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PR No. 08 A five member Iraqi defence delegation, Maj Gen. Abbas Mohammed Fizaa Director Military Training, called on Secretary Defence, Lt General Syed Athar Ali ® and discussed with him matters pertaining to enhancement of defence cooperation between the two countries. The meeting exchanged views on different aspects of defence cooperation and emphasizes the need to promote military-to-military cooperation between the two sides. Pakistan also offered training courses to the military personnel of Iraq in its training institutions. The head of Iraqi defence delegation expressed satisfaction over his visit to Pakistan, saying it would go a long way in promoting defence ties between the two countries. **AM/Ahmad**
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No. 09 Federal Minister for Defence, Ch Ahmad Mukhtar, has said that Pakistan is seriously concerned about the growing influence of India in Afghanistan and is strongly averse to any Indian role as it would not be in the interest of Pakistan. He stated this during a meeting with the visiting Naval Chief of Staff of United Kingdom, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, who called on him here today. The meeting discussed Pakistan’s anti-terror contribution, cooperation between the Navies of the two countries and the security situation in Afghanistan. The Minister apprised the UK Naval Chief of Staff about the remarkable achievements made by the security forces of Pakistan against the militants in Swat Valley, Bajaur Agency, South Wazirstan Agency and other terror-stricken areas. He said that the Armed Forces of the country, despite resource constraints, succeeded in clearing these trouble areas from the terrorists with the strong backing of the whole nation. Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope deeply appreciated the sacrifices being made by the Armed Forces of the country while combating the terrorists. The Meeting also exchanged views on the London Conference on Afghanistan. Commenting on the Conference, the Minister said that the international community ultimately agreed and endorsed Pakistan’s stance which had been telling the world to open dialogue with the moderate Taliban and take all stakeholders on board. He said that Pakistan supported the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan and re-integration of moderate Taliban into the mainstream which could help in bringing peace and stability to the war-stricken country. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promote and achieve durable peace and stability in Afghanistan which is imperative for the regional peace and security. He said that Pakistan is a nuclear and the International Community particularly the developed world should recognize it as nuclear state. The Meeting also emphasized the need for closer collaboration between the Navies of the two countries. Maritime Security of Indian Ocean and role being played by Pakistan Navy as part of CTF 150 and CTF 151 was also discussed. In order to check drug / human trafficking and ensure security at high seas, the meeting stressed the need to evolve a coordinated mechanism to exchange information and fight against human and drug trafficking as well as other terrorist activities.
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No. 10 Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi has said that the eminent thinkers like Allama Iqbal, Allama Rumi and Fethullah Gulen have presented glorious thoughts about the Ideal Human Society in the world. They advocated for peace, Love and tolerance through Spiritual thinking to promote humanity in the society. The Minister paid great tributes to these scholars in his speech to a seminar on “Ideal of Human in the thoughts of Rumi, Iqbal and Gulen, organized by Allama Iqbal Open University in collaboration with Rumi Forum here today. The Minister expressed that Allama Iqbal, through his extensive command on Western Philosophy, highlighted the importance of self-realization of the ego and rehabilitation it with the tenets and dynamic of Islam. He was of the Opinion that these three eminent scholars in their discourse identified the common features of an ideal society established by last Messenger of Allah at Media. He added that reflecting their inspiring thoughts through the crystal of Islam, they highlighted Human Being and the essences that are only special to Human Being such as ego, Love, compassion, Power of expression which are vital Unit of the society that possibly help bring alive stagnant contemporary Muslim and world societies. These three scholars are acclaimed as mediators of Peace forerunners of a bright future in their particular regions and the promoters of inclusive peace in the world. They emphasized on the renewal of self potential to take an individual to the sky of human perfection in faith and humanity, the minister concluded. Haroon Koken, Chairman, Rumi Forum also spoke and paid tributes to Jalaluddin Rumi’s Spiritual thinking and expressed that Rumi was a great preacher of tolerance, peace and Love. He was of the view that these three muslim scholars followed the teaching of Islam through their spiritual philosophy for promotion of humanity. Dr. Hassan Ali Yurtsever, a Turkish scholar also spoke and elaborated the thoughts of Gulen who conveyed his message of humanity through education, dialogue, human activism, youth movement, sincerity and devotion which were essential and fundamental principles for promotion of humanity. Vice chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University and scholars of Islamic University also presented their views in the seminar and highlighted the thoughts of these three eminent thinkers. On the conclusion of seminar, Vice chancellor of AIOU presented two souvenirs to Minister on behalf of AIOU and Rumi Forum.
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No. 11 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the government is mindful of the professional requirements of the Armed Forces and is taking all necessary steps for fulfilling their needs and strengthening their defence capability. The Prime Minister said this while talking to Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, who called on him at the PM’s House here today. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan Air Force is an effective force fully capable of meeting any challenge and its combat potential and maneuverability to defend the national and security interests of the country would be further enhanced. The Chief of Air Staff informed the Prime Minister about professional matters of Pakistan Air Force.
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No. 12 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence nevertheless it is the policy of the government to maintain minimum credible deterrence which is imperative for safeguarding the frontiers of the country. The Prime Minister was talking to Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Tariq Majid who called on him at the PM’s House and discussed with him matters relating to national security.
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PR No. 14 “Media can play a vital role in bringing about a behavioral change towards family planning/reproductive health among the masses”, says Federal Minister for Population Welfare Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan while addressing the media managers/partners here in Islamabad while advocating them for promotion of Population issue as a national cause. She said that the rapid growth of population is one of the main impediments in way of the government efforts for achieving the overall national development goals and sustained socio-economic growth. She revealed that after the involvement of Imams and Khateebs for promoting small family norms, a dire need is felt to work in partnership with media so as the to provide a visionary roadmap/ guidelines as how to take the masses on board. “Our purpose is to focus on the availability of accessibility of quality reproductive health/ family planning services particularly in the rural/Under served areas through an integrated approach”, she added. She also elaborated that goal of this awarness/advocacy campaign is to promote family planning and reproductive health for attaining a balance between population and resources in line with population Policy working in tandem and within the framework of the national development policies and goals.
PR
No. 15 Federal Minister for Industries & Production, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, on Tuesday, during performance review meeting, lauded the efforts of State Engineering Corporation (SEC) for playing a key role in industrial development of the country. The Minister assured to support SEC in order to transform its industrial units, especially Pakistan Machine Tool Factory, Karachi into viable entities. Mr. Bijarani is the first ever Federal Minister to visit SEC Corporate Office. On arrival at SEC office, he was received by Chairman SEC. All the Managing Directors of the units and senior officers of SEC were also present. The Minister was accompanied by Secretary I&P, Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Soomro and Additional Secretary I&P, Muhammad Javed Malik. Giving presentation, Chairman SEC apprised the Minister that once SEC Group comprised of 12 industrial units but now it operates four units namely Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC), Hattar, Pakistan Engineering Company (PECO), Lahore, Pakistan Machine Tool Factory (PMTF) & ENAR Petrotech Services, Karachi, whereas the rest were either privatized or transferred. The Minister was also apprised of the variety of engineering goods being produced by the units, valuable technical expertise imparted to a number of technicians, development of various products on reverse engineering basis, their contributions in developing vendor industry, remarkable references in the export market and assistance provided to oil and gas sector in designing and engineering for more than 3 decades. Chairman also pointed out serious impediments faced by the companies’ particularly financial crisis affecting PMTF, non-compliance of commitment of WAPDA with regard to placing orders on HEC, disinvestment of PECO shares by NIT dis-balancing government holding and settlement of government loans extended to PECO for its revival. He was also informed about the privatization status of PMTF and HEC and consequences in case these high value units of national strategic importance are privatized. To turnaround the companies, Chairman also identified specific measures as financial restructuring and manpower rationalization of PMTF, Balancing, Modernization, Rehabilitation & Expansion (BMRE) of HEC and PMTF, besides empowerment of Board of Directors for effective business operations. The Minister while applauding SEC performance and achievements informed that his priorities are to drive the engineering units in public sector on the right track and produce high value goods presently being imported at very high cost. He emphasized for collective efforts to promote sound industrial base through manufacturing of capital goods at reasonable prices conforming to international quality standards besides generating employment in the country. The Minister expressed his keenness to turnaround the companies and assured his full support for resolving the issues requiring financial restructuring, capability enhancement, empowerment of board and other specific issues. He directed the Chairman to submit formal proposals on each issue so as to take-up at appropriate fora. We have to make these units viable and commercially profitable at every cost so that there is minimum rely on Govt. fundings, the Minister urged the SEC Chairman.
PR
No. 16 Federal Minister for Environment, Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi, has emphasized the need for paying heed towards environmental development to protect and purify the future of the country. He shared these views while talking to the faculty and students of the Sindh Madressatul Islam College. The Minister was of the view that if all citizens pay requisite attention to environmental development, the country can save a huge amount of money and the same can be spent on social welfare sectors. He maintained that the country has passed acts and prepared policies for environmental protection but the major problem is of implementation of these polices, which is our weakness. Afridi said that there are a number of hindrances in the implementation of the environmental policies. He informed that the government is making efforts to educate the younger generation on the subject of environment and for this purpose the environment has been included in the syllabus at the intermediate level. Similarly, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has also been asked to take steps for environmental education at the universities level. Afridi was of the view that environmental pollution has no boundaries and as such it affects all the nations of the world simultaneously. He referred to the harmful effects of the global warming and that we have to save the environment. Afridi said the Ministry planted more than 521,000 plants of mangroves on the coastal area of Sindh, which was mentioned in the Guinness Book of world records. He also stated that the Green Clubs have been introduced in the educational institutions of the country while CNG buses will also be run in almost nine major cities of the country. Afridi further informed that now the name of Ministry is being changed to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. He announced that the students of Sindh Madressatul Islam College, which happens to be an alma mater of the founder of the country Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, Sir Abdullah Haroon and others would be sent abroad for education on environment. The Minister offered the SMIC that if it comes up with any project on the environment, the Ministry will extend support to it. AM/wh
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No. 17 Mr. Najmuddin Khan, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions chaired the Inter Provincial Coordination Committee (IPCC) in the absence of Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jillani, Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination. Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Nazar Muhamamd Godal, Federal Minister for Communications Dr. Arbab Alamgir Khan, Provincial Minister Food Punjab Mr. Malik Nadeem, Provincial Minister for IPC, Balochistan Mrs. Ruquiya Saeed Hashmi, Federal Secretary Establishment Mr. Muhammad Islamil Qureshi Federal Secretary, IPC Mr. Ahmad Mahmood Zahid, Federal Secretary, States and Frontier Regions Mr. Mohammad Raffat Pasha, Chief Secretary, Balochistan, Mr. Nasir Mahmood Khosa and other senior officers of the Federal/Provincial Government(s) participated in the meeting. Secretary, Industries Government of Punjab made a presentation on Sasti Roti Scheme @ Rs.2/- implemented by the Punjab Government. Issues relating to payment of cost of wheat supplied by Sindh Government to the Government of Balochistan, Outstanding dues of Food Department Government of Balochistan against SAFRON and Water charges claim of Government of Balochistan against Government of Sindh were discussed. It was decided to constitute a Committee comprising of Chief Secretaries, Sindh, Balochistan, and Secretary, Finance Division to resolve the issue mutually within six weeks. Another issue about Demonstration of Courtesies to the Motorists during routine Check up of vehicles registered in NWFP also came up for discussion. It was decided that this issue may also be considered in the next meeting of the IPCC in which Chief Secretaries Punjab, NWFP, Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Inspector Generals of Police Punjab & NWFP and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue and Secretaries Provincial Excise Departments may be present. They will finalize their recommendations within six weeks
PR No. 18 Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo held a high level meeting with the political leadership of Azad Kashmir to finalize the arrangements for the celebration of 5th February, Kashmir Solidarity Day. The participants proposed their suggestions and the strategy was devised for the Solidarity Day on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by the politicians of Azad Kashmir: Prime Minister AJK, Raja Farooq Haider, Ex-PM AJK, Sardar Attiqur Rehman, Speaker and Acting President AJK, Shah Ghulam Kadar, president AJK PPP, Ch Abdul Majeed, Vice-president AJK PPP, Ch Yaseen, Sardar Mansha Jamal, Farooq Sikendar, Bashiruddin Andrabi, Maulana Noorul Bari, Justice Abdul Majeed Malik, , Syed Ghulam Raza Naqvi, Sardar Yaqub Khan, UK based Kashmiri leader Raja Najabat and Shazia Akbar and all members of Kashmir Council, Farooq Skindar, Nasim Sarfraz and Malik Pervez. The Federal Minister thanked all the political leaders and appreciated their suggestions and included those for the celebration of Kashmir Solidarity Day. He said that Pakistan will celebrate Kashmir Day with great reverence and Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gilani will address joint session of AJK parliament and PM will address convention at PNCA in Islamabad on Solidarity Day. He also said that he will insist President and Prime Minister to hold a meeting with Kashmiri leadership. Every Pakistani from President to common man will show solidarity with Kashmiri brethren on solidarity Day and Kashmiris should also show their solidarity with Pakistan by arranging such events. He further said that representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan will also attend the celebrations. He said that he believes in the process of consultation and all issues can be resolved by mutual consultations. AZ/wh
PR
No. 19 Federal Minister for Housing and Works Rahmatullah Kakar has said that government is trying to provide shelter to its all citizens at affordable Costs and started various housing projects across the country in this regard. He said this while reviewing the progress on the ongoing housing projects launched under the Prime Minister’s Housing programme for all programme at a meeting held here today. The Minister said that arrangements were in final stage to launch housing project at Bara Kahu Islamabad and in first phase 5,000 flats/houses would be provided. The Minister said that Pakistan Housing Authority and Maymar Construction have signed construction of 8,500 flats at Gulshan-e-Maymar for the poor, needy, government employees and general public. The work on that project has already been started. Mr. Kakar said that the work construction of flats in G-10 and G 11 was already in progress. He said that under Prime Minister’s Housing programme, one million housing units would be built in all parts of the country including Gilgit – Baltistan and AJK to overcome housing shortage. . The Minister said that under the housing programme necessary measures were being taken to construct houses/flats in Lahore, Peshawar Quetta Multan Hyderabad and in other areas as early as possible. The Minister directed the concerned authorities to gear up efforts for speedy accomplishment of the housing projects providing relief to the shelterless people.
PR
No. 20 A meeting of senior leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party, present in Islamabad, was held in the Presidency today chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani. The meeting was attended by Senator Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar, Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Mr. Rehman A. Malik, Syed Naveed Qamar, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Mr. Jahangir Badar, Ms. Rukhsana Bangash, Ms. Fauzia Habib, Senator Faisal Raza Abidi and Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar. Briefing the media spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting discussed overall political situation, local government elections, recently held by-elections and the forthcoming by-elections. President’s forthcoming visits to NWFP and Balochistan province also came under discussion.
The meeting also reviewed President’s just concluded visit to
Karachi where he
held several political and developmental meetings before returning to
Karachi last night.
PR
No. 21 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. Mumtaz Ahmad Kahlon, former MPA and Law Minister Punjab. In a message, the Prime Minister conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the members of the bereaved family. He prayed to Almighty Allah to shower his blessings upon the departed soul and grant strength to his family members to bear this loss with equanimity. PMMO/wh
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No. 22 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani talked with MQM Quaid Mr. Altaf Hussain over telephone this evening and discussed the situation created by the provocative speeches made in the Sindh Assembly by members belonging to both MQM and Pakistan Peoples Party. The Prime Minister said that PPP and MQM being coalition partners need to defuse the tension for the sake of peace in Karachi. Altaf Hussain agreed with the Prime Minister to direct his party leaders to restrain from issuing provocative statements which could aggravate the situation. He said MQM will carry on supporting the government as coalition partners for ensuring peace and progress of the country. Later on, the Prime Minister also rang up the Chief Minister of Sindh and asked him to direct the provincial ministers and party members to restrain from issuing any provocative statements against their coalition partners. The Chief Minister Sindh informed the Prime Minister that as per his earlier instructions he is going to meet the governor right now and discuss means to resolve the differences among provincial PPP and the MQM leaders and workers. The formal meeting on law and order, he added has also been scheduled on 4th February to deliberate upon issues in detail. PMMO/wh |
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