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 PR No.66
PRESS WING
Islamabad: March 5, 2010

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Tariq Majid called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at PM’s House here this morning and exchanged views on matters of national security. 

PR No.67
PRESS release
Islamabad: March 5, 2010 

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at PM’s House here this afternoon and briefed him on various matters relating to the foreign policy of Pakistan.

**PMMO/Ahmad**

PR No.68
PRESS release
Rawalpindi : March 5, 2010

Pakistan and Tajikistan have underlined the need for undertaking joint venture in the area of defence production and promoting strategic and meaningful cooperation in divergent including economy, trade and culture. This was discussed at a meeting between Federal Minister for Defence Production, Mr.Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi and the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan, Mr.Zubaydullo Zubaydov, who called on him here today.

The meeting discussed and reviewed the existing level of cooperation and emphasized for promoting people-to-people contacts and more exchanges of defence delegations by the two countries. Talking to the envoy, the Minister said that Pakistan attached great importance to its ties with Tajikistan as the two countries had shared history, culture and religion and unanimity of views on regional and international issues. He briefed the ambassador about the capability and potential of defence industry of Pakistan. The envoy said that his country was keen to undertake joint venture with Pakistan in the area of defence production.

**AM/Ahmad**

PR No.69
PRESS release
Islamabad : March 5, 2010

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at Prime Minister’s House here this afternoon and briefed him on professional matters relating to Pakistan Air Force.

**AM/Ahmad**

PR No.70
PRESS release

NA SPEAKER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER CONDEMN THE BOMB BLAST IN HANGU
Islamabad: March 5, 2010

Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Speaker and Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly have strongly condemned the bomb blast in Hangu today, causing the loss of precious lives.

In their separate messages, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker said that it was a shameful act of terrorism, which reflected inhumane and callous nature of the perpetrators. They said that the elements involved in such cowardice act were the enemies of the humanity and earned bad name to Islam. They called upon the law enforcing agencies to apprehend the criminals involved in this act of terrorism and bring them to justice.

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and sympathized with the bereaved families. They also prayed for the injured for their speedy recovery.

**MT/Ahmad**

PR No.71
PRESS release
Islamabad: March 5, 2010

A delegation of Huawei Technologies Pakistan called on the Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim in his office today. The delegation included August Ye Chief Executive officer, Nasim Ahmad Usmani, Advisor and others. Mr. August Ye briefed the Minister about the upcoming Asia ’s biggest trade event “Shanghai Business Expo” to be held in the first week of May this year. He informed the Federal minister that “Shanghai Business Expo” had gained global importance, because business tycoons across the globe are preparing to participate in the Expo, and see the global business trends. The participants would also get an opportunity to see cultural shows of different countries.

The Minister was told that Huawei is one of the World top telecom solution providers, and is Pakistan ’s biggest telecom vendor. Makhdoom Amin Fahim appreciated Huawei’s services in Pakistan for the last seven years. During this period, the company had deployed its network in all the main stream operators of the country. The Federal Minister was pleased to know that the company was sharing its technology with Pakistanis engineers by providing them training in the same field.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim further stated that Pakistan and China are enjoining cordial relationships, and the Expo would further strengthen it. The Federal Minister assured the delegation that the government of Pakistan would support and facilitate all the companies in the expo. The delegation welcomed this gesture and thanked the Minister for showing generosity.

**SH/Ahmad**

PR No.72
PRESS release
Islamabad: March 5, 2010

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the suicide attack at the Custom Chowk in which twelve people died including four women and thirty injured at Hangu.

The Prime Minister expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of twelve precious lives in this suicide attack.

He ordered provision of best medical facilities to the injured.

**PMMO/Ahmad**

PR No.73
PRESS release
RECOMMENDATIONS OF PAY AND PENSION COMMISSION FINALIZED
Islamabad: March 5, 2010

The concluding session of the Pay and Pension Commission was held the chairmanship of Dr. Ishrat Hussain on March 4th and 5th 2010.

On the directives of the Cabinet and keeping in view the resolutions of the National and Provincial Assemblies, the Commission has finalized its recommendations that cover a much broader spectrum of governance reforms in addition to the adjustments in pay and pension. The recommendations are mainly aimed at improving the delivery of basic services such as education, health, security and administration of justice to common citizens of Pakistan and to bridge the gap between backward and advanced districts of the country. The Commission will provide a medium term road-map during which the recommendations will be implemented.

The Commission has proposed an institutional mechanism through which the decisions taken by the government on these reforms will be executed, monitored and reviewed. A proposed Human Resource Management Division will replace the existing Establishment Division at the Federal Government and Services Departments at the Provincial Governments.

It may be noted that this was the 12th meeting of the Commission which also held consultative meetings at each Provincial Headquarter and AJ&K with the Chief Ministers and met with the representatives of various service associations.

The final report of the Commission will be submitted to the Government of Pakistan before the end of March.

PR No.74
PRESS release
23 ENTITIES BEING PRIVATIZED ON FAST TRACK BASIS THROUGH PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP -SENATOR WAQAR AHMED KHAN MINISTER FOR PRIVATIZATION
Islamabad: March 5, 2010

Out of 58 State Owned Entities (SOEs) 23 are being privatized on fast track basis through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan Federal Minister for Privatization said while chairing a meeting for privatizing some entities of PEPCO (DISCOs) at Lahore today.

The Minister said that these entities were being restructured, reorganized and re-valued to access their true potential before taking them to the market while Boards of Directors of these entities were also being changed to bring in respective professionals and experts for the progress and growth of these entities, he said.

Keeping in view the keen interest being shown by the World’s top investment houses and business groups like Nomura International Plc; UK, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, J P Morgan and Morgan Stanley in Pakistan’s Privatization Program who have expressed their intentions to address the key areas of attention in order to expedite the privatization process and to make them attractive for potential investors, the Ministry of Privatization and Privatization Commission were in the process to have their Advisory services on Free of Cost basis, he added.

The Secretary Ministry of Privatization Mr. Shahab Khawaja, MD, PEPCO, senior officials of PEPCO and PC were also present during the meeting.   

PR No.75
PRESS release
Islamabad: March 5, 2010

Mr. Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary called on Federal Minister for Interior, Senator A. Rehman Malik accompanied by Pakistani High Commissioner in India, Mr. Shahid Malik at Ministry of Interior and handed over the Dossier given by the Indian side to him for further examination by the Ministry of Interior.   

PR No.76
PRESS release
Islamabad: March 5, 2010

Federal Minister for Interior, Senator A. Rehman Malik and Chief Minister NWFP, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti co-chaired a meeting in Ministry of Interior to discuss the issues relating to Law Enforcement in Malakand. Various legal and operational aspects of the ongoing situation in NWFP were also discussed.

The meeting deliberated upon the earlier scrutiny and investigation of those who were arrested in the cases of terrorism. Both the leaders appreciated Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Police for their heroic courage in fighting against terrorists in the Province.

Minister Interior assured that all cooperation and assistance will continue in eliminating terrorism. He appreciated the role of Chief Minister and coalition partners including ANP and PPP for standing against terrorists with full devotion.

The Chief Minister NWFP thanked Minister for Interior, Senator A. Rehman Malik for his cooperation, guidance and his active participation in favor of NWFP.