UAE jolts from Pakistan earthquake tremor

pakistan earthquake

Strong tremors caused by a powerful earthquake in Pakistan were felt in most parts of the UAE at around 12:27am on Wednesday, sending waves of panic among people who rushed out of their homes.

Pakistan’s earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale struck some 566km in the northwest of Karachi, said the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology.

The NCMS confirmed that the tremors were felt deep inside the UAE. In a report issued at 2:10am, the centre said it has caused no harm in the UAE.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was more than 84km underground, close to the town of Dalbandin in Baluchistan province, near the Afghan and Iranian frontiers.

The tremors were felt by people living even in Al Ain. Police and Civil Defence department has not reported any material damage or causalities.

The quake, however, sent a wave of panic among residents in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai, Al Ain, and parts of Abu Dhabi. Many of them rushed out into the open.

5,000 Dubai cabbies to watch India Pakistan Twenty-20 for free

india pakistan cricket match

Almost 5,000 taxi drivers in Dubai will be able to watch for free the planned one off 20-20 cricket match to be played between current and former stars from India and Pakistan.

Others will have to fork out upwards of Dh10 to watch the match.

Cricket Gurukul, a marketing body for young and talented cricketers announced that the match has been planned to raise money for three organizations in UAE, Pakistan and India.

“We also plan to give 5,000 tickets to the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai to be distributed to the taxi drivers. It is because of their service that we get transported across Dubai daily with convenience,” said Prakash Palande, Official Spokesperson of Cricket Gurukul.

“The match will be held between India Maharajahs and Pakistani Sultans in February 2011 and Wasim Akram will be captaining the Pakistani side,” said Palande.

Preeti Chauhan, Owner of Cricket Gurukul said, “Our project is a fusion of national passion, international cricket, Bollywood splendour, contemporary Asian cuisine and international philanthropy.…..For our fellow Indians and the people of Pakistan, there is no event that creates a bigger frenzy than a cricket match between the nations.”

India’s Vinod Kambli and Pakistan’s Imran Nazir and Azhar Mahmood were present on the occasion.

Among the charities that would benefit from the event are UAE’s Al Noor Centre, Pakistan’s Sahara for Life Trust and India’s Vidya Jyoti Association for Education & Resource Development.

From: Emirates 24-7

relaxing in Dubai

Laborer Recruitment declining in Dubai

Dubai Labor

While the official version on economy of Dubai is that things are as rosy as they come, reality is very much in contrast to the propaganda.

As Arabian Business reports, the number of construction workers arriving in Dubai has practically ground to a halt in the last few months.

A spokesperson from the Dhoria International Job Centre said the company was recruiting between 200 and 400 workers a month last year, but in the last four months it had only recruited a total of four workers.

The standard length of contracts is three years. While most workers usually stay in Dubai for the full three years, some were now being sent home early due to the slowdown in the Dubai construction market.

The spokesperson reported that last year the company recruited 300 workers for one well-known Dubai construction firm, who he declined to name, and 200 of them have already been sent home.

While the emirate may be seeing a drop off in recruitment, the company is seeing an increase in demand for workers in Saudi Arabia and it has been contracted by a large Saudi construction company to recruit 1,500 workers for a project due to start in six weeks.

It is to be noted that most recruitment agencies charge up to three months of salary from the laborers in lieu of visa and processing charges. However, there is no compensation if a person is fired after a year of his 3-year contract. This is clearly a lose-lose situation for the laborers who invest a lot to secure a job in Dubai.

Image: PictureSocial