1. law, govt and politics
2. government

Spatial Knowledge & Information Management
February 2015
The Missing Link in the
Governance Structure
of Pakistan
Page 6
MAPS
The Future of Medicine:
Nanotechnology
N1
O
Water Conservation and
Drilling Methods
Page 15
Page 21
Inside
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2005 PROVINCE WISE TURNOUT
NANOTECHNOLOGY FUNDING - IMPACT
FACTOR 2013
THINKSPATIAL
PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN MAJOR
DAMS AND BARRAGES
Page 39
Emergency Management in the Arabian
Peninsula: A case study from the Sultanate
of Oman
NEWS
ECP to engage federal bodies to scrutinise
Senate candidates
Dubai launches the world’s first online
interactive city tour
Pakistan to get Japanese auto parts’
manufacturing technology
Punjab launches training for health managers
$170m fishery project to boost food security in
Oman
Saudi Arabia Plans Introduce an App for Reporting
Road Accidents
Page 43
Energy and Environment in Saudi Arabia:
Concerns & Opportunities
Armies and State-building in the Modern Middle
East: Politics, Nationalism and Military Reform
Pakistan on the Brink: The Future of America,
Pakistan, and Afghanistan
Global Capitalism and the Crisis of Humanity
INFOTAINMENT
Page 48
ALHASAN SYSTEMS PRIVATE LIMITED
www.skimmagazine.net
|
$10
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR | FEBRUARY 2015
Spatial Knowledge & Information Management –
SKIM for Building Prosperity
B
oth for-proit and notfor-proit establishments require
business models to measure their
failures and successes. A business
model is simply the architecture
of a company and its network of
partners for creating, marketing and
delivering value and relationship
capital to its customer’s base in
order to either provide relief, strive for
a cause, or generate proitable and
sustainable revenue streams.
In today’s volatile economy effective
and successful business models
are those which are capable of
measuring and addressing time
and geographic barriers. Global
communication and transportation
technologies, global culture, global
social norms, global knowledge
base, and global political stability are
the major drivers of a global business
environment. An understanding of
global expectations, regionalism,
nationalism, laws, security situations,
environment, time zones, and
language differences are crucial
in order to penetrate and compete
in global markets, product and
services branding, and operations.
According to a study announced by
Gartner Inc; and Financial Executives
Research
Foundation
(FERF);
Business Intelligence [BI] is the top
area for CFO technology investment
through 2014. The study shows that
15 of the top 19 business processes;
which CFOs have identiied as
requiring improved technology
support are largely addressed
by BI, analytics and performance
management technologies.
Though, Business Intelligence,
Artiicial Intelligence, or Human
Intelligence, are highly charged
concepts to relate and relect,
and complex to understand
and integrate. Furthermore, the
introduction of sweet and savory
online collaboration platforms,
crowdsourcing tools, and a huge
explosion of data availability through
publicly accessible platforms are
highly important developments
specially for the developing World;
but then at the same time; they are
endangering as well to the security,
independent decision making, and
well thought-out socio-economic
planning exercises of a developing
nation.
SKIM [www.skim.pk] is ALHASAN
SYSTEMS Private Limited’s 100%
proudly owned pioneering initiative
to highlight the importance of
Information Management, Time,
and Geography in our individual,
corporate,
and
community
development
related
decision
making processes. SKIM is a
collaborating portal, a working
group for the subject experts, and
a research magazine; but most
importantly, SKIM has a larger
mission and cause for building
capacity and bringing simplicity and
coherence to a developing country’ s
effort to protect its assets, safeguard
its citizens, ensure community
involvement, and strengthen its
socio-economic indicators.
Before the advent of the Internet,
magazines served much greater
purpose than they do now.
Magazines were our primary source
for news, reviews, business ideas,
and tutorials. Geo World, ITID,
Economist, Wired, Byte, PC Plus
used to be our magazines of choice.
Having said this; magazines still
serve a tactile purpose. It is in your
hands and you are reading it, that
being on the Internet just cannot
provide the same kind of belonging.
Magazine is still nice to read with a
cup of tea, on the train, plane, or a
bus.
A touch still carries a lot of weight, it
geo-references a thought!
This SKIM Magazine will bring latest
news, views, case studies, and other
information, communication, and
technology related developments
from multiple sectors with a focus
on time and geography on monthly
basis; to help its users relate better
to the different events in their
neighborhoods.
SKIM Magazine will be available both
in hardcopy and through SKIM web
portal [www. skim.pk] for download.
It will give me immense pleasure to hear
from those who would like to contribute
to this pioneering effort of SKIM team at
ALHASAN SYSTEMS.
Mehdi Bokhari
Executive Editor
[email protected]
SKIM | Page 3
Contents
Editor’s message
spatial knowledge & information management
Page #
Elections and Democracy
The Missing Link in the Governance Structure of Pakistan
6
By: Nadeem Ahmad
Technology
What3Words
11
By: Michael Calabrese
Cover Story
The Future of Medicine: Nanotechnology
15
By: Muhammad Bazil
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Water Conservation and Drilling Methods
21
By: Kimberly Anne Klemm
Infrastructure Development
Infrastructure Planning and Development in Pakistan
26
By: Muhammad Halar Zaman
Business Psychology
Your Organization is Alive
31
By: John Weaver
Holistic Living
Breathe Some Life into your Life
33
By: Joel McPherson
Hearts and Minds
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children: Guidelines for Parents
35
By: Dr. Syeda Javeria Bokhari
Case Study
Emergency Management in the Arabian Peninsula: A case study from the
Sultanate of Oman
39
By: Sultan Z Al-Shaqsi
Maps
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2005 - PROVINCE WISE TURNOUT
9
NANOTECHNOLOGY FUNDING - IMPACT FACTOR 2013
18
PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN - MAJOR DAMS AND BARRAGES
24
Infographics
Page 4 | SKIM
THE SCIENCE OF THE SUPER TINY: NANOMEDICINE
19
INFRASTRUCTURE AT A GLANCE - PAKISTAN
29
Published by
ALHASAN
SYSTEMS PVT LTD
February 2015
CONTRIBUTORS
FOUNDER/
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
MR. MEHDI BOKHARI
EDITOR
MR. SAEED AHMAD CH.
COPY EDITOR
MR. MICHAEL CALABRESE
SUB-EDITOR
MS. RABEEA WAJEEHA
MR. MUHAMMAD AKHTAR
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
MR. NOUMAN ALI
GIS & MAPPING
SPECIALIST
MS. MAHWISH MUZAMMIL
MS. SIDRAH HAFEEZ
DIRECTOR TECHNICAL
MR. NAEEM AHMAD
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Nadeem Ahamd is
an
Islamabad
based
researcher,
policy
analyst and development
practitioner
specialising
global governace of aid,
human
development
and
technology
for
development.
He
is
afellow of Commonwealth
Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n
Organisation and graduate
of
United
Nations
University and University
of Tsukuba Japan.
Muhammad Bazil is a
Kimberly Klemm is a
freelance journalist based
in Pakistan. He has written
hundreds of published
articles and blog posts for
numerous
international
news
websites
and
magazines. His articles
have been features on the
homepage of Yahoo! and
MSN.
technical writer with a BS
in Business Management
from Southern Wesleyan
University. She has written
freelance articles for the
IT, Business, and Energy
sectors and her work has
been published on Energy
Pulse, azcentral, and eHow.
She lives in Charleston,
South Carolina , USA.
Muhammad
Zaman is
Halar
John Weaver, Psy.D. is a
Joel
a civil
engineer,
specializing
in construction. Apart
from engineering, he is a
freelance writer. He holds
Bachelor of Engineering
from
Quaid-e-Awam
University of Engineering,
Science& Technology.
licensed psychologist and
business consultant with
over 20 years of practical
experience working with
organizations, individuals
and groups. He offers
his
vast
knowledge
and
expertise
of
resilience, training, stress
management and conlict
resolution techniques for
improving individual and
group performance.
MR. BADAR GILLANI
BUSINESS PSYCHOLOGIST
Dr. SYEDA JAVARIA BOKHARI (Ph.D)
398-2416 Main St.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V5T 3E2
Tel: +1.604.357.7592
Fax: +1.604.591.5426
E-Mail: [email protected]
Evacuee Trust Complex
205-C, 2nd Floor,
Sector F-5/1, Islamabad
Pakistan 44,000
Tel: +92.51.282.0449
+92.51.835.9288
Fax: +92.51.835.9287
McPherson,
M.A., H.R.M. is primary
caregiver to his spouse,
a life-long sufferer of
Generalized
Anxiety
Disorder (GAD) and
Obsessive
Compulsive
Disorder (OCD.) Mr.
McPherson is a public
speaker on the beneits of
measured diaphragmatic
breathing as related to
stress relief and anxiety
avoidance.
FEBRUARY 2015 | ELECTIONS & DEMOCRACY
The Missing Link in the Governance
Structure of Pakistan
D
By: Nadeem Ahmad
Page 6 | SKIM
emocracy, as enshrined in the
1973 constitution of Pakistan,
has to be established at three
levels – the federal, the provincial and the
local. Among all, the local government
system is necessary for people-centered
development
and
service-oriented
government. The local governments need
political, administrative and inancial
decentralization to deliver services at
the grass root level. However, elected
governments do not priorities establishment
of local bodies due to the fear of losing their
political power brokerage, administrative
control and inancial independence for
development work at the constituency level.
The entire political structure in Pakistan
anchors upon constituency level politics
and development rather than broader
political ideology or national vision. This
apathy towards local bodies has its origins
in historical local government experiments,
tendency of federal governments to
centralize powers as well as lack of
democratic culture within the existing
political parties in Pakistan.
After Independence in 1947, there
was little emphasis on setting up local
government within the broader governance
structure due to three main reasons. First,
pre partition local governments played
little role in the independence movement.
There was considerable antagonism towards
ELECTIONS & DEMOCRACY | FEBRUARY 2015
local institutions as pre independence
local governments had strong ties to the
British and much of the independence
movement was driven by political party
mobilizations at the provincial and higher
levels. Second, during 1950s Pakistan faced
political instability leading to a strong
central government that was run by the civil
and military bureaucracy. Third, unlike
the Congress Party in India, the Muslim
League in Pakistan failed to organize as a
political party and to utilize local bodies
for developing its political base, thus had
to rely on bureaucracy to manage the local
affair of the state. Despite being critical to
pre-partition role of local governments, the
modus operandi did not change much after
the creation of Pakistan as the bureaucracy,
like British era, was still used to control
local bodies. Moreover, the local bodies
were successively denied legitimacy by
not holding elections and wherever such
elections were held, mostly in Punjab,
were plagued by elite capture and massive
malpractices.
Following the imposition of the irst
Martial Law in 1958, national and provincial
assemblies were disbanded and General
Auyb Khan, Martial Law Administrator,
introduced Basic Democracy (BD) in 1959.
Unlike elected governments of the past, who
denied legitimacy to local governments,
the Ayub’s military government used BDs
to legitimize his essentially unitary new
Presidential Constitution (1962), which
explicitly linked the ofice of the President to
the newly created local bodies by declaring
the 80,000 Basic Democrats as the Electoral
College for the election of the President
and national and provincial assemblies.
The BD local governments comprised of a
hierarchical system of four linked tiers. The
lowest tier (the union councils) was elected
directly on a non-par party basis and oficials
at all the higher tiers were either indirectly
elected by elected oficials at the lower level
or appointed by the central government.
The system of Basic Democracies
mirrored British era tactics to control
political leadership through bureaucratic
controlled local governments. The BD
system failed to provide essential political
mobilization, and democratic legitimacy for
local level of governance.
Ironically, there was no system of local
governance during Prime Minister Zuliqar
Ali Bhutto’s democratic government from
1971-77. Bhutto’s government failed to
implement local government legislations
in 1972 and 1975. Above all, he failed to
fulill constitutional requirement of ensuring
local government institutions that he
himself advocated in the 1973 constitution.
During the entire period, the administrators
continued to govern local institutions.
The next local governments were once
again introduced by a military ruler to
legitimize his rule in the country. General
Zia introduced Local Government Ordinance
(LGO) in 1979 and local bodies were elected
in all four provinces during 1979 and 1980
on non-party basis. This was again an
attempt to reduce the inluence of popular
political parties like his military predecessor.
The LGO 1979 failed to ensure both
administrative and inancial decentralization.
Like BD, the District Commissioner
continued to hold three important local
level functions: coordination, magistracy
and revenue collection. Rather than elected
District Councils, the DC exercised control
over government line departments through
respective line department District Oficers
(DO). Additionally, the magistracy allowed
the DC to hold court and exercise control
over district Police. Similarly, district
revenue collection remained under the DC’s
administrative control allowing District
Council to approve taxation but play a
minimal role in implementation of revenue
collection framework. Additionally, as in
the Local Bodies Act of 1959, the DC had
the authority to disallow, stop or amend any
decision of the District Council.
While there are many similarities
between LGO of 1979 and BDO of 1959,
enhancement in the roles and responsibilities
of local government bodies did happen.
Union Councils (the lowest tier) were
now made responsible for provision and
maintenance of roads and streets, public
buildings,
schools,
health
facilities,
lighting of public ways, water supply, and
maintenance of parks and plantation of
trees. This was a substantial increase in
empowerment of local communities.
It is interesting to note that under both
Zia and Ayub, local governments lacked
constitutional protection and their existence
was left at the whim of unelected provincial
governments who retained the power to
suspend them.
The local government during Zia
era worked directly under the federal
government until 1985 when the provincial
governments were elected on non-party
basis. With the return of democracy after
almost a decade, members of the provincial
assemblies were nominated as managers
of development activities. Both provincial
MPs and local governments assumed similar
roles which led to tension between local
tiers of government and MPs. This tension
concerning expenditure at the local tiers
and political parties seeking to undertake
development activities in the respective
constituencies of provincial and national
legislators further increased after the return
of full democracy in 1988. The same tension
is still the source of conlict between three
The State shall encourage Local
Government institutions composed of
elected representatives of the areas
concerned and in such institutions special
representation will be given to peasants,
workers and women.
1973 CONSTITUTION - ARTICLE 32
tiers of the governance as the role of national
and provincial MPs has not much changed.
After Zia, the elected governments
of Benizer Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif
continued to assert direct control of federal
government through bureaucracy. However,
unlike military rulers, who used local
bodies to gain legitimacy, the democratic
governments used administrative oficials
as tool for political leverage for their
party advancement in new areas or oficial
patronage ahead of the next elections.
History repeated itself yet again, as
the local governments were yet again set
up by another military ruler. Gen. Pervez
Musharraf introduced the Local Government
Ordinance of 2001, with signiicant
administrative and inancial devolution
of powers to the lowest administrative
divisions of the country. For the irst time in
Pakistan, an entirely elected, although nonparty, system of local bodies was devised
with wide ranging control over almost all
government functions at the district level and
below.
Unlike DC, the elected District Nazim
headed the local administration and
supervised and appraised the DCO and
DPO and exercised complete autonomy
over district administration. With the
suspension of the divisional cadre (i.e. the
commissionarate) the divisional powers
were also devolved to districts. This
administrative and inancial devolution
SKIM | Page 7
FEBRUARY 2015 | ELECTIONS & DEMOCRACY
under LGO 2001 transformed Pakistani
politics at the local level.
The new system was a three tiered local
government. The lowest tier, namely Union
Council had an elected council made of
21 members. Union Council was headed
by Nazim and Naib Nazim who were
directly elected and they supervised Union
Council secretaries. Tehsil/Taluka Councils
and District Councils were composed of
Union Council Naib Nazims and Nazims
respectively as general members. However,
Tehsil/ Taluka and District Nazims were
elected through indirect election with all
members of Union Councils in respective
electoral wards forming the Electoral
College. At the district level, the Nazim
supervised district administration through
DC ofice and respective EDOs of line
departments.
There was also considerable political
participation in the affairs of the local
government through creation of community
based organizations for development
purposes such as Citizen’s Community
Boards
(CCBs)
and
Village
and
Neighborhoods Councils (VNCs) which
could access the development budgets of
Union Councils and undertake independent
development schemes in their respective
areas. Moreover, Musaliha- i-Anjumans
were also set up for speedy alternative
justice at the community level.
The constitutional protection to LGO
2001 ended in December, 2009. The 18th
Amendment of 2011 has reinstated the
Article 140/A of the 1973 Constitution and
asked provincial governments to ensure
decentralization, devolution of powers and
establishment of working local government
system.
Despite
the
18th
constitutional
amendment which provides much needed
constitutional protection, local governments
have remained in limbo since 2009 as
provincial governments have failed to
materialize new legal framework. By
2010-2011, all the four provinces had set
up interim mechanisms for restoring the
functionality of local governments, but did
not held elections during the entire PPP
tenure. Since none of the political parties
have ever established democratic party
structure at the local level, neither they have
any experience of undertaking thorough
exercise to develop a local government
system which is grounded on local realties,
they are now unable to come up with
Page 8 | SKIM
Local Governments System in Pakistan
1947
1947-59
1959
1972-79
1979
2001
May 2010
March 2011
May 2012
August 2013
August 2013
August 2013
Local Authority Service Act passed in Sindh. Provincialized the key posts in local
Governments.
Continued operation of 1911 Punjab Municipal Act. Period of inactivity.
Basic Democracies Ordinance enacted by General Ayub Khan. Abolished in 1972.
Enactment of People’s Local Government Ordinance 1972 by the PPP government.
Promulgated but not implemented.
Local Government Ordinance enacted by General Zia-ul-Haq
Local Government Ordinance enacted by General Pervaiz Musharraf. Expired in 2009
The Balochistan Local Government Act, 2010
The Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Act 2011, Re-established divisions in Punjab
and Restored administrative powers of DC
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2012
Punjab Local Government Act 2013
Sindh Local Government Act 2013
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Bill 2012 (Draft)
legislation.
Since mid-2012, the Supreme Court has
been pushing provincial governments to
hold local body elections. The SC demand
has become more vocal after establishment
of the newly elected PML (N) government
and is asking the provinces to fulill a
Constitutional requirement as enshrined in
the 18th Constitutional Amendment and
immediately announce schedules for these
elections. The provincial governments are
in the process of legislating their respective
local government acts.
Given limited legislative capacity of the
provincial governments, lack of political
will to devolve political administrative
and inancial authority, usage of local
government system as leverage to political
gain, and chronic conlicting service delivery
and development role of local leadership
and MPs, the provincial governments are
struggling to establish a legal framework
for local bodies. Each province is trying
to come up with ad-hoc version of local
government laws though trial and error.
Sindh has planned to restore the LGO of
1979, KPK is amending the LGO of 2001,
and Punjab has passed a new provincial
LGO with mixture of these two while
Balochistan has yet to make a start. Though
diverse in many aspects, all new provincial
legislations has not making serious effort
to ensure fully empowered and democratic
local governments.
Despite these traditional bottlenecks,
it is expected that with 18th Constitution
amendment in place which has successfully
transferred the powers from the center to
the provinces, a watchful Supreme Court
and vocal media we have begun our journey
towards a truly devolved local bodies. With
successive democratic governments the
political parties are expected to have better
democratic structures for their own survival.
The persistence of democratic tradition and
matured political parties will indeed set
the foundation for autonomous, inclusive
and eficient local government systems as
enshrined in our constitution. For sustainable
local government systems, the provinces
must ensure devolution of all the three
key elements of governance i.e. political,
administrative and inancial. Any skewed
and unbalance system would yield same
results as it has been in the past.
Functioning local governments with
essential political devolution will facilitate
greater popular participation in governance.
Such devolution will bring government
closer to the people and reduce their
alienation from the political process in
Pakistan. Administrative devolution in true
spirit will curb excessive concentration of
power at the top, allow better maintenance
of law and order, enable local people
to articulate their interests and needs,
and will ensure bottom up development
process. Fiscal decentralization will allow
retention of resources at local level which
result into stimulation of local economies,
employment opportunities local level and
further mobilization of local resources for
development process.
It can be clearly seen from the above
debate that once truly empowered local bond
are set up and start asserting themselves only
then the basic tenets of good governance,
e.g. openness, transparency, fairness and
probity can be assured. Without vibrant,
participatory, and autonomous local
government, the much need goal of good
governance will remain a distant dream in
Pakistan.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2005 - PROVINCE WISE TURNOUT
ELECTIONS & DEMOCRACY | FEBRUARY 2015
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2005 - PROVINCE WISE TURNOUT
Legend
Gender wise Voter Turnout (%)
Total Registered Voters - 2005
40,000,000
35,813,253
30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
No Record
7,775,421
10,000,000
5,000,000
Female
Total Voter Turnout (%)
Khyber
Pakhtukhwa
12,976,299
Male
Gilgit
Baltistan
57.42
21.07
35,000,000
AJK
0.01 - 31.06
Indian Occupied
Kashmir
31.06 - 37.58
ICT
37.58 - 41.22
2,596,450
41.22 - 53.45
FATA
0
Date of Creation
Projection/Datum
Balochistan
61.48
43.96
Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa
0
Aug 08, 2014
WGS 84 Geographic
±
100
200
Punjab
400
Kilometers
Balochistan
Total Polled Votes - 2005
40,000,000
+92.51.282.0449/835.9288| [email protected]
www.alhasan.com
35,813,253
Data Source(s)
35,000,000
Election Commission of Pakistan
30,000,000
Turkmenistan Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
China
47.6
24.31
Sindh
39.27
21.45
Punjab
Sindh
25,000,000
Afghanistan
20,000,000
Disputed
kashmir
12,976,299
15,000,000
Pakistan
7,775,421
10,000,000
5,000,000
2,596,450
Iran
India
0
Punjab
Sindh
Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa
Balochistan
SKIM | Page 9
ELECTIONS & DEMOCRACY NEWS
Afghanistan parliament
rejects most of Ghani’s
nominees
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Afghan
lawmakers rejected most of President
Ashraf Ghani’s nominees for the new
cabinet, in a fresh setback for the newly
formed “national unity government”,
according to media sources.
The lower house of parliament voted
on 18 of Ghani’s 25 selections for
ministerial jobs and rejected 10 of
them including the proposed defence
minister.
Those who won approval included
Salahuddin Rabbani, the former head
of the Peace Council and nominee for
foreign affairs minister, and Noorul
Haq Ulumi, the nominee for interior
minister.
The proposed new cabinet was
unveiled in early January, after three
months of wrangling following last
year’s bitterly disputed presidential
election.
It was meant to create a “unity
government” agreed in a powersharing deal between Ghani and
his presidential poll rival Abdullah
Abdullah.
That deal, hammered out after tortuous
negotiations, was seen as saving
Afghanistan from the risk of civil war,
after both men claimed victory in last
year’s fraud-tainted election.
But last week parliament told Ghani
that seven of his nominees were
ineligible because they held dual
nationalities.
Rabbani and Ulumi renounced their
foreign citizenships to qualify, and
MPs also approved Rahmatullah Nabil
as the director of the NDS intelligence
agency.
Those
rejected
included
Sher
Mohammad Karim, the current army
chief of staff and nominee for defence
minister, and Khatera Afghan, Ghani’s
choice for minister of higher education.
ECP to engage federal bodies to
scrutinise Senate candidates
Islamabad: To conduct the scrutiny of
candidates contesting the Senate elections
in March under articles 62 and 63 of the
Constitution, the Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP) is expected to engage federal
departments and ministries for the irst time,
said sources.
In this regard, Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP) will write a letter to different
departments asking them to appoint focal
persons who on their behalf will coordinate
with returning oficers (ROs) for scrutiny of
nomination papers for Senate elections.
The ECP will write to the heads of
National Database Registration Authority
(NADRA), State Bank of Pakistan, National
Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal
Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan Electric
Power Company (PEPCO), Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and
secretaries ministries of interior, petroleum,
inance, water and power and establishment
division and ask them to appoint a senior
oficial in their organisation as focal person
for coordination with the commission.
Parliament
rejects
president resignation
Yemeni
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Yemen’s
parliament rejected the resignation offered
by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi,
according to local TV.
both regional and international arenas and
the coordination between the two legislative
councils at all international forums.
They also tackled the latest development of
security situation in the region and underlined
the importance of unifying and coordinating
efforts to combat terrorism.
GCC rejects Iranian’s meddling in
domestic affairs
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): On behalf
of the GCC countries, the GCC SecretaryGeneral Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani expressed
total rejection of any foreign interference in
the domestic affairs of the GCC states.
Al-Zayani strongly denounced in a press
release the responses and statements of
the Iranian Foreign Ministry regarding the
investigations being conducted by Bahrain’s
Public Prosecution with a senior member of
the opposition Al-Wefaq National Islamic
Society. “The Iranian statements constitute
an unacceptable interference in the internal
affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain,” he said.
GCC Chief said that investigations with AlWefaq oficial “are based on the laws and
regulations enforced on all citizens without
distinction.” Al-Zayani expressed full
conidence in the Bahraini judicial system’s
fairness and competence, as well as its ability
to ensure the rights of all citizens.
Committee approved for FNC
elections in UAE
A government source said earlier that Hadi
had tendered his resignation, not long after
Prime Minister Khaled Baha offered his own
to Hadi, who has spent months locked in
a stand-off with Yemen’s powerful Houthi
movement.
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): The National
Election Committee (NEC) of UAE approved
the formation of the Emirates Committees
for this year’s Federal National Council’s
elections according to the state news agency
Wam.
Kuwait- Iraq Parliament Speaker
ponder bilateral cooperation
Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State
for FNC Affairs and chairman of the NEC,
addressed the meeting and said the country
was competent to implement the vision of
the UAE leadership to achieve excellence in
regional and international ields.
Monitoring Islamabad (Monitoring Desk)
Kuwait’s Parliament Speaker Marzouq AlGhanim held talks with Iraq’s Council of
Representatives Speaker Salim Al-Jabouri
in the framework of coordinative meetings
on the sidelines of the 10th session of the
Parliamentary Union of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States
(PUIC).
During the meeting, the two sides discussed
the horizons and means of supporting and
developing bilateral cooperation between the
two countries in all domains, primarily the
Islamic issues.
They focused on the latest developments on
“The formation of the Emirates Committees
for the 2015 elections will facilitate the
successful implementation of the elections
and relect positively on the development of
the country’s electoral process,” he said.
National igures who have made invaluable
contributions in the public sphere,
representatives from the Ruler’s Ofice
of the Emirates, police and municipality,
and members from the private sector and
civil society will form part of the Emirates
Committees, Dr Gargash said.
SKIM | Page 10
FEBRUARY 2015 | TECHNOLOGY
What3Words
I
’ve had constant cause for frustration,
both in my work and everyday
life, with the two main systems for
describing locations: postal addresses and
GPS coordinates. Last year I set about
working through the laws in both, to see if
it was possible to design a new system better
suited to present-day needs.
By: Chris Sheldrick
(CEO what3words)
Page 11 | SKIM
When I ran a farm estate, it quickly
became apparent that the farm’s postal
address was of little use when explaining
to sewage contractors where their access
manhole covers were located, or engaging
our insurer in a phone discussion about a
particular corner of a remote farm building.
I would typically resort to an explanation
along the lines of “where the postcode
takes you, a bit up from there and just to the
left”. Scanning and emailing maps might
sometimes have helped, but this is often very
impractical, particularly when the “I’m lost”
call from the contractor comes when I am
nowhere near a suitable map or computer.
I’ve also been involved in the event
production industry where it’s standard
practice to employ a dedicated person to
handle site contractors when they call to
ask where actually to go having arrived
“at the postcode”; the industry takes these
ineficiencies for granted even though the
delays caused are often costly. Most people
can remember a recent occasion when a
TECHNOLOGY| FEBRUARY 2015
postal address hasn’t been good enough
for their needs, and in 2014 people expect
technology to be good enough. It’s just that
the technology is already good enough,
and improving fast. Device geo-location is
staggeringly accurate to just a few metres,
handsets are able to seamlessly talk to each
other in the fraction of a second, conveying
location data back and forth without error.
The problem lies with us, the human
user, trying to tell a device which speciic
location we are talking about – or harder still
trying to convey to a colleague or friend the
information that they need to put into their
device.
your method can’t be defeated by Chinese
whispers.
Consider the example of a farm with
its buildings spread over several hundred
acres of land joined by tracks and unnamed
roads. A single postal address can refer
to the entire property, and provides no
opportunity for further precision. You can be
almost positive that by entering that postal
address into a device you will nearly never
end up where you want to be, but instead
standing aimlessly on a secluded cattle
grid that happens to be near the centre of
the postcode. If you have buildings A and
B at opposite ends of the farm boundaries,
there surely must be a way of referring
to their unique locations once the postal
address has done all it can; of course there
is – GPS co-ordinates, but in practice GPS
co-ordinates aren’t used for human beings
to communicate location with each other.
It’s simply not practical for 52.083230,
0.063753 to be said over the phone, written
down on a notepad, dropped quickly into an
SMS or for either the sender or recipient to
memorise and recall in the future. GPS coordinates are great for devices which don’t
have these human concerns, but for us, it’s
an impractical form of communication.
What3words (w3w) was born out of
these frustrations, and is designed to have
the accuracy of GPS co-ordinates, to be
practical, shareable and memorable, and to
provide veriication to counter any human
error.
If you’ve ever tried to communicate
GPS co-ordinates you will know it takes
a signiicant feat concentration even to
transfer them from a piece of paper to an
email; if you get two digits the wrong way
around, you’ll likely be close enough to
not know you’re wrong, but far enough
away to be frustratingly wrong. If your
location communication requires accuracy,
w3w is a grid of the world made up
of nearly 57 trillion 3m x 3m squares.
Each square has its own unique identiier
of 3 words from the English language
(e.g.
furniture.minder.judge).
Using
w3w, an instruction to meet at Building
B, Manor Farm, Fowlmere SG8 7SJ or
52.083230,0.063753 is now an instruction
to meet at furniture.minder.judge which
is ininitely simpler. If you want to send a
weblink for the meeting it becomes w3w.cm/
furniture.minder.judge instead of map.co/
X1t6h3P.
If we move away from the farm
environment, each 3m x 3m square of every
driveway
(e.g.
outlooks.risking.stuns),
corner of the park (e.g. rails.fund.spike), part
of the beach (e.g. typing.suspicions.gnome),
bit of polar ice (e.g. stipulates.vexing.
chocolates) all have their own w3w address
– there is no 3m x 3m square in the world
left unaddressed.
To counter the issue of confusing GPS
digits, all similar sounding w3w addresses
are purposefully placed hundreds of miles
apart; for instance knife.fork.spoon is a 3m x
3m square in Watford, but knife.fork.spoons
is a 3m x 3m square in Barabinsk, Russia
SKIM | Page 12
FEBRUARY 2015 | TECHNOLOGY
meaning pilots no longer have to hover
over inhospitable ields which contain no
designated landing area, whilst they try to
work out exactly which two co-ordinates
were mixed up in transmission. With a fully
operational website (responsively designed
to all device types), iOS & Android apps,
and developer API for easy integration with
third parties (for automated conversion
between 3 word addresses and GPS coordinates), w3w offer easy universal access
to its lagship 3 word product, but it is worth
noting its paid service - the OneWord.
For a tiny annual subscription, any user
can purchase a customised single word
preceded by an asterisk (eg *touchtennis) as
an additional label for any 3m x 3m square.
The 3 word address never changes or gets
replaced by a OneWord, but OneWords
can be afixed to any square the purchaser
chooses, and then moved to other squares as
– if you’ve got it wrong you’ll be sure
you’ve got it wrong long before you even
start your journey.
There are plenty of use cases for w3w in
rural UK, but the less developed a country’s
present address system, the stronger case
there is for an address system such as w3w
to become part of the standard address
syntax in that country.
In Ireland, one by-product of the lack
of postcodes in the country has led to the
common practice of including GPS coordinates on hotel websites as well as
the postal address. Ireland has planned a
national postcode launch for 2015 but it
remains to be seen if the proposed new
system has the same memorability and
communication issues of GPS when tested
by the communication challenges of
everyday life.
In Dubai, the country suffers greatly with
the problem of poor address infrastructure
in addition to the lack of postcodes. The
government is currently rolling out a 10 digit
code for the entrance of every building, but
it will be interesting to see if this custom
GPS-like system (in appearance, at least)
will catch on.
In much of sub-Saharan Africa, the entire
culture of communicating addresses is very
different to the practices of the developed
world; communicating an address is often
done by a series of directions by landmarks
Page 13 | SKIM
rather than the use of a centralised address
system. w3w presents a compelling case for
adoption in countries where postal addresses
as we know them are non-existent or cover
only a fraction of the country; each of those
countries already have a unique w3w address
for every 3m x 3m square, there is no
database work required to build and maintain
an expensive new government-funded
system and w3w communication is simple
and easy to learn. This could overcome
many problems caused by these weak
address infrastructures; banks charge higher
interest rates on loans as the address of their
customers is often unknown or unreliable,
governments don’t know where their schools
are, schools don’t know where their pupils
live, businesses don’t know where their
vehicles and assets are. There is a strong
argument to suggest that w3w’s ready-made
address system generated through algorithm
and not a costly database could solve a lot of
these problems if widely adopted.
Closer to home, w3w could well have
a major business case in the UK. Could
insurers carry out better risk proiles if they
more accurately understood exactly where
assets were located? Could emergency
service response times be improved in
rural areas if there was a simpler way of
accurate location communication over the
phone? Would there be a saving to the
courier industry if they had more accurate
location data? Certainly helicopter pilots are
incredibly vocal about w3w’s beneits over
GPS, with w3w’s communication beneits
they choose.
w3w has attracted serious interest from
a range of industries in the UK and abroad;
in a market where postal addresses and GPS
have dominated for decades, this signiicant
new system has been met with excitement
and intrigue. It will be tremendously exciting
to ind out whether specifying that someone
or something is located at visual.leaves.crazy
is useful and valuable as well as novel (and
addictive).
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Dubai launches the world’s
irst online interactive city
tour
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Dubai
360, the world’s largest interactive
city tour, was oficially launched in
Dubai. Being the irst of its kind, the
site allows viewers to explore every
angle of the city from the comfort of
their own home using fully interactive
and immersive 360 degree panoramic
photo, time lapse and video content.
With content ilmed at the pinnacle
of the world’s tallest building, Burj
Khalifa, the site users can get a bird’s
eye view of the city with sweeping
panoramas down Shaikh Zayed Road
and Dubai’s coast. From there at the
click of a button, viewers can travel
to the luxurious Royal Suite at the
Burj Al Arab Hotel and experience
the gold-covered interiors, luxurious
rooms and stunning sea view. A visit
to Dubai Mall’s famous aquarium will
allow users to swim amongst the sea
creatures, or take a ride on Dubai’s
Metro and view the city at speed.
Esmail Al Hashemi, Project Manager
for Dubai 360, who pointed out that the
project was completed under a team
of 30 designers, photographers, and
IT and graphic experts over a period
of 18 months. Using the latest visual
technology, the project was created by
professionals equipped with best-inclass medium format, DSLR and video
cameras. From helicopters to rooftops,
the making of Dubai 360 provided the
team with irst-time access to some of
the city’s landmarks.
The Dubai 360 team also developed
a custom interface for the website,
which enables viewers to interact
with Dubai’s landmarks providing a
number of viewing options including
rectilinear and ‘Little Planet or ish
eye’ view. People can also share their
favourite views with their friends
through social media channels like
Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and
email.
Pakistan to get Japanese auto
parts’ manufacturing technology
Islamabad:
Japan
International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) under “The
Project for Technical Support to Auto Parts
Manufacturing Industry” has agreed with
Small and Medium Enterprises Development
Authority (SMEDA) for a technical assistance
for enhancement of auto parts manufacturing
industry in Pakistan.
The agreement was signed between
Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki, Chief Representative
of JICA and Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry,
CEO of SMEDA, Mukhtar Ahmad, Joint
Secretary, Ministry of Industries and
Production, and Syed Mujtaba Hussain, Joint
Secretary, Economic Affairs Division (EAD).
accurately recognises other road users in their
vehicle’s blind spot,” said Andreas Bodemer,
Vice President for Bosch Automotive
Aftermarket, Middle East and Africa.
Iran produces 1.5 million cell
phones annually
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Iranian
companies produce about 1.5 million cell
phones per year, Abbas Hashemi, an oficial
with the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of
Industries, Mines and Trade said, the oficial
IRIB news agency reported.
Hashemi said that at least 11 entities have
been granted licenses to produce cell phones
in the country, however only two companies
are active currently.
The Project is aimed to improve the quality
and productivity of auto parts through the
technical support by Japanese experts, which
leads to the competitiveness of auto parts
suppliers, will be strengthened. The duration
of the Project is expected four-year from April
2015, and target areas are Lahore and Karachi.
Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and
Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) are
also involved as an important partner of the
Project.
The domestic cell phone output can cover 1015 percent of the country’s demands, Hashemi
said. The oficial also conirmed that the
domestic brands are not capable of competing
with famous global phone-makers.
Car radar technology can reduce
death on UAE roads
Mobile phone services in GCC
affordable in world: UN
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk):
New
technology soon to be standard on a wide
range of cars on sale in UAE showrooms will
dramatically ease the accident ‘blind spot”
problem and help reduce one of the leading
causes of death on the country’s roads.
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Mobile phone
services in the GCC are among the most
affordable in the world, a United Nations
report has stated.
Hashemi said that the Iranian administration
decreased cell phone imports’ tariff from 25
percent to 6 percent in 2013 to prevent cell
phone smuggling into the country, adding it
has not been successful so far.
According to a recent study by Zurich
Insurance and RoadSafetyUAE.com, frequent
lane changing was one of the top causes of
accidents in the UAE in 2014, while 47% of
road accidents in Dubai were directly caused
by blind spot incidents.
The International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) Measuring the Information Society
report states Qatar and UAE are ifth and sixth
most affordable, with regards to monthly prepaid mobile phone services costing less than
0.3 per cent of gross national income per
capita (0.26 and 0.28, respectively) Kuwait
(0.39 per cent), Oman (0.43 per cent), Saudi
Arabia (0.65 per cent) and Bahrain (0.73 per
cent) are in the top 26 of the 166 countries
analysed by the report. On a raw costs basis,
UAE and Oman also were among the cheapest
in the world, at US$9.06 and US$9.11,
respectively.
Bosch has developed its Multi-Mode Radar
technology as an effective lane-changing
assistant and a leading European manufacturer
will be using the technology in all of its new
models.
The report identiies a group of ‘most
dynamic countries’, which have recorded
above-average improvements in their ICT
Development Index (IDI) rank over the past
12 months.
The system alerts the driver to the imminent
danger of collision by issuing a timely audible
or visible signal. “The MMR rear means
drivers are effectively looking over their
shoulders all the time, because it reliably and
These include (in order of most improved):
UAE, Fiji, Cape Verde, Thailand, Oman,
Qatar, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and
Georgia. Denmark ranked 1 on this index
followed by the Republic of Korea.
A new generation of rear end radar sensors
developed by Robert Bosch LLC makes
motorists much more aware of adjacent
vehicles and lessens the threat of accidents
caused by lane changing.
SKIM | Page 14
FEBRUARY 2015 | HEALTH
The Future of Medicine: Nanotechnology
N
anotechnology is the science
of studying and controlling
individual atoms and molecules
at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100
nanometers and can be applied in a broad
spectrum of scientiic areas such as physics,
engineering, material science, biology and
chemistry. It is practically impossible to
realize how small nanotechnology is but,
considering that there are 25.4 million
nanometers in an inch or that a newspaper
sheet is 100,000 nanometers thick, one can
realize how useful nanoscience can be.
By: Muhammad Bazil
Page 15 | SKIM
Nanoscale materials were used in
cosmetics, sunscreens, electronics equipment,
but also in cigarette smoke and diesel exhaust.
Yet, the developing ield of nanotechnology
includes newly produced, highly-engineered
nanoparticles, with an expanded surface area
compared to their diameter, which makes
them innovative and easy to handle. In fact,
based on “quantum effects“, properties of
nanomaterials are size-dependent in this
scale range, and therefore, properties such
as melting point, luorescence, electrical
conductivity, magnetic penetrability, and
chemical reactivity change as a function
of the size of the particle. Nanotechnology
enables scientists to utilize the sophisticated
electrical, chemical, mechanical, and optical
properties of nanomaterials that naturally
occur at the nanoscale as the basis for
advanced nanotechnology applications in
HEALTH | FEBRUARY 2015
Abnormal genes repair/replacement
Nanotechnology Applications in the GCC countries
Nanoparticles
Nanoporous Materials
Carbon Nanotubes
Petrochemicals
& Chemicals
+++
+++
++
Thin Films
MEMS Sensors
MEMS microstructures
Biocatalysis
Biosensors
Biopolymers
Nanotechnology
Pharmaceuticals
Health Care Technology
+++
+++
++
++
+
+
++
+++
++
++
Energy &
Environment
+++
+++
++
+++
+
++
Life
Sciences
+++
+
+
++
++
+++
+
+
+++
++
+++
++
+++
+++
++
+++
+
+
++
+++
+++
+++
+++
++
++
++
+++
+
+
+
+++
+++
+++
+++
Water
Materials
++
++
+
++
++
+
++
++
+
+
ICT
+++
Table 1: Adapted from “Knowledge-based industries in the GCC region - Prospects and Challenges”, Gulf Organization for
Industrial Consulting and SRI International.
multiple ields.
Nanomedicine is a major ield of
nanotechnology, which serves as the
basis for more effective and greatly
beneicial drugs. In the GCC region, recent
developments in medical technology have
facilitated key discoveries in nanomedicine.
Qatar is devoting increasing resources
to Nanomedicine and Stem Cell-Based
approaches for the prevention and treatment
of obesity and metabolic diseases. The
Government of Pakistan, acknowledging the
socioeconomic beneits of nanotechnology,
has created a National Commission on
NanoScience and Technology (NCNST)
with the aim of promoting R&D. Several
projects have been launched in the period
2003-2008 by universities and R&D
centers dealing with nanoscience and have
motivated more institutions to engage in
R&D in nanoscience and nanotechnology in
Pakistan.
including cell repairing. The nanodevices
distinguish different types of molecules
of one type of body cell from another
and repair the body cells. In heart-related
treatments, nanomedicine is used to unclog
cholesterol-illed plaque inside the heart.
In the process of bone healing, the use of
polymer scaffolds containing stem cells
accelerates the recovery of bone injuries
through cell repairing.
Beneits of nanomedicine
Cell repairing
Nanomedicine is applied in the
manufacture of molecular machines and
nanobots with the ability to enter the human
body and perform variable operations,
Risks of nanomedicine
The major risk associated with
nanotechnology is the toxicity of the
nanoparticles. Testing in laboratory animals
has shown that the release of toxic carbon
nanotubes may cause adverse effects on the
organism, including pulmonary inlammation
and ibrosis. The large surface area of the
nanoparticles relative to their tiny size causes
inhaled nanomaterials to penetrate the cells,
enter into the circulatory system, and move
to the lungs. Other tests suggest that some
nanoparticles may enter the skin. Although
the collected information from animal
testing is insuficient to irmly conclude that
nanoparticles may pose a risk to the human
health, the release of toxicity is a factor that
requires further testing and evaluation to fully
understand the health and ecological effects
of nanoparticle exposures.
Shifting towards the East
- The “New Silk Road”
Beneits and Risks of
Nanomedicine
Nanomedicine
applies
principles
of
nanotechnology
towards
the
improvement of human health. There
are quite a few beneits and risks
associated with a number of potential
applications for medical nanotechnology,
which can be summarized as follows:
In the context of regenerative
nanomedicine, nonfunctional genes can be
repaired or replaced with the application
of innovative technology, which monitors
the gene transfer status and identifies the
immune system response. Gene therapy
widely includes the development of novel
gene delivery, including the development
of effective strategies for the delivery and
integration of therapeutic genes to body
organs and tissues.
Effective drug release
Unlike conventional drug release
methods, nanomedicine contributes to the
creation of smart drugs, which expedite the
healing process. With the use of nanovehicles
that adjust the drug delivery system to the
needs of each patient, nanomedicine treats
life threatening diseases like cancer or
diabetes, or contributes to tissue regeneration
and immunity. Usually, nanovehicles are
microchips or microneedle-based transdermal
patches, which release the medicine into the
blood in a timely and controlled manner.
In the last two decades, the global
economic power has shifted to the East.
China’s rapid economic expansion and
the exploitation of the country’s natural
resources have transformed China into a
signiicant economic power globally as well
as a viable export market. It is estimated
that by 2030 the emerging economies will
represent 66 percent of the global economy,
while by 2016 the emerging economies
(EMEs) will account for 72 percent of the
global economy (Chart 1).
The “New Silk Road” is a US initiative
that aims to strengthen the ties with China
on a political and economic context and
ensure a growing security in the area.
The GCC countries have the potential to
elaborate on existing trade and investment
relations with China, given than the Gulf is
a natural border between Asia and Africa.
In particular, the United Arab Emirates,
located at the mouth of the Gulf, serve as
SKIM | Page 16
FEBRUARY 2015 | HEALTH
advantage and a great potential to invest in
nanotechnology and become major producers
and exporters of nanomaterials, a sector that
will also create new job opportunities.
The area of nanotechnology has become
increasingly important. Nanoparticles have
gained signiicant scientiic interest and can
effectively serve to the building of atomic
or molecular structures. The properties of
nanoparticles are size-dependent, and their
extended surface area is responsible for their
unique electrical, chemical, mechanical,
and optical properties, which serve as the
foundation for advanced nanotechnology
applications in multiple ields.
China’s logistics hub. Nearly 70 percent of
China’s exports is promoted in the MENA
region, other Asian countries and the North
Africa via the UAE. Additionally, the
investment inlows between China and the
GCC countries have signiicantly increased
as a result of the removal of restrictions
on foreign investment, which creates
new opportunities and contributes to the
diversiication of the local economies as well
as to the economic integration of the region.
In fact, the “New Silk Road” indicates the
need for global demand and supply to emerge
from China and grow in Asia, the Middle
East, Africa and Latin America.
Statistics about the China-GCC
trade
The shift of the global economy to
the East has altered the global production
patterns and has forced investment and
capital markets to absorb the effect of
economic integration in the EMEs. In 2013,
China was the leading trading nation in
the world with $4.16 trillion in cumulative
imports and exports. China’s trade with the
GCC countries accounts for 3 percent of
this amount and 70 percent of the total SinoArab trade. China’s share of global trade
skyrocketed to 10 percent, an increase of 233
percent since 2000 when the country joined
the World Trade Organization (WTO). The
EMEs are likely to continue overtaking
the global markets, especially as long as
the inancial crisis continues in Europe
and the US. China’s exports to the GCC
are $60 billion annually, whereas GCC’s
exports to China in 2012 reached $101
billion. By 2020, China’s trade with the
Middle East is expected to reach $350-500
Page 17 | SKIM
The inancial and economic development
of the GCC countries has altered the global
economic environment. In particular, the trade
and economic relations between China and the
GCC are widely regarded as a key factor in
the economic relationship of the Middle East
with the leading trading nation in the world.
In this context, the “New Silk Road” initiative
aims at capitalizing on the trade and economic
potential in Central Asia and empower the
relationships of China with the MENA region
on the basis of a trade-oriented approach.
billion, with China-GCC trade accounting
for the majority share, McKinsey forecasts.
Nanotech partnership between
China and the GCC
In the context of the GCC-China Strategic
Dialogue, which was initiated in 2010, the
GCC countries are seeking for a nanotech
partnershipwith China to capitalize on China’s
powerful presence as a global leader in clean
energy. Given the long-standing ties between
China and the MENA region, but also the
fact that the GCC countries have signiicant
solar and wind resources, the construction of
solar power energy and technologies is highly
encouraged in the region. The partnership is
expected to provide the tools and resources
for undertaking R&D in renewable energy,
water management, solar power and energy
capacity. Due to their geographic location and
climate, the GCC countries have a comparative
The nanotech partnership between China
and the GCC countries indicates the need for
the creation of an energy cooperation with
the potential to capitalize on China’s leading
position in clean energy. Given that energy
is the major pillar of the GCC region, this
bilateral economic cooperation is expected
to be beneicial for trade and investment as
well as for the construction sector. Finally,
the increasing imports of China’s products
from the GCC allows China to maintain a
comparative advantage in East Asia.
The Growth of the EMEs
28 28
30
25
18
20
15
18
16
12 12
11
15 14
12
9
10
4
5
3
0
India
China
Other non
OECD
USA
2030
2060
Japan
Euro Area
Other OECD
NANOTECHNOLOGY FUNDING - IMPACT FACTOR 2013
HEALTH | FEBRUARY 2015
NANOTECHNOLOGY FUNDING - IMPACT FACTOR 2013
European Union
(excluding UK and Germany)
Russia
83
27
United Kingdom Germany
30
6
South Korea
United States
China
89
Europe
100
25
Asia
29
India
5
Japan
9
Africa
Taiwan
South America
Oceania
Country
Emerging Technology
Exploration Index
US
Germany
Taiwan
Japan
South Korea
Countries Reseaching
United Kingdom
in Nanotech
China
Impact Factor (How much research is
European Union
contributing in industry and R&D funds availible) (excluding UK and Germany)
India
Russia
Legend
Creation Date:
Projection/Datum:
Paper Size:
Aug 1, 2014
WGS84 Geographic
A3
Dataset Source:
Cientifica
www.cientifica.com
+ 92.51.282.0449/835.9288| [email protected]
www.alhasan.com
0
1,250
¯
2,500
5.00
4.93
4.90
4.88
4.60
4.55
4.30
4.23
3.95
3.57
5,000 Miles
SKIM | Page 18
THE SCIENCE OF THE SUPER TINY: NANOMEDICINE
FEBRUARY 2015 | HEALTH
THE SCIENCE OF THE SUPER TINY
NANOMEDICINE
HOW SMALL IS SMALL?
Human hair
ANATOMY OF A NANOTUBE
WHAT IS NANOTECHNOLOGY?
WHAT IS NANOMEDICINE?
The basic cylindrical building block of many
nano structures. It’s a hexagonal network of carbon
atoms rolled up to make a seamless cylinder.
Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and
application of extremely small things and can be used across all
the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, and physics.
Nanoscience and nanotechnology involve the ability
to see and to control individual atoms and molecules.
Nanomedicine, refers to highly specific
medical intervention at the molecular level for
curing disease or repairing damaged tissues.
APPLICATIONS OF NANOMEDICINE
The returns on R&D investments in nanotechnology in terms of
future market size have been estimated somewhere in the range of
HOW NANOMEDICINE WORKS?
Gene
Delivery
Nanomedicine works by injecting
nanoparticles into the body
to as much as
Find and
treat disease
Deliver medicine
Repair
damaged cells
Drug
Delivery
Biomaker
Mapping
Nanomedical Global Sales by Therapeuic Area
($ billions)
2016
72.8
Therapeuic Applicaion
63.8
Others
Ani-cancers
CNS products
Ani-infecives
2011
2016
4
0
5
Page 19 | SKIM
http://www.giiresearch.com/
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/commercial/2013/4/25/1366888502720/history-of-nano-food-001.jpg
Virus
One 10,000th
of a millimetre
-8
10
DNA
Carbon nanotube
Molecular
Imaging
15
10
29.5
20
25
30
35
http://www.associates-degree-in-nursing.org/nanomedicine/
Diameter of a
carbon nanotube
1
nanometres
One 1,000,000th
of a millimetre
$ Billions
Source: https://m1.behance.net
-6
10
One 100,000th
of a millimetre
14.8
7.3
8.6
10
Bacteria
10
nanometres
Targeted
Therapy
14
14.8
9.3
Ani-inflammatories
1,000
nanometres
DNA
2011
12.7
5.5
Cardiovasculars
2010
8.6
4
-5
10
Bacteria
100
nanometres
US $3.1 trillion in 2015
140.0
120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0
Red blood cells
Virus
!
130.9
Width of a
Human Hair
One 1,000th
of a millimetre
CAN BE USED TO
GLOBAL NANOMEDICINE MARKET ($ billions)
Red blood cells
-4
10
One 100th
of a millimetre
Detection and
Diagnosis
Bond
US $150 billion in 2010
One 10th
of a millimetre
10,000
nanometres
Particle
FUTURE OF NANOTECHNOLOGIES
100,000
nanometres
http://www.oecd.org/sti/inno/43179651.pdf
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnm/2010/894303/fig4/
-9
10
-7
HEALTH NEWS
UAE signs Dh3.6 million
deal with WHO
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): The
UAE Ministry of International
Cooperation
and
Development
(MICAD) announced a one-year,
Dh3.6 million agreement with the
World Health Organization (WHO) to
support the UN organization’s ‘Syria
Crisis Response 2014’.
The agreement is a part of UAE’s
continuous efforts and commitment to
improving the health conditions and
livelihoods of people affected by the
crisis in Syria.
The agreement was signed by Hazza Al
Qahtani, Undersecretary of MICAD,
and Ms. Elizabeth Hoff, Representative
of WHO in Syria, commissioned
by the Regional Director for the
Eastern Mediterranean. It establishes
the principle of cooperation and
consultation between the two parties,
and speciies the provision of artiicial
limbs and assistive devices for people
affected by the Syria crisis. Statistics
indicate that more than 750,000 men,
women and children have suffered an
injury resulting in the loss of an upper
or lower limb or, in some cases, both.
“This agreement is testament to
the UAE’s support to regional and
international humanitarian issues and
we are proud to work with the WHO
on this important cause which aims
to change the lives of many by giving
them hope for the future,” said Sheikha
Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE
Minister of International Cooperation
and Development. “We hope this
project opens the door for further
collaboration in future, as we remain
committed to providing assistance
to those affected by the unfortunate
conlict in Syria,” she added.
Punjab launches training for
health managers
Lahore: Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on
Health, Khawaja Salman Raique has said that
under the Chief Minister’s Health Roadmap,
primary healthcare system is being upgraded
for the provision of basic health facilities to
the citizens as well as protecting them against
diseases. He said that reforms are being
introduced in the system of Health Department
for harmonizing it with the demands of the
modern age and training of district health
managers and medical superintendents on
modern lines is essential for this purpose.
He was speaking at inaugural ceremony of the
training of 216 Health Managers as master
trainers at Punjab Health Development Centre.
Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences
(UHS) Prof Dr Maj General (r) Muhammad
Aslam, Director General Health Dr Zahid
Pervaiz, Dean Institute of Public Health Prof.
Moaz Ahmed, Project Director Policy &
Strategic Planning Unit Health Department
Ali Bahadar Qazi, Coordinator TRF Plus Dr
Anwar Junjua as well as medical experts were
present on the occasion. Kh Salman Raique
said that professionals will have to lead in the
health sector and government will provide
resources and political commitment for this
purpose.
He said that development of health sector
and provision of best treatment facilities to
the masses is the mission of Chief Minister
Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and solid
measures are being taken for this purpose.
US experts to help Saudia in
combating MERS, Ebola
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Saudi Arabia’s
health ministry has hired US experts to help
combat the spread of infectious and noncommunicable diseases, including the Middle
East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
(MERS-CoV) and Ebola, in the country,
media reported.
The decision is part of an agreement recently
signed by the ministry with the Atlanta-based
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), which includes training and support
for Saudi professionals, Arab News reported.
The ministry will ensure comprehensive
preparations based on the world’s best medical
practices to provide protection for citizens and
residents in the country, said Abdul Aziz bin
Saeed, undersecretary for public health.
He said this was an essential part of the
continued cooperation with the World Health
Organisation and the CDC on MERS and
other communicable diseases.
Bahrain launches new health care
system for workers
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Bahrain has
announced a new system to provide basic
health care for its private sector workers.
Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi said the
system now compels companies with less than
50 workers to take part in facilities provided
by the ministry, said a report in the Gulf Daily
News (GDN), our sister publication.
Companies with more than 50 workers
can either sign a deal with licensed health
insurance companies or an integrated medical
facility.
Firm using the ministry health care facility
will have to pay an annual BD72 ($186) per
worker, he was quoted as saying by the report.
‘Smoke-free’ regulations revealed
by UAE Ministry of Health
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): The Ministry
of Health has announced a list of mandatory
anti-smoking requirements and procedures
across the UAE, said Dr Bassem Abdul
Menem, an adviser of the national anti-tobacco
programme.
They include a ban on smoking throughout
buildings, especially in closed indoor spaces.
“No Smoking” signs must be posted, all
ashtrays removed, and the sale, promotion
or advertising of tobacco products must be
strictly prohibited.
A comment box must be provided for public
feedback on the anti-smoking policy. The
ministry had held workshops for the relevant
authorities and agencies, and briefed them on
the requirements to qualify as smoke-free.
“It is expected that several authorities would
announce their adherence to these measures
during the year,” he said.
“The measures aren’t optional. They are
compulsory under the anti-tobacco law and its
regulations. Implementation will be gradual,
however, authorities can implement the
measures at their own discretion and according
to their own timeline.
SKIM | Page 20
FEBRUARY 2015 | AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Water Conservation and Drilling
Methods
I
n India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan
the immediate need to maintain
usable water levels to support the
population is crucial and wastewater
conservation is embracing new methods to
contain and recycle contaminated water from
traditional drilling methods. In all, a dim
picture is being painted for the region:
• The drought in Pakistan is expected to
reduce the available water to 31% below the
population’s need by 2025. (Rana, 2013).
By: Kimberly Anne Klemm
Page 21 | SKIM
• In
Afghanistan
50.25
%
of
Afghanistan’s
water
pollution
is
sourced from industries using drilling
methods
(NationMaster,
2014).
•
In September of 2013, The Times
of India published an article stating:
“Experts say that population of cities such
as Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Kanpur
have increased manifold, resulting in
increased demand for water.” (Kumar Dash,
September 9, 2013).
In her 2011 report “When Demand
Surpasses Supply: Water Scarcity in
Afghanistan,” Linda Lavender states
that “countries with water availability of
less than 1,000 cubic metres per year per
person will be ‘water scarce’ societies;
and countries with less than 1,700 cubic
metres per person per year will be classed
as
‘water stressed’”. Droughts, water
AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | FEBRUARY 2015
resource management issues, and exploding
populations have led to serious concerns that
India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan will soon
face a “water scarce” situation sometime
within the next decade.
Drilling methods, in agricultural,
industrial and energy production seriously
affect the precious resources of a nation
and directly impact water conservation
efforts. By closely examining newer,
eficient drilling methods better wastewater
containment and recycling we will ind some
of the Best Practices for water management.
Among these newer technologies are
Zero Tillage (ZT) drilling, Hydrothermal
Spallation Drilling, and Sonic drilling. All
of them hold promise for the present and
the future. Each of them present viable over
traditional method such as percussion or
rotary drilling; jetting; sludging; and auger
drilling.
(Samandani, 2014) ZT drilling plants seeds
in the soil by breaking through the top layers
into the seedbed without resulting in soil
turnover or tillage. An organic topsoil is
maintained unbroken. ZT drills are usually
not single drill bores, but several drill heads
positioned on a machine to move across the
acreage, bore directly under the earth, and
drop seed (see picture below).
Water conservation and wastewater cost
eficiencies are solid, proven beneits from
Zero Tillage drilling resulting from allowing
the topsoil layers to remain intact to prevent
soil-moisture evaporation. The successful
implementation of Zero Tillage drilling in
Pakistan over the last decade has produced
positive results in farmland and wastewater
conservation efforts. The ZT drilling method
creates less need for irrigation and improves
soil fertility. Because sowing is uniform
and seed is drilled into the ground, the
planting beneits from the soil’s properties
stability, and
capabilities.
increased
water-retention
Hydrothermal Spallation and Sonic
drilling are developing technologies
and aren’t widely used at the moment.
Both can deliver great beneits and for
more widespread in India, Afghanistan
and Pakistan is worth considering. The
employment of more advanced alternatives
requires more electricity than traditional
drilling methods and there are greater
initial costs to establish alternative drilling
equipment on-site. Although energy is at a
premium, this isn’t about the energy – it’s
about the water. These new technologies
increase both soil and water protection and
India, Afghanistan and Pakistan cannot
afford to ignore alternative drilling methods.
There may be additional resources required,
such as a heat source or extensive sampling;
but again, it’s about the water.
Hydrothermal Spallation and
Sonic drilling methods
The possibilities of reducing waste and
increasing water conservation are enormous
when ZT drilling, Hydrothermal Spallation
drilling, and Sonic drilling are effectively
employed. Looking closely at each of these
methods pinpoints their contributions to
water conservation. In the industrial sector,
Hydrothermal Spallation drilling is being
explored as an alternative to traditional
drilling methods. Heat shocks are used to
break thorough ground and rocks rather
than attempting to use contact force from
a physical drilling instrument (a large drill
bit). A cooling water spray is used with
a burner assembly producing a lame jet
that heats natural laws in the surface to be
drilled, causing buckling and then fracture
of the law. Wastewater produced from
Hydrothermal Spallation drilling has fewer
pollutants and less integration with drilled
material.
One Type of Zero Tillage Drilling
Better Drilling for Better
Agriculture and Industry
Zero Tillage (ZT) drilling is largely used
in agriculture in India and Pakistan. “The
seed drill for ZT was developed at Massey
University of New Zealand and was later
fabricated in Pakistan with the help of Dr.
Chaudhry and other experts from New
Zealand with the collaboration of Pakistan
Agricultural Research council (PARC).”
that are retained and wastewater from soil
preparation is not created. Successes of ZT
drilling include: 1) Reduced technology
impact at the ecosystem level, 2) Less
energy budget used, and 3) Positive changes
in the knowledge base and morale of
farmers (Singh, et. al., January, 2012). Zero
Tillage drills have improved over a decade
of implementation and solved issues with
more modern equipment. Newer ZT drills
have reduced fuel consumption, improved
•The drilling luid is water based and
heated. The heating creates an evaporation
factor that offsets the need to contain
wastewater in massive volumes as drilling
progresses.
•Cooling water is used to maintain
the drilling case and this cooling water is
circulated rather than released.
According to IFAD, 22%)of fresh water
resources are used for industry globally
(IFAD, 2014). Hydrothermal Spallation
drilling reduces the volume of fresh water
SKIM | Page 22
FEBRUARY 2015 | AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
the land to enrich the earth.
Technologically
advanced
drilling
methods, such as Zero Tillage (ZT),
Hydrothermal Spallation drilling, and
Sonic drilling, eliminate the need for soil
disturbance and leave less drilling waste
behind them.
Hydrothermal Spallation Drill in Action
used to drill, and reduces contaminants
within the wastewater residue resulting
from drilling implementation. This offers
an opportunity for countries such as India
and Afghanistan to use this new technology
in industrial endeavors such as: mining,
construction and oil production.
“Mud invasion during drilling causes
contamination of underground water
resources” -Pakistan Journal of Nutrition,
2013.
Sonic drilling uses no drilling luids.
High frequency oscillations are transmitted
as frequency vibrations through the drill
head and the vibrations luidize the drilling
surface. It eliminates the traditional drilling
risks of contact with and creation of drilling
mud. Water is only used to cool the drill
barrel casing in order to prevent core
samples affected by the barrel heat.
Sonic drilling attacks the rock or hard
surfaces without disturbing the ground
except for the displacement of the drilling
target. There is no mud waste contamination.
Sonic drilling protects underground water
sources and eliminates the introduction of
drilling contaminants into the soil making
it a very useful new technology for well
construction, environmental borings and
gravel mining. In drier climate situations,
the Sonic drilling of wells could protect
the above ground water system of the
Amu Darya River, Helmand River, and
Kabul River by preventing severe soil
degradation and Basin contamination
from washes resulting from improper well
founding. Drilling waste does not have to
Page 23 | SKIM
be contained and stored with Sonic drilling.
There are limitations in using sonic drilling.
It is effective only to a depth of 500 ft.
(Robertson GeoConsultants, Inc., 2014).
The current energy crisis creates a
dificult situation for industries that employ
drilling in their operations. Advanced
drilling equipment requires greater energy
resources to sustain productivity. On the
other hand, new drilling equipment and
techniques generate a higher yield and have
a longer operational life with less deinitive
costs incurred in spite of the energy needs.
There are always trade-offs.
Traditional drilling methods require
excavations known as “sumps” to
store drilling waste.
At drilling sites
soil conditions are pre-evaluated for
proper consistency and density for sump
construction and re-evaluated periodically
after drilling waste disposal to ensure
proper drilling waste maintenance. Bioassay
toxicity assessments are usually conducted
on drilling waste to ensure the waste storage
sump, tank, or unit is properly compatible
with disposal needs.
Land spraying is an alternative waste
disposal method that involves dispersing
liquid or slurry waste on topsoil. Land
spraying is a process that may be used
in conjunction with the drilling as the
drilling occurs and it is more conducive to
alternative vs. traditional drilling methods.
Soil incorporation can also be used with
land spraying to return drilling waste with
valuable components, such as nitrogen, to
India has organized in many areas,
(for example: Participatory Irrigation
Management (PIM) and the Water Users
Associations (WUAs), to step up water
conservation efforts and ight signiicant and
increasing climate changes. Soil moisture
conservation is crucial in many rural parts
of India and as industry expands, lessons
learned through implementing technology
such as ZT drilling (already widely used
in India) can be passed on and combined
with newer technologies for improvements
to drilling equipment and techniques.
In Afghanistan, water conservation as an
organized effort is a challenge due to the
prolonged drought. Uncertain steps have
been made by many private stakeholders
and Councils in efforts to manage the water
resources of Afghanistan and to create an
integrated system of conservation, planning
and development activities, including
wastewater recycling. Sonic drilling
methods, could beneit Afghanistan in the
establishment of wells and water resource
connections while preserving the reservoirs
from wastewater contamination created
during construction. Drilling technology
initiatives could, and need to become
coordinated public and private sector water
conservation efforts.
The Karachi Water Partnership in
Pakistan has two successful principles of
“cost-synergy” and “mutual accountability”
(Global Water Partnership, 2014). These
principles are applied in partnerships with
private industry to control the agricultural
and industrial uses of water and the
production of waste. Resource management
and environmental concerns have resulted in
positive efforts for water conservation and
wastewater planning such as The National
Water Sector Strategy (NWSS).
Alternative drilling methods are one
component of improved water conservation
and wastewater recycling efforts. Deliberate
and careful discussions with private
business investors and the implementation
of
advanced
drilling
technologies
could promote more public and private
partnerships to advance water resource
management.
AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES | FEBRUARY 2015
PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN - MAJOR DAMS AND BARRAGES
PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN - MAJOR DAMS AND BARRAGES
72.02
25.73
Jhelum
Chenab
!
n
!
n
28.61
25.8
2.05
Indus
Legend
Average Annual Flows of
Rivers of Indus Basin (MAF)
Pakistan
Jawzjan
2.25
Ravi
Sutlej
Kunduz
Balkh
Takhar
Kabul
Average Annual Flow 2010-11
Sari Pul
Faryab
Wardak
!
n
!
! Kabul n
n
! Logar
n
Ghor
Nuristan
!
n
Nangarhar
Uruzgan
Ghazni
Paktya
0
Farah
Paktika
!
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Khost
!
n
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n
Kandahar
Hilmand
Nimroz
!
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Zabul
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Jh
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ICT
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Data Source(s)
PCO: Pakistan Admin Boundaries
USGS: Afghanistan Admin Boundaries,
Inland Water Feature and River
!
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Province wise Distribution of
Different Irrigation Systems in
Afghanistan (Hectare)
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+92.51.282.0449/835.9288| [email protected]
r
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Agricultural
Industrial
Municipal
Environmental
Total
Current & Future
Water Requirements of Pakistan
(2010 - 2025)
Present & Future Water Requirements
Additional
(MAF)
Requirements
2010
2015
2020
2025
in 2025
107
111
115
119
12
4.02
4.28
4.54
4.8
0.78
6.9
8.1
9.3
10.5
3.6
1.46
1.54
1.62
1.7
0.24
119.38
124.92
130.46
136
16.62
Water Availability VS Population Growth - Pakistan
Afghanistan
Area under
Kandahar Ground Water
21870 irrigation (Hectare)
Zabul
24870
Helmand
Farah
27280
36890
Sindh
!
n
!
n
Ghazni
43170
!
n
Population Million
Kabul
18270
Uruzgan
73910
Per Capita Availability (M)3
!
n
Nangarhar
13820
Badghis
Ghor
13050
16940
200
!
n
! n
!
n
!
n
Sector
Balochistan
±
100
Indian Occupied
Kashmir
AJK
Punjab iver
R
avi
R
!
n
!
n
!
n
50
June 10, 2014
WGS 84 Geographic
Kilometers
!
n
!
n
!
n
Date of Creation
Projection/Datum
Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa
!
n
!
n
River
Gilgit
Baltistan
Kunar
Laghman
Bamyan
!
n
Hirat
Inland Water
Baghlan
Badghis
Barrages
Badakhshan
Samangan
Parwan
Kapisa
Dams
Year
Povince
Badakhshan
Badghis
Baghlan
Balkh
Bamyan
Farah
Faryab
Ghazni
Ghor
Helmand
Heart
Jawzjan
Kabul
Kandahar
Kapisa
Kunarha
Kunduz
Laghman
Logar
Nangarhar
Nimroz
Paktia
Parwan
Samangan
Takhar
Uruzgan
Wardak
Zabul
Canal Spring
Karez Wells
Mills
212
82
0
54
730
120
50
30
0
500
109
63
0
0
565
250
92
3
82
912
179
137
0
300
651
312
94
352
327
260
157
79
960
867
1030
818
604
1519
636
994
804
570
4
263
500
227
135
276
60
516
302
153
228
450
1302
382
87
2
443
475
177
81
321
436
616
279
258
631
252
383
285
72
49
176
638
223
67
0
13
681
88
0
0
55
363
45
3
0
0
561
154
169
124
91
433
274
210
495
15
1001
193
2
18
140
133
625
392
528
800
171
120
93
34
0
756
20
73
7
271
190
316
288
363
429
84
589
519
336
199
756
743
509
653
210
1266
822
148
373
SKIM | Page 24
AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS
Centre to set up agriculture
research boards in all
provinces
Islamabad: The Ministry of National
Food Security and Research will
establish agriculture research and
development boards with the inancial
support of US Agency for International
Development (USAID) in all provinces
in a bid to give a push to research and
innovation in the agricultural sector.
This was discussed in a meeting held
in January at the Pakistan Agriculture
Research Council (PARC), chaired by
National Food Security and Research
Secretary Sirat Asghar and attended by
different stakeholders.
The research boards will be part of the
Agricultural Innovation Programme,
and managed by the International
Maize and Wheat Improvement
Programme in partnership with PARC
and other stakeholders.
The objectives of the innovation
programme are to increase crop
productivity and the production value
of livestock, horticultural and cereal
crops, resulting in an increase in the
income of Pakistan’s farmers.
International
centres
like
the
International Livestock Research
Institute, International Rice Research
Institute, Asian Vegetable Research and
Development Centre and University
of California, Davis are working as
partners to support the agricultural
research community in achieving the
goals of the programme.
According to an oficial of PARC, each
of the provincial boards will have the
board of directors and an executive
committee to run the affairs and
channel grants to the province.
The research boards will support
expansion of provincial linkages to
national, regional and international
communities through a mechanism
of coordination. They will play a
growing role in the administration of
competitive grants.
UAE plans to increase investment
in agriculture sector
Abu Dhabi: Mohammad A. Al Nuaimi,
Assistant Secretary General of Federation of
UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry
said UAE had plans to increase its investment
in the agriculture sector abroad and was active
in many countries, speaking on the sidelines of
First Serbian Business and Investment Forum
held in Abu Dhabi.
in the eleven-month period, an 87 percent rise
compared to $11.7 billion in the same period
in 2013. Meanwhile, Iran exported $25.5
billion of products to China, a 10 percent rise
compared to $23.1 billion in the same period
in 2013, the report added.
China was the leading importer of Iranian nonoil goods in the previous Iranian calendar year,
which ended on March 20, 2014, according to
the Iran Customs Administration.
“We want to invest wherever there is an
opportunity. We are already present in many
countries including Serbia, Morocco, Pakistan,
Egypt, Brazil and Mexico,” This is not about
food security for the UAE but for the entire
region, he said.
Iran exported $7.43 billion of non-oil goods
to China and imported $9.66 billion of non-oil
goods from the country.
He urged businessmen from the UAE to
invest in Serbia and strengthen trade relations
between both the countries.
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Oman has
signed a third usufruct deal to set up ish
farming projects worth of RO66 million
($170.8 million) at lands dedicated to ish
farming by two private sector companies,
according to a media report..
The trade igures between the two countries
stand at Dh116 million for 2013 and it has to
be increased, he said.
In the agriculture sector, Abu Dhabi
Development Fund is investing in food
production by taking over a large arable ield.
Another irm, Al Dahra, has signed a $400
million (Dh1.47 billion) agreement to buy
eight Serbian farm companies and develop
them to grow and process food and fodder for
export.
Iran, China ink MOU
agricultural cooperation
for
TEHRAN: (IRNAN) Iranian Agriculture
Minister Mahmoud Hojjati and Chinese
Agriculture Minister Han Changfu signed
a memorandum of understanding MOU to
expand cooperation in the agricultural sector
at Beijing in January.
The two countries agreed to boost cooperation
in greenhouse gardening, ishery, animal
husbandry, and poultry farming.
Hojjati, heading a delegation of Iranian
economic entrepreneurs, traveled to China on
19th January to participate in the irst seminar
on Iran-China joint investment and trade.
Trade between Iran and China amounted to
$47.5 billion from January to November 2014,
a 36 percent rise year on year, according to the
Chinese General Administration of Customs.
China exported $22 billion of products to Iran
$170m ishery project to boost
food security in Oman
The irst deal was signed with Arabia Marine
Development Company to set up shrimp
farming project at Qaroon village in the
Wilayat of Ja’alan Bani Bu Hasan in the
Governorate of South Al Sharqiyah over 500
hectares at a cost of about RO29 million.
The second agreement was signed with
Al Jazeera Investment Company to set up
abalone and grouper ish farming project using
the closed system in the Niyabat of Sharbathat
in the Wilayat of Shaleem and Al Halaniyat
Islands in the Governorate of Dhofar at a cost
of RO34.5 million, it said.
Meanwhile, Knowledge Modern Technologies
Company received a technical operation
license, which will allow it to start production
of grouper ish using the closed cycling system
in Sur Industrial area at a cost of RO2.5
million.
The agreements come within the government
interest to provide food security, diversify
sources of income and beneit from the
available natural resources in the country,
Shaikh Saif bin Mohammed al Shabibi,
Minister of Housing, was quoted as saying.
The three ish farming projects will provide
the local market with around 7,330 tonnes
of seafood, such as shrimps, grouper ish and
abalone, besides 800 jobs for citizens, Dr Fuad
bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture
and Fisheries, was quoted as saying.
SKIM | Page 25
FEBRUARY 2015| INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Infrastructure Planning and Development
in Pakistan
I
nfrastructure and development
are not praise worthy elements
in Pakistan’s past, nor are they
today. Previous governments allocated less
than ive percent of our national budget to
the development of the country. In order to
put Pakistan steady course, the government
must direct 27 -37% of its budget towards
the Public Sector Development Program
(PSDP).
By: Muhammad Halar Zaman
Page 26 | SKIM
At the same time it must improve its
governance by increasing tax to GDP rate,
which is the lowest in the region. Pakistan
should enforce increased taxes rates on
the wealth, while reducing the direct tax
burden from poor. In order to attract foreign
investment to improve our industrial sector,
it will be essential to improve our law and
order situation. Moreover, corruption and
laws that permit it should be eliminated from
society.
The
Government
should
take
drastic steps to secure justice so that
the public’s trust for government will
be increased. One of those steps should
be the transfer of resource management
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT | FEBRUARY 2015
mechanisms into the hands of autonomous
provincial government. This will increase
accountability and transparency and increase
the role of regional stakeholders.
Pakistan suffers from a series of
problems, they are essential core issues in
governance and development. A number
of obstacles in physical and non-physical
infrastructure
development
must
be
removed. Physical infrastructure plays a
pivotal role. It is the base upon which the
development of a country occurs.
Pakistan is engulfed in severe energy
crisis. That crisis has weakened the economy
and made the lives of common people
miserable. In order to recover Pakistan
must engage short time line, cheaper energy
development programs. Renewable energy
such as wind, solar and geothermal energy
projects should be initiated by government
at every opportunity. The maintenance and
installation costs of each of these is cheaper
than hydro-power development projects,
which are expensive, controversial and have
very long time lines.
Pakistan has an installed capacity of
around 23,048 Megawatts, but only 50%
of that capacity is being used. Most of
this is due to mismanagement and nonmaintenance. If line losses are controlled
and theft is reduced, and there is proper
management of installed capacity and billing
losses recovered much of the problem of
electricity shortage will be resolved. Over
the years Pakistan has shifted its energy
production from hydro to thermal. But,
thermal power is now more dependent
upon furnace oils than gas. This is the most
expensive option and has led to an increase
in inter-circular debt. Energy production can
be improved if thermal energy is provided
by natural gas which is diverted to CNG
sector. Pakistan needs be more dependent
on renewable and nuclear energy which will
produce cheaper and abundant energy.
Aside from energy crisis, Pakistan
has grave infrastructure problem in water
and solid waste management. Pakistan has
been hit hard by environment change and
has witnessed severe loods from 2010 and
onwards. Pakistan needs informed, proactive
disaster prevention and recovery programs to
protect the country its people and all of our
assets. Increased funding must be allocated
for the National Disaster Management
Authority and the various Provincial disaster
programs.
Early warning systems and Webbased GIS inventory programs should be
introduced at important and perilous points
throughout loodplains of our rivers and
watersheds. New government mechanisms
should be put in place to create stronger
embankments on rivers, canals and other
drainage systems designed using stone
pitching or other effective new methods.
At the province level construction
programs to build small dams to protect
housing and other assets and reservoirs for
fresh water could address our various storage
problems and provide potable water when
looding occur. As always, public awareness
campaigns need to be developed to help
avert future looding crises
GIS assessments of our lood plains
will enable better decision making by
authorities at both the federal and provincial
level, and within each distract. GIS mapping
will present the location of critical facilities
such as power and fresh and waste water
plants, hospitals, schools and clinics. It will
identify key lines of transportation whether
they are roads and bridges that will be in
danger, rail lines and most of all, route of
escape and access for medical rescue and
later, engineering crews. Even rudimentary
GIS assessments will show elevations in the
land, population concentrations and at least
an estimate of open and closed routes based
on lood level. This is what proper planning
looks like.
The water shortage due to the drought
impacts the entire country. There have been
decreased in ground, surface and rain water
and reduced resources for irrigation and
commercial use. Once again, GIS could
deine solutions for policy makers. There are
answers to irrigation in drought conditions,
land leveling, and the construction of
water recycling facilities for agriculture in
advantageous locations can provide relief.
Sanitation is a major impediment
to clean water management in Pakistan.
According to a survey inadequate sanitation
causes an annual loss of 4% to nation’s
GDP. In this case Municipal authorities
are doing a commendable job and their
hierarchy and mechanisms can be replicated.
There are many pilot projects such as Orangi
Pilot Project and Lodhran which have
successfully shown result on micro levels.
Such projects can be modiied to work on
macro levels in our country.
There can be no increase in
development or prosperity without a modern
and compact transportation system. Pakistan
is lagging behind in quality roads. They are
imperative for domestic development and
all commercial business activities. Federal
SKIM | Page 27
FEBRUARY 2015| INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
and National highways authorities are
marked by mismanagement and corruption.
Today, Pakistan has 263,735 kilometers of
roads. Unfortunately, only 3.5% consists
of National Highway and 0.87 % are
Motorways. According to World Bank
report, poor performance in the transport
sector costs 5 % of Pakistan’s GDP
annually. To improve the situation it will
be necessary to support new public-private
investment ventures such as the HyderabadMirpurkhas Highway. Additional inancing
can be sought from China to boost projects
under the National Trade Corridor program
(NTCP) and China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC). These projects include
the Karakoram Highway, Karachi-Lahore
Motorway, Multan – Sukkur section and
construction of East Bay Expressway.
The Provincial Governments should
be made responsible to arrange inances
by public-private ventures and reduce
impediments between the market and farm
roads and highways. China has arranged
a 10 billion dollar investment under
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for
infrastructure improvement.
Railways is an important sector that
needs drastic improvement. Pakistan’s
railways are suffering badly due to
locomotive shortages, outdated service and
rolling stock and infrastructure and increased
fuel prices and fare rates. As a result
railway revenue has declined and increasing
maintenance expenditures are borne by
government. To improve the Railways
certain reforms are necessary. Benchmarking
performance, tariff structures, and the
purchase of new locomotives and increased
repair are minimum requirements
A number of administrative reforms
are needed including the disbursement of
salaries and pensions via NADRA software,
and the initiation of more public-private
projects such business express trains.
Pakistan has allocated 39.3 billion for rail
service development but more funds can
be injected by public-private partnerships
including the China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor.
Pakistan
International
Airlines
have been facing losses beginning in
2002. There are various reasons for its
ineffective performance including over
employment, unproitable route selection,
mismanagement, corruption and competition
in aviation market. According to oficial
igures of PIA’s report of 2013, PIA’s
Page 28 | SKIM
operation expenses are Rs 126,164 billion
while operation revenues are Rs 95,771
billion. The government has taken serious
steps, yet radical reforms are necessary
for improvement at PIA. These include
the purchase of new leet or lease, contract
renegotiation, decreasing number of
employees by giving “golden handshakes.”
Hajj operations can be made effective and
we can discontinue service on loss producing
routes such as Frankfurt, Kandahar and
Zahedan. New lights on proitable routes
to Dubai, Manchester, Kuala Lumpur and
Muscat can be added.
The role of communication cannot
be ignored as it is a major factor in modern
life and contributes to the economy of
any country. Pakistan is vibrant nation;
hence, Telecom revenues have a signiicant
contribution every year. According to the
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority‘s
report the ive year average revenues of the
Telecom sector has been 119 billion Rupees.
Pakistan’s High population is a readymade market that can attract investors with
the introduction of lexible laws to allow
new schemes such as mobile banking, eeducation, observing sale channels of
cellular mobile companies, illegal voice
transmission, establishing of web blocking
call center, e-health and mobile debit cards.
Government has taken commendable steps
including the auctioning of band-width for
the Next Generation Mobile Service such
as 3G and 4G. New laws can provide added
security with the introduction of biometric
veriication system for sale of SIMS.
New regulations can make the
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
more inluential player in the market.
Broadband users are not generally active
as telecom users; however this platform
may be enhanced with mobile internet and
introducing new broadband competitors in
the market. New Television channels have
become a house name in Pakistan resulting
in millions of Rupees in revenue to national
treasury. The investment of 3.5 billion
rupees in private channels that has generated
200,000 jobs for Pakistani people.
For this sector to thrive, Pakistan must
make media free and modern by amending
outdated laws within the Pakistan Electronic
Media Regulatory Authority. Adequate
attention should be spent on Pakistan’s
Postal Service to make it a success story
and generate billions of revenues by
incorporating more modern methods and
technologies such as a computerized counter
system, electronic money order service, ecollection of utility bills, payment of Benazir
income support program, computerized
pension system, and the general promotion
of innovative services and products. We
also have to improve our delivery systems to
compete for local and international orders.
When all is said, it may be concluded
that Pakistan has all of the ingredients to
consolidate its physical and non-physical
infrastructure
and
mobilize
toward
development. Pakistan has all the potential
to grow its Gross Domestic Product to 7 to
10 %. However, its physical infrastructure is
in shables but it can be improved by proper
planning, budgeting and effective execution.
The government’s outdated laws are proving
to be a hindrance and they must be amended
to meet the demands of a growing nation.
INFRASTRUCTURE AT A GLANCE - PAKISTAN
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT | FEBRUARY 2015
INFRASTRUCTURE AT A GLANCE - PAKISTAN
107,805
42,980
81,385
Punjab
KPK
Sindh
Balochistan GB & AJK
30
27
Tap
Hand Motor
Water Pump Pump
14,406
Dug
Well
Others Flush
Non
Toilet
Registered Health Staff
‐
Telenor
1,715,198
Mobilink
1,302,446
561,089
4,972
13,967
35,379
Others
FTTH
HFC
WiMax
DSL
2,000,000
1,800,000
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
EvDO
Broadband Subscribers By Technology
(April 2014)
Number of Schools by Gender
2012-13
(Primary-H. Sc) 2011-12
160,289
160000
1,786
Non
Flush
15
Type of Toilet
180000
Bed
14
9
3
Water Sources
Population per Unit (2012-13)
Dentist
30
Zong
38,444,357
29,655
Ufone
36,311,451
1,590
45,000,000
40,000,000
35,000,000
30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000
Warid
26,736,308
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Cellular Subscribers (May 2014)
24,645,598
by Province (Km) 2012-13
Households by Different
Characteristics (%)
71
13,060,765
Estimated Length of Roads
140000
120000
100000
1,127
Doctor
82,119
80000
70,000
60000
0
2000 4000 6000 8000 10000120001400016000
40000
20000
0
Transmission Lines
50,494
Dentists Nurses Doctors
Natural Gas Distribution
Network (Km)
30,000
23,994
57,998
50,000
12,544
40,000
27,486
30,000
20,000
(Circuit Length Km - 2010)
25,000
60,000
10,000
400
1,095
6,060
5,572
12,347
‐
‐
4,214
20,000
Boys
Girls
Total
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
5,078
7,367
9,069
SNGPL
SSGCL
82,025
500KV 220KV 132KV 66KV
Source(s): Pakistan Economic Survey 2013‐14
PSLM 2012‐13
www.sngpl.com.pk, 2010‐11
www.ssgc.com.pk, 2009
www.ntdc.com.pk
Pakistan Education Statistics, AEPAM
+92.51.282.0449/835.9288|[email protected]
www.alhasan.com
SKIM | Page 29
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT NEWS
ADB spent $900m for
various uplift projects:
Werner
Islamabad: Asian Development Bank
(ADB) Country Director Werner E
Leipach told Finance Minister Ishaq
Dar in a meeting here in Islamabad,
that co-operation between the ADB
and Pakistan had been much more
extensive as compared to the past
years and the present government was
keen to start work on key development
projects.
He said the year 2014 saw the record
disbursement of $900 million for
different
development
projects
including budgetary support whereas
it was around $300 million in the past
years.
The minister while appreciating the
ADB’s contribution, impressed upon
Werner to enhance the budgetary
support. Warner also discussed the
strategy of ADB for Pakistan in the
next year which would be approved in
the annual meeting to be held in May
in Baku.
Warner said as per our commitment for
facilitating infrastructure development
and energy-related projects, the bank
will be supporting projects like M4,
E35 and regional development projects
like CAREC and TAPI.
Our endeavor shall be to leverage
more inances from DFID in the form
of grants so that the loans extended for
these projects should be replaced and
recycled for other projects, the director
said.
The inance minister told him that for
the purpose of arranging inances for
infrastructure development projects,
they had already created an SPV. The
IPDF shall soon actively start its work.
The minister further said that with
15 per cent growth in the workers’
remittances, Pakistan will be better able
to manage the balance of payment and
divert more inances to development of
the country.
Saudi Arabia plans $1.1 trillion
infrastructure projects
Kuwait plans to raise its oil
production by 2030
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Infrastructure
investments worth $1.1 trillion are envisaged
on a range of high-proile projects in Saudi
Arabia, a report said.
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): In pursuance
to its plan to raise its oil production, Kuwait
has awarded a $4.2 billion to develop heavy
oilields in the north of the country, the central
tenders committee oficially announced.
These include the Riyadh and Makkah metros,
worth $23 billion and $7 billion, respectively,
the King Abdul-Aziz International Airport
expansion, costing $4 billion, the $3.3-billion
Shuqaiq power plant and the $3.5-billion
Kudai Towers mixed-use development in
Makkah, added the latest Economic Update
released by the National Bank of Kuwait
(NBK).
As part of the kingdom’s plans to diversify
its productive base, the government has been
engaged in a number of initiatives directed
at the real estate and small and medium
enterprise (SME) sectors. In the former, the
government is keen to increase both the supply
and affordability of housing for nationals;
homeownership levels of around 36 per cent
are relatively low by international standards.
Afghanistan rises UAE’s role in
reconstruction efforts: Ghani
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Ashraf Ghani
Ahmadzai, President of Afghanistan during his
visit to UAE met General Shaikh Mohammed
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander
of the UAE Armed Forces to seek UAE
cooperation for Afghanistan infrastructure
development in the last week of January.
The meeting discussed ways to bolster
bilateral ties in economic, developmental and
social ields so as to realise the aspirations of
the two friendly countries and peoples.
The Afghan President updated General
Shaikh Mohammed on efforts being made by
his government to achieve development and
build national institutions, and about future
development plans.
The two parties also reviewed the
UAE’s role in supporting efforts for the
reconstruction of Afghanistan’s health,
education and infrastructure projects as well
as its contribution in maintaining security
and stability. Coordination between the two
countries on issues of common concern,
notably combating violence, extremism and
terrorism, was also discussed.
He added that the directives of Shaikh Khalifa to
provide all kinds of assistance to Afghanistan,
mainly in social and development sectors,
strengthened the channels of communication
between the two countries.
The project, called Lower Fars Heavy oil
Development phase 1, was awarded to UAEbased Petrofac International and the Athensbased Consolidated Contractors Co (CCC),
the largest construction irm in the Middle
East, the committee said.
The project includes plans to produce 60,000
barrels per day of heavy crude by 2018 and
to build the infrastructure facilities for further
phases. In the second phase, production will
double by 2020.
Kuwait also has plans to raise heavy oil
production to around 270,000 bpd by 2030
only if needed.
The Opec member, currently pumping around
2.8 million bpd, plans to raise its output
capacity to 4.0 million bpd in 2020 from
around 3.3 million bpd now.
Last year, the emirate awarded contracts
worth $12 billion to upgrade two of its three
oil reineries and procedures are underway to
award contracts worth $15 billion to build a
new 615,000-bpd reinery.
When the two projects are completed by 20182019, the reining capacity will be boosted to
1.4 million bpd from 930,000 bpd at present.
GCC to develop 40,000 Km rail
network
Islamabad (Monitoring Desk): Over $200
billion will be invested to develop about
40,000 kilometres of rail network across
the GCC, according to Oman’s Minister of
Transport and Communications.
Speaking at the opening of the GCC Rail and
Metro Conference, Ahmed Bin Mohammed
Bin Salim Al Futaisi said that rail development
provides an ideal opportunity to attract
companies and manufacturers to the region.
The project, estimated to be worth $15.5
billion, is scheduled to be completed by
2018. Each of the GCC states will work on an
individual link before the common network is
connected.
Aside from the mega rail project, many GCC
countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and
the UAE are also developing rail links for
commercial purposes.
SKIM | Page 30
FEBRUARY 2015 | BUSINESS PSYCHOLOGY
Your Organization is Alive
constrict our understanding as much or more
than they help us to explain what we mean.
S
uppose you meet someone at
a local business networking
event.
In the course of the
conversation, she asks you “how do you
describe the operations of your business?”
In your response you employ the image of
a machine. You explain to her that your
business runs like a “well-oiled machine”
most of the time, but right now you have
some “parts” missing.
Do you realize you may be limiting your
business success without even being aware
that you are doing it?
By: John Weaver
Page 31 | SKIM
It’s in the words. The words we use to
describe what we are doing can sometimes
Metaphor of the Machine
In this example, the workings of the
organization are compared to the workings
of a machine. The machine metaphor is
easy to comprehend (especially for males
for whom interest in machines is a cultural
expectation). It is also convenient because
this image is frequently used.
Our current fascination with machines
has its origin in the Industrial Revolution.
The human economy was transformed
during this period as businesses emerged
that were based on new technologies that
drew people off the farms and into the cities.
BUSINESS PSYCHOLOGY | FEBRUARY 2015
Machines could do heavy, repetitive work
faster and more precisely than humans.
As the technology progressed, machines
were designed that could also mimic and
sometimes even surpass the handiwork of
artisans. We wondered, “Is there a limit to
what machines can do?”
Machines had some attractive qualities.
In addition to the volume of work that
could be accomplished, machines seemed
predictable.
We could control the
operations and even learn to predict under
what conditions they would operate most
effectively and under what conditions they
might break down.
It seemed natural to wonder if
organizations could be managed in the
same way. By applying scientiic rigor, we
believed, we could increase the effectiveness
of the workplace in much the same way as
we improved on the machine. We looked
for the conditions that would increase
productivity and tried to identify what would
cause the worker to break down. If we could
understand and control these factors we
would have the most eficient workplace.
The entire organization was conceptualized
as a machine and the employees were the
parts.
Both
management
theory
and
psychological
investigations
in
the
workplace (as well as much of the scientiic
application of psychology) used the machine
metaphor to guide our understanding of how
to create an effective organization.
Sometimes the words we use to describe
events and processes are so effective that
we forget that they are only metaphors. In
a quote (paraphrased) attributed to Henry
Ford, “Why is it that every time I need a pair
of hands, I have to get a whole man?” this
tendency is revealed.
Alternative Business
Herein lays the danger. Any metaphor
not only illuminates but also obfuscates. Is
there an alternative way to do business?
Organizations are not machines, they are
living systems.
The difference between mechanical
and living is more than a difference in
complexity, as is often assumed. It is a
qualitative difference. Machines are subject
to control and direction by the operator. You
cannot direct a living system, you can only
disturb it (according to Frijtof Capra, in his
most recent book, Hidden Connections).
By that I mean that humans and other
living organisms are not controlled only
by external forces. There are independent
internal events (like hunger or emotion)
which also inluence the outcome. And there
is choice!
To illustrate, imagine saying hello to
the receptionist at a busy ofice. She might
smile pleasantly and return your greeting
(the hoped – for response). She could also
continue what she is doing and ignore your
interruption. She might even respond in
an angry or defensive tone of voice. The
response of the machine is predictable and
programmable; the reaction of the human is
not.
There are important implications for
every organization in this realization.
Command and control strategies have a
limited usefulness when dealing with the
workforce. Sometimes a direct command
or an effort to establish control will have the
results that are expected, while at other times
the response will be resistance.
For example, when top management
agrees to implement a change for the
company, the failure rates for making
the change effectively and in a timely
manner are astronomical.
Or it may
succeed initially, only to have unforeseen
consequences at a later time. Humans
are responding to the demands made by
management, to demands in other areas of
their lives, and to their internal perceptions
about how they are being treated or about
how important the change initiative is to
their life. And then they make a choice
about how to respond.
This is beyond the capacity of even the
most complex machine. But it is the domain
of every employee, even the least educated
or least sophisticated. Command and control
strategies are ideal for handling machines.
They are not effective with people. Period.
It is not a matter of needing better command
and control. Living systems will not be
controlled.
Where to Begin
To be truly effective with the human
resources of your organization, we must
change the approach to working with living
beings. A workforce can be guided but
it cannot be effectively controlled. It can
be encouraged to learn, but it cannot be
subjugated.
This is why the Gallup studies regarding
effective managers reveal that the best
results come from those who draw out the
strengths of their workforce and provide
each person with what they need to do a
good job.
It is why the Hay Group, in research
conducted by Daniel Goleman, Richard
Boyatzis, and Annie McKee, found that
among the six key qualities of leadership,
the commanding style was the least effective
and often hurt the bottom line, while other
styles of visionary, coaching, afiliative, and
democratic leadership were associated with
improved results.
It is why “learning organizations,” those
organizations which foster continued growth
and development of the workforce and
establish the environment for creativity at all
levels, are among the most proitable year in
and year out.
It is why those companies that have
survived and are thriving after 100 years
have fostered both a strong sense of
community and a collective identity based
on common values. This is balanced by a
tolerance for new individuals and new ideas
and the ability to adapt to the ever changing
landscape of modern business.
In other words, business that honors the
uniqueness of life among it human resources
have consistently better results and are more
proitable. This should not be surprising.
When we recognize things as they really are,
and respond to them appropriately, we get
better results.
SKIM | Page 32
FEBRUARY 2015 | HOLISTIC LIVING
Breathe Some Life into your Life
Health Beneits Abundant If
You Remember To Breathe
By: Joel McPherson
Page 33 | SKIM
the cells of the body can bring dramatic
changes in general health and mood.
Would you be interested in a free
method for increased energy, improved
blood circulation, reduced swelling, and
even an improved complexion? Better yet,
you already own the required equipment
- your lungs. Studies show that simply
learning how to breathe correctly can
have remarkable effects throughout your
body.
Famous health guru, Dr. Andrew Weil,
says that if he could only give one tip
for better health, it would be to breathe
properly. Proper breathing technique is
central to the ancient practices of Yoga,
Qi Gong, Ayurveda and other meditation
disciplines. A clinical study of thousands
of participants over a 30-year period
presents convincing evidence that the most
signiicant factor in peak health and long
life is how well you breathe.
Breathing correctly can be as powerful
as it is simple. The typical person only
uses around twenty percent of their lung
capacity, but with practice, they can learn
how to tap into their lung’s full potential.
Sending better oxygen content to all
Breathing correctly is critical in
maintaining the level of oxygen for energy,
keeping the correct pH levels in the body,
and enough carbon dioxide for bodily
functions. Healthy people make 93 per
cent of their energy aerobically (“in the
HOLISTIC LIVING | FEBRUARY 2015
presence of oxygen”) but poor breathing
habits can reduce the amount of energy
made aerobically to 84 per cent. A full
seventy percent of the elimination of wastes
from the body is through breathing. The
good news is that poor breathing habits
can be reversed. Among infants, correct
breathing comes naturally. Observe a baby
as it breathes to see its belly rise and fall
with each breath. As we grow older, we
are taught to “suck in that gut” and “puff
out that chest” as we try to achieve as
slim a waist as possible. Such resistance
to the natural breathing posture restricts
oxygen intake, which can lead to numerous
physical as well as emotional problems.
“Bad” breathing
Shallow “chest breathing” invites
problems by delivering less air per breath
into the lungs. Less air per breath leads
to a higher number of breaths, putting in
motion a series of physiological changes
that constrict blood vessels. Less oxygen
reaches the brain, the heart and the rest of
the body as a result. Less productive exhale
causes an imbalance between the oxygen
and carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and
a buildup of toxins that should have been
eliminated through breathing.
How to breathe “right”
•
Begin by slowly breathing in through
your nose through the count of 4. Breathe
into your belly so your diaphragm expands.
•
Hold the breath for a count of 7.
•
Slowly exhale through your mouth
for a count of 8. When you exhale, try to
make a soft “whoosh” sound by holding the
tip of your tongue against the roof of your
mouth as you exhale slowly. (Called 4-7-8
breathing)
•
Repeat this process for three more
times (for a total of four breaths). Do not
do more than four breaths at irst - with
practice, you can work your way up to eight
breaths. Do this twice each day.
•
If the process causes you to begin
panicking or if you become dizzy, only do it
for as long as you are able.
•
Increase the number of breaths each
day until you can do the exercise four times
per hour (every 15 minutes).
With practice, you can be breathing this
way naturally throughout the day.
Too much oxygen, and not enough
carbon dioxide, can create an agitated
state. As you learn to exhale slowly, you
conserve carbon dioxide and rebalance the
system.
However, too much carbon dioxide, and
not enough oxygen, can create feelings of
fatigue and depression. Learning to inhale
slowly re-balances your system by taking in
more oxygen. In extreme cases, a restricted
supply of oxygen can contribute to anxiety,
panic attacks, and even phobias.
Self-Test
1. To see how you currently breathe,
ind a comfortable position and make sure
to breathe as you normally do.
2. Place one hand on your stomach
and one on your chest.
3. Breathe as you normally would
and notice whether your “stomach” hand
rises or your “chest” hand rises.
4. To
breathe
properly,
your
stomach area must rise more than your
chest as your diaphragm expands.
stimulate the sympathetic nervous system (our
“ight or light” response) and cause tension,
anxiety, mood swings, and depression.
Remembering to Breathe
Learning the proper breathing technique
is important - remembering to practice that
technique can become even more important.
In the typical day, it is easy to become
focused on a task (such as the computer
or driving) and forget to breathe properly.
The tendency is to revert into shallow
“chest breathing.” Regularly practicing
diaphragmatic breathing, with measured
inhale and exhale, will result in proper
breathing becoming the only breathing
you will do. But, like anything else, proper
breathing is a learned skill and practice is
critical.
Getting “lost” at a computer keyboard
or within the pages of a good book happens
to everyone. You will need a timer or
similar alarm to remind you on a regular
basis throughout the day to practice this
skill. Kitchen timers work well as does a
wristwatch alarm or cell phone alarm. As
these require resetting and the audible alarm
can be embarrassing in some settings, there
is a “personal breathing coach” device on the
market with a discreet, silent alarm at www.
breathminder.com.
Internet
Bad advice
“Take a deep breath” can be very bad
advice to someone who is feeling anxious
or is agitated. If such a person begins taking
deep breaths, they are likely to experience an
even more aroused state.
Such advice can lead to hyperventilation
(breathing too fast.) The amount of carbon
dioxide in blood generally regulates
breathing. If carbon dioxide is released
too rapidly, the arteries and blood vessels
constrict and an insuficient supply of
oxygen to the cells results. This includes
the blood (and oxygen) supply to the brain.
Restricting oxygen supply to the brain can
Articles
regarding
diaphragmatic
breathing abound on the Internet. In addition
to the many health beneits achieved through
proper breathing technique, there are
numerous web sites devoted to breathwork
for sports, public speaking, singing, and
musical instruments. Many sites incorporate
breathwork into practice of meditation as
well as natural healing and holistic medicine
modalities. Search breathwork, diaphragmatic
breathing, or simply healthy breathing to ind
an extensive array of materials.
Unfortunately, this information is not
widespread in today’s medical community.
Topics of illness and pathology are the
priority of most healthcare training, not
wellness. In addition, things that are free
and can’t be patented (like breathing) do not
attract funding for research, so little inds its
way into popular medical journals.
Breathing correctly can be as powerful
as it is simple. Use the equipment you were
given at birth (your lungs) to ind remarkable
health effects throughout your body.
SKIM | Page 34
FEBRUARY 2015 | HEARTS AND MINDS
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children
Guidelines for Parents
P
ost-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) in children also known
as Child Traumatic Stress (CTS)
occurs when children or teens experience
traumatic situation or life threatening events
with their feeling of inability to cope with or
control the threatening environment.
By: Dr. Syeda Javaria Bokhari
Page 35 | SKIM
“While PTSD is a good deinition for
acute trauma in adults, it doesn’t apply well
to children, who are often traumatized in
the context of relationships,” says Boston
University Medical Center psychiatrist
Bessel van der Kolk, MD, one of the group’s
co-leaders. “Because children’s brains
are still developing, trauma has a much
more pervasive and long-range inluence
on their self-concept, on their sense of
the world and on their ability to regulate
themselves.”(DeAngelis, 2007).
Generally speaking, a child experiencing
CTS usually have a disturbed sleep or
appetite, behavioral upsets, malfunctioning
in school or daily home routines and
activities, has bad dreams, anxiety or
panic attacks during sleep .But if we go
speciically, there are three categories of
HEARTS AND MINDS | FEBRUARY 2015
responses to traumatic situations,
Firstly, a child may continue to have
upsetting images of what happened or the
harm that resulted, may have nightmares
and strong physical and emotional reactions
to stress reminders that are usually a part
of our daily life, may have a hard time
distinguishing new, safer situations from
the traumatic situation he/she already went
through, may overreact to normal situations
as if the danger was about to happen again.
Secondly, children may strongly try to avoid
any situation, person, or place that reminds
them of what happened, ighting hard to
keep the thoughts, feelings, and images from
coming back and may even “forget” some
of the worst parts of the experience, while
continuing to react to reminders of those
moments. Thirdly, the biological response of
their bodies may continue to stay “on alert.”
They may have trouble sleeping, become
irritable or easily angered, startle or jump
at noises more than before, have trouble
concentrating or paying attention, and have
recurring physical symptoms, like headaches
or stomach-aches. (NCTSN, 2014).
Another research inding shows that
much of children’s later ability to think
clearly and solve problems in a calm, nonimpulsive way stems from their experiences
in the irst ive to seven years of life. A case
in point is an ongoing retrospective study
of 17,337 adult managed-care users funded
by Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, cited by
van der Kolk in the May 2005 Psychiatric
Annals (pages 401-408). It found a highly
signiicant relationship between reported
traumatic childhood experiences such
as sexual and physical abuse, and later
episodes of depression, suicide attempts,
alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity
and domestic violence. It also discovered
that the more adverse childhood experiences
a person reports, the more likely he or she is
to develop life-threatening illnesses such as
heart disease, cancer and stroke (DeAngelis,
2007).
Although, it is always better to seek the
help of a mental health professional if you
see any kind of speciic symptoms in your
child, yet parents and care takers also need
to be trained and educated about how to
Reactions
deal with their children while at routine life
situations.
PTSD is possibly the only anxiety
disorder that has a known cause. Most
other anxiety disorders are caused by an
ininite number of factors that can never
be truly known, and while there may be
some events that are a bit more “anxiety
causing” than others, the truth is that anxiety
is often too complex to narrow down to
any speciic event. This is not true of posttraumatic stress disorder. Yet, PTSD or CTS
are unique as treating patients with such
symptoms, the therapists and counsellors can
target the issue directly (calmclinic, 2014).
The following is a brief description given
by NCTSN, of how a child with CTS reacts
to life after trauma and how parents /care
givers can help resolve their issues. This
technique is called Psychological First Aid.
If the parents or care givers ind out that
Responses
Confusion
about When your child asks any
what happened
questions about what happened,
give them clear explanation while
avoiding scary details and
correcting information about threat
of danger in present.
Examples
“I know that you have been in
serious danger but we are safe
now”.
Keep on answering to your child
without getting irritable with
reassurance of safety for them.
Continue about what is happening
esp. about issues of their school or
living area.
SKIM | Page 36
FEBRUARY 2015 | HEARTS AND MINDS
Feelings of being
responsible for not
being able to help
themselves or others
in traumatic situation
Encourage
and
arrange
opportunities for your children
that they speak out their concerns
to you. Reassure them by telling
that it was not their fault.
Fear
from
the Help identify the reminders like
reminders and its people, places, sounds, smells,
reoccurrence
feelings, time of the day etc. and
differentiate between event and
reminders.
Protect children from media
coverage of the event as it would
trigger their fear of disaster
occurring again with continuous
reassurance that they are safe.
Retelling the event Allow your child to talk and act
or replaying the out their reaction by letting them
event again and know that this is normal.
again
Take your child aside and tell them
that many kids and parents after
such situation think they should
have done something to save others
but it does not mean that it was
their fault.
Say, when you notice that they are
being reminded that
“try to think that way that I am
upset because I am being reminded
of the disaster/attack but now I am
all safe”.
“I think we should take a break
from TV now”.
Try to sit with your child while
watching TV and later discuss what
they saw on it while clarifying any
misunderstandings.
‘’You are drawing a lot of pictures
of that incident. I have been told by
many parents of your school that
their kids are doing the same”
“You can also draw and write about
what could be done to make your
school more safer when it would be
reopened”
“When frightening things happen,
people either feel being angry on
everybody or feel sad. Do you like
to sit here with your blanket until
you feel better?”
“That was just a scary dream. Let
us think about something pleasant
and I will rub your back until you
fall asleep”
“You can stay in our bedroom for a
few days. After that we would
spend more time with you in your
bed room before you fall asleep. If
you get scared again, we can talk
about it”
Fear
of
being Take them to a safer side where
overwhelmed
by they can express fear, anger,
their feelings
sadness etc. by allowing them to
cry or be sad. Don’t expect them to
be brave and tough.
Sleep problems e.g Let your child tell you about bad
bad dreams, fear of dreams and explain them that bad
sleeping
alone, dreams are normal and they go
insisting to sleep away with time. Don’t ask about
details of the dreams as they may
with parents.
contain extreme images of the
trauma.
Make
temporary
sleeping
arrangement with your child by
telling them that they would soon
be back to their routine sleeping
habits.
Concerns about their Help them share their worries and Create a “worry box” where
and other peoples give realistic information
children can write and put their
safety
worry chits in it. Set a time to look
at these written worries and answer
them on time.
Altered
behavior: Encourage and take the child to “I know you did not mean to slam
usually aggressive or recreational activities or exercises the door. It must be hard to feel so
to give an outlet to their angry”.
restless
“How about taking a walk?
frustration.
Sometimes moving your body
helps with strong feeling”.
Somatic complaints: Find out if there is any medical Make sure the child gets enough
headaches, stomach- reason. If not then provide comfort sleep, eats well, drinks plenty of
aches, or other body and reassurance that its normal but water and gets enough exercise.
pains for which there avoid giving too much attention to “How about sitting over there?
seems to be no such complaints.
When you feel better, let me know
reason.
and we can play cards”.
and
Encourage Help children identify age
Concerns for other Participate
survivors
and constructive activities done by appropriate projects to re-establish
school e.g. decorating school
other people.
families
building and helping others involve
in it.
Page 37 | SKIM
the traumatic symptoms still persist and the
child’s daily life is still disturbed even after
months of traumatic happening, they should
consult Psychologists with specialization on
CTS or PTSD.
Here, I would like to add another
important point that so far we have learnt
that in the critical stage of traumatic stress,
the child needs to be reassured again and
again that he/she is safe now. It is also
suggested that they should be kept away
from that media that is reminding them of
the terrible happening. But with reference
to Pakistan’s current security situation,
we need much more to do then only this.
The survivors or CTS sufferers especially
the teen agers already know that they are
living in a continuous threat and insecurity
and they are convinced that it may happen
again in future. Facing and handling of CTS
becomes more challenging and demanding.
Here the best helpful technique is that to
inculcate and strengthen their belief that life
and death is predetermined by Allah and still
everybody is going out and busy in daily life
as fear is no solution to any problem of life.
Ensuring this belief along with practicing the
above mentioned techniques can surely help
children with traumatic stress to start their
routine life again.
Some research indings concluded the
success ratio of treating PTSD as high as 80
to 85%. The remaining 15% can also still
ind successful treatments, but may need to
commit longer or look at other factors that
can be integrated into patients lifestyle that
promote less anxiety. (calamclinic,2014).
FEBRUARY 2015 | CASE STUDY
Emergency Management in the Arabian Peninsula:
A case study from the Sultanate of Oman
community development.
Introduction
T
By: Sultan Z Al-Shaqsi
Page 39 | SKIM
he Sultanate of Oman is an
example of a rapidly growing
country with a relatively new
emergency management system. The
concept of emergency management in Oman
existed for years but actual emergency
management measures are relatively recent.
These measures are a result of recent natural
disasters that devastated the country and
awakened policymakers to the importance
of integrating emergency management into
The Sultanate of Oman
The Sultanate of Oman is located in
the south eastern corner of the Arabian
Peninsula. Its coastal line extends 3,165
kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz in
the North to the borders of the Republic of
Yemen in the South. It overlooks three
major bodies of water: the Arabian Gulf
(Persian Gulf), the Gulf of Oman and the
Arabian Sea (Economy 2008). Oman borders
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab
Emirates in the West, the Republic of
CASE STUDY | FEBRUARY 2015
Yemen in the South, the Strait of Hormuz in
the North and the Arabian Sea in the East.
The total area of the Sultanate of Oman
is approximately 309.5 thousand square
kilometers. The Sultanate is composed of
varying topographic areas consisting of
plains, dry river beds and mountains. The
most important area is the plain overlooking
the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea
with an area of about 3% of the total area.
This area is the most densely populated
area in the country with rapid growth and
industrialization that creates a challenge
for emergency management. The mountain
ranges occupy almost 15% of the total land
of Oman. The remaining area is mainly dry
river beds and desert (about 82% of the total
area) (Economy 2008).
Hazards in the Sultanate of
Oman
For planning purposes, hazards are
divided according to their source into
two
broad
categories:
human-made
hazards and natural hazards (Sundnes
and
Birnbaum
2003).
Human-made
hazards are hazards created by humans
themselves unintentionally as a by-product
of civilization activities (e.g., building a
chemical factory next to a residential area)
or intentionally (e.g., declaring a war against
a neighboring country). Natural hazards
are hazards imposed by the force of nature
on humans such as the hazards from the
geographical location of the country. The
distinction between the two categories is
arbitrary and, in reality, hazards overlap and
have elements from both sources.
Natural hazards in Oman
The geographical location of the
Sultanate of Oman in the eastern most side
of the Arabian Peninsula exposes the country
to multiple natural hazards. The two main
important natural hazards are eathquakes and
tropical cyclones leading to lash loods.
Earthquakes:
Tectonically, Oman sits on the SouthEastern part of the Arabian plate. The
Arabian plate is one of the youngest plates
that make up the surface of the earth. The
plate comprises a crystalline basement of
Precambrian continental crust about 40-50
km thick (Warren and Miller 2007). The
crust itself overlays a basement of sequence
of younger Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks
that range in thickness from zero to 10
km. This crust sits on top of the basalt and
oceanic basin (Bowring, Grotzinger et
al. 2007). The separation and splitting of
the Arabian Plate from the African Plate
along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
axes followed by drift of the Arabian Plate
to the north and northeast, lead ultimately
to a collision with the Eurasian plate that
resulted in the formation of the Zagros fold
belt (Petit, Fournier et al. 2007). The Zagros
fold belt is the major source of earthquakes
in the eastern border of the Arabian plate
and Oman. These fault systems affect only
the North of Oman with the south being
spared from any appreciable tectonic activity
(Abdulla and Azm 2004). The igure below
depicted the major tectonic systems and their
vicinity to the Sultanate of Oman.
Tropical cyclones:
Tropical cyclones in Oman are frequent
events during the monsoon season from
May to August every year. The cyclones
themselves are considered low-risk events
but they cause torrential rains that frequently
lead to lash loods. The human distribution
in Oman tends to concentrate around water
banks and this increases the exposure of
the population to the impact of lash loods
(Ministry of Regional Municipalities and
Water Resources 2009). Adding to the
problem is the poorly managed drainage
system in many cities in Oman so any small
increase in rainfall will cause major looding
(Ministry of Regional Municipalities and
Water Resources 2009). For instance,
in 2007, tropical cyclone Gonu caused a
24-hour torrential rain which was estimated
to be 27 times more than the annual rainfall
of the country (Al-Shaqsi 2010).
Disasters in Oman
The record of disasters in Oman is
sketchy and poor. A recent systematic
review of the International Disaster
Database by the Centre for Research on
the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED),
School of Public Health of the Université
Catholique de Louvain (UCL) in Brussels,
Belgium, found that the country has a history
of tropical cyclones almost once every three
years. Some of the most known natural
disasters include:
• A major country wide lood in 1977.
This lood is the irst recorded natural
disaster in Oman’s modern history. It caused
major destruction in wide areas of the north
of Oman. This lood killed 105 people
and directly injured over 5,000 others. It is
still regarded as the “worst disaster” in the
history of Oman.
• Salalah Floods in 2003 caused major
disruption of life and services in the south of
Oman. Unprecedented torrential rains during
the monsoon season lasted for two weeks.
This was coupled by poor drainage and lood
SKIM | Page 40
FEBRUARY 2015 | CASE STUDY
control system in the city lead to lash loods
which claimed the lives of 30 people.
• Cyclone Gonu in 2007, was the
stimulus for modern emergency management
structure in Oman. It brought the country to
a standstill for a week. This disaster will be
discussed in details later in the paper.
• Cyclone Phet in June 2010 which
caused damaging lash loods and claimed
the lives of 24 people and affected 10,000
organizational arrangement may also be
a relection of the wide range of services
provided by Police in Oman. Another
striking observation is that there is no
representative from Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) in the overall
structure of NCCD. This is somewhat
ironic since NGOs, such as Oman Charitable
Organization (OCO), have had a long history
of disaster relief and response to many
incidents in the country and abroad. Besides
this omission, there is no representative
Table 1: National Disasters in the Sultanate of Oman from 1960 to 2010
emphasis on the articles that directly outline
emergency management operations in Oman.
Lessons from Emergency
Management in Oman
There are many lessons that can be
learned from the Omani experience. These
lessons are by no means new to the ield of
emergency management, but it is critical to
learn from previous experiences and not to
“reinvent the wheel.” The lessons from the
Oman can be summarized in the following
points:
NA= Not Available * yet to be included in the CRED database.
Type of Disaster
Date
No of Killed
No of Affected
Tropical Cyclone
Tropical Cyclone
Tropical Cyclone
Tropical Cyclone
Tropical Cyclone
Tropical Cyclone
Tropical Cyclone*
May 1977
June 1977
May 1981
May 2002
April 2003
June 2007
June 2010
105
2
26
7
30
76
24
5,048
1,548
NA
83
NA
20,000
10,000
others.
Structure of the NCCD
The current National Committee for Civil
Defence (NCCD) consists of 16 members
from different governmental departments.
It has a Chairman who is the Inspector
General of the Royal Oman Police as well
as a deputy-chairman who is the assistant
Inspector General of the Royal Oman Police.
The daily operations of the NCCD are
coordinated by the Executive Director who
is a senior rank police oficer. The graph
below shows the current members of NCCD
in Oman.
There are a few observations to
note regarding the current structure of
NCCD in Oman. Firstly, the NCCD is
still largely attached to Police operations,
largely because the original inception
of emergency management in Oman in
1988 was championed by the Police. This
Cost in US
$
NA
NA
NA
50,000
1,000
3,900,000
NA
of private services in Oman. The current
emergency management regulations in
Oman demands that the government
ministries have senior level representation
in the NCCD. This is usually the minister
or the under-secretary of the respective
ministry. This creates a logistical challenge
as it is dificult to arrange meetings with all
very senior oficial of government ministers
are present. Therefore, the meetings of
NCCD have been sporadic and few.
Emergency Management
Legislation in the Sultanate
of Oman
There are two laws that regulate
emergency management in the Sultanate of
Oman. The irst is the Civil Defense Law
that was instituted by the Royal Degree 76 in
1991. The second is the State of Emergency
Law, which was outlined by the Royal
Decree 75 in 2008. Here is a translated
description of these two laws with a speciic
Figure 1: The structure of National Committee for Civil Defense
• The change in global hazards has
slowly been appreciated in Oman and the
region. The region is well known for humanmade disasters but natural disasters are used
to be sporadic and that led to a period of
complacency. However, this is changing
and natural disasters are becoming more
frequent and more damaging. It is costly
that policymakers in the region wait for
such devastating events to decide to act and
enhance emergency management measures.
This situation is not exclusive to Oman, but
the same issue has happened in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia after the Jeddah Floods in
2009. It is critical for nations to be proactive
about disaster management rather than
learning the hard way after a disaster.
• The
concept
of
emergency
management has to be integrated into
the developmental process of the nation.
Oman as a country is developing too fast
and emergency management is lagging
behind because it is still – in many ways
– not appreciated as an integral part of
development process. This could lead to
ineffective reactive approach to hazards.
Many industrial cities in the country are
booming with huge factories and their
potential risks and hazards have not been
adequately addressed. In simple terms,
emergency management measures have
to be integrated into the development
of infrastructures to be effective and for
the development process to be safe for
people. Unless emergency management is
regarded as a core developmental process by
policymakers then complacency will prevail.
Emergency management as a reactive
strategy to disaster is never effective and is a
recipe for failure.
• The current structure of National
Committee of Civil Defense does not include
any representatives from private sectors in
the country nor does from non-governmental
organizations. The role of private sector in
Page 41 | SKIM
CASE STUDY | FEBRUARY 2015
emergency management has been neglected
in Oman for a long time. For instance, some
would argue that the response of Petroleum
Development Oman to Cyclone Gonu was
by far more prompt and adequate than the
governmental response (2010). This is
because the company regards emergency
preparedness as a core value in its mission.
Therefore, integrating such local private
expertise and resources into the national
emergency management will be valuable.
• Successful emergency management
systems have mixed centralized and
localized approach to resources. It is
essential to have a centralized command
structure, but it is equally critical to
have well-resourced localized depots.
One of the main lessons learnt from
recent loods in Oman is that centralized
storage and stockpiling of resources is
limited and dependent on adequate roads
and transportation. It is crucial to have
redundancy in resource outlets around the
country rather than having one huge store
that can be damaged or looded and then
render dysfunctional.
• Disasters are destructive events that
endanger the basic needs of humans. It is
important that nations such as Oman do not
get the illusion that emergency management
systems are about expensive high technology
measures. Rather, successful emergency
management systems are based on ensuring
the “basics of life” such as food, water,
shelter, and electricity. During Cyclone
Gonu, many hospitals in Oman sat up
Intensive Care Units to provide technologydependent high-cost medical care and
unintentionally neglected the basics.
However, the victims were all seeking basic
needs such as food, clean water, and shelter.
It is a lesson for all countries to focus on the
basics, as successful disaster management
relays on ensuring human basic needs are
met adequately.
• The
emergency
management
legislation in Oman existed for years now
but the implementation of some sections
is still lagging behind. Things such as
including civil defense skills in school
curriculum are clearly embraced by the law
but nonexistent in reality. As the law itself is
important so is the enforcement of the law.
There is a need to have an independent body
of the government to assess and evaluate
the extent to which all government agencies
engage in emergency preparedness activities.
• There are still questions of who should
run the emergency management system.
The Police are in charge in Oman and
this has its own advantages such as a clear
line of authority and command. However,
issues such as the appropriateness of the
Royal Oman Police in assessing health care
preparedness, for example, is debatable
(as police do not usually have the technical
expertise to assess health care needs and
preparedness to disasters). The bottom line is
that each nation should decide on what best
suits the local context.
measures in core community development
projects. Modernization and development
of communities has to be accompanied by
robust emergency management structure to
ensure that natural and human-made hazards
are assessed and managed adequately. It is
time to move away from reactive operations
of emergency and disaster management
to more active and anticipatory activities.
It is critical to appreciate that emergency
management does not happen on the day of
the emergency rather, it should be a wellplanned process ahead of the disaster.
Emergency management is never an
easy task. It has been and will always be
a complex process involving multiple
players that have to act as one team aiming
to achieve one goal during a disaster.
Coordination and cooperation are central
to successful emergency management.
The coordination has to be inclusive of
all community services and agencies,
governmental and private.
Emergency management in Oman is
moving in a right direction with a good
pace. The challenge is to keep improving
continuously because if the process
slows down it means development in
the community has decelerated and
complacency will prevail.
Conclusion
This case study of emergency
management in Oman highlights the
urgency to integrate emergency management
SKIM | Page 42
BOOKS CORNER
Energy and Environment in Saudi Arabia: Concerns & Opportunities
By: Nahed Taher & Bandar Al-Hajjar, Price: $112.79, Hardcover: 203 pages, Publisher: Springer International Publishing; 1
edition (December 16, 2013)
The vast oil resources in Saudi Arabia have for decades encouraged a generous system of oil subsidies, making the
Kingdom one of the leading countries in the world with the cheapest domestic price of oil. Such subsidies have,
however, encouraged ineficient utilization of oil, which is largely consumed in the power, water and transportation
sectors, contributing substantially to CO2 emission in the country. These problems are exacerbated by demographic
dynamics, urbanization, changes in income and consumption patterns, and industrialization. On current trends of
domestic consumption patterns, Saudi Arabia will consume the whole of the oil it will produce by 2030, which will
relect negatively on the inancial capacity of the government to execute its development programs. It is this revenue
constraining concern, rather than ecological challenges, that has started to attract policy attention in Saudi Arabia.
This book gives a unique perspective on these challenges by looking at them as investment opportunities, not inancial
constraints on the government budget. It sets out to examine the nature and extent of the energy and environmental
challenges facing Saudi Arabia, and to explore various options for turning these challenges into proitable investment
opportunities that could create jobs, boost income, develop capability in clean energy technology and promote
environmental sustainability.
Armies and State-building in the Modern Middle East: Politics,
Nationalism and Military Reform
By: Stephanie Cronin, Price: $24.00, Paperback: 320 pages, Publisher: I. B. Tauris (February 27, 2014)
The uprisings of 2011, which erupted so unexpectedly and spread across the Middle East, once again propelled the
armies of the region to the centre of the political stage. Throughout the region, the experience of the irst decade of
the twenty-irst century provides ample reason to re-examine Middle Eastern armies and the historical context which
produced them. By adding an historical understanding to a contemporary political analysis, Stephanie Cronin examines
the structures and activities of Middle Eastern armies and their role in state- and empire-building. Focusing on Iran,
Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, Armies, Tribes and States in the Middle East presents a clear and concise analysis of
the nature of armies and the differing guises military reform has taken throughout the region. Covering the region from
the birth of modern armies there in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, to the military revolutions of the
1950s and 60s and on to the twenty-irst century army-building exercises seen in Iraq and Afghanistan, Cronin provides
a unique and vital presentation of the role of the military in the modern Middle East.
Pakistan on the Brink: The Future of America, Pakistan, and Afghanistan
By: Ahmed Rashid, Price: $12.57, Paperback: 256 pages, Publisher: Penguin Books; Reprint edition (February 26, 2013)
Ahmed Rashid is a journalist who has been covering Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia for more than twenty
years. He is a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, Far Eastern Economic Review, Daily Telegraph, and The
Nation, a leading newspaper in Pakistan. His #1 New York Times bestseller Taliban has been translated into more than
twenty languages
An urgent, on-the-ground report from Pakistan—from the bestselling author of Descent into Chaos and Taliban.
Ahmed Rashid, one of the world’s leading experts on the social and political situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan,
offers a highly anticipated update on the possibilities—and hazards—facing the United States after the death of Osama
bin Laden and as Operation Enduring Freedom winds down. With the characteristic professionalism that has made him
the preeminent independent journalist in Pakistan for three decades, Rashid asks the important questions and delivers
informed insights about the future of U.S. relations with the troubled region. His most urgent book to date, Pakistan on
the Brink is the third volume in a comprehensive series that is a call to action to our nation’s leaders and an exposition
of this conlict’s impact on the security of the world.
Global Capitalism and the Crisis of Humanity
By: William I. Robinson, Price: $26.99, Paperback: 280 pages, Publisher: Cambridge University Press (July 28, 2014)
This book discusses the nature of the new global capitalism, the rise of a globalized production and inancial system,
a transnational capitalist class, and a transnational state and warns of the rise of a global police state to contain the
explosive contradictions of a global capitalist system that is crisis-ridden and out of control.
This exciting new study provides an original and provocative exposé of the crisis of global capitalism in its multiple
dimensions - economic, political, social, ecological, military, and cultural. Building on his earlier works on globalization,
William I. Robinson discusses the nature of the new global capitalism, the rise of a globalized production and inancial
system, a transnational capitalist class, and a transnational state and warns of the rise of a global police state to contain
the explosive contradictions of a global capitalist system that is crisis-ridden and out of control. Robinson concludes
with an exploration of how diverse social and political forces are responding to the crisis and alternative scenarios for
the future.
Page 43 | SKIM
Events
International Conference on
Malnutrition in South Asia
International Gas Technology Conference,
IGTC 2015
In light of the growing importance of natural gas in the global energy mix and
the rapid development of new technologies in gas processing, Euro Petroleum
Consultants presents the 6th edition of the established International Gas
Technology Conference - IGTC 2015.
Conference Highlights:
Gas Processing & Gas Monetization:
The International Conference on Malnutrition in South Asia, organized by the
Department of Food Science and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University
will take place from 23rd February to the 24th February 2015 at the Bahauddin
Zakariya University in Multan, Pakistan. The conference will cover areas like
Two Days International Conference on Malnutrition Primarily Aims at
Spotlighting the Magnitude of the Prevalence of Malnutrition and Its Dynamics
in South Asian Region. The Knowledgeable Experts in the Realm of Health and
Nutritional Sciences, Gathered at One Place, Will Discuss the Potential
Economic and Health Consequences of Malnutrition That Hamper National
Growth and Well-being of the Vulnerable Population Groups and Will Also
Suggest the Possible Approaches That Would Help Mitigate This Public Health
Issue in This Region.
• GTL and Mini-GTL Technology Developments
• Options for Utilizing Associated Gases
• Gas Separation & Processing, Gas to Petrochemicals, Chemicals & Fuels
• Gas Processing & Petrochemicals Integration. Latest NGL Recovery Trends
Key Global Factors Influencing Gas Processing:
• Global Gas Markets Outlook
• Downstream Markets & Trends
• Future Development of the Gas Processing Industry
• Changing Dynamics of Global Supply & Demand and their Impact on the
Industry
• Overview of Latest Gas Monetization Opportunities Worldwide
• Regional Gas Processing and Monetization Industry Outlook for Russia &
CIS, Middle East, Europe, Asia, Americas
When: 23 - 24 February 2015
Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
For further information please visit:
http://10times.com/icmsa-multan
Expo Pakistan
Strengthened by the success of last 5 exhibitions, The 8th Edition of Expo
Pakistan is scheduled from 26th Feb. to 1st Mar. 2015, promising more
rewarding opportunities for its participants. The government is making efforts
to promote Pakistan's exports by entering into free trade agreements with
various countries. Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), in
collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, seeks to promote local
manufacturers and their value added products in the global trade. Expo
Pakistan is aimed at enhancing the country's exports by organising a
comprehensive display of diverse Pakistani products and bringing together
representatives of leading chain stores and international buyers, all under one
roof.
When:
26 February - 1 March, 2015
Where:
Karachi Expo Center, Karachi, Pakistan
When: 19th - Friday, 20th February 2015
Where: Madinat Jumeirah, UAE
For registration, please visit
http://www.europetro.com/en/igtc_2015
Global HSE Conference (Health
& Safety Environment)
Global HSE-2015, will combine both international and regional experts under
the theme of “Driving Change, Creating Value”. Held at Dubai World Trade
Centre, the aim of this event is to increase the region’s Health and Safety profile
particularly within the work place. Spanning multiple sectors like
infrastructure, power, steel, aviation, transportation, energy and utilities, this
conference will gather key decision makers across management and executive
positions in order to create a better understanding as to how the industry can
improve health and safety performances through cooperation, best practices,
knowledge sharing and relationship building.
The conference will host a mix of key notes from organisational and HSE
leaders and include technical presentations, interactive panel discussions and
pre and post conference workshops. Major topic areas this year will include
HSE governance and leadership, HSE professional development, HSE
management systems, operational excellence, behavioural based safety and
developing safety-led cultures. The event will also include an exhibition offering
industry members and service providers the opportunity to show case their
products and services to key personnel through a three-day event in a
professional and interactive atmosphere.
When: January 20 - 26 Feb., 2015
For more information please visit:
http://10times.com/expo-pakistan
Where: Sheikh Maktoum Hall, Dubai, UAE
For registration, please visit:
http://www.globalhseconference.com/online-registration.html
SKIM | Page 44
Tenders
NORTHERN POWER GENERATION COMPANY LIMITED
GENCO – III
425 MW, Combined Cycle Power Plant Project Nandipur
INVITATION FOR BIDS
TENDER. NO: 21/CIVIL WORKS /425 MW, CCPP, NANDIPUR, DISTT.GUJRANWALA
1.
Name of Work
Completion
Period
CONSTRUCTION OF OPEN DRAIN FOR STORM WATER AT
DISPOSAL PUMP AREA AT THERMAL HOUSING COLONY, NANDIPUR
45 Days
2. ELIGIBILITY OF CONTRACTORS.
• The Contractor registered in Pakistan Engineering Council Islamabad as class “D” and dully renewed for the year of 2014-2015.
• Unregistered authorized contractor/firms having vast experience in similar works may also apply for issuance of tender documents.
3. PURCHASE OF TENDER
A complete set of bidding documents can be purchased at a cost of Rs.500/- (non refundable) from
Power
Plant Project, Nandipur against with written request.
Office of the Chief Engineer/PD, 425 MW, Combined Cycle
No bidding documents will be issued on the date of opening of the Bids.
4. All bids must be accompanied a bid security @ 2% & 5% bid price from the registered & unregistered respectively is required in the shape of Bank guarantee/
Call Deposit or Bank draft from scheduled bank in Pakistan in favour of Chief Engineer/PD 425 MW, Combined cycle Power Plant Project Nandipur.
5. The item rates should be quoted in figures & words. The unsigned bidding documents or not filled completely, in all respects, will not be accepted.
6. All bids must be delivered to the office of Chief Engineer/PD, 425 MW, Combined Cycle Power Plant Project, Nandipur, Gujranwala at or before 12:30 Hrs on
11-02-2015. Bids will be opened at 13:00 Hrs on the same day, in the presence of the bidder’s representatives, who choose to attend. Late tenders will be rejected
and returned unopened to bidders.
7. Further information can be obtained from the office of Chief Engineer / PD, 425 MW, Combined Cycle Power Plant Project, Nandipur, Gujranwala.
Tel: 055-3400531, 055-3400513
Fax: 055-3493764
8. All rights are reserved with Chief Engineer/PD, 425 MW, Combined Cycle Power Plant Project, Nandipur, Gujranwala to accept or reject any or all bids or
proposals at any time prior to the acceptance of a bid or proposal under PPRA rules 33 (1).
Chief Engineer/PD
425 MW, CCPP, Nandipur
PAKISTAN STATE OIL COMPANY LIMITED
TENDER NOTICE
Sealed bids are invited from eligible suppliers /contractors with adequate relevant past experience, financial capabilities for the below captioned tender.
Sr.#
Tender
Description
Tender
No.
1
Providing
inspection services
during
construction of 02
Enquiry
No.
Nos bullet at
Lahore
CF/9386MIR
S r.
Bidding
Procedure
Single
Stage- Two
Description
Envelope
EARNEST
MONEY
2%
TENDER
COLLECTION
(START DATE)
TENDER
COLLECTION
(END DATE)
10.02.2015
24.02.2015
B id
B ond
B id
TENDER
SUBMISSION
DATE/TIME
TENDER OPENING DATE/TIME
Commercial Bid
Technical Bid
Will be communicated
25.02.2015
25.02.2015
later to the be the
03:00Tender
Pm
S elling
Date/
S ubmission/Opening
Till 02:15 PM
technical qualified
Onwards
bidders only
Documents Collection:
Tender documents can be obtained on submission of a written request on company’s letterhead and tender fee in form of Pay Order / Demand Draft along with
copy of NTN, GST, Provincial Sales Tax Certificates (where applicable), CNIC (of owner / representative) proof of past experience in the relevant tender during the
aforementioned dates between 03:00 P.M to 04:30 P.M. from the following address:
PROCUREMENT & SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PAKISTAN STATE OIL COMPANY LIMITED, 2ND FLOOR, PSO HOUSE, KHAYABAN-E-IQBAL, CLIFTON, KARACHI
TEL: 111-111-PSO (776), Ext: 2212 Fax: 021 – 9920 3796, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.psopk.com/procurement
BIDDING PROCEDURE:- Single Stage - Two Envelopes: The bid shall comprise a single package containing two separate envelopes. Each envelope shall contain separately the financial
proposal and the technical proposal. The envelope shall be marked as “FINANCIAL PROPOSAL" and "TECHNICAL PROPOSAL" in bold and legible letters to avoid
confusion.
NOTE:• Bidder must submit Earnest Money mentioned above along with the bid in the form of Pay Order/Demand Draft of the total bid value, not less than 2%
• Bidders are requested to submit all relevant documents with the bid including acknowledgement conforming to the terms and conditions of the contract.
• Information given, if found to be incomplete/ false at any stage, will result in immediate rejection of bid.
• The bidder may require to furnish proof regarding past experience of similar works and financial strength to accomplished desired job(s), where adequacy of
the bidder is not found to be appropriate, shall be rejected.
• All queries for the subject tender (if any) should be posted on [email protected] at least 05 working days prior to bid opening date.
• PSO reserve the right to reject all bids according to PPRA rule 33.
Sealed bid should be dropped in Tender Box marked “PROCUREMENT” at 2nd Floor, PSO House, Khayaban-e- Iqbal, Clifton, Karachi or mailed to reach this address
before aforementioned due date and time.
• Bids will be opened in the presence of bidders or their authorised representative having valid authority letter from their respective company.
This advertisement is also available on PSO website www.psopk.com/procurement and PPRA website www.ppra.org.pk
Page 45 | SKIM
Development Aid
Small Activities Programme (Fund)
Description
Netherlands Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan has a limited budget for small scale and short term projects in Pakistan. This budget is available for
projects that concern development, poverty reduction, health, gender, education, environment, etc. (ODA) and other projects that concern the
strengthening of ties between Pakistan and the Netherlands, for example cultural projects (Non-ODA).
ODA Projects
The conditions and criteria for projects are:
• The duration of the proposed activity should not exceed 12 months and the proposal has to be submitted to the Embassy in English.
• The requested amount per proposal should not exceed PKR 3.4 million
• The activity has to contribute to development efforts in Pakistan
• The proposal must be submitted and executed by an organisation, not an individual
• an organisation is only eligible for Dutch PKP-funding once every 3 years
Non-ODA Projects (Cultural and other)
The conditions for proposals are the same as for the ODA projects, with some exceptions:
The Proposal Must Contain The Following
The overall objective of the activity
• The results to be achieved by the activity
• The proposed project period
• Description of the organisation executing the project
• Description of the capacity of the organisation
• Total costs of the project and amount requested from the Embassy
• Contact details of the organisation
• The currency to be used is PKR
General Information and Deadlines
• The deadline of sending in the proposals is April 1st of each year. The next deadline is 1 April 2015.
• The Embassy has the right to turn down proposals without further discussion.
• Payments will be made in two disbursements: 80% of the total budget will be disbursed after the signing of the contract. The remaining amount
(based on a liquidity plan and with a maximum of the remaining 20% of the total budget) will be disbursed after reception and approval of the
intermediate narrative and financial report.
• Due to limited funds it is best check the amount available before applying.
For further information please visit
http://pakistan.nlembassy.org/organization/departments/small-activities-programme-fund.html
Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund
Deadline: 1 March 2015
Global Forest Watch’s (GFW) Small Grants Fund (SGF) seeks to promote broad uptake and innovative use of Global Forest Watch by civil society around
the world.
The SGF provides financial and technical support to empower civil society organizations to apply Global Forest Watch data and technology in support of
their work to strengthen local forest management andconservation practices, conduct evidence-based advocacy and campaigning, and promote greater
transparency in the forest sector.
Eligibility:
The Small Grants Fund seeks applications for projects that use or contribute to Global Forest Watch. Potential project concepts may include but are not
limited to:
• Using GFW to monitor, assess, or map forest landscapes to support sustainable forest management, law enforcement, biodiversity conservation, land
use planning, and/or recognition of the forest tenure rights of local communities;
• Using GFW to support evidence-based advocacy, campaigning, education, or training;
• Increasing forest transparency by (a) promoting disclosure of geospatial data by companies, governments or communities, by (b) aggregating and
surfacing existing forest data, or by (c) developing new geospatial data for GFW;
• Generating original, policy-relevant research or analysis to discern spatial or temporal trends in land use, forest change or drivers of deforestation;
• Supporting baseline setting or measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) for REDD+ projects;
• Building a customized app (web- or mobile-based tool) using GFW’s open source API;
• Using GFW to support legal investigations and/or court cases related to forest crimes.
Eligibility is restricted to organizations that meet the following requirements:
• Certified non-profit and non-governmental
• Implementing projects at a regional, national or sub-national level
• Annual budget of greater than $30,000 USD
• Computerized financial systems for tracking and recording expenses
• Ability to fill out an organizational assessment document (containing questions regarding organization finances) in fluent English
For more information: http://www.globalforestwatch.org/getinvolved/apply-to-the-small-grants-fund
SKIM | Page 46
Careers
Chief of Party – Chemonics – Afghanistan
Closing date: 13 Feb 2015
Summary: Chemonics seeks a chief of party for the USAID-funded Musharikat Program in Afghanistan under the Promoting Gender Equality in National Priority
Programs (PROMOTE). The five-year, $30.1 million Musharikat program aims to provide opportunities for women's rights activists and groups to jointly identify
and carry out discreet advocacy and public awareness campaigns to influence local, provincial, and national public policies banning harmful social practices, and
to advance women's welfare and opportunities by building a constituency supportive of women's rights. The Musharikat Program is one of four PROMOTE
programs to advance opportunities for women by strengthening a critical mass of Afghan women who can serve as leaders within the public, private, and civil
society sectors. We are looking for individuals who have a passion in making a difference in the lives of people around the world.
Responsibilities include:
• Provide day-to-day strategic leadership, vision, direction, and management of the Musharikat Program
• Serve as the program's principal liaison to USAID
• Ensure quality oversight of all services and products provided, including those from subcontractors and short-term staff
• Ensure that all program activities are sensitive to men's and women's gender-based constraints and opportunities within the unique context of Afghanistan
Qualifications:
• Master's degree required
• Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible experience leading, directing, or managing international development activities, including serving as a chief or
deputy chief of party on a large-scale donor-funded program
• Minimum six years of demonstrated experience in supervision, strategic planning, management, coordination, and budgeting
• Substantive experience in gender-sensitive programming and operating in Muslim contexts, and implementing civil society programs
• Demonstrated understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of gender mainstreaming strategies and methodologies and of gender dynamics and
complexities and cultural constraints in facilitating women's participation in development
• Experience in conflict zones
• Knowledge of USAID regulations and procedures relevant to project management
• Excellent communication, interpersonal presentation, and representational skills
• Demonstrated leadership, integrity, and versatility
• Demonstrable professional oral presentation and concise English writing skills required
How to Apply:
Please submit your CV and cover letter [email protected] by February 13, 2015.
Please include "Musharikat-COP Application"in the subject line.
Country Director – Islamic Relief – Pakistan
• Contract: One Year Fixed Term • Location: Islamabad, Pakistan
• Salary: £35,088 per annum + Separate Benefits package • Ref: CD-P/IPD-A/0115
We are currently recruiting for a Country Director based in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Country Director will undertake overall responsibility for managing IRW’s
interventions in the country to the Country Programmes and Regional Strategies, outlining resource requirements of the programme, and periodically reassessing
the programme to meet its short & long term needs. The core responsibility of the job will be to strengthen IRW’s visibility and to ensure that all programme
activities are implemented, monitored and evaluated in a timely manner and in line with IRW’s strategic parameters.
The Country Director will be responsible for managing a team of up to 400 national and expatriate staff. You will be monitoring risk management and ensuring
compliance & quality improvement of the country programme. In addition, you will be reviewing and reporting the progress of finances (with a budget of up to
£15m) to the International Office in Birmingham and to project donors.
The successful applicant will need to have previous experience working in a senior management position in an INGO working in developing countries in
rehabilitation, development or emergency contexts. The job holder should have previous knowledge and experience of fundraising from and dealing with EC,
ECHO, UN and DFID. In addition, in depth knowledge of overseas management experience with an International NGOs is essential as a substantial part of the post
involves Community Development, Social Protection, Food Security and Urban Poverty.
Excellent communication skills in English are required. The knowing of Arabic and local language (Urdu) are desirable.
National candidates are encouraged to apply but will only receive salary not benefits.
Closing date: 20th February 2015
If you agree with IR values together with our Policy standards on Anti-Bribery, Child Protection and our code of conduct, then you would be an ideal candidate for Islamic
Relief, who promotes equality and meritocracy. IRW will carry out screening checks and will take out references on your behalf.
Applicants should be sympathetic to the principles of Islamic Relief
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No CVs.
Islamic Relief operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.
How to apply:
If you are reliable, service minded, discreet, dedicated and a highly motivated professional, with a strong commitment to IRW’s values and beliefs, please apply
by downloading the application pack from our website www.islamic-relief.org/work-with-us/ and forward the completed form to [email protected] on
or before the closing date.
Page 47 | SKIM
Infotainment
Images are borrowed from CARTOONBANK, A New York Magazine Company
SKIM | Page 48