Chinese giant to build Gwadar?s first luxury golf community

LONDON: An investment expert has said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is amongst the most important and central part of China’s “One Belt One Road" (OBOR) initiative as this project needs a harbour which Pakistan ideally offers in the form of Gwadar port.Ryan He, Board Member of privately held leading real estate investment company, CPIC and expert on Chinese overseas investments, told this to Pakistani media at a press conference here. The event was organised by CPIC to formally announce the launch of Gwadar’s first luxury golf community called “China Pak Golf Estates” for which an MOU for construction has been signed with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).The press conference was attended by fellow CPIC Board Member Zeeshaan Shah; Lord Maxwell Beaverbrook, CPIC’s Board Member; Mark Savage, Chief Commercial Officer; and Ben Wiseman, Chief Financial Officer.Ryan He said that China decided to invest in the CPEC after long deliberations and keeping in view all aspects related to Pakistan’s internal dynamics, local and international situation and long-term prospects. He said that China needed a harbour for its growth and future trade deals and route which Pakistan offered. He said that with China Pak Golf Estate by CPIC, the objective is to help Gwadar build its first social infrastructure to compliment the huge amount of Chinese investment in the area. “We are developing multi-cultural, lifestyle communities that are secure and cater to both local and expatriate professionals. Gwadar is at the core of all the development that’s taking place.”He said that China faced a situation quite like the protagonist in Shakespeare's play Hamlet and needed to decide whether "to be or not to be, to invest in Pakistan or not" and in the end it was decided that it was best to invest in Pakistan as that was the real way forward. Zeeshan Shah explained that the grand golf community worth $265 million is secure and spread across 6.7 million square feet. “It’s a tailor made project for both - locals and expats - and Chinese professionals working in the flourishing port city of Gwadar and provides all of the amenities required for a quality lifestyle, set to become the most desirable lifestyle address in Gwadar.”Shah said that the CPEC was set to revolutionise Pakistan and already making a huge impact. “The whole world is talking about it. We launched ‘Emerging Pakistan’ campaign on London’s iconic double-decker buses to send out the message to the world that Pakistan is safe to invest and Gwadar offers best returns on investments and investors missing out on investing in Gwadar will regret”. Zeeshan Shah said Pakistan is “a flourishing country. No matter what happened politically in the last ten years, Pakistan’s real estate sector has only progressed. The opportunities in real estate sector will only get better. Gwadar is in the hands of Pakistan army and that gives everyone a strong sense of security.”

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Economic Survey: Pakistan economy set to record fastest growth in 13 years

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy is set to record its fastest growth since 2005 during the current fiscal year, authorities said Thursday.But the projected 5.8 percent growth rate means the government will still miss its six percent target."We would have achieved 6.1 percent without political turmoil," Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said while launching the Pakistan Economic Survey 2017-2018.The country was rocked last July when Nawaz Sharif was ousted from the premiership over graft allegations.Pakistan, for years plagued by a bloody homegrown Taliban insurgency, has been battling to get its shaky economy back on track and solve a chronic energy crisis that cripples its industry.But now confidence in South Asia’s second biggest economy is growing, with security improving and the International Monetary Fund claiming in October that it has emerged from crisis after completing a bailout programme, though it still faces major challenges.The growth in GDP comes amid structural reforms, the improved energy sector, and China’s ambitious $46 billion infrastructure project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, linking its western province of Xinjiang to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan.

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ECNEC approves Gwadar drinking water, Mohmand Dam Hydropower projects

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Thursday approved three major projects, including supply of drinking water to Gwadar, a hydropower project at Mohmand Agency and Metro Bus service for the new Islamabad International Airport.The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi here, accorded approval to these projects.The ECNEC gave approval for the Rs 309.558 billion multi-purpose Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project.Besides producing 800 mv electricity, it would also have a storage capacity of 1,594 million cubic meters of water that could be used for irrigation, flood mitigation and supply of drinking water to Peshawar and FATA.The ECNEC gave approval for the construction cost of infrastructure and allied works for Metro Bus Services from Peshawar Morr interchange to the New Islamabad International Airport. The Central Development Working Party had recommended the review of the project by the ECNEC.The 25.6 km long project, which was still in different stages of completion, would cost Rs.16,427.880 million and provide affordable and convenient transport for passengers using the New Islamabad International Airport, rescheduled for opening in first week of May.To meet the long standing demand of the people of Gwadar, the port city would get a five million of gallons per day Reverse Osmosis Sea Water Plant at a total cost of Rs. 5,071.43 million.Under this project sea water would be desalinated for catering to the drinking and other requirements of Gwadar City and adjoining areas. The Federal Government has also agreed to increase its financing share from 50% to 67% while the remaining 33% would be financed by the Government of Balochistan.

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Soldier embraces martyrdom in cross-border firing in Mohmand Agency

RAWALPINDI: Three terrorists were killed while a soldier embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) during an exchange of fire in Mohmand Agency on Thursday.According to a statement of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), terrorists from across the border had fired at a Pakistani post in Mohmand Agency.Pakistani troops effectively responded to the attack.The Pakistani soldier, who embraced martyrdom was identified as 21-year-old Farman Ullah.

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Meet the ?motorcycle? lady from Dera Ghazi Khan

DERA GHAZI KHAN: This school teacher has a bigger lesson spread with her image as another motorcycle lady in a conservative region from Dera Ghazi Khan.Mahjabeen, 33, adjusts her Burqa before she kicks start her motorcycle for a 27-kilometer ride all the way to the foot of Koh Suleiman, where she teaches at the only school of an area.A resident of Sokar in the Taunsa Tehsil of Dera Ghazi Khan District, Mahjabeen is a graduate from Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. She holds master’s degrees in Political Science and Education.Speaking of her daily commute, she mentions fear as she passes through a route that was once infested with terrorists to reach the school. She adds that some terrorists were killed in a raid by Rangers last year but the thought of their presence still haunts the area which lies in the foot of Koh Suleiman.Mahjabeen happens to be the only female teacher in the school, aside from two male teachers in total, her presence motivated village girls to seek education there. She aspires to opt for a school near her residence to keep up with household responsibilities and family.

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Pakistan?s first old home for ?transgender persons? established

LAHORE: Be-Ghar Foundation has established an old home to house transgender people, which happens to be the first one in Pakistan.The home comes after a recent establishment of a school dedicated for the transgender people, is yet to have its inauguration under the auspices of the organization ‘Be-Ghar Foundation’, standing devoted for the transgender people.Based-off near Ruchna town in Lahore, the one-storey shelter can house only fifty people at the moment and it is running entirely on the foundation’s investments.The home has not only aimed at providing free food and shelter to troubled transgender people but is also carrying ongoing treatment to their illness and diseases.Chairperson Be-Ghar Foundation Aashi Butt explained how it evoked her with grief every time she watched helplessly ailed transgender people wandering on the streets. “By the Grace of God, those transgender people who were tormented with AIDs, HIV, Hepatitis and other fatal diseases have now found their safe haven.”The shelter family expressed that it doesn’t bother them anymore whether or not their close relations attempt to check up on them, “We now have a home… and it is not less than any heaven to us,” they added. The shelter home is yet to hold its formal inauguration in few coming days.On the other hand, the transgender community has pleaded the government for establishment of more shelter homes like such in various localities.

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Pak Military band delights Beijing crowd

BEIJING: A 50 members of Pakistan tri-services military band enthralled audience by their spectacular performance at Pakistan embassy in Beijing on Thursday.Pakistan military band played traditional and marching tunes including the National Anthem and patriotic songs which made emotional to the audience.The military band started its performance with playing national anthem of Pakistan and then presented some melodious tunes including 'Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan', Aiy Puttar Hattan Tey Nahin Vikday.'The audience also appreciated famous tunes of traditional folk songs of Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Kashmiri languages.Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Masood Khalid highly lauded the band led by Honorary Captain Ghulam Ali for its performance which was a rare and unique opportunity for the gathering. “By rendering Your Chinese tones, Pakistani national and folk songs not only in the hearts of Chinese people but also you are dominated in Chinese Media headlines. All your tones are excellent and outstanding”, he added.Emaan, a student of Pakistan Embassy College Beijing, told Geo News that he really enjoyed the wonderful and well-organized show. He further said it was his first experience to watch a (Pak military band) band performance.Pakistan tri-services military band along with eight military bands from China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Belarus have participated “The Peace Horn- 2018 Military Tattoo Festival” by Shanghai Cooperation Organization members states was held at the Juyongguan Pass of the Great Wall in Beijing on Tuesday.On the morning of 25 April, Pakistani band also performed at the national Olympic sports centre in Beijing and the performance of Pakistani band was acknowledged as the best and admired by all.Ambassador of Pakistan Masood Khalid , Defense Attaché Brig. Ahmad Bilal Malik of Pakistan Army, witnessed the ceremony.

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Request for Quotations: Meat required for AMD Display and Branding

Request for Quotations: Meat required for AMD Display and Branding (Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)) - Lahore

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5 Cool Innovations That Might Make Movie Theaters Tolerable

By Ian Fortey  Published: April 26th, 2018 

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5 Of Your Favorite Sites That Have Screwed-Up Dark Secrets

By Mark Hill  Published: April 26th, 2018 

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Teach Kids The Alphabet With These Medieval Death Prints

By Cedric Voets  Published: April 25th, 2018 

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Uranus Is Secretly Amazing (So Knock Off The Fart Jokes)

By Adam Wears  Published: April 25th, 2018 

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Budget 2018: PML-N?s sixth budget envisages economic growth ahead of polls

ISLAMABAD: The incumbent government is going to make a history by presenting its sixth consecutive Federal Budget for the year 2018-19, with an estimated outlay of over around Rs 5 trillion, on Friday.It will be a hallmark of the PML (N) government to have presented six consecutive budgets during the five years of its democratic tenure from 2013-2018. The National Assembly has been summoned to meet on Friday, at 16:30 hours for presentation of the federal budget, official notification said.The budget will lend focus on improving economic growth, maintaining fiscal discipline, reducing non-development expenditures and boosting exports besides providing relief to the masses, promoting investment for job creation, treading the people’s friendly policies for over-arching socio-economic prosperity.Main focus in the budget would be on infrastructure and human resource development while the government was likely to enhance allocations for social safety net for providing maximum relief to vulnerable segment of the society, the notification said.It will also focus on social sector development and revenue enhancement measures, besides introducing reforms for improving governance and boosting private sector investment.On revenue side, the government would introduce measures for bringing improvement in the system of tax collection, broadening the tax base, and facilitation to tax payers, the official sources said and argued that a strong revenue generation would play a crucial role in achieving the targets for economic growth.From growth perspective, the federal budget will focus on generating over 6% gross domestic product growth (GDP), and for this purpose it will introduce some fiscal measures and policy initiatives.The budget would be balanced, focusing on economic stability and growth, as the government had taken feedback from all the stakeholders for preparing this document, they added.The document would reflect continuity of the government policies and no major change will be introduced.Since provision of relief to common masses is top priority, hence it was being prepared after extensive consultations with stakeholders including the business community, traders and chambers of commerce and industries, who all have provided valuable and constructive suggestions.Meanwhile, during the outgoing year (2017-18), the agriculture sector posted a growth of 3.81 percent, the industrial sector grew by 5.8 percent whereas exports also witnessed positive growth with inflation remaining single digit.The overall GDP growth during the outgoing year was 5.8 percent.

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