At a time when many hotels are struggling to remain afloat and many new projects have been put on hold, one of the top Pakistani hotelier and businessman Byram D. Avari, 69, launched AvariXpress in Islamabad on July 7. And by the end of 2011, he intends to open doors of the country’s first all suites hotel in the federal capital.
“There is a lot of demand for quality –accommodation in the country “, he said in an interview. He believes that there are ways to save costs, while offering luxuries. He is planning to open several boutique hotels across the country. Despite the additional security expenses, hotel industry in Pakistan has prospered, he told. “If you look at the growth graph, it falls down at times, but overall it continues to go up.”

“Karachi used to be a transit destination for passengers heading to Japan and Australia,” Avari recalled.

Although he did not reveal the size of investment, Avari Islamabad seems to be a gigantic investment in these tough economic circumstances. The project is being built over 10,500 square yards piece of prime land with 417suits sprad across 25 floors, Avari said, it will offer six-star luxury experiences to the customers.
Commenting on the taxes being paid by the hotel industry he said, there is no point of having these menu and laundry taxes and Rs. 1000 per function that the city government collect. They did not contribute any substantial amount to the taxes anyway.
Contrary to other businessmen who remain skeptical about the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s involvement in management of Pakistan ‘s economy, Avari told that country would reap benefits in the long run if recommendation made by global donors complete successfully.
“ The BRIC nations comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China, all have implemented the IMF Theory, our leadership should have the political will to do the same.”
Avari Group has also shown its interest in real estate, pharmaceuticals and air travel. A few years back, his group was also one of the only three Pakistani manufacturers of liquor.
Avri Travel Agencies is Pakistan’s sales agent for some leading airlines, including India’s Kingfisher and Canadian Airlines. Aviation and hospitality businesses go hand-in-hand, he told.
“Karachi used to be a transit destination for passengers heading to Japan and Australia,” Avari recalled. “Authorities increased taxes as on jet fuel, thinking nothing will happen and all the traffic shifted to neighboring countries.”

Bar B QTonight

Tour Guide to Pakistan

اتحاد ائیرویز کی جانب سے اکتوبر میں"آل اکنامی" سروس متعارف کرنے کا اعلان
کراچی:(جیوے پاکستان ، ۷؍اگست۲۰۱۰): یو اے ای(UAE)کی قومی ایئرلائن اتحاد ائیرویز نے اعلان کیا ہے کہ وہ اکتوبر میں اپنی پہلی"آل اکنامی(All Economy)" سروس متعارف کروادیگی۔اس مقصدکیلئے دو ائیربسA-320 جہاز استعمال کئے جائیں گے جن میں 162 اکنامی کلاس کے مسافروں کولانے اور لیجانے کی گنجائش ہوگی۔
وا ضع رہے کہ آل اکنامی(All Economy) سروس مختصرفاصلے کی ان پروازوں کیلئے دستیاب ہوگی جن کا صارفین کی جانب سے بہت زیادہ مطالبہ کیا جا رہا تھا۔ابتدائی طور پہ یہ پروازیں پاکستان سے اسکندریہ، دمام،دوہا،انڈیا اور سری لنکا کیلئے اڑائی جائیں گی۔اتحاد ائیرویز مستقبل میںآل اکنامی(All Economy) سروس کو مزید 10ائیربس A32تک ان نئی مختصر Destinations تک توسیع دینے کا ارادہ رکھتی ہے جن میں Premiumکلاس کی ڈیمانڈ کم اور Economyکلاس کی ڈیمانڈ زیادہ ہے۔اس موقع اتحاد ائیرویز کے چیف ایگزیکٹیو آفیسر جیمز ہوگن نے کہاکہ پچھلے ساڑھے چھ سال میں اتحاد ائیرویز نے غیر معمولی ترقی کی ہے ۔ انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ اتحاد ائیرویز اپنے ترقی کو قائم رکھنے کی غرض سے نہ صرف اپنی اعلیٰ خدمات میں بہتری لا رہی ہے بلکہ اتحاد ائیرویز اپنی مشرقِ وسطہ، جنوبی افریقہ، ایشیاء اور برِ صغیر کی تمام اکنامی پروازوں پر پرکشش مصنوعات فراہم کرنے کا بھی ارادہ رکھتی ہے ۔
واضع رہے کہ اس وقت اتحاد ایئرویز کے پاس 15ایئربس A320 جہاز ہیں جبکہ کمپنی اسی نوعیت کے مزید35جہازایئربس سے جلد حاصل کرلے گی۔
تحاد ائر ویز کے بارے میں :اتحاد ائر ویزمتحدہ عرب امارات کی قومی ائر لائن ہے جس کا صدر دفتر متحدہ عرب امارات کے صدر مقام ابو ظہبی میں واقع ہے ۔ اس وقت اتحاد مشرق وسطی ، یورپ ، شمالی امریکہ ، ایشیا ، افریقہ اور آسٹریلیا کے 63 سے زیادہ شہروں کے لئے پرواز کر رہی ہے ۔

check availability and see Special Offers nowday at Avari Dubai

Street crime are higher especially cash snatching (no cell phone snatching, may be due to lack of onward disposal). I was warned routinely during check in at hotel not to carry cash more than 20 R$(Brazil Dollar).Brazil is much more than you hear in the TV News, just go there and see it for yourself, and take your own conclusions, YOU WILL BE VERY SURPRISED!.

By Dr. Imtiaz Ather Siddiqui <siddykee@yahoo.com>
I was the only invited key note speaker from Pakistan to deliver a lecture on Oral Cancer. It was a mega event of world congress on Ear Nose Throat & Head and Neck Surgery in São Paulo Brazil. There were 37 countries with more than 6000 registered delegates in attendance from 01 June to 05 June 2009.Brazil once a Portuguese colony which got freedom in 1822.São Paulo means” Saint Paul” in Portuguese. São Paulo is known by the nickname of "Sampa". While “Samba” is the most popular traditional dance like Bhangra in our region. It is the most populated city, not only in Brazil, not only in South America but in the Southern hemisphere.São Paulo is the 19th richest city in the world and is expected to be the 13th richest in 2020.It is a home to 18 million people making it 7th largest city across the globe. Every year about 90,000 events are hosted and 16.50 million people pay a visit to this mega polis for business, conference, convention or tourism.So what if the traffic is hellish? So is Paris'. So what if the air is not that clean? It hardly is in big cities. So what if it has no beach? Viena and Paris doesn't have them either. Of course there's all the crap of any big city, pollution, traffic jams, crime, corrupted local politicians and police..."São Paulo is like the entire world". If you are fascinated by the mix of ethnic groups, this is the place to visit. You can buy Chinese crafts cheaper than in China, Italian goods cheaper than in Italy even the Pizza. The Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Arabian and Jewish colonies are extremely strong in this city. I walk out of the airport into the dry, piercing windy winter of June. (June is winter while January is summer in southern hemisphere) I noticed that even a concrete second world jungle like Sao Paulo is incredibly green.I found it a different world with loving people always ready to assist/help you. They love Pakistan a lot perhaps only very few Pakistanis are here and they are from educated and cultured slice. One of my Brazilian friends told me another reason. Brazil wanted to be a nuclear power, it has progressed a lot in this direction. But USA put tremendous pressure in every segment like political, military, economic etc to roll back this programme. At last USA succeeded and nuclear programme was corked. Though people of Brazil did not like at all this USA move. Pakistan enjoys respect on this ground a lot among masses as a nuclear power in spite of tremendous USA pressure. I had taken a city tour for eight hours with English speaking guide. As official language is Portuguese but many people also speak English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Japenes.Like all the main cities of Europe this city also have a river”Tiete” running in the centre with its tributary”Pinheiros”. Once this used to be a source of fresh water and leisurer to the city but it has largely been polluted by raw sewage and industrial waste. However a substantial clean up programme is in progress which was witnessed by me as well.After the abolition of slavery in 1888 this city received large no. of immigrants most of them coming from Italy and at one time Italians were the half population of the city. Potugues, Spaniards, Germans, Japenes, Jews, and Christian Lebanese and Syrians also came in significant numbers. In 1960 Chinese and Koreans started coming. Nowadays there is a growing Bolivian population in the city.This city is an “organised jungle” of neat, clean, elegant multi-storeyed modern buildings apart from old Goethic architecture spread across the metropolis.Despite its many woes, São Paulo remains the business hub of Latin America. Having prospered first with the coffee industry, and later with industrialization.Sao Paulo has lots to offer tourists. Its museum of art called MASP (Museum of Arts Sao Paulo). First of all it's located in the most famous avenue in Latin America, Avenue Paulista. This is one of the most important thoroughfares of the city and the site of many cultural centers and museums, such as the MASP. There you can see wonderful shows of architecture. The MASP building is a masterpiece. It was idealized by the wonderful Architect Lina Bo Bardi. Second of all, it holds number of art pieces that you should definitely get to know. And don't you dare walk home without a poster or thousands of postcards!There is a famous museum of immigrants exhibiting details of immigrants.Football is a craze in Brazil like cricket in Pakistan. Brazil will be a hosting nation in 2014 FIFA world cup. This will be 5th time to happen in Brazil. Pele a global football Brazilian legend enjoys the status of a national hero of all times. There is museum of football in São Paulo one of its type across the globe.Ibirapuera Park is the second largest park of the city (Parque do Carmo is the biggest), is also home to several museums. It is known for its buildings designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer.Estação da Luz is the historical railway station built 1895-1901. The city has 613 km of underground railway systems (34.6 km fully underground). The São Paulo Metro locally known as the Metrô, with 4 lines in operation and 55 stations.São Paulo has no tram lines, although trams used to be common in the first half of the 20th century. Sao Paulo's underground train system is modern, safe, clean and efficient, considered one of the best subway systems in the world, as certified by the NBR ISO 9001. The bulk of the public transport (government and private companies) is composed of approximately 17,000 buses (including about 210 trolley buses), colored uniformly.Brazilians smoke a hell of a lot more than their American counterpartDue to the intense traffic jams on the roads combined with fears of kidnappings among its richer citizens, São Paulo has become the city with the highest number of helicopters in the world, more than cities like New York and Tokyo. With more than 400 helicopters and around 70,000 flights per year within central São Paulo.Helicopters enable businessmen and other executives to sharply reduce their commuting time, at least to the most important meetings and conferences. They are also used to bring executives in from their homes in distant parts of the greater metropolitan area and back to them at the end of the work week. Some companies own their helicopters, others lease them, and still others use helicopter taxi services. One suburban helicopter shuttle service, located about 15 miles from the center of the city in a suburb called Tamboré, is unique in the sense that it is run and operated totally by women, including its pilots.Gas stations here supply three types of fuel to auto mobiles, Petrol, CNG and Ethanol (Alcohol). Diesel is rare. Petrol is cheap 03 Brazil dollars per gallon.

The first capital of United States of America

Dr. Imtiaz Ather Siddiqui

Philadelphia, the original capital of United States of America for initial ten years of independence, was the venue of Annual meeting of American Academy of Allergy & Immunology. I was there to refresh and update my professional knowledge on the subject of Allergy, an increasingly common health problem for developed and developing nations across the planet earth. Philadelphia, which translated from Greek means "City of Brotherly Love," is in fact one of the most ethnically mixed US cities, with substantial communities of Italians, Irish, Eastern Europeans and Asians living side by side among the majority black population.Philadelphia, The city is colloquially referred to as” Philly”,  was laid out by William Penn Jr. in 1682, on a grid system that was to provide the pattern for most American cities. It was envisaged as a "green country town" and today, for all its historical and cultural significance, it still manages to retain certain quaintness.Just a few blocks away from the noise, crowds, heat and dust of downtown, shady cobbled alleys stand lined with redbrick colonial houses, while the peace and quiet of huge Fairmount Park make it easy to forget you're in a major metropolis.Philly is known as one of the best walking cities in USA. It is almost difficult to get lost in center city, as William Penn’s (man who built Philly) original grid system is still intact. The streets running north and south are numbered, while streets running east and west are named after trees e.g. Walnut, Chestnut, Locust). Even if you take a wrong turn, it is easy to regain your bearings and get back on to right path. So I explored the city on foot and enjoyed and enriched my heart with sunshine and brain with alighted status.Most of the city's historic landmarks are in old city and the Historical District in the Society Hill neighborhood east of Centre City, including Independence National Historical Park, home of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Liberty Bell are the city's most famous attractions.  I was a nice day to walk around. No line on a Wednesday around 11am. Security goes through bags. Nice displays and you can get right up to the bell. Nice piece of history. Free entry, it was a surprise, I thought I was going to see a giantmonstrosity of a bell, but when I arrived it was smaller than the one in the Polar Express. Before I saw it, I thought it could have easily fallen out of Abraham Lincoln's pocket and broke. The liberty bell will always be a great thing to see because it is part of American history but also because of what it symbolizes The city contains many museums such as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Rodin Museum, the largest collection of work by Auguste Rodin outside of France. The city’s major art museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is one of the largest art museums in the United States and features the steps made popular by the film “Rocky”. Philadelphia's major science museums include the Franklin Institute, which contains the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, and the University of Pennsylvania Museum ofArchaeology and Anthropology. History museums include the National Constitution Centre and Eastern State Penitentiary. Philadelphia is home to the United States' first zoo and hospital. The beautiful Philadelphia Museum of Art makes art approachable. Set along winding paths, hidden labyrinths reveal the world's greatest and most interesting works of art from outsider art to folk-art to works by the masters.Every path is a path to discovery. Every work is beautifully displayed. And knowledgeable guides offer insight along with information. A great place filled with treasures! This is a wonderful museum with something for everyone. Sundays are great because the art museum is free on Sunday.  it is "pay what you want”. They just ask that you give a small donation. This is a great value for something to do. I felt an overall tranquility and overwhelming peace as i walked through the Philadelphia art museum is a Great tourist attraction. I would love to go back when I get some more time off.Areas such as South Street and Old City have a vibrant night life. The Avenue of the Arts in Centre City contains many restaurants and theaters, such as the Kimmel Centre for the Performing Arts which is home to the Philadelphia Orchestra.As I am an art lover, so museum of art was my first priority Love park is the most magnificent place in Philadelphia it is in the heart and soul of Philly you can go anywhere from love park you can see the art museum from there or city hall right behind you it is a great place to just sit and eat lunch. Love Park should change their name, because there is NO Love there. Skateboarding is a way for people to come together, and share something so special.  Love Park was a place that kids of all ages could do so. There were no “Love Birds” in Love Park even oldie pensioner couples, which populate most of the parks in developed world.Philadelphia has a strong retail community reflected by both small scale local selections and large malls. Centre City is home to The Gallery at Market East, one of the largest downtown shopping centers in the country, The Shops at Liberty Place, an upscale boutique mall, and The Philadelphia Bourse, which orients its offerings towards tourists and visitors. Rittenhouse Row, a section of Walnut Street in Centre City, ishome to some of the most high end stores and boutiques in the region. The Italian Market in South Philadelphia offers a wide assortment of groceries, meats, cheeses and housewares from a diverse array of countries in addition to its Italian flavor.Of course there is no china town yet in Philadelphia like all other big cities of USA and worldPhiladelphia is one of the largest college towns in the United States with over 120,000 college and university students enrolled within the city and nearly 300,000 in the metropolitan area. Temple University's main campus is two miles north ofCity Hall and has campuses in Philadelphia's central business district and the suburb of Ambler. A western section of thecity, known as University City, is home to two of the city's universities. I was enrolled as scholar in five day extensive“ International Advanced course on Rhinology “in Ear Nose Throat department of University of Pennsylvania, one of themajor university across USA.While walking through streets I happened to see a pair of Acrobat street charmers composing a nice music with broken Cutlery plates, hollow tins and grass cutter containers.

Dr.Imtiaz Ather Siddiqui is Senior Registrar in Ear Nose Throat & Head and Neck Surgery Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi. Siddykee@yahoo.com

2010 WORLD MEDICAL HEALTH TOURISM CONFERENCE - MALAYSIA
The Asian Medical Tourism Association (AMTA) proudly presents the 2010 World Medical Health Tourism Conference: A Truly Asian Experience which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 27-29, 2010. The conference is planning on bringing together many of Asia’s medical tourism service providers. As Asia is the founder of medical tourism and has more than 75% of the globe’s medical tourism infrastructure whether it be hospitals, spas, alternative health facilities, it is expected that the event will draw delegates from throughout the world. Planning is well underway for the conference to host more than 1000 delegates and with a great array of speakers, exhibitors, workshops and discussion panels, the event is a must if you are a player or have an interest in medical tourism industry.
The event provides diverse opportunity for networking ever in the Asia and South Pacific region. You and your organization will be able to connect with international hospitals, insurance companies, and other medical tourism operators. Furthermore, this conference will provide an excellent opportunity to see first hand the high quality of healthcare in Malaysia. You’ll gain invaluable experience in context just by attending and networking opportunities that this unique conference can offer.