Iesco receives 5,000-7,000
electricity meters
ISLAMABAD (APP): Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) spokesman Fayyaz Hussain Saddique has said that electricity meter supply has been started and around 5,000 to 7,000 meters were received so far. Talking to APP here, the spokesman said that supply of meters was slightly delayed due to the procurement process. He said that the company would receive 8,000 to 10,000 more meters within next week. Procurement of more meters was in pipeline and shortage was gradually being bridged. To a question, Fayyaz said new connections were being given to the consumers and as per standard operating procedure minimum 45 days required for new connection.

He said that the company was striving hard to provide facilities to its valued customers and address their complaints promptly.

Chad scraps Chinese oil permits over alleged environmental violations
NDJAMENA (AFP): - Chad has decided to withdraw five exploration permits issued to Chinese oil giant CNPC and press charges in a spat over a $1.2 billion fine for environmental violations, the oil ministry said. Oil Minister Djerassem Le Bemadjiel told a press conference late Saturday the move was “to avoid further environmental degradation, not to make place for other companies.” The China National Petroleum Company was forced to suspend operations in Chad in May after refusing to pay a fine of $1.2 billion (800 million euro) for “unacceptable practices” that had led to “noxious spills” around drilling sites.
The government of the large central African nation also said it planned to press charges against the CNPC both in Ndjamena and in France, whose commercial court has a chamber specialising in international disputes.
“Amicable negotiations are no longer possible. All efforts have been in vain,” government secretary general Abdoulaye Sabre told the press conference.
“Next week a government delegation will go to Paris to file a complaint with the commercial court for refusal to pay a fine.”
A second complaint has been made in the capital Ndjamena for “environmental degradation and endangering the lives of others”, he added.
Chad, which began exploiting its oil deposits in 2003, has a history of difficult relations with Chinese companies operating on its soil.
In March Chadians working for one of these companies went on strike to denounce their working conditions and demand salary increases.
According to official statistics Chad produces 120,000 barrels of oil a day in 2011. Oil revenues have allowed the country to modernise its army, improve road networks and public infrastructure.
However parts of civil society are urging the government to use the new oil wealth to improve the living conditions of the population.

ICCI awards ITP officers/officials
for excellent management of traffic
ISLAMABAD (INP): Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) organized a certificates awards ceremony in honor of Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) to recognize its good services in managing traffic. At the occasion, 7 Inspectors, 8 Sub-Inspectors, 15 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 6 Head Constables and 8 Constables were awarded certificates for their good services. Speaking at the occasion, Asmatullah Junejo, SSP Traffic said that ITP is working on computerization of challan system to facilitate the people in payment of challans. He said negotiations are in process with a mobile telecom company to provide various options to people for payment of traffic challans.
He said ITP is the only police in the country that issues ISO 9002 certified driving license, which is recognized in 32 countries. He said due to shortage of printed material of license, people are facing some problems in getting licenses, however, this problem will be solved within few days. He said 7 more security features are being added in the new license for facilitation of license holders. He said ITP radio FM92 gives hourly traffic updates and people should benefit from it to avoid any traffic hassles.
He thanked ICCI for organizing certificates award ceremony for the officers and officials of ITP and hoped that it would act as a morale booster for them. He said ITP would continue to work for better regulation of traffic in Islamabad and assured that all suggestions of business community to further improve traffic system will be given due consideration.
In his welcome address, Muhammad Ali Mirza, Acting President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry lauded the efforts of ITP, especially during Eid days for better regulation of traffic and termed it a model traffic police for the rest of the country. He said due to Metro Bus project, some areas in Islamabad are facing traffic problems and ITP should take measures to address them.
He said ICCI is working in collaboration with other stakeholder organizations for smooth growth of business activities and better development of the Islamabad city while business community fully recognizes good performance of every institution. Today’s ceremony is also meant to acknowledge the good efforts of ITP.
Khalid Chaudhry, Senior Vice President and former Presidents ICCI Zafar Bakhtawari and Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi also addressed the ceremony and lauded the good efforts of ITP. Representatives of various trade associations highlighted the traffic issues of their respective areas and offered suggestions for their better solution.

Taiwan names new economics
minister after predecessor quits
TAIPEI (Reuters): Taiwan on Sunday named Woody Tyzz-Jiun Duh as economics minister, after his predecessor resigned in the aftermath of a gas explosion that killed 30 people and injured more than 300. Chang Chia-juch, who took his post in February 2013, submitted his resignation on Thursday after a series of gas blasts ripped through several city blocks in Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s second-largest city, late on July 31. The Executive Yuan, or cabinet, on Sunday said in a statement that Premier Chang Yi-huah accepted Chang’s decision to go despite efforts to persuade him to stay at his post. The two are not related.
The cabinet then named Chang’s deputy as the new economics minister.
Duh had also submitted his resignation on Thursday with Chang, as is customary for the deputy ministerial post of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, according to Sun Lih-chyun, spokesman for the Executive Yuan. Lih said Duh had been asked to stay on as acting minister, then was appointed officially on Sunday when efforts to persuade Chang to change his mind failed.
Duh is a U.S.-educated career civil servant, according to the statement from the Executive Yuan. His expertise is in industrial policy, technology and management, and he is also experienced in cross-strait and international trade cooperation, the statement said.
Central and local government authorities have been in dispute over compensation for the blast and the costs of reconstruction. Former minister Chang said last week he hoped his departure would ease the political deadlock.
The explosions gutted a district in the port city packed with shops and apartment buildings. The ensuing dispute is the latest between the ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan.
Taiwan politicians and the public have been divided over a trade and services pact with China that would bring both sides economically closer. There has also been disagreement over the fate of the long-stalled construction of a fourth nuclear power plant in northern Taiwan.

Venezuela to close Colombia border at night to fight smuggling
CARACAS (AFP): Venezuela will close its Colombia border at night starting Monday to combat smuggling of various Venezuelan products, including food and gasoline, officials said. The border closure will take place from 10:00 pm (0230 GMT) to 5:00 am (0930 GMT) each night “to strengthen policies tackling smuggling from Venezuela to Colombia,” said a press release from the state news agency AVN. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos agreed on the border closure during a meeting held August 1 in Cartagena focused on smuggling, officials said.
“We are sealing the entire border — all 2,200 kilometers (1,400 miles) of it between Venezuela and Colombia,” said the military commander in charge of the operation, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, from the border state of Zulia, one of the main contraband thoroughfares.
On Friday, Maduro appointed Padrino Lopez, head of the strategic command of the armed forces, and Vice President Jorge Arreaza to head a civilian-military unit to combat smuggling.
Venezuela, which has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, also sells gas for some of the cheapest prices — allowing consumers to fill the tank of a car for the equivalent of a candy bar or bottle of water.
The low prices have long led to smuggling of fuel to Colombia.
In the past year, more food and commodities have crossed the border. Prices in Colombia can be up to 10 times higher than in Venezuela, which has price controls.
The Venezuelan government estimates that 40 percent of basic commodities are smuggled across the border with Colombia, plus 100,000 barrels of oil, equivalent to annual losses of $3.7 billion.