Summer schedule: Vacations to stay June, July

Chief minister rejects the education department’s proposal for school summer vacations in July and August.


Express May 23, 2011

KARACHI:


The chief minister has rejected the education department’s proposal for school summer vacations in July and August.


“There will be no change in the schedule,” told Qaim Ali Shah to reporters after a press conference on Sunday. “They will be in June and July as they were last year.” The proposal was based on the fact that Ramadan falls in August.

The press conference was held to announce the accomplishments made on the CM’s six-day trip to Korea where he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Korean Southern Power Company (Kospo).

The chief minister said that he went with a delegation of the Sindh Board of Investment to participate in the ‘Korea Overseas Investment Fair 2011’. They signed three MoUs.

The first MoU was between Sindh and Kospo, which is one of six public sector power generation companies. “They plan to establish wind power projects that can generate 2,000 megawatts (MW) in the Gharo-Keti Bandar wind corridor,” said Shah. The Korean company will generate at least 200MW within two years of being set up. An understanding has been reached with the Hyundai Heavy Industry to set up a wind turbine facility in Pakistan. Al Tuwairqi Steel Mills is in a joint venture with the Pohang Iron and Steel Company that has been invited to set up steel manufacturing factories.

The Lotte Group - that has already invested in a PTA (Pure Terephthalic Acid) plant in Pakistan - has promised to add another $500 million to double its capacity. The Sindh government organised a seminar at the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry where 60 major Korean business houses interacted with representatives from Pakistan. The Sindh government Investment Department Government signed a MoU with the Korean Importers Association (KOIMA) to boost exports from Sindh.

Discussions were also held with Air Korea for direct PIA flights from Pakistan to South Korea. They spoke with the ministry of land transport and Korea Rail about developing a mass transit system. Initially it will be for Karachi and then be replicated across the province.

Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah said that there would be no increase in Sindh’s non-development budget. Before the budget for Sindh’s next fiscal year is announced, a bill has to be tabled in the assembly. It will be on Sindh’s collection of the general sales tax on services as the issue has been settled between the province and the centre.

with additional input by Safdar Abbas Rizvi

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

Pir Ali Raza | 12 years ago | Reply If Qaim Ali Shah had any common sense he would have approved the summer vacations. I dont know why he is even the chief minister since he has never done nothing for the province.
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