The dismissed head-constable, Ashique Ali Channo and constables, Barkat Ali, Muhammad Azam Brohi and Nizamuddin Kalhoro were deployed as security guards for PS-35 winner, Haji Altaf Hussain Unnar.

The affected cops told reporters that their services as guards to Unnar were suddenly withdrawn and they were directed to report to the SSP immediately for further assignments. Failure to comply with the orders resulted in their dismissal, they added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

The government-owned enterprise has managed to secure a lifeline bailout earlier this month under the caretaker government to continue operations. According to PSM spokesperson Shazim Akhtar, PSM has to enhance production up to 60% by the end of August 2013 in the first phase of the bailout package requirements.

The Rs11 billion bailout package will be given in a single tranche in the shape of a soft loan provided by the National Bank of Pakistan under a federal government guarantee. Furthermore, a banking consortium has been formed to work out the working capital requirements of PSM and arrange funding accordingly.

“In the light of the afore-mentioned government bailout package decided by the federal government, the PSM management has reorganised maintenance, operational and production strategies to obtain maximum benefit from the bailout deal within the minimum possible period,” the spokesman said. He said it was imperative to mention that the placement of order and shipment of raw materials had also been planned to maintain, at the very least, a 90-day stock of raw material, especially iron, ore and coal.  He said that PSM is making all efforts to enhance its production levels until the bailout package is received as decided by the federal government.

After several previous bailout packages, the interim government decided to approve the most recent package in light of the strategic importance of the enterprise to the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

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KARACHI: Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shahid Nadeem Baloch sought recommendations from police officers regarding setting up crime scene units at district and zonal level to help solve complicated cases.

During a visit to the police forensic division in Garden, Baloch said that a comprehensive training programme should be initiated for the division’s officers as proper analysis of crime scene and forensic evidence are crucial in solving a case.

The IGP said that the forensic division presently comprises audio visual analysis unit, digital forensic unit, chemical sample monitoring unit, question document unit, crime scene investigation unit, fire arms and ballistic unit, forensic photography unit, automated fingerprint identification system unit and latent fingerprint unit.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2013.

The speakers stressed on the importance of care in the initial stages of head and neck cancer in an economically unequal society. Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) consultant clinical oncologist, Dr Arif Jamshed, stated that head and neck cancer was among the top three types of cancer along with breast and lung cancer. According to him, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had the most cases of head and neck cancer.

This cancer is common in people of lower economic group. Calling it a preventable disease, he said that the first step was to create public awareness. Smoking and beetle chewing were one of the major causes, so if proper guidelines are shared with people, this cancer can be prevented. Dr Raza Hussain stated that in Pakistan, less than one per cent was spent on health and education.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2013.

KARACHI: Pakistan has fought hard to keep a check on the growth of diabetics within its borders. But health experts say that even a little callousness on the part of those who have raised public awareness can derail efforts to curb the incidence of the condition.

A public awareness programme on the management of diabetes was organised by National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (NIDE) in collaboration with the pathology department of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Ojha Campus.

In his speech, Prof. Zaman Shaikh said that in 2009, Pakistan was ranked seventh in the world with respect to the number of diabetics – the exact figure being 7.1 million. At that time, even the forecast for future trends was gloomy: International Diabetes Federation estimated that Pakistan would jump from seventh position in 2010 to fourth in 2030. But with the continuing efforts for creating awareness about diabetes, Pakistan managed to slip out of the top ten countries with regard to prevalence in 2010. According to fresh estimates, Pakistan will now fall in the tenth instead of the fourth position with regard to the incidence of the condition.

Another area the country lags behind is the expenditure on treating the condition. In Pakistan, the average expenditure on diabetes is around $24 (Rs2,360). This is lower than the figure in Afghanistan – about $33 or Rs3,230 – and India, where the expenditure is $55 (Rs5,390).

Prof. Shaikh said that obesity is very common in diabetes patients and is responsible of for complications associated with the condition. They include heart attacks, stroke and high blood pressure. He emphasised that if diabetics change their lifestyles, choosing to eat healthy and brisk walk for at least 30 minutes, they can cut complications which arise from the condition.

Describing new ways of keeping a check on the condition, Prof. Shaikh stated that new insulin pumps about the size of small pagers will soon be in market. They will have novel features such as custom alarms and can be hooked up to a laptop or a desktop. They can be programmed to deliver insulin based on individual’s lifestyle.

Prof. Shaikh added that diabetes is simply a condition which occurs because of a problem in production and supply of insulin in the body. In large towns and cities, most people don’t eat healthy food, and also exercise less, which may increase the incidence of diabetes in such areas.

“We are providing state of the art treatment at minimum cost at NIDE,” he said. “We not only deal with the management of diabetes but also work on the prevention of condition and its complications.”

Prof. Muhammad Masroor, Dow International Medical College’s principal, said that insulin is a life saving substance. All patients with type-I diabetes use insulin from the day they are diagnosed till the last day of their life to sustain themselves. Insulin is needed eventually even in type-II diabetics. He also tried to clear misconceptions about insulin treatment. It is thought of as the last stage of treatment, although it is actually the first stage at which diabetics must learn to manage the condition. He also said frequent awareness programs are meant to empower patients to control the condition.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2013.

RATODERO: A constable died and three policemen were injured when a van overturned in Otha Chowk near Baqapur police station in Larkana.

The vehicle was a special squad van of Larkana DIG Javed Odha who was travelling from Tando Masti to Larkana. Constable Naimatullah Chandio died at the spot.

The injured, Ihsan Ali Soomro, Qalandar Bux Brohi and Aijaz Veesar were rushed to Chandka Medical College Hospital in Larkana.

They were allowed to go home after first aid as the they did not sustain critical injuries.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2013.

KARACHI: Foreign exchange reserves fell to $ 11.601billion in the week ending May 10 from $11.863 billion in the previous week, the central bank said on Thursday. Reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) fell to $6.524 billion from $6.772 billion a week earlier, while those held by commercial banks fell to $5.076 billion from $5.090 billion. Pakistan, on March 28, successfully paid its 11th installment worth $143.75million of Stand-By-Arrangement (SBA) to the IMF. The next IMF repayment of $391 million is due at the end of May. Meanwhile, exports and record remittances have supported Pakistan’s reserves.  Remittances from Pakistanis abroad rose 6.37% to $11.57 billion in the first ten months, July to April, of the 2012-13 fiscal year, from $10.876 billion in the same period last year. Average monthly remittances from July-April 2012-13 come to $1.156 billion, up from $1.087 billion from the corresponding period last year.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2013.

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WASHINGTON: As part of its Generation Next Initiative, the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC will be conducting a certificate course titled “Understanding Pakistan”.

The course is designed to provide interested young Americans and Pakistani-Americans a basic understanding and knowledge of Pakistan’s society and culture, economy, trade and foreign policy including a full round up of Pakistan-US relations.

The course will be without any cost.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.

PANGRIO: As temeperatures soar, the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) has also increased the duration of load-shedding to 18 hours a day which has affected routine life in Pagrio, a large area between Hyderabad and Tharparkar.

The power outages have impacted the trading business, markets and especially skilled workers who are dependent on electric machines.

Residents of the area have requested Hesco to restore supply of electricity.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.

RATODERO: Two hostages were released after Larkana SSP, Syed Pir Muhammad Shah, ordered the police to conduct a raid in Baharo, Khairpur.

Izhar Brohi and Abdul Aziz of village Changul were released while five men, Khan Chandio, Samandar Brohi, Roshan Khaskheli and Ghulam Mustafa Khaskeli, and two women Naseem Lashari and Naseem, were arrested in this operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.