Syed Ali Zafar, Lawyer of Shahid Afridi told media that Afridi will not appear as summoned before a PCB disciplinary committee on June 8 to face charges of violating a code of conduct.

He said that “The process followed by the PCB does not conform with the law as even under Pakistan’s constitution there is a right given to everyone to be heard before a case is decided,”

The PCB said Afridi violated the players’ code of conduct in announcing his retirement and suspended his central contract and revoked all no-objection certificates (NOCs) that would have allowed him to play abroad.

Zafar said the PCB had taken strict steps without giving Afridi a chance to tell his side of the story. Afridi also disagreed with the process of the disciplinary action.

Afridi said “I have never cared about the captaincy. I have played under a number of players. A lot of other senior players also feel humiliated by treatment from the PCB but they can’t stand and fight because of the central contract and many other things, but for me personal honour comes first”.

Reshuffling Marketing and Sales Heads in Mobilink

It would be surprised to know that two experts in their own field reshuffled to such departments in which they have no experience. From some reliable source Mobilink Management decided to shuffle its Marketing and Sales head.

Bilal Munir Sheikh, who is currently the vice president, marketing department, will be given the headship of sales department, while Jehanzeb Taj, who is currently heading the sales department will look after the marketing of Mobilink.

This decision is very surprising that Bilal Munir Sheikh is known for his expertise in marketing and brands, while Jehanzeb Taj’s strength is sales and with this development, they both will be heading their respective departments with almost no prior experience.

Some industry analysts said that Mobilink is probably trying to diversify the skill set of both the VP’s but such tries could be harmful in related decisions.