The
devastating earthquake hitting Indian State of Gujarat on January 26
demands for precautionary measures for Pakistan. Sindh and Indian
State Gujarat both are on geological fault. Nature was kind to
Pakistan to spare Karachi despite having a large number of old
buildings declared as dangerous by KDA beside multi-storied buildings
without having quakeproof construction. In many cases high-rise
buildings are located at a distance of a few yards from each other and
do not have fire fighting and escape provisions. Seepage from broken
sewerage lines in apartments is a common sight in Karachi. Quake
experts say that water seepage is the most dangerous thing, which can
destabilize even the strongest building structures. Extra care is the
need of the hour especially for high-rises in Karachi.
MANGO
PC
International
Office Products, one of the oldest computer sales company in the
country, launched what is called ' the first truly assembled branded
PC' of Pakistan three months ago. PAGE talked to IOP about its
strategy in a market which is dominated by unbranded cheap PCs on the
one hand and expensive international products on the other.
KESC
Financial
results of the utility, for the period ending June 30, 2000, can be
looked at from two different angles, revenue improved by 9.5 per cent
or loss before tax increased by 72 per cent. The bottom line is,
unless operational efficiency is improved no financial structuring can
ameliorate financial health of KESC. The GoP should divide the utility
in economically viable units and sell it to the private sector as all
other alternatives have failed to yield result.
