Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. | Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

April 17, 2016 9 Rajab 1437 AH

SUNDAY

47 40

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTYTHE SULTAN

The government and the people are like one body. If one of its limbs fails to do its duty, the other parts of the body will suffer.

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’

On the occasion of arrival in Muscat after assuming the reins of power in 1970

HUGE RESPONSE TO TIMES QUIZ IN SOHARFifth prelims centre of the Times of Oman Inter School Quiz Contest (TOOISQC) at the Indian School Sohar witnessed a

huge participation from students of various schools. More than 300 students in two categories – Junior and Senior - from

Indian School Sohar, Bangladesh School Sohar and Pakistan School Sohar competed to make into the next round of the

Times inter school quiz. — O K Mohammed Ali See also >A4

Youth in region reject IS ideology: Survey

A. E. JAMESbusinesseditor@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Oman plans to de-velop a major gas-fired inde-pendent 800 megawatt power project in Muscat region to meet the growing demand for electric-ity, said a senior official of Oman Power and Water Procurement (OPWP) Company.

Eng. Yaqoob bin Saif Al Ki-yumi, chief operating officer of OPWP, said his company has already started ground work on the project, which will be devel-oped by an independent power producer.

“We will start prequalification before the end of this year, and the project will be in Muscat,” he said, adding that the plan is to start op-erations by 2021.

Oman’s average annual growth in power demand for the next five years within the areas of main inter-connected system (MIS) is projected at 10 per cent, reaching 5,023 megawatts in 2020, accord-ing to a seven-year outlook for power demand released by OPWP a number of years ago.

However, peak demand growth, according to the demand forecast, is expected at about 11 per cent per annum, from 4,455 mega-watts in 2013 and reaching 9,133 megawatts by 2020.

The Muscat project is to com-mence operation after two ma-jor independent power projects, now being developed — Sohar 3 and Ibri —begin generating power in January and April 2019, respectively.

A Mitsui-led consortium is building the two independent gas-fired combined cycle power plants, with a combined genera-

tion capacity of 3,150 megawatts (MW) - 1,450 MW in Ibri and a 1,700 MW capacity in Sohar 3.

Eng. Al Kiyumi, who was speak-ing to the media on the sidelines of a signing ceremony to award the Sohar independent water pro-ject, said that OPWP also plans to build one major independent water project in Muscat and the Northern Batinah regions. >A6

M U S C A T R E G I O N

A E JAMES

MUSCAT: Oman will seek some OMR3 billion in for-eign investments in the next four to five years for independent power and water projects that are in various stages of planning, design and development, ac-cording to a top-level official of OPWP.

This investment is needed to fund independent water and power projects until 2019, said Eng.Yaqoob bin Saif Al Kiyumi, chief operat-ing officer of OPWP.

Investments for building independent power and water projects are made by interna-tional companies or consorti-ums that win concessions for developing such projects.

The projects that were re-cently awarded include major independent power projects in Ibri and Sohar, water pro-jects in Quriyat and Sohar, and similar water projects planned in Salalah and Sohar. Eng. Al Kiyumi said that for-eign companies can safely in-vest their money in Oman. “It is a win-win situation for both companies and investors.”

Move to get foreign funding

OMANNew plan to diversify Sultanate’s economy

2Government is planning to adopt a new strategy to reduce its dependence

on oil income by half in a bid to balance its financial books and give the economy a shot in the arm. The five-year plan, ending 2020, has been designed to harness the full resources of Oman. >A6

MARKETSohar freezone plans to carry out study

3 Sohar freezone plans to carry out a study in the third quarter

of this year to assess the global market scenario and how to take advantage of the country’s strategic location for developing a major logistics and redistribution hub for the region. >B1

OMANIndian schools admit 4,700 students

1All of the 4,700 students, who had sought admission in Indian schools, have

secured seats.Speaking to the Times of Oman, Wilson George, chairman of Indian Schools in Oman, said they were able to accommodate every student in the second draw, held this week. >A3

T O P T H R E E I N S I D E S T O R I E S

Staff Reporter

MUSCAT: Young Omanis, along with their Arab peers, reject the ide-ology of the IS, and believe the ter-rorist group’s ‘Caliphate’ project will fail, a major survey of youth across the Arab world has found.

However, nearly four in five have expressed concern about the rise of the extremist group, accord-ing to the Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey.

Just one in six (15 per cent) be-lieve the terrorist group will ul-timately succeed and establish a ‘Caliphate’ in the region.

The 200 respondents from Oman, represented in the survey, have joined the rest of young Ar-abs expressing concern about the rise of the IS, calling it “the biggest

obstacle facing the region,” for the second year running, followed by threat of terrorism, unemploy-ment and civil unrest.

In 2016, half of the youth in the 16 countries polled believe the rise of the group is the biggest chal-lenge in the region, up from 37 per cent last year.

Interestingly, only 13 per cent of Arab youth said they could see themselves supporting IS even if it did not use much violence, com-pared with 19 per cent from last year.

Participants were interviewed in detail about subjects ranging from political to personal. The top-ics explored concerns and aspira-tions of the Arab youth, their views on economy, impact of unemploy-ment and declining oil prices, their views on women’s rights, the im-pact of the Arab Spring, and their media consumption habits.

The 8th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2016 was conducted by international polling firm, Penn Schoen Berland (PSB), with a view to exploring at-titudes among Arab youth in 16 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. PSB conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews between January 11 and February 22 with Arab men and women in the age group of 18 to 24 years. The inter-views were completed in Arabic and English. >A7

800MW power project planned

A6

Omani girl creates awareness on hearing impaired

MORNING MINUTE

Concerned about the

rise of IS, Omani and

Arab youth believe

the terrorist group’s

‘Caliphate’ project is

bound to falter

A2 S U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

OMAN

93% Omani youth back Iran nuclear agreement

Staff Reporter

MUSCAT: Young Omanis are the strongest supporters of Iran’s nuclear deal, among other young Arabs, a major survey of youth across the Middle East has found.

While Arabs are divided on the Iranian nuclear deal and the Syr-ian conflict, a whopping 93 per cent of Oman’s youth from Mus-cat and Al Batinah, whose gov-ernment played a critical role in brokering the deal between Teh-ran and the international com-munity, have shown support for their government’s involvement in the issue.

Across the region, while 45 per cent of young Arabs supported the Iranian nuclear agreement, 39 per cent opposed it.

Breaking down the numbers, 57 per cent of youth in the Gulf Co-

operation Council are in favour of the nuclear deal, while 48 per cent of young Arabs in Levant and Yemen opposed the deal, accord-ing to ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2016.

In North Africa, however, only 32 per cent of the sample sup-ported the deal.

The annual survey also showed that opinion is divided among the Arab youth on whether the Syr-ian conflict is a proxy war, a revo-lution, or a civil war being fought among Syrian groups.

The devastating war in Syria, together with the decision of the P5+1 countries to lift interna-tional sanctions on Tehran, has left Arab youth divided with no clear view of the political or mili-tary situations.

Many young Arabs (39 per cent) see the conflict as a proxy war being fought by regional and global powers, while 29 per cent of them see it a revolution against Bashar Al Assad’s re-gime; 22 per cent called it a civil war among Syrians.

It is worth mentioning that Syria’s five-year conflict has claimed more than 250,000 lives, while causing the world’s largest-ever refugee crisis, and allowing the IS terrorist group to take control of some eastern parts of the country.

The 8th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2016 was conducted by international polling firm, Penn Schoen Berland (PSB), to explore attitudes among Arab youth in 16 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

PSB conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews between Janu-ary 11 and February 22, with Arab men and women in the age group of 18 to 24 years. The inter-views were completed in Arabic and English.

While Arabs in

general are divided

on the Iranian

nuclear deal and

the Syrian conflict,

a whopping 93

per cent of Oman’s

youth have shown

support for their

government’s

involvement in

the issue

WhatsApp most popular chat app among Arab youngstersStaff Reporter

MUSCAT: WhatsApp, the instant messaging service owned by Fa-cebook, is the most popular social media platform among youngsters in the Arab world, a recent survey has found.

Currently, there are 1.2 mil-lion Facebook users in Oman and

38,800 active users on Twitter.

Towards onlineFurthermore, more young Arabs get their news online than from TV or print media on a daily basis, the poll revealed.

However, with around three million Internet users in the Sul-tanate and a penetration rate of

66.4 per cent, Oman came fourth among Gulf Cooperation Council countries in terms of the number of Internet users, followed by Qa-tar with 2 million users and Bah-rain with 1.3 million users.

The survey indicated that two in three young Arabs (62 per cent) use WhatsApp on a daily basis followed by Facebook (55 per cent), YouTube

(33 per cent), Twitter (28 per cent) and Instagram (28 per cent).

Growing roleThe growing role of social media as a news platform is also appar-ent, with 52 per cent saying they use Facebook to share interesting news articles they read, up from 41 per cent last year.

Around 32 per cent said they get their daily news online; 29 per cent said they watch television news and just 7 per cent read newspa-pers daily (down from 13 per cent in 2015).

In spite of the growing use of online media, television remains top in total media consumption with 63 per cent of young Arabs

saying they get their news from television (up from 60 per cent the previous year).

The overall use of online news sources has grown from 40 per cent to 45 per cent, with social media up from 25 per cent to 32 per cent.

Only 17 per cent of Arab youth get their news from newspapers now, down from 62 per cent in 2011.

M E S S A G I N G S E R V I C E

3m is the approximate number of Internet users in the Sultanate and the penetration rate is pegged at 66.4%

GraphicsSource: ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2016

ARAB YOUTH VIEW

Young Arabs

GCC youth

57%

On Iran’s nuclear deal

45%

Young Omanis

93%

39% see the conflict as a proxy war

39%

45%see it a revolution against

the government

22%called it a civil war

among Syrians

Support Oppose

On Syrian conflict

A3

OMANS U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

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Indian schools admit 4,700

Times News Service

MUSCAT: All 4,700 students, who had sought admission in In-dian schools, have secured seats.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Wilson George, chairman of In-dian Schools in Oman, said that they were able to accommodate each and every student in the second draw, which was held this week. “It may not be their first or second choice, but we have

ensured that no child stays at home,” he said.

Around 1,600 students were kept on waiting list after first draw as the number of applicants far exceeded the available seats in the six Indian schools in the capital.

After the first draw, the board could accommodate only 3,100 students as only 2,446 seats were available when they opened the admission process for the 2017 academic year. “In the first draw we tried to fill up the existing vacancies. And in the second draw accommodated everybody,” George said. In the previous years, the Indian Schools Board had to conduct three draws before they could accommodate all the students. The parents, however, are relieved.

“I had been trying to ensure the admission of my daughter for the last six months. Thank God, she made it in the second list as all the

private schools refused admis-sions,” admitted a parent.

Another parent said finding an Indian school for her daughter has been nothing short of a night-mare for the last few months.

“I was shocked to find my daughter’s name missing from the first list. But she made to the second list at the Indian School Darsait. We stay in Azaiba, so we are thinking of shifting. Oth-erwise, the school will be too far from home. I had never thought it would be so difficult when I moved to Muscat,” she added.

The Board officials also admit-ted that demand for admissions was less this year compared with a few years back. “This year, the Board has received around 4,700 applications for admissions in various classes of schools, while last year it had received around 5,300 applications from stu-dents,” he said.

They were able to

accommodate each

and every applicant

in the second draw

Internships on offer at EricssonTimes News Service

MUSCAT: As part of its uni-versity initiative, Ericsson is offering students in Oman the opportunity to become part of its internship programme. The programme, which starts in May 2016, will enable students to gain first-hand experience in working for an ICT giant.

The primary aim of this op-portunity is to empower stu-dents through the experience of participating in Ericsson’s global organisation culture, as they work collaboratively with employees and leaders of Erics-son. The programme is open to all students graduating in the summer of 2016 with speciali-sations in Electronic/Electrical Engineering; Mechatronics En-gineering, Computer Science/Engineering, along with those attaining IT and Engineering degrees with a focus on Tel-ecommunications, and Com-munications/Telecommunica-tions Engineering.

Potential“At Ericsson, we see the poten-tial of young men and women looking to forge a path for themselves and become vital contributors to their society, and we are deeply honoured to provide an excellent opportu-nity to experience work in the world of ICT.

Our internship programme aims to inspire students by of-fering them first-hand expe-rience and a unique insight into the realities of working for a leading ICT organization like Ericsson. We hope that this experience will empower them with the tools to become the change makers in the net-worked society future through Ericsson Oman ,” said Dr. Ab-dullah Al Balushi, Ericsson Oman Country Manager.

Three stagesThe University Programme is divided into three stages, in-cluding the ICT Professional Foundation Programme, the Internship Programme and the Graduate Programme. Ericsson will give students who perform well during their internship pri-ority consideration for its grad-uate programme upon gradu-ation; however, this is subject to available graduate positions and students’ academic grades.

Potential candidates must provide meaningful work, cap-ture the opportunities to make an impact, be involved in net-working opportunities, work towards building a relationship with their peers and, lastly, be available for regular feedback. Mixture of these activities will serve as a learning experience for students after graduation.

Students can apply for the internship programme through Ericsson’s website, or learn more about the company at-www.ericsson.com. Potential applicants will be directed through a portal outlining the necessary steps for enrolling in the application process.

I C T G I A N T

RNO CELEBRATES NAMING OF VESSELSThe Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) has celebrated naming of its two vessels Al Mubasher and

Al Nasser within the Royal Care of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Supreme Command-

er of the Armed Forces, accorded to RNO by providing it with the modern military equipment

and vessels. -ONA

T I M E S O F O M A NS U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6 T I M E S O F O M A NA4

OMAN

Staff Reporter

SOHAR: Fifth prelims centre of the Times of Oman Inter School Quiz Contest (TOOISQC) at the Indian School Sohar witnessed a huge participation from stu-dents of various schools.

More than 300 students in two categories – Junior and Sen-ior - from Indian School Sohar, Bangladesh School Sohar and Pakistan School Sohar competed with eagerness to make into the next round of the Times inter school quiz.

According to the Indian School Sohar principal Times of Oman’s interschool quiz is a very good endeavour.

“This is an era of internet, mobile whatsapp, facebook and many others and TOO is taking the students away from all this to a mentally challenging and a very stimulating activity,” Sanchitha Verma said.

“Quizzes increase our informa-tion, making us feel that we spent time usefully, and as a result in-voked our emotions for spending more valuable time to learn and discover,” the principal added.

She explained that students learn a lot of things in school but quizzes like TOOISQC take them beyond the curriculum and out-side the confines of the classroom.

According to her students in So-har are very enthusiastic about the TOOISQC and many parents are showing interest in the quiz.

For Mohammed Hani who par-ticipated in the junior category from Indian School Sohar, the qualifier was an easy one.

“Questions were a bit easy and

I am confident that we can easily qualify to the next easily,” another team in the junior category assert-ed. According to a parent Times of Oman’s quiz is a learning platform for the students.

“It gives a good experience and exposure to our children which will go a long way in their person-ality development,” he said.

“Students will be able to taste sweet victory if they pull through, but if they lose they will be able to pinpoint the things that went wrong. It will encourage them to try harder the next time,” he added.

According to Zaffar and Ali Hassan from Pakistan school who competed in the senior section, the questions were bit tough.

“This time the questions were nice and challenging and I am con-fident we can easily find a place in the Mega prelims,” Zaffar who is participating for the fourth time in the Times Quiz.

“Question were both tough and easy but I think we can qualify to the next round and we are eagerly waiting for the results,” Abheek and Pranay from Bangladeshi School said.

This year’s last preliminary round will be held today at the Pa-kistan School Muscat.

Teams from 20 schools are participating in the quiz con-test while the top 12 schools will clash in the final on April 21 at City Amphitheatre. Mega pre-lims will be held on 19th of April at the Indian School Ghubra.

The winning school in the Times of Oman interschool quiz will lift the Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Rolling Trophy for their school.

More than 300 students in junior and

senior categories from Indian School Sohar,

Bangladesh School Sohar and Pakistan

School Sohar competed in a bid to make into

the next round of the Times inter school quiz

BIG RESPONSE TO TIMES

SCAN THIS FORMORE PHOTOS

T I M E S O F O M A N S U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6T I M E S O F O M A N A5

BANGLADESH SCHOOL SOHAR | JUNIORS Team Name Participant 1 Participant 2

The Quantum theory Nabil Adnan

Team Elite Takdin Mohammed Al Galib Pratik Farhan Bin Shamir

The Veterans Shamsul Mohtasim Talha Munir

The Neurons Vineeth Kumar Raihan Karim

BANGLADESH SCHOOL SOHAR | SENIORS Team Name Participant 1 Participant 2

Future Einsteins Ibrahim Naisen

Barely Inteligent Omaima Pervaiz Munia Tasnim Ikra

Brains and Brawns Eariele Kiara Arango Muqaddas Sohail

PAKISTAN SCHOOL SOHAR | JUNIORS Team Name Participant 1 Participant 2

Black Leoperds Adbul Wahid Khan Owais Khan

United Stars Kashif Saleem Qasim Ali Sabiri

FC Barcelona M Hassan Aqeel Abbas Raza

The Legends Ahmed Asim Abdullah Qazi

The Champions Dawood Junaio Azad Ali

The warriors Ahmad Anwar M Safi

Queens of wisdom Sahar Saleem Ganesa Kyle Santos Vincente

PAKISTAN SCHOOL SOHAR | SENIORS Team Name Participant 1 Participant 2

The Clashers Bilal Aurangzeb Meer Sanan Rashid

The Tigers Safan Rashid Ali Hassan

INDIAN SCHOOL SOHAR | JUNIORS Team Name Participant 1 Participant 2

QUIZ CHAMPS SMIT AMITKUMAR RATHOD OJAS GOLYAN

LUCKY STARS MERWIN SANIL ABRAHAM NAMIT SUNIL

THE WIKIPEDIAS PRAKHAR SHUKLA VARUN BHATT

THINKING CAPS SWITHIN GLASON RISHABH CHODE

MIND BLOGGERS SPARSH GUPTA ANAND KRISHNA

THE NEWTONS ARYAN BHADOO STUTI RAY

KING OF KINGS ABDUL MATEEN MOHD.IBRAHIM

ALL STARS AAYUDH ADITYA SHARMA

RISING SUPERSTARS R.ALLAN JON KEITH.M.LOBO

WILD BOYS AKARSH GUPTA VEDANT SHARMA

QUIZ MASTERS PRANAV LIJU ARAMAN FAHIM SHAK

WIKI MASTERS JEET VERMA ARYAN PANDEY

WE R QUIZERS KEVIN SEBASTIAN

MASTERS ABJIT BIJU ALWIN TOJ

INDIAN SCHOOL SOHAR | SENIORS Team Name Participant 1 Participant 2

QUIZZAHOLICS PALLAVI MANBIAR MIHIKA C SALIAN

JUSTICE LEAGUE RAUNAK MOKHASI ABHINAV SURESH

QUIZ MASTES MAUKSHATRO BOSE BAIBHAV MUKHERJEE

“M”&”N” THE VARIABLES NEERAJ PRABHU MENAS VEGI

DAREDEVILS ARAVIND HARSHUL

NATURAL PHILOSOPHERS CHRIS BINNY ARK SRIVASTAVA

SOLUTION SEEKERS J.SHRAVAN M.VINAYAK

QUIZZARDS AKHILA ORUGANTI SRUTHI RAJESH

BAZINGA ADITYA BHADOO PRATEEK PRABHU

Photos by

O.K. Mohammed Ali and

Purushothaman K.

/TIMES OF OMAN

QUIZ AT ISS

A6

OMANS U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

People think I can do nothing in this life. But I

don’t care about what they say. All I care about

is being what I want to be in this life

Buthaina Al Kindi, Omani girl

The government is planning to adopt a new strategy to reduce its depend-ence on oil income

by half in a bid to balance its financial books and give the economy a shot in the arm.

The five-year plan, ending 2020, has been designed to harness the full resources of the Sultanate, from farming, fish-ing, mining, manufacturing to tourism starting from this year.

The plan will put in motion over 500 schemes, including the previous stagnated pro-grammes, to diversify income of the Sultanate. The decision has been based on the experience of the last two years, with low oil prices blowing holes in the government’s finances.

Up to December 2015, the contribution of oil made up for 44 per cent of the Gross Domes-tic Product (GDP). By 2020, oil production’s contribution to GDP will go down to just 22 per cent. The government’s invest-ments would grow by an aver-age of 30 per cent per year by 2020. State-owned companies, such as the Oman Investment Fund (OIF), Muscat National Development and Investment Company (Asaas), Oman Oil Company and the pivotal role of the State General Reserves Fund (SGRF) would increase public-private partnerships in

project establishments by 50 per cent. As the government is finally set to commit to its economic plans, the Sultanate would ease off the crippling investments in oil production. It would have no pressure increas-ing output and risk rapid deple-tion of crude oil’s reserves.

The current production of 990,000 barrels per day would be adequate for growth through-out the period of the Five-Year Plan. It would also eliminate a one-dimension economy of injecting billions of rials a year just to increase production by a few thousand barrels a day.

Marketing institutionBefore the end of the current five-year plan, Oman will be positioning itself as a leading regional marketing institution for gas distribution. Thanks to Iran’s pact with the Sultanate, the government will have direct access to 30 per cent of the Mid-dle East’s total gas production.

The abundance of gas avail-ability in the country will fit the glove of investment in the hand of foreign projects to fuel manu-facturing industries located in the steel, copper, aluminium, power generation sectors and for water desalination plants.

Local manpowerBut the crown jewel is the abun-dance of local manpower. Oman is a very young nation with over 60 per cent of the population still under the age of 30. The youthful workforce will expand investment horizons and help respond to evolving needs as de-manded by foreign companies.

It will address the employ-ment prospects of graduates, who currently heavily de-pend on public jobs. The new economic regime will be in a better position to comfortably create jobs in the spin-off of the OMR66 billion expenditure planned in the next five years.

The main objectives of the massive expenditure will also eliminate squandered resources and improve productivity in the current stagnating areas of the economy. Much attention will be given to free enterprise in the private sector. The gesture has already attracted a lot of interests, including car manu-facturing giants, multinational mining industries and property management companies. But the bold and impressive plans are not without challenges.

The government would need to strictly adhere to its new financial policies of sticking to its main objectives. However, there are already solid signs of commitment with the reduc-tion of energy subsidies and the imminent introduction of the value added tax (VAT) this year.

Subsidies cutThe commitment of expendi-ture savings starts this year, with the already implemented subsidies cut of 64 per cent, development spending having been slashed by 18 per cent, oil and gas expenditure cut of 14 per cent, defence and security by 8 per cent in 2016.

All these cuts are now con-sidered non-essential expendi-ture that has taken away much needed funds from the private enterprising in the past. The cuts will release over OMR2.5 billion this year and channel investment spending to sup-port sectors that were previ-ously deprived of investments. If carefully implemented, the new five-year plan will have every chance to reinforce the Omani economy in a new era of diversification.

New plan to cut Sultanate’s dependence on oil revenues

C O M M E N T A R Y

SALEH AL SHAIBANY

SUNDAYBEAT

Omani girl’s film takes up cause of hearing impaired

ERIK PRINS erik@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: An Omani girl has utilised her filmmaking skills to raise awareness among the pub-lic about hearing impaired people having the same dreams and am-bitions as normal people.

Buthaina Al Kindi, who proud-ly showed the Times of Oman a short film she has produced about her sister who is deaf, said people who are deaf also have dreams and deserve to be treated better.

Al Kindi explained that when she had to make a film for a school project, the situation of her sister inspired her to make the film enti-tled ‘Sound of Hope.’

“I thought that this would be very important for my sister be-cause no one is taking care of her. So I decided to make a video about her to show the people that she is important in this life and that she can do many things that others also do,” she stated.

Among the challenges her sis-ter was facing, was that her class-mates ignored her and did not want to speak to her. “It makes her feel so lonely in class,” she said. Al Kindi told TOO that her other sis-ter and cousins are also deaf.

In the film ‘Sound of Hope,’ Al Kindi portrays her sister express-ing her frustration about others ignoring or bullying her.

“People think I can do noth-ing in this life. But I don’t care about what they say. All I care about is being what I want to be in this life.”

Eventually, she expresses her courage to follow her own dreams instead of being put off by what others think or say. The short film, in English and subtitled in Arabic, offers a close and person-al encounter with someone who is deaf.

“I showed the video to my

teacher and she was so impressed. She thought it was a beautiful thing,” Al Kindi said.

She further said she is happy to be able to show her film to the public at the Ministry of Educa-tion booth at the COMEX 2016 Exhibition.

“I feel so proud and I feel like I needed to do this in my life,” she said. In addition to making the public aware about the abilities of people who are deaf, making films is also a way for Al Kindi to showcase her talents on her own YouTube channel.

“It’s also very important to show people my talent,” she said. She said she hopes to get one mil-lion subscribers to her YouTube channel named ‘Rainbow Glitter.’

Just as it is her dream to reach a million subscribers, everyone should be aware that people who are deaf have dreams of their own.

“I want to send a message to the people that they should take care of these kind of persons and should make them feel that they are the same like any other person. They are people like us. They are in this life to make their dreams come true,” she said.

Buthaina Al Kindi,

who proudly showed

the Times of Oman

a short film she has

produced about her

sister who is deaf,

said people who

are deaf also have

dreams and deserve

to be treated better

RAISING AWARENESS: Buthaina Al Kindi utilised her filmmaking

skills to raise awareness about hearing impaired people. –Jun Estrada

Kerala expats celebrate Vishu

NISHAD PADIYARATHnishad@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Thousands of Keralites living in Oman woke up to a colourful arrangement in their homes on Thursday morn-ing to celebrate Vishu, the New Year festival of the south Indian state of Kerala.

The celebration started with ‘Kani kanal,’ meaning first sight, for which they had made arrange-ments the previous night.

On Vishu, Keralites believe that one should see good things in the morning as this determines their fortunes for the entire year.

Hypermarkets across the coun-try displayed traditional items brought from Kerala to arrange the ‘Kani kanal’. People were seen making a beeline for the special sections at hypermarkets to buy items for Vishu.

People woke up to see “Vishukkani,” the ceremonial sighting of auspicious articles, such as rice, fruits, gold and flowers tastefully arranged in brass vessels, symbolising hope and promise.

“Every year, we do our best to celebrate Vishu just like in India. Every year, we make it a point to celebrate it because we want to keep our traditions and culture alive,” said Ranjith Para-meshwaran, a resident in Ruwi.

“Vishu is mostly a family affair. After the morning formalities, my wife and I prepared sadhya (traditional lunch) and celebrat-

ed it with our two sons and some other family members,” said Ruwi resident Prajith Neela-kantan. “I usually always take the day off for Vishu because I’m very keen on our children under-standing our culture and where we come from.”

Heavy rush was witnessed in some of the top restaurants in Oman where people thronged to have ‘Sadhya’ a delicious meal prepared of rice, vegetables and fruits in the afternoon.

“The response this year was overwhelming. As it was a work-ing day, most of the people did not get time to celebrate Vishu at home so they had to depend on restaurants that were offer-ing Vishu sadhya,” said Sajith R,

manager at Four Squares Restau-rant in Ruwi.

“Most of the orders came from office-goers and our delivery boy had a tough time driving around to serve the Sadhya on time,” added Sajith R.

Some Keralites celebrated a low-key Vishu in the backdrop of the Kollam temple tragedy, which left 113 dead, and over 350 injured. “We didn’t have any ma-jor celebrations this time because of the temple tragedy that killed hundreds of people in Kerala. It would be unfair to celebrate it,” said Anandan R from Al Khuwair.

“I miss the celebrations back in India because it is so much more vibrant and the entire family gets together,” Anandan added.

N E W Y E A R F E S T I V A L

MAKING A BEELINE: Heavy rush was witnessed in some of the

top restaurants in Oman where people thronged to have ‘Sadhya’

a delicious meal. – O.K. Mohammed Ali

Water demand growingThe capacity of each project will be higher than 250,000 cubic metres per day. Another inde-pendent water project (of roughly around 20,000 cubic litre per day capacity) is coming up in Khasab.“We have already started the ground work for this project.” This is part of a series of small and large water projected planned in different parts of the country.

He said that the demand for wa-ter is growing by 6 per cent every

year and the new projects are ex-pected to meet the demand.

Referring to the progress in de-veloping three independent water projects in Salalah, Sharqiyah and Duqm, he said that OPWP has al-ready floated a request for pro-posal for developing two projects – Salalah and Sharqiyah – after selecting pre-qualified compa-nies. “RfP for Duqm is still not floated. We expect bids to be sub-mitted by this summer and the

projects will be awarded by the end of this year. The two projects (Salalah and Sharqiyah) will have a combined capacity of 200,000 cubic litres per day,” noted Eng. Al Kiyumi.

Eng. Al Kiyumi said that Sala-lah and Sharqiyah water projects are expected to be operational in 2019. He said a request for pro-posal seeking bids from pre-qual-ified companies will be floated be-fore the end of the summer.

N E W P R O J E C T S

< FROM

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H AV E YOU R SAY AT T W I T T E R.CO M /T I M ES O F O M A N O R S CA N T H E CO D E TO I N STA N T LY P O ST YOU R T H O U G H TS .

saleh@timesofoman.com

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OMANS U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

10th Malabar Gold and Diamonds showroom

in Oman has been opened at the Ruwi

High Street

Comprehensive surveyThe aim of this annual survey is to present evidence-based in-sights into the attitudes of the Arab youth, and provide public and private sector organisations with data and analysis to inform

their decision-making and policy formation. The survey is the most comprehensive of its kind cov-ering the six Gulf Cooperation Council states (Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and

the United Arab Emirates), Alge-ria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tuni-sia and Yemen. The survey did not include Syria due to the ongo-ing civil unrest in the country.

A R A B Y O U T H

< FROM

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Indian film star opens Malabar Gold showroom

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Malabar Gold and Di-amonds, one of the leading jewel-lery retailers in India, opened its 10th showroom in Oman at Ruwi, Muscat on Thursday.

The showroom was inaugurated by prominent Indian film star Ka-reena Kapoor Khan.

The elegant showroom is con-veniently located at the Ruwi High Street, opposite the Ruwi Police Station, and is the third showroom to be opened in Ruwi,

the 10th one in Oman and the 63rd in the Middle East.

Large collectionLike all other Malabar Gold and Diamonds outlets, this showroom will also display a significantly large collection of traditional, as well as contemporary jewellery in gold, certified diamonds, plati-num and precious stone jewellery from across the world that can hold one spellbound with its awe-inspiring beauty.

The group is also planning to

expand their presence in Oman by opening two more showrooms in Barka, Lulu and the Muscat City Centre this year.

To celebrate the occasion, the group introduced fabulous inaugural offers for its custo- mers.

With every purchase of dia-mond jewellery worth OMR500, the customers will get a one gram gold coin absolutely free and they can also get a free gold coin with every purchase of gold jewellery worth OMR300.

The group is also

planning to expand

their presence in

Oman by opening

two more showrooms

in Barka, Lulu and the

Muscat City Centre

this yearINAUGURATED: The elegant showroom is conveniently located at

the Ruwi High Street, opposite the Ruwi Police Station. -Shabin E

A8

REGIONS U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

FLOODS IN YEMEN Children sit on a bed in a flooded house following heavy rain in a village in Yemen’s Houdieda province, on Friday. — Reuters

France, Germany aim to steady Libya; NATO vows to up defences

TRIPOLI/GENEVA/BRATIS-LAVA: The French and German foreign ministers arrived in Libya on Saturday for unannounced talks with the head of the unity government Fayaz Seraj to offer support as he seeks to stabilise the North African state, a French dip-lomatic source said.

The visit by Jean-Marc Ayrault and Frank-Walter Steinmeier is part of efforts by the European Union to rebuild law and order in Libya and head off a potential new tide of migrants into Italy from the country, which has been in chaos since the toppling of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Western governments are also concerned about growing pres-ence of IS militants in Libya, where its affiliates have taken control of Sirte city and threat-ened oil installations as they seek to build a base beyond their Iraq and Syria territory.

“What’s at stake is to get all the Europeans on the same page so that if there is a new anti-IS coalition the Europeans speak as one voice and aren’t faced with a US-Russian fait accompli like in

Syria,” said a French official. The ministers, who will meet Seraj at a naval base in Tripoli where he has been operating the UN-backed Presidential Council, follow a visit by their Italian counterpart last week. The meeting also comes ahead of an EU foreign and de-fence ministers special dinner on Monday to discuss the situation in the oil producing nation.

The dinner is expected to agree to look into police and border training missions for Libya. Any

such support would initially be in Tripoli, where the new govern-ment is trying to establish itself.

Seraj has been tasked with ending the country’s political im-passe, resolving its armed conflict and tackling a growing threat from IS extremists.

“There is no alternative to this government,” said a senior French diplomat.”Seraj embodies the po-litical solution.

He has got a number of backers now and there is momentum, so

we want to give this government a bit of spotlight.”

An EU security presence in Libya, which would not involve soldiers, would be Europe’s biggest step in the oil-producing nation since a NATO-backed mission led to the fall of Gaddafi in 2011.

Military interventionDiplomats say there has yet to be detailed discussion with the new UN-brokered Libyan gov-ernment in defining what kind of assistance it wants from the EU, and that the EU is keen to avoid the impression of moving into the country uninvited.

Seraj will brief the EU ministers by video conference on Monday.

“There hasn’t been any request yet from Seraj,” the diplomat said.”France isn’t hostile to a military intervention, but it must be done through a Libyan request to the international community and it needs to be attached to the political process.”

Paris played a leading part in the NATO air campaign that helped rebels overthrow Gaddafi, but has regretted the lack of support given to the authorities afterwards.

French aircraft are now con-ducting reconnaissance flights over Libya while French military advisers operate on the ground in conjunction with Britain and the United States.

Meanwhile, NATO is ready to assist a new United Nations-backed Libyan government if it requests help to build up security institutions, NATO Deputy Secre-tary General Alexander Vershbow

said on Saturday. The European Union is expected to consider moving security personnel into Libya to help to stabilise the cha-otic country, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters, and Vershbow said NATO may also play a role.

“The progress towards the consolidation of this new gov-ernment of national unity in Lib-ya is encouraging and we stand ready to assist the government if it requests,” Vershbow said when asked if NATO could also get involved.

Defence institutions“Two years ago we were very close to implementing a programme to assist the government at that time in Libya... to develop and reform its defence institutions,” he told reporters at the Globsec security conference in Bratislava.

“If this new government re-quests NATO assistance in the same area, we stand ready to help them out,” he added.

In separate comments on a planned meeting of the NATO-Russia council on April 20, Ver-shbow said NATO would call for implementation of the Minsk agreement on eastern Ukraine and also discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

The meeting in Brussels will be the first for the council since 2014.

NATO froze cooperation with Russia after its 2014 annexation of Crimea and the start of hostilities in eastern Ukraine, which NATO says is directed by the Kremlin.

Moscow denies this. — Reuters

French and German

foreign ministers

were in Tripoli

to meet unity

government PM

Fayaz Seraj just

before EU’s planned

meet on looking into

police and border

training missions for

conflict-hit country

CIVIL WAR: A fire next to the Libyan cement factory is seen during clashes between military forces

loyal to Libya’s eastern government, who are backed by the locals, and the Shura Council of Libyan

Revolutionaries who have joined forces with the extremist group Ansar Al Sharia, in Benghazi, Libya

on Friday. — Reuters/Stringer

Hollande in Beirut pledges military aid, seeks election of new president BEIRUT: President Francois Hollande said on Saturday that France would provide immediate additional military aid to Leba-non, and urged politicians to end a long-running crisis by electing a president as soon as possible.

Hollande also said he had de-cided to step up assistance for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, giv-ing 50 million euros this year and 100 million euros over the next three years to cope with the crisis.

Lebanon hosts more than 1 mil-lion registered Syrian refugees, a quarter of its population.

Hollande’s Beirut visit, the first stop on a Middle East tour, came weeks after Saudi Arabia cut $3 billion of military aid to Lebanon, where violence has repeatedly spilled over from the Syrian war since it began in 2011.

“We will work to provide imme-diate assistance to strengthen the military capability of Lebanon, specifically to combat terrorism but also to confront other threats,” he said after meeting Prime Min-

ister Tammam Salam.He said France’s defence minis-

ter, who travelled with him, would assess the “material means that can be put at Lebanon’s disposal to ensure its security”, without

giving further details.The Lebanese military has re-

cently received additional sup-port from both the United States and Britain as it seeks to defend the porous border with Syria.

Saudi Arabia decided to cut aid to the Lebanese army after the Beirut government failed to con-demn an attack on Saudi diplo-matic missions in Iran in January which was prompted by the Saudi execution of a cleric.

Hezbollah is part of a govern-ment grouping all Lebanon’s main political parties and headed by Prime Minister Salam.

Without presidentThe government is struggling to take even basic decisions, includ-ing over rubbish disposal.

Political rivalries exacerbated by tensions in the wider region have left Lebanon without a presi-dent for almost two years.

The position is reserved for a Maronite Christian.

Hollande urged politicians to elect a president as soon as pos-sible, saying it was in the coun-try’s and the region’s interests to ensure the post was filled.”The answer to that is not in my hands. It is up to you to,” he said. — Reuters

L O N G - R U N N I N G C R I S I S

DISCUSSIONS: Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam, left, and

French President Francois Hollande, centre, hold talks meeting

upon his arrival to the Lebanese government palace in downtown

Beirut. — AFP/HO/DALATI AND NOHRA

Mistura tests waters

with opposition

over future of Assad

GENEVA: The United Nation’s envoy to Syria sounded out the opposition at talks in Geneva on the idea that President Bashar Al Assad could stay on in power sym-bolically, two opposition sources said on Saturday, but they both had summarily dismissed it.

UN mediator Staffan de Mistu-ra reconvened indirect talks on Wednesday saying a political tran-sition would be the main focus of the current round of the peace talks, which aim to end Syria’s five-year-old war. More than 250,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Just a few days into the new round, the nego-tiations appear more fragile than ever with increased fighting near Aleppo threatening to undermine a shaky truce.

The government delegation af-ter arriving on Friday also sought to steer the new round away from discussion of a transition. Two opposition sources said that in a

meeting late on Friday with the High Negotiations Committee de Mistura had brought up an idea, among others, that would see As-sad remain in power symbolically.

In return the opposition would choose three vice-presidents, who would be handed military and ex-ecutive powers.

“There were no details and it’s not something that we are taking seriously,” said one opposition official. The opposition sources said de Mistura had not present-ed the idea as something he was specifically proposing.

The mere suggestion of Assad staying in power is likely to further complicate talks with both sides already trading barbs and the situ-ation on the ground worsening.

A senior Western diplomat close to the talks said that while the idea was unlikely to be de Mistura’s personal view, it was seemed clumsy given the sensitivity of the subject. — Reuters

P O L I T I C A L T R A N S I T I O N

Sadr gives 72 hours to decide on Iraq technocrats’ cabinetBAGHDAD: Iraq’s cleric Moqtada Al Sadr said on Saturday he would re-start protests in 72 hours if the nation’s leaders failed to vote on a technocrats’ cabinet proposed by Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi to stem corruption.

In a statement received from his office, Sadr addressed the warn-ing to Abadi and the two other top state officials, President Fuad Masum and Parliament Speaker Salim AlJabouri.

Earlier in the day, the parlia-ment canceled a session on anti-graft reforms on Saturday, state TV said, as some MPs disputed the legitimacy of the speaker to chair the meeting in an escala-tion of a political crisis crippling state institutions. The session was scrapped because “parlia-ment couldn’t be secured” by the security forces, said a statement from the office of the speaker, Salim al-Jabouri.

The statement was appar-ently referring to MPs who say

Jabouri has no right to chair the session and who met on Thurs-day in his absence, holding a ballot to oust him. They say they have a majority in the assembly, which Jabouri disputes.

Simple debate The dissenting MPs criticise Ja-bouri for not organising a session to grill Abadi over his proposed cabinet line-up.

Jabouri says it is the premier who failed to show up at the vot-ing session he had called for on Thursday and that the quorum wasn’t even reached to hold a simple debate.

Both sides say they have a majority.

State TV on Friday showed pictures of the assembly held by the dissenters on Thursday and counted 131 MPs.

The parliament has 328 seats.Tussles between lawmakers

broke out on Wednesday, a day af-ter the first attempted vote. — Reuters

T U R M O I L

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INDIAS U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

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William, Kate at Taj Mahal, evoke

memories of Diana’s 1992 visit

AGRA: Britain’s Prince William accompanied by his wife Kate on Saturday visited the Taj Mahal, the 17th century marble monu-ment symbolising eternal love, bringing back memories of his mother Princess Diana’s trip 24 years ago.

And the royal couple did sit on the marble bench in front of the dazzling monument here for a picture like Lady Diana.

William had donned a blue lin-en jacket, white shirt and chinos while Princess Kate wore a white dress with blue motif by Indian-American designer Naeem Khan.

The royal couple, who will cele-brate their fifth wedding anniver-

sary on April 29, arrived at around 3.30pm and were briefed by an of-ficial as they took a stroll around the mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

“It is beautiful. It is overwhelm-ing,” William, the Duke of Cam-bridge, said later. The two spent around 45 minutes in the com-plex on a sizzling day as mercury soared to 40 degrees Celsius. “It was too hot but they went around,”

guide Lalit Chawla said. William’s mother Diana had visited the Taj Mahal in 1992 and her picture seated alone on the marble bench remains one of the iconic images of the princess, who died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. The royal couple’s visit generated much excitement here.

Tight security arrangements were in place with deployment of CISF personnel. The stretch from Amar Vilas hotel to the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal was spruced up and tourists on the western gate were held back for an hour. It is the last stop for the British royal couple during their week-long trip to India and Bhutan. - PTI

S Y M B O L O F L O V E

MAJESTIC: Britain’s Prince William, along with his wife, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, pose in

front of the Taj Mahal in Agra on Saturday. - PTI

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Priyanka discounts claims that monthlyrent of her bungalow lowered at requestNEW DELHI: Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday discounted claims that the monthly rent of her gov-ernment bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi was lowered on her request, asserting that the amount was de-termined by the then BJP govern-ment in 2002 and “was the same as for others” in the category.

A statement issued by her office said that in December 1996, Pri-yanka, the daughter of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and an SPG protectee, had rented a private accommodation for her resi-dence but was directed to occupy a government accommodation on security grounds.

“In pursuance of all rules and regulations of the then BJP Gov-ernment, the market rate/spe-cial license fee of Directorate of Estates, has been punctually and regularly paid by her for the en-tire duration of her occupation of the government accommodation, including the period in question.”

“The said rent that she paid was determined by the govern-

ment and was the same as for others in her category,” the state-ment said, after a report claimed that she managed to convince the Vajpayee government to reduce the monthly rent of her 2,765.18 sqm house in Lutyens’ Delhi from

Rs53,421 to only Rs 8,888 as it was “beyond her paying capacity”.

The BJP on Saturday took a dig at Priyanka over the issue, saying it was “laughable” that she could afford building a bungalow in Himachal Pradesh and travelling abroad but found the rent money prohibitive.

Security groundsAsked about Priyanka’s state-ment that she paid the rent de-termined by the then government and same as others in her cat-egory, party’s National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said it might not be illegal but she sought “con-cessions” despite being capable of paying the rent.

Without going into specifics as to how much rent she paid, Pri-yanka in the statement merely said that multiple protectees occupying government accom-modation on security grounds brought to the notice of the then BJP Government that a 90 per cent increase, from one month to

the next, in the year 2002 from “Market Rate/Special License Fee” to “Damages Rate” was “con-trary to prevailing rules and regu-lations”. Insisting that none of the said persons were unauthorised occupants of the premises, and that they were, in fact, “authorised occupants”, Priyanka, an SPG pro-tectee, maintained that the “Dam-ages Rate” did not apply to them.

“This error was subsequently corrected by the Cabinet Com-mittee on Accommodation of the then BJP Government pursuant to a letter and a meeting between current BJP M. P. Ashwini Kumar (Minna) and the then Prime Min-ister Atal Behari Vajpayee,” the statement added.

The media report claimed that on May 7, 2002, Priyanka wrote to the government and said that Rs 53,421 was “too high” an amount and “beyond her paying capacity”.

Currently, she pays Rs 31,300 for accommodation in Type VI government house at 35, Lodhi Estate. - PTI

C O N T R O V E R S Y

Pranab Mukherjee cautions judgesagainst perils of ‘judicial activism’

BHOPAL: President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday cautioned judges against the perils of “judicial activism”, saying the equilibrium in the exercise of authority must be maintained at all times and self-restraint should be used when con-fronted with such a situation.

Maintaining that the Consti-tution is supreme, Mukherjee

said, “each organ of our democ-racy must function within its own sphere and must not take over what is assigned to the others”.

“Judicial activism should not lead to the dilution of separation of powers, which is a Constitutional scheme. The balance of power be-tween the three organs of the state is enshrined in our Constitution,” he said, stressing that “the Consti-tution is supreme”.

The president said that the equi-librium in the exercise of authority must be maintained at all times and noted that the exercise of pow-ers by the legislature and executive is subject to judicial review.

“However, the only check pos-sible in the exercise of powers by the judiciary is self-imposed dis-cipline and self-restraint by the judiciary itself,” he said while in-augurating the fourth retreat of the

judges of the Supreme Court at the National Judicial Academy here.

Mukherjee, however, maintained that the independence and integri-ty of the judiciary is “of the highest importance, not only to the judges but also to people at large who seek judicial redress against perceived legal injury or executive excess”.

“The Constitution invests our independent judiciary, especially the apex court, with extensive ju-

risdiction over the acts of the leg-islature and the executive.”

“Judicial review is part of the basic structure and cannot be al-tered even by taking the procedure provided in law. It is the judiciary which ensures the effectiveness of judicial review,” he said.

LaudedHe also lauded the judiciary for “enlarging the scope of justice” in a developing country like India.

“For the enforcement of our de-veloping country, our judiciary has enlarged the scope of justice. For the enforcement of fundamental rights, the Supreme Court, through judicial innovation and activism, has expanded the common law principle of ‘locus standi’,” he said.

The president further noted that “it has been made possible for courts to permit anyone with suffi-cient interest and acting bona fide to maintain an action for judicial redress and to activate the judicial process”. “In the support of rights, courts have found a postcard writ-ten by a citizen or newspaper arti-cle to be material enough to set off judicial action. This has helped to bring justice closer to the common man,” he said.

The president said the judiciary, which is one of the three impor-tant pillars of our democracy, is

the final interpreter of the Consti-tution and laws.

“It helps maintain the social order by swiftly and effectively dealing with those on the wrong side of the law. As an upholder of the rule of law and enforcer of the right to liberty, the role of the judi-ciary is sacrosanct. “The faith and confidence of people in the judici-ary must always be maintained. For justice to have meaning to the people, it must be accessible, af-fordable and quick,” he said.

Talking about the Supreme Court, Mukherjee said, the apex court has “captured the ethos” of India’s developing society while interpreting the mandate of good governance in the light of contemporary situations and challenges facing the country, “whether due to global winds of change or from within”.

“This has not been merely an ex-ercise in interpretation of laws or legal order, much less an exercise in edifying jurisprudence, it has cap-tured the ethos of our developing society as it has evolved from the colonial shackles to a social order replete with the essence of human dignity, of aspirations of a populace maturing into a sovereign, social-ist, secular, democratic republic as mandated by the makers of our Constitution,” he said. - PTI

Maintaining that

the Constitution is

supreme, President

Pranab Mukherjee

said, ‘each organ of

our democracy must

function within its

own sphere and

must not take over

what is assigned

to the others’

APPEAL: President Pranab Mukherjee with Chief Justice of India T. S. Thakur, left, and Madhya

Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, right, at the inauguration of 4th Retreat of Supreme

Court Judges at National Judicial Academy in Bhopal on Saturday. - PTI

STATEMENT: Priyanka

Gandhi said she paid the

rent determined by the then

government which was the

same as for others in the

category. - PTI file photo

A10

INDIA S U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

The restrictions were imposed following death of three

persons during protests against alleged molestation of

a girl by a soldier in Handwara town on Tuesday.

Mehbooba visits victims’ families amid tension in ValleySRINAGAR: As tension prevailed in Indian-administered-Kashmir on the fourth day, Chief Minis-ter Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday sought to douse the flames by visiting families of those killed since Tuesday in firing by security forces and assured them of justice amid her assertion that such inci-dents are “unacceptable”.

Mehbooba reached out to the families of the victims in the hour of grief even as curfew-like restric-tions continued in certain parts of Kashmir and mobile internet ser-vices were snapped throughout the Valley.

Meanwhile, mother of the 16-year-old girl, whose alleged molestation on Tuesday triggered the cycle of violence in Jammu and Kashmir, claimed that her daughter was pressurised into giv-ing a video statement denying she was molested and has approached court seeking an independent probe into the incident.

“We do not want police or Army, those who have done this, to in-quire it,” she said.

As tension persisted, Mehbooba visited and consoled the family of 18-year-old Arif Hussain Dar who was killed on Friday when army opened fire to disperse stone-pelting mobs outside a camp in Nathnusa area of Kupwara, 100

km from here.She visited families of other

deceased also. Five people have died since Tuesday in firing by security forces on protesters who were agitating against alleged molestation in Handwara town of Kupwara district.

“The chief minister met the

kin of the victims who were killed since Tuesday in the district. She expressed solidarity with them and assured them that inquiry will be conducted and justice done,” said an official who was present.

Mehbooba flew to Kupwara to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

She also chaired a meeting of local officers which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Minister for Rural Devel-opment Abdul Haq Khan, MLA Handwara Sajad Lone, Chief Sec-retary B.R. Sharma, DGP K. Ra-jendra Kumar and senior Army officer. She made it clear that no

civilian should be harmed while security forces deal with law-and-order situations.

She said she had a telephonic conversation with Defence Min-ister Manohar Parrikar on Friday evening and also met Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S. Hooda and told them that inci-dents like the ones at Handwara and Nathnusa are “unacceptable” and come as a major setback to the efforts of the state government in consolidating peace dividends in the state.

“I have told Gen Hooda to ex-ercise maximum restraint while dealing with law-and-order situa-tions,” she said, adding the defence minister has assured her of time-bound investigation into the un-fortunate incidents that led to the death of civilians during protests at Handwara and Natnusa.

While interacting with the members of the civil society, the chief minister sought their coop-eration in restoring peace and nor-malcy in the frontier district.

The chief minister said she wanted to be with the people at this hour, grasp the sequence of events that led to the circle of vio-lence and the action taken by the law-enforcing authorities.

Mehbooba said she was deeply saddened by the series of unfor-

tunate events which led to the death of four young boys and an old woman.

“I never dreamt of coming to Kupwara like this after taking over as the chief minister. It is most un-fortunate,” she said.

While being briefed about the prevailing situation, Mehbooba said the Standard Operating Pro-cedure (SoP) should not remain a mere word but become a potent tool while dealing with law-and-order situations.

Meanwhile, strict restrictions were imposed in some areas in north Kashmir, including Kup-wara and Handwara towns, to maintain law and order, a police official said.

He said restrictions also con-tinued in some police station ar-eas of Srinagar city as a precau-tionary measure.

The affected police station ar-eas include Maharajgunj, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maisuma, he said.

The restrictions were imposed following death of three persons during protests against alleged molestation of a girl by a soldier in Handwara town on Tuesday.

Police and paramilitary CRPF were deployed in strength in sen-sitive areas to foil any attempt to hold protests. - PTI

F I R I N G B Y S E C U R I T Y F O R C E S

DESERTED: A couple walks across a road as a security personnel stands guard at a deserted street dur-

ing the fourth consecutive day of strike and restrictions in Srinagar on Saturday. - PTI

Swaraj arrives in Iran on two-day visit to boost ties

TEHRAN: External Affairs Min-ister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Iran on Saturday on a two-day visit to boost ties with a focus on raising India’s oil imports and en-hancing trade which has opened several lucrative sectors after sanctions against it were lifted under a historic nuclear deal.

The visit comes amid a rush for investment in the resource-rich nation by global economic powers including Japan, China, the US and several European countries after Iran invited foreign compa-nies for joint ventures in many of its crucial sectors including oil and gas.

Swaraj was received at the Mehrabad International Airport by Rasul Islami, Director Gen-eral (South Asia) in Iran’s Foreign Ministry and Indian Ambassador Saurabh Kumar.

“Asr Bekheyr Tehran! EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in Iran for a landmark first visit,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesper-son Vikas Swaroop tweeted after

her arrival. India has been eyeing deeper energy ties with Iran and has already lined up $20 billion as investment in oil and gas as well as in petrochemical and fertiliser sectors there.

Swaraj’s visit is seen as a bal-ancing act by India as it came nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Saudi Arabia.

Energy securityIran is an important country for India for its energy security as well as to get access to oil and gas-rich Central Asian nations.

India imports close to 12 mil-lion tonnes of crude from Iran and it is looking at increasing the oil import from the country.

Swaraj will hold extensive talks with her Iranian counterpart Mo-hammad Javad Zarif on Sunday

during which entire gamut of bilateral relations will be re-viewed with a major focus on ramping up ties in energy, trade and banking sectors.

The Indian External Affairs Minister will also call on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Iran has ended free shipping of crude oil to India and terminated a three-year-old system of getting paid for half of the oil dues in ru-pees and the issue is likely to fig-ure in talks between Swaraj and Zarif. Iran is now insisting on be-ing paid in euros for the oil it sells to Indian refiners.

It also wants refiners like Es-sar Oil and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MPRL) to clear nearly $ 6.5 billion of past dues in Euros, according to of-ficials. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had paid a two-day visit

to Tehran from April 9 during which he discussed with his Ira-nian counterpart the repayment of nearly $6.5 billion that Indian refiners owe to Iran.

This is the first visit by an In-dian minister since the US and other western powers lifted sanc-tions against Iran in January.

During Swaraj’s visit, sources said, the two sides will also ex-plore ways for cooperation in areas of banking and review of implementation of the Chabahar port project in which India is a key partner.

Swaraj and Zarif will also re-view implementation of the deci-sions taken by the two countries during the last joint commission meeting here in December.

The two ministers are also likely to deliberate on bilateral cooperation in combating terror-

ism, situation in Afghanistan and in Syria besides other regional issues. New Delhi is looking to increase engagement with the sanction-free Iran by raising oil imports and possible shipments of natural gas.

It also wants rights to develop Farzad-B gas field discovered by OVL. Sources, however, said a deal for the field was not signed during Pradhan’s visit as Iranian Parliament, Majlis, is yet to ap-prove the new Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC) under which the Farzad-B field is to be given to the OVL-led consortium.

Indian firms have so far shied away from investing in Iran for the fear of being sanctioned by the US and Europe.

The same was deterring New Delhi from claiming rights to in-vest nearly $7 billion in the big-gest gas discovery ever made by an Indian firm abroad.

But after the lifting of sanc-tions, India is making a renewed pitch for rights to develop 12.8 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves OVL had found in 2008.

Pradhan also conveyed to the Iranian side that both countries must expand the basket of oil and gas trade. He had also expressed India’s interest in importing LPG from Iran and said companies from both sides could discuss setting up an extraction plant in Chabahar, if required.

From Iran, Swaraj will leave for a two-day trip to Moscow to attend the annual Foreign Min-isters’ meeting of RIC (Russia, India and China). On the side-lines of RIC, Swaraj is expected to meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during which she is likely to raise the issue of China blocking India’s bid at the UN to ban Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar. - PTI

India has been

eyeing deeper energy

ties with Iran and has

already lined up $20

billion as investment

in oil and gas as well

as in petrochemical

and fertiliser sectors

there

DISCUSSIONS: Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Rasul Islami, Director General

(South Asia) Iran, in Tehran on Saturday. - PTI

Voting for West Bengal Assembly polls second phase todayKOLKATA: The voting in the sec-ond phase of Assembly election for 56 constituencies in eastern-Indian state of West Bengal will take place on Sunday amidst an Election Commission’s show-cause notice to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC lead-er Anubrata Mondal being under the poll body surveillance.

Over 12 million voters will seal the fate of 383 candidates, 33 of them women, in six north Bengal districts — Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dak-shin Dinajpur, Malda — and Birb-hum in south Bengal.

The Election Commission had showcaused Mamata on April 14 for violating Model Code of Con-duct. Immediately after hearing the news, an unperturbed Mamata

had dared the poll body to take ac-tion against her and said people of the state would showcause it on May 19, the day of the result.

Centre of attractionMeanwhile, Birbhum has become a centre of attraction with the Election Commission keeping controversial Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal under 24x7 surveillance of the central police force.

In both the cases, the EC initi-ated action on the basis of com-plaints lodged by the Opposition parties. In Birbhum, seven constit-uencies of Dubrajpur, Suri, Nalha-ti, Rampurhat, Sainthia, Hansan, and Murarai have been classified as left-wing extremism affected areas where polling will be held

from 7am till 4pm.An elaborate multi-tier security

arrangements have been made in these areas.

In the remaining constituen-cies, voters will get two hour extra and can vote till 6pm (IST).

Out of over 13,600 poll stations, the EC has identified 2,909 as vul-nerable where extra precaution is being taken to ensure free and fair elections. The highest number of vulnerable booths are in the dis-tricts of Malda and Uttar Dinajpur.

Based on complaints received from the electorates, the poll watchdog has identified 16,315 voters as vulnerable.

Most of them from Malda and Birbhum districts.

Over 3800 trouble-mongers, from whom vulnerable voters

alleged they face threat and in-timidation, have been identified, “bound down”, and preventive ac-tion taken against them.

The EC sources said 15,962 EVMs and 1968 VVPATs, in-cluding the reserved ones, have been arranged.

All polling premises will be guarded by central police forces while the state personnel, who un-derstand the local language, will facilitate the queue management.

They will be allowed to enter the booth only in extreme cases when the presiding officer asks them to. The outer layer of the security will comprise quick response teams, flying squads, sector forces and mobile high radio flying squads. Altogether there are about 700 mo-bile surveillance personnel. - PTI

5 6 C O N S T I T U E N C I E S

Dilip Kumar stable, kept under observationMUMBAI: The condition of vet-eran actor Dilip Kumar is stable but the doctors at the suburban Lilavati Hospital here on Saturday said that he would be under close observation for the next two days.

Kumar, 93, was admitted to the hospital in suburban Bandra at 2am on Saturday morning after he com-plained of respiratory problems.

“Dilip sahab’s condition is stable since the time of admission. There have been multiple investigations that have been done and we have roped in concerned consultants who have been checking him regu-larly,” said Dr Jalil Parkar of the hospital, who has been attending to him.

“He is fine. He is better than ear-lier. He is having food,” Parkar said, adding they have conducted some tests.When asked if he is out of danger, Parkar said, “We can’t say whether he is out of danger or not. He will be under close observation for the next two days. Depending upon his condition, doctors will decide whether to shift him to the ICU or discharge him.”

The legendary actor, whose real name is Mohammad Yusuf Khan, acted in many superhit films dur-ing his six-decade long career such as Madhumati, Devdas, Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga Jamuna, Ram Aur Shyam and Karma. He was last seen in the film Qila in 1998. - PTI

R E S P I R A T O R Y P R O B L E M S

ELECTION DUTY: Polling parties leave for election duty by a boat in

Malda district on Saturday. - PTI

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Army takes charge to flush gang from island hideout

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army on Saturday took over an opera-tion to dislodge a criminal gang holding 24 hostages on its island hideout in the prosperous prov-ince of Punjab, the military’s

spokesman said.The security operation involv-

ing more than 1,600 security forc-es is now in its eleventh day and is an unprecedented use of force by the military in Punjab, which is the political power base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The head of the army’s public-ity wing, General Asim Bajwa, an-nounced that the army had been officially deployed to flush gang-sters from the 10km long island

in the centre of the Indus River. “Army troops deployed. Take over charge of op,” Bajwa said in a tweet. “Cordon reinforced, Police&Rangers already in op will cont to participate under Army.”

On Friday, the Punjab law min-ister had given the gang 48 hours to surrender or “be wiped out”.

Pakistani TV stations reported early on Saturday that the head of the gang, Ghulam Rasool, also known as Chotu, a longtime

criminal active in the border ar-eas of the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, had surrendered.

But the reports could not be independently confirmed and the army’s latest announcement indi-cated that the siege was ongoing in the afternoon.

While Pakistan’s attention has for years been focused on the Tali-ban and Al Qaeda threat on the Af-ghan border in the remote north-west, militants and criminals have

quietly expanded their influence and won recruits in the country’s heartland of Punjab. At least six police officials have been killed in the battle for the island, launched in a sweeping crackdown after a Taliban suicide bombing killed 72 people in Lahore, the provincial capital, last month.

‘Chotu Group’It was unclear just how many members of the “Chotu Group”, blamed for hundreds of cases of kidnapping for ransom, murder and robbery, were trapped on the island but police said their fami-lies were believed to be accom-panying them.

A police spokeswoman said sev-en of the gang’s leaders had been killed by police and eight injured, while six police officials had died and seven were hurt in clashes.

Policemen were among the 24 hostages. The battle is taking place near Rajanpur, one of the poorest districts in Punjab, where the Panjnad River flows into the Indus, Pakistan’s lifeline.

Previous military crackdowns have focused on the lawless tribal regions where the Taliban and other militants are based. Para-military Rangers also launched a crackdown on criminals in the violent southern port city of Kara-chi in 2013. - Reuters

The security

operation involving

more than 1,600

security forces is

now in its eleventh

day and is an

unprecedented

use of force by the

military in Punjab,

which is the political

power base of Prime

Minister Nawaz

Sharif

TAKING POSITION: Pakistani policemen pose as they prepare to take part in an operation against

alleged criminals in Rajanpur district in southern Punjab province on Thursday. - AFP

Judicial panel will not limit itself

to Panama leaks, says Shahbaz

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minis-ter Shahbaz Sharif has said the proposed commission to probe the Panama Papers leaks will also investigate cases of domestic corruption.

“The commission, once formed, will not limit itself just to Panama Papers leaks but will probe all the offshore businesses of Pakistanis across the world,” Shahbaz said on Friday in an exclusive inter-view to Express News anchorper-son Gharidah Farooqi.

Panama Papers, a vast collec-tion of documents leaked from a Panama-based law firm, revealed that three scions of Prime Min-ister Nawaz Sharif ’s family were among the thousands of people who stashed assets in offshore companies. While denying any wrongdoing, the prime minister had announced a commission, to be led by a retired Supreme Court judge, to investigate the charges against his family.

Alluding to the proposed com-mission, Shahbaz said those peo-ple will also be held accountable who got their bank loans written off, looted public money and piled miseries on people.

“This commission will hold everyone accountable and no-body will be treated as a sacred cow. All the political parties must give us the mandate to form such a commission,” he said.

He said the prime minister’s vision about the commission is that it should prove transpar-ent justice.“The government will consult every political group in connection with the commis-sion,” he said.

Defending the prime minis-ter’ children offshore companies, Shahbaz said Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz had been away from the country and doing busi-ness abroad for the last many year and that Pakistani tax laws did not apply on them.

He said the companies they formed worked under the laws of the respective countries and were not illegal; moreover, he said, the prime minister and his wife have not received any benefit from these businesses.

“However, the prime minister has said that his children will be answerable to the commission and will tell it whether any mon-ey has been transferred illegally. What else can the prime minister possible do,” he said.

The chief minister said Pana-ma Paper leaks revealed names of over two hundred Pakistanis but only the sons of prime minister were being targeted.“The names of all these people should also be discussed,” he said.

He said the people who loot-ed the country in the past were forgiven.“But now the nations wants to know the real faces that stole the peoples’ money.”

He said the government had contacted the Supreme Court’s renowned judges and asked them to head the proposed commission but they had refused.

“I also read the chief justices’ statement that inquiry was not their job. Now the only option left is that of retired judges,” he added.

Shahbaz said former govern-ments of the PPP and General Pervez Musharraf had relent-lessly probed him and his broth-er, Nawaz Sharif, but they could never find corruption of even a single penny.

Citing the recent Pildat survey, he said Punjab was found to be on top province in term of transpar-ency. - Express Tribune

P R O P O S E D C O M M I S S I O N

Shahbaz Sharif

50 foreign firms to showcase latest technology in LahoreLAHORE: The expected partici-pation of at least 50 foreign com-panies in the upcoming China Agro Chemical (CAC) Summit shows their interest in the agri-cultural potential of Pakistan, said Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad.

The summit, scheduled to be

held on May 9 and 10 in Lahore, is expected to be attended by repre-sentatives of Indian, Chinese, Ira-nian and Egyptian companies.

“This would add another chap-ter of success to the history of international exhibitions in Paki-stan as around 43 Chinese compa-nies are participating in this exhi-bition to showcase state-of-the-art

technologies and solutions to im-prove productivity of agro-based commodities and keep crops free of hazards,” said Arshad at a press conference on Friday.

Apart from the foreign firms, leading groups and companies of Pakistan associated with differ-ent sub-sectors of agriculture have agreed on taking part in the sum-

mit. The participating companies will display their range of products for the visiting importers, distrib-utors and farmers from Pakistan and neighbouring countries.

“Pakistan is an agrarian econo-my but we lag far behind in terms of adopting the desired level of knowledge and ways to combat po-tential threats to our food and cash

crops,” Arshad said.The LCCI president said the

summit would promote the use of modern technologies developed over a period of time through re-search and development work in the field of agriculture. It will provide a joint forum to govern-ment officials and industry profes-sionals to highlight the benefits of

using pesticides, fertilisers, pro-cessed seeds, latest and affordable agro-equipment and machinery.

There is immense potential for agro-chemicals in Pakistan which must be used on a priority basis.They have contributed significant-ly to boosting the agricultural yield with a lot of room for improvement in the sector. - Express Tribune

C H I N A A G R O C H E M I C A L S U M M I T

Huge weapons consignment seized on Afghan borderQUETTA: Balochistan authori-ties claimed to have foiled a terror bid backed by Afghan and Indian intelligence agencies by seizing a huge quantity of weapons and explosives after a shoot-out near Nushki on the Pak-Afghan border.

On Friday, Home Minister Sar-faraz Bugti said the Pakistani in-telligence operatives and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel thwarted the bid to smuggle a massive amount of guns and explosives.

Addressing a news conference in Quetta along with FC DIG Brig Tahir Mehmood, he said hostile foreign agencies were bringing in the shipment for Baloch militants that was seized at Manjara Nala near the border.

After an exchange of fire with the smugglers, 25 mortar bombs, 48kg explosives, 3,500 9mm rounds, 12,360 rounds of sniper rifles,four anti-personnel mines, three rocket-propelled grenades and 37 detonators were seized.

The suspects fled while leaving behind the shipment.

“The soil of Afghanistan is be-ing used for destabilising Pakistan and creating bloodshed in Balo-chistan,” Bugti alleged, adding it would damage both the countries.The home minister said the weap-ons were to be used in terrorism across Balochistan. - Express Tribune

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Zardari key for Sharif in Panama Papers scandalKamran Rehmat

An interesting trivia would be to know how many in Pakistan could map Panama be-fore the global shockwave about offshore

hanky-panky reached the South Asian country’s shores. It is probably easier now to spot the Latin American state which has helped the filthy rich around the world stash their goods without much ado for so much longer.

It is important to point out that an offshore ac-count necessarily does not owe its birth to illegal trade or ill-gotten money, but thanks to the wide perception held at home about the alleged corrup-tion of the political elite — particularly, the Sharifs and Bhuttos, the two extraordinarily rich families who have ruled the country by turns — the naming of all three children of the prime minister in the Panama papers has created a furore with demands reaching a fever pitch for judicial investigation to determine how they were able to make and stash incredible amounts of money and buy properties abroad when circumstantial evidence suggests the family was, in fact, passing through a particu-larly turbulent period after having been exiled by a military ruler. Interestingly, Hussain Nawaz, one of Prime Minister Sharif ’s both reclusive sons named in the Panama papers, appeared in a sur-prise TV interview about a month or so ago.

In the said interview, which some critics now al-lege was staged because the Sharifs had reportedly, got wind of the information on offshore accounts trickling out soon, Hussain casually owned up to offshore accounts and even properties in London — charges which Imran Khan, the belligerent lead-er of the opposition Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), had long been levelling without much impact. The interview still largely went unnoticed.

The leaks however, have opened up the flood-gates with Khan threatening to launch a popular movement against Sharif if he did not form a ju-dicial commission under the sitting chief justice with sweeping powers to investigate the scam.

The Sharifs barely survived Khan’s surge in Islamabad in 2014 with a record 126-day camp outside the Parliament House to protest against electoral fraud the PTI alleged Sharif ’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had committed to deprive it of power the year before. After Sha-rif ’s hand was forced, a subsequent judicial inquiry however, invalidated the PTI’s claim with critics

suggesting the party lost the battle on the table with poor framing of terms of reference (ToRs).

The Panama papers — which Khan has de-scribed as a “Godsend for the nation” — has re-juvenated him enough to raise hopes of stopping the PML-N juggernaut and reviving the fortunes of his own demoralised party ahead of the 2018 general elections. There is already friction within the PTI ranks which came out in the open recently, when its vice-chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, launched into his chief’s two closest lieutenants during a party gathering. As a result, Khan had to postpone the disruptive second intra-party polls to focus on the gathering momentum against Sharif.

Mindful of the chain of events in 2014 when the Sharif government had been nearly paralyzed in the sensitive Red Zone housing the federal capi-tal’s power complex, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has banned public meetings out-side the Parliament House and also the sprawling F-9 Park, but where the PTI insists it will go ahead with a party convention on April 24. The battle lines are pretty much drawn again.

But just when a rising tide can be sensed from miles in Islamabad, three key figures, who, all hold major roles in how what will pan out in the days ahead — Prime Minister Sharif, PTI chairman Im-ran Khan and Pakistan People’s Party(PPP)’s head honcho Asif Zardari — have converged on London for different reasons. In the case of the first two, it is merely a timeout; Sharif is undergoing medical checkup for a heart condition and Khan to raise funds for his Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital back home. Zardari, on the other hand, has been away since flying into a rage last June when he warned the powerful military to stay within its ambit or else “we would tear you brick by tear”. His jibe at the army chief followed the Rangers’ arrest of his close aide, Dr Asim Hussain, on charges of terror funding and corruption. But by the time the ink had dried on his fulmination, the PPP leader had scurried out of the country and has still not returned. So what’s in store? Most likely, the key to survival for the beleaguered Sharif may again lie with the canny Zardari, who, while extracting his pound of flesh, is widely tipped to just cushion Sharif enough not to let him fall.

Zoos psychologically abuse animalsThis refers to the story, Chacha the chimpanzee escapes from Japan zoo (April 15). To me the concept of keeping animals in captivity for human profit is a disgrace for humanity. To seek a few bucks and

merriment we humans cage animals and subject them to psychological abuse. Abuse is that of displacement from the wild and being unable to walk freely in their own habitat. A much more humane approach would be to have natural parks or even game parks. For these also the presence of human dwelling should be quite a distance and not disturb the animals in any way.— Safdar Mirza, Muscat

Migrant crisis show success of West’s divide-and-rule policyThis refers to the story, Migrant influx into Italy from Libya resurging, says IOM (April 15).It is extremely disturbing to see the countries which are directly or indirectly responsible for the strife in North Africa are the very ones from whom refugees are seeking help. These events show the suc-

cess of the age-old divide-and-rule policies of the imperial West. It is the people of that region are still too innocent to see the real inten-tions of their socalled saviours. — Anne Klein, Seeb

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5,500 Afghan security forces killed last

year after NATO ended its main

combat mission in 2014.

Indonesia moves cleric Ba’asyir, to

high-security prison near Jakarta

JAKARTA: Indonesian authori-ties moved inmate Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, the radical cleric and alleged mastermind of the Bali bombings, to a high security prison near Jakarta on Saturday, a government official said, amid security concerns.

Ba’asyir, the spiritual leader of the group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and its offshoots, was jailed for 15 years in 2011 following years of efforts to obtain a long sentence for the preacher seen as inciting hatred in his speeches.

Authorities have raised con-cerns about the cleric’s continu-ing influence in radical networks.

Ba’asyir was moved “according to schedule” to the Gunung Sin-dur maximum security prison in Bogor from the Nusakambangan prison in Central Java, Agus Bar-nas, a spokesman for the coordi-nating ministry of security affairs, told Reuters by text message.

The transfer is an indication the government is taking more se-riously the management of pris-ons — a breeding ground for mili-

tants — after January’s Jakarta attackers were found to have been influenced by prominent in-mates. The gun and suicide attack in Jakarta in January highlighted concerns that in Indonesia’s pris-on system staff shortages, over-crowding and corruption have allowed extremists to mingle and disseminate sermons by email, Facebook and telephone.

“In the past, this rule was not

enforced,” Barnas said, adding that previously Ba’asyir had “freely spread radical teach-ings, through sermons or by cellphone.”

Ba’asyir, 77, was also moved to be closer to a hospital because of his old age, he said. A lawyer for Ba’asyir, Achmad Michdan, pro-tested over the move which he said had been carried out without forewarning. - Reuters

I N C I T I N G H A T R E D

HATE SPEECHES: Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, centre,

arrives at a court to attend an appeal hearing in Cilacap, Central

Java province in this January 12, 2016 file photo. - Reuters

Militants seize four Indonesians in southern PhilippinesMANILA: Militants seized four Indonesian crew of a tugboat in the southern Philippines on Fri-day night, the third attack on slow moving vessels in about a month, a military spokesman said on Sat-urday, as troops battled rebels on a nearby island.

Major Filemon Tan said seven gunmen in a blue speed boat at-tacked two Indonesian flagged tugboats off the Philippines’ southernmost island of Sitangkay in Tawi-tawi, near the border with Malaysia’s eastern Sabah state, and took the four crew.

“We don’t exactly know who took them but the only lawless group operating in that area is the Abu Sayyaf,” Tan said, adding 10

Indonesians and four Malaysians were also abducted in two sepa-rate incidents early this month in the south.

The Indonesian foreign minis-try issued a statement said four Indonesian crew were taken cap-tive after gunmen attacked two tugboats, TB Henry and TB Cristy, on their way to Kalimantan from Cebu. Six other crew were left be-hind but one was shot.

Targeting“He is in stable condition now,” the foreign ministry said, adding Malaysian water police evacuated the wounded crew to a hospital in Lahad Datu in eastern Sabah state, where the two tugboats

were towed to safety.The military said the militants

have been targeting foreign crew of slow moving tugboats because they could no longer penetrate re-sorts and coastal towns in Sabah due to increased security.

The Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, which is known for extor-tion, kidnappings, beheadings and bombings, is one of several brutal rebel factions, has stepped up ac-tivities on the remote islands.

Last week, the militants killed 18 soldiers and wounded more than 50 others in an ambush on Basilan island, prompting a mas-sive army offensive with artillery and aerial bombings.

The military said 28 rebels had

died in the week-long fighting.On nearby Jolo island, the mili-

tants gave a final deadline on April 25 for payment of 300 million pesos ($6.50 million) ransom for each of the two Canadians and a Norwegian captive or they will be-head the three foreign captives.

Security is precarious in the resource-rich south of the Philip-pines, despite a 2014 peace pact between the government and the largest rebel group that ended 45 years of conflict.

Abu Sayyaf are holding other foreigners, including one from the Netherlands, one from Japan, one from Norway, two from Canada, four Malaysians and 10 Indone-sian tugboat crew. - Reuters

C O N F L I C T

WOUNDED: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Force team

member rescuing an Indonesian sailor after being shot during a

kidnapping at the east coast of Malaysia’s Sabah state in Lahad

Datu. - AFP / Malaysian Maritime Enforcement

Taliban driven back in Kunduz fightingKUNDUZ (Afghanistan): Afghan security forces drove back Taliban insurgents attacking areas around the northern city of Kunduz, offi-cials said on Saturday, after heavy fighting overnight in which dozens were killed and wounded.

Kunduz, Afghanistan’s fifth-big-gest city, fell briefly to the Taliban last year and the militant move-ment has stepped up the pressure since announcing the start of its annual spring offensive this week.

Defence Ministry spokesman General Dawlat Waziri said 40 Tal-iban fighters had been killed and around 50 wounded after being beaten back by government forces. There were no details about any possible casualties among Afghan security forces. US surveillance aircraft were supporting Afghan security forces but there were no air strikes or other involvement by coalition forces in the fighting, a spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said.

Mindful of the panic that prompted thousands to flee last year, Provincial Governor Asadul-lah Omarkhel walked around the centre of Kunduz city on Saturday, speaking to residents to reassure them that there was no risk of a repeat of the rapid collapse of the city’s defences last year.

The renewed fighting in Kunduz and continuing combat in other regions, including the southern province of Helmand, point to an-other dangerous year for Afghan security forces, which lost some 5,500 troops killed last year af-ter NATO ended its main combat mission in 2014. - Reuters

I N S U R G E N C YDozens feared buried alive after second Japan quake

TOKYO: Japanese rescuers were digging through the rubble of buildings and mud on Saturday to reach dozens believed trapped after a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck a southern is-land, killing at least 32 people and injuring about a thousand.

The shallow earthquake hit in the early hours, sending people fleeing from their beds on to dark streets, and followed a 6.4 mag-nitude quake on Thursday which killed nine people in the area.

Rain and cold were forecast overnight, adding extra urgency to the rescue effort.

Television footage showed fires, power outages, collapsed bridges, a severed road hanging over a ra-vine and gaping holes in the earth.

Residents near a dam were told to leave because of fears it might crumble, broadcaster NHK said.

“I felt strong shaking at first, then I was thrown about like I was in a washing machine,” said a Tokai University student who re-mains isolated in the village of Mi-namiaso in Kumamoto province on the island of Kyushu.

“All the lights went out and I heard a loud noise. A lot of gas is leaking and while there hasn’t been a fire, that remains a con-cern,” the student, who is shelter-ing in a university gym with 1,000 other students and residents, told Japanese media.

Many frightened people wrapped in blankets sat outside their homes while others camped out in rice fields in rural areas sur-rounding the main towns.

Rain forecastAbout 422,000 households were without water, and about 100,000 without electricity, the govern-ment said. Troops were setting up tents for evacuees and water trucks were being sent to the area. The National Police Agency said 32 people were confirmed dead.

The government said about 190

of those injured were in serious condition. Heavy rain and wind were forecast, with temperature expected to drop to 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight. Firefighters handed out tarpaulins to residents so they could cover damaged roofs.

“The wind is expected to pick up and rain will likely get heavier,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a government meeting.

“Rescue operations at night will be extremely difficult...It’s a race against time.” Self Defence Forces personnel in the town of Mashiki, close to the epicentre, were pro-viding food and water.

“I don’t mind standing in line. I’m just thankful for some food,” said a man in his 60s waiting for a meal. Japan is on the seismically active “ring of fire” around the Pa-cific Ocean and has building codes

aimed at helping structures with-stand earthquakes.

A magnitude 9 quake in March 2011 north of Tokyo touched off a massive tsunami and nuclear meltdowns at Fukushima, con-taminating water, food and air for miles around. Nearly 20,000 peo-ple were killed in the tsunami.

The epicentre of Saturday’s quake was near the city of Kum-amoto and measured at a shallow depth of 10 km (six miles), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The shallower a quake, the more likely it is to cause damage. The quake triggered a tsunami advisory which was later lifted and no irregularities were reported at three nuclear power plants in the area, a senior govern-ment official said.

The city’s 400-year-old Ku-mamoto Castle was badly dam-aged, with its walls breached after having withstood bombard-ment and fire in its four centuries of existence.

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, speaking at a

G20 event in Washington, said it was too early to assess the eco-nomic impact but bank operations in Kumamoto were normal.

Economic damageThe USGS, which is a government scientific body, estimated that there was a 72 per cent likelihood of economic damage exceeding $10 billion, adding that it was too early to be specific.

Major insurers are yet to re-lease estimates.

Electronics giant Sony Corp said a factory producing image sensors for smartphone mak-ers would remain closed while it assessed the damage from the quakes. One of its major custom-ers is Apple which uses the sen-sors in iPhones.

Toyota Motor Corp halted pro-duction at three plants producing vehicles, engines and trans axles in Fukuoka.

Toyota said there was no dam-age at its plants, but it was check-ing the status of its suppliers.

It will decide on Sunday wheth-er to resume production.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd stopped production at its Fukuoka plant which produces vehicles includ-ing the Serena, Teana, Murano and Note. South Korea said it had rented five buses to transport 200 South Korean tourists stranded in Oita, to the east of Kumamoto.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshi-hide Suga said nearly 80 people were believed trapped or buried in rubble. Rescuers managed to pull 10 students out of a collapsed university apartment in the town of Minami on Saturday.

Extra troops would be sent to help, with up to 20,000 due by Sunday, as well as more police, firefighters and medics, he said.”

We are making every effort to respond,” Suga said. The region’s transport network suffered con-siderable damage with one tunnel caved in, a highway bridge dam-aged, roads cut or blocked by land-slips and train services halted, media reported. - Reuters

The shallow

earthquake hit in

the early hours of

Saturday, sending

people fleeing from

their beds on to dark

streets, and followed

a 6.4 magnitude

quake on Thursday

which killed nine

people in the area

BATTLE-READY: Afghan

security forces prepare for battle

with the Taliban in Kunduz

province, Afghanistan,on

Saturday. - Reuters/Stringer

NATURE’S FURY: Romon gate (bottom right), designated as a nationally important cultural property,

and other buildings damaged by an earthquake are seen at Aso Shrine in Aso, Kumamoto prefecture,

southern Japan on Saturday. - Reuters

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Iran seeks EU help to get US financial concessions

DUBAI/BRUSSELS: Iran, seek-ing European leverage to secure better terms from the United States following last year’s nu-clear deal, asked the European Union to put pressure on Wash-ington to let it into the global fi-nancial system.

In a visit to Tehran by a high-powered EU team in which both sides spoke of a significant ex-pansion in economic and energy ties, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mo-hammad Javad Zarif welcomed EU support for its bid to join the

World Trade Organisation and spoke of a “new beginning” in re-lations with Europe.

EU foreign policy Chief Fed-erica Mogherini, whose team of seven commissioners was the big-gest to visit Tehran in more than a decade, said it was in Europe’s interest to make sure European banks felt confident to do business in Iran. But she chided Tehran for holding ballistic missile tests de-spite last year’s nuclear deal and

said the EU would continue to stand firm on violations in Iran.

Following last year’s nuclear deal, world powers led by the United States and the EU lifted most sanctions on the long-iso-lated Islamic Republic in January in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. Despite the nuclear agreement, some US sanctions remain and US banks remain pro-hibited from doing business with Iran directly or indirectly because

Washington still accuses Tehran of violations.

Some European banks like France bank BNP Paribas or Ger-many’s Commerzbank AG, once hit by huge US fines for sanctions busting, fear falling foul of the many other restrictions imposed by Washington that remain in force. The White House said on Friday that the nuclear agreement did not include allowing it access to the global financial system.

“Iran and the EU will put pres-sure on the United States to facili-tate the cooperation of non-Amer-ican banks with Iran,” Zarif said at a news conference in Tehran with Mogherini. “It’s essential that the other side, especially the United States, fulfil its commitments not on paper but in practice and re-moves the obstacles especially in banking sector.”

WTO membershipZarif and Mogherini said in a joint statement that the EU and Iran were agreed on the expansion of economic relations, and “encour-aging banking cooperation.”

“EU will support and assist Iran to become a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO),” and will pursue open-ing a full EU diplomatic mission

in Tehran, the statement said. “Today is a new beginning in Iran and EU relations. We hope this cooperation between the Ira-nian nation and European Union brings about shared interests and global development,” Zarif was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA.

Mogherini, who headed a team of seven EU commissioners, said cooperation on energy would also be important as Iranian oil and gas would again become a part of the European energy mix and help in-crease the bloc’s energy security.

Iranian officials have com-plained their country is not get-ting the full economic fruits of the nuclear deal due to American “deceitfulness”, but Washington believes it has been Iran’s missile launches that have scared busi-nesses off. Since July’s nuclear deal, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has twice conducted ballistic missile tests and the US Treasury has in re-turn put new sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the pro-gramme. President Obama said this month that Iran had so far stuck to the nuclear agreement, but Tehran’s launch of ballistic missiles undermined the spirit of the deal. — Reuters

Despite the nuclear

agreement, some US

sanctions remain

and US banks

remain prohibited

from doing business

with Iran directly or

indirectly DEADLOCK: Iran’s Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, third

left, meets with European Union High Representative for Foreign

Affairs, Federica Mogherini, third right, and her delegation on Sat-

urday in the capital Tehran. — AFP

Gunmen from South Sudan kill 140 civilians in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia said on Saturday that gunmen from South Sudan had killed 140 peo-ple in a raid in its Gambela region, and that Ethiopian troops had crossed the border to pursue the attackers.

The attack took place on Friday in the Jakaya area that straddles the border, in a region that hosts alongside a neighbouring province more than 284,000 South Suda-nese refugees who fled conflict in the world’s youngest nation.

“One hundred and forty civil-ians died in the attack carried out by bandits that crossed from South Sudan,” a statement from the government communications office said.

“Ethiopian troops are pursuing the bandits inside South Sudan. Sixty of the assailants have been killed so far,” it added.

Civil warThe gunmen had no relation to South Sudanese government troops or rebel forces who fought the government in Juba in a civil war that ended with a peace deal signed last year, the body said.

South Sudanese officials were not immediately available for comment. — Reuters

C R O S S - B O R D E R R A I D

Turkey calls on Iran to join fight against terrorismANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday his country and neighbouring Iran must work together to nar-row their differences in order to tackle terrorism and sectarian-ism in the region.

Ankara and Tehran are on dif-ferent sides of Syria’s civil war, but they are looking to boost bi-lateral trade and improve bank-ing relations following the lifting of international sanctions on Iran in January.

Iran has stood by Syrian Presi-dent Bashar Al Assad since the start of the uprising against him, while Turkey has been one of his fiercest critics, supporting his opponents and giving refuge to rebel fighters.

“It is above all in our own coun-tries’ interest to strengthen our political dialogue and reduce our differences of opinion to a mini-mum,” Erdogan told a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, in Ankara. “We have to work to-gether to overcome the problems of terrorism and sectarianism and the related humanitarian crises that are shaking our re-

gion,” Erdogan said. Erdogan’s comments came a day after the Organisation of Islamic Cooper-ation (OIC), meeting in Istanbul, criticised Iran.

Despite the political divisions, Turkey could be one of the major beneficiaries as Rouhani, bol-stered by reformist gains in Feb-ruary elections, pursues plans to strengthen the private sector and welcome foreign investors.

$30b in bilateral tradeTurkey imports large amounts of natural gas from Iran and the two countries are looking to boost banking and trade ties, with the goal of tripling bilateral trade to $30 billion annually in the coming years.

“The situation is ripe for coop-eration between Turkey and Iran in the post-sanctions era,” Rou-hani said. “The most important part is closer ties between banks and credit lines.

We decided to improve bank-ing relations. Turkish banks can now establish branches in Iran to help facilitate economic rela-tions between the two countries,” he added. — Reuters

D I P L O M A C Y

DIALOGUE: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right,

speaks during a joint press conference with Iranian counterpart

Hassan Rouhani, left, following their meeting, at the presidential

complex, in Ankara, on Saturday. — AFP

Dilma seeks votes to

avert impeachment

BRASILIA: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff hunkered down at her residence on Saturday for last-minute negotiations with wavering lawmakers in an effort to secure crucial support the day before an impeachment vote.

Rousseff met with lawmakers behind closed doors in a bid to obtain their vote or abstention on

Sunday when the lower house of Congress votes on whether she should be impeached for break-ing the country’s budget laws.

The talks indicated that the ballot is tighter than expected as she seeks an estimated two dozen votes she needs to prevent a two-thirds majority in favour of impeachment. — Reuters

C R U C I A L S U P P O R T

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Pope gives refuge to 12 migrants on visit to Greek isle

LESBOS (GREECE): Pope Francis took three families of Syrian refugees back to Rome on Saturday after visiting the front-line of Europe’s migrant crisis at a camp in Greece where migrants wept at his feet, kissed his hand and begged for help.

At a sprawling fenced complex on the Aegean island of Lesbos, adults and children broke down in tears before the head of the Roman Catholic church, after their onward journey to Europe was cut short by an EU decision to block a migrant route used by a million people fleeing conflict since early 2015.

While borders have now largely been shut for migrants, Francis symbolically took a small group of refugees with him on his aircraft as he left the island after a five-hour visit.

“The Pope has desired to make a gesture of welcome regarding

refugees, accompanying on his plane to Rome three families of refugees from Syria, 12 people in all, including six children,” a statement issued by the Vatican said. The individuals were select-ed from lots drawn, media reports said. They had arrived on Lesbos before a deal between the EU and Turkey came into effect to halt the migrant flow on March 20 and were staying at a different, open camp on the island.

Sant’Egidio, a Christian com-munity which offers help for those in need and is headquar-tered in Rome, will be looking af-ter the families.

“It’s one way to show the entire world that we should accept refu-gees,” Petros Vasiliadis, a Greek biblical scholar and retired theol-ogy professor said of the pontiff’s gesture.”It may motivate other churches to do the same.”

Francis, leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, shook hands with hundreds of

people as hundreds more were penned behind metal barriers at the Moria camp, which holds some 3,000 people.

“Freedom, freedom,” migrants chanted as the pope walked through the hillside facility in scorching sun.

“I want to tell you, you are not alone,” Francis said in a speech at the camp.

“Do not lose hope!” he said, flanked by Patriarch Bartho-lomew, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, and Greek Archbishop Ieronymos.

Migrants slipped pieces of paper into his hand as Francis passed by, which he handed to an aide.

The pope has often defended refugees and urged Catholic par-ishes in Europe to host them.

His first trip after becoming pontiff in 2013 was to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, which, like Lesbos, has received thousands of refugees. — Reuters

The individuals

were selected from

lots drawn. They

had arrived on

Lesbos before a deal

between EU and

Turkey came into

effect to halt migrant

flow on March 20,

reports said

Many ordinary men and women have made available

the little they have and shared it with those who lost

everything. God will repay this generosity

Pope Francis

KIND HEARTED: Pope Francis greets a child during his vist to the

Moria detention centre for migrants and refugees near Mytilene

on the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday. — AFP/PRIME MINISTER’S OF-

FICE/Andrea Bonetti

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Sohar freezone plans to carry out key study

A E JAMESbusinesseditor@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Sohar freezone plans to carry out a study in the third quarter of this year to assess the global market scenario and how to take advantage of the country’s strategic location for developing a major logistics and redistribution hub for the region.

The freezone is evaluating cargo flows to device a marketing strategy for next expansion phas-es and chart-out a way forward.

“We are paying special atten-tion on logistics, warehousing ac-tivities, consolidation and distri-bution of goods. Our strategy for the future will look at how we can realise investments, especially in logistics and other industries,” Jamal Aziz, chief executive of-ficer of Sohar Freezone, told jour-

nalists on the sidelines of a sign-ing ceremony to develop a copper tube mill in Sohar.

Various scenarios“We are looking at various sce-narios at the world economy and how it is going to develop and from there look at our invest-ments, how we are going to invest in the years to come.”

He said the Sohar industrial port area and the freezone (which is a consolidated area) has at-tracted $26 billion worth invest-ment so far. “The number of units in the free zone is much bigger than the number of units in the port’s industrial area.”

Although the freezone authori-ties have internally prepared a master plan for the phased devel-opment of 4,500 hectares of land, there is a move now to align the

master plan with the changing global situations.The first phase (500 hectares) of the freezone is almost full and the authorities are embarking on expansion of the second phase.

Shift in focusHe said that there is a shift in fo-cus on attracting investments to the freezone.“Earlier, we were focusing a lot on commodities because the com-modity market was very good. Now the commodities markets are down. So, it makes more sense to look at inventories, warehousing, storage and distri-bution of goods. We also focus on connectivity to various markets,” explained Aziz.

Referring to the proposed food cluster within the free zone, he said that there will be some an-nouncements of projects, which will be part of the major projects that are already proposed to come up within the area.

The UAE’s Essa Al Ghurair In-vestment is planning to develop a redistribution hub in Sohar for the region. The creation of the Sohar Food Cluster Company will allow Essa Al Ghurair Invest-ments to focus on the develop-ment of value chains.

On the proposed silos project, he said that the Oman govern-ment is looking at various invest-ment models to develop the pro-ject and the work is expected to start either later this year or early next year.

Freezone is

evaluating cargo

flows to device a

marketing strategy

for next expansion

phases and chart-out

a way forward

Deal signed for $46m plantA E JAMESbusinesseditor@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Four business houses are forming a joint venture to build a major copper tube mill with an investment of $46 million in Sohar free zone.

The promoters have signed a land lease agreement with Sohar port and free zone for using 35,000 square metres of land.

Construction will commence later this year and the plant is due for start-up by mid-2018, with full production scheduled by October 2018.

With a capacity of 15,000 metric tonnes of high technology copper tubing per annum, this latest ad-dition to the burgeoning Freezone metals cluster will produce mainly inner-grooved copper tubes, as well as plain copper tubes. Both

these products are widely used in the manufacturing of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Investments in the plant, that total around $46 million, are to be split between four main share-holders — Middle East Investment Company, Mohsin Haider Darwish Invesco, Hussain bin Salman Ghu-lam Al Lawati, and Al Habib Hold-ings. > B3

C O P P E R T U B E M I L L

Jamal Aziz, CEO of Sohar Fre-ezone. - Jun Estrada/Times of Oman

JOINT VENTURE PROJECT: Construction will commence later this year and the plant is due for start-up by mid-2018, with full production scheduled by October 2018. - Picture by Jun Estrada/Times of Oman

NEXT CHIEF OF IMF India has told the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the next Managing Director of the top global financial body should be from an emerging economy and not from Europe, which traditionally has been the case. — PTI

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Private sector to invest OMR297m in Duqm zoneDUQM: Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (Sezad) awarded usufruct agreements to several local and international companies in the first quarter of 2016, to develop the zone and contribute to achieving economic diversification in the Sultanate.

The private sector companies said that they are going to pump about OMR297.5 million worth of investments.

The projects, when completed, will provide more than 11,000 direct jobs, in addition to many indirect jobs.

The new projects include a tourism façade that will com-prise hotels, commercial centres, residential areas, recreational centre, water park and other tourism facilities.

Duqm Marine Company will implement a marina over 741,000 square metres at an estimated

cost of OMR283 million. When completed, the project will create 800 job opportunities.

International schoolSezad also signed a land usu-fruct agreement with Al Taman Holding Company to build an international school called ‘Al Soud International School’ at a cost of OMR6.5 million includ-ing OMR4 million as construc-tion cost and OMR2.5 million as working capital investment.

The school, which will provide international education pro-gramme for Omani and non-Om-ani students, is expected to start operation in September 2018.

As per its feasibility study, the project will create 50 job oppor-tunities in the first year that will be increased to 124 and 183 at the fifth and tenth year of operation respectively. — ONA

F I R S T Q U A R T E R

Oman inflation shows marginal rise last month

MUSCAT: Inflation in the Sul-tanate increased by 0.11 per cent during March 2016 compared to the rate recorded in March 2015, according to the statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The inflation rate also dropped by 0.31 per cent com-pared to February 2016.

The increasing price index dur-ing last March compared to the index recorded during the same month in 2015 is attributed to the increasing prices of all main sets constituting the consumer basket.

The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group grew by 0.44 per cent and the transport group increased by 1.31 per cent. The furniture, home appliances and maintenance group grew by 0.8 per cent.

The education group, health

group, restaurants and hotels group, and goods and miscellane-ous services group grew by 3.03 per cent, 1.46 per cent, 0.18 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.

Foodstuff prices fallPrices of foodstuff and non-alco-holic beverages group fell by 1.38 per cent. Clothes and shoes group declined by 0.34 per cent. Goods and miscellaneous services group dropped by 0.06 per cent, commu-nications group declined by 0.12 per cent and culture and entertain-ment group fell by 0.24 per cent.

At the governorates’ level, the inflation rate during last March 2016 recorded a decline in the governorates of the Sultanate. The Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah witnessed a decline by 0.33 per cent in the inflation rate, followed by the Governorate of Al Buraimi

with 0.23 per cent, the Governo-rate of Al Dhahirah with 0.11 per cent, the Governorates of North and South Al Sharqiyah by 0.08 per cent.

The Governorates of North and South Al Batinah price index re-mained stable. The governorates of Muscat and Dhofar witnessed an increase by 0.29 per cent and 0.77 per cent respectively.

The general consumer price index (CPI) declined by 0.31 per cent in March 2016 compared to February 2016. Foodstuffs, non-alcoholic beverages, transport and shoes and clothes groups declined by 0.46 per cent, 1.02 per cent and 0.38 per cent respectively.

The restaurants and hotels, health, communication and edu-cation groups remained stable.

On the other hand, the housing, electricity, water, gas and other fuels groups increased by 0.01 per cent compared to 0.33 per cent for the furniture, home appliances and maintenance and 0.04 per cent for the goods and miscella-neous services group. — ONA

The increasing price index during March

compared to the index recorded in March

2015 is attributed to the rise in prices of all

main sets constituting the consumer basket

‘Modest’ global growth

a worry for G20 nations

WASHINGTON: Financial lead-ers from the Group of 20 nations have said they were heartened by a recent recovery in financial markets, but warned that global growth was ‘modest and uneven’ and threatened by weakness in commodities-based economies.

In a communique issued after their meeting in Washington, G20 finance ministers and cen-tral bank governors repeated their pledge to refrain from com-petitive currency devaluations, but offered no new initiatives to keep growth from stalling.

The G20 officials took a slight-ly more positive view on financial markets, which they said had mostly recovered from sharp sell-offs earlier this year and were in better shape since they last met in Shanghai in February.

“However, growth remains modest and uneven, and down-side risks and uncertainties to the global outlook persist against the backdrop of continued finan-cial volatility, challenges faced

by commodity exporters and low inflation,” they said.

Britain’s possible EU exitThe communique also pointed to Britain’s possible exit from the European Union, geopolitical conflicts, terrorism and refugee flows as complications for the global economic landscape.

The statement said G20 pledg-es to “use fiscal policy flexibly” to strengthen growth, job creation and confidence. It kept language that member countries “will con-tinue to explore policy options,” adding that they would be “tai-lored to country circumstances.”

“There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer” to boost growth, United States Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told a news conference, add-ing that each country needed to decide for itself how best to ap-ply structural reforms, monetary policy and fiscal spending.

But he emphasised that it was important for Japan and China to pursue structural reforms. - Reuters

E C O N O M Y

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

HOUSING PRICES INCREASE : The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group grew by 0.44

per cent and the transport group increased by 1.31 per cent. – Times file

DEVELOPMENT: Sezad signed a land usufruct agreement with Al

Taman Holding Company to build an international school called

‘Al Soud International School’ at a cost of OMR6.5 million. - ONA

Invest Easy wins top global honourfor e-servicesMUSCAT: Invest Easy project at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry won the first place glob-ally jointly with New Zealand, Denmark, Estonia, and Switzer-land, according to Unctad report, based on the easiness of delivering electronic services through one station, which is linked to various institutions.

Invest Easy won that position for its excellence in providing elec-tronic services to investors, en-trepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through one-stop-shop for e-methodology and e-registration of businesses, in addition to its goal of simplifying and streamlining all procedures and making the pro-cess of investing and doing busi-ness in the Sultanate more easy, transparent and with quality.

840 e-applicationsThe number of completed appli-cations in March stood at 2,389 through front counters of the Min-istry of Commerce and Industry, ‘Sanad’ offices, lawyer offices and audit offices. The number of ap-plications that were completed through Invest Easy amounted to 840 e-applications.

Invest Easy currently provides 64 electronic services through which the investor can finalise business applications, improve the availability of data, provide a comprehensive and integrated profile of the company through the traditional channels and the inter-net for all the parties involved and simplifying company registration procedures. — ONA

R E G I S T R A T I O N O F F I R M S

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Sohar plant to produce 30,000 tonnes of copper

Once operational, the new plant is expected to generate 30,000 tonnes of copper throughputs at Sohar Port and another 35,000 square metres of landside logistics volume. A further 30,000 square metres of land has been set aside to increase the plant’s capacity to 30,000 tonnes in the future.

The plant’s technology is most commonly known as ‘cast and roll’ and comprises three distinct production stages. The raw ma-terials, (copper cathodes) that are then formed directly into mother tubes, will be sourced from Iran or the local market.

Although the bear market in copper, driven by global oversup-ply and reduced demand in China continues to push global copper prices lower, this is yet another sign that Sohar is in the right place at the right time, according to Ja-mal Aziz, Sohar Freezone chief ex-ecutive officer.

“As Oman and its GCC neigh-bours take active measures to-wards diversifying their econo-mies, more investments are flowing into sectors such as infra-structure, real estate and hotels, driving significant demand for copper tubes in the construction industry; these tubes are the basic components for every freshwater and cooling system in the region.”

“It is estimated that the per cap-ita value of the GCC’s construction industry will increase from around $2,000 in 2014, to well over $3,000 by 2020, and this latest plant in So-har is ideally located to serve the region, ” Aziz added.

A G R E E M E N T

Bank Muscat logs net profit of OMR44m in first quarter

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flag-ship financial services provider in the Sultanate, posted a net profit of OMR43.8 million for the three months ended March 2016 com-pared to OMR43.3 million report-ed for the same period in 2015, an increase of 1.1 per cent.

The bank announced the first quarter 2016 results approved by the board of directors.

Net interest income from con-ventional banking and income from Islamic financing stood at OMR68.04 million for the three months of 2016 compared to OMR61.56 million for the same pe-riod in 2015, a rise of 10.5 per cent.

Non-interest income at OMR40 million was higher by 10.5 per cent

compared to OMR36.19 million for the three months ended March 2015. Operating expenses for the three month period ended March 2016 at OMR43.44 million was higher by 3.6 per cent as compared to OMR41.95 million for the same period of 2015.

Impairment for credit losses for the three month period in 2016 was OMR16.95 million as against OMR12.84 million for the same period in 2015. Recoveries from impairment for credit losses were OMR5.4 million for the three-month period in 2016 as against

OMR7.22 million for the same period in 2015. Share of income from associates for the first quar-ter of 2016 was a loss of OMR0.22 million as against a share of profit of OMR0.48 million for the same period of 2015.

Deposits increaseNet Loans and advances from conventional operation increased by 6.9 per cent to OMR6,917 mil-lion as at March 2016 as against OMR6,472 million as at March 2015. Customer deposits, in-cluding certificates of deposit

from the conventional opera-tions increased by 7 per cent to OMR6,974 million as at March 2016 as against OMR6,519 million as at March 2015.

Islamic financing receivables amounted to OMR665 million as at March 2016 compared to OMR432 million as at March 2015. Islamic Banking customer deposits amounted to OMR678 million as of March 2016 com-pared to OMR308 million as at March 2015.

The basic earnings per share for the quarter ended March

2016 was OMR0.018 as against OMR0.018 for the quarter ended March 2015. The bank’s capital adequacy ratio stood at 16.13 per cent as at March 2016 against the minimum required level of 12.625 per cent as per Basel III regula-tions issued by the Central Bank of Oman.

Net interest income

from conventional

banking and income

from Islamic

financing stood at

OMR68.04m for

the three months of

2016 compared to

OMR61.56m for the

same period in 2015

< FROM

B1

LOANS INCREASE: Net Loans and advances from conventional operation increased by 6.9 per cent to OMR6,917 million as at March 2016 as against OMR6,472 million as at March 2015. – Supplied photo

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

Ooredoo net profit rises 18 per cent in first quarterTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Ooredoo Oman achieved a net profit of OMR12.6 million for the first quarter of 2016, compared to OMR10.7 million for the same period in 2015, showing a rise of 17.8 per cent, the company said in a stock market filing.

According to the unaudited results, the company’s revenue increased by 11.5 per cent at OMR66.1 million for the first three months as against OMR59.3 mil-lion for the similar period last year

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Edbita) touched OMR37.3 mil-lion from OMR33.8 million, a gain of 10.4 per cent.

Ooredoo Oman’s mobile and fixed customers increased by 3.2 per cent at 2.80 million for the quarter ended March 2016 from 2.7 million in 2015 quarter.

C O R P O R A T E

Applications for customs exemption MUSCAT: Ministry of Commerce and Industry transferred electroni-cally, through Bayan System, all ap-plications for customs exemption to the Directorate General of Customs at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), to facilitate procedures for industrial institutions and companies.

Bayan system of the Directorate General of Customs will save time and effort to industrial investors, as Bayan System (one-stop sta-tion) provides the necessary com-mercial and industrial community facilities. - ONA

B A Y A N S Y S T E M

Saudi could hike oil output immediatelyRIYADH: Saudi Arabia could raise crude production by more than a million barrels a day imme-diately, said the kingdom’s Deputy Crown Prince, as he reiterated the nation would only agree to freeze production if all major producers including Iran do the same.

The world’s largest oil exporter could increase output to 11.5 mil-lion barrels a day immediately and go to 12.5 million in six to nine months “if we wanted to,” Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also chairman of the Supreme Council of Saudi Arabian Oil Company, said in an interview. The country pumped 10.2 mil-lion barrels a day last month, according to data.

If Saudi chose to raise investment in its oil industry, total production capacity could be increased to 20 million barrels a day, the prince said at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman’s private farm in Diriyah, the original home of the Al Saud royal family.

“I don’t suggest that we should produce more, but we can produce

more,” said the prince, who is the king’s son, second in line to the throne and a leading force in the country’s economic policy. “We can produce 20 million barrels of oil per day if we invested in pro-duction capacity, but we can’t pro-duce beyond 20 million.”

Record productionThe prince’s comments come as at

least 18 nations prepare to gather in Doha on Sunday to discuss freezing output at January levels in order to stabilise an oversup-plied market. He reiterated that Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a production cap would depend on the participation of other nations including Iran. Iran’s Oil Minis-ter has dismissed the prospect of joining the deal as ‘ridiculous’ as

the country boosts exports after the lifting of sanctions.

Saudi Arabia set a crude pro-duction record of 10.564 million barrels a day in June, exceeding a previous high in 1980, according to data the kingdom submitted to the Organidation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The country ramped up output after it led the group to change strategy in No-

vember 2014, fighting for market share instead of supporting prices by cutting production.

Saudi production has been steady at about 10.2 million since January — the proposed level of the freeze. Russia pumped 10.9 million barrels a day of crude and a light oil called condensate last month, also little changed from January, according to Energy Ministry data.

Saudi Arabian Oil Company has said it will press ahead with new developments and won’t cut in-vestments because of the plunge in crude prices.

The company is planning to complete an expansion of the Khurais oil field’s output to 1.5 million barrels a day in 2018.

Saudi Arabia is producing be-low its potential capacity because it only responds to demand, the Prince said. “If we produced more oil than there is demand, we would destroy many markets. So we con-sider supply and demand, and we look at any demand we receive and we deal with it.” – Bloomberg News

C R U D E P R O D U C T I O N

Europen bank not aiming to weaken euro against dollarWASHINGTON: European Central Bank (ECB) is unhappy with the United States dollar’s recent fall but accepts it as a natural consequence of the US Federal Reserve’s cautious eco-nomic outlook and sees no rea-son to act to weaken the euro, three ECB sources said.

A weaker dollar — it has shed 4 per cent against the euro since the beginning of March and 6 per

cent in the past year — is reduc-ing imported inflation in the euro zone, making it harder for the ECB to boost prices after repeat-ed bouts of negative inflation.

But with many big central banks easing monetary policy to stimulate sluggish economies, policymakers risk getting into costly currency wars, one ECB official said on condition of ano-nymity. - Reuters

C U R R E N C Y T R A D I N G

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FEATURES U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

THE $2 TRILLION MARKET for US exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is growing more opaque even as regula-tors warn the asset class is already too complicated for some investors.

Eaton Vance began offering a new type of ETF recently — called Eaton Vance Stock NextShares — that only reveals its underlying assets monthly, rather than the daily disclosure that’s common in the rest of the industry. Soon, that lag will get longer, as other fund issuers plan ETFs that discuss holdings only every quarter.

Separately, investors can now trade ETFs privately, outside the view of regulators, on Tradeweb Markets.

The ETF market has exploded in size, jumping 2 1/2 times in value since the end of 2009. Even before these Ea-ton Vance and Tradeweb innovations, US officials were already worried the business lacks sufficient transparency. Cracks in the system were revealed on August 24, when many equities didn’t open for trading, yet the ETFs that hold them did, causing confusion among in-vestors about their value.

Kara Stein, a US Securities and Exchange Commissioner (SEC), ear-lier this month expressed concern that the ETF market has already be-come too difficult for retail investors to understand.

ETF risks“I fear that the risk presented by some of these new products may not be fully understood by those who have invest-ed in them,” Stein said at a conference in Washington, speaking generally about new ETFs. “Indeed, even plain-vanilla, equity index ETFs may present risks that are not always anticipated or fully understood, as evidenced by the events of August 24.”

The Eaton Vance fund works like an actively managed mutual fund: Owners of the ETF share a claim to the stocks the portfolio manager buys. And those holdings remain secret for weeks or months at a time. But unlike a mutual fund, it can be traded throughout the day, not just once daily.

“It’s almost like these were prod-ucts designed for institutions, but

they’re easily available to retail in-vestors,” said Kevin McPartland, head of research for market struc-ture and technology at Greenwich Associates. “It’s certainly something to pay attention to.”

August 24 showed the danger of having inadequate information about what’s going on with the underlying holdings of an ETF. Hundreds of stocks didn’t immediately start trading at the beginning of the day, but ETFs that held them did, effectively untethering the funds from the value of their holdings.

A total of 12 investment managers including Hartford Funds, Pioneer In-vestments, Gabelli Funds and Victory Capital have agreed to sponsor similar ETFs with the NextShares brand.

‘Better results’“We’re not trying to develop product for the sake of developing product,” said Stephen Clarke, president of Next-Shares. “We’re trying to deliver better results to investors in active strategies.”

Elisabeth Kashner, director of ETF research at FactSet Research Sys-

tems, called the new asset class “a solution in search of a problem.” She added: “If you’re in ETF investor, the payoff is unclear.”

No ‘E’New ways to trade ETFs are sprouting up, too. Tradeweb is sidestepping the “E” in ETF by letting clients buy or sell US exchange-traded funds in private electronic auctions. Over-the- counter trading of ETFs is common in Europe, where markets are more fragmented than in the US, and Tradeweb has of-fered this service there since 2012.

Whereas ETFs began as a way for retail investors to gain exposure to asset classes that are typically meant for more sophisticated traders — such as oil, gold or corporate bonds — in-stitutional investors now want more access to the funds, said Adam Gould, Tradeweb’s head of US equity de-rivatives who oversees its US ETF platform. Similar to block trades, the electronic auction lets a user put up to five dealers in competition for a larger-sized deal than they could get on the

New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Stock Market.

“That results in better pricing” for investors, Gould said. Yet because the auctions bring two individual inves-tors together for a private trade, they aren’t considered alternative trading systems by the SEC, so they face no government oversight.

Tradeweb is majority-owned by Thomson Reuters with minority stakes held by banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs Group and Citi-group. Bloomberg, the parent company of Bloomberg News, competes with Tradeweb in offering ETF-trading ser-vices to its subscribers.

The average trade size on Tradeweb’s platform is 90,000 shares, with 55 per cent of trades in fixed-income ETFs and 45 percent in equities, Gould said. The speed of the electronic auctions and creating a more-efficient way to con-duct and manage the trades after the fact are advantages here, he said.

“A key question is, ‘How quickly do they need to get done?”’ Gould said. — ANNIE MASSA & MATTHEW LEISING/Bloomberg News

$2

TRILLION

EXCHANGE-TRADED

FUND

MARKET

IS

GETTING

EVEN

DENSER

B5S U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

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Performance heritage comes to life with new Porsche 911, 718 Boxster

ABU DHABI: Sporty perfor-mance, state-of-the-art technol-ogy and legendary design are at-tributes that best describe the new Porsche 911 and 718 Boxster, which were launched by the Stutt-gart-based car manufacturer last week in Abu Dhabi.

Embodying the brand’s ethos of producing standard-setting sports cars that offer everyday usability, both models demonstrated their performance qualities on the race track at Yas Marina Circuit, and around public roads of the emirate, says a press release.

During the launch event, Deesch

Papke, chief executive officer of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, commented: “We are proud to showcase two benchmark models that usher in a new era of Porsche sports cars. The 911 has won more races than any other model, while seamlessly balanc-ing exceptional utility. It embodies the sports car genes that have de-fined all Porsche models for over 50 years. The latest version is the most evolved to date.

“Meanwhile, 20 years on from its first introduction, our new road-ster also merges tradition with performance innovations. The 718 Boxster continues Porsche’s tra-dition of four-cylinder flat engine models, defined by legendary race cars of the 1950s and 1960s which won numerous races, including the renowned Targa Florio and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Descending from the original 718 RSK race car, the model is now more powerful, lighter and fuel efficient.”

With both models steeped in motorsport history, the 911 and 718 Boxster share an advanced fu-ture. New performance improve-ments and enhanced features en-able them to extend their lead and set standards within their respec-tive segments.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera

and Targa models feature a com-pletely new engine generation with bi-turbo charging, which raises the emotional driving pleasure and re-sults in an increase of 20 hp across the range. In the base model 911 Carrera this means 370 hp at the rear of the vehicle, boosting it from zero to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, whilst the Carrera S now develops 420 hp and completes the zero to 100km/h sprint in just 3.9 seconds.

Thanks to a 3.8-litre six-cylin-der bi-turbo engine, the 911 Tur-bo now delivers 540 hp, with the coupe model sprinting from zero to 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds. Mean-while, as a result of new turbo-chargers with larger compressors, the new Turbo S develops 580 hp and is the first production 911 to accelerate to 100 km/h in less than

three seconds, reaching the mile-stone speed in 2.9 seconds.

Sure to excite Porsche enthu-siasts are the refined exterior fea-tures of the new 911 models, which further enhance its iconic charac-ter. They include new headlights with four-point daytime running lights and a redesigned rear lid with vertical louvres, as well as distinctive four-point brake lights.

Meanwhile, the interior of the new models has been updated with the enhanced Porsche Com-munication Management (PCM) system, featuring a multi-touch seven-inch display, which offers a considerably expanded range of functions and intuitive controls similar to operating a smartphone.

The evolution and advance-ments are equally apparent in the

718 Boxster where the newly de-veloped engine sees substantial performance gains through seam-less harmonisation with the newly tuned chassis and stronger brakes, facilitating more passionate and sporty driving.

Under the bonnet the 718 Box-ster develops a blistering 300 hp from just 2.0 litres of engine dis-placement. The 718 Boxster S, on the other hand, now produces 350 hp from 2.5 litres of displacement, using a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. Porsche is the only manufacturer to offer VTG technology in production cars with petrol-driven engines, both in the 911 Turbo and in the 718 Boxster S. Both models feature a consider-able power gain of 35 hp compared to their predecessors and thanks to the new turbo engines, up to 13 per cent lower fuel consumption.

The 718 Boxster S now has a maximum torque of 420 Nm, whilst the base model offers 380 Nm. When equipped with Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) and Sport Chrono Package, the 718 Boxster sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 275 km/h. Featuring the same options, the 718 Boxster S reaches the 100-km/h mark in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of

285 km/h. In regards to its driving dynam-

ics, the new roadster emulates the original 718 sports cars. The car’s completely retuned chassis enhances cornering performance while its enhanced electrome-chanical steering system has re-sulted in the car becoming more agile and easier to steer, both on the race track and in everyday traffic. The exterior design of the Boxster has also been completely revised. Now featured at the rear is a new black accent bar, four-point brake lights and a widened rear wing, which has been aerodynami-cally optimised.

The front end of the roadster now has a wider appearance which incorporates larger cooling air in-takes, a distinct result of the new turbo-charged engine concept, as well as newly designed bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights. Await-ing the driver in the cockpit is the upgraded interior with new elements, such as the instrument panel and all-new PCM unit.

The new Porsche 911 and 718 Boxster represent the latest evolu-tion of Porsche sports cars and ex-emplify how unrivalled race track lineage can be matched with iconic styling and everyday usability.

Both models

demonstrated their

performance qualities

on the race track at

Yas Marina Circuit,

and around public

roads of the emirate

NDC campaign reaches out to over 35,000 students in Omani schoolsMUSCAT: National Detergent Company’s (NDC) campaign ‘Clean Oman’ has reached over 35,000 students in Omani schools. The initiative is supported by Min-istry of Education.

As of December last year, the campaign that commenced in January 2015 had reached 25,000 students, says a press release.

As part of the campaign NDC team visits Omani schools and briefs Grades V-VIII students about staying healthy at home and school. They also talk about ini-tiatives to make Oman cleaner and sustainable. After the briefing in each school, NDC team hands over samples of company’s premier product – Bahar – to the students.

As part of the ‘Clean Oman’ cam-paign, a Facebook contest for stu-dents has been initiated wherein they have to sketch their favourite Bahar product and post it on the

NDC’s Facebook page. Lucky win-ners will be rewarded with Sam-sung tablets and gift hampers. NDC handed over prizes to 21 winners of ‘Clean Oman’ drawing contest in December after selecting from hundreds of entries that were post-ed on the Facebook page. While 10 students received Samsung tablets, 12 others received gift hampers.

Anish Kumar, head of Mar-keting at NDC, said: “National Detergent’s strategy includes strengthening foundation of so-cial responsibility by launching initiatives for the welfare of all segments of society in line with our vision to become a sustainable utility. We support initiatives that protect the environment, and help

to achieve our long-term objective of achieving the sustainable devel-opment of Sultanate for genera-tions to come.”

“‘Clean Oman’ campaign under-lines our commitment to support-ing sustainable development efforts through environmental campaigns, programmes, and awareness initia-tives targeting young minds. We are overwhelmed by the support we receive from students for this cam-paign,” he added.

As a responsible corporate house of Oman, NDC has been involved in various social initiatives like using Omani transporters for its logistics activities and giving preference to use the services of Omani nationals at every possible step.

The company encourages local talent and motivates them to be-come self-employed by giving train-ing and jobs directly or indirectly related to the detergent industry.

‘ C L E A N O M A N ’

KPMG cleans Azaiba beachMUSCAT: KPMG staff organ-ised in coordination with Muscat Municipality, a beach clean-up exercise at Azaiba beach recently.

KPMG volunteers and sup-porters gathered at Azaiba beach in the morning and the volun-teers collected bags of trash and together removed debris from the Azaiba beach area.

Paul Callaghan, partner, KPMG in Oman mentioned that “KPMG’s people are passionate about the communities we live and work in. KPMG has been in-volved in various CSR initiatives over the years. This was our earth

friendly team gathering with the spirit of volunteerism to support the Muscat Municipalities’ ini-tiatives to keep Oman’s parks and beaches clean. The most pleasing part of the beach clean-up initia-tive is seeing KPMG working to-gether towards a common goal: protecting our environment. It’s important that people partici-pate so they can observe the ef-fects that litter and debris have on their communities. We ap-preciate how KPMG profession-als have participated to make a difference to the community and environment at large.”

C L E A N - U P I N I T I A T I V E

MEC now a member of AARU

MUSCAT: Middle East College (MEC) was awarded member-ship in Association of Arab Uni-versities (AARU) during its 49th General Conference held in Al Ain, UAE, recently.

MEC is one of the first higher education institutions in Oman to be part of AARU, the associa-tion which is based in Jordan with 280 member universities from 22 countries in the Arab world and one each from Denmark and the Netherlands, says a press release.

The membership opens up opportunities for Middle East College to connect and cooper-ate with universities in the Arab world for various academic inter-

actions for the benefit of its stu-dents and staff members.

“MEC always seeks to enhance its educational process to pro-vide an enriching and nurturing environment for its students. We were regularly interacting with AARU for various academic agendas before and the official membership now is a big step ahead for us. This would support us to seek cooperation with other educational institutions in the region and benefit from exchange of experiences and other related items to provide the best for MEC students,” said Al Hussain Al Mu-sawi, head of External Relations department at MEC.

A S S O C I A T I O N O F A R A B U N I V E R S I T I E S

Attractive benefits on stylish Infiniti QX60MUSCAT: Infiniti QX60 from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automo-biles has turned the luxury crosso-ver category inside out with its big utility and roominess.

As a stylish, luxury, three-row, seven seat Intelligent all-wheel drive crossover, the Infiniti QX60 is designed to excel in the areas that crossover buyers desire most – interior flexibility and roomi-ness, safety, and advanced hospi-tality features. The Infiniti QX60 offers real three-row utility, plus all the premium features and in-novations that Infiniti has become known for worldwide.

Infiniti’s ongoing seasonal cam-paign includes an array of benefits on its premium range of vehicles. This one-of-a-kind offer lasts till April 30, says a press release.

Known to be a trusted name among niche clients, Infiniti Oman

has always strived to be different and unique by offering unmatched services towards its patrons. In-finiti’s first of its kind promotion for this year includes high end ser-vices and packages making it one of the most admired and desirable brand of vehicles.

Offer highlights include: Assured cash gift: All customers

purchasing Infiniti QX60 will get assured cash gift up to OMR2,500.

Other benefits: Customers are eligible to get free periodic vehi-cle maintenance of two years or 30,000km (whichever is earlier); this offer excludes battery and wear and tear components.

Further benefits include free 1st year vehicle registration, six years/ unlimited mileage war-

ranty, free 1st year vehicle insur-ance (for Oman and UAE) (on MY15 models only) and free AAA / road assistance card for the 1st year only and as supported by AAA Oman and UAE.

Infiniti QX60 has seductive styling, break-through world first technologies, comfortable accom-modation for seven adults and an array of features which underline its position as a luxury vehicle.

Infiniti QX60’s innovative de-sign gives it both luxurious versa-tility and visual appeal. Conven-tion says these two elements are like ‘day and night’, representing polar opposites, but Infiniti has crafted them together seamlessly. The result gives the Infiniti QX60 two personalities: a comfortable, safe, versatile and feature-filled family vehicle by day and stylish, luxury car by night.

O F F E R S

B6 S U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

ROUND-UPAl Hashar honoured with Brand Excellence Award

MUSCAT: Tata Motors Limited recently honoured Al Hashar with the ‘Brand Excellence Award’ in recognition and appreciation of its outstanding performance in establishing Tata Motors brand in the Sultanate.

The over four decades long ties between Al Hashar and Tata Mo-tors touched greater heights with a consistent growth in sales.

Sultan Al Kharusi, managing director, Al Hashar Group, re-ceived the award at the Interna-tional Distributors Conference held in New Delhi, India recently, says a press release.

“The innovative market-ing strategies formulated by Al Hashar paved the way for winning the award from Tata Motors. The

support and patronage of our cus-tomers, the management of Tata Motors and our employees have resulted in our consistent growth,” said Al Kharusi.

“We are really honoured as the award was presented to Al Hashar in recognition of our consist-ent efforts to promote Tata Mo-tors brand across the length and

breadth of Oman,” he added.Tata Motors Limited is India’s

largest automobile company, with consolidated revenues of $42.04 billion in 2014-15.

Through subsidiaries and asso-ciate companies, Tata Motors has operations in UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa and Indo-nesia. Among them is Jaguar and Land Rover, the business compris-ing two iconic British brands.

The excellent sales performance by a team of professionals has earned Al Hashar the respect of its principals as well as industry in Oman. Al Hashar’s strong sales fo-cus helped them bag awards from renowned organisations around the globe.

Al Hashar is the sole distribu-tor of Tata commercial vehicles in Oman for over four decades. Every Tata vehicle in Oman comes with Al Hashar’s total back-up of high quality service, technical compe-tence and genuine parts across their nationwide network.

The innovative

marketing strategies

formulated by Al

Hashar paved the way

for winning the award

from Tata Motors

BTA trains OTC students

MUSCAT: Suhail Bahwan Group Holding (SBGH), represented by Bahwan Travel Agencies (BTA), trained a number of students from Oman Tourism College (OTC) on administrative tasks as part of their study programme such as ticketing operation, hotel reservation, organising inbound and outbound tourism pro-grammes and other tasks.

The students successfully completed the training pro-gramme organised in coordina-tion between BTA and Oman

Tourism College, and were awarded training certificates and stipends by Amal Suhail Bahwan, managing director and board member of SBGH, at a ceremony held at the head office recently, says a press release.

The interns appreciated and thanked the SBGH management and BTA officials who trained them. They highlighted the im-portance of such training pro-grammes, which help them in hon-ing their skills and prepare them for the Omani labour market.

I N T E R N S H I P

OIFC and Ooredoo sign debt recovery joint agreementMUSCAT: Oman Investment and Finance Co. (OIFC) and Ooredoo have signed a joint agreement re-cently, appointing OIFC as collec-tion agent for debt recovery ser-vices of Ooredoo.

This is an additional agreement to a previously signed agreement between both the parties for col-lections through OIFC branches and bill payment machines, says a press release.

The new spectrum of the joint associations would be aiming to widen the number of channels through which Ooredoo custom-ers be able to pay their bills via all OIFC’s 45 branches and outlets and its widely available network of bill payment machines across the Sultanate, while Ooredoo branch-es and outlets would continue of-fering their services to all.

It is worth mentioning that all Ooredoo bill payment transactions conducted at OIFC are instantly

reflecting in real time on their sys-tems. Both of the companies are high service oriented companies, which are continuously aiming to increase value-additions to their business practices and offering more convenient service.

For decades, OIFC has been well-known as a professional company specialised in billing operations and debts recoveries, which has established more than 35 years.

Customer satisfactionThis agreement would materi-alise the impact on level of cus-tomer satisfaction, as far as bill paying and recharge services are concerned. In addition, Ooredoo has authorised OIFC to take over unrecovered debts as an extended part of their agency agreement.

“We are always exploring ways to provide convenient and inno-vate ways for customers to both

connect with us and manage their telecoms services. By join-ing hands with OIFC, we are con-fident customers will enjoy yet another hassle-free service, one that will enable them to pay their utilities, telephone and internet bills concurrently. As one of the Sultanate’s leading investment and services companies, our new partners bring over three decades of experience and expertise that, when combined with Ooredoo’s landmark service, will deliver nothing but the best to our valued customers,” said Amaal Al Lawati, chief customer experience officer at Ooredoo.

Tahir Al Amri, the deputy CEO of OIFC added, “OIFC is aiming to integrate and synergise its business module; by creating more diversi-fied business outlook that would have win-win and win business for-mula; that keeps both our custom-ers and business partners happy.”

H A S S L E - F R E E S E R V I C E

Z-Corp supports school in YitiMUSCAT: In line with its strat-egy to give back to the community while creating a meaningful im-pact, The Zubair Corporation (Z-Corp) has extended its support to the activities of a school in Yiti.

Z-Corp has been making con-tinued endeavours to contribute positively to society. The group’s community initiative focuses on key areas of education, health-care, sports and employability among others.

As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, Z-Corp has always strengthened ef-forts to promote education which nurtures the future generations and supporting the school at Yiti comes as part of this strategy, says a press release.

Ibrahim Al Salmi, Social Com-munication manager at Z-Corp said, “Education is a priority area for our social engagement activi-ties. We recognise education as one of the building blocks of any nation. Schools play an important role in nurturing young minds and educating them, which in turn contributes in the nation’s development.”

Recognising the importance and significance of education, Z-Corp has undertaken a number of schools-related initiatives in the recent years.

Al Salmi said, “We have en-gaged in activities aimed at sup-porting schools, which are an integral part of children, who rep-resent our future.”

The group believes that the children of today are the future

shapers and builders of the coun-try. By supporting schools today, Z-Corp hopes to nurture tomor-row’s achievers in all fields.

Al Salmi said, “We continue to base our social engagement programmes according to com-munity needs aligning with the national development plan. Edu-cation is the backbone of every society in this world. That is why we see the importance of support-ing an initiative such as support-ing the school at Yiti.” The school authorities thanked Z-Corp for its support towards its activities.

Suleiman Al Rahbi, school prin-cipal, “Z-Corp has been positively contributing towards social well-being of the Omani community through their CSR agenda. By im-

proving the quality of life of the community, private sector compa-nies contribute to nation building. In line with this commitment and as a socially responsible organisa-tion, Zubair has contributed sig-nificantly in various programmes aimed at making a difference to the lives of students.”

The teacher added, “We are ex-tremely grateful for the support from Z-Corp for our school pro-jects. Our students will be the end beneficiary of this support. Their support confirms their commit-ment to empowering communi-ties. The company undertakes its corporate responsibility as a genuine expression of goodwill towards society and we are grate-ful for their backing.”

C O M M U N I T Y I N I T I A T I V E

ICT Security seminar in MayMUSCAT: With the continuous state of change in the worldwide cyberthreat scenario, organisa-tions face attacks and security breaches that are increasing in numbers and ever more complex every day.

To prepare yourself to protect, detect and act, OmanAd’s semi-nars and conference division, is planning to host two days semi-nar on ICT Security in May, says a press release.

The keynote speakers will be Jorge Sebastiao and Javed Ab-basi, renowned speakers in their respective subjects.

“Apart from security threats increasing in sophistication and frequency, there is a whole host

of targets: everything from nor-mal desktop PCs and laptops, to smartphones and tablets to Web apps. The upcoming seminar will discuss how to defend your or-ganisational ICT security — from today’s evolving threats. The seminar will cover topics on how to develop and implement a rock-solid security management plan,” claims the organiser.

Based on your organisation’s needs, environment, business processes, and security goals, ex-perts in the upcoming seminar can provide insights to help you implement the right solutions to address your critical risks and protect your operations from the cyber threats.

C Y B E R T H R E A T

Nuhas launches FRC 500 cablesMUSCAT: Nuhas Oman, Sul-tanate’s leading and most inno-vative cable manufacturer, has taken another leap forward by launching its special range of FRC 500 fire resistant cables during MEEE 2016, Dubai and OGWA 2016, Oman Exhibition Centre, Muscat.

The FRC cables produce neg-ligible smoke and toxic fumes, which are the major causes of death in case of fire. This step demonstrates the leadership position of Nuhas as a change agent introducing new and rev-olutionary products in the GCC markets, says a press release.

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Ooredoo stores all set to become smartphone hubs

MUSCAT: Inspiring tomorrow with better services and choices, Ooredoo has announced plans to permanently transform all of its 40 retail branches into device desti-nations as part of its commitment to offer smartphone enthusiasts in Oman best-in-class handsets.

Any customer will soon be able to purchase a wide range of smart-phones including market-leading devices from Apple, Samsung, LG and Xiaomi by simply visiting any Ooredoo store across the Sultan-ate, says a press release.

Feras Al Sheikh, director of Consumer Sales at Ooredoo, said, “At Ooredoo, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of mar-ket trends and customer needs, striving constantly to introduce the right solutions and services to

meet their evolving demands. We want our customers to not only re-ceive added value when choosing their call and data plans, but to also enjoy a world of choice when se-lecting smartphones that suit their lifestyles. The demand for smart-

phones in Oman is continuously on the rise and now, anyone visit-ing an Ooredoo store can enjoy the best of both worlds by choos-ing feature-rich and value-packed handsets or the most cost-efficient bundles in the market or both.”

Over the last 12 months, Oore-doo has launched a number of ser-vices tailored to smartphone en-thusiasts. Ooredoo had announced a special promotion for its Comex visitors, offering them discounts on the latest smartphones when signing a 12-month contract for any of its new Shahry Plans.

Additionally, the company signed a deal to distribute Xiaomi smartphones, becoming the first mobile provider in the Sultanate to offer their cost-effective and high-ly functional handsets.

Any customer will

soon be able to

purchase a wide

range of smartphones

including market-

leading devices from

Apple, Samsung, LG

and Xiaomi by

simply visiting any

Ooredoo store

Bank Sohar expands ATM

network in Ibri and Buraimi

MUSCAT: Bank Sohar, as part of its initiatives to bring added banking convenience to its cus-tomers, has recently added two more off-site ATMs to its com-prehensive network, bringing the total Bank Sohar ATM count countrywide to 49.

The two new ATMs are located at Lulu hypermarkets in Ibri and Buraimi, says a press release.

Sharing his views on the two new ATMs, Khamis Masoud Al Rahbi, senior AGM of Branches and Retail Sales at Bank Sohar said, “The introduction of these two new off-site ATMs at Lulu hypermarket at both; Ibri and Buraimi, is a direct result of cus-tomer feedback requesting for additional ATMs in the region. Following careful consideration and research into locations fre-quented by our customers, the

management decided on the hy-permarkets as the ideal locations; one that will provide optimal convenience and maximise the benefits of these machines to a majority of our customers living in the area.”

In addition to the robust ATM network, Bank Sohar will also continue to bolster its robust ATM and branch network in the future and increase customer touch points through various other channels, enabling cus-tomers to undertake their bank-ing transactions with ease and convenience. Such initiatives have not only been witnessed through the introduction of these two new ATMs, but also through the relatively recent Bank Sohar Avenues Mall branch opening which provides services during evening hours.

B A N K I N G C O N V E N I E N C E

NBO to host ‘pitch stage’ of Innovation in SME AwardMUSCAT: National Bank of Oman (NBO) will host the pres-entation stage for four shortlisted teams in the second edition of the Innovation in SME Award at the Higher College of Technology, Al Khuwair, on April 26.

At the event, each of the teams will present their business ideas to a distinguished panel of judg-es, which will include Ahmed Al Musalmi, chief executive officer of NBO, as well as an audience of their student peers.

A unique competition designed to inspire a new generation of en-trepreneurs and support the Sul-tanate’s wider economic diversi-fication agenda, four teams were shortlisted out of many applicants to compete in the final stage of the Innovation in SME Award. The winning team will receive OMR10,000 from NBO to further develop an innovative business idea to benefit Oman’s economy, says a press release.

Al Musalmi commented: “The second Innovation in SME compe-tition is a further illustration of the bank’s dedication to Omani youth and supporting the Sultanate’s

long-term economic future. At NBO, we believe that SMEs are a fundamental pillar within Oman’s economy; however, access to capi-tal is often considered a roadblock for successful ventures to mature.

“Equally important is the ac-cess to expert mentoring and guidance. The Innovation in SME programme is designed to act as a bridge, helping to provide the im-petus for aspiring businesspeople to realise their dreams.”

In 2015, Eureka Company, a group of students from Sultan Qa-boos University, walked away with OMR10,000 to further develop an

innovative business idea to benefit Oman’s economy.

Its winning business concept aims to convert kinetic energy into useful electricity through a power shoe.

The competition reflects NBO’s belief in creating a culture of in-novation to advance Oman’s economy and the wider commu-nity. It was open to all full-time un-dergraduate university students in Oman, with talented students spending months developing an innovative and promising busi-ness idea related to an eclectic range of sectors.

U N I Q U E C O M P E T I T I O N

Al Hashar brings new Doosan DISD wheel loaders to OmanMUSCAT: Al Hashar, the ex-clusive distributor of Doosan construction equipment in the Sultanate, has brought the highly efficient Doosan DISD wheel loader SD300 to Oman.

Termed as the profit maker this reasonably priced machine pro-vides excellent value for money. The Doosan DISD wheel loader SD300 is an integral part of the Doosan portfolio serving diverse customer needs in important emerging markets like Oman, says a press release.

Customers in the construc-tion business can safely invest in Doosan DISD and watch their productivity and profits grow.

The DISD wheel loader inte-grates world-class technology with the proven Weichai - a highly efficient and environment friend-ly engine. It saves fuel, improves cooling performance and main-tains power for bearing heavy load. The engine satisfies Tier-II emission standards.

DISD transmission enhances the power train and the DISD ax-les provide durability.

The highly reliable compo-nents and anti-abrasive mate-

rial not only improve the dura-bility of the machine, but also enhance work efficiency and extend service life.

Spacious maintenance area allows for quick and convenient maintenance work with a con-venient top end maintenance management system.

The universal cabin features a human oriented design and uses high-grade material of in-ternational standards, provides adequate space, wide vision area,

comfortable operating space and adjustable steering wheel.

It offers a quiet comfortable working environment with excel-lent air-conditioning and air cir-culation. This streamlined design also broadens the rear visual field of the operator, improving not only work but also safety.

Equipped with better safety, easy access to key daily check-points and enhanced service in-tervals, the DISD Wheel Loader SD300 reduces operating cost.

C O N S T R U C T I O N E Q U I P M E N T

Park Inn Duqm appoints new hotel managerMUSCAT: Park Inn Duqm an-nounced the appointment of Ahmad Daghmash as the new hotel manager.

With more than 15 years ex-perience in hospitality indus-try, Daghmash began his career with the Rezidor Hotel Group in Oman and has since then ac-quired a strong knowledge base spanning from front office and reservations operations, says a press release.

“Ahmad is one example of how we value the career devel-opment within our brand. We grow talent and retain the em-ployees who excel in their fields to be a role model to others,” said Rabih Zein, cluster general manager for Park Inn Muscat and Park Inn Duqm.

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Gambhir’s KKR too good for Sunrisers

HYDERABAD: Brilliant bowling by the pace duo of Umesh Yadav and Morne Morkel, followed by skipper Gautam Gambhir’s superb half cen-tury, powered Kolkata Knight Rid-ers to a comprehensive eight-wick-et win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match here on Saturday.

The Knight Riders took early control by reducing the Sunrisers to 50 for four in 10 overs before Eoin Morgan led the fight-back with a breezy 51 off 43 balls to help the hosts, who elected to bat first, reach a respectable 142 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.

The visiting team made a fan-tastic start in the run-chase with openers Robin Uthappa (38) and Gambhir (90 not out) putting on 92 runs for the first wicket.

There was no stopping the Knight Riders charge after the fine start and they reached the target in 18.2 overs with Gambhir remain-

ing unconquered on a well-made 90 off just 60 balls, embellished with 13 fours and a six.

Gambhir finished off the game in style by hitting a boundary off Karn Sharma to take the team to 146 for two with 10 balls to spare.

Opting to bat after winning the toss, the Sunrisers lost four of their top five batsmen with only 50 runs on board, including that of skipper David Warner’s (13) wicket.

They were revived by Morgan and Naman Ojha (37 off 28 balls)

as the duo put on a solid fifth wick-et stand of 67 runs together off just 47 deliveries to take the team to a respectable total.

Pace duo of Umesh (3/28) and Morkel (2/35) did their job to per-fection as they ran through the Sunrisers top order.

Out-of-form opener Shikhar Dhawan (6) was the first to depart in the third over when KKR wick-etkeeper Uthappa took a smart catch off Morkel’s bowling.

Warner, who got a life in the

very first over of the match as he benifitted from a no ball delivery, failed to capitalise on it and gave away his wicket to Umesh with fielder Suryakumar Yadav diving forward to grab it.

Warner’s 13 off 12 balls included two boundaries.

Brief scores: Sunrisers Hy-derabad 142/7 in 20 overs (E. Morgan 51, N. Ojha 37; U. Yadav 3/28, Morne Morkel 2/35) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 146/2 in 18.2 overs (G. Gamb-hir 90 n.o., R. Uthappa 38). - PTI

Gambhir’s superb half

century powered KKR

to an eight-wicket

win after Umesh

Yadav and Morkel

helped the team to

restrict Sunrisers to

142 for 7

Upbeat Delhi Daredevils face stiff challenge from RCBBENGALURU: Riding high after an emphatic victory against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), a rejuvenated Delhi Daredevils (DD) will aim at posing a serious challenge to a formidable Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) when the two teams square off in an Indian Pre-mier League (IPL) encounter, here on Sunday.

After being battered in the first game, Daredevils have comeback strongly with an eight-wicket win

over KXIP but they will now be facing RCB, who have also notched up a comprehensive 45-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening game.

On paper, RCB is a far better side with the most prolific batting line-up in IPL that boasts of skip-per Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Shane Watson.

Not to forget the presence of young talent Sarfaraz Khan and do-mestic heavyweight Kedar Jadhav.

But, Delhi has experience in their bowling ranks with Zaheer Khan leading the pack showing what is still left in his armoury. Currently India’s best leg-spinner, Amit Mishra has time and again risen upto the occasion as he did against KXIP with figures of four for 11.

Together, they will like to stop RCB from going all-out on a ground, whose boundaries are too short for comfort.

De Villiers (82) and Kohli (75)

added a whopping 157 runs in their win against Sunrisers and it will be a challenge for Mishra and Zaheer to stop the duo from sending them on a leatherhunt.

Elusive titleBut, it is the Delhi batting that will be put to test as they floundered in the first match getting all-out for 98 and then went untested in the second game as the target was a meagre 112.

Looking for an elusive title, RCB will like to come out all guns blaz-ing. For academic interest, RCB are placed second in the league table with two points from a game whereas Delhi have identical points, having played a game more.

With the league just starting off, the points table is of little or no consequence.

Kohli, who set Chinnaswamy Stadium on fire by scoring a 51-ball-75 against Hyderabad, will

like to carry on the good form for his team. Considered as one of the best batsmen in the world at pre-sent, Kohli has been in supreme form, having amassed 273 runs in five ICC World T20 matches, bag-ging the ‘player of the tournament’ award, apart from being named captain of the ICC World XI.

De Villiers, who cracked 82 off 42, would also like to continue the good work he had been doing for the franchise over the years. - PTI

P R E V I E W

90*runs from 60 balls

13 fours, 1 six

GAUTAM GAMBHIR

Gujarat Lions outclass MI for thrid win in rowMUMBAI: Riding on a superb bowling performance followed by Aaron Finch’s unbeaten 67, Gujarat Lions outplayed Mumbai Indians for a three-wicket vic-tory at the Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday to keep their winning run intact in the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Batting first, Mumbai lost wickets at regular intervals and could manage only 143 for eight in 20 overs. Parthiv Patel (34) was the top scorer for the hosts.

In reply, in-form Finch showed his class yet again as he struck seven boundaries and one six in his 54-ball innings as Lions chased down the target posting 147 for seven in 20 overs to regis-ter their third straight win of the season.

Mitchell McClenaghan (four for 20) was the pick of the bowl-ers for Mumbai.

Chasing a challenging target of 144, Lions lost hard-hitting opener Brendon McCullum (6) in the second over itself but his opening partner Finch and in-coming batsman skipper Suresh Raina (27) played sensibly from there on without losing any more wickets to take the team to 42 for one after the completion of powerplay.

The duo brought up their 50-run partnership for the second wicket in just 38 balls to keep the team on track for their third win of the season.

But the 53-run partnership came to an end when McClena-ghan brought the much needed breakthrough to keep Mumbai in the game as he dismissed Raina in the ninth over to have Lions at 65 for two.

Soon after the wicket of Raina, Lions suffered two successive blows with Dinesh Karthik (9) and Dwayne Bravo (2) getting out in the 12th and the 13th over to put Mumbai back into the game. Gujarat were 83 for four then.

Despite wickets falling at the other end, opener Finch held on sensibly to keep alive Gujarat’s hopes of chasing the target down.

Akshdeep Nath (12) after hit-ting one boundary too fell cheap-ly in the 17th over to put Mumbai back into the game.

But Finch didn’t panic in the pressure situation as he brought up his half century in 46 balls.

McClenaghan came up with two quick wickets in the 19th over, dismissing James Faulkner (7) and Praveen Kumar (0) to keep hopes alive. Finch, how-ever, held on along with Dhawal Kulkarni (6 not out) to take the team over the victory line.

Earlier put into bat, Mumbai Indians lost skipper Rohit Shar-ma (7) cheaply in the second over itself to have the hosts on the backfoot.

Hardik Pandya (2), who was yet again sent into bat at number three, failed to make an impact as he got out to have Mumbai strug-gling at 19 for two in 3.3 overs.

However, Rohit’s opening part-ner Parthiv and incoming bats-man Jos Buttler (16) held on to help the team reach 31 for the loss of two wickets in the powerplay.

Brief scores: Mumbai Indi-ans 143/8 in 20 overs (Parthiv Patel 34; Pravin Tambe 2/12, Dha-wal Kulkarni 2/19, Dwayne Bravo 2/39) lost to Gujarat Lions 147/7 in 20 overs (Aaron Finch 67 n.o.; Mitchell McClenaghan 4/21, Jas-prit Bumrah 2/32). - IANS

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Rosberg secures pole, Hamilton at the back

SHANGHAI: Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for the Chi-nese Formula One Grand Prix but Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamil-ton will start from the back of the grid after suffering engine trouble in qualifying on Saturday.

World champion Hamilton failed to set a time and did not even make it past the opening session after a lack of power forced him back into the pits.

The Briton, who will start Sun-

day’s race with a new power unit, took to the track to attempt a lap despite having complained to his team early on over the radio.

Hamilton, who last mounted the top step of the podium at the U.S. Grand Prix in October, arrived in China hoping to turn the tables on his German colleague.

Championship leader Rosberg has won the last five races, includ-ing both 2016 grands prix, and

holds a 17-point advantage over his teammate.

Triple champion Hamilton, car-rying a five-place grid penalty for changing his gearbox, was already on the back foot as he looked to add to his record four Chinese victo-ries with a third successive Shang-hai win on Sunday.

Rosberg, who last started at the front in the 2015 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, clocked

one minute and 35.402 seconds to seize a 23rd career pole and first of the season.

It was also the ninth straight pole for Mercedes.

Ricciardo secondRosberg ended up more than

half-a-second clear of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo who was a sur-prise second.

Kimi Raikkonen was third quick-est and Sebastian Vettel fourth in an all-Ferrari second row. Ferrari had set the pace in all sessions this week, including the first two phases of qualifying, but their challenge faltered when it mattered.

Qualifying reverted to the 2015 format after the much-maligned rolling elimination system intro-duced this year was abandoned.

Saturday started in damp condi-tions and was halted twice.

The first stoppage lasted 20 minutes as marshals dried up wet patches on the track after Manor rookie Pascal Wehrlein crashed.

The second delay came when Nico Hulkenberg’s front left wheel came off his Force India.

Stewards deemed the German had been released from the pits in an unsafe condition and handed him a three-place grid drop. He will start in 13th spot. - Reuters

Rosberg holds a

17-point advantage

over Hamilton, who

failed to set a time

and did not even

make it past the

opening session after

a lack of power forced

him back into the pits

ON THE POLE: Nico Rosberg

Kings XI Punjab hope for turnaround against Pune SupergiantsMOHALI: Kings XI Punjab need to put up a strong show to bounce back from two successive defeats when they take on Rising Pune Supergiants in an Indian Pre-mier League (IPL) contest here on Sunday.

KXIP, who started their cam-paign at the Punjab Cricket As-sociation’s I.S. Bindra Stadium here against Gujarat Lions on Monday, crumbled to their sec-ond loss in as many games in an eight-wicket thrashing against Delhi Daredevils on Friday.

So far, they have failed to impress in every department. Against Delhi, they could only score 111 for nine, while in the match against Gujarat, they got off to a fine start thanks to Murali Vijay and Manan Vohra before the middle-order dropped its guard.

The main reason for their bat-ting failure is due to the disap-pointing show from the main-stays — David Miller and Glenn Maxwell. While South African Miller has scored 24 runs so far, Australian hard-hitter Maxwell has made two runs.

Their best batsman has been Vohra, who has 70 runs in two matches -- but the Punjabi right-hander doesn’t have a game that can change the course of a match. His opening partner Vijay

too hasn’t shown the charisma. That’s why it is important that both Miller and Maxwell fire.

“Out batting top-order needs to click to turn the things around in the coming matches. We have not been able to do that,” Miller assessed after the match against Delhi.

Susceptible bowlingTheir bowling too, has been susceptible. Retired Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson is not the bowler he used to be, while young medium pacemen Mohit Sharma and Sandeep Sharma have been inconsistent.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel has been Kings XI Punjab’s best bowler but he hasn’t go support from the other end to make any kind of impact.

In this case, Miller may drop Australian left-handed bats-man Shaun Marsh and bring in all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who played the game against Li-ons, scoring 33 runs and picking a wicket.

Punjab’s opposition, Pune too has been coming off a seven-wicket loss to Gujarat. Mahendra Singh Dhoni-captained Pune was impressive in its opening match but showed a lot of chinks in its armour in the second. - IANS

P R E V I E W

Petit doubts French World Cup victoryPARIS: Nearly two decades after winning the 1998 football World Cup, French former international Emmanuel Petit has expressed doubts about whether the hosts cleanly won the FIFA competi-tion or the victory in the final was the result of match-fixing.

“Several weeks ago I said did we really win the World Cup in 1998 and it was not a small settlement? I know nothing,” the scorer of the

third goal in that final against Bra-zil said in a web documentary.

The former player of Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea however defended the commit-ment of the French squad then led by Didier Deschamps.

“We, on the ground, really de-livered against our opponents. We did everything to win, we prepared for it,” said Petit, who stressed that the doubts that assail him lately

are in response to the scandals re-lated to the world of soccer.

The player cited as an example, the first match of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when the hosts beat Croatia 3-1, as the first goal was scored after 69 minutes with a penalty that generated a high-profile controversy. “With every-thing going on today... I have come to ask: Were we puppets used to push the economy?” he said. - IANS

F O O T B A L L

Indian boxing body to hold electionsNEW DELHI: The days of turmoil in Indian boxing seem finally headed for an end with the country’s administrators on Saturday deciding to hold fresh elections on May 8 to put to-gether the Boxing Federation of India as the new national body.

In a meeting of the stakehold-ers in Kolkata, it was unanimous-ly decided to hold the elections on May 8, a good six days before the end of the deadline set by the tough-talking International Box-ing Association (AIBA).

“The elections will be held on May 8 and the process will have the support of the Indian Olym-pic Association (IOA). The venue of the elections is still to be final-ised. The nominations will now be sent to the International Box-ing Association, which will take a call,” a top official present said.

The race for the President’s post is likely to be a three-way showdown between Delhi’s Ro-hit Jain, who narrowly lost out on the Secretary General’s position in the now defunct Boxing India, and former Secretaries Rakesh Thakran and Rajesh Bhandari.

The development would come as massive relief for the country’s boxers, who are facing expulsion from the Olympics if a new federation does not take shape by May 14. - PTI

B O X I N G

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Al Hail CT hoping to promote cricketMUSCAT: Al Hail Cricket Team is hoping to ‘bring the cricket into limelight’ at the Oman Sports Conference and Exhibi-tion which is scheduled to start on Monday.

In a press statement Al Hail CT Manager Moula Bakhsh Al Balushi said: “This is the second year running that Al Hail Cricket Team has the privilege to partici-pate in this prestigious event, on the kind invitation extended by the Ministry of Sports Affairs.”

“Al Hail Cricket Team’s par-ticipation is important to bring the sport of cricket into lime-light, specifically from the point of view of Omani players. With our participation, we hope to re-brand our team and academy that we have already started, and also help encourage new players to take up this glorious sport.

“We would like to thank the Ministry of Sport Affairs for tak-ing the lead in providing such a platform for showcasing all sport activities in the Sultanate.”

The exhibition will take place at the Oman International Exhi-bition Centre and the timings are 10 am to 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

“Every person that visits the exhibition will help develop the sporting spirit which will en-courage the Ministry to organise such events at regular intervals,” the statement said.

“It will also help us to achieve our goal to build a credible pool of talented Omani-expat cricketers who will be able to serve the best interests of cricket in Oman in the future and bring glory to our beloved Sultanate of Oman,” the statement added.

C O N F E R E N C E & E X H I B I T I O N

Suleiman wins Al Sifa

Off-Road Triathlon

MUSCAT: Omani triathlete Suleiman Al Alawi took the top honours at Al Sifa Off-Road Tri-athlon organised by Oman Tri-athlon Team here recently.

In the event that included a 500m swimming section, 15km mountain biking and 4km run-ning, Suleiman clocked one hour, 20 minutes and 47 seconds to emerge the overall winner.

Oliver Boast timed 1:20:42 to take the second place ahead of Mike Hart, who had to settle for third place in 1:24:12. Sally Hart completed the swim, cycle and run sections in 1:34:05 to take the top place in the ladies category while finishing seventh overall.

The organisers thanked Race Director Paul Vlaarkamp for a great effort in designing an ‘amazing race course’.

The organisers also thanked Global Edventures (Gecko Camp) and the marshalls Michel, Hillary, Irene, Frans, Andrea, Marko, Chantal and Pritte for the success of the event.

A T H L E T I C S

Suleiman Al Alawi

Jazz Boys to host FRiENDi Mobile Summer Cup

MUSCAT: Jazz Boys Cricket Club will organise the annual FRiENDi Mobile Summer Cup cricket tournament from May 6.

The matches will be played on two weekends at Al Ghubrah Power Plant lush green grounds.

The tournament will have two categories, men (16 teams) and women’s (8 teams).

The tournament is mainly sponsored by FRiENDi Mobile, Al Hajiry Group, Strabag Oman, Tile Marine, Khurshid Trading and The Body Shop. FRiENDi Mobile’s COO Adnan Alawi, CEO Alex Bennett, Marketing Director Eugen Comendant, Brand Man-ager Joseph Rajan and Vaishali Jesrani, Oman Cricket’s woman’s cricket coordinator, attended the launch of the Summer Cup trophy.

The tournament draw will be conducted at 8.00 p.m. on April 30 at Palm Restaurant in Al Khuwair in the presence of all the team captains, managers and sponsors.

Men’s teams who have reg-istered their entries are Rain Riders, Ruwi Kings, Asfandyar XI, Royal Challengers, Future Oilfield, KLAIR XI, OEC, Glob-

al Money Exchange, Rahil XI, New Mangloreans, Masters XI, Khurshid Beatrice, Cheers XI, Al Dasser Friends, Sialkot Stallions and Mangalore United Muscat.

C R I C K E T

Al Nahdha beat PDO, Hydrotech bag title

MUSCAT: Al Nahdha recorded an eight-wicket victory over PDO in an Al Ansari Group of Companies-sponsored B Division match at the Municipality Ground II during af-ternoon session on Friday.

Batting first, PDO scored 123 for seven in 20 overs. Aaqib Aslam top scored with 35. Arif Hussain claimed three wickets for Al Nah-dha. In reply, Al Nahdha scored 128 for two in 11.2 overs with Ba-bar Malik top scoring with 53 runs.

Brief scores: PDO 123/7 in 20 overs (Aaqib Aslam 35; Arif Hussain 3/21) lost to Al Nahdha 128/2 in 11.2 overs (Babar Malik 53). Points: Al Nahdha – 3, PDO – 0.

OCT Mabellah beat RK Group In a G Division match, OCT Ma-bellah coasted to a 51-run win over RK Group at the Municipality Ground III.

Batting first OCT Mabellah scored 132 for eight in 20 overs with Asad Mohammed top scor-ing with 36. Jeel claimed three

wickets for RK Group. In reply, RK Group were bundled out for 81 in 14.5 overs. Sharif Pindook claimed three wickets for OCT Mabellah.

Brief scores: OCT Mabellah 132 in 20 overs (Asad Mohammed 36; Jeel 3/30) bt RK Group 81 in 14.5 overs (Sharif Pindook 3/19). Points: OCT Mabellah – 3, RK Group – 0.

Hydrotech championsHydrotech International emerged the champions of J Division with an emphatic 30-run win over Ideal International. Put into bat first, Hydrotech scored 183 at end of 20 overs with Khurram Rashid Top scoring with a 39-ball 55-run knock. The other contributors were Sadhik (24 runs), Sandeep

(22) and Mohsin (25). In reply, Ideal were restricted to 153 in 20 overs. Mohammed Asjad and Khurram took three wickets each for Hydrotech.

Techno Elevators win In a J Division match, Techno El-evators defeated Mani’s Azad by 22 runs. Batting first, Techno Eleva-tors scored 196 for nine in 20 overs. Mainuddin Abul top scored with 50. Romail David claimed three wickets for Mani’s Azad. In reply, Mani’s Azad scored 174 for nine in 20 overs. Abrar Hussain top scored with 48. Nadeem Abdul claimed three wickets for Techno Elevators.

Brief scores: Techno Elevators 196/9 in 20 overs (Mainuddin Abul 50;

Romail David 3/25) bt Mani’s Azad 174/9 in 20 overs (Abrar Hussain 48; Nadeem Abdul 3/33). Points: Techno Elevators – 2, Mani’s Azad – 0.

NBO down MSE In a H Division match, NBO defeat-ed MSE by nine wickets. Batting first, MSE scored 115 for nine in 20 overs. Baiju Gopal top scored with 50. Sidharth Oza claimed three wickets for NBO.

In reply, NBO scored 118 for one in 10.5 overs. Samuel Kett top scored with 59.

Brief scores: MSE 115/9 in 20 overs (Baiju Gopal 50; Sidharth Oza 3/15) lost to NBO 118/1 in 10.5 overs (Samuel Kett 59). Points: MSE – 0, NBO – 3.

Batting first, PDO

scored 123 for seven

in 20 overs. In reply,

Al Nahdha scored 128

for two in 11.2 overs

J DIVISION: Members of the Hydrotech team celebate after sealing the title. – Supplied photo

B DIVISION: Al Nahda after their eight-wicket victory over PDO. G DIVISION: Mabellah celebrate their 51-run win over RK Group.

C4

SPORTSS U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

Australia outplay India to lift Azlan Shah CupIPOH: India suffered a 0-4 drub-bing in the final against reigning world champions Australia who captured their ninth Sultan Azlan Shah Cup title here on Saturday.

Thomas Craig (25th and 35th minutes) scored twice before Matt Gohdes, playing in his 150th match, scored in the 43rd and 57th minutes as Australia produced a stirring high-pressing game.

It was Australia’s fourth Azlan Shah Cup title in six years, while five-time champions India claimed their second runners-up finish in the annual tournament. India had finished runners-up in the 2008 edition, to Argentina.

Earlier in the bronze medal match, New Zealand defeated Ma-laysia 5-4 via penalty shootout. New Zealand scored twice in the final quarter to equalise 3-3 as the match headed to the shoot-out.

In the final between last year’s silver medallists Australia and 2015 bronze medallists India, the former started strongly, executing their high-pressing game to good effect. They even had their centre-back and captain Mark Knowles going all over the Indian goal to attack.

However, Indian defenders did well to close down the space and didn’t allow any genuine field goal chances in the first quarter.

Australia got their first chance in the ninth minute when Craig’s hit kissed the leg of S.K. Uthappa and they were awarded a penalty corner. Andy Hayward’s drag-flick went inches away, much to the re-lief of the Indian camp.

Australia continued to attack and Craig ended the deadlock in the 25th minute. After receiving a cross from the left, Craig resisted Jasjit Kular and Danish Mujtaba before

moving away to create space and shoot the ball home. It was Craig’s third goal of the tournament.

Till this time, the Indians had hardly threatened the Australian goal and when they mobilised their troops ahead, Australia caught them off-guard, sneaking in in a

flash to earn a penalty corner.However, Blake Govers’ flick

was dismissed by the Indian de-fence and in the counter, they got their first chance. But Mandeep Singh’s deflection off a long square pass was wayward.

Trailing by a goal, India pressed

high for the equaliser and managed to earn a penalty corner, executed by Harmanpreet Singh which was blocked by Andrew Charter.

India’s positive mobilisation turned awry when Craig added his second goal in a counter-at-tack. Australia brilliantly used the wings to create space and Simon Orchard’s pass at the far post was met by a diving Craig, who man-aged to beat Indian goalkeeper Akash Chitke.

India, on the turn, launched a fierce counter-attack that saw the ball almost being cleared by Chris Ciriello. It earned India a penalty corner but Rupinder Pal Singh’s drag-flick was dismissed by Char-ter and his army of defence.

India conceded their third goal in the 43rd minute when midfield-er Matthew Swann was involved with Chitke and as the Indian goal-

keeper and the Australian both fell down, Eddie Ockenden snatched the ball and passed it to Gohdes, who employed a reverse-hand strike to make it 3-0.

Gohdes made it 4-0, thanks to an error from India’s changed goalkeeper Harjot Singh. Gohdes received a diagonal pass on the left to execute another left-hand strike that was half-heartedly defended by Harjot, leading to the fourth goal.

With this goal, Australia be-gan to celebrate the title triumph in front of a nearly packed Azlan Shah stadium.

In the presentation ceremony, Australia’s Blake, who scored four goals, was declared the player of the tournament. Pakistan’s Arslan Muhammad Qadir scored six goals — maximum in the tournament and walked away with the young player of the event award. - IANS

H O C K E Y

Nadal sinks Murray to set up final with Monfils

MONTE CARLO: Rafa Nadal continued his resurgence with a thrilling 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over world number two Andy Murray on Saturday to set up a Monte Carlo Masters final against Gael Monfils.

Eight-time champion Nadal has struggled since losing the 2013 final to Novak Djokovic but overcame a strong early showing from Murray to book a spot in Sunday’s final.

Monfils beat eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 6-3 to be-come the first Frenchman to reach the Monte Carlo final since Cedric Pioline in 2000.

“It’s great to be back in the fi-nal,” said Nadal. “Every year is different; I’ll never be the same as I was in 2009 or 2013, I want to play better every day.”

Monfils, the 13th seed, twice broke Tsonga to tear into a 3-0 lead before closing out the first set 6-1, as his opponent struggled to rouse himself. The second set continued much as the first had ended and Monfils raced into a 4-1 lead be-fore Tsonga, perhaps drained after a testing quarterfinal victory over Roger Federer, began to discover his rhythm. - Reuters

T E N N I S

Real ease to victory at GetafeBARCELONA: Real Madrid moved to within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona after Karim Benzema, Isco, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo all scored in a 5-1 thrashing at struggling Getafe on Saturday.

Benzema opened the scoring on 29 minutes by tapping home from close range and then laid on the pass for Isco to double the lead in the 40th. Bale got the third five minutes after the restart, tak-ing his league tally to 16 goals this season, his best since moving to Madrid in 2013.

Pablo Sarabia pulled one back for Getafe in the 84th when he curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area, but Rod-riguez added another for Madrid, before Ronaldo tapped in with the final kick of the game. Madrid have 75 points and provisionally move ahead of city rivals Atletico, who play Granada on Sunday, when Barcelona host Valencia.

Getafe drop to the bottom of La Liga on 28 points with five games left of the season.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane made three changes to the team

that beat VfL Wolfsburg 3-0 on Tuesday to reach the Champions League semifinals, resting Ca-semiro, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric for Rodriguez, Isco and Raphael Varane.

Benzema put them ahead, vol-leying Rodriguez’s cross into the bottom corner for his 22nd league goal of the season. The French-

man played a one-two with Isco to allow the Spanish midfielder to get the second. Bale grabbed his goal by racing into the area from the right and curling the ball left-footed into the far corner.

James scored after dazzling a Getafe defender, and substitute Jese set up Ronaldo to tap in the fifth in stoppage time. — Reuters

L A L I G A

TAP IN: Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, second left, tries to tap

the ball during their La Liga match with Getafe Colisseum Alfonso

Perez in Getafe on Saturday. – Reuters

Villa relegated as Sunderland and Newcastle boost survival hopes

LONDON: Former European champions Aston Villa had their fate confirmed and were relegated from the Premier League with a ninth straight defeat on Saturday as north-east rivals Sunderland and Newcastle United both won to boost their battle against the drop.

Villa, who had not been relegat-ed since the Premier League be-gan in 1992, had their fate finally sealed when they lost 1-0 at Man-chester United where teenager Marcus Rashford scored the only goal in the first half.

Sunderland improved their chances of staying up by beating Norwich City 3-0 at Carrow Road while Newcastle fuelled their sur-vival hopes with a 3-0 win over Swansea City at St James’ Park.

With the top three — Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Ar-

senal — not playing, all the atten-tion was focused on the bottom of the table where Norwich remain in 17th place on 31 points, nerv-ously looking over their shoulders.

Woeful recordSunderland’s victory moved them on to 30 points, one point behind Norwich with a game in hand, while Newcastle also closed the gap, moving on to 28 points.

They have also played a game fewer than Alex Neil’s side.

Villa, who have only won three

of their 34 league matches, have 16 points and have long seemed condemned to finishing bottom and falling out of the top flight for the first time since 1988.

Villa had won only one of their last 40 league matches against United and there was never any indication they were going to im-prove on that woeful record.

United, who had Wayne Rooney back in their starting lineup for the first time since mid-February, were totally dominant.

Rooney, who has recovered

from a knee problem, did not score as he often has against Villa in the past, but showed no signs of injury during his 67 minutes on the field.

The only goal came from Rash-ford, who took his tally to seven goals in his 12th United appear-ance with a well-taken shot after 32 minutes.

Sunderland kept up their fight to avoid the drop after a first-half penalty from Fabio Borini put them ahead at Norwich before Jermain Defoe and Duncan Wat-more wrapped up the points with goals in the second half.

Jamaal Lascelles, Moussa Sissoko and Andros Townsend scored Newcastle’s goals against Swansea, who are almost certain-ly safe on 40 points.

There was drama at The Haw-thorns where Watford beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 after Saido Berahino missed two second-half penalties for the home side.

Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes guessed correctly both times, saving the first penalty in the 67th minute and the second in the 87th. Ben Watson scored the only goal, volleying home a near-post corner in the first half.

Everton drew 1-1 with South-ampton. - Reuters

Villa, who had not

been relegated since

the Premier League

began in 1992, had

their fate finally

sealed when they lost

1-0 at Manchester

United where

teenager Rashford

scored the only goal

in the first half

MATCH WINNER: Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, second right, celebrates after scoring a goal

against Aston Villa during their Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday.

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

HealthSECTIONC L I F E S T Y L E S U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

Are you having a hard time dealing with your child detected of low in-

telligence quotient (IQ)? While there may be several causes for it, exposure to a common chemical called phthalates found in household items could be one of the many reasons. It is time to completely wipe out this dangerous chemical from our lives.

Phthalates are everywhere, and several researches have documented their menac-ing health impacts which is a common chemical found in many household articles. Children exposed during pregnancy to elevated lev-els of phthalates have been shown to have an IQ score of 6 to 6 points lower than chil-dren who were not signifi-cantly exposed to these chem-icals — so say researchers. Talking about this Dr A. Sita-

lakshmi, gynaecologist and infertility specialist at, Badr Al Samaa Hospital said that phthalates are a widely used industrial chemical which is found all around us and chil-dren are uniquely vulnerable to phthalate exposures.

“They are added to PVC plastic products to make them softer and are found in wires and cables, vinyl flooring, rain-coats, dashboard and steer-ing wheel of your car, plastic utensils and in so many items. Almost all perfumed products including air fresheners, insect repellents, deodorants, deter-gents, lipstick, and nail polish contain phthalates. Many med-ical devices like IV drip bags and tubes are full of phthalates. The list of materials containing phthalates is endless. Phtha-lates are rarely listed as ingre-dients on products in which they are used,” she informed.

Researchers studied 328 women and their children from New York and assessed the women’s exposure to phtha-lates in the third trimester of pregnancy by measuring levels of the chemicals’ metabolites in urine.

“Children were given IQ tests at age 7. And the results showed significant drop of IQ of about 6 to 7 points in children who had been sub-jected to greater exposure in the prenatal period. A six-or seven-point decline in IQ may have substantial impact on academic performances and the future occupational po-tential,” she added.

So how to keep oneself safe from phthalates?

“Avoiding phthalates com-pletely is not practically possi-ble,” said Dr Sitalakshmi.

Researchers recommend pregnant women to take steps

to limit the exposure, which includes several precautionary measures.

Pregnant women should avoid using scented products as much as possible, which include air fresheners, and deodorants. They should also avoid having food in a plastic container or heated in a mi-crowave. Care should be taken not to use recyclable plastics labelled as 3, 6 or 7.

Eat fresher food and fewer canned food especially those packed in plastic.

“More studies are being con-ducted in these areas to find out if there is really a cause effect relationship, but it would not be wise to wait for the results of the studies to come out before we take steps to limit exposure to this harmful substance,” cautioned Dr Sitalakshmi.

–swati@timesofoman.com

Get phthalates out of your diet

Don’t put your food in or on

plastic containers. While

there are some plastic that is

phthalates proof it is impossible

to know which containers

contain phthalates and which

do not. Instead choose glass

food storage containers or those

made of stainless steel.

Don’t heat food in a plastic

container as it leaches

more phthalates.

Eat diets rich in plant foods.

Fruits and vegetables have

lower levels of phthalates.

Also try to include organic food

in your regular meals

and choose low-fat meat

and dairy.

Avoid processed foods.

LOW

IN CHILDREN? It could be Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates

Story Swati Dasgupta

FIND-IT-ALLC6 S U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

Dhuhr 12.11pmAsr 3.39pmMaghrib 6.34pmIsha 7.47pm Fajr (Tomorrow) 4.26am

PRAYER TIMINGS

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PHARMACIES (ROUND THE CLOCK)

Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24782666

Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi 24702542

Salalah 23291635;

Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra 24503585

Muscat Region

Apollo, Al Hamriya 24787766

Muscat, A Seeb Market 24421691

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Dhofar Region

Muscat, Al Nahdha Road,

Salalah 23291635

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Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre

24485052

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Ruwi 24811743/

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Ruwi 24563641

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Sohar 2683006

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Laboratory 24566435

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Coordinance Centre 24499434

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Hamriya 24787766, 24787780

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Ruwi 24799760/1/2

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Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5

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Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666

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22004000, 94267068/97049520

Al Hayat Clinic, Al Hail 22009455

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Muscat Airport Flight information

(24 hours) 24519456/24519223

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LISTINGS

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

Dept Destination Arrival Operatingtime time days

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36)

15:00 Quriyat 16:30 Daily

15:00 Sur 18:00 Daily

15:00 Jaalan 19:30 Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 Sohar 08:50 Daily

06:30 Buraimi 11:00 Daily

08:00 Buraimi 14:30 Daily via Ibri

13:00 Sohar 15:45 Daily

13:00 Buraimi 17:40 Daily

16.00 Sohar 18.35 Daily

16.00 Buraimi 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

17:30 Sinaw 20:50 Daily

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

14:30 Nizwa 16:50 Daily

14:30 Yanqul 19:30 Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

08:00 Nizwa 10:20 Daily

08:00 Al Araqi 12:30 Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

07:30 Sur 12:00 Daily

14:30 Sur 18:45 Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62)

06:30 Fahud 10:30 Daily

06:30 Yibal 11:15 Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100)

07:00 Salalah 20:00 Daily

10:00 Marmul 20:30 Daily

10:00 Salalah 23:30 Daily

19:00 Salalah 07:40 Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

06:00 Marmul 16:50 Daily

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102)

15:00 Dubai 07:00 Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201)

06:00 Sohar 08:30 Daily

06:00 Dubai 11:30 Daily

13:00 Sohar 15:30 Wed,Thur

13:00 Dubai 18:30 Wed,Thur

15:00 Sohar 17:35 Daily

15:00 Dubai 20:55 Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily

07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily

07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

Dept Destination Arrival Operatingtime time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily

05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily

05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

07:00 Sohar 08:55 Daily

07:00 Ruwi 11:40 Daily

13:30 Ruwi 20:20 Daily via Ibri

13:00 Sohar 14:55 Daily

13:00 Ruwi 17:40 Daily

13:00 Sohar 19:20 Daily

17:00 Ruwi 22:15 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

07:00 Ruwi 10:25 Daily

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

06:00 Nizwa 08:40 Daily

06:00 Ruwi 11:00 Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

15:40 Nizwa 17:55 Daily

15:40 Ruwi 20:20 Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

06:00 Ruwi 10:45 Daily

14:30 Ruwi 19:00 Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

12:30 Fahud 13:15 Daily

12:30 Ruwi 17:30 Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100)

07:00 Ruwi 19:50 Daily

10:00 Marmul 13:15 Daily

10:00 Ruwi 22:30 Daily

19:00 Ruwi 07:30 Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

06:00 Marmul 16:30 Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

15:00 Salalah 07:00 Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201)

07:30 Sohar 10:50 Daily

07:30 Ruwi 13:40 Daily

13:00 Sohar 16:15 Thur-Fri

13:00 Ruwi 19:10 Thur-Fri

15:30 Sohar 18:45 Daily

15:30 Ruwi 21:35 Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily

16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily

16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

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Criminal (Action|Crime | Drama) (15+)Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot2:45, 7:45, 9:15 & 11:30PM

Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (3D) (Action, Adventure) (PG12)Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams5:00PM

MUSCAT GRAND MALLThe Jungle Book – 3D (PG) Adventure Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley12:15, 2:15, 4:15, 6:15 PMGold Class – 6:15 PM

Fan – 2D (PG12) Hindi| ThrillerCast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi3:30, 6:30, 8:15, 11:15 PMGold Class – 3:15, 8:15, 11:15 PM

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Criminal (Action|Crime | Drama) (15+)Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot2:30, 8:45 & 11:15PM

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AZAIBA Batman vs Superman:Dawn of Justice (3D) (Action |Adventure | Fantasy) (PG12) Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams3:45, 11:45 PM

Fan (Hindi) (2D) (Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Ileana D’Cruz 2:45, 5:40, 8.30, 10:00, 11:30 PM

Rocky Handsome (2D) (Action) (12+) Cast: John Abraham, Shruti Hassan3:45, 11:45 PM

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Theri (Tamil) (2D) (Comedy | Action) (12+) Cast: Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu

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The Jungle Book (3D) (Adventure) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley3:00, 5:00, 7:00 PM

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Theri (Action) - Tamil –12+Cast: Vijay, Samantha, Amy Jackson, Prabhu6.45, 9.45 PM

SURFan (Hindi, Thriller) (PG12)Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Mariola Jaworska, Ileana D’Cruz 3:15, 8:15, 11:15 PM

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Criminal (Action | Crime | Drama) (15+) Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot.9:55, 11:55 PM

SOHARBatman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice– 2D (Action, Adventure, Fantasy) (PG12)Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams3:00PM

Criminal– 2D (Action, Crime, Drama) (15+)Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot3:00, 5:15, 9:30, 11:45 PM

The Dead Room – 2D (Horror, Thriller) (15+)Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Jane, Kate Bosworth10:00, 11:55 PM

The Squad Aka (ANTI GANG) – 2D (Fantasy, Horror, Thriller) (15+)Cast: Jean Reno, Alban Lenoir, Caterina Murino 5:15, 11:45PM

The Jungle Book – 3D (Adventure, Drama, Family) (PG)Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley3:15, 5:45, 7:30PM

Fan-2D (Crime, Drama, Thriller) (PG12)Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Mariola Jaworska2:45, 6:00, 8:00, 11:00PM

Theri – 2D (Romance, Comedy) (12+)

Cast: Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Amy Jackson7:00, 9:00PM

BURAIMIThe Squad Aka (ANTI GANG) -2D (Action, Drama)Cast: JeanReno, AlbanLenoir, Caterina Murino.11:45PM

Fan (Hindi, Thriller)Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Mariola Jaworska5:15, 8:15, 11:15PM

The Jungle Book (3D)Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley.4:30, 7:30PM

CriminalCast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot5:15, 6:30, 9:30, 11:30PM

Their (Tamil) Cast: Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Amy Jackson8:45PM

SALALAHThe Jungle Book (3D) (PG) (Adventure | Drama| Family) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley1:00, 4:30, 6:30PM Fan (2D) (PG12) (Thriller) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi3:00, 6:00, 9:00, 11:15PM Criminal (2D) (15+) (Action| Crime | Drama) Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9:00, 11:30PM The Squad Aka (ANTI GANG) (2D) (15+) (Action | Drama)Cast: Jean Reno, Alban Lenoir, Caterina Murino2:45, 11:55PM

Theri (2D) (12+) (Tamil) (Action)Cast: Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Amy Jackson8:30PM

CINEMA SCHEDULE CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 3 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CINEMA | BOX-OFFICE COUNTER OPENS 30-MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCREENING OF THE FIRST SHOW

@PANORAMA MALL @ RUWI

Criminal (Action|Crime | Drama) (15+)Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot2:30, 8:45 & 11:15PM

Fan (Hindi| Thriller) (PG12)Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Ileana D’Cruz 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM

BAHJA CINEMAFilm information 24540856 / Advance Booking

24540855

Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

Fan (Hindi) (Drama / Thriller)Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Waluscha De Souza, Shriya Pilgaonkar1.00, 3.45, 6.30, 9.15 & 11.45 PMCP No: 1100 (PG12)

Criminal (Action / Crime / Drama)Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot2.00, 4.00, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 PM. CP No: 1101 (15+)

Mr. Right (Action / Comedy / Romance)Cast: Anna Kendrick, Sam Rockwell, Tim Roth6.00 PMCP No: 1094 (15+)

STAR CINEMAFilm information 24791641 / 24786776

Website: www.isurf.co.om

Theri (Tamil) (Action & Drama) Cast: Vijay & Samantha 3:00, 6:30 & 9:30PM Cinema Main Fan (Hindi) (Action\Thriller) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan & Ileana D’Cruz 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30 PMCinema -2

Darvinte Parinamam (Mal) (Comedy \ Drama) Cast: Privthviraj & Chandini Sreedharan 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 PM Cinema -3

Sardaar Gabbar Singh ( Telugu) ( Action) Cast: Pawan Kaltan & Kajal Aggarwal 3:45 PM Cinema -4

Maheshinte Prathikaram (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Fahad Faasil & Anusree 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -4 Next Change: Kali (Mal) Sarrainodo (Telugu)

Programmes are subject to change

@ MGM

The Jungle Book – 3D (PG) Adventure Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley12:15, 2:15, 4:15, 6:15 PMGold Class – 6:15 PM

WEATHER

330

Maximum

260

Minimum

TEMPERATURE

70-30%RELATIVE HUMIDITY

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

WITH LOVE

VISHAL NEELApril 17, 2002

AMEERA ALIApril 16, 2003

LIFESTYLEC7S U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

You would think that public hygiene protocol would be a standard, taught in kin-

dergarten, reviewed in middle school, and essential for your col-lege diploma. Yet, more often than we care to admit, both knowing and remembering social “dos” and don’ts proves a challenge for even the best of us.

Stay classy and clean with a few simple tips on how to display good public hygiene.

Cover your Mouth This one is so simple we feel it deserves the first spot on the list. Hearing you sneeze or hearing you cough is one thing. Asking someone to feel you sneeze or feel you cough is entirely another. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneez-ing. Keep your hands clean by using your upper arm as your shield.

One Tissue Doesn’t Conquer AllFeeling under the weather? Look-ing and feeling your best can be truly difficult when your sinuses are working against you. Do your best to show your care for pub-lic hygiene by following the little guidelines you can still muster do-ing, like washing your hands regu-larly, using hand sanitiser, and re-fusing to reuse and reuse the same tissue while in public.

Watch for Bad Habits Unfortunate habits, like biting your nails, playing with your hair, or picking at your face can work against that clean, sophisticated image you desire. These habits are also a way that unwanted grime, oils and bacteria can spread from different areas on your body and eventually onto any object you

touch. Do your best to keep your hands away from the top half of your body whenever possible.

Launder Laundry is no fun, but there are few public hygiene no-nos worse than dirty clothes. Pick one day of the week to be laundry day and stick to it. Invest in a dependable iron and ironing board, and carry a stain remover in your purse or bag.

Use SpittoonFor smokeless tobacco users, a small, spill-proof portable spittoon is an essential and the ultimate display of good public hygiene. Fortunately, for these individuals, there’s FLASR, an Atlanta-based company that specialises in exact-ly that. The FLASR spittoon has a chic design that is pocket-size and features a secure locking mecha-nism to avoid messy mishaps. For more information about FLASR, visit www.flasr.com. -NewsUSA

Magnesium plays role in regulating body’s internal clock

Magnesium in our diet has an un-expected role in regulating body’s in-ternal clock and metabolism, finds a study. “Although the clinical relevance of magnesium in various tissues is be-ginning to garner more attention, how magnesium regulates our body’s inter-nal clock and metabolism has simply

not been considered before. The new discovery could lead to a whole range of benefits spanning human health to agricul-tural productivity,” added senior study author John O’Neill of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. Magnesium — a nutrient found in many foods — helps control how cells keep their own form of time to cope with the day-night cycle. The discovery is expected to be linked to the body clock, which influences the daily cycle of sleeping and waking, hormone release, body temperature and other important bod-ily functions in people. Researchers used molecular analysis and found that concentrations of magnesium rose and fell in a 24-hour cycle in all cell types and that this impacts on the cells’ internal clocks.

Scientists control heart cells with laserIn a first, scientists have found a way to control the behaviour of heart muscle cells using laser radiation - paving the way to develop better understanding of the heart’s mechanisms to treat conditions like acute arrhythmia which is responsible for causing one in eight deaths globally. “Right now, this result may be very useful for clinical studies of the mechanisms of the heart and in the future, we could potentially stop attacks of arrhythmia in patients at the touch of a button,” said study co-author Konstantin Agladze from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

How obese individuals can sustain weight lossMaintaining stability in losing weight is the biggest struggle for obese individuals. However, according to a new study, if a person can sustain weight loss for a year, his or her body can adapt to the new regime. The findings showed that if an over-weight person were able to maintain an initial weight loss — in this case for a year — the body would eventually ‘accept’ this new weight and thus not fight against it, as is otherwise nor-mally the case when an individual is in a calorie-deficit state. At the end of a successful year of weight loss maintenance, the blood glucose levels of two appetite inhibiting hormones (GLP-1 and PYY) showed an increase from the before-weight loss level. In contrast, hunger hormone ghrelin, which reported an increase immediately after the start of weight loss, returned to normal levels. This showed that the hormones are able to ad-just in the continuation of a new and lower body weight. -IANS

B R I E F S

Proper Hygiene in Public

More often than we care to admit, both knowing and remembering social “dos” and don’ts proves a challenge for even the best of us.

5 Myths and One Truth About the Cold and FluSome people are always on the move. Their weekend be-gins with a list of things to do. Lunch hours are time to squeeze in a visit to the gym or go for a sale. Each day is a marathon of activity.

If this is you, then you know nothing is worse than getting knocked down by a cold. Sitting on the couch, waiting to feel bet-ter while you could be running er-rands, working out or any number of things, is beyond frustrating.

Speaking with a doctor isn’t al-ways convenient when you’re sick, so many reach out to friends and family, desperate to find some way to feel better. More often than not, the home remedies they’re given are nothing more than old wives’ tales.

A better plan of action is to turn

to your pharmacist for help. Often more accessible than a doctor, all you have to do is walk up to the counter and ask them for expert advice. If you’ve ever wondered how to prevent a cold or how to feel better when you do have one, reg-istered pharmacist and health ex-pert, Jim Morelli, is here to weigh in on some of the most pervasive cold and flu myths, and point you to what really works.Myth 1: Going outside with wet hair can make you sick.Pharmacist’s take: Going out-side with wet hair can make you physically cold, but it will not cause a cold. It takes a virus to make you sick, which is contracted through exposure to germs.Myth 2: Feed a cold, starve a fever. Pharmacist’s take: Fevers do not

respond to food. That being said, it’s always a good idea to maintain hydration and nutrition when sick. Myth 3: Chicken soup can cure the cold or flu.Pharmacist’s take: Chicken soup is not a cure for anything but hunger. However, there is some evidence it can be beneficial when you have a cold or the flu because it is hydrating and contains needed electrolytes.Myth 4: The flu shot causes the flu. Pharmacist’s take: The flu shot is actually a killed virus so it is not live. It cannot give you the flu. Even the weakened virus in the nasal spray vaccination should not cause the flu. Some people experi-ence what is called a “serum sick-ness” from vaccinations, but this is a short lived period of feeling lousy

as opposed to the actual flu.Myth 5: Avoid dairy when sick.Pharmacist’s take: Unless you are taking a tetracycline antibi-otic, typically used to treat respira-tory tract and intestine infections, dairy is fine when you are sick. In some individuals, dairy can upset the stomach if they’ve got a bug.

While it might be disappointing to hear that chicken soup doesn’t actually cure a cold, the upside is there is an actual way to feel better.

Morelli recommends stock-ing your cabinet with cold and flu medicine, and the pharmacist recommended brand to treat your worst cold and flu symptoms is Ad-vil Cold & Sinus.

Unlike a number of home reme-dies, it will actually help make you feel better, sooner. -BPT

H E A L T H N O T E

LIFESTYLEC8 S U N DAY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

You remember the old adage, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”? According to studies there are many benefits of being an early riser which all together culminates

into one thing — you live a healthy life with high energy and a positive mood.

1HELPS TO HAVE A HEALTHIER DIETThose who are late risers often skip the most important meal of the day, i.e. breakfast. Skipping breakfast is not good

for our health as our body needs the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Any meal taken after a skipped breakfast tends to make us overeat as our body goes in starvation mode. Early rising improves one’s concentration and also lowers the cholesterol levels.

3YOU GET MORE TIME TO EXERCISETime is the biggest con-straint and perhaps one of the biggest excuses that we make when it comes to ex-

ercising. Have you ever thought that how easily you can fit in exercising in your daily regime if you wake up early? Early rising also reduces your chances of missing out on your workouts. Ex-ercising in the morning gives you that energy boost and also helps you sleep better.

4HELPS YOU TO SLEEP WELLEarly risers often live a very routine life. Mostly those who wake up early go to bed early and follow a set pattern.

Sleep experts say that those who follow a proper sleep routine lead a much healthier life than others.

5REAL STRESS BUSTERThose who constantly feel depressed or have bouts of anxiety or panic attacks should be an early riser as it

reduces the stress level and helps to feel good.

2ENHANCES YOUR PRODUCTIVITYEarly risers swear by this. They say that waking up early gives them lot of time. Daily distractions are less

during the early hours of the day. Those who have had a good night’s sleep brim with more energy and efficiency helping them do their work in a better way.

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S U N D AY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

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Contact : 95399988, 24942600 Email - property@ikhtiar.om

Showroom 2 Side Facing I CBD OPP. B.M.Showroom Space I CBD OPP. B.M.Office With Partition I CBD OPP. B.M.Flat 3 BHK I MBD Nr.SheratonFlat 2 BHK With Terrace I MBD Nr.SheratonFlat 1 BHK - 2 BHK I MBD Nr.SheratonSmall Offices With Partition I MBD Nr.SheratonVilla 4 BHK+M.Room+S.Pool I Qurum 29 Nr. MSQFlat 2 BHK I Khwair 33 Nr. Maya

New building - Maintenance company provided- Caretaker Cleaner - A.C.- Multiple Elevators- Central settelite system

Good Parking Space

FOR RENT

Urgently RequiredElectrician cum

Plumber with 5- 10

years experience for a

Real Estate Company.

Send CV to: alyounistrading@gmail.com

Fax – 24706099 Contact No- 24707088

Tel: 24571962/63 Mob: 94289050/ 95495281Email: samain009@yahoo.com

1. Qurum Top Finish New- Res-5 apartments- 2 bhk/maid room 550/450, 3 bhk- 550, 1 BHK-350

2. Al Kuwair New 3 bhk, posh. Kit.fur,s.pool-700, 3 bhk +maid,ind.villa-650/-3. Wadi Kabir 1/2 bhk-250/300/3504. Al Kodh Villa 5 Bhk- Compounded 550/-5. Qurum(Comm) Sama Center-Brand New 114/122/129 sq.mt6. Azaiba (Comm)

*Tourist visa arranged

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.comTel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

D2 S U N D AY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

FOR RENT

For viewing please call 99466729, 99316410, 92841690, 91313271, 24694088 or email us on :hartc@omantel.net.om

Mtr. Facing main RoadHAR Complex MSQ : 2,3-BHK Flats and 2 & 3 BHK villas with

Qurum : 6 BHK villa with garden, split Acs, shaded car parks, servant rooms

Darsait : 1 & 2-BHK Flats with AC & Shop Ruwi : 2-BHK & 3-BHK Flats and shopsAl Amerat : 2 & 3-BHK Flat , 3 & 4-BHK Villa with A/C

DAILY GUIDE

3 Rooms, 2 Toilets Flat for Rent. 18

November Street. Near Mars Hyper-

market and The Chedi. Ghobrah -Good

for Commercial or Residential use.

OMR 295/- month. Call 94477222

Office & 2B/R with 3 toilets directly

from owner, near Dolphin Complex

Bausher. Contact 92158031

Flat in Wadi Al Kabir 2 bedrooms, 1

living room, 1 family hall, kitchen & 3

bathrooms. Contact: 99277787

Room for rent in Al Khuwair near

Ibis hotel, very big. R.O 180/-. Con-

tact: 95724975

Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2

toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti

Masjid. Contact – 97007934 /

92609232

Flat for rent in Wadi Kabeer near

India Primary School 2B & 1K.

Contact: 92222922

1BHK at Hamriya near Muscat

Pharmacy & 2 BHK at Mawaleh

near Mosque Sadiq Al Amin. Con-

tact: 99224748 / 99332297

1BHK Mumtaz. Contact: 92144045

1 BHK M.B.D R.O 250/-. Contact:

92144045

1BHK Ghubra R.O 275/-. #92144045

2 BHK Ghubra R.O 325/-. Contact:

92144045

1&2 BHK Darsait. #92144045

2& 3 BHK in Al Khuwair RO 375/-,

RO 400/-. Contact: 92144045

1BHK at Al Falaj R.O 190/-. Contact:

92144045

Single room for rent 50/RO water

& electricity near Khimji Mart Mut-

trah. Contact: 97477670

1 BHK in Azaiba. Contact:

99385835 / 99428143

2BHK flat near Wadi Adai signal

R.O 280/- negotiable. #97645436

Flat for rent in Ruwi, Mumtaz area

2 bedrooms. Contact: 24291500 /

91409667

New flat at Al Wadi Al Kabir. Con-

tact: 96130797 / 92130703

1000 sq mtrs industrial land for

rent in Ghala suitable for warehouse

workshop etc. Contact 24700120 /

92584715

2bed rooms flat with hall, 2

bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat

Municipality. contact 92584715 /

24700120

Ware houses in Hay Aseem Barka,

11000 m2 near round about new

Beach road at Al Khoud location

open store with office. #92959129

Warehouse for rent at Ghala Ind.

Area. 800 & 2500 approx sqms

Near Hotel Al-Madinah Holiday,

Ghala. Container can enter. Imme-

diate access to roads & highways.

Contact : 94583320

Office space small in Azaiba. Con-

tact: 99428143

Flats in Qurum. Contact 94051789

/ 97201688

Flats in Darsait. Contact

94051789 / 97201688

Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact

94051789 / 97201688

Fully Furnished apartments in

Boucher (35)#94051789 / 97201688

Flats in Muttrah. Contact

94051789 / 97201688

Flat for Rent 2 bed room Near ISM

muscat Indian Scoole Dar sate Tel :

00 968 95158570

Offices in Ghala. Contact

94051789 / 97201688

Brand new villas in Al Ansab. Con-

tact 94051789 / 97201688

Offices & Showrooms in Mutrah.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Duplex villa in QURUM 29. Con-

tact 94051789 / 97201688

Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

2BHK with split / AC in W.K behind

Sana Fashion. Contact: 96635026

Villa for rent Ghubra 5 rooms, 5

bathroom, kitchen & hall. Contact:

91153933

Flat for rent Al Khoud room 3,

hall, kitchen & bathroom. contact

91153933

Villa for rent 6 rooms, hall, living

room, kitchen, 7 Bathroom in Al

Khoud. Contact: 91153933

One room, bathroom for rent

Bousher. Contact: 91153933

Furniture flat for rent Bousher 1

room, 1 bath room, Kitchen & hall.

Contact: 91153933

Shops / flats available in Honda

Road, Ruwi & Mabellah Indus-

trial area. Contact 24833972/

24833974/ 99367448

Flat for rent Bousher, 2 rooms, 1

hall, dining hall, 2 bathrooms &

Kitchen. Contact: 91153933

Flat in Al Khuwair opp grand mall

4 room 3 toilet + hall kitchen in 3

floor 400. Contact 99420346

2 BR, 2 bath, a kitchen, a yard

, with AC, separate enterance,

AlKhuwair near Ibis hotel. PDC.

RO 250 .. Call 97056443

Readymade office space for rent

(240sm) in Bank Melli Iran Build-

ing, MBD area, Ruwi, opposite

Center point. Contact: 99011352

2BHK Ghala, new bldg with A/C,

325/- R.O. Contact: 99024730

1+2+3 BHK Al Khuwair. Contact:

99024730

Available - fully furnished 2 bed-

room apartment ( 12 nos) & fully fur-

nished studio flats (10 nos) -location

near Sohar Port - Contact : 94532131

2BHK available Mumtaz area Ruwi.

Contact: 99269751

OFFICES FOR RENT AT AZAIBAPrime location on service road (previously

occupied by A'Saffa Foods) near Al Turky

and Mazda showroom.

- 2 BHK flat available directly from the

owner, at Azaiba.

Contact: 99229263, 93221054, 95215289

FOR RENTStore space in Al

Wattayah.

Contact 99382489 / 99263443

Available - Fully furnished labor

camp and executive accommodation

- ready for occupation-location near

Sohar Port - Contact 94532131

Flats, shops and store for rent in

Ruwi, MBD & Mumtaz. Contact:

97293708 / 92433127

2BHK flat shops / ware house space

available for rent behind new ROP

building at Honda road. Contact:

91165807

2 BHK / 1BHK near Machi Market

Ruwi. R.O 200/- & 225/-. Contact:

99354771

2 BHK available in Ghubrah North

for rent. Contact: 92253080

Furnished office (61M2) for sale

/ rent Al Khuwair near Zawawi

Mosque. Contact: 95611569

2BHK Wadi Kabir R.O 300/-. Con-

tact: 92144045

Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah

3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen

rent 450/-. Contact: 99335580

FOR RENTIN RUWI

1 BHK – SPILT A/C,

BUILT IN WARDROBE

&CENTRALIZED GAS.

SPACIOUS 2 BHK.

Contact :990 49 722

DAILY GUIDES U N D AY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6 D3

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

New Rent house in Mabela. Con-

tact: 99880841/96053220

1 BHK near Medical Darsait R.O

170/-. Contact: 95076261

2,200 sq mtr factory area & 800

sq mtr store with 8 accommoda-

tion rooms and 10 office cabins

available for rent in Barka indus-

trial area. Contact 91398381 / 80 /

78, email - agsan2005@gmail.com

02 BHK residential flat opposite

to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 99342733 /99795241

Two bedrooms flat in Al Ghobrah

near Oman Oil of 18 November Street.

OMR 330 Monthly.#99333479 or

95215360 or 97509955.

1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100,

2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O

200/- in AL Khuwair. #95154331

Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2

toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti

Masjid. #97007934 / 92629232

Warehouse at Wadikabir - total

area 3500 sqm - covered ware-

house (500sqm), office, ac-

commodation (1000sqm), open

area (2000sqm) please contact:

99273774 - 99202278

3BHK in Qurum P.D.O high 350/-

Monthly. Contact: 99342661

2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK

spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building

good location Barka Market. contact

99342661

New building Wattayah main road,

showroom & office space. #94300909

For rent and investment Land

industrial shops in Rusayl.

Contact: 99323957 / 95490842

Restaurant for sale (Indian, Chinese,

Arabic food ). #91181765 / 95411354

Paver, ABG Titan - 4732, Bitelli tan-

dom roller, bitelli - PTR roller, Bomag

combination roller, shovel SDLG.

Contact: 92964673

Dental Clinic for sale in Seeb. Con-

tact: 96373097 / 92882209

Show room for sale in Ruwi main

rood big space around 200 sqm. Con-

tact: 93333951 / 93333957

An excellent condition portacabin 1 x

40’ for sale in Ghala. Rate negotiable

contact 99509460

GOOD NEWSAyurvedic treatment for backache,

paralysis, arthritis etc & mas-

sage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact:24475280 / 95371664 /

92504980 www.siddhayur.com

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT IS-LAM. If you would like to know more

about Islam, please call: 99425598,

99250777, 99353988, 99253818,

99341395, and 99379133. For ladies:

99415818, 99321360, 99730723

Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

Quality Warehouses

for rent at Mizfa 550 sqm to 3400 sqm.

Contact 99332291 / 96046951

FOR SALEUsed cars – Saloon cars, SUV 4 WD, Mini bus, Water Tanker

and Pickups for sale on as-is-where- is basis. Further, used

port cabins (10 nos) and steel scrap also available for sales.

These can be inspected at NTS camp in Ghala.

Interested parties may contact on 99259157 / 93891398.

Sealed offers with vehicle- wise/ item number- wise quote

should be submitted on or before

25th April 2016 with security deposit.

FOR RENTFully furnished office

space available for

rent at Wadi Kabir

1. First floor – 270 M2

2. Ground floor – 170 M2

Contact Jacob – 99880534

Dinu - 92881410

Four bedroom two floors luxurious

and spacious residential villa in Al

Hail North, near to the sea and Oman

oil. Each room has its own bath-

room. It has splits A/C’s and shaded

car park. OMR 750 monthly. Tel:

99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955

2BHK Big Size Flat Behind Bank Mus-

cat, Wadi Kabir. Near ISWK. 97826454,

24815012.

New flats for rent at Darsait near to

Ministry of Sports, Mumtaz area the

flats includes, 1 living room, 2 bed-

room, kitchen, 3 toilets, every rooms

with split A/C high quality finishing

rent per flat is R.O 340/- . Interested

candidates please #00968 92225523

Coffee shop for sale in Al Khuwair 33.

Contact: 92994415

Villas in Al Khoud.#95056808 /

97201688

Luxury Apartments in Boucher (35).

Contact 95056808 / 97201688

Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale

at Al Khuwair.#92881849 /What`s up

No 97290565

Furniture and other treatment items

for Ayurvedic clinic. #97986525

Steel Scrap materials for immediate

sale # 99273774/ 99202278

Almost new beach/ garden lounge

chairs /bar stools/ counter. Photos

can be sent 95865457

A well running pharmacy for sale at

prime location. # 99627621, 93240949

400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential

land in Mabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR

165 Thousand. CONTACT 99333479

or 95215360 or 97509955

Space for printing press available at

wadikabir with or without

machinery. Contact 99328430

Shop for sale near Oman House, Mut-

trah. Contact 99024362.

Urgent sale of steel scrap only

serious buyers kindly #+968

96725423 for viewing the items.

HD Scaffoldings, Shuttering Jacks,

Wooden Planks, Shuttering wood

assorted, Tower hoist (lift), Concrete

Mixer, Bending Machine, Steel Fabri-

cation Machinery (Searing/Cutting,

lathe & Welding) including tools for

immediate sale: contact 99273774/

99202278

DAILY GUIDED4 S U N D AY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION VACANT SITUATION WANTEDSIT.WANTED

SITUATION WANTEDSIT.WANTED

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.comTel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461Fax: 24812624

DRIVER

DOMESTIC HELP

MEDICAL

DRIVER

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

BEAUTICIAN

ACCOUNT. & FINANCERequired urgently an experienced

Accountant having 2-3 years expe-

rience. Send your resume by e-mail :

sasiram@seehsarya.com

Very urgently required a Gulf

experienced professional Hair

dresser cum beautician (lady) for

a reputed beauty salon. Immedi-

ate appointment visa available.

Contact: 99816262 /98557585

Fax: 24796211 Email: skin.hair.

makeup@gmail.com

Required driver for building &

electrical material Company in Ghala

with valid Oman driving license.

Contact 99345044 / 91480682

Wanted driver. Contact: 91025698

Wanted female Muslim cook for fam-

ily at Qurum, visa available.

Urgently required female Staff

Nurse (two) with or without

M.O.H license, good package.

Contact after 5:00 P.M on Mo-

bile: 99253650 or send C.V on

dr.kamalsaqib@yahoo.com

Wanted B-Pharmacist (lady) for

Sohar. Contact 99767605

Required Gynecologist, Lab tech-

nician, X Ray technician. contact

99030773 Email: kunoozghala@

gmail.com

Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Tech-nician and pharmacologist

immediately for a clinic in Su-

waiq. contact 95081010 Email:

umchealthcare@gmail.com

Wanted Staff Nurse for

a dermatology clinic in Muscat .

Must have MOH license and

NOC. Attractive salary offered.

Email:

clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com

GP doctor needed for reputed

clinic. Preferably with MOH

license or with Dataflow & Para-

matics pass Contact: 95388934

Urgently required female Gy-

necologist D.G.O or M.C.P.S with

minimum 3 years of experience,

with or without M.O.H license,

very good package. Contact after

5.00 P.M on Mobile: 99253650

or Send C.V dr.kamalsaqib@

yahoo.com

ENGINEER/MECHANIC.

MANAGER

Required Hydraulic Mechanic. Contact

95251213

Looking for a job as driver experi-

ence 9 years in Oman, Language

Arabic / Hindi / English. Contact:

92517532

Need job for Driving. Contract:

94375896

Light duty driver 4 years Oman

exp seeks placement. Contact:

98726383

Driver, exp 1.5 years, Language

English, Arabic & Urdu, license

light. Contact: 96011572 /

94484181

Experience driver looking for job.

Contact: 95113612

Light vehicle driver with 5 years

exp looking for job. Contact:

92171166

Driver want job. #95892363

Light driver Pakistani wanted job.

Contact: 94182695

8 years experience in Oman. Con-

tact: 95587206

Light duty driver, 3 yrs Oman ex-

perience seeks placement. Contact:

91362475

Light driver looking for job 4 yrs

Exp in Oman. Contact :92681457

Driver with Oman experience 11

yrs available. Contact: 92374955

Pakistani looking for driving job

with 3 yrs experience. Contact:

95776320

Light Duty Driver seeks job. Con-

tact: 94182497

Bangladeshi male light driver

exp 16 years need job. Contact:

99165961

Light Duty Driver with 2 yrs exp. in

Muscat seeks placement. Contact:

91659265

Driver 3/6 years experience, I

have 2 years experience out door

sales man in led light, Pakistani,

Oman experience 6 years. Contact:

94565993 / 92627855

Family driver available. contact

92943094

Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in com-

merce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/

finance field. On visit visa. Immedi-

ately available. CONTACT 92836216 /

muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com

28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com -

Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/

India experience looking for a

suitable placement.#90187483

shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com

Indian male, 24 yrs, Graduated with

specialization in Accounting 2 years

experienced C.A.CPT completed.

#94628086 / 97315091

MISCELLANEOUS

Required candidates for following

posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers. Candi-

dates with Omani driving license pre-

ferred. contact 99273774/99202278

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

B. Tech Mechanical Engineer having

3 years experience in maintenance &

commissioning experience in an en-

gineering services company on visit

visa looking for suitable. Contact:

91106765 Email: tamooraslam123@

yahoo.com

Indian female 23 years Engineering

Electronics and communications,

well knowledge in C and JAVA, pres-

ently in Muscat seeking suitable

placement. Contact: 90320846

Email: kavyahiremath499@gmail.

com

Electrical Engineer having 8 years

experience in Gulf seeking suitable

placement can join immediately,

have knowledge all kind of MEP

project. Contact: 96535204

Indian male 22, Chemical Engineer

residing in Oman looking for suitable

placement. Contact: 92379181

Civil Engineer, 6 yrs experience

with Omani driving license, local

release available. #91693008

An Iraqi civil with more than 30

years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C)

looking for a job, (N.O.C) available.

Contact: 96561306

Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com

Indian male, Mechanical

Engineer having 1year experi-

ence, on visit visa looking for

suitable job. Contact:97416564,

Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com

HSE officer, Indian male 27, 1.5 years

exp call: 90649152,

98205818

Indian Mechanical Engineer

(B.tech)23. With qualification in Qa-

QC,HVAC and Piping.1 year experi-

ence. Ready to join immediately.

Contact: 92365040

Civil Engineer 8 years experience

in Oman as a project engineer for

governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912

Building Site Supervisor since

2010 in Oman with Omani D/L

looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 91507828

Electrical Engineer (B.E) 8+ yrs

experience, NOC & release available

with valid D/L. #968 94374735

Indian male 34 years MBA finance &

marketing 7 years experience in Indian

accounts / Administration currently

in Muscat on family visa. #98104991

Email: sureshkr01@gmail.com

Indian male well experienced in

Accounts ERP, TALLY 9 & Admin NOC

available looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 92650835

M.Com Accountant three years ex-

perience three star hotel Tamil Nadu

India, immediately available. Contact:

Contact 92831400/96051737

Indian male , 29 B.com ICWA ( pursu-

ing) 7 years experience in accountant

/ audit with valid Omani D/L seeking

for suitable placement, NOC available.

#94706954 Email: ajurn33@gmail.com

Part-time Accounting up to finaliza-

tion, Auditing, Taxation and Project

Finance assistance - 91044655

Male Accountant M.Com (finance &

accounts) having 3 years experience

in accounts looking for available job

on visit visa. Contact: 94648575

CMA & CIA qualified finance profes-

sional with 13 years of me experience

in FMCG industries as well as various

other industries available for immediate

permanent job openings. #94543660

Accountant 8 Years experience with

D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084

ACCA finalist with 2 years of experi-

ence in a Construction Company as

an Accountant in United Kingdom

here on visit visa for 3 weeks from 12

April - 3 May. Contact: 99171627

Part time accountant, up to fina-

lization, looking for job after 5 pm

(location prefer - MSQ to Al Hail).

#95694737

MBA finance from Pakistan with

4 years experience in Accounts &

finance department currently in

Muscat on family visit visa, 27 yrs.

Contact: 90590037 Email:

numanaslamcfo@gmail.com,

nouman_aslam2006@yahoo.com

ACCA Qualified, 26 female with 3

years work experience looking for

suitable position in Accounting /

finance. Contact: 91322423

Filipino Male, 24 Years Old..

looking for job, have experience

in Cargo & Logistics/ Rent a Car/

Real Estate/ Finance & Accounts/

customer service and as Travel

Agent. Hard working and with

good computer and communica-

tion skills having Omani driving

license. GSM: 95370052

Indian male 26 years B.Com, having

4 years experience in Accounts with

valid driving license & NOC available

on visit visa looking for suitable job in

Accounts. Contact 90311936

Indian male 25, 4 years experience

& Arabic speaking with D/L seeking

suitable opportunity interested in Sales

& Marketing also. Contact: 91266733

Email: safvank.k9@gmail.com

MBA Finance Indian male, Fresher

seeking opportunity in financial sec-

tor. Immediately available. Contact

93990638 sachu0318@gmail.com

Qualified and experienced MBA post

graduate with proven work exposure

in Middle East & India, having more

than 5.5 years of rich experience in

accounts , project coordination and

administration in (3.5 years UAE expe-

rience) oil and gas projects is currently

looking for suitable job. #93953613 ,

Email allen.mathew83@gmail.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Female B. Ed English teacher, 7

yrs exp seeking suitable placement.

Contact : 99739415 / 92091528

SALES / MARKETING

Required experienced Estimation

Executives, Sales Engineers / Sales

Executives, with Local release for

Reputed Electrical Trading Company.

Interested please send detailed CV to:

mctjobvacancy@gmail.com

Need salesman with driving

license, having two years experi-

ence. Contact: 92891888

Required marketing / PR manager

for a modern restaurant group in

Oman , proficient in illustrator &

Photoshop charismatic , proac-

tive , creative & flexible excellent

writing / Editing skills degree in

relevant area fluent in English.

Send CV to marketingpr2016@

gmail.com

Salesman for a printing press.

Contact: 99498949

Required Salesman cum driver for

spare parts shop in Ghala. Contact:

99410172

A leading management consulting

firm in Muscat requires specialist

in Qualitative & Quantitative Mar-

ket / Consumer research to lead the

division. Kindly send your resumes

to advance@omatel.net.om or Fax

us at +968-24792175

Looking for Salesman with experi-

ence in vegetable and fruits sales,

good conduct, fluent in English.

Should have driving license. Email

CV on: info@eigllcoman.com

Contact - 96339339

Required indoor Salesman for

building material shop with 3 years.

Contact: 96374344 Email:

sandeepvalapad@gmail.com

Urgently required Sales Execu-

tives, Operations Executive import

& export, for a reputed freight

forwarding company in Muscat

candidates with Oman D/L and

minimum 2 yrs experience in

similar field preferred. Interested

candidates may send C.V to r

ecruitment.oman@yahoo.com

Indian, 20 years experience

in Oman as personal assistant /

office manager / administrator

seeks change of job with release -

99168054, mbkishore@hotmail.com

Indian male – MBA (HR) & Engi-

neering graduation with total 10

years of experience in HR & Admin

( 3 yrs of Oman Exp.) along with

hands on experience in technical

bid submission for all Government

& PDO tenders ready to join im-

mediately with NOC. # 91240251/

Email; kvaradhan@hotmail.com

Indian / female, 26 yrs, MBA with

3 yrs experience in HR / Admin

marketing customer relations

currently in Muscat on visit

visa. Contact: 97205038 Email:

priya.3july@gmail.com

REQUIRED ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Having B.E. in Electrical Engineering

Min. 5 Years Experience in Oman

With Driving License and Valid C.E.P License

Contact : 95697401Send CV to: cemec@omantel.net.om

Required urgently, experienced

Supervisor, Graduate with oil &

gas experience as Site Supervisor

with valid D/L. Contact: 94027279

Email: hrmuscat2016@gmail.com

ARCOP & Partners (Middle East)

Engineering Consultants LLC looking to hire minimum 3 years

experienced Omani Civil

Engineer, for upcoming building

projects in Ibri & Buraimi. The

candidate must be capable of

independently handling the

works, as a consultant. Resident

engineer stationed at site.

Interested candidates to forward their CV’s with all the details to careers@arcop.co.om

or fax to 24493446.

SITUATION WANT-SIT.WANTED

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ADMIN

ARCHITECT

Architect exp.7 years, 4 years in

GCC Architectural design interior

sites 3D Max AutoCAD, Photoshop.

Contact: 93238813 Email:

mohammedbardab@gmail.com

Required Temporary

Instructorfor summer camp

For further details kindly contact Mr.babu 99380374

or fax 24593277

SKILLED LABOUR

Required A/C Technicians, Carpenters,

Electricians, Plumbers, Painters, Gen-

eral Helpers. #94147874 / 24504281.

Email : globalaccessunited@gmail.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, 5 yrs Oman,

12 Yrs UAE experience in Manufactur-

ing & construction companies Valid

D/L Immediately available. Email:

Irfan_syed2000@hotmail.com, Call:

95389018

22 years B.Com with 1 year exp in

accounting, auditing with good work-

ing knowledge in Tally ERP-9 looking

for a suitable placement now on visit

visa. Contact: 97189500

Male CA finalist B.Com having 5

years experience with big four

audit firms looking for suitable job

on visit. Contact: 92230543 Email:

m.naveednaseer@gmail.com

Indian male: B.Com. with 4

years experience in Tally ERP

Accounts, Ready to join im-

mediately for Accounts, Store

& Sales. Contact: 94813962,

Email:rajeshkumawat166@gmail.com

Jordanian Senior Accountant 15

yrs experience in Oman finance &

accounts. Contact : 92881223

CA finalist Indian with 7 years

experience having D/L & NOC

looking for Senior Accountant /

Chief Accountant position. contact

98097009 Email: rameesnm@

gmail.com

ACCA member with 6 yrs of

experience in Oman looking for

a suitable job in finance. contact

99284193

Fresher 24, ACCA Affiliate, Ad-

vanced diploma in Accounting

and Business seeking suitable

placement in Accounts, Finance or

Audit with Oman driving license.

#- 92430152 Email - raju.rd619@

gmail.com

Indian, Executive with 5+ years

experience in HSBC etc, done

with MBA, M.Com, DMM, M. Phil

seeks a suitable position. Contact:

90369540 Email: abilashraji@

gmail.com

Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA

Finance and marketing with IT

skills, 7+ yrs of experience,

Looking for suitable placement.

contact 94879615,Email-

sajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com

Accountant available with NOC,

7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately. contact

98263394

10 yrs of Oman experience capable

of handling large accounts, looking

for suitable placement in senior

sales / business development posi-

tion. Contact : 98987654

ADMIN

Indian Male 19 years (8 Years in

Oman) well experienced in HR /

Admin in Oil & Gas, Construction

fields with Oman D/L seeks suitable

position. Release / NOC available

call: 92854993.

Indian female with nearly 10 years

experience in administration & HR,

seeking for a suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact: 99242841

Jordanian Graduate with experi-

ence in Administrator jobs available

for immediate placement. Contact :

94662712 / 94770990

HR Manager (Indian Male – 41 Yrs)

PG in HR, working for MNC having

12 years of experience in Oman.

Handling SAP-HR, Talent Acquisi-

tion, IR, Payroll, Visas & allied ad-

ministration. Holding Valid Omani

D/L & car. Seeks suitable placement.

Contact 96792103

Indian female (MBA/CIPD), having

more than 6 years of experience,

working in Oman as HR Manager

looking for job. Contact hrjoboman@

gmail.com 97288278.

UAE/UK/Oman Experienced Gradu-

ate Male33 seeking administration

Job. Diplomas in IT & Finance too.

Driving licenseTel:94496642

B.Com 3 years business process

outsourcing. Contact: 94657273

A young dynamic post gradu-

ate with 2 years work experience

in business operations looking

for suitable placement. Contact

98564880 or maccmuscat@gmail.

com

Indian male, 25, 4+ years of expe-

rience as an Office Administrator

looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 92600859

Email: sm24blue@gmail.com

Teacher female 27 yrs, MCA 5 yrs

experience in teaching in India cur-

rently on visit visa seeking for a suit-

able placement. Contact: 96709509

Email: viyannifd@gmail.com

Filipino HRD especialist / material

controller supervisor with 18 yrs

experience looking for suitable job

in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142

/ (+968) 92659817

Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+

experience in Administration/HR,

Customer Support, Office Coordina-

tor with good Computer skill, Now

on Visit Visa,looking for suitable

position. Contact: 90196235

Young Omani male have experi-

ence 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK

Helper Supervisor Admin Supervi-

sor, H.R Manager have diploma in

H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking

for H.R position or P.R.O part time

or full time. Contact: 95933288

Indian male, MBA with 3 years

GCC experience seeks job in Muscat.

Posses Valid Oman D/L. Currently

under visit visa and can join imme-

diately. E mail : tssavad@gmail.com

contact: 00968 98896847

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN

Architectural Draftsmen diploma

in construction technology with 6

years experience in drafting and

detailing as per British standard

in Oman with valid Omani license

looking for suitable opportunity Noc

available. Call 94375897.

Supervisor / Cad Draftsman with

Oman light driving license 10

years experience in carpentry

field. Contact: 95962384

Piping designer with 14 years expe-

rience working with PDO, OXY for 10

years NOC available.#92582356

Revit autocad d/man , diploma cert attsd.

exp salary 200-acco. ph: 9227 9784

Revit, Autocad D/man, expected

salary 200 OMR PH :92279784

Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD

Draftsman with 20 years profes-

sional experience is looking for

suitable job in Oman. Please

#96489798, (+974) 66653780.

DAILY GUIDES U N D AY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6 D5

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION WANTED

Indian male, MCA

(Post Graduate) fresher seeking

suitable placement

anywhere in Oman, now on

visit visa.

Contact 92319677, Email :

ismabsc@gmail.com

An experienced Chartered Accountant

with over 25 years in varied

industries, presently working

with a reputed group in Muscat,

looking out for a suitable change.

96491030

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

Indian Male more than 10 years

gulf experience in Office / Sales

Coordinator, Admin, Secretarial and

purchase with good computer skills.

Holding Oman Driving license. Look-

ing for suitable placement. contact

99709336

Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordi-

nator 12 years experience in Oman

in reputed companies, seek imme-

diate Employment. Call: 95244761

Sales & Marketing specialist

with 16 yrs experience in Oman in

MNC retails telecom lubes

construction related industry

handled various projects, holding

valid Oman driving license,

release available.

Contact 96960991

HOSPITALITY

Indian male, 28 yrs B.Sc Hospital-

ity Science with 5 yrs experience

in Hospitality & banking Sectors

in Oman & India seeks suit-

able placement, NOC available.

#91383167

MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS

Tea boy looking for job Name: Man

Bahadar Contact No. 97859837

Indian Female on a visit visa hav-

ing master degree seeking suitable

placement in any field, 1 ,5 year ex-

perience in HR .#+968 91467576.

9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil &

Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughts-

man (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING

LICENSE) seeking job. #93790601

LAND SURVEYOR: Male, more than

12 years’ experience in land/pipe

line surveying in Oman and UAE.

Looking for suitable placement.

NOC available. #91215843

Marketing Communications Coordinator Indian, 25 years GCC

experience in Media, Advertising

& Marketing ATL + BTL brand-

ing. Contact: 93031168 Email:

arn14256@gmail.com

Indian male physiotherapist with

3 years of experience, with (moh

license and NOC available. seek-

ing suitable placement. contact

99767528, 91317863

Indian, 32 years, passed M.A. Eng-

lish M.Sc Psychology, DHM & B.Ed

in English with 4 years experience

seeking for part time or full time

job. Contact: 99869535 Email:

sahadkeyi33@gmail.com Indian male Kerala, B.com & B.PE.

Currently on visit visa, looking for

a suitable job in Accounts, Store

keeper etc. Ready to join as early as

possible. Contact:-93301023, email:-

sajith3969@gmail.com

Female Dentist with MOH license

and NOC, 7 years experience 2 yrs

out of them in Oman looking for a job.

Contact 97401243

27 years old Indian male looking

hospitality jobs in Hotel. Experi-

ence in customer service, front desk,

housekeeping supervisor, captain,

cashier,guest relation manager.

Contact. +968-90351742Email. sam-

ubaid6@gmail.com

27 yearsold Indianmale looking

Jobs in documents Collection execu-

tive.Experience in collection execu-

tive. Contact. +968-90358068Email

wasimsaif04@gmail.com

Indian male, 26 years old BA Gradu-

ate having 1 year experience in

accounts finance field. Looking for

suitable Job On visit visa immedi-

ately available. Contact 9565 9415

Anishkhan991867@gmail. Com

ELECTRONICS ENGINEER In-

dian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics &

Communications,ITI,1.7 Years experi-

ence as Service Technician in India.

On visit Visa, Looking For a Suitable

Placement. Contact :92794176, E-

mail:prathyushkp9@gmail.com

B.Tech, MBA currently working in In-

dia in Bank. Contact: +918939857146

Email: sebimathew87@gmail.com

Pharmacist M. Pharm work-

ing in Oman for 2 years with MOH

license Data flow completed. contact

98399415

Pakistani male 23 years old experi-

ence in travel agency - ticketing look-

ing for a suitable job, NOC available.

Contact: 93253759

Indian male, Technical Sales Man-

ager, B.E Mech, with 11 years exp in

Automotive Eng & Industrial Mainte-

nance with Oman D/L seeks suitable

job. On release to join immediately

– 92880593

An electrical & electronics engineer

awarded from Sunderland Univer-

sity with an experience in access

central eyewear & rebranding of

petard elations facilities have a

valid visa up to year & half. Contact:

91347567

Indian female M.Tech in VLSI De-

sign B.Tech in electronics with valid

IELTS score 6.5 now in family visa

experience in teaching & and admin.

Contact: 90195131 Email: chinj.89@

gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 yrs,

experience HAVC firefighting CAD.

Contact: 90150913 Email: mahman-

mechengg@yahoo.in

D.A.E (civil) Engineer + safety

course (OSHA & IOSH), 5 years expe-

rience in infrastructure work looking

for suitable placemen. #97658602

Engineer I have driving license of

Oman I need job of driving. Contact:

95980506

Mechanical Engineer is looking for

a job vacancy Graduate of Malaysia,

7 years of work experience in oil &

Gas fluent in both Arabic & English.

Contact: 95569430

Electrical Engineer 6 years ex-

perience in Oman experience in

MEDC / projects valid D/L. Contact:

91249329

B.Tech Mechanical Engineer, on

visit visa looking for job, who has

done certification courses in quality

control, basic pipeline engineering,

ASNT NDT Level II, also good knowl-

edge in HVAC. Contact:94743373

email:akasharavind1@gmail.com

B.E Mechanical Engineer, 24, one

year experience as Production Shift

Engineer, achieved training on HVAC

Engineering design and has good

hands on software like AutoCAD

and HAP, presently in Oman on visit

visa, looking for a suitable place-

ment. Contact:95065955 Email: mjs.

jazeb@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer (B Tech)

Indian male with 1 year experience

on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact : 90510800, Email : mu-

hammedjaseem07@gmail.com

Electrical and Electronics Engi-

neer looking for a job & interested

in any available role Nationality

Sudanese have valid visa for 2 years.

Contact 97304565

Graduation, tool and die engineer-

ing & tool designer, have two and

half years experience in pess tool

and moulding , I know CAD, CATIA

, PRO-E software’s now in Oman.

Contact: 95287978

Electrical Engineer Indian male 30

years, having 5 years of experience

in industrial automation & utility

maintenance in Indian (MRF Tyres)

holding valid Oman D/L. Contact:

92789995 Email: akhilabraham-

lktr@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer with 15 yrs

Exp in steel fabrication, quality,

design, material estimation, sales

engineering. Contact: 97093241,

Email: abdelmuhssin@gmail.com

Diploma in Civil Engineer having 8

years experience in Oman with driv-

ing license, internal release avail-

able urgently. Contact: 95387537 /

90524700

Civil Engineer (B.Tech) Indian male

24 yrs having 1+ year experience in

Industrial construction with good

communication skills and software

knowledge, looking for suitable posi-

tion available on visit visa. Contact:

968 - 99779538 / 98694939 Email:

arunsathyan92@gmail.com

Sudanese Civil Structure Engineer

3 years looking for job in reputable

company AutoCAD, Etabs, Staad Pro

Omani driving license available.

Contact: 97906770

Engineer with 4 years experience in

Oman in telecom operations looking

for a suitable opportunity have valid

driving license interested in market-

ing also. Contact: 98513495

SALES / MARKETING

SALES / MARKETING

35 years male, Lebanese hold-

ing British passport, 10 years of

experience in procurement, Omani

Government tenders, setup marketing

plans & strategies, importing, Organ-

izing events, management, have car,

NOC available. #94123939 Email:

002015r@gmail.com

Indian male (25) MBA / MMS

(Marketing) on visit visa valid UAE

driving license exp 2 yrs sales /

marketing. Contact: 98089262

Indian male, 29 years BSc, Gradu-

ate, with Omani driving license and

7 years of sales experience in home

appliances, IT products, mobile and

traffic safety equipments currently

working on employment visa, NOC

available seeking for suitable place-

ment immediately. #97890607

Email: ashrafambar@gmail.com

Indian male B.com 10 years experi-

ence in Oman stores & warehouse,

immediate job with NOC. Contact:

sammathe2004@yahoo.co.in

MBA (Marketing) Sales & Marketing

Executive with 4 years of experi-

ence in

Sales & Business Development

in FMCG sector is looking for best

opportunity in Muscat at present

available in Muscat on visit visa.

Mail: akbarshareef786@gmail.

com,GSM:95840153.

BE (Mech) MBA (UK) 32 yrs male

having 7 yrs exp in Oil & Gas product

/ project Marketing looking for suit-

able placement in GCC. Contact: +

968 91104381

26 yrs Indian male MBA Market-

ing Sales / Marketing Executive,

3 yrs experience now available in

Muscat on visit visa seeking place-

ment for immediate joining. Contact:

95978874 Email: ansariafsar550@

gmail.com

Male 13 yrs exp in Sales & Market-

ing looking for a post of Senior Sales

Manager in Oman presently working

in UAE in consumer appliances com-

pany, having D/L GCC. Interested can

Contact: 00971 561096660 Email:

saairavi@rediffmail.com

Indian male 10 yrs experience in

Sales, marketing manager field with

D/L seeks suitable placement. Con-

tact: 97205114

Indian male, 25 yrs,

Accountant, 2.5 yrs in

Finance & Accounts, MBA

Finance & HR, exposure in

SAP, Tally, ERP 9 on visit visa.

Contact 96715420 / 91265020, Email : jijosrgo@gmail.com, simonjosephjc@gmail.com

Civil Engineer, bachelor degree driv-

ing license & experience in Oman.

Contact: 91102892

B.Tech Civil Engineer 7 yrs exp hav-

ing valid Oman driving license need

suitable replacement. #98052924

Email: imdadulsayor@gmail.com

25 yrs, male, B.Tech Electronic &

Communication Electrical design

Engineer, 2+ years in Multinational

company industrial automation

course + Electronic AutoCAD looking

for suitable placement. #99586317

Email: info.anishantony@gmail.com

Electrical Engineer, Indian male 24

years, BE (Electrical & Electronics)

having 3 years of experience, seeking

for suitable placement. #91917369

Road Engineer 10 years experi-

ence in Oman. Contact: 91274706

Civil Engineer 14 years of expe-

rience 8 years at GCC at Dar Al

Handasah Consultant, Al Raghi Con-

struction building & infrastructure

culverts, bridges & road. #93068195

Email:

hamadamans2007@yahoo.com

Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp

seeks suitable position ina reputed

company. NOC available. #96789711

Civil Engineer 8 years experience

Structural buildings marine. Avail-

able NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com

Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian

male 24 years with 1+years Indian

experience,(Certified in Staad

Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman

(Muscat) on Visit Visa. contact

92835952. E-mail:

mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com

Male QC inspector Mechanical,

NDT 20 years experience valid

Oman D/L , release available. conrt-

act 91001104

Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in

designing, assembling, commis-

sioning execution etc having valid

GCC license too looking for a suit-

able. Contact: 00968-98052942

Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com

HSE Engineer (B.E Mech+Diploma

Safety+NEBOSH+OSHA) over

10yrs. Exp, (Visa Release Letter

(NOC) available), seeking suit-

able placement, Mob:97061817,

Email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com

Indian female Quantity Sur-

veyor Civil 11 years experience,

local release available NOC.contact

95719108 Email: jishashibunair@

gmail.com

Engineer Civil & M. Arch (RED) Indian

(F) 25 yrs, B.Tech (Civil), now pursuing

M. Arch - RED (Real Estate Develop-

ment final semester thesis) completing

by June 2016, now available till 15th of

April on visit visa seeks suitable place-

ment in Oman. Contact: 968- 92743004

Email: tina.navya199ann@gmail.com

Structural Engineer, ME, with 2 yrs

exp proficient in ETABS, STAD, SAFE

& Prokon, seeks job.

Contact: 050-9984535

NDT / QA / QC Supervisor /

Radiographer DAE Mechanical pip-

ing- vessel LPG Bozer Storage tank

inspection experience 10 years.

#96954202 Email: nasirarain86@

yahoo.com

Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil

Engg (cert attested) knows autocad

revit, salary exp: 250 ph : 9227 9784

BE Mechanical Engineer, 6 years ex-

perience in piping & structural work

release available. Contact: 96115463

Email: jijoraju085@yahoo.com

B. Sc Civil Engineer 27 yrs, Oman

experience as Project Manager,

Structural Engineer looking for suit-

able placement. NOC / local transfer

available. Contact : 99349578 Email:

farooqatm@hotmail.com

Indian male B-tech 8 years experi-

ence as senior electrical project

engineer / QC engineer on visit

visa seeks suitable placement.

contact 94094543

Email: anwar425@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 6 years experience.

Contact: 90183630

IT

SKILLED/ UNSKILLED LABOUR

MISCELLANEOUS

Electrician with plumber and A/C

tech, with D/L. Contact: 95600418

Qualified and experienced MBA

post graduate with proven work

exposure in Middle East & India,

having more than 5.5 years of rich

experience in accounts, project co-

ordination and administration in

(3.5 years UAE experience) oil and

gas projects is currently looking

for suitable job. Contact 93953613,

Email allen.mathew83@gmail.com

Indian male, 28, post graduate,

6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back

office) & credit control with valid

Oman D/L looking for suitable

placements. NOC available. Con-

tact: 920 66 523

BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email:

zahaibzafar007@gmail.com

MANAGER

Finance manager 22 years Oman

experience available with NO. Contact:

91335205/91302906

Purchase/Planning & Logistics Man-

ager, MBA (Finance), 14yrs. Oman Exp.

with D/L, NOC available, looking for

suitable position. Contact : 93826090,

jskanchan01@gmail.com

Egyptian male 36 years Warehouse

Manager, 7 years in Sultanate of

Oman, 1 year in UAE, and 3 years in

Egypt. Contact: +968 97200468 Email:

ayman_mano1979@yahoo.com

General/Divisional Manager MEP

& Civil, MBA Operation, BE Electri-

cal, 10 years experience in Oman &

10 years in India. Valid DL, release

available. GSM. 92447102

INDIAN FEMALE, 23 years, BSC-

CS Diploma in IAD graphics, well

knowledge in computer applica-

tions 6 months experience pres-

ently in Sohar seeking suitable

placement. Contact: 96670907.

Email: ammuch.4@gmail.com

9 years of Software Test Consulting and business analysis experience in

various CBS (Core Banking Solutions)

and other Banking related solution im-

plementations with deep understand-

ing of Islamic Banking. Completed CDIF

- CIMA Diploma in Islamic Finance and

ADIF - Advanced Diploma in Islamic

Finance conducted by CIMA, UK. NOC

available. Contact: manivannanbalaji@

gmail.com GSM: 9393 8086

B.Tech (IT) experience in Network-

ing server & desktop management

in corporate environment looking for

suitable placement. Contact: 92954613

Indian male 25 yrs B.Sc Computers

Science, 3 yrs work experience in

Computer hardware & networking &

CCTV, security system looking for job

(NOC) available. Contact: 93243372

Indian male, B. Sc Computer Science,

CCNA, MCP, 8 years exp. in system &

networking now on visit visa, seeking

suitable position. Contact: 91751472,

rajeshr131@gmail.com

Omani 26 (M) Seeks placement 6 yrs

experience IT specialist. #99025044

IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in

Oman 2 years in India.#94672759

Female 24 yrs, 3 years in IT pro-

grammer now in Oman looking for

suitable job. Contact: 96350234

MEDICAL

Indian female staff nurse with

parametric passed 10 years experi-

ence looking job Muscat regain.

Contact: 95851590 / 91510137

Female Indian MOH licensed den-

tist looking out for job opportuni-

ties in Nizwa. Has 14 yrs experi-

ence as dentist after graduation.

Can be contacted on 93329964

Indian female (MSC – Microbiolo-

gist) seeking suitable job. contact

96791162 / 90618567

Indian Bsc Female Nurse with 6.5

years exp, 4 years in KSA. Passed

Oman Pro Metric with 69%, complet-

ed data flow. Presently in Muscat

in visit visa looking for a suitable

placement. #94744900, 94742834,

jincyalphonese@gmail.com

Indian female Project Engineer 15

yrs experience in Project Manage-

ment Quality database management

data analytics marketing business

development haying Omani driving

license seeks suitable placement

presently on family visa having Om-

ani experience. Contact : 95783792

Indian female (M. Tech, Power

system) having Gulf experience

seeking suitable placement in Oman

currently in family visa. Contact:

94306164 / 91001194

An Electrical engineer with 4+

yrs of experience in Electrical

network (MT, LT) with professional

computer skills seeking for work.

Contact: 99841736 / 93955381/

+149922698343 Email:

e.kmmh@hotmail.com

Pakistani male Diploma Civil En-

gineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling &

mega projects, valid license Oman.

contact:98921022

Electrical & electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit.

PH:93837973

Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+

yrs of exceptional exp in spear

heading strategic planning and

project management initiatives &

executing various high rise resi-

dential & commercial building as

well as roads and highway project

with proficiency in installation,

seeking a challenging position in

a dynamic organization. contact

96570891

SKILLED/ UNSKILLED LABOUR

S.T.P Operator 20 years experience in

Oman. Contact: 93089468

5 yrs experience in software and 2 yr

in administration/accountant, looking

for any part time or work from home

official jobs contact no: 91711326

Indian male 37 years MBA graduate

in marketing with 9yrs of experience

in UAE in field of brand promotions

& marketing with UAE D/L on a visit

seeking suitable position. conatct

95792820

Accountant cum cashier available.

Contact: 98002428

Pakistani male having 7 years

experience in General Salesman

having valid D/L Looking for suitable

placement. Contact: 97216830 Email:

asim-samb5@yahoo.com

Indian with 3 years for experience

in sales and marketing fluency in

English, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil and Ma-

layalam looking for suitable job. Also

hold valid Driving License, currently

in oman Mob : +968-93451439

HSE Engineer, Indian male, 4 Plus

years exp. in Oil & Gas, Working in

Shclumberger, NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT

Certified, M Tech in HSE. #krish.569@

gmail.com, Mobile- +91 9867016808

Indian male Physiotherapist with

MOH license and NOC looking for

suitable job. Contact: 92617235

Indian Male, 40 Years, B. Com,

having 10 years experience in

Oman, Tally &ERP- looking for suit-

able placement ( Local release and

Oman driving license available.

Tel- 92469789

Indian Male 42 year’s, MBA, Sr.

Material controller having 12 years

experience in Oman with reputed

companies. Having Oman driving

License, Seeks suitable replace-

ment immediately. Available NOC.

Cont. 00968-92944026, Email –

charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in

ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN Indian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics

& Comm,1.7 Years experience as

Service Engineer in India. On visit

Visa, Looking For a suitable place-

ment. Contact : 92794176

E-mail:prathyushkp9@gmail.com

Indian male Executive Secretary

having vast experience in admin,

logistics & procurement well

versed with computer seeks suit-

able placement. #99514286

ELECTRONICS ENGINEER Indian/

male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics &

Communications,ITI,1.7 Years

experience as Service Technician

in India, on visit Visa, looking For

a Suitable Placement. #:92794176

,E-mail: prathyushkp9@gmail.com

Electrical diploma Engineer

Indian male 22 years, 2 years

experience in control panel contact

93047707 adilm89@gmail.com

IT System Administrator 6 yrs

experience, male, Filipino Desk-

top, Laptop and printer Support,

Backup administrator, Router and

switch Network, Server Adminis-

trator. +968 94134295

Female dentist with MOH license

and NOC ready to join 7 years

experience 2 of them in Oman.

Contact 97401243

Indian male 28 years B.com, MBA

4 yrs experience in accounts /

finance currently in Oman on visit

visa looking for suitable place-

ment. Contact: 93460277 Email:

shineraj786@gmail.com

Having 10 years exp. in Admin &

HR in reputed companies. Pres-

ently working in Muscat and seek-

ing for suitable placement. Contact

No.: 97693456. email :

muralimahdav77@gmail.com

Indian Male 42 year’s, MBA, Sr.

Material controller having 12 years

experience in Oman with reputed

companies. Having Oman driving

License, Seeks suitable replace-

ment immediately. Available NOC.

Cont. 00968-92944026, Email –

charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in

NOC available, Indian Male - MBA

(HR) and B.E (E.I.E) with total 9 years

of experience in HR & Admin and Busi-

ness Development (3 yrs of Gulf exp.)

can join immediately - 91240251 /

kvaradhan@hotmail.com

M. Sc Computer Science – 2 year

Experience – in India, looking suit-

able Placement. Email:-elvisgt6@

gmail.com, Mob:-+91 9497482305

(INDIA), Oman:-98291626.

Indian, 30 years, B. Com with 2

years Oman experience in Tally

ERP-9 available in Muscat seeking

suitable positions. # on 95186652

Indian male B.Tceh (ECE) MBA

(HR) 2 years experience CCNA,

CCNP, MCSE looking for suitable

job , presently on employment

visa release available. #95584814

Email: syedllizarat7@gmail.com

Indian civil Engineer BE, with 16

years of Industry experience in design

, Quantity surveying , billing looking

for suitable job. #90302823 Email:

prince.n@engineer.com

DAILY GUIDED6 S U N D AY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.comTel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTEDEDUCATION/CLASSES/COMP./WEB.

Spoken Arabic class for Non

Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi earn in two months

tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

Karate and self defense classes

at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per

month twice a week Monday and

Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM.

CONTACT 98294551

MANPOWER

WEB, ERP and Business Intel-

ligence (BI) creation and man-

agement at rock bottom price.

Contact:

http//webviewoman

MISCELLANEOUS

SITUATION WANTEDSIT.WANTED

AVAILABLE

Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirt-

ing, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery,

Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice

Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and

spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606

2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623

5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.

com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

WANTED

IELTS Coaching (academic)

required nearby wadi Kabir

area. Please call on mobile or

msg on Whats up. Mobile no:

92927880/99012165

ACC. AVAILABLE

DRIVING

Big room available with AC,

toilet, Kitchen at Al Hail Highway

roadside preferred south Indians.

Contact: 92968292

Separate entrance furnished

bedroom with attached bath and

kitchen for Executive bachelor in

a villa opp. Star Cinema. Contact:

99314807

Available single room in Wadi

Kabir. Contact: 92177850

Room + bathroom furnished for

Executives, Wadi Kabir. contact

99336206

Room with attached bathroom avail-

able in Ruwi for Executive bachelors.

Contact 95527969

Single room non cooking bach-

elor, near Darsait round about.

Contact: 92120626

Sharing Accommodation avail-

able for working ladies opposite

Al Nadhah Hospital. Preferably

Indians. Room with seperate toilet

and sharing kitchen.RO.90. contact

96524717

Furnished apartment for rent,

two rooms, majlis, hall, kitchen.

Near Carrefour al-mawalah.

#99336776

Small old house for rent in Al

Ghoubra. Contact : 97165972

Sharing for Executive females at

Mumtaz area. Contact: 97094797

Room available for Executive

bachelor at Al Hail.#96234708

Room for rent with furniture.

Al Bustan village.#93687466

Furnished room attached bath

for Indian bachelor, Al-Falaj

Ruwi & lady Wadi Kabir near

Mars hypermarket. CONTACT

96202458/96761960

Furnish bedroom with attach

bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794

Room with attached bathroom for

a family in Wadi Kabir. #97167857

Room with attached bathroom and

sharing kitchen available for

Executive bachelor or small family

at wadikabir Contact 93049849

FOR HIRE

For rent Backhoe Loader Volvo BL71 long term. Contact: 99257975

Grader, roller, bobcat, JCB 3CX, JCB 4CX with breaker & water tanker for

rent. #93218705 / 24478450

Quality concept trading LLC Crane rental daily monthly cranes

available for rent at attractive prizes . Contact: 92870992

Single room B/K sharing Mumtaz

area. Contact: 95212017

Room available in Mumtaz area

1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1

room, common bathroom. Interested

pleasecontact 92680041 Mr. Altaf

ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN Indian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electron-

ics & Comm, 1.7 Years experience

as Service Engineer in India, On

visit Visa, looking for a suitable

placement. Contact : 92794176, E-

mail:prathyushkp9@gmail.com

B-tech Civil with honours, Civil Engi-

neer (structures) Experience more than

six years. #91431483. Email

mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com

HSE Engineer,Indian male, 4

Plus years experience in Oil & Gas

.Working in Shclumberger NEBOSH,

IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in

HSE. CONTACT-krish.569@gmail.

com #+91 9867016808

Indian male Network cabling tech-

nician ( 19-years gulf experience)

seeking for suitable placement.

Contact : 0091-8089909265 (In-

dia), Email: mohithavp@gmail.com

14 years experienced light driver

with valid Oman license looking for

suitable job. Contact 99442481

Indian Pediatric consultant, md

with 20 years experience and wife

gynecologist md with 15 years plus

experience seeking opportunities

with reputed hospitals in Muscat.

deemaild@gmail.com

PROCUREMENT OFFICER, Indian-

Male 34yrs,M.Com with 14 yrs

work Exp.(8 yrs in Oman) work-

ing in Construction Co LLC( for

ROAD,CIVIL,ELECTRO-MECHANICAL

& Others Projects ) and having valid

LT D/L, NOC available & ready to join

within a month-M:94064650,Email:

nagauae@gmail.com

Indian male: 24 years, diploma in

computer science and B.E(CSE)

having experience in hardware and

networking seeking for the suitable

job. Contact: 91170912, Email id:

sales2@witoman.com

Indian male auto cad draughtsman

(civil) 8 years experience, seek-

ing for part time job. mobile no:

0096899070584. email:

remluvp@gmail.com

Sudanese male, 5 years experience

in warehouse management and

logistics services contact

90644186

Civil Engineer (roads and struc-

tures) Education B. Tech Civil

Engineering with honours

experience more than six years.

Contact no 91431483 ,Email

mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com

Indian male 6 years exp in differ-

ent field, with valid Oman driving

license. Languages known Hindi,

English, looking for any job(Driver

for executives). Contact

98696795

HSE Engineer,Indian male, 4

Plus years Experience in Oil &

Gas .Working in Shclumberger.

NEBOSH,IOSH, & NDT Certi-

fied, M Tech in HSE, contact

krish.569@gmail.com Mobile- +91

9867016808

Experienced B.Com graduate +

IATA Diploma holder looking for

Accounts/Admin/Travels related

job. Mob. 91142997. NOC available

.

Indian male B.A degree & diploma

in hotel management with 16

years experience as restaurant

& catering manager in Oman &

Saudi with V/L Oman D/L seeks

suitable placement. Contact :

92100141

MBA Graduate (Indian male 26

years) having 2 years experi-

ence in Qatar as admin assistant

looking for suitable placement.

contact 93041141 Email: mahin-

mehboob@gmail.com

Indian female, MBA with 9 yrs of

experience in finance & procure-

ment currently on family visa

looking for suitable position in

finance & supply chain. Contact

95622568

Draughtsman, 15 years’ experi-

ence, Indian male currently in

Oman looking for suitable position.

Gsm – 95358115, 96977289, Email

: pillairp41@gmail.com

Indian Female living in Ghubra -

Muscat near Emirates Shopping

Center. 20 years of experience in

Teaching. Able to handle all sub-

jects till grade 6. Need suitable job.

Contact- 94406552

PART TIME ACCOUNTANT avail-

able, well experienced in account-

ing up to finalization. knowledge

in tally also. contact. 92643875

Chief Accountant 25 years

experienced looking for part/

full time accountant job. Contact:

95598477 / 98803439

Indian male,16 years Oil & Gas

experience ( Down Hole Tools ),

3 years in Oman, Dip. Mechanical

Engineer, Having D/L and NOC.

Email – jajisuni@yahoo.com, Mob :

965 956 18.

Bangladeshi Male, Univer-

sity MA, Working as Store

In-charge cum Logistic Manager

in Muscat; searching better job.

Phone:91997605. email:

mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.

com

8 plus years of experience in

Events /Marketing Communica-

tion /conferences / Trainings /

Media representation. Having UAE

D/L. seeking Suitable Placement:

Contact: 95792820. suheal.ma@

outlook.com

Indian Male,Kerala,B.COM & B.PE

having 13Years of Physical Educa-

tion Teacher experience. Currently

on visit visa Looking for a suitable

job. Contact:- 968 94106834.

email:-akhilrajkj@gmail.com.

14 years experience in 5 star hotel

as sales manager in UAE & INDIA

on tourist visa looking for suitable

opportunity please contact mobile

contact 91305978

Admin Assistant. Having 5 years

experience in admin department

in reputed companies, presently

working in Muscat (NOC Avail-

able). GSM. 00968-98404122,

Email - panduru.jeevankumar@

gmail.com

Indian Female on a visit visa hav-

ing master degree seeking suit-

able placement in any field, 1 and

half year experience in HR .Contact

: +968 91467576

.

Indian Female, 24 MA Eng. Litr

with 2 yrs experience in teach-

ing & 14 months in Administra-

tion cum Secretary, Currently

on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact: 92613704/99260702,

Email:rohinis2010@gmail.com

Indian male, 8.5 yrs experience,

B.Com Graduate with GCC exp &

valid driving license looking for

better job opening in Muscat.

Contact: 92609935 / 94771365

2 years experienced male seeking

job related to safety. M. Tech in HSE,

MSc in Environmental Science and

IOSH certified. #94653264

Female Junior Architect Gradu-

ated from School of Planning &

Architecture, Vijayawada. Excel-

lence in Autocad, Sketching &

Modelling. Internship - KHAM

Designs, Bangalore. Presently with

Atulya Architects & Associates.

Email saatvika.frozenmusic@

gmail.com #00968-94057427.

Sri Lankan Male 34 BSc. (Physics)

5 years experience as a site man-

ager and administration supervi-

sor in Oman with valid D/L looking

for a suitable position. contact

99153061 or v.chandramohan@

yahoo.co.uk

Mechanical Engineering 6 years

experience. contact

00968-998907110091 -

9841867534 Email:

sayed.fortuner88@gmail.con

Indian male 37 YEARS, BSC

COMPUTER SCIENCE having More

than 8yrs of experience with well

exposure in PDO, DALEEL & OXY

as IT SUPPORT / DESKTOP SUP-

PORT ENGINEER. Seeking suitable

placement. Contact rangaraj_vck@

yahoo.co.in / 968-99758320

B.Com Graduate with 4 year expe-

rience as an Accountant in Oman.

Also have Oman Driving License.

Best fluency in English, Arabic,

Hindi& Malayalam. Looking for

Job. Currently in Oman. #+968

93943448, murshid4u@gmail.com

Indian Female Electronics Sys-

tem Eng. UK Graduate. Program-

mer Micro Controller Robot, Eng.

Analysis, Instrumentation &

Control, Eng. Projects, Integrated

Circuit Eng., Electrical and Fluid

Drives, Analogue Electronics,

Wireless Systems. Seeking suit-

able post. Contact: 97848075,

s.dinesh1508@gmail.com

Diploma(Electrical Engineering)

From Government polytechnic.

Age 27years, 6 years Experiance in

Maintenance, troubleshooting and

managing and Technical in substa-

tion as a Electrical Engineer.Seek

suitable placement. Contact GSM-

92995899,(a.abbas31@gmail.com)

MBA Indian male 2 years experi-

ence in firefighting & security sys-

tems sales & marketing. Seeking

suitable job. Contact – 90634050

Indian male with 1 yr exp looking

for job in I.T as Web developer,

presently in Muscat on visit visa.

#92312978

DAILY GUIDES U N D AY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6 D7

TOURS

TOURS

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP

specification for monthly rent &

small car with driver. #99839898

SITUATION WANTEDCARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

Moon Travel L.L.CSaudi Arabian Government approved agent

Contact: Tariq Al Balushi - 99218069 Ahmed Maseehuddin - 99353611, O ce: 24790746/24706217

Umrah Package by Road & AirBus Departures- Apr 19, May 03, 17 & 31.2016

Ramadan Schedule - Jun 06, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 & 30.2016

SITUATION WANTEDBUSINESS

RENT A CARBest Rates for Saloon

Contact: 97869042 / 95730550

sales@modernreem.com

Looking for a villa in Amerat area.

Contact : 95405033

ACC WANTED

Investment RequiredMinimum OMR 500,000 to transfer

5 Excavators big + 5 Tippers 2015

Astra, working on good profitable

Excavation projects. Assured

income 36 %.

98867530 / 99120532engrfaheem@hotmail.com

MV SALE

GMC Sierra 4-Door Pick-up 2010

Model, 177,000 Kms - RO.8,000/-.

Contact: 92564199

Toyota Corolla 1.6 cc automatic sell-

ing. Contact: 98504279

Hyundai Veracruz 2011 model for

sale, 4 WD color black 7 seater

with engine capacity 3775CC,

automatic – Steptronic with GPS.

Contact 97203784

Nissan Sunny, White, 1.6, Automatic

2010, 76,750 KM, excellent condi-

tion, regular service at Nissan

Service center for RO 2300 contact

– 96530052

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation available on rent

10 ton Hiap Trailers. #94207475 /

95649231/ 97982842

Transportation. #99508282

Transportation. contact 92015894

Transportation available Ruwi to

Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

Transportation. contact

94087276

Transportation required from

Qurum to WadiKabir at afternoon

only 1 PM. Contact -

99012165

BUYING

Buying cars for cash.#90202090

Bobcat available for rent. contact

97623299

KTT&CO LLC Customs Clearance

thru Bayan System ( AIR & SEA

CARGO) Freight Forwarding (both

import & export) by giving best

freight rates to Customers. Road

Transportation, Delivery of all types

of goods (within Oman). Contact :

Tel : 24713288 & 24711071 ; GSM :

(99597129 (MR. KISHORE

D8 S U N D AY, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.comTel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTEDSERVICES

SITUATION WANTEDSERVICES

SERVICESWe Provide Cleaners,

Window & split unit A.C servicing &

repairing. Contact: 99557080

Split & window unit A.C servicing &

maintenance. contact 96236476

Split & widow unit A.C servicing &

maintenance.#93769089 / 95323517

Split & window A/c servicing & main-

tenance. # 93769089 / 95323517

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing,

Contact 99314807/24792998

A/C maintenance & servicing,

fridge, washing machine & dish

washer repairing, painting & clean-

ing services, electrical & plumbing.

#99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

Water proofing ABUQABAS-

Contact 99320217/24788722

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Pest control treatments, Ocean center LLC #99344723

House shifting. contact 99708138

CAD drawings Archi/ MEP CAD –

comply BIM. Contact: 91233975

PEST CONTROLAL TABA SERVICE LLC

Ants, Rodent, & cleaning On monthly,

Harmless & Odourless

100% Professional A ordable Rate !!!

CALL - 91464586

B

MY

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of

your marble. contact 24793614/

99314807

Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampoo-

ing. Ocean center LLC.contact

99344723

Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only.

Contact: 94217681 /99210141

Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont

Maintenance services electric,

plumbing and A/C. Contact:

96524904 /94285064

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles

polishing, carpet shampooing,

maintenance. Contact ABU QA-

BAS- 99320217 /24788722

All MEP & Civil shop drawings.

Contact : 93070771 Email :

designjob2014@gmail.com

Cleaning Services, Sofa, carpet

shampoo old house or new house.

Contact: 92179395

Split & window A/c installation &

maintenance specialist package &

ducted units. Contact

98667326

CATERING SERVICES We do industrial catering

service, Canteen / mess,

3 times packed meals and

all types of catering events.

Contact: 92188777 / 99249899

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile

polishing, pest control & anti-ter-

mite treatment, general cleaning

painting,Plumbing, Electrical,

shifting. Contact Mundhir

Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C.

Contact: 24810137, 99450130

Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean center LLC contact

99344723

MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS

SITUATION WANTEDSIT.WANTED

SITUATION WANT-SIT.WANTED

Sr Material controller, having 13

years experience in material control-

ling in reputed companies. Presently

working in Muscat (NOC Available). #

00968-92944026, Email

charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in

Indian/male (25)/ MBA/2 years

experience in channel sales and

distribution management. on

visit visa. available for immedi-

ate joining. Contact: 96914068, E

mail: mailanasap@gmail.com

32year Indian Male MSC,MBA-

HR having 8yrs Exp(HR / Payroll

/ Admin) with Oman valid DL.

Seeking suitable opening in

Human Resource, Payroll &

Admin/ backend jobs. Con-

tact:00968-99322978

6 YEARS EXPERIENCE HR/Fi-

nance Indian female[29Years]

MBA. On family visa, Seeking

suitable placement-93908191,

email:aswathi.wnd@gmail.com

Indian, BE Mechanical Engi-

neering with 1 yr exp as service

Engineer, looking for suitable

positions. Contact-90637918, E

mail: aquasharath@gmail.com

Senior Accountant, 5 yrs Oman, 10

yrs UAE experience in manufacturing

& construction valid D/L immediately

available. Email: irfan_syed2000@

hotmail.com, call: 95389018

Commercial or Operation Manager 18

yrs in Oman – finance, purchase, sales,

HR & Admin exp. contact 99044724.

E mail: srjobsinoman@yahoo.com

Male ,MBA Finance & Marketing 28

yrs,6+ Exp, with oman D/L & NOC,

Hospital ,Pharma ,Herbal ,FMCG, F&B

Markeing ,construction A/c & sales ,

93379044

HSE Engineer, Indian male, 4 plus

years experience in oil & gas,

working in shclumberger Nebosh,

ISOH & NDT certified, M. Tech in

HSE. contact-krish.569@gmail.

com mobile- +91 9867016808

BE Mechanical Engineering with

one year experience now on visit

visa, looking for suitable positions.

#90637918 / 99335742,email:

aquasharath@gmail.com

Indian/male (25)/ MBA /2 years experi-

ence in channel sales and distribution

management. on visit visa. available for

immediate joining. #96914068, email:

mailanasap@gmail.com

Indian male network cabling tech-

nician (19 years Gulf experience),

seeking for suitable placement.

Contact : 0091-8089909265 (In-

dia), Email: mohithavp@gmail.com

Indian male, Kerala B.Com & B.PE,

looking for suitable Job in Sales,

Accounts, Admin etc.#93301023

email:- sajith3969@gmail.com

Indian male at a Managerial position

having 12 yrs exp in sales & market-

ing, Property Management looking for

a suitable position, MBA qualified with

Oman driving license. NOC available.

#98125226

Indian male BE Mechanical En-

gineer having 6 yrs exp in piping

and structural construction work,

looking suitable position, release

available. contact 96115463-email:

jijoraju085@yahoo.com

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, Indian

Male, 24 years, B.Tech in com-

puter science.3Years of experience

in technical support, software

development, troubleshooting and

managing, seek suitable place-

ment. # GSM- 98184170

Indian Male,B.Com & Diploma Logistics

& supply chain management 2years

experience looking for job in Accounts/

logistics field. Presently on Visit Visa.

Software knows MS office & Tally7.2

.#:93884951-Email:mehreenraiz@

gmail.com

NRI

2 Acres of land for sale in Tamil

Nadu, Tirunelveli District , Kon-

danagaram , near Suthamalli, 7 KM

from Tirunelveli Town , off Cher-

anmahadevi Road . Contact: 0091

7358518439

MATRIMONIAL

MATRIMONIAL

Tamil Hindu Brahmin Iyer Boy.

Parents invite proposal for

their only son 25 yrs / 6.1 ht /

B.Tech (NIT), MBA (IIM), EX-

ISM student, employed MNC

Bangalore Star Uttirathdhi

seeks suitable alliance fom Iyer/

Iyenger families. Parents in Oman

/ contact 98288925

92264915

Nair boy Alleppy dist, 25 Revathy

175 Cm, B.E Mech 3 yrs in Oman as

planning Engineer seeks alliance.

Contact: 94232342

30 yrs, Kottayam working in Saud

Bahwan Automotive L.L.C Oman.

Contact: 93049433 / 99613914

Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in

Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites

parents/nurses working in Oman.

#968 98267338, 0091 9287215726

Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/

divorcee/ single.contact 96059801.