Monday, January 25, 2010

Environment-friendly public transport to be launched in major cities



8,000 CNG buses to be launched in major cities of Pakistan

According to the News reports that the environment ministry would act as a sponsoring agency in multi-billion environment-friendly public transport project based on public-private partnership in ten mega cities, including the capital. The environment ministry would act as a sponsoring agency in multi-billion environment-friendly public transport project based on public-private partnership in ten mega cities, including the capital. he project worth Rs.5,000 million, especially designed to provide comfortable transport facilities to commuters without making any adverse impact on the environment, some 8,000 CNG buses would be launched in cities, including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Quetta, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Peshawar.

The much-awaited project has a special significance when it comes to worries of thousands of commuters ply between the twin cities that have been anxiously waiting for initiation of any such project to avoid rude behavior of drivers and conductors. Fifty per cent of seats for women may be kept in mind and it would also be ensured that there would be no adverse effect on the natural environment. Read more

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Eye catching beauty

Jinnah Park is another beautiful place of Islamabad to visit. The below pictures are a glimpse of it and it has so many beautiful sculptures like this one for your eyes. It is a beautiful antique monument which will draw your attention towards it. It is a symbol of Art as well as our tradition and i just love to share it here on my blog.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

55th death anniversary of Pakistan’s most gifted Urdu short-story writer

55th death anniversary of most gifted Urdu short-story writer Saadat Hasan Manto, who died on January 18, 1955 at the age of only 43.

Born on May 11, 1912 - Saadat was a prolific writer during his short life. In a literary, journalistic, radio scripting and film-writing career spread over two decades, he produced 22 collections of short stories, a novel, five collections of radio plays, three collections of essays, two collections of personal sketches, and 12 scripts for films, including Eight Days, ‘Chal Chal Re Naujawan’ and ‘Mirza Ghalib’, which was shot after Manto moved to Pakistan in January 1948. He also performed in two movies.

It was Partition that inspired Manto’s greatest works - ‘Toba Tek Singh’, to mention just one, which gained him much posthumous fame. India’s Doordarshan television, as well as Channel Four, UK, adapted this play as a telefilm, and it has been staged several times, including in faraway Norway. And yet, during his lifetime, he had to deal with much infamy. His unflinching realism and uncompromising observations of life as he saw it led to Manto being tried for obscenity half-a-dozen times, thrice before and thrice after Partition. Read Full

Sunday, January 17, 2010

The real heroes of the nation

Fire brigade and rescue javans Islamabad showed that they are capable of controlling such situations by their quick action which held some days ago at Aabpara market Islamabad when suddenly people rushed towards the main market because they saw a cloud of heavy smoke at that side. People gathered on the spot. In the meantime the hooter of the fire brigade was heard and it was a glimpse of hope for the people who were there at that very moment.

Here are some Pictures of the sudden event. The reason to share this post here is to appreciate these rescue workers and fire brigade team for there quick and professional responce.

Smokes clouds could be seen from far away

People gathering on the spot

The Fire brigade reached on the spot

Rescue work started

People appreciated the effort of rescue services and dispersed happily

We owe them for their effective job. They risk their lives for the sake of our safety. They are the real heroes of the nation who even with less resources prove them selves to be the real hard workers. May ALLAH bless them and give them power and prosperity.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Maritime Surveillance Aircraft for Pakistan

Lockheed Martin Delivers 2 of 7 Upgraded P-3C Maritime Surveillance Aircraft
for use by Islamic Republic of Pakistan

American security company Lockheed Martin has recently delivered two of seven upgraded P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft for Pakistan under the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program.The most recent aircraft delivery occurred on Jan 7 to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, for subsequent transfer to Pakistan. Lockheed Martin delivered the first plane in October 2009, the company said Thursday.

The aircraft support anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare missions and will enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct maritime surveillance in littoral and deep-water environments. The aircraft are designed to have a single integrated tactical picture of the battle space, drawing upon data from aircraft sensors and information from other platforms.

‘These aircraft incorporate a variety of enhanced features including communications, electro-optic and infrared systems, data management, controls and displays, mission computers and acoustic processing,’ said Mike Fralen, director for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors’ maritime surveillance programs. Read full Article

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Tribute to the People of love, peace and harmony

Sufi saints have contributed a lot towards creating a message of love, peace and harmony in the subcontinent. Now there is a need to project their message effectively to acquaint the younger generation with their valuable contributions in the real sense.

In this context, Lok Virsa has dedicated a spacious hall, named as the ‘Hall of Sufis & Shrines,’ within its popular living cultural museum — the Heritage Museum at Shakarparian — to depict and portray contributions and messages of the great sufi saints. The display offers beautiful architecture with extremely artistic intricate mirror work alongside a pigeons’ landmark, which looks as real as one can see at the shrines.

The word ‘sufi’ is derived from Arabic word ‘safa’ meaning purity. Sufism is a mystic tradition encompassing a diverse range of beliefs and practices. This mystic sufi tradition has existed in all parts of Pakistan and is a binding force that brings people of diverse cultures together. The saints whose shrines dot the landscape are the meeting place of the masses — the rich and the poor, the rulers and the ruled — serve as a humanism force in society at both cultural and spiritual levels.

The sufi saints who came to the subcontinent in large numbers played the most important part in spreading Islam all over the region, preserving the religion’s inner spirit and converting a large mass into Muslims. They were indeed the men of high moral characters, who stood side by side with the poor masses in all trails and tribulations of time.

Like other Islamic movements, sufism traces its origin to the Holy Qur’aan and the Hadith. In order to keep sufism within the discipline of Islam, the sufis organised themselves into ‘silsilas’ or orders. The most important and well known among them are ‘Qadriah’, founded by Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani; ‘Naqshbandiah’, called after Khawaja Bahauddin Naqshbandi; ‘Chishtiah’, founded by Khawaja Abul Ishaq Shami; and ‘Soharwardiah’, founded by Sheikh Bahauddin Zakaria.

In the part representing the land of the sufi saints, there are life-size statues of musicians in performing postures, singing renditions of sufi saints like Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Sachal Sarmast. Outstanding Sindhi folk artiste and performer Allan Faqir is also among them. Punjab describes pictures of the shrines of Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhsh, Shah Rukne Alam and Sheikh Bahauddin Zakaria. Malangs and faqirs, who form an integral part of shrines, are also seen, paying rich tributes to the sufi saints.

‘Dali’, an ornamented boat-like monument specially created to express tributes to the famous saint belonging to the capital territory known as Hazrat Barri Imam by his spiritual followers during the annual ‘urs’ celebrations, is also depicted in the display.

Lok Virsa Executive Director talking to ‘The News’. He said that the sayings of the sages and the time-old customs, which express the true genius of the people of Pakistan, are major subjects of the Lok Virsa’s mandate.




Tuesday, January 5, 2010

82nd birthday anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

Zulfikar Ali Bhuttowas a politician who served as the President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973 and as Prime Minister from 1973 to 1977. He was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The leaders and activists of (PPP) across the Country celebrated the 82nd birthday anniversary on Tuesday with utmost simplicity. Party activists held Quran Khwani and distributed food among the poor.

Several provincial ministers, senators, MPAs and PPP’s central and provincial leaders and a large numbers of workers and supporters of the party visited the mausoleum of Bhuttos at Garhi Khuda Bux (Larkana) and offered fateha and laid floral wreaths on the graves of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.

Another milestone on the journey forward

Image : Google

Pakistani scientist has successfully invented a nano catalyst for production of bio-diesel with the help of spent tea for the first time in the world, opening up new avenues for alternative environment-friendly energy resources.

Dr. Syed Tajamul Hussain, a nano scientist working at National Centre for Physics (NCP), and his research team members after untiring efforts during last one year proved with their laboratory tests that used tea can be utilised to produce bio-diesel almost free of carbon emission on commercial basis. The results of their research is going to be published in world reputed Journal of Bio-Technology in its January 2010 issue.

According to the data bio-diesel generally refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl (methyl propyl) or ethyl esters. Bio-diesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids (e.g. vegetable oil, animal fat with an alcohol. Bio-diesel is meant to be used in standard diesel engines and is thus distinct from the vegetable and waste oils to fuel converted diesel engines. Bio-diesel can be used alone, or blended with petro-diesel.

In an interview with ‘The News’ Syed Tajamul Hussain said Pakistan is the third largest importer of tea after UK and China as it is spending $8.8 million annually for import of tea.

“The nano particles help produce 560 ml of bio-diesel from one kilogramme of used tea and if the process is carried out on commercial basis it can be a giant step towards production of alternative energy resources in the country,” he said. He said there is a global ban on production of bio-diesel with the use of edible products so they started research work on spent tea and finally they succeeded in their endeavours to use this non-edible product to prepare bio-diesel.

Tajamul Hussain said the newly invented technology can be used on commercial basis after establishment of pilot plant at the initial stage to get first hand practical experience at comparatively low capital. He said emission of carbon has become one of the grave concerns in the modern world so they tried their best to invent any new process that ensures production of bio-diesel without any chance of carbon emission. Read more

Remembering Rashid Minhas Shaheed on his 52nd martyrdom anniversary.

On this day at Goth Ahmed Shah, Sujawal on 20 August 1971, We remember and honor the sacrifice of pilot officer Rashid Minhas, A true hero w...