Prime Minister

ISLAMABAD: As widely expected, the government on Thursday announced a raft of measures ranging
from a five-day week in government organisations (for at least three months) to closure of shops by 8pm
 as part of an initiative to conserve electricity and reduce scheduled outages by 33 per cent.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, while announcing at a press conference the unanimous decisions of a
 three-day energy summit attended by the four provincial chief ministers, said Rs116 billion would be paid
to Pepco by June to put the power generation wheel back on track by easing the circular debt crisis.

Chief Ministers Shahbaz Sharif, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and Nawab Aslam Raisani,
Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and Petroleum
Minister Syed Naveed Qamar were also present.

In reply to a question, Mr Gilani said: “In the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue and during my interaction with
American leaders, it was made clear that the US saw resolving the energy crisis as the top priority and was
willing to invest in the sector.”

According to officials, the new timings for government offices will be notified in a couple of days. The minister
 for water and power said the amount of electricity supplied to the Karachi Electric Supply Company
(KESC) from the national grid would be reduced from 650MW to 350MW and 300MW will be generated using oil.

The energy summit also suggested long-term measures to increase power generation through hydroelectric and
coal-based projects. The provinces were asked to facilitate the setting up of power stations.

In reply to a question about Kalabagh dam, the prime minister said: “We need national consensus on all issues
and will be ready to take it up if all the four provinces agree on its construction.”

Other measures agreed at the summit include closure of industrial activities once a week on a staggered basis,
cutting power consumption by 50 per cent in government offices and residences, disconnecting power to all
billboards and neon signs, putting off alternative streetlights, restricting power supply to marriage halls to three
 hours a day, discontinuing agricultural connections in peak hours and keeping all air-conditioners shut in offices till 11am.

Most of the conservation measures will ultimately affect the common man.

According to sources, the Punjab chief minister urged the centre to allow his government to introduce separate
 loadshedding schedules for domestic consumers and industrial/agricultural consumers.

A perception that the government had enough electricity but was denying it to the people was rejected by all participants.

The chief ministers will ensure implementation of the measures proposed by the energy summit and the progress
will be reviewed every fortnight.

A decision about continuing with two weekly holidays or otherwise will be taken on July 30.

Science and Technology

BEIJING: Chinese media unleashed a torrent of criticism against Google on Saturday after reports it would leave the country, with state news agency Xinhua alleging the company was linked to US intelligence.

The comments were the latest in a series of angry exchanges sparked by the row over the Internet giant’s complaints of cyber hacking and censorship in the country.

Xinhua said in an editorial: “Some Chinese Internet users who prefer to use Google still don’t realise perhaps that due to the links between Google and the American intelligence services, search histories on Google will be kept and used by the American intelligence agencies.”

Google’s main spokeswoman in Beijing declined to comment on the claim.

The English-language China Daily declared “Google in wrong game” as it took issue with the company’s stance, saying: “The Chinese are enjoying unprecedented freedom in the country’s more than 5,000 years of history.

“If the vested interests’ accusation that the Chinese government censors the Internet to spy on its own people does not originate from ignorance, then (it) is a white lie and a malicious attack.

“It will not do any good to Google either. And by linking its exit from China with political issues, Google will certainly lose its credibility in a country that has the largest number of citizens,” China Daily said.

On its Internet site, China Radio International accused Google of encroaching on the country’s sovereignty.

“There has only been one such case in over 100 years of colonialism and semi-colonialism: that of the British East India Company, which wanted to control India’s sovereignty,” the station said.

“Perhaps if Google withdraws from the Chinese market it will have negative consequences for certain Internet users but it will be Google that loses the most.”

On Friday the China Business News quoted an official with an unidentified advertising agency linked to Google as saying the US firm would carry out its threatened withdrawal on April 10.

Google declined to comment on the report.

The issue has sparked a war of words between China and the administration of President Barack Obama, which has called on Beijing to allow an unfettered Internet. –

WHEAT BARDANA AT DISTRICT NAUSHAHRO FEROZE

Wheat Bardana will be issued to the genuine growers after verification of land ownership documents by the  Deputy District Officer Revenue  of respective Talukas.

                                                                    District coordination Officer

                                                                            Naushahro Feroze