Archive for 2006
Heather’s book charts love of Pakistan
Saturday, August 26th, 2006
THE BLUEST lakes in the world, the Buddhas of Bamiyan and a drive across Asia in an old Morris van all feature in a book by a Bridgefoot woman.
Permit to the Punjab, by Heather Bolton, is now on sale across Pakistan. It gives details of her near 40-year love affair with the country and a lifetime of friendship with a Muslim family.
Heather met Farooq, a Pakistani, in London in 1968 and struck up an immediate friendship.
The pair then set out on an epic voyage across Europe and West Asia in their reconditioned van.
The book chronicles the sights and sounds along the way including a visit to the Buddha statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, since destroyed by the Taliban.
She describes how Farooq’s family took her to their hearts and how Pakistan and the world has changed in the years between her first trip and her last in 2003.
She said: “It was always my intention to write the book and I started it many times.
“I thought I had finished it in 1997, but after I recovered from an illness I visited Pakistan again in 2003 and decided I had to write about that final journey to bring it up-to-date.
“I enjoyed writing the book hugely and I would love to write more, but it is so difficult to find the time.â€
She gave the finished manuscript to Ajaz Anwar, a Lahore college professor, who approached publishers. The Oxford University Press agreed to publish it.
Heather added: “The book is a celebration of different worlds coming together in warmth and friendship, despite the contrast of culture, religion, the effect of wars and changing perceptions of Islam.
“Since my first visit, Pakistan has changed immensely, poverty is now more widespread and visible and pollution has increased massively.
“The government takes a difficult line because it is under pressure to be pro-Western, but that causes unrest with people there.
“In 1968 the world was a more optimistic place and it was easier to travel to these places. That has become much more difficult now.â€
Permit to the Punjab, which includes black and white photographs taken by Heather, is available at Cockermouth’s New Bookshop and online.
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Karachi-Dubai ferry link to boost tourism
Saturday, August 26th, 2006
Book Gulf Dream CruiseÂ
By Indo Asian News ServiceIslamabad, Aug 25 (IANS) A Karachi-Dubai ferry will link the ancient route to the Gulf region, but the focus now will be on foreign and local tourists looking for luxuryCompared to about two hours of flying undertaken by thousands who work in the Gulf region, a two-day cruise will cost a whopping $549.The maiden voyage is scheduled for Nov 2, the Dawn newspaper said. Captain (retd) Anwar Shah, Director General of Pakistan Ports and Shipping, told a TV channel that the government was encouraging private operators to run the ferry service.
‘We have already awarded licences to five operators and Gulf Dream Cruise will be the first to operate its cruise in November,’ he said.
The official said the service would be extended to other Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Oman and Qatar in the coming years.
Gulf Dream Cruise will run a weekly ferry service between Dubai and Karachi. The ship will take two days to travel between the two destinations and dock in Dubai for a day before taking a reverse course to Karachi. Passengers will be able to take a one-way trip as well, APP news agency reported.
‘The regular ferry for fast transfer of passengers between Karachi and Dubai is not feasible because of the cheap airfare between the two destinations.
Also, expatriates living in the UAE don’t want to spend days on the ship when they go on annual leave to their country,’ said Shah.
‘This is a unique idea with a lot of potential due to a big demand from foreign and Pakistani tourists who love to go on a cruise for a short distance, and Dubai is the most sought-after destination,’ Shah said.
Gulf Dream Cruise weighs 23,000 tonnes with a length of 196 metres. It has 540 rooms and can accommodate up to 1,250 passengers, besides 400 crewmembers.
‘The cruise will have all the facilities available on an international cruise liner, like restaurants, theatre, games, music and other entertainment facilities,’ he said.
Tour operators in Dubai have also welcomed the new service. ‘It will definitely give a boost to tourism between the two countries,’ said the administration and operations manager at Lama Tour, which receives tourist groups from Pakistan.
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Tejari enters Pakistan market with Hashoo
Thursday, August 10th, 2006
Dubai
Tejari, the UAE-based premier business-to-business online marketplace, today entered into a strategic partnership with the Hashoo Group, Pakistan’s leading business conglomerate.Hashoo is engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, hoteling, information technology, mining, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, travel and tourism and real estate businesses.
Tejari is a subsidiary of the Dubai World, one of the largest holding companies in the world focusing on development, hospitality, investment, commodities, marine services and ports and free zones.
As per the agreement, Hashoo Group will be the operator of Tejari Pakistan and will offer online procurement services to both government departments and the private business community in Pakistan.
Tejari Pakistan will enable all registered companies to find, compare and procure products and services needed for day-to-day running of their businesses. It will also allow companies to network and connect with the larger number of buyers and suppliers in Pakistan and the Middle East region.
Aimed at automating and streamlining the administration and procurement cycle, the e- procurement solutions will help companies in Pakistan identify and compare prices online, enhance transparency and lower costs associated with paper-based procurement processes.
Providing an impetus to the existing economic and trade ties between UAE and Pakistan, Tejari Pakistan signals the growth and adoption of e-commerce among the business community in one of Asia’s fast emerging nations.
Recent years have seen the two nations strengthen its bilateral trade agreements with a significant focus on investments in the telecommunications, technology and the construction sector. UAE is the largest investor in Pakistan with the country investing more than $5 billion in various projects in the country during 2004-06.
“The launch of Tejari Pakistan comes at a time where both the nations have paved a way for mutual co-operation and understanding in the business and political arena. With all the large scale investments in the public and private sector, Pakistan is growing at an accelerated rate and expanding across all business sectors. In order to meet these needs and demands of a growing nation, it essential that the business communities have access to online procurement of goods and services,†said Murtaza Hashwani, chief executive, Hashoo Group of companies, Pakistan. -TradeArabia News Service
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‘Shun extremism, promote tourism’
Monday, July 10th, 2006
SHANDOOR, July 9: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Sunday reiterated his commitment to work for economic progress and development of tourism in Chitral and the Northern Areas and urged the people of the region to shun extremism and help the government in curbing terrorism.
He was speaking at a ceremony held to mark the conclusion of the three-day Shandoor Festival in the scenic polo ground in the foot-hills of Shandoor.
“I urge you no to let terrorism and extremism come into this area, because they affect progress. Stand up and be counted against the elements who want to spread the menace of terrorism and extremism,†the president said.
Amid applause, he announced the black-topping of the Gilgit-Chitral road and a bridge at Mastug. The road would come to Shandoor, he said, adding that the beauty of Shandoor Pass would be preserved.
President Musharraf spoke about his vision of the best means of communications for Chitral and the Northern Areas and said the Karakoram Highway would be widened and a road would be built to link Dir with Bajaur.
POLO MATCH: President Musharraf watched a polo match played between the teams of Gilgit and Chitral along with a large number of local and foreign tourists and diplomats and their families. The Chitral team defeated the Gilgit team by 9-7.
The president awarded trophy to the winner team and a cup to the runner-up team.—APP
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 Pakistan launches bus service to China
Friday, June 16th, 2006
Pakistan-China-Bus Service
Pakistan on Thursday launched a bus service to neighboring China, state media reported. The first ‘Pak-China Friendship Bus’ was warmly received on arrival at the Chinese city of Kashgar.
Pakistan Minister for Communications Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui launched the bus at the northern Pakistani border city of Gilgit. The bus will ply between Gilgit and Kashgar via the border towns of Sust and Khunjarab.
The 800-km Gilgit-Kashghar bus service would ply thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. “The service will not only further strengthen the relations between the two countries but will also help increase bilateral trade relations,” Siddiqui said at the bus service launching ceremony. He said that talks for issuance of multi-purpose visas are underway with China. He said increase in trade between the two countries through bus service would have positive impact on the economies of Pakistan and China, besides opening up new vistas of co-operation, investment and joint ventures for industrialists. Meanwhile a senior Pakistani official said on Thursday that no visa or passport is required for the locals intending to travel on recently started bus service between Pakistan and China.
Chinese tourists, traders could come upto Gilgit on just border pass to be issued by the chief secretary, Additional Secretary Ministry of Communication Muhammad Abbas told the Pakistan television. The people of the Northern Areas could go to China on border pass. However, visa would be needed for travellers from other areas.
A truck service has also been initiated with China. Chinese traders have been allowed to bring their trucks upto port cities of Karachi and Gwader. Truck from private careers would also be allowed to start their transport on Pak-China route, he added. The two countries had been discussing the agreement for starting both services since 1993.
The second bus service would go to Tashkorgan from Sust which is about 225 km from there while Sust is 90km from Khunjarab. It would be a daily service.
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Religious ministry bans 19 travel companies for Haj
Friday, June 16th, 2006
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Religious ministry bans 19 travel companies for Haj
ISLAMABAD: Religious Affairs Minister Ejazul Haq on Wednesday informed the National Assembly (NA) that 19 travel companies were banned from offering Haj packages in 2006.
In a written statement in the Question/Answer booklet, the minister stated that the companies were banned for violating rules and not providing proper service to pilgrims the previous year.
He said three committees including Scrutiny Committee, Selection Committee and Approval Committee were constituted to examine travel companies that had asked to be allowed registration for Haj in 2006. The minister said that all possible steps were being taken to ensure that the banned companies did not get registered under any other name.
The blacklisted companies include Saifi Haj Group Islamabad, Travel Lines and Tours Islamabad, Zayuf-ur-Rehman Rawalpindi, Manasik Haj Group Rawalpindi, Arab Wing Lahore, Karwan-e-Makkah Madina Lahore, Al-Huffaz Group of Travels Lahore, Ayub International Travel Lahore, Bismillah Travel and Tours Karachi, Al-Raee Haj Group Karachi, Al-Ansari Haj Consultants Karachi, Karwan-e-Al-Madina Karachi, Muhammad Ali Islamail Memon Haj Group Karachi, Ludhianvi Shaheed Haj Group Karachi, Ziarat Tourism Haj Services Chaman, Karwan Tauheed Pakistan Quetta, Maksa Travel and Tours Lahore, Harmain Group Karachi and Al-Ghazi Haj Group Karachi.
The minister said that under the Haj Policy all Haj group organisations would be registered. The organisations would be held responsible for providing facilities to the pilgrims according to the package offered. Sports Minister Shamim Haider informed the NA that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would construct an international cricket stadium in Islamabad before the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
The minister said the construction of the stadium would take at least two and a half years. He said that no other stadiums were being planned in the country.
The minister said that deadline for the completion of the stadium would be announced after land was transferred to the PCB by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). He added that the cost of the project was being finalised by the PCB. Replying to a question, Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi said the ministry would prepare the first draft of the revised national curriculum by June 30, 2006. He said that in the last three years, 1,237 scholarships were awarded under the Overseas Scholarship Programme. He said that 756 scholars were enrolled in PhD programmes abroad and applications of 470 scholars were being processed.
The minister said that 11 scholars had completed their PhD studies, adding that under the Indigenous Scholarship Programmes, 2,028 scholars were awarded scholarships.
Jehangir Tareen, the minister for industries and production, said three parties had been found eligible under the prescribed criteria to import 2,500 duty free tractors each. He said that the fourth company was personally approved by the prime minister.
The minister said the Sindh High Court had directed to re-advertise the scheme and the case was currently pending in the Supreme Court. However, the government has allowed import of duty free tractors in the budget announced on June 5. In another written reply, the industries minister said that 26 cement factories were operating in the country with an annual capacity of around 24 million tonnes of cement.
He said the annual sale of cement in the country during the financial year 2003-2004 was 12.45 million tonnes, which increased to 14.78 million tonnes during 2004-2005. He said the total quantity of cement exported to Afghanistan and other countries from January to March 2006 was 381,802 metric tonnes
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PIA to introduce universal e-ticketing
Friday, June 16th, 2006
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Posted in Pakistan Travel News | No Comments »
PIA to introduce universal e-ticketing
Friday, June 16th, 2006
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Welcome
Thursday, June 15th, 2006
This is the fist entry in our Blog. We hope to post every time thre is some change in the company or if there are any new section of the site or company added.
We have just re-designed the website using style sheets and more colors. We have kept the color scheme green to give it a feel & look of our Pakistani flag.
Comments and suggestion relating to the website will be highly apriciated.
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