News

 

Nitaqat ‘fails’ to curb remittances:

Foreign remittances of expats have risen to SR383.6 billion since the introduction of the Nitaqat nationalization program in 2011. Abdul Hameed Al-Omari, a member of the Saudi Economic Association, revealed this on Saturday. 

This marks a 57.8 percent jump in foreign transfers compared to the previous 10 years, he said. “Expats should not be blamed for these transfers as it is their right.” 

He added: “If we want to blame someone for the danger it has posed to the economy, it should be government departments, especially the Labor Ministry and big companies.”

He pointed out: “This indicates the ministry’s program was increasing per capita foreign transfers from SR9,200 per month in 2011 to SR10,437 in 2012 and SR12,330 in 2013.”

Al-Omari said the ministry’s efforts to discourage expats to bring families would increase foreign remittances further and reduce their spending in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, personal foreign remittances of Saudis and expats reached SR226.6 billion in 2013, the highest in 20 years, a local Arabic business daily reported, saying the amount was 16.5 percent more than the figure of 2012, when it was SR194.5 billion.

The report said foreign remittances of expats rose by 18 percent in 2013 to SR148 billion against SR125.2 billion in 2012. The hike coincides with an increase in Saudi imports, which amounted to SR841 billion in 2013 against SR807 billion in 2012, registering a 4 percent rise.

“Foreign remittances of non-Saudis for travel purposes decreased 74 percent to SR386 million against SR1.5 billion in 2012,” said the report.

Al-Nasr lifts Crown Prince Cup:

Al-Nasr was crowned the champion of the Crown Prince Cup on Saturday evening after beating Al-Hilal 2-1 in the final. Al-Nasr broke Al-Hilal’s six-time-in-a-row record as the latter has won the championship for the last six years.

Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense patronized the final match of the Crown Prince Cup between Riyadh’s Al-Nasr and Al-Hilal at King Fahd International Stadium on Saturday.

The prince handed over the cup to Al-Nasr captain Hussein Abdulghani and gold medal to the players.

Prince Miqrin bin Abdulaziz, second deputy premier, Prince Khaled bin Bandar, Riyadh governor, Prince Nawwaf bin Faisal, President of Youth Welfare and Ahmad Eid, head of the Saudi Football Federation, received the crown prince at the event.

Al-Hilal took the lead through striker Nasser Al-Shamrani (2) who found himself face to face with goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Enizi after a long pass. Al-Nasr scored (24) through Al-Hilal defender Sultan Al-Duaya who put the ball in his team’s net when he tried to defend the goal against Al-Nasr Bahraini Defender Muhammad Hussern’s header. Muhammad Al-Sahlawi scored the second through a penalty (58) after Al-Hilal Nawwaf Al-Abed tackle of Al-Nasr midfielder Shaya Shrahili.

Al-Hilal’s Brazilian Tiago Neves and his national Al-Nasr’s Elton missed several

The stadium was packed to capacity as the tickets were sold out on Friday.

Obama to visit KSA in March:

US President Barack Obama is getting ready to visit Saudi Arabia in March for a summit with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in a renewed bid to smoothen and expand relations, according to Arab officials who have been briefed on the trip.

The American Embassy in Riyadh, however, neither confirmed nor denied it.

Johann Schmonsees, a spokesman for the US Embassy, said he would share information about the visit once it is announced by the US government. “The White House has said it is not planning any additional trips at this time; I will let you know if there is an official announcement,” Johann told Arab News.

A Wall Street Journal report said “the trip of President Obama has been confirmed by Arab officials.”

The visit is viewed as “very important” keeping in view the reservations expressed by Riyadh over American Middle East policy, particularly its outreach to Iran, its unwillingness to get involved militarily in Syria’s civil war and its policies on a host of issues affecting the Middle East region today.

Arab officials who were briefed on the upcoming summit, which was pulled together quickly in recent days, said it would be crucial to aligning American and Saudi policies, as political change and sectarian strife continue to sweep the Mideast and North Africa, said the Wall Street Journal report.

“This is about a deteriorating relationship and declining trust levels,” said the report, quoting a senior Arab official in describing the need for talks with King Abdullah.

Bernadette Meehan, a US National Security Council spokeswoman, said: “We do not have any additional trips to announce at this time.” Yet the reports said that Obama’s March trip will follow travel stops already announced by the White House in Brussels, The Hague and Rome. The visit may address burning issues like Iran and Syria.

714 barred from entering Kingdom:

The Passports Department has prevented the entry of 714 blacklisted people into the country since Jan. 5 by land, sea or air. 

The department said that these violators were netted during their paperwork and fingerprinting.

The General Directorate of Passports confirmed that the Interior Ministry has secured border outlets with advanced technological equipment and by training security staff. It explained that the biometric device, known as “basma” (Arabic for fingerprint), is highly effective in matching fingerprints against IDs and ensuring that there are no security issues that prevent travelers from leaving or entering the country.

The National Information Center previously endorsed the devices.

The Passports Department at King Abdulaziz International Airport recently arrested two residents of Asian and African descent as they were leaving the Kingdom because their fingerprints did not match the data registered in the central automated system. 

They have been referred to bodies of jurisdiction.

The Saudi-Yemeni border has seen a huge number of infiltrators over the past year. These are job seekers, weapons smugglers or terrorists. Infiltrators were reportedly chased off or stopped for interrogation and deported.

Stranded Filipinos being shifted to Shumaisy:

Following months of relentless efforts, the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah has succeeded in shifting its stranded Filipino workers to Shumaisy deportation center in Makkah. Hundreds of Overseas Filipino Workers who had been desperately waiting to be arrested by Passport authorities are finally making their way to Shumaisy — the first step in their repatriation.

According to the consulate, several hundreds of Filipinos including women and children were stranded in Jeddah after having failed to rectify their status during the grace period.

Saudi authorities have agreed to process 100 Filipinos a day at the General Services Center facility at the center. Accordingly, nearly 400 Filipinos are being shifted to the deportation center, said sources at the consulate.

Many of the Filipinos arrived from the central and eastern regions of the Kingdom to seek an easy departure but were stranded in Jeddah for being unable to fulfill the criteria for the exit process. Others demanded to be deported from the airport itself resulting in their being detained in Jeddah.

A Filipino worker lodged inside the deportation center and waiting for repatriation told Arab News over the phone: “It’s not easy to leave the Kingdom even after having arrived at the deportation center as the process takes a lot of time.” 

He said though the facilities at the center were good, he was missing Filipino food. “Mobile phones are the only way to communicate and stay updated with the outside world,” he added. So far the consulate in Jeddah has repatriated 7,177 OFWs.

Life span of KSA buildings 25 years:

The average life span of buildings in the Kingdom is between 25 and 50 years, as against 100 years in other countries, said Talal Samarkandi, head of Jeddah branch of the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) and board member of Al-Umran Saudi Association.

Samarkandi attributed the short life span of buildings to such factors as poor design and implementation, absence of regular maintenance work, and low level of building materials and usage.

“There are many methods and techniques for buildings which are bound to raise their virtual life span, depending on the materials used in the green building methodology, recycling the building materials, and counting on an accredited engineering office to supervise construction and maintenance works,” he said, adding that all these factors help the landlord to safeguard his investment. 

He urged Jeddah Municipality to form a committee entrusted with the task of inspecting the dilapidated, vacant buildings in old neighborhoods as these may fall down and injure passers-by. 

Hamad Al-Shagawi, chairman of the board of directors of the SCE, said the buildings that were constructed in the early eighties are better than some of the buildings being constructed these days. “Now we find cheating and fraud in the raw materials such as iron and cement to the degree that some buildings collapse during construction itself,” he added.

He stressed the importance of regular maintenance of buildings, good quality work, and following comprehensive methods of construction. “This will even increase its market value in the long run,” he added.

He said that any building constructed more than 50 years ago will need repairing, not maintenance. “With the available modern techniques and methods the process is easier now,” he said. 

According to him, private sector buildings are the best because of the high quality of material, good specifications and standards adopted and regular maintenance.

Abdullah Radhwan, head of the Contractors Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and member of the National Committee for Contractors at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, demanded that engineering offices in the country be briefed on the necessity of applying the Saudi building codes that the Council of Ministers has adopted. “The codes are not specifications in themselves, but rather a measurement that defines the quality according to the environment and weather conditions”, he explained.

On the issue of building renovations, Radhwan said: “Renovations play an important role in extending the life span of a building, especially if carried out by specialized offices or institutions.” He criticized the use of bad material in renovations which lead to cracks, problems in plumbing and other issues.

“In our country, we don't have the culture of building with wood. We build with cement and concrete and this operation needs defining the ratio of the materials used in construction work,” he said, noting that it is difficult to define the cost of any renovation process as this depends on the cost of the material used in the operation, the kind of renovation needed and its size and date.

MoE to look into school fee hikes:

The Ministry of Education has set up subcommittees to look into guardians’ complaints about fee structures at private and foreign schools across the Kingdom’s provinces. 

The committees will be empowered to rule on any complaint from guardians about the private schools in which their children are studying, a local daily reported Saturday.

The ministry has warned private and foreign schools against imposing additional fees unless they have the ministry’s approval.

In the meantime, a preparatory committee at the ministry began receiving petitions for fee hikes from private schools on Saturday. The committee will accept such petitions until March 27.

“It is the right of any private school to demand higher tuition fees this year even if they have hiked fees in the past,” said a source at the ministry.

He said reasons for charging higher fees include the introduction of new academic projects and the signing of academic contracts with education companies.

A former committee used to approve 95 percent of requests for fee hikes, the source said.

“However, subcommittees at provincial education administrations are now striving to regulate fee hikes within certain parameters and guidelines and thus reject hikes without compelling reason,” the source said.

In the meantime, private school owners have begun registering their applications for fee hikes online. Complaints from schools will be received for 15 days from March 14 to 28, the source said.

‘Manchester flight of Saudia is in response to growing British ties:

Saudi Arabian Airlines will launch its direct flights from Jeddah to Manchester on April 1, operating on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, deploying Boeing B777-300ER aircraft on this sector.

Assistant director general of public relations for Saudia Abdullah bin Mushabib Al-Ajharf told Arab News that this was one of the major steps taken to widen the ariline's network of international flights and to increase its market share in travel and tourism between East and West, besides opening up new vistas to meet travelers’ needs.

He said Saudia’s strategy was not merely limited to operate flights around the world, but to choose its destinations carefully and implement a far-reaching program to strengthen cooperation on different fronts including tourism, commercial and economy. 

Al-Ajhar said the Manchester sector was part of the airline’s new plan to expand international network particularly with regard to European destinations. Saudia chose Manchester because Britain is a globally favored destination, besides the strong ties between the two countries.

The strong relations and the growing number of passengers and businessmen between the two countries were major contributory factors for the increasing number of flights operated by Saudia between Britain and the Kingdom. Besides, there is also the growing number of Muslims and Arabs who wish to perform Haj and Umrah. These flights will also serve the scholarship students from the Kingdom who study in British universities and institutes. 

Al-Ajhar said the flight will leave Jeddah at 3:30 a.m. and arrive at Manchester at 8:15 a.m. The return flight from Manchester will leave at noon and arrive at Jeddah at 8 p.m.

With Manchester added to its network, Saudia will be operating direct flights to 53 destinations, besides 27 domestic flights, taking the total number of destinations to 80, he said.

Foster parents last resort for abused children:

The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education have signed an agreement to assist physically and emotionally abused students in an effort to reduce the number of domestic violence cases. 

Officials from the two ministries decided that the last resort for abused children should be the decision to give them into the care of foster parents.

“This arrangement was signed a year ago in an effort to reach school students who were being abused by parents or close family members. The first step was to visit boys and girls at their schools and spread awareness about domestic abuse and extend help to those who need it,” said Abdullah Al-Tawi, general manager of the Ministry of Social Affairs in the Makkah region. “We talked to teachers and supervisors and asked them to be our eyes in schools and monitor the students and call us when they suspect a certain act or anything that relates to domestic abuse,” he added.

According to Al-Tawi, when the Ministry of Social Affairs receives a call from a school, a team from the ministry visits the school and launches an investigation. “We interview the student and learn more about her/his case and then call her/his parents or the abuser to hear their side of the story to create a full case,” he said. “We start studying the case and the condition and hire a psychologist to help both sides find a better ground and stop the violence,” he added. 

After the intervention, the ministry follows up on the case and continues the investigation. 

“We have to find out the source behind the abuse and the cause to tackle the problem. If the abuse persists, then another solution must be found. As a first step, we usually recommend that the child be placed in the care of a close family member,” Al-Tawi said. “We continue checking up on the child and if the arrangement is still not suitable the last resort is to find a suitable foster family for the child,” he said.

“We need to make sure that children are in the best environment for their emotional and mental well-being,” said Al-Tawi. “We encourage students to call our special line and report any abuse so we can intervene early on. This approach is recommended not only in school, but for any adult who notices a child getting abused,” said the general manager.

Early intervention is the best way to help abused children, according to psychologist Nawal Al-Ghamdi. “The move taken by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education is the right one because students need to learn about their rights from an early age,” she said. “Taking children who suffer from domestic abuse away from their parents is a move taken by many countries and it’s a healthy option, as the child needs to be removed from the harmful environment,” she added.

Al-Ghamdi pointed out that the child might suffer from being away from his family but in the longer term the separation will be in the child’s interest.

Ahmed Rashid, an English-language teacher at a public school, said he supports the move taken by the two ministries.

“I will never forget the day when one of my students came to school with a black eye and bruises all over his body. He was humiliated and beaten in the street in front of his friends just because his father caught him smoking cigarettes,” he said. “He was 13 years old and it is natural that he would want to experience these things. The father should have talked to him about the harm of smoking and not hit him with a cable. He did not just hurt him physically, he also hurt him emotionally and mentally,” he added.

Police Complaint against Asaduddin Owaisi for provocative speech:

Mumbai, January 31:

A local BJP leader sanjay on Friday registered a police complaint against Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi for provocative speech against Bollywood Super star Salman Khan and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP leader, in his complaint lodged at Mumbai's DB Marg Police Station has alleged Asad Owaisi of using inappropriate language against Salman Khan and Narendra Modi, and asked the police to register an FIR against Asaduddin Owaisi and arrest him.

The BJP youth leader also released a video in which Owaisi is seen making what he termed as derogatory remarks against Salman Khan.

He however said that his complaint was not linked with Owais's appeal to boycott Salman Khan's film 'Jai Ho'.

He said main complaint against Owaisi is the language which he had used against Salman Khan and Narendra Modi", he said while talking to reporters.

Mohammed Ahmedullah promises better facilities to Hajj pilgrims:

Hyderabad, February 02:

Minority Welfare Minister Mohammed Ahmedullah on Saturday released the Hajj application forms for Hajj 2014 at Hajj House. The Minister promised to provide better facilities to pilgrims this year. He claimed that the arrangements made by the Hajj committee are getting improved year by year and Hajj 2014 will witness excellent arrangements. Minority Welfare Minister told that the government has increased the Hajj committee budget from 1 crore to 2 crore. He said the issue of construction of new Hajj House will be resolved within one week after convening a meeting with secretary Minority Welfare, Minority Welfare Commissioner and Special Officer Hajj Committee.

Shaikh Mohd. Iqbal, Commissioner, Minorities Welfare, urged pilgrims to bring change in their lives after the Holy Pilgrimage and help poor and needy people.

Special Officer Hajj Committee Prof. S A Shukoor warned the Hajj aspirants not to fall prey to the middlemen’s trickery, as the selection will be purely based on drawing of lots.

Siasat news

Topical mushaira entitled “Halaat-e-Hazera” held:

Hyderabad, February 02:

A serious and humourous mushaira (poetic symposium) was held on Saturday at Mahboob Husain Jigar Hall, Siasat premises in which Messrs Shahnawaz Hashmi, Vali Mohammed Zahed Haryanavi, Yousufuddin Yousuf, Qabil Hyderabadi, Anjani Kumar Goel, Atyab Aijaz, Dr. Shakeel Hyderabad, Qamer Raza, Ameer Nusrati, Fareed Saher, Sardar Asar, Waheed Pasha Quadri and Shahed Adili presented their poetry.

The poetic symposium began with the Qirat-e-Kalam-e-Pak of Abdul Quddoos advocate. Mr. Atyab Aijaz moderated the mushaira. Mr. Auz bin Mahfooz was the chief guest, while Mr. Zahed Ali Khan presided over the mushaira.

Siasat news

Meeting of local officials of Welfare party

Hyderabad, February 02:

A meeting of district and local officials of Welfare Party will be held on February 2, at 10 am at Purani Haveli. Membership and party’s strategy in the coming election will be discussed in the meeting.

Party candidates to contend the elections from various areas will also attend the meeting

UAE guest of honor at Janadriyah fest:

The UAE is this year’s guest of honor at the 29th Janadriyah festival from Feb. 12 to 28 in Riyadh, organizers have announced.

Saud Al-Rumi, director general of the festival, said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency that the UAE would add great value to the festival with its pavilion in the heart of the village.

He said the planners had completed all the preparations for the annual event. 

The National Guard organizes the event showcasing the country’s cultural heritage. 

Prince Miteb bin Abdullah is the head of the National Guard and chairs the festival’s organizing committee.

The organizers have expanded the event this year to allow more government departments including the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Saudi Ports Authority to join the show, Al-Rumi said.

More than 300 local and international participants will attend, he said. The festival will have its customary camel race with over 2,000 contestants from the Kingdom and Gulf states competing for significant cash prizes. 

The program includes lectures, seminars, poetry recitals, traditional markets, folk dances, dramas, book shows and painting exhibitions. 

The seminars include a Salafi forum and discussions on Islamic political movements and women’s issues.

The festival would honor two Saudi cultural personalities, from Riyadh and Al-Ahsa, Al-Rumi said.

Bachelors can visit the festival until Feb. 16 and families from Feb. 17 to 28. Opening times will be from 4 p.m. to 12 midnight during the week, and until 2 a.m. on weekends.

Fakeih praises Filipinos’ artistic talent:

Labor Minister Adel Fakeih opened the weeklong Jeddah Art Week here on Friday and praised the organizers for showcasing a diverse range of artwork, particularly an exhibition by Filipino photographers.

Fakeih and Saud Kateb, the academic, columnist and general manager of foreign information at the Ministry of Culture and Information, attended the VIP private tour of the JAW.

“I was pleasantly surprised with the various artwork that was presented by the Filipino workers. I think it is one of the things that we should work on more,” Fakeih told Arab News.

“We want to encourage our guest workers to share their experiences living in Saudi cities and interact culturally with our society.”

He said this would enrich their lives. “This is a step in the right direction and the Ministry of Labor is going to further encourage various communities to participate in Saudi Arabia’s cultural activities,” he said.

Kateb echoed this view. “We need to see more interaction between our community and guest workers,” he told Arab News. “The ministry appreciates this kind of art, exhibitions and interactions between different communities. I think it is useful. What has been done at the JAW is more useful and valuable than most of the words we use daily in newspapers and opinion pieces,” he said.

Philippine Consul General Uriel Garibay said the exhibit recognized the talent of Filipinos, and hoped there would be more exhibitions in future in other areas.

“The work of the Filipino community is magical and provides a different perspective on photography and art in general,” he said.

The JAW was established in 2013 to encourage the burgeoning art scene in Jeddah and the Kingdom. “This year, the second edition of the JAW offers a more ambitious program, where the disparate, organically grown elements of Jeddah’s art scene can come together in an open, cohesive and transparent forum,” said Mohammed Jameel, chairman of the Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI).

Project delays: Labor rental firms ‘can help ease crisis’:

Several construction firm owners in the Kingdom, hit hard by labor shortage, are pushing for an increase in the number of labor recruitment firms to provide legal workers to expedite their projects. 

Hundreds of thousands of foreign workers left the Kingdom during the amnesty period resulting in the suspension of construction activity in several projects.

The recruitment firms can also help boost the quality of the foreign work force, said industry experts.

Industry reports have stated that about 36 percent of construction projects had been delayed by labor crises following the crackdown against illegal workers. 

There were 250,000 registered construction project contracts in the Kingdom before the first grace period to legalize expatriate workers ended on July 4 last year.

“We are waiting for labor recruitment firms to play a major role in importing expat construction workers to complete our projects which have been badly affected after the exit of thousands of our employees,” Abdul Aziz Masnour, a Saudi contractor, told Arab News.

Speaking to Arab News, Abdullah Radwan, chairman of the contractors committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said: “We need time to activate the role of labor recruitment firms in the local market.

“These firms have started working in coordination with the Ministry of Labor which has started issuing visas for expat workers. However, labor recruitment firms need the expertise to train workers before they can close the gap between demand and supply.”

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Three recruitment companies have already started hiring out workers on short-term basis to construction companies. 

Recruitment companies will supply workers for a year to construction companies and to other firms facing shortage of labor, industry experts said, adding that the move will provide some relief to the Saudi construction industry struggling with labor shortages.

The move is aimed at filling vacancies caused by the exit of thousands of expatriate construction workers over the past three months, the industry expert said.

Abdullah Radwan said last year that three recruitment firms that had been licensed to launch labor recruitment programs. 

He said the program will provide workers on short-term (contracts) without having to transfer their sponsorships. Awad Al-Zahrani, a member of the recruitment committee at the JCCI, said a number of recruitment companies were preparing training programs for workers.

SR3bn Pepsi deal probed:

The competition council of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry says the SR3 billion PepsiCo franchise deal by the National Bottling Company, a division of Ahmad Hamad Al-Gosaibi & Brothers, is illegal and violates rules of fair competition and antitrust practices. 

The company violated regulations because it did not notify the council or get permission to sign a deal. It also did not consider the negative economic consequences of the agreement, the council said.

The council said it would probe the legality of the deal, which saw Al-Jomaih Bottling & Can Making Plants, also a representative of PepsiCo in the Kingdom, buy the franchise for SR3 billion from Al-Gosaibi.

Article 6 of the country's antitrust laws stipulate that firms merging to become a dominant market player should seek permission from the council 60 days before signing any deal.

The other international agents for Pepsi in the Kingdom are the Saudi Industrial Projects Company and Abdul Hadi Al-Qahtani & Sons. 

Statistics released in 2010 by the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) said the beverage industry in Gulf states has grown rapidly because of increasing demand for bottled mineral water, juices and soft drinks. 

Saudi Arabia hosts more than 50 percent of these companies. Saudi investors make up 77 percent of the SR9 billion in investments in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. There are 230 beverage companies operating in the GCC.

The role of the competition council in Saudi Arabia is to protect and encourage fair competition and combat monopolistic practices that could harm the market and consumers.

Easy Taxi comes to the Kingdom, making trips hassle-free:

A major concern of every traveler to any country is transportation, particularly the taxi that will take him from the airport to his hotel or accommodation.

In Saudi Arabia in particular, both expats and Saudis are wary of taxi operators in terms of safety, hygiene and even tariff.

Reports of reckless driving and foul smelling taxis have often gone viral on social media. Drivers who smoke or use their phone while driving are a common sight in all cities across the Kingdom. Not only is it illegal but the practice also puts the lives of both the driver and passenger at risk.

When asked the reason for their haste, drivers often say that there is no cause for worry as they have been driving for many years.

In the absence of fixed rates, passengers can often be seen haggling with drivers about the tariff. Sometimes, the drivers feign ignorance of the destination, thus enabling them to take a longer route and charging more.

All this will soon come to an end. Easy Taxi, which is already operating successfully in other countries around the world, launched its operations in Riyadh two months ago. Passengers can now look forward to hassle-free journeys by relying on this new technology.

“It is an application that helps you call a taxi with a single tap on your smartphone,” said the CEO of Easy Taxi, Mahmoud Fouz, in an interview during his visit to Riyadh recently.

He said that they now have 700 subscribed drivers in Riyadh alone and 30 to 40 drivers register daily.

Commenting on the functioning of Easy Taxi, Fouz said: “The app which is free of charge, confirms your location. Just tap on ‘Call Taxi’ and you are all set. It is very safe as all taxi drivers are registered and you see the taxi driver’s name and picture before he picks you up.”

Fouz added that “Easy Taxi is very convenient as you can track your taxi in real time so you know when your car is arriving. The taxis are available around the clock and if you wish to speak to the driver, just tap on his phone number.”

There are no extra charges for using Easy Taxi and the taximeter only starts running after the passenger has boarded the vehicle.

It is hassle-free journeys made possible by a mobile app, which is easy to use and helps taxi subscribers get more rides. “We connect taxi drivers directly to passengers which results in faster service,” he elaborated.

“You can order your taxi to your place. You don’t have to tell the driver your address because it appears on the smartphone of the nearest available driver in your area,” Fouz said.

Under the Easy Taxi system, all drivers have to use the smartphone with a GPS app.

“It is a very simple and effective idea,” Fouz said adding, “We make it easy for people to find a taxi and we also ensure that all our drivers and cars are registered with us. They need to fulfill certain standards so you can be sure that when you get the taxi it will be clean and the driver has been tested for safety and hygiene.

"Since the driver is on our system, we can trace him very easily in case of any problem. The system also enables the company to make sure that only good drivers are registered for the tours,” he noted.

Talking about his company’s global operation, he said that Easy Taxi was launched in Brazil last year and it was a huge success. “Because of that we have expanded our operations throughout the world and are growing very fast. “Now we have a presence in more than 80 cities in the world,” he said. 

“We started our operations in the Middle East about two months ago in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. We will be launching Easy Taxi in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain in the next three months. We are already available in the Philippines, Malaysia and many Asian countries.”

He said there is a huge market potential in this region in particular because of certain peculiarities which makes the service very special. “I think we can address these peculiarities in a good way,” he added.

The official said the taxi system in the Kingdom is not as organized as in Dubai and there is a lot that can be done to improve it.

Jeddah Literary Club comes a long way:

The Jeddah Literary Cultural Club celebrated its 40th anniversary here on Thursday.

Among the dignitaries present were Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahd, president of the youth welfare organization in the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Abdul Aziz Khoja, minister of culture and information, and Abdullah Al-Salami, president of the club.

Several artists displayed their work in calligraphy, collections of literary documents and pictures documenting the club's history. Prince Nawaf also launched the club's website.

Al-Salami said Prince Nawaf's father, Prince Faisal bin Fahd, came up with the idea to start the club. “Prince Faisal joined forces with professors Mohammad Hassan Awad and Zia Aziz Zia, two brilliant and ambitious writers. They played a leading role in the field of culture and literature, and in 1975 established the Jeddah Literary Cultural Club,” he said.

He said the club has published a great deal of Arabic literature and organized several workshops and events.

Khoja said the club had developed significantly because Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had given it SR10 million. The club now has many members in the Kingdom and from abroad.

“The celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first literary club in the Kingdom increases its moral responsibility to each writer." Khoja said the club plays a leading role in developing national unity.

Prince Nawaf congratulated the club for its success and its members for their hard work over the past 40 years and commended the club's output of literature and its help in building the confidence of Saudi writers.


Indian expatriates praise Maulana Azad play:

ndian expatriates here have praised the North Indian Fraternity Forum (NIFF) for hosting a play on the life of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

The play, scripted and directed by M. Sayeed Alam and performed by famous Indian actor Tom Alter, impressed people at the Indian International School-Jeddah recently. It was held to celebrate India's Republic Day.

Fuzail Ahmad, the NIFF president, said the event had added meaning because it was being staged in the land where Azad was born, and that "remembering Maulana through this play is to highlight the genius and caliber of the well-known scholar and politician.”

He said the NIFF was committed to highlighting the contribution of the country's freedom fighters and showcasing India's cultural, social and political dimensions.

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the Indian consul general, and his wife Kausar, also came to watch the play.

Kidwai congratulated the NIFF for putting on the show. “Maulana Azad was a great scholar and a unique symbol of patriotism, unity, secularism and modernity. The play, which gives an insight into Maulana’s personal life, is a tribute to this great leader,” he said. 

The play unfolds with Azad dictating notes to Humayun Kabir for his book, with digressions on political issues, white Jasmine tea, the Taj Mahal, music, poetry, cigarettes, Ahmedabad prison, Cheeta Khan and the death of his wife.

Those present included the NIFF General Secretary Khwaja Nasir Jamal, Press Consul Irshad Ahmad, academic Athar Farooqui, NIFF Vice President Prakash Rana, Consul P.K. Jain, NIFF patron Zia Nadwi and NIFF Treasurer Iqbal Siddiqui.

Head office of Husamuddarain Trust shifted to Ali Manzil:

Hyderabad, January 31:

The report published in Siasat daily on July 5, 6,7 and 9 about 70 year old Ali Manzil Waqf property dealing near Fateh Maidan created flutter among land grabbers and agents. Besides officials of Husamuddarain Trust also woke up from the deep slumber.

Siasat also published a report stating that special officer Waqf Board hinted at shifting Aneesul Ghurba orphanage to Ali building. It was also learnt that Waqf Board was also mulling over renovating Ali Manzil to make it usable.

The report turned the Jamaat Sulaimania and officials of Husamuddarain Trust jittery and they reluctantly decided to shift the office of Jamaat Sulaimania to Ali Manzil. Now the renovation work is in full swing.

It must be noted that the building was built in 1365 hijri. Despite being a waqf property the board mentioning it as the waqf property was repeatedly being removed. Determining by the present market rate, the building is worth Rs. 40 to 60 crore.

Siasat news


8 Muslims killed by Muslims during January:

Hyderabad, February 01:

Murders on trivial issues have become a routine these days. Although killing of any innocent soul is prohibited in Islam, it is painful to learn that with the beginning of the New Year 2014 to 31st January, 8 such incidents occurred where the slayer and the slain both were Muslims.

On January 1, 45-year-old Shaikh Abdur Razzaq was brutally killed at Mallepally. On January 3, an auto driver Basheeruddin was killed by his own nephews at Rainbazar. Property dispute was the reason behind the murder. On January 6, after mild altercations a 14-year-old youth punched Sameer in the back. Sameer could not bear the attack and died. In an incident occurred at MM Pahadi Shareef in-laws burnt alive 18-year old Ishrat who was pregnant. Dowry demand was the cause behind the murder. A young boy Abdul Nawaz was killed brutally and his body was thrown in a manhole after stuffing the body in a bag. Personal dispute was behind the murder. On January 21 a young businessman was murdered on trivial issue at Mandi Mir Aalam. 3 days ago a rowdysheeter Abdul Kareem was killed at Dabeerpura. 28-year-old Mohammed Khaja was also killed in Viqarabad.

These heartrending incidents reflect that it is because of deviation from Islamic teachings. It is the duty of religious scholars to convey the message of Islam that killing an innocent person is haraam for a Muslim, let alone killing a Muslim. The Quran says, ‘Whosoever killeth a human being… it shall be as if he had killed all mankind.’

Siasat news


Effective measures for distribution of Hajj 2014 forms:

Hyderabad, February 01:

Andhra Pradesh State Hajj Committee has taken effective measures for the dispersal and distribution of application forms of Hajj 2014 across the state. In this connection Special Officer Hajj Committee Prof. S A Shukoor convened a consultation meeting of officials of Hajj societies of all the districts and explained the mode of distribution of forms, filling up of forms and submission of forms at the Hajj committee.

Prof. Shukoor informed the important dates of Hajj season 2014 and said that the filled in applications would be accepted till March 15, 2014. Further details can be had from phone no 040-23298793.

Siasat news

Arts and Science Exhibition in Solar High School:

Hyderabad, January 31:

Solar High School, Darushifa organized 17th Arts and Science Exhibition which was inaugurated by Dr. Mohammed Altaf Ahmed and Dr. Talath Sultana. Various projects have been exhibited in the exhibition. Mr. Ali Asghar, Correspondent of the school welcomed the guests.

--Siasat News

Tibbi Congress arranges Desert visit program:

Hyderabad, January 31:

Unani Tibbi Congress is organizing a program to identify medicinal herbs and plants in and around Ibrahimpatnam Tank tomorrow. Hakeem Mohammed Ghulam Ahmed will preside over the program whereas Dr. Mohammed Ataullah Shareef will be the Chief Guest. Interested Unani Doctor may register their names at Cell phone numbers 9849170114 or 9491499640.

--Siasat News

Will protect my state at any cost, Andhra CM Kiran Reddy says:

Hyderabad, January 30:

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday asked the central government to respect the will of the people of the state, which he claimed, is reflected in the resolution passed in the legislature rejecting the state reorganization bill.

The chief minister said resolutions passed in assembly and council indicated that people of Andhra Pradesh stand for a united state.

The resolutions passed by voice vote in both the houses request the president not to forward Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 to Parliament.

"States can't be formed unilaterally by the Centre," a defiant Kiran Reddy said speaking to CNN-IBN channel.

Stating that the pride of Telugu people can't be decided in Delhi, Kiran Reddy vowed to protect the state at any cost.

"No state in the country was divided once the resolution for bifurcation was rejected by the concerned legislature," he said.

"There is a peculiar situation in Andhra Pradesh. The legislature has not passed any resolution. There is no recommendation from any state reorganization commission, joint parliamentary committee or a judicial commission," Kiran Reddy said.

Kiran Reddy reiterated that if the bill was passed in the same form in parliament, he would quit politics. Stating that quitting politics does not mean forming new party, he said the future of people was important for him than his future.

The chief minister said he and other leaders were busy chalking out their future course of action.

Wrong to draw parallels between 1984 and Godhra riots: Badal

January 30: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said it was wrong to compare Godhra riots to 1984 "carnage", saying what happened in Gujarat was a result of clash between two communities while "carnage" of Sikhs was carried out by the then ruling Congress at the Centre. "The unfortunate incident that took place in Godhra city of Gujarat was riot while the killings in 1984 was a carnage of the Sikhs undertaken at the behest of the then Congress government at the Centre," Badal told reporters on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan programme in Malout Assembly here. Badal alleged that the Centre had "deliberately" allowed the killings of Sikhs to take place by becoming a "mute spectator". He claimed that even several inquiries have time and again indicted the Congress leaders for their dubious role. In an interview to a new channel, Rahul Gandhi had said, "The fact of the matter is that innocent people died in 1984 and innocent people dying is a horrible thing and should not happen." Despite several proofs the "culprits" were still roaming free and instead of taking any action against them the Congress has been rewarding them with the coveted posts, the chief minister said. The veteran Akali leader also expressed concern over the killings of Punjabi youth in various foreign countries like Philippines, saying that the Union government must take steps to safeguard the life and property of Punjabi youth settled abroad. Earlier, addressing gatherings in various wards of the city, the chief minister categorically said that he was committed for ensuring the welfare of the residents of the state at any cost. Badal said that there was no question of joining the national politics and he would continue to serve the residents of state in the future also.

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Woman put on fire:

Hyderabad, January 31:

A day after a 23-year-old woman was allegedly set ablaze by a gang at Railway quarters, police suspect that one of the accused, Ishaq, develop resentment against the victim as she had lodged a police complaint against him two months back for cheating.

According to a police officer, "The accused had allegedly cheated the victim promising to marry her a year ago. When she lodged a complaint with Chilkalguda police against him, he planned to take revenge,". The victim is at present undergoing treatment at Gandhi hospital.

According to Doctors the woman is in critical condition. Meanwhile, the accused, including Ishaq, denied accusation s, saying that they were not near the Railway quarters when the incident occurred. They claim to be Innocent.

People won't spare Cong for fixing LPG cap in first place: BJP

January 30:

BJP today said it was the UPA government which