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PR
No. 55 Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Rahmatullah Kakar has assured the PWD workers that release of pay issue would be taken up with the Ministry of Finance for early settlement. He was talking to PWD workers union here this morning. The workers union office bearers briefed the Minister about the non payment of salaries to the workers for the last several months and they have been facing a lot of inconvenience in these hardship days. They requested the Minister for housing and works for asking Finance Division for prompt payment of their salaries. The Minister said that the government accords high priority to the well being of the workers which are the back bone of our economy. He said that the government has also taken certain measures aims at providing them relief in these hardship days. The Minister told the PWD workers that he would personally take up the matter with the higher authorities of Finance Division for its early expediting for salaries. The PWD workers thanked the Minister for listening to their problem. **MN/Ahmad**
PR No. 56 The Ambassador of Pakistan to ASEAN, H.E. Sanaullah, presented his Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, at the ASEAN Secretariat Wednesday says a press release received here today. In his discussions with the Secretary-General, Ambassador Sanaullah noted that ASEAN has emerged as a big economic voice in the region, bringing prosperity, investment and respect to its Member States, and in the process, effectively strengthened the global free trade regime. “As an acknowledgement of the increasing role and importance of ASEAN, Pakistan has decided to enhance its presence further in ASEAN region and cooperate with the organisation with a view of becoming its full partner,” the Ambassador said, adding that full dialogue partnership framework would enable both sides to boost multi sector cooperation. In welcoming Ambassador Sanaullah’s appointment, Dr Surin expressed his appreciation for Pakistan’s commitment and good intention to enhance interaction and relations with ASEAN. Since the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN has welcomed Ambassadors to ASEAN from non-ASEAN Member States and relevant inter-governmental organisations. **SJ/Ahmad**
PR No. 57 Federal Minister for Food & Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal has said that the government can allow the export of the surplus wheat only after the final assessment report of the crop is made by the end of April this year. He said that the present government would not repeat the faulty and rash decisions of the previous government due to which the country faced heavy losses. “ The recent spell of rains have positively impacted the wheat crop and we hope that the production will see an increase of about 1 million ton. We cannot allow the export of wheat fully at the moment as it would be quite risky and the country cannot afford to import wheat in case of any shortage as natural calamity cannot be predicted before hand”, added the minister. A delegation of All Pakistan Flour Mills Association (APFMA) met the federal minister at his office today. The President APFMA, Mr. Iqbal Daud, led the delegation. All the provincial presidents of the association were included in the delegation. The APFMA requested that the government may allow the export of 0.2 million ton of wheat products and give a subsidy of $ 50 per ton to facilitate the export to Afghanistan. They claimed that the said subsidy is lesser than what the government has to pay to banks in shape of mark up, in case the government retains the commodity in storages. They also requested that the mark up rate of the banks is quite high (16.3 %) which should not be more than 6-8% for the food related industries. They also requested to waive GST and turn over tax on the flourmills so that the commodity is made cheaper. A request for establishing PASSCO’s procurement centers in Baluchistan and NWFP was also made by the association. The association offered that the mills owners were willing to enhance the existing storage capacity of grains in the country on Public Private Partnership, which was welcomed by the minister. The minister asked for the proposals of the association regarding wheat procurement and policy formulation for the future. “ Your input and proposals will always be welcomed and incorporated in the policies for future. Agriculture is the backbone of the country and all our industries revolve around agriculture. The interests of the farmers will be safeguarded for a prosperous country”, expressed the minister. The minister assured the delegation that he would raise their requests with the concerned quarters and in the next meeting of the cabinet for positive consideration. **MS/Ahmad**
PR No. 58 Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo chaired a meeting of top officials of Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir Council here on Thursday and examined the progress of development projects of AJK. The meeting was attended by Secretary KA&GB, M Ihtisham Khan, Joint Secretary Council, Qaiser Majeed Malik, Chief Planning Officer and other officials of the Ministry. The officials briefed the Minister about various ADP (Annual Development Projects). The Minister directed the official that Kashmir Council has limited resources, thereof, the budget should be utilized very carefully and with good planning. The meeting was informed that if the available money utilized in the development projects, Kashmir Council would have to go for overdraft due to scarcity of resources. Federal Minister directed the officials to call a meeting for viewing Council resources next week, so that, it could be estimated that Council may have resources to continue development projects or not . **AZ/Ahmad**
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59 Meeting of Inter Provincial Coordination Committee (IPCC) was held under the chairmanship of Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, Federal Minister for IPC here today. Provincial Minister IPC Punjab (Mr. Zulfiqar Khosa) NWFP (Mr. Nawabzada Iftikhar) Chief Secretary, Balochistan (Mr. Ahmad Bux Lehri), Federal Secretary, Livestock (Mr. Muhammad Ali Afridi), Chairman FBR (Mr. Sohail Ahmad), Secretary Railways (Mr. Samiul Haque Khiliji), Secretary, IPC (Mr. Ahmad Mahmood Zahid), Secretary, Law & Justice Division (Mr. Justice Auqil Mirza and representatives of Ministries of Commerce, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance Provincial Secretaries of IPC, Fisheries, Government of Sindh and Baluchistan, Additional Secretary Ministry of Defence, Director General Cantonment and representative of Maritime Security Agency participated in the meeting. Federal Minister told that the periodical fortnightly meetings will be held by DIGs (RPOs) of concerned provinces to resolve coordination issues between DIGs/RPOs of adjoining districts of Provinces. He said that the judgment of Supreme Court of 2008 in levy of Professional Tax in Cantonment areas may be implemented. If there is some proof to the contrary with the Ministry of Defence these Ministries may make a reference to the Law & Justice Division for advice.\ The Committee noted with satisfaction the update on the water distribution issue given by the Secretaries Irrigation of Punjab and Sindh. It was decided to form a Committee represented by all the Provincial Governments in the Ministry of Railway to determine the priorities about improvement of Railway crossing and cost of sharing of cost Federal & Provincial Governments within 3 weeks. It was also decided to extend the due courtesies to the motorists of vehicles registered in NWFP by the official of concerned agencies of the Province of Punjab, and a committee was constituted to explore the solution of problems of fishermen of Sindh. The Committee will be represented by Ministers and Secretaries of Fisheries Department of Sindh and Baluchistan.
PR No.60 A delegation of Jelozai Camp called on Federal Minister for Environment Mr. Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi here today. During the meeting, delegation told about worse condition of the Camp and informed the Minister about unhygienic conditions, lack of education facilities, misuse of food items and problems about registration process. Federal Minister immediately communicated all these details to Governor NWFP. He also shared these issues with Commissioner Peshawar who ensured to accelerate the registration process. Federal Minister also announced to open an office to provide quick remedies of problems being faced by affectees where representatives of the Minister would assist them. During meeting, he also expressed his well wishes for Hilal-e-Ahmer. Afridi told that he has already discussed their issues with the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan and hoped that effective measures would be taken for better solution of their problems. However, all possible measures would also be taken to give them equal rights same like the affectees of FATA and Malakend.
Mr. Justice ® Hamid Ali Mirza, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan has drawn attention of Contesting Candidates for Bye-Elections in Constituencies No. NA-123 Lahore-VI PP-82 Jhang-X, PP-284 Bahawalnagar-VIII and PB-25 Jaffarabad-I (Old Nasirabad-I) to the provisions of Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, which provide that no person shall convene, hold or attend any Public Meeting and no person shall promote or join in any procession within the area of the Constituency during a period of forty-eight hours ending at midnight following the conclusion of the Poll, for an election in that Constituency. Any person who contravenes these provisions of law shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term, which may extend to six months or with fine, which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both. According, the election campaign for Bye-Elections in aforesaid constituencies shall come to an end with effect from the midnight falling between the 8th and 9th March, 2010. The Political Parties and the candidates dare requested to follow the provision of law and exercise self-restraint so that the Poll is held in an orderly and peaceful manner on the 10th March, 2010.
Ambassador of Turkey to Pakistan, M. Babur Hizlam Thursday called on Federal Minister for Population Welfare Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan here and discussed matters of mutual interest and cooperation. The Ambassador said that Pakistan and Turkey are representatives of Muslim countries in the modern world and in the present scenario a huge responsibly lies on the shoulders of both the countries fostering unity and strengthening the image of Muslim world. He recalled that Pakistan, Iran and Turkey are members of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and rendered untiring efforts to prosper economy of Muslim world. The Population Minister apprised the Ambassador with the problems in population welfare sector being faced by Pakistan and lauded role of Turkey in restoration of democracy in the country.
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No.63 Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that the government is promoting free media in Pakistan and every effort is being made to resolve the problems faced by media, especially print media, in the country. He was talking to a delegation of All Pakistan Newspapers Society led by its President Mr. Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami in a meeting held in Islamabad today. The problems faced by the print media industry in the country were discussed during the meeting.
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