RCCI extends Rawal shopping festival date till 17th
RAWALPINDI (STAFF REPORTER): The RCCI extended the date of Rawal Shopping till May 17.  It was decided in the organising committee meeting chaired by President RCCI Asad Mashadi in Chamber on Friday. RCCI senior vice president Mian Humayun Parvez, VP Saboor Malik and other members were also attended the meeting. President RCCI Asad Mashadi said that after 1st successfully lucky draw public interest towards festival increased and it was demanded that date should be extended. On other hand traders community also requested the same as festival was getting momentum day by day. It is worth to be mentioned that initially festival was scheduled from May 2 to May 10 and now after extension it will be end on May 17.

EFP ‘employer of the year award’

KARACHI (Staff Reporter): Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) has launched Employer of the Year award to promote best working practices at corporations in Pakistan with generating desired results of profitability. This was stated by K M Nauman, President EFP, while speaking to media, recently at Karachi Press Club. Zaki Ahmed Khan, Vice President EFP were also present on the occasion. The award ceremony will be held on 9th September, 2015 as we are encouraged by the first and second EOY awards successfully held last year and the year before last. EOY award as the name indicates recognizes and honors the efforts of large, medium and small enterprises for their contribution and commitment towards creation of skilled manpower and provision of a supportive work environment.

These awards encourage the enterprises to achieve the targets being set by the award winning companies. Also, the award competition is meant to highlight the role of the employers in producing skilled workforce in line with the market demand. Because of this and many other employer-focused activities, the role of the private sector in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) delivery and planning is well recognized.
The award will not be a token of appreciation in the industry but it will set a performance benchmark in the business and industries along with competition for companies to perform best as employers, Nauman said.
The EOY award is also aiming at enhancing productivity and quality of products by encouraging the companies to invest in the skilled workforce development so that their competitiveness increases and in return we also are able to create new jobs for millions of job seekers in the country.

Five-day training workshop on
integrated river system ends
LAHORE  (STAFF REPORTER):  A 2nd five-day training workshop on integrated river system modeling using Source (Australian’s national hydrological modeling platform) was held between the 4th and 8th May at a local hotel. This workshop was conducted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on behalf of Australian Government. These workshops are held in the light of recommendations by the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Water Sector Task Force (WSTF) report. The WSTF report recommends capacity building in Pakistan through implementation of Australian water management technologies in the Indus river system to overcome the water challenge.
The workshop trained 35 of Pakistan’s top water engineers in river system modeling. The participants belonged to key federal, provincial and educational institutions namely Wapda, PMD, IRSA, Nespak, PCIW, FFC, NARC and PhD students of various universities. The course was opened by Raqib Khan, Chairman IRSA and concluded with a certificate awarding ceremony. The certificates were distributed among the participants by General Manager Planning & Development Wapda, Khan Muhammad Abro.
Speaking on the occasion, Khan Muhammad said that current flow forecasting methods need to be improved and that Australia’s expertise in this area could help Pakistan. He pointed out that a better understanding of future inflows would help Pakistan operate its dams efficiently, which will produce better outcomes in terms of agricultural production, hydropower generation, and flood and environmental protection.

KCCI supports PYMA for
compensating fire affectees
KARACHI (STAFF REPORTER): KCCI President Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra has said that Karachi Chamber will support Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA) in its effort to convince the Sindh government for compensating the affectees of fire incident at a polyester yarn godown in Site area on May 4, 2015. President KCCI was exchanging views with more than 100 affectees of the fire incident who were led by Chairman PYMA, Muhammad Saquib Goodluck at a meeting during their visit to Karachi Chamber. President KCCI announced to form a committee under the supervision of SVP KCCI, Muhammad Ibrahim Kasumbi in order to help PYMA assess losses suffered by the affectees.

Besides SVP KCCI, the committee comprises KCCI Managing Committee members, Imran Agar and Saquib Naseem, Chairman PYMA Mohammad Saquib Goodluck, and affected traders including Muhammad Usman, Munaaf Cheena, Irfan Zakaria and Muhammad Irfan.

Pakistan to start exports from Gwadar Port
LONDON (Online): Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael has said Pakistan is going to start exports from Gwadar Port for first time, during next week.  Addressing Pakistani community and media in London he said till now Gwadar port was being used for imports only.  The Minister said over two thousand acres of land has already been earmarked to establish tax free industrial zones and warehouses to enhance the efficacy of Gwadar port. He said Pakistan’s economic future is linked to the successful operation of Gwadar port as it would help boost our exports and generate economic activity in the region. Kamran Michael said Pakistan-China Economic Corridor would bring about unprecedented development and prosperity to the people.