Current Electricity Crisis In Pakistan, All Blames Lead to President House

Dear friends,

Just called Pakistan and heard the horror stories of ordinary people yearning for electricity. Businesses are shutting down, people are getting unemployed because businesses are not running, patients are not getting treated in hospitals, no computers working in schools, crime rate is going up due to darkness and the ode goes on and on.

Here is the other side of the picture, all the privatized electric generation companies in Pakistan like KESC, MESCO (Multan Electric Supply), REPCO (Rawalpindi Electric Supply) etc. etc..... have stopped electric generation completely. The reason:

In a typical thermal power generation company, no matter how efficient they are; generally make 8% - 10% profit before tax just like utility companies in West but Zardari & Company in Pakistan are demanding 15% - 20% commission / kickbacks from these private electricity generation companies on their gross revenue, so no matter how efficient these companies might become operationally, the money is simply not there for that level of kickbacks. Since the businesses are by nature supposed to make profit, in the abscence of porfit opportunities, nobody will work.

Will there be an end to the miseries of ordinary Pakistanis??

Any thoughts!!!

Nonimmigrant Visas

Students (F-1 & M-1 Visas)

Every year hundreds of thousands of students come from around the world to take advantage of the excellent and varied educational opportunities and resources available in the United States. These visitors range from those pursuing bachelor's degrees at liberal arts colleges, to doctoral students making new discoveries and honing their skills at some of the world's foremost scientific and medical research institutions. In addition to receiving high-quality education, international students also enrich the American academic community and add to the diversity that helps make U.S. educational institutions among the best in the world.

There are two types of Student Visas:

• Academic studies (F-1 visa): For people who want to study or conduct research at an accredited U.S. college or University.
• Non-Academic or Vocational Studies (M-1 Visa): For people who want to study or train at a non-academic institution in the U.S.

Apply for your student visa as soon as you have completed your preparation to study in the United States. Administrative processing requirements after the visa interview may increase the amount of time a successful applicant will wait before receiving a visa. Therefore, students should plan accordingly and are advised to apply at least 120 days before the school start date listed on the I-20 form. Continuing students may apply for a new visa at any time, as long as they have been maintaining student status and their SEVIS number is valid.

How to Apply

1. Complete the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application. Click here for the DS-160.

Click here for important information on the DS-160.

2. Go to an American Express Bank Ltd Travel Related Services office, a participating branch of American Express, or Speedex in Pakistan (see a list of all the offices).

• Pay the application fee of US$131 or Pakistani Rupee equivalent.
• Submit the following:

(1)The one-page confirmation form (with legible barcode) from the DS-160

(2)A current photo* (within the last 6 months) measuring 2" x 2" with white background

*Please ensure your photo has not been retouched or altered, otherwise your photo will not be accepted.

(3) A photocopy of applicant's passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned date of entry to the U.S.

(4) Copy of I-20 form with name and date of birth matching passport details

• (5) $200 SEVIS fee receipt (paid online at http://www.fmjfee.com/)

3. On the day of the scheduled interview applicants must arrive at the Diplomatic Shuttle Service, 3rd Avenue, near Quaid-e-Azam University Road, G-5, Islamabad to board the shuttle to the U.S. Embassy 30 minutes before their interview appointment. Applicants who arrive at the Diplomatic Shuttle Service more than 30 minutes before their interview may be asked to wait at the Diplomatic Shuttle Service.

Successful applicants will receive their passport and visa from the American Express branch where they submitted their application. Other applicants will have their passports returned following the interview.

The Visa Interview

Students should bring all their application documents to the Embassy on the day of their interview. In addition, they should be prepared to provide the following documents during the interview:

• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended, and scores from any standardized tests required by the educational institution, such as SAT, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, etc.
• Financial evidence that the student has funds immediately available to cover the first year of tuition and living expenses, and evidence of funds for all subsequent years
• For post-grad students: CV with current projects, publications, educational history, and prior employment, plus proposed research plan with names of faculty sponsors

Students with dependents must also provide proof of the student's relationship to his/her spouse and/or children (e.g., marriage and birth certificates.) It is preferred that families apply for F-1 and F-2 visas at the same time, but if the spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa holder's passport and visa, along with all other required documents.

Eligibility

While recent changes in visa issuance procedures have increased the time it takes to receive a visa, the standards for eligibility remain the same. Students who have been accepted at a U.S. school and are able to pay the full costs of their study are eligible to apply for a student visa. However, acceptance at a school in the U.S. does not ensure that an applicant will be qualified for a visa.

To qualify for a student visa, a student must demonstrate their qualifications as a student and the seriousness of their course of study in the US. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their reasons for studying in the United States and the details of their intended studies. Just as applicants for Visitor Visas, students must also establish that they are not intending immigrants to the United States.

Caution: By submitting the visa application form you are certifying that all the information contained in it is true and correct. If you misrepresent any facts, you could be barred from entering the United States for life. Please double-check that your answers are accurate and that every question is answered completely.

Entering the United States

Please note that students may not enter the U.S. on an F-1 visa more than 30 days prior to the start date listed on the I-20 form. Continuing students may enter the U.S. at any time before their classes start. For more information on what to expect at the port of entry in the United States, please read the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Student and Exchange Visitor Program Fact Sheet.

Studying in the United States

For more information about applying to schools, undergraduate and graduate scholarships, and studying in the United States, please contact the United States Education Foundation in Pakistan and visit Education USA.

For any other student visa questions, please visit the Department of State's Student Visas website.

How to Motivate Students to Learn Math -- By Carrie Perles

Whether you're teaching a class of students or tutoring, motivating students to succeed can be difficult. Students may view math class especially as "boring" or "unrelated to real life." Motivating students to succeed in their math studies can stump even the most experienced teachers at times but there are techniques you can use to increase their motivation as much as possible.

Universities report problems with UK student visa applications

The Financial Times has reported that the UK could miss out on thousands of international students in the coming academic year because of a tighter immigration regime.

UK universities are warning that student visa applications that once took days can now require three months.

Leeds University Business School has received record numbers of applicants for its courses but fears many will not arrive. Other student visa applications are being rejected for minor discrepancies, it said.

Universities UK, the higher education action group, said it had anecdotal evidence the problem could cost the country millions in income from fees and student spending.

Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, told The Financial Times: "We are in serious danger of sending out a message that the UK does not welcome international students."

Universities supported the introduction of the points-based visa system by the UK last year to allow in only skilled immigrants and genuine students.

In the past potential students were allowed to arrive in the UK with a student visa armed only with university offers, leaving them free not to take up a course. Now, they must specify the institution and show they can cover the costs of studying before receiving a visa.

Universities UK said visa officers were being too picky or were not fully trained.

Leeds University Business School said officials had rejected applications because they were not aware of bodies authorised to award qualifications. In some countries 85 per cent of applications were being turned down.

Peter Moizer, dean of Leeds University Business School, said some students would now miss essential pre-entry English courses. Worse, the UK could be perceived as too difficult and students will look to Australia and the US instead.

The Home Office said the new system was "tough but fair".

The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in UK visas and immigration services.

Reference

Students issue fundraising challenge

Students issue fundraising challenge

By Kristy Brownlee QMI Agency

Students at an Edmonton-area school are sending their hearts out to Haiti for Valentine’s Day.

Touched by the earthquake that struck the Caribbean island last Tuesday, Calmar Secondary student Cadence Mutch asked her teachers if instead of exchanging candy grams, students could buy paper hearts with proceeds going to Haitian relief.

“I was hoping to make their lives a little easier since their lives are so hard done by,” said 12-year-old Mutch, founder of the Hearts for Haiti fundraiser.

Starting Wednesday, students can buy a heart for $1, write a message on it and hang it in the school gym. All money raised will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross.

Mutch, who turns 13 on Valentine’s Day, first began charitable efforts when she was seven years old.

Instead of birthday gifts, Mutch said she requested donations be made to help victims of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that devastated Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India on Dec. 26, 2004.

Calmar Secondary is also challenging other schools to hold their own fundraisers and contribute to the cause.

CSS exam's new policy

WWF-Pakistan scholarships

2011 CSS exam to be held under new policy
Faisalabad, May 27: The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) will organise Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations for the year 2011 under a new policy in which a five-year-age relaxation would be granted in the upper age limit. Under the new policy, the minimum education qualification of candidates would be 16 years of education, FPSC Research Director Muhammad Sarwar told outgoing graduates of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) on Tuesday.

He said his office conducts CSS examinations once a year, and advertisements for general requirements usually appear on the first Sunday of every month. Sarwar urged the students to work hard and appear in the examinations as well as in interview with confidence and excellent communication skills. He said that in addition to the quota reserved for females, women are getting more jobs on open merit due to their ability, talent and skills. He said that of 9,137 candidates who registered for CSS exams in 2009, only 5,145 had sat the examinations.

India, Pakistan still differ on issues

India, Pakistan still differ on issues
[ 27 Feb 2010 04:07 ]

Baku – APA. The visiting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Friday called on Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna before wrapping up his two-day tour of the country, APA reports quoting “Gulfnews” newspaper.
Accompanied by Pakistan’s High Commissioner Shahid Malek, the meeting which was officially listed as a courtesy call ended up as the second round of talks between the two estranged neighbours.
India and Pakistan had its first bilateral foreign secretary level talks in 15 months on Thursday.
According to a foreign ministry official, during their hour-long meeting they discussed several key issues including India’s concern over continued cross border terrorism and Islamabad’s reluctance to bring all perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that led New Delhi to call off interaction with Islamabad at all levels.
The meeting took place amidst suggestions that Thursday talks were big failure in view of both sides sticking to their known divergent stands on a variety of issues.
Some of Bashir’s post-meeting utterances on Thursday did not go down well with the Indian side as these were seen as Islamabad’s virtually turning its back on India’s terror-related concerns.
Despite New Delhi’s insistence that they intended to start off by discussing continued use of Pakistani soil for terror attacks in India before graduating to the next level of discussions, Pakistan persisted with its demand to start the stalled Composite Dialogue and repeating that the only solution to the strained Indo-Pak ties lay in resolving the 62-year-old Kashmir imbroglio.
Bashir’s comment that over 7,000 Mumbai-like terror attacks had taken place in Pakistan irked New Delhi which saw it as insincerity.

Ref. Link