Archive for June, 2007
University of Karachi to open flowers museum
Wednesday, June 6th, 2007
Herbarium is a dried plant museum in the University of Karachi (KU) which has opened new dimensions in the study of Botany by collecting specimens of more than 150,000 dried plants and compiling a directory on flora from around Pakistan and abroad.
The plants are continuously collected in the Herbarium and studied. It has been observed that some plants showed different characteristic after a period of 50 or more years, for instance a plant, may begin its flowering process in March this year, but half a century later this same species may commence its flowering process in January, this shows that a variation in climatic changes has altered the flowering and other processes of the plant.
University of Karachi Department of Botany
The information is useful to researchers, town planners, environmentalists and students in calculating climatic changes and in planning new towns after considering the detailed studies and the knowledge gleaned from plants of different species from time to time.
Prof. Pirzada Qasim, the Vice Chancellor of KU had laid the foundation stone of this Herbarium, a two-storey building on a covered area of 10,000 square feet, in 2005.
The Department of Botany is also preparing a ‘ Data List’ of more
than 300 to 400 plants found in Chitral to preserve their floral identity in the country.
Approximately, 500 plant species abundantly grow in Pakistan, with a majority of these found in Chitral.
Dr Mohammad Qaisar, former Dean Faculty of Science and incumbent Director of Herbarium said that the objective of preparing the “Red Data List†was to provide guidelines for further conservation and research.
“Pakistan is the only country in the region where scientists and researchers have obtained information about the country’s floral resources and prepared valuable documentation. While Japanese researchers have prepared documentation on Afghan flora and the British on India and Nepal, the Americans provided their services to China and the Europeans worked with Iran in this regard,†he claimed.
He said that four plants, namely Abitinlon Alii, Sepalum, Asparagus and Acacia nilotica SubSP Hemispheric, are abundant in Karachi. He said that Acacia nilotica SubSP Hemispheric plant is found along the coastline of the city, but this plant is fast becoming extinct due to oversight and development work at some specific coastal sites of the city.
The Flora of Pakistan is compiled by Dr Syed Irtifaq Ali and Dr Qaisar, and is available on the Internet with the active collaboration of the Missouri Botanic Garden, USA.
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Monday, June 4th, 2007
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| KARACHI: The International Travel and Tourism Mart 2007 (ITTMP) opened up to the general public on its second day on Saturday. In this connection a seminar was held by Galileo to inaugurate their new packages.
Global e-commerce has come up with “gBossâ€, a state of the art travel accounting system that offers a wide range of reports for business analysis and decisions. Today, through International Travel and Tourism Mart, Global e-commerce, in association with Galileo Pakistan launched gBoss throughout Pakistan. Moreover, to facilitate users during peak Umrah season and to rejoice in the holy trip of their customers, another value-added feature is being offered which is called gBoss Tours for Umrah and Hajj. It is a ticketing software aimed at providing clients with complete support at every step of Umrah. NDC Head Galileo Pakistan, Shaheen Ramzan Ali congratulated the Ministry of Tourism and 4th Dimension for providing such an opportunity to launch the system and an excellent environment, most suitable for all successful endeavours. The ITTMP 2007 has seen a regular flow of visitors both local and foreign in these two days and some of the exhibitors have called it a success. The exhibitors said that considering ITTMP is being held for the first time on this level they have received a good response and hope to see ITTMP being made an annual event. |
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Private airline AirBlue Pakistan Sets-off Flights to UK
Saturday, June 2nd, 2007
LONDON (UK): Pakistan’s new generation private airline AirBlue launched flights to UK on Friday by making Manchester as the first destination from capital Islamabad to the empires of Europe. It was a historic day – filled with emotions of Pakistanis – living in Britain when they saw the landing of AirBlue flight at the Manchester airport – in a way as smooth as silk.
Both the passengers and guests from Islamabad were received at the airport – in a most warm welcome style.
A large number of overseas Pakistanis – as well as travel agents and representative people of Azad Kashmir – were present on the occasion.
Speaking to ‘Pakistan Times’ [Daily E-Newspaper], Syed Nasir Ali, Director Commercial & Marketing said before the flights’ return home on Friday evening that AirBlue flights to UK would by all perception strengthen solidarity and friendship between United Kingdom and Pakistan.
Significantly, AirBlue is the first private airline of Pakistan in the aviation history to start long haul operations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.AirBlue’s performance in Pakistan is an evidence of the success story of the airline, said Syed Nasir Ali.
He added that AirBlue’s flights to the United Kingdom will build a stronger bond between the two countries and facilitate the Pakistani community’s traveling requirements.
Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chief Operating Officer AirBlue had earlier, pointed out that the response from the Manchester’s Pakistani community was so overwhelming that AirBlue has decided to introduce a 5th flight on every Thursday from June 28, 2007.
Syed Nasir Ali emphasized that AirBlue’s success was due to the innovative technology being used by the airline and the next generation aircraft in operation by AirBlue.
‘Pakistan Times’ understands that AirBlue plans to start operations to new international routes very soon benefiting the Pakistani community around the world and expanding its network.
AirBlue currently operates to various destinations in the Middle East most notably the United Arab Emirates.
It has been expanding rapidly despite experiencing competition from the other three airline operators in Pakistan.
The airline hopes to cash in on the demand for flights to and from Pakistan.
Since, British Airways stopped flying direct between Manchester and Islamabad British Pakistanis have had their choices limited.
It is hoped that initially there will be four AirBlue flights a week departing at 14:00 PST from Islamabad and landing at Manchester at 19:30 (local time).
Flights from Manchester will leave at 2.00 am (local time) and land at Islamabad 10.30 AM the next day.
It has also been reported that AirBlue has decided to introduce a 5th flight on every Thursday from June 28.
Founded in 2004, AirBlue serves a number of destinations within Pakistan including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Gawadar.
The airline also operates international routes from Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar to Dubai
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