April 2012 Issue

1. Perception of unreliability discourages use of solar panels
Apr 9th ,Karachi: One of the reasons the use of solar panels has not really kicked off in Pakistan is the perception that the technology is inherently unreliable and runs the risk of developing faults, industry experts say.
Effects of moisture, dirt and rain on solar panels, besides the likelihood of their batteries running down earlier than expected, discourage people from investing in clean energy sources, which require substantial initial investment in most cases, they add.
“People need to understand that solar panels aren’t off-the-shelf items. The solar technology is an ‘engineered solution,’ whose capacity must be in accordance with the expected load,” said Shaaf Mehboob, Director of Green Center, a Karachi-based company that offers energy efficient solutions to industrial, commercial and residential customers by doing energy audits and selling energy management equipment
http://tribune.com.pk/story/359777/perception-of-unreliability-discourag...

2. Work on Karachi Circular Railway to begin next year
Apr 9th ,Karachi: Managing Director Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) Aijaz Hussain Khilji has said that there were no big hurdles regarding the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project; however, such mega projects take time, as several factors need thorough study and investigation before the initiation.
He said that the project is expected to kick off from June-July 2013 while he hoped that the task would be completed by May-June 2017. He said that rehabilitation of the affected people was his utmost priority, adding that all civic facilities would be provided to them so that their standard of life can be raised. He said that the extension of time period was due to the fact that his department was striving that more facilities could be given to the affected people.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\04\09\story_9-4-2012_pg7_6

3. Climate change inflicts $3.5b loss on economy
April 17th, Faisalabad: Climate change has inflicted on Pakistan a loss of around $3.57 billion over the past 18 years in the shape of flood devastation, change in rain and cropping patterns, increase in temperature, agricultural losses coupled with deforestation and low water quality. Speakers stated this at the inaugural session of a three-day International Symposium on Strategic Conservation of Endangered Ecosystem at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Monday.

UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad, in his speech, warned of disasters in many areas caused by high temperature, rise in sea level, glacial retreat, floods and high frequency of drought. He said average global temperature had gone up by 0.6 degree Celsius over the past century and was likely to rise further by 1.1 to 6.4 degree Celsius by next century.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/365745/climate-change-inflicts-3-5b-loss-on-...

4. KCR ‘revival’
April 18th: Talking about a revival of the Karachi Circular Railway is a bad joke. On Monday, for the umpteenth time, we were given a timetable about when a study regarding the circular railway would be ready. The Japanese told Sindh’s chief secretary the report would be completed by November. We have been here before. The Japanese — like many other foreign donors — are serious. Their offer to rebuild the KCR has been there for a long time. If there is no progress and the KCR track remains buried under tonnes of rock and sand, it is the Pakistani bureaucracy and the federal and provincial governments which must accept the blame
http://dawn.com/2012/04/18/kcr-revival/

5. Climate Change - Profound Challenge
April 21st: Each year on 22 April symposiums, seminars and conferences held world-wide to celebrate Earth Day. The first Earth Day held on April 22, 1970, the aim was to promote ideas of ecology, to encourage respect for life on earth, and to highlight growing concern over pollution of the soil, air, and water. Organisers of the first celebration wrote in their manifesto "Earth Day is a commitment to make life better, not just bigger and faster, it is a day to re-examine the ethic of individual progress at mankind's expense." Issues, affecting quality of living on earth highlights on Earth day. Air pollution, water pollution, the dumping of toxic chemicals and the destruction of natural habitat are rapidly changing the rhythms of climate.
http://www.brecorder.com/weekend-magazine/0/1180686/

6. A tale of two expressways
April 23rd: The planned construction of a yet another expressway along Malir and the ongoing construction of flyovers in Karachi is disturbing. Infrastructure projects in the name of development are often announced for political or other gains with no consideration for the national laws that are supposed to govern such construction.

Pakistan is replete with laws — laws relating to murder, theft, torture and violence, damage to property, violation of human rights, harm to animals, the suppression of freedom, damage to the environment, bribery and corruption, nepotism the list is long and comprehensive. That no one, especially those who make the laws, implements them, is another matter altogether. One such law is the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act passed in 1997. Of its several clauses, one is related to the need for an assessment of the impact of infrastructure development.
http://dawn.com/2012/04/23/a-tale-of-two-expressways/

7. Pak, Turkey can jointly work in various sectors: CG
Karachi: Turkish Consul General in Karachi Murat M. Onrant on Friday visited the office of Administrator of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Muhammad Hussain Syed and discussed the issues of mutual interest.The Consul General said that Turkey and Pakistan have very good relations and they can jointly work in various sectors for the betterment of their peoples, said a release from KMC.

The Administrator briefed the Turkish diplomat about the on-going and future development projects in the city. He said Karachi has around 20 million population and it needs more mega development projects. He especially discussed mass-transit, light rail, rapid bus system, circular railways system and expressway projects.
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=150423

8. Petrol bomb hits the nation!
Apart from two weeks of killings and shut downs in Karachi which people suffered as the government sitting in its palaces watched passively. The latest petrol bomb which has hit the nation has indeed broken its back. The rich and the corrupt have nothing to fear but the poor and the middle class people who hardly make both ends meet in their daily lives will have to bear the brunt of stunning increase in the prices of petroleum products. The price of petrol has been increased from 97.66 to 105.68 while the prices of light diesel and kerosene have gone up from 93.29 to 98.74. After severe reaction from masses and civil organization a nominal reduction was made in PoL prices.
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=148605

9. Seven overhauled locomotives added in PR flee
Rawalpindi—Pakistan Railways has received around seven overhauled locomotives, which will help improve its efficiency, Divisional Superintendent Railways Munawar Shah said on Tuesday.
“Pakistan Railways has repaired 40 locomotives through its own resources and it has the capacity to repair around ten engines every month subject to availability of spare -parts and funds,” he told media. He said, out of the recently repaired engines, around 20 locomotives, would be used in freight service to generate income, making it a profit-earning entity.
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=148439

10. Is pollution highest in Pakistan?
Air pollution is an emerging environmental issue in major cities of Pakistan. It is primarily considered as an urban problem in Pakistan. Dust and smoke particles in Pakistan are generally twice the world average and five times higher than the developed world. Therefore increasing rate of Air Pollution in Pakistan is significantly high. Though some pollution comes from the natural sources, but most pollution is the result of human activities. The biggest causes are the operations of fossil fuel-burning power plants and automobiles that combust fuel. Combined these two sources are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution. http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=148077