Energy crisis perturbs Zardari

Large gap between production cost and receipts

Islamabad—Following a fresh spate of countrywide violent demonstrations over long power load shedding, President Asif Ali Zardrai believes that ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will not achieve its goals in the next general elections without overcoming prevailing power crisis, sources in the presidency told Pakistan Observer on Tuesday. The sources said that during a high level meeting in Presidency on power crisis that continued till late night on Monday, the president was quite upset on the government’s failure over persisting electricity shortfall.

Pakistan, US sign Nato convoys deal ISI chief begins US visit today

Rawalpindi—Pakistan on Tuesday signed a deal with the United States governing arrangements for Nato convoys travelling to Afghanistan, seeking to draw a line under a seven-month border blockade. Islamabad agreed to reopen land routes for Nato goods on July 3 after ordering the longest border closure of the 10-year war in neighbouring Afghanistan in protest at botched US air raids that killed 24 Pakistani troops.

Punjab, KP protests over outages persist

Lahore/Peshawar—Protests against power outages continue as outrage grows amongst the residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. In Lakki Marwat residents protested and set fire to a NADRA office and vehicles present outside. The raging mobs burnt tyres, pelted stones, smashed the signboards and blocked roads, while venting their anger. Police resorted to aerial firing in their bid to disperse the crowds. At least 17 demonstrators were rounded up by the Lakki Marwat police.

First phase of election kicks off CEC unveils new voters lists

Islamabad—Chief Election Commissioner Fakharuddin G Ibrahim Tuesday said the Election Commission had finalized new electoral lists according to which some 80.436 million voters are registered across the country. Addressing a maiden press conference held at the Election Commission secretariat, the chief election commissioner said, “We have used latest technology with the help of NADRA and with the issuance of the voters’ list‚ the first phase of electioneering has started in the country.” By sending an SMS on 8300‚ a voter can check his information. He said an effort has been made to make the rolls transparent, he said.

India suffers world’s biggest-ever blackout

New Delhi—Triggering a major power crisis, three electricity grids connecting more than 20 states and the national capital collapsed on Tuesday. While the northern grid failed for the second straight day, the eastern and north-eastern grids too collapsed. These three grids carry about 50,000 MW of electricity. The collapse has left more than half of the country or 600 million people without power. This in one of the world’s biggest-ever blackouts.

Panetta: Egypt’s leaders promise full democracy

Cairo—Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday that Egypt’s new president and its military chief have reassured him they will steer the country to full democracy. “It’s clear that Egypt, following the revolution, is committed to putting into place a democratic government,” Panetta told reporters after meetings in Cairo with President Mohammed Morsi and Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi. It was Panetta’s first encounter with Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate who assumed the presidency in June. Panetta said it was clear to him that Morsi is “his own man.”

Taliban happy over Nato supply restorationsignal world conflictColorado suspect’s home

Kandahar — As the United States trumpeted its success in persuading Pakistan to end its seven-month blockade of supplies for NATO troops in Afghanistan, another group privately cheered its good fortune: the Taliban. One of the Afghan war’s great ironies is that both NATO and the Taliban rely on the convoys to fuel their operations — a recipe for seemingly endless conflict. The insurgents have earned millions of dollars from Afghan security firms that illegally paid them not to attack trucks making the perilous journey from Pakistan to coalition bases throughout Afghanistan — a practice the U.S. has tried to crack down on but admits likely still occurs.