PCMA stands with business community against proposed 400% hike in security deposits

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Ahmed Chinoy, Chairman, Pakistan Cloth Merchants Association (PCMA), has expressed strong support for the business community’s unified opposition to the proposed 400% increase in security deposits by Power Distribution Companies (Discos). 

“We raise our significant concerns regarding this proposal and such a substantial increase would impose excessive financial burdens on consumers, particularly manufacturers and exporters, thereby negatively impacting industrial competitiveness,” he declared in a statement issued on February 10. 

“The proposed hike lacks transparency and logical justification, potentially discouraging industrial expansion and countering government initiatives aimed at promoting economic growth and increasing exports,” he highlighted. 

“We stand in solidarity with the business community in opposing this unjustified increase. Such a move threatens to undermine the competitiveness of our industries and places an undue financial strain on businesses already grappling with rising production costs,” the PCMA Chairman stated. 

Ahmed Chinoy urged the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to consider the valid concerns raised by various stakeholders and to reject the proposed increase, advocating for Discos to focus on improving revenue collection efficiency rather than imposing additional financial burdens on consumers. A public hearing on this matter is scheduled for February 12 where the stakeholders will have the opportunity to present their objections and recommendations.

Ahmed Chinoy opposes trade body elections in 2025

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Ahmed Chinoy, Chairman, Pakistan Cloth Merchants Association (PCMA), has resented the proposed holding of trade body elections in 2025, as the last elections were conducted only a few months ago in September 2024.

“The decision to call for fresh elections within such a short span undermines the stability and continuity required for effective governance within trade organisations,” he reckoned. 

“The recent elections, held as per the Trade Organisations Ordinance, were conducted transparently and in accordance with established legal procedures. Calling for another round of elections in 2025 disregards the mandate given by the business community and disrupts the functioning of trade bodies at a critical time when economic and policy continuity is essential,” Ahmed Chinoy, a respected leader of the business community, pointed out. 

“Holding elections so soon after the previous ones is not only unnecessary but also counterproductive. It creates uncertainty among trade organisations and diverts focus from crucial economic and business development initiatives,” he added. 

The PCMA Chairman urged the government to reconsider this decision and allow the elected representatives to complete their term as per the existing framework, advising that any amendments to the Trade Organisations Ordinance should be made in consultation with stakeholders to ensure that trade bodies operate in a stable and effective manner. 

“We call upon all relevant authorities to engage in dialogue with the business community before implementing any decisions that could impact the functioning of trade organizations,” he concluded.

Happiness is indeed not something readymade; it comes from our actions

By Zara Waqas

Dalai Lama had famously declared that happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. This quote has fascinated me immensely. 

Happiness is a subjective phenomenon that everyone seeks in their own way. It varies from person to person and it can be influenced by different factors. 

Generally, we search for happiness in things, people, money, and experiences that we believe will bring us a sense of fulfilment and joy. However, happiness is not something that can be bought, borrowed, or begged for. It is a state of mind that can only be attained by taking action to nurture and cultivate it within oneself. 

According to Denis Waitley, happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. 

Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude. It's all about our thinking. 

If we have a habit of looking at negative aspect of everything, and if we are unable to accept reality or cannot admit our mistakes, then what will happen in the end? Let me tell you, we will lose our confidence and grace. 

Blaming others for our mistakes or faults will turn us cruel and will affect our relations with classmates, friends, and relatives, and in the end, we will be left alone in this world. 

There is a simple formula for happiness. Try to help others by all means, make ways for others to progress, meet people with crystal clear hearts and sweet smiles on your face, use polite words, be humble and kind, be honest in your deeds and last but not the least, keep doing what makes you happy. 

Of course, watching videos or playing games all the time on mobile or tablets may not serve the purpose. 

Let us be realistic and use our time and energy wisely and positively. Because our future and happiness both are in our own hands. 

Always remember, happiness is a choice and it can only come from within you. Let us learn to appreciate all small blessings that we take for granted. 

It all depends on us, how we take things. It is upto us whether we make life a burden for ourselves or embrace it with open arms. 

I have read somewhere that life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what is there until you open and taste it. How true, isn’t it? 

Outside factors and other people can also affect our happiness. If someone close to us dies or if we fall sick or pick up a serious injury all of these things are not going to make us feel happy. 

Grief and feelings of sadness are all part and parcel of life and we need to go through them to appreciate all the good things in life that make us happy. 

Happiness is a result of our choices and mindset, not something that just happens to us. 

Another beautiful saying of Charles Spurgeon is that it's not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.

Younis Hashmi, other librarians visit Education Expo, Book Fair in Lahore

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The fifth edition of the Education Expo and Book Fair, organized by the Nazaria Pakistan Trust at Aiwan-e-Quaid-e-Azam in Johar Town, Lahore, from January 10 to 12 attracted a large number of scholars, educationists, intellectuals, media personalities, students and teachers, besides librarians. 

The tastefully decorated stalls of the educational institutions, publishers and booksellers remained the focus of attraction for the visitors, who braved the cold weather and foggy conditions to roads to be a part of the three-day annual event in which entry was free of cost. 

Younis Hashmi, a former chief librarian of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), having relocated in Canada following his retirement from service, made it a point to visit the Education Expo and Book Fair where he was warmly greeted by fellow librarians. 

He met Sher Afzal Malik, Librarian, Quaid-e-Azam Public Library, who is also Secretary Finance of the Pakistan Library Association (PLA), Punjab Branch, Muhammad Sadiq, Librarian, University of Education, Lower Mall campus, who is the Assistant Secretary of PLA Punjab Branch and Mukarram Nawaz, Librarian, Archives department, Government of Punjab. 

Younis Hashmi, one of the very few librarians, working proactively for the cause of the profession, was delighted to exchange views with the librarians of Lahore who also believed in keep things moving for their community. 

“It is really heartening and heartwarming to meet such wonderful librarians who are committed to the profession. Their presence in the Education Expo and Book Fair reflected their passion for books and other scholastic activities,” he complimented.

ESUP hosts poetry competition at SZABIST

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The English-Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP) organized a poetry recitation competition at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology University (SZABIST), Karachi, on January 9. A total of 35 students participated from 18 different schools participated in the event which was a new addition to the many educational activities it has been holding from time to time. 

Mohammad Ali Atif of Happy Home High School was declared the winner of the competition while Maria Asif of Mama Parsi Girls Secondary School, and Burhanuddin M Petiwala from MSB Education Institute, finished as the 1st runner-up and the 2nd runner-up respectively. 

Shahznaz Wazir Ali, President, SZABIST, along with Aziz Memon, Patron-in-Chief of ESUP, Pervez H Mardaswala, President of ESUP, and Irfan Qureshi, Senior Vice President, ESUP, distributed awards and certificates to the position holders and participants.