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International Ozone Layer Day observed
WITH the rest of the world, Pakistan too observed the International Ozone Layer Day on Sept 16. A cell was set up in the environment ministry and public sector organizations working for the environment to hold various programmes to create awareness among the people about ozone depletion.
Recent studies indicate an increasing connection between dangerous diseases like brain diseases to environmental pollution. “Research concludes that in order to curb such worsening trends, we must take steps that conserve our natural resources and prevent us from further polluting our environment,” a panel of environmentalists said in a message on Ozone Layer Dayon Sept 15.
The experts said, “We should all pledge towards conserving the ozone layer, an important natural resource which is essential for our existence. They said that a multitude of health problems such as cancers have surfaced as a direct consequence of depletion of the ozone layer.
Global warming has further complicated the picture with ice in the North and South poles melting resulting in floods and climate change all over the world, the ozone layer depletion being one of the major causes.
German aid to control TB
The Federal Republic of Germany has pledged a grant of more than 8 million euros to strengthen the NWFP Tuberculosis Control Programme, officials said.
They said the German government had, on the request of the previous military-led civilian provincial government, agreed to extend a financial support worth over 8 million euros for a five-year TB control programme to be carried out in the NWFP.
After prolonged deliberations among the officials of the federal and provincial governments and the concerned German officials, the German government had finalized the terms and conditions for the project at that time, the sources added.
However, further documentation of the project had been suspended when the MMA government had been formed as it had expressed reservations over the terms and conditions of the project, which had ultimately caused delay in its inception for almost two years.
The government, according to the sources, was of the view that a major portion of the grant would be spent on consultancy as per the terms and conditions of the project and as such it would be the least beneficial for the province.
However, following meetings, the province had now finally signed the project documents and it is expected that the amount would be released soon. The provincial health department would prepare the PC-1 of the project, which would be submitted to the federal government for approval and then the project would be formally executed.
Citing the reasons behind the provincial government’s reservations, the sources said that the main contention of the government was that 50 per cent of the grant would go in the head of the consultancy charges carried out by the German consultants.
Contract signed
Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Monday said international companies entering into partnership for supply and installation of equipment would be required to spend on research and development by utilizing human resource available in the country.
The minister stated this while speaking at the signing ceremony of a $125 million contract between Ufone and a Canadian firm for launching the phase-IV of the Ufone’s extension/expansion plan.
Under the contract, the Canadian firm would expand the Ufone GSM and GPRS networks to more than double of the existing capacity.
The contract also include upgradation of existing wireless systems and supply of new GSM/GPRS core network and radio access equipment with a state-of-the-art Base Transceiver Station (BTS).
By virtue of the agreement, companies would also be required to utilize country’s human resource in research and development of their IT-based systems being developed globally, the minister said, adding that this would help create around 40,000 jobs in the IT sector.
Scientists to boost farm yield
Pakistani scientists have to accelerate their efforts for increasing agricultural produce of the country, urged the Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, while giving away awards to the Pakistan Agriculture Research Scientists Association (Parsa) on Thursday.
The federal minister said agricultural research was essentially required to obtain increased and sustained production to meet the food requirement of growing population as well as to provide raw materials for the agro-based industries in the country.
It is the most effective way to minimize reliance on imports, achieve social equality, remove poverty and improve quality of life. — Sci-tech World Report
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