NEW DELHI, May 9:
Keen to get Indian pharmaceutical products, a Saudi Parliamentary delegation here today met Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
‘A Parliamentary delegation led by Dr Abdullah Bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, Speaker of Majlis Ash Shura (Consultative Council) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia called on the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister,’ an official statement said.
The delegation is on a three-day official visit to India.
Recalling the close relations reflecting centuries-old economic and socio-cultural ties between India and Saudi  Arabia Mr Azad said, ‘There has been an upsurge in Indian investments in the Kingdom, especially after the signing of  the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement during the  earlier visit of King Abdullah to India in January 2006.’
The signing of Riyadh declaration also during the February 2010 visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh further laid the groundwork for new era of strategic partnership between the  two countries, the Minister said.
Talking of issues pertaining to health sector, Mr Azad  shared the Indian experience in the areas of innovations in healthcare service delivery, interventions in making healthcare accessible and equitable and strength in producing  good quality generic drugs at affordable prices.
The Minister also suggested that India could help Saudi  Arabia with the knowhow of setting up medical colleges as also  with medicine supplies.
He told that India is the fourth largest producer of pharmaceuticals in the world in terms of volume and 13th  largest in terms of value.
‘Indian pharmaceutical products are exported to about  211 countries around the world and have been acknowledged  at many a UN forum for their good quality, safety and  efficacy,’ he added.
Mr Azad particularly appreciated the excellent arrangements put in place by Saudi Arabia for the comfort of Haj pilgrims.
The leader of the Saudi delegation said they would welcome help from India for transfer of medical technology and also help with medical education as India possesses the technical capacity.
He said bilateral visits not only help enhance understanding between the two countries but also help highlight areas of possible cooperation.
The delegation informed that currently the Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia imports about five billion dollar worth of pharmaceuticals.
Considering Indian pharma companies are among the world leaders, Dr Abdullah Bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim said they would  be keen to extend the incentives given by their Government to Indian pharma industry to set up base in Saudi Arabia with the objective of producing affordable medicines to meet local and regional needs. (UNI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: Goods worth over Rs 2.5 crore belonging to nine firms dealing with cross LoC trade were completely destroyed in a devastating fire at Narwal Fruit and Vegetable Mandi here last night.
The mysterious fire which broke out at around 9 pm last night, engulfed the entire steel shed measuring nearly 200 ft x 80 ft within 15 to 20 minutes, located in IInd Phase of the Mandi. Majority of the goods dumped there were dry chillies and black Ilachi (Motti). Onion bags were also dumped at the extreme north end of the shed besides packing material including empty boxes.
The traders/ firms  who lost their goods in fire include- M/S R R Traders, M/S Friends Sales, M/S Rupinder Singh & Co, M/S Anil Trading Co, M/S JP Trading Corp, M/S Rajinder Vaid , M/S JK Traders, M/S Som Nath Ravi Kumar and M/S Kartar Singh & Co. The loss of  property was put at around Rs 2.5 crore by these firms.
Rajesh Gupta, President Jammu Fruit Traders Association disclosed that goods belonged to nine firms which deal with cross LoC trade via Chakkan-da-Bagh in Poonch. As the trade was suspended for the last nearly 15 days, the traders were bound to dump there goods at Narwal Mandi here. He said even some goods were lying in the open and covered with large Tirpols/Poly sheets. The fire started from right corner and soon it spread to the entire shed. Dry chilli being highly inflammable, took no time in catching fire.
Mr Gupta said entire market people rushed to the spot and informed Fire control room. Two tenders from Gandhi Nagar Station reached shortly but it was not possible for the two vehicles to contain it. Then more vehicles were summoned but it took about half and hour and even hour more to reach from Gangyal, Canal, City and Roopnagar Fire Stations. By that time entire goods had been engulfed in fire. He said Director Fire Service R S Sodi was himself supervising the operation and even the police had also reached there but the men from Fire and Emergency services failed to save the goods.
Senior Vice President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sham Lal Langar who is also executive members of Narwal Vegetable/ Fruit Mandi Association, disclosed that as shed was open from all the sides,  due to flow of wind from all the sides the fire spread immediately. He said due to late arrival of other Fire Tenders from City, Gangal and Canal Stations, the goods could not be saved. He however, maintained that senior officers from Gandhi Nagar Station including Mr Sodhi reached there immediately and stayed till mid night, supervising operation.
Mr Langar said there was strong resentment among the traders dealing with PoK counterparts via Poonch. Their goods remained dumped here due to abrupt stoppage of trade. They were not given any prior notice. The goods which they had booked at different stations in the country, kept on arriving here and got accumulated for over two weeks. He pointed out that up to the limit of 25 trucks only the goods are allowed to be sent on that side but from Uri side even up to 50 trucks are allowed. Similarly, pine apple and  `Apple Murabba’ which was not allowed by the Customs authorities via Chakkan-da-Bagh was allowed via Uri-route, which is unfortunate and discriminatory.
He pointed out that even 21 trucks of chillies were returned yesterday by the PoK traders at Poonch on the plea that Indian side has banned sending banana and mango. It was also stopped abruptly and traders had procured it from outside in huge quantity. There are no sufficient go downs to stock goods here. He demanded that traders be provided compensation by the Government.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health and Horticulture Sham Lal, accompanied by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Pardeep Gupta and Director Horticulture visited the site at Narwal Mandi today. Chamber team led by its president Y V Sharma and members of Narwal Fruit and Vegetable Mandi Association were also there besides the traders who suffered losses.  Y V Sharma, demanded that merchants dealing with cross LOC trade were instrumental in strengthening CBMs between two countries. They should be compensated adequately, he said.
The Minister assured that he will keep this plea in tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting in Srinagar and if the suggestion got enough support, the Government will try to provide compensation. He however, said that amount of damage was large but Government will try to give due consideration.
A senior officer from Fire Services said that immediate cause of fire could not be known but earlier, it was indicated some short circuit created sparks and it caught fire. He said goods were dry and fire took no time in spreading. He said it was not assessed immediately that such a devastating fire had taken place there. A total ten tenders and over sixty men were pressed into service. Even today, the smoke was coming out of the heaps of burnt chillies and  onions when the team visited the site.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: Various deputations and individuals today called on Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand at Civil Secretariat and projected the demands of their respective areas.
A deputation led by Rajesh Kesari, leader Shiv Sena Hindustan demanded beautification and development of Manda track for convenience of the morning walkers and families visiting with their children to watch the Wildlife Sanctuary.
Vinod Sharma, General Secretary PCC, who was leading another deputation demanded further improvement in the sanitation services, particularly in the peripheral wards.
Mr. Tara Chand gave patient hearing to the demands of visiting deputations and issued on the spot directions for the early redressal of the same.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR May 9: KAS Probationers of 2011 batch, presently undergoing training at J&K IMPA called on Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon today, wherein they discussed a wide range of issues.
While interacting, Dr Samoon asked the young officers that they should be open to positive suggestions, consider innovative solutions and that the role of officers should be to redress the grievances of the general public.
He urged the officers to be humane in their approach and take swift decisions for the betterment of the society. In matters related to restoration of law and order, he said that it has to be borne in mind that rules are made to help people, as such all necessary measures must be taken to ensure that peace and tranquility is ensured.
Dr Samoon asked them to maintain cordial relations with everyone, especially print and electronic media. He encouraged the officers to gain adequate disaster preparedness skills, so that they can take necessary preventive measures, as well as swiftly respond in case of any calamity. Div Com also satisfactorily answered various questions and queries raised by the KAS officers.
The KAS officers were led by their Course Directors Dr Sunita Zalpuri, Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and Dr Mohammed Pervaz. The 28 KAS officers hail from Jammu Division as well as Kashmir Division and comprised of Javaid Ahmed, Qummerul Zamaan, Sheikh Enayatulla, Naveed Hussain, Shafiq Ahmad, Arshad H Ganai, Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, Ch. Mohammed Nawaz, Abdul Majeed Rather, Jaliel Ahmed Mir, Dr Ashwani Hansa, Er Samrinder Singh, Dr Nazir Ahmed Bhat, Dr. Iqbal H. Mir, Dr S. Salahuddin, Dr Mudasirah, Dr Suraya Ahmed, Jigmet Rafta, Qaiser Mehmood, Deep Novel Koul, Ashu Kumari, Arti, Diksha Bamaba, Saima Sharief Khan, Mohammed Imran Naik, Imtiaz, Chander Shekhar Sharma.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 9: Minister for Forest and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad today asked the executing agencies to gear up men and machinery for effective implementation of prestigious Wullar Conservation Plan, for which Centre has already released the first installment of Rs 56 crore out of a total project cost of Rs 120 crore sanctioned under 13th Financial Commission.
Chairing the first meeting of the Wullar Conservation and Management Authority (WC&MA) at Civil Secretariat, Mian Altaf asked the concerned officers to submit proposals immediately for importing modern dredging machines for desilting of the Wullar lake. He ordered for procurement of JCB and Water Boats for initiating dredging/desilting work in the lake.
He also directed for procuring solar lights from J&K Energy Development Agency (JKEDA) without any delay so that these are installed round the lake as a sequel to the face lifting and beautification measures. He urged for greater coordination between the Wullar Development Authority and State Forest Corporation (SFC) to ensure cutting and extraction of a extra plants from within the lake body so that the wood is put to the proper use on commercial lines.
The Minister also directed for hiring of suitable accommodation for staff of the WDA till the requisite basic infrastructure on permanent basis is created.
The meeting discussed various issues pertaining to the conservation of this Asia’s largest Water Body, which include purchase of equipments, office establishment, providing of engineering staff, catchment area treatment programme, revised works programmes etc.
The Minister said that Rs 120 crore Wullar Conservation Plan sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has to be completed upto 2015 positively, adding that the main focus should be on Land and Water Resources Management Survey, demarcation of the Catchment Area and Water Management.
Mian Altaf directed the executing agencies to complete the targets fixed for completion of various conservation works within stipulated time frame, adding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is personally monitoring the pace of restoration works on the lake.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Vinod Ranjan, Commissioner, Secretary, Forest, Shantmanu, Additional PCCF, OSD/Wullar, Abdul Razak, Conservator Water Management, Shuja Hyderi, Conservator CAT, Mohammad Manzoor and JD Planning Z. A. Banaday were present on the occasion.