|
PR. No. 16. The meeting of Zonal/District Ruet-e-Hilal Committees for sighting the moon of Rajab, 1429 Hijri will be held on Friday, the 4th July, 2008 at their respective Headquarters. Chairman, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will attend the meting of Sindh Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee at Habib Bank Plaza, Karachi whereas the members of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will join the meetings of their respective Provincial/District Committees. All information about the position of moon will be conveyed to the Chairman at Karachi on Telephone Nos. 021-, 081-2418000-35 Ext. 2423 and 2650 and Mobile No. 0300-9285203, for final announcement. DKK/Steno
PR. No. 17. Federal Tax Ombudsman Justice ® Munir A Sheikh has directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to finalize the assessment of goods imported by the complainant at the declared value and return the post-dated cheque to the complainants. This decision was taken by FTO on the complaint of M/S Brothers Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd. Karachi who are importers of chemical raw material for their Food Industry against the Customs Department which did not finalize the assessment of a consignment of imported goods and refused to return the post-dated cheque deposited by the Complainants as security. The FTO has ruled that the customs department has committed an act of maladministration. He has recommended to the FBR to direct the collector of customs PACCS to finalize the assessment of goods at the declared value and return the post-dated cheque to the complainants within thirty days; and compliance in this regards be reported to this office within forty five days. The FTO has also observed that Collector of Customs should devise a suitable procedure for blocking of User IDs and a copy of the procedure may be sent to this office within forty five days. **FK/Ahmad**
PR. No. 18. Finance Minister, Syed Naveed Qamar and his team held bilateral discussions with British Secretary of State for International Development Mr. Douglas Alexander and his team here today. The matters relating to fight against poverty in Pakistan and British Government’s overall Country Assistance Plan for Pakistan were discussed threadbare. It was appreciated that the Government of UK is going to double UK Assistance for Pakistan up to UK Pound 480 million by 2011. The British Secretary of State announced outline of the Country Assistance Plan focusing GOP over the forthcoming five years (2013). This would enable Pakistan to be the second largest recipient of UK aid programme by 2011. UK assistance will continue to focus on health – including the battle against diseases like TB and polio – and on good governance and earthquake affected areas’ reconstruction. There will now be an additional emphasis on assistance to the border areas as well as on education, with more than UK Pounds 250 million being made available to bring five million children into school and to increase training opportunities for young people. The British Secretary of State said that the United Kingdom has long been a great friend of Pakistan . The two countries are united by a shared history and strong cultural and economic ties. UK is committed to helping Pakistan ’s efforts in fight against poverty for many years. UK ’s aim is to continue to help improve poor people’s lives in key areas, making sure they have access to better healthcare, schools and employment opportunities. The announcement was welcomed by Pakistan ’s Minister for Finance, Syed Naveed Qamar, who acknowledged DFID’s strategy, which is marked by a common approach of identifying short and medium term priorities to fight poverty in Pakistan and help achieve the target of the Millennium Development Goals. He added that GOP remembers UK ’s timely and generous assistance of 128 million UK Pounds extended for the relief and reconstruction of the October 2005 earthquake affected areas. As part of its commitment, the UK Government will also provide 50 million UK Pounds to the State Bank of Pakistan to support a new drive to open up financial services to poor people – to encourage wealth and job creation by making available loans and access to bank accounts. An MoU to this effect was signed on behalf of GOP by Governor State Bank of Pakistan , Dr. Shamshad Akhtar and British Secretary of State on behalf of DFID of the UK Government. In his opening statement made on the occasion Pakistan ’s Finance Minister said that Pakistan and UK have now institutionalized the development cooperation in the form of a unique 10 years’ Development Partnership Arrangements. The shared resolve of today’s arrangement is to reduce poverty, respecting all international human rights obligations and strengthening financial management and accountability. Through this partnership, the Government of UK has doubled the quantum of its annual assistance up to 160 million pounds for the year 2008-09 and onwards, and the bilateral relations with the United Kingdom are marked with good-will and mutual trust and expected to increase as UK and Pakistan go along. Earlier during one-to-one meeting with UK Secretary of State Finance Minister said that GOP currently is focusing on its privatization portfolios, besides widening its domestic and foreign investment plans. Measures are underway to attain economic stability by providing impetus to agri and manufacturing sectors. GOP’s overall objective is to reduce poverty, encourage its citizenry towards self development and finally attain economic development targets. **Ahmad**
PR. No. 19. The increase in population with alarming ratio is a great threat to the resources of the country and it is a high time to work jointly in a very coherrent and effective manner at national as well as local level to maintain balance between population and resources by involving all segments of society especially at grassroot level. This was stated by Federal Minister for population welfare, Mir Humanyoon Aziz Kurd here today. He urged the political/opinion and community leaders to make significant contribution in promoting the idea of small family norms and its importance for socio-economic development of the country. He further said that various activities are being arranged with the reference of World Population Day under the theme of the year declared by UNFPA i.e. “It’s a right, let’s make it real” which are appreciable. There is dire need to extend such activities at remote and grassroot level to mobilize the masses with the help of media and community leaders, he added. SA/NR
PR. No. 20. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan greatly values the pivotal role being played by the Department for International Development (DFID) in forging a long-term development partnership between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister was talking to Mr. Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House this afternoon. The Prime Minister said Pakistan especially welcomes the economic development assistance given to Pakistan in the form of financial support and high quality technical assistance for increasing the incomes of the poor, improving the service delivery in education and health and enhancing capacity building of government systems. The Prime Minister apprised Mr. Douglas of the Prime Minister’s Initiative on Hepatitis a disease which is spreading at an alarming rate not only in Pakistan but all over the world. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan would greatly appreciate if the DFID included Hepatitis in its Country Assistance Programme (CAP) so that an effective campaign is launched to control the disease. The Prime Minister said that the top priorities of his government are providing comprehensive healthcare to the people, creation of jobs for the unemployed and increased focus on agriculture and agri-business. He said that agriculture is the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy and the government is considering various ways to increase agricultural productivity and improve agri-business. The Prime Minister said that DFID may also help us improving the agricultural production and productivity in view of the steep increase in the prices of agricultural commodities and oil. The Prime Minister said that his government has decided to set up fully equipped Basic Health Units at the Union Council level to provide health cover to the maximum number of people especially in rural areas. Similarly the government is keen to enhance employment and income generation opportunities to reduce the poverty level in the country. He also apprised the British Minister of the government’s plan to launch Benazir Bhutto Income Support programme to provide assistance to the poorest of the poor. The Prime Minister said income and employment generation schemes apart from reducing unemployment also help in weaning people away from extremism. He said that his government is fully aware of the nexus between development and instability and is trying to improve the law and order situation to accelerate the process of economic development in the country. The British Minister assured the Prime Minister that DFID will take full account of the Prime Minister’s agenda and priorities in formulating the Country Assistance Programme. He said that Britain is keen to have a sustainable development partnership with Pakistan and would be guided by the felt needs of the Pakistani people and the priorities of their government. The Prime Minister also emphasized the need for early and orderly repatriation of the three million Afghan refugees who were still residing in Pakistan. He said the international community needs to come forward to help resettle the refugees in their homelands. The meeting was also attended by Mr.Robert Brinkley,British High Comissioner,Mr.Eric Hawthom,Head of DFID Pakistan,Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Finance, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Ms.Shehnaz Wazir Ali Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Governor State Bank of Pakistan and Secretary, Finance.
PR. No. 21. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka should play an active role energizing SAARC into a more active group to promote regional cooperation as South Asia has a great potential which needs to be realized. The Prime Minister was taking to visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama who called on him here at the PM’s House this afternoon. The Prime Minister said that although SAARC has made significant progress in a number of areas like poverty alleviation, there still is need of strengthening this regional forum, especially in the fields of regional cooperation, environment, agriculture and food, water and energy security. The Prime Minister while commenting on Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations, said the two countries have historic ties and Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka. He expressed his government’s desire to further consolidating ties with Sri Lanka in all fields particularly diplomatic, political, economic and defence and security. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. He expressed the hope that lasting and durable peace in Sri Lanka would be achieved soon. The Prime Minister said the signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has given a boost to economic ties between the two countries and the bilateral trade is growing. However, the Prime Minister added, there is still room for further improvement in the areas of trade and services, direct investment, people to people contact and tourism. The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that investment flow between the two countries would increase and the two countries would share each other’s best practices. Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama presented to the Prime Minister an invitation from the Sri Lankan President for attending the 15th SAARC Summit being held in Colombo in August this year. The Prime Minister asked the Minister to convey his profound regards to the Sri Lankan President. Mr. Bogollagama said that Sri Lanka attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan. He expressed his government’s desire to further consolidate ties with Pakistan. He said both Pakistan and Sri Lanka maintain close friendly relations which are manifested through regular contacts and high level visits. Acting Foreign Secretary and Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Islamabad also attended the meeting.
PR. No. 22. Governor State Bank of Pakistan, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar presented new Rs. 50 and Rs. 5 currency notes to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and briefed him about their security features. She told the Prime Minister that the new designs of the currency notes have been approved by the federal cabinet. The Prime Minister appreciated that pictures of K-2 peak and Gwadar Deep Sea Port feature on the back of the Rs. 50 and Rs. 5 notes respectively. Dr. Shamshad Akhtar told the Prime Minister the sophisticated security features have been introduced to avoid counterfeiting.
PR. No. 23. Federal Minister for Environment, Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi has said that the protection of the interests of the FATA people is the first priority and every effort would be made to voice their concerns at every forum. The Minister said that he is fully aware of the problems faced by the people of FATA and the ongoing situation in Bara area. He said that he is in contact with the relevant quarters and high ups for ensuring peace and security in the tribal areas. He said that he would feel no fear even to leave the ministry in the public interest and aspirations. He expressed these while talking to the media-men, here today. The Federal Minister said he made it clear in the Federal Cabinet meeting held in Karachi that operation is not a solution to problems in FATA particularly Bara and the issues can be resolved through peaceful means in consultation with the elected representatives and elders of the area. He said that if the NWFP government is having any problem regarding FATA, it should take up the matter with the elected representatives who will present a peaceful and enduring solution to this problem. He said that NWFP government should strengthen its system and law enforcement agencies rather than initiating operation in FATA. The Minister said that there was neither a problem of law and order in FATA nor the terrorists or fundamentalists are present in the area. He said that the basic problem is the rivalry between two organizations i.e. Lashkar-e-Islam and Ansar-ul-Islam which are fighting against each other and this fight has claimed hundreds of lives. He said that unfortunately no serious attempt was made to resolve the issues between these two organizations as result more than hundred people have lost their lives in the last two weeks. He said that FATA Secretariat and Governor House were approached on various occasions for settlement of the issues between these two organizations through Jirga but nothing concrete was done in this regard. Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi has said that his conscious is fully satisfied for representing the tribal areas and people at different forums and he would continue to raise the voice for the interests of the FATA people. He said that a Jirga of the tribal elders should immediately be constituted for resolving the issues rather than conducting operation in the area. He said that he is hopeful that the tribal elders would find a workable solution for establishing law and order in the region and solving other problems. He said that the ongoing operation in FATA has created anxiety in the area which will result in further deteriorating the situation. He said that the Prime Minister has been apprised that the peaceful solution to the problem can only possible through peaceful means and constitutions of the Jirga for the purpose. He said that the FATA Secretariat has also been warned to immediately stop arrests of the innocent people of Bara and to avoid creating problems for them. DKK/wh
PR. No. 24. The spokesman of the Prime Minister has said that no meeting between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Pervez Musharraf took place today. He described such reports in some news channels as totally incorrect. DSG/wh
PR. No. 25. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that his government will continue to support the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the international community’s efforts to expedite the reconstruction of Afghanistan and strengthen its administration including the development of the institutions of good governance, law and order and security. The Prime Minister said this while talking to Mr, Kai Eide, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) who called on him at the PM’s House this afternoon, The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Eide on assuming the charge of Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and expressed hope that he will work for greater peace and stability in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister told Mr. Eide that being an immediate neighbor of Afghanistan, Pakistan has vital Interest and direct stake in the stability and peace in Afghanistan. Without stability in the region, its vast potential of economic development and cooperation will remain untapped and unrealized, the Prime Minister pointed out. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan will continue its efforts for a stable Afghanistan which is not only in the interest of Afghanistan but also in the interest of the entire world especially Pakistan. The Prime Minister said that his government has adopted a three pronged policy to combat terrorism by initiating policy dialogue with those who have laid down arms, accelerating economic development to prevent people from being influenced by extreme ideologies and resorting to military measures as a last resort when agreements are violated. The Prime Minister said that his government will under no circumstances negotiate with the militants and allow anyone to use Pakistan’s soil against another country. The Prime Minister said that setting up of RQZs in the tribal areas can go a long way in reviving economic activity and generating employment for - the people by providing assured access to US markets for the products produced in the designated areas. The Prime Minister said that elimination of poppy from Pakistan was achieved through providing economic alternatives to the people. He said that today 70% of poppy is produced in Afghanistan. He said the same strategy needs to be adopted there to wean people away from extremism, The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is also keen to prevent illegal cross-border movement on the Pak-Afghan border and to achieve this objective has established over 900 check posts all along the porous border compared to the 100 check posts on the Afghan side of the border which is inadequate. He expressed the hope that the installation of biometric system will help prevent illegal movements. The Prime Minster said that Pakistan is looking forward to hosting the third Regional Economic Cooperation on Afghanistan towards the end of this year to raise additional resources for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Prime Minister said the UNAMA and the international community should to help in the repatriation of the three million Afghan refugees to their homeland, He said that the international community also needs to do more for the re-settlement of Afghan refugees in Afghanistan Pakistan should not be expected to bear this responsibility by itself, he added. Pakistan, however wants the refugees to go back to their country with honour and dignity, Mr. Kai Eide said that he is conscious of the limits of military options and agreed that there is a need to improve overall socio-economic conditions to effectively deal with the threat of terrorism. He also emphasized the need of more frequent interaction and political dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan to coordinate efforts to deal with the common threat faced by the two countries. He said he is aware of the help extended by Pakistan to Afghanistan especially the export of wheat to Afghanistan on concessional rates. The meeting was also attended by the Acting Foreign Secretary and senior government officials,
|
