PM’s House going solar

ISLAMABAD, May 2: The Prime Minister’s House is being switched to solar source of energy, it has been leant.

It would be completely converted to solar power within three to four months and would be off-grid, backed by batteries though, to maintain electric supply to the building.

Korea has expressed interest to invest in the solar power projects to produce 300MW of electricity in Pakistan to explore solar potential and provide cheap electricity.

This was said by Chief Executive Officer of Concentrix Solar of Korea Dr Choi who called on Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar along with the four-member delegation here on Wednesday.

Dr Choi said: “The company has planned to set up first project of 50MW within eight to 10 months while the total duration needed to install the 300MW projects will be three years.

“The projects will be both off-grid and on-grid and will mostly be established in Sindh,” said Mr Choi, and added that Chandka Medical College, Larkana and Civil Hospital, Hyderabad are already being shifted to solar technology with the help of Korean loan.

The minister, while welcoming the delegation, appreciated their interest to invest in the power sector in Pakistan.

He said upfront tariff would be announced soon for solar projects. He also informed the delegation that the government had exempted solar panels and other related equipment from sales tax and customs duty.— A Reporter

Bank manager kidnapped

ATTOCK, May 2: Two armed men allegedly abducted the manager of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Mukhad branch in the limits of Injra police station here, police said on Wednesday.

They said Branch Manager Mohammad Irfan Khattak was on his way from Pindigheb to the bank along with his cousin on Tuesday night when armed persons intercepted the car and held them at gunpoint.

They forcibly dragged Khattak out of the car and later took him with them leaving behind the vehicle and his cousin. The matter was immediately brought to the notice of local police and bank’s higher authorities but no clue of the victim could be found till the filing of this report.

It is to mention here that it is the ninth incident of kidnapping in the district, this year. The locals have demanded that government and the police should take responsibility of the grave state of security affairs and ensure protection of their life and property.— Correspondent

Pharma company sealed

ISLAMABAD, May 2: The health department of Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) on Wednesday sealed a pharmaceutical company after recovering a large number of unregistered drugs.

The department team headed by Drug Inspector Sardar Shabir Ahmed raided Multus Pharma in Al-Janat Arcade, G-11 Markaz and recovered unregistered drugs, empty cartons and cut blisters from the premises. After the recovery, the team sealed the premises of the company.

Shabir Ahmed said case against the drug act offenders was being referred to the Quality Control Board for further legal action. He said the firm was also found packing of drugs in contravention of Drug Act, 1976, during the raid.— A Reporter

Domestic tourism

ISLAMABAD, May 2: A nine-member Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (IUCPSS) and Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday to undertake joint programmes for promotion of tourism in Pakistan.

Prof Dr Mohammad Mukhtar, IUCPSS chairperson and vice-chancellor of Islamia University, Bahawalpur and Saad S.

Khan, TDCP managing director represented their respective organisations in the signing ceremony which was chaired by Higher Education Commission (HEC)  Executive Director Prof Dr Sohail Naqvi.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Naqvi said the MoU would play an important role in promoting domestic tourism in Pakistan.

He underlined the importance of preservation of rich history, traditions, architecture and culture of Pakistan and assured the support of HEC in this regard. — A Reporter

Clarification

APROPOS of a news item published in Dawn on April 19, 2012 headlined “Foreign mission official arrested”, the Swedish embassy has clarified that neither any security guard named Rafaqat Hussain works for it nor any security guard at the embassy has been arrested.

Turkish cultural day

ISLAMABAD, May 2: The Turkish cultural day was observed at National University of Modern Languages (Numl) on Wednesday.

Speeches, skits, songs, poems, documentary, gathering of diplomats and Turkish traditional foods were the main features of the event.

Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Babur Hizlan was the chief guest of the event which was also attended by Ambassador of Azerbaijan Dashgin Shikarov, Ambassador of Cyprus Mustafa Arawan, embassy officials, their families and students from different departments of the university.

Addressing at the prize distribution ceremony, Mustafa Babur Hizlan said: “Love and affection of Pakistani brothers inspire me the most and it is this warmth that I will never forget”.— A Reporter

Outlaws arrested

ISLAMABAD, May 2: The capital police on Wednesday arrested outlaws from different areas of the city and recovered stolen items and weapons from them.

A police spokesman said that Industrial Area, Shalimar, Secretariat and Bhara Kahu police arrested five alleged thieves and recovered stolen items worth millions of rupees. Likewise, the Tarnol and the Loi Bher police intercepted two persons separately on suspicion and during their search recovered a 30-bore pistol each from them. — Staff Reporter