June 03 - 09, 2002

PSO CHIEF SAYS DIFFERENT PRICES AT FILLING STATIONS SOON

Managing Director of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Mr Tariq Kirmani has said that oil industry is quickly changing its outlook in Pakistan and has urged company workers and dealer to be ready for the future challenges.

Inaugurating retail outlets in District Jhelum and in the federal capital Islamabad, Mr Kirmani said that in future customers will see different prices at different filling stations. "This will allow the customers to opt for outlets which offer better quality and quantity," he said.

In District Jhelum, the PSO managing director inaugurated Younas Petroleum, Pakistan's largest petrol station with allied facilities.

The retail outlet, situated on Deona Mandi-GT Road, is spread over an area of over 40 Kanals. The main features of the retail outlet are a restaurant with rooftop barbeque, a large park for children, a large canopy, a well-stocked mart, business center and public toilets for ladies and gents.

Over 2,000 guests including PSO dealers, transporters, truckers and members of the local chamber of commerce attended the inauguration ceremony.

TOUGHER IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAFFIC RULES SOUGHT

There is need for tougher actions against traffic rule violators to effectively check the menace of accidents on roads.

This was observed by Commander Karachi Rear Admiral Muhammad Haroon while addressing the fifth Karavan Karachi PSO Road Sense programme at PSO House on Wednesday.

Rear Admiral Haroon said that people should first realize their responsibilities and only later demand their rights.

He said a driver has only two options: convenience and safety. "The convenience is in breaking rules while safety lay in following regulations."

The admiral asked all adults to become role models for children by observing rules and cooperating with the police.

The Managing Director of Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Mr Tariq Kirmani, said because of prevalent security considerations, a delay in the programme was suggested. "But I said that children must keep getting the exposure to rule of law" and thus the programme is being held according to schedule.

The managing director said that PSO had installed traffic signs in Karachi and Lahore while such signs may also be set up in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. "Children who get lost can find their way back home through the signs."

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (Traffic), Saud A Mirza, said that the ratio of accidents in the city had reduced by 8.57 per cent because of an increased awareness among the citizens and police efforts. He urged citizens to cooperate with the police so that accidents could be further reduced.

Mrs Yasmeen Lari, the Chairperson of HeritageWallay, in her address of welcome, appreciated PSO's support to the programme and explained its objectives.

Later, the chief guest, Admiral Haroon, inaugurated the poster exhibition at PSO House atrium. This was followed by quiz competition, street theatre and award of prizes and award of souvenirs to children, who were served refreshments.

PSO REMAINS MARKET LEADER IN LUBRICANTS

Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has maintained its status of the market leader in lubricants among the three major oil-marketing companies for the fourth and fifth consecutive months, in February and March 2002.

According to the data released by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC), PSO's market share for the month of February was 44.9 per cent versus 37.6 per cent of Shell and 17.5 per cent of Caltex.

As for the month of March 2002, PSO was 41.9 per cent against 36.6 per cent and 21.5 per cent of Shell and Caltex respectively.

In terms of year-to-date figures (July 2001-March 2002), PSO is again the leader with a cumulative market share of 40.9 percent against 37.1 and 22 per cent of Shell and Caltex respectively.

It is to be noted that PSO sales have grown in an industry that is currently facing a downward trend and is down by 7.8 per cent.

SHELL QUALITY CONTROL CARAVAN

Shell's mobile Quality Control Units started operations in Pakistan in 1995, providing on-site quality and quantity testing facility to all Shell petrol stations in Pakistan. To date, Shell's ISO 9001:2000 certified Quality Control system remains the largest and most comprehensive in the country.

Since 17 May, the Shell Quality Control Caravan has been making waves in the city of Karachi. A beautifully decorated float, flanked by Shell's mobile Quality Control Units (QCU) forms the Caravan, as it makes its way to various Shell petrol stations in the city. The Caravan stops at each of the petrol stations, and checks quality and quantity using the advanced equipment present in each of the QCU vans. Customers are encouraged to participate in the process, and are shown a series of tests where a quality officers answer their questions. In addition, the Quality Caravan Team hands out hundreds of free gifts to the customers at each of the sites, and to people in cars at major intersections. So next time you are out and about, keep a look out for the Shell Quality Caravan!

SAUDI PAK COMMERCIAL BANK LIMITED

Saudi Pak Commercial Bank Limited conducted a two day management course on the subject "Synergizing Performance" on 25th & 26th May, 2002, at a local five star hotel facilitated by KZR Associates to promote synergy, enthusiasm and a sense of ownership amongst the executives and officers of the Bank. About 25 staff members of the Bank in various cadres participated in the workshop.

The workshop was focused on Team Bonding and Spirit of Enthusiasm with the objective to create a Culture of Openness and higher sense of ownership and responsibility amongst the Executives and Officers of the Bank. Mr. Farhad F. Karamally, KZR Facilitator emphasized on four major points including principles of perception, communication, team work, trust and resolving conflicts.

Mr. Muhammad Rashid Zahir, Chairman and the President of the Bank had instructed for holding such workshops to motivate the staff for the benefit of the organisation. He has also advised Mrs. Mehjabin Rabbani, Vice President, Human Resources Division of the Bank to hold similar management courses in Lahore and Islamabad also to enable the staff members of other Regions to be benefited out of these workshops.

NEW PUBLICATIONS ON SOCIAL CAPITAL IN PAKISTAN

NGO Resource Centre (A project of Aga Khan Foundation) has published special editions of its quarterly English and Urdu newsletters on the theme of Social Capital. Opinions from noted social scientists Akbar Zaidi, Dr Asad Sayeed, Farhan Anwer, Nadeem Malik and Asim Sajjad Akhtar are included along with in-depth interviews of Governor State Bank Dr Ishrat Hussain and Dr Shahrukh Rafi Khan. Citizen organizations, research institutions and media professionals could obtain complimentary copies from NGO Resource Centre, D-114, Block 5, Clifton, Karachi, Ph: 0215865501/2 or by email: info@ngorc.org.pk

WORLD WATER DAY

Sindh Minister of Irrigation Syed Ali Mir Shah has said that the Indus Water Treaty was the actual cause of water shortage. Speaking as the chief guest at a Seminar in connection with World Water Day at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, (MUET) Jamshoro, he said that the treaty has been inked with India by late president Ayub Khan, under which water of two rivers was given to India solely for agriculture purpose but later India started to divert the Water for other purposes including dams, lakes, forests and hydel power. Quoting from the Hadith of Holy Prophet (PBUH), the Minister said the tailenders have the priority right over the rivers and canal Waters. He told that president Musharraf has directed for installation of Tele-metering system to check up the flow of water. He said that a committee has been formed to devise a formula for water distribution. He asked the MUET authorities to suggest names of experts for the committee. Minister for Irrigation Syed Ali Mir Shah said a new water formula will be devised after the committee formed by President General Pervez Musharraf would give its report regarding the use of water by the provinces.

He said the president constituted a team of experts, which would probe the essential and non-essential use of water by the province so that it could be distributed among the provinces keeping in mind their respective requirements.

He said the committee would also probe the loss caused to agriculture sector because of the shortage of water to crops, adding that scientific method would be adopted in this connection.

Shah accused the government of Ayub Khan of executing the first plan of Right Bank Outfall Drainage (RBOD) and said according to that scheme the water of RBOD was to be released into River Indus near Sehwan. He said because of that procedure, the land located in the tail-end areas and the people living in Sehwan were getting water not suitable for drinking and Sehwan were getting water not suitable for drinking and Agriculture purposes.

Earlier Prof. Dr. Abdul Rehman Memon, Vice-Chancellor Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro. Prof. Abdul Rasheed Memon, Prof. Mushtaque Mirani, Madem Hameda-Masood Shah, Prof. Shah Nawaz Chandio, Mr. Mohsan Talpur and other were addressed the occasion. A large number of the concerned field and students of the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology also attended the programme.

SERVICES FOR SMES

The Institute Of Business Administration has a proud privilege to have conducted a series of seminars on various important topics. The credit of this academic task goes to the patronage of the dynamic educationist, Prof. Dr. Anwar Ali Shah G. Syed, Director IBA, University of Sindh, Jamshoro.

The main purpose of holding such seminars is to acquaint specially, the students of IBA with the current affairs of our national economy with a view to updating their knowledge & providing them an inspiration for learning & following the footprints of the spiritual fathers whose knowledge is undoubtedly a great source of learning. Fortunately, IBA, has managed to muster the prominent scholars, renowned educationists, and intellectuals of the caliber of think tanks like Prof. Dr.Khawaja Amjad Saeed the Ex. Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Punjab University Lahore. The series of seminars on different topics like Personal Management, Knowledge Management & Services Of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The topic was "Services for SMEs". The lecture started with the recitation of Holy Quraan. "The Director, IBA, University of Sindh, Jamshoro introduced the guest speaker where upon Professor Dr. Anwar Ali Shah G. Syed emphasized on learning, he said "we are arranging such series of lectures from which students can be given exposure to the outside world and to provide them an opportunity to explore latent qualities of their own" Director, IBA insisted on the usage of the latest technologies of information and he said "we live in the era of globalization where almost all small and big organizations wrestling with each other and it breeds cut throat competition. For that we have to update ourselves to latest competition in order to cope up with the future challenges".

The Director IBA, also underlined the immense importance of micro-credit banks that are playing a major role in financing the small & medium enterprises in Pakistan.

He discussed at length, the process of SMEs in ten developed nations, which are a great source of amelioration for the people of Pakistan. If we follow their methods & techniques of development in letter & spirit, the people of Pakistan can also best achieve their targets of development through SMEs. Director IBA, also advised the students to be constantly in touch with the books, journals and magazines for seeking knowledge. He emphasized the importance of Internet and computer technology, which is an essential to meet the Market oriented challenges.

Faculty members of IBA and other departments along with the students gathered to listen the scholarly views of learned Professor Dr. Khawaja Amjad Saeed, former Director IBA, Lahore the prominent scholar of not only Pakistan, but international repute. In the beginning of his lecture he gave a comprehensive view about the services of SMEs. He provided latest knowledge on SMEs that are serving well in developed nations and made a comparison of such SMEs with Pakistan and developing nations. He gave practical examples during his lecture. He said where there is a strong economy reign, organizations flourish, progress and that lead to prosperous society.

He further discussed the various aspects of growth & development of SMEs, which has contributed a lot to the alleviation of poverty, reduction of existing unemployment & promotion of exports, needed for earning foreign exchange & ultimately raising the standard of living of the Nation. He particularly made a reference of the role of SMEs in developing and developed nations where they can play key role in overall economic development of the country. In Pakistan, Agriculture sector is reckoned as the largest sector. Due to financial constraints, lack of technical know-how Pakistan is still toiling to establish heavy & large scale industries. It can however embark upon a crash program of developing & promoting small-scale industries both in rural & urban areas of Pakistan. He rightly pointed out that the establishment of small scale industries involving a few workers, less sophisticated & capital-intensive technology, can give a leap in achieving the long awaited take-off stage in roster's turn.

The examples of Taiwan, Hongkong, Singapore, Korea, Philippine and in addition to these developing countries those of developed countries like America, Germany, Japan, Canada, & United Kingdom where the economic growth in Canada is 95% because of establishing SMEs, previously the economic growth was 80% when E-Commerce introduced there. So, the economic growth rate was moved from 80 to 95%, because of SMEs. In Japan 99% Enterprises are SMEs, so it should enhance as a part of socio- economic concern. Three thousand SMES are performing very well in Germany. Hong Kong is considered, as the specialized chamber of SMEs because it's export rate is 209 billion-dollar. In Philippine & South Korea, more than 2000 SMEs are playing a vital role in developing economic growth.

The experience of ten developed nations shows that promoting SMEs is one of best way to boost economic activity, & especially it is essential to establish in less developed countries like Pakistan.

It is hoped that the IBA will continue to hold such academic seminars in future too, aiming at updating the knowledge of teachers as well as students by inviting the think- tanks of the country.

The lecture was followed by questions and answers session. The student's questions were mostly about the challenges faced by globalization to SMEs, and how micro-credit banks can play their role in enhancing SMEs, and several other questions were also asked from Prof. Dr. Khawaja Amjad Saeed and he answered all the questions prudently

In last Director, IBA, Prof. Dr. Anwar Ali Shah G. Syed expressed vote of thanks to the guest speaker and the audience, where upon he emphasized that we will continue such series of lectures in future, with the objectives to equip the graduates with latest knowledge and skills to make them capable to face the challenges of the highly competitive market.

PRESTON UNIVERSITY

Preston Institute of Management, Science and Technology (PIMSAT), Islamabad organized an Information Seminar at its campus in the Capital. The purpose of the Seminar was to furnish detailed information on the Institute's Executive Masters (EMBA & EMS) programmes to those employed in public and private sector organizations in the country. Executives who participated in the seminar evinced keen interest in the academic programmes of the Institute. They lauded the scholarship policy of the Institute, which focuses on merit and need as the qualifying criteria. They also expressed their satisfaction over the quality of the academic programmes PIMSAT is currently offering at the Executive Masters level.