PTCL Complaint Center

The banner in the picture reads:
We have been trying to get out PTCL number 042-6371795 fixed for the last six weeks, but without any success!

It is not clear whether putting up a banner to register your telephone complaint worked or not. But one can only imagine how desperate this person had to be that he resorted such extreme measures of spending money on the printing of this banner and then hoisting it on a busy city road. Or, maybe, he is just trying to make light of what has to be a really frustrating situation. As they say, “Lahore, Lahore hai!”

Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, signaling an abject sugar crisis looming over Pakistan, has asked Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to get the directives issued to Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCoP) for import of sugar in the earliest possible ease, Geo news reported on Wednesday (30-Dec-09).

In a letter written to PM Gilani, CM Punjab said sugar mills are producing sugar below production capacity owing to low supply of sugar cane, which might result in shortage of 1.2 metric tonnes of sugar in 2010.

He also voiced serious concern over likely surge in sugar prices by dint of shortage in markets, which is already selling at Rs53 in Punjab provin

A beneficiary of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) is still holding a key post in the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) despite the Supreme Court’s judgment declaring the ordinance null and void.

According to official list of NRO beneficiaries, Anees Alam, ex-deputy director of the defunct Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), currently TDAP, is holding the office of Director Office of the Chief Executive Officer.

Anees Alam is at 111th position in the official list of NRO beneficiaries issued by the Law Ministry with his former boss ex-director general textile quota, Nayar Bari who is at 110th position.

There are 37 cases against these two officials including 16 cases of illegal allotment of textile quota, one case of forgery and fraud and 20 cases of obtaining illegal benefits in convince with the exporters.

Under the NRO, Anees Alam was reinstated after 15 years of suspension and posted as Director of CEO office in TDAP which is the main post after the CEO.

Sources in the TDAP revealed that in the absence of the CEO, the Director of the Office of CEO looks after every matter.

They pointed out that despite Supreme Court’s annulment of the National Reconciliation Ordinance and initiation of court proceedings against the beneficiaries, the TDAP CEO has not suspended him from service as of today.

When contacted, Anees Alam said he had faced these cases in court in the past alone and now again the court would decide his fate.

Media consultant of TDAP Ziauddin Agha while talking to media said that action would be taken under the rules and regulations of the authority.

All CNG stations in big and small cities across country including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Islamabad and etc. are closed on Thursday following a strike call on Wednesday by the All Pakistan CNG Association to suspend operations for an indefinite period, Geo news reported.

All CNG stations have remained closed since yesterday while a few company-operated pumps continued supplying gas, with some supplying at higher rates. The APCNGA called for commencement of a countrywide strike to protest an increase in CNG prices and gas load shedding from Wednesday, December 30.

CNG stations in Township, Garden Town, Johar Town, Faisal Town, Model Town, Iqbal Town, Gulberg and other areas in Lahore are still closed. Motorists and transporters were forced to opt for petrol, resulting in higher transportation charges for the public.

Although a few company-operated stations were supplying CNG, but motorists had to wait for hours in long queues to get their tanks filled. Some CNG stations even started supplying gas before sunrise, but at higher rates. CNG is normally available at Rs 42-45 per kilogramme but was sold for Rs 50 per kg after the strike.

“I was going for a morning walk when I saw a CNG station open. I returned home immediately and took my vehicle to the station and got the tank filled,” said Sadeed Ather, a banker, adding he was running his vehicle on petrol due to non-availability of CNG.

Rickshaw drivers also increased their fares, as they were forced to run their vehicles on petrol. “We have not increased the fares but were forced to run our rickshaws on petrol,” said Saleem Salamat, a rickshaw driver, adding passengers also argued with him for charging high rates. “Petrol is at least 30 percent more expensive than CNG, so the fares automatically go up,” he added.

APCNGA Punjab President Shuja Anwer said the strike call had been given for the benefit of the people, who suffer the most when CNG prices are increased. He said the strike was successfully observed in Punjab.

APCNGA will launch protest march from Lahore Chambers to Governor house today meanwhile, All Pakistan Petroleum and CNG Association (APPCNGA) continued sale of CNG in some parts of Lahore, insisting that they are remedy to public sufferings at this juncture.

More than 250 CNG stations in Peshawar and over 450 CNG stations in Karachi are closed as part of nationwide strike but nonetheless, some CNG stations owned by petroleum companies are still selling gas on their stations in Peshawar, sources revealed.

Aag TV Message:

With the intention of celebrating and changing the face of live music in Pakistan, Aag is taking the first major intiative to turn this dream into a reality. In the spirit of the famous events such as Woodstock and Live Aid that simply made the art of live music more popular all over the world , we present to you… Aag Alive ’09, the first ever music festival of the youth in Pakistan.

Watch Aag Alive Videos Part 1

Watch Aag Alive Videos Part 2

Aag Alive Concert – Atif Aslam, Ali Azmat, Amanat Ali, Call, Fuzon, Annie Khalid, Noori & Hadiqa Kiani