Iran inaugurates ME’s biggest gold-processing plant
ISLAMABAD (APP): Iran has inaugurated the ME’s biggest ever gold-processing plant that will double the country’s annual production of gold bullion in the near future. The Zarshouran plant, located in West Azarbaijan Province in northwest of the country, was inaugurated by First VP Es’haq Jahangiri in a ceremony.  With the completion of the first phase of the plant, Iran is expected to be producing an estimated three tons of pure gold, 1.25 tons of silver and 500 kilograms of mercury in the future. After undergoing development, the plant will bring the country’s annual production of pure gold to six million tons.
The new processing facility will also produce an estimated 2.5 tons of silver and 1.5 tons of mercury a year in the near future. The plant is fed by a nearby gold mine, situated some 35 kilometers from the city of Takab and is estimated to hold over 100 tons of gold.

Crops can be produced with sea water: Dr. Atta
KARACHI (APP): President, Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, has said that Pakistani scientists are working in the field of Biosaline Agriculture to grow wheat, maize, rice and other crops by using sea water. “The country is already suffering from water shortage. Global warming will cause massive droughts within 20 years worldwide.  Socio-economic development is no longer dependent on natural resources; knowledge has become the main driving force of world economies.” He was delivering an online lecture at Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.
A statement on Sunday said that the National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS), Pakistan and International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences jointly organised the lecture on account of World Science Day for Peace and Development.
Prof.Rahman, who is also a former chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, said that scientists at ICCBS were working day and night on various sciences’ fronts, while research on Biosaline Agriculture was a part of these efforts.
He said that the establishment of Jamil-Ur-Rahman Center for Genomic Research at ICCBS-UoK will definitely help the scientists engaged in research work on biosaline agriculture.
He said that the countries like China, Singapore, Korea and Taiwan had realised the phenomenon that the knowledge  has become the main driving force of world economies and they made great progress.
Pakistan needs also to follow the footprints of these countries in term of achieving advancement on the economic front, he said.  
“The world has made wonderful progress in the field of science and technology. By using Nanotechnology, bullet proof paper are being made which are stronger than steel. These papers are being used for making bullet proof jackets. In about 10 years, people will all be wearing E-Textiles, which shows a wondrous progress of science”, he said.
Prof. Rahman also reminded the audience about the great progress made in the field of science and higher education sector, when he was chairman of HEC and federal minister for science and technology.
“Around 6000 per cent increase was made in the country’s budget of science and technology. Conversely, about 3500 per cent increase was also made in the budget of higher education. Nearly 11,000 scholars were awarded Ph.D., post-doctoral, split Ph.D. etc degrees. Mostly scholars were sent to Europe for higher leaning”. Prof Rehman said.

PIBC welcomes joint company on TAPI pipeline project
LAHORE (APP): Pak-India Business Council (PIBC) has welcomed the initiative of setting up a joint company for completion of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. Chairman PIBC Noor Muhammad Kasuri in a statement here on Sunday said that joint company of all the four countries was an important development towards fast completion of the project. He said that public sector companies of all the four nations including Turkmenistan-Afghanistan Enterprises, Inter state gas holding company limited Pakistan and Gas India Ltd (GIL) have been made stakeholders by granting shares and responsibilities to complete the project.
He said that mutual agreement among all the three gas buying countries of Afghanistan-Iran and Pakistan to hold equal stakes was a big breakthrough towards fast completion of the pipeline project.
PIBC believes that project would have historic impact on economic and political relations between the three neighbouring countrries.
“TAPI would be the biggest Confidence Bulding Measure (CBM) among Afghanistan, Pakistan and India and help enabling them to open up a new era of constant friendly ties between them”, he said.

China to host G20 summit in 2016
BRISBANE (APP/AFP): Asian powerhouse China  will host world leaders for the G20 summit in 2016, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Sunday at the conclusion of two days of  talks in Brisbane. Turkey takes over the presidency from Australia and will host the event in Antalya next year, but in a communique the group of the world’s biggest economies said China would be home to the G20 in 2016. “Australia looks forward to working with Turkey over the next year and it is my very great pleasure to announce that China will be the G20  host in 2016,” Abbott told a press conference at the conclusion of talks. The laid-back city of Brisbane has been in lockdown for the summit which has included US President Barack Obama and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

PR reduces fare of Musa Pak
LAHORE (APP): Pakistan Railways (PR) has decided to reduce the fare of Musa Pak train running between Lahore and Multan to facilitate the passengers of the country. According to a press release issued here on Sunday, the decision will be applicable from November 21. The reduced fare for Air Conditioned business from Lahore to Multan will be Rs 950, Air Conditioned Parlor charges will be Rs 850, fare of economy class seat will be Rs 400 while charges for economy berth will be Rs 400. Charges for Air Conditioned Business from Lahore to Kot Lakhpat will be Rs 270, fare of AC parlor will be Rs 210 and the fare of economy class will be Rs 60.