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PR No.45
Prime Minister Syed
Yusuf Raza Gilani has congratulated the
newly elected office bearers of Lahore Press Club including its President,
Mr. Sarmad Bashir; Vice President, Mr.
Amir Waqas; Secretary, Mr. Ziaullah Niazi; Treasurer, Mr. Ansar Zahid as
well as members of the Governing Body.
**PMMO/Ahmad**
PR
No. 46 Governor Punjab Mr. Salman Taseer called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday. Overall political situation, the law and order situation in Punjab and status of the ongoing development projects in the province came under discussion during the meeting. The Governor also briefed the President about various steps being taken by the provincial government to maintain peace and security in the Province. The President later hosted lunch for him. **FU/Ahmad**
Federal Minister for Industries & Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani has expressed his profound grief and sorrow over the death of renowned Industrialist, Trader and ex-president of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mian Abdul Ghani who breathed his last in Karachi on Wednesday. While expressing his sympathies with members of the bereaved family of late Mian Abdul Ghani, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, in his condolence message, prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and shower His blessings. May Allah grant courage and fortitude to bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. **MAB/Ahmad**
PR
No. 48 Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, European Union and Luxembourg presented his credentials to Mr. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission in a simple but graceful ceremony at the European Commission yesterday. Ambassador Jilani conveyed the best wishes of the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan to President Barroso. President Barroso welcomed the Ambassador and assured him of EU’s commitment to further enhance cooperation with Pakistan. Both sides reviewed the recently announced EU’s Plan of Action for strengthening relations with Pakistan and agreed to raise the current relations to a more strategic level. It was agreed that both sides will continue to confer at the highest political level and jointly confront the challenges Pakistan faces. Ambassador Jilani while recalling that EU bloc is the largest trading partner of Pakistan, reiterated the Government’s request to provide greater market access to Pakistani products to mitigate the effects of economic crisis as well effects on Pakistani economy for employing massive resources to confront extremism and terrorism. The EU side conveyed its understanding to the request and assured that EU is currently reviewing the request and can be addressed through the GSP Plus preferential system as well the possibility of entering into a Free Trade Agreement in the longer run. President Barroso also assured EU’s firm commitment to the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) forum and contribution of economic assistance to the development of Pakistan through various ongoing as well as envisaged plans under the EU’s Multiannual Indicative Plan. **MNB/Ahmad**
PR
No. 49 Removing electric power deficiency in the country is high on the government’s priority list. The nation has witnessed additional megawatts added to the national grid through private sector in 2009; there have been delays in commissioning of few IPPs, but we are aggressively working on fast track to get more mega watts into the system to eliminate the menace of load shedding, for which all institutions in the power sector of Pakistan including PPIB, PEPCO, WAPDA, AEDB and NEPRA are working together with great cohesion. This was stated by Raja Pervez Ashraf, Minister for Water & Power while chairing 84th Board meeting of the Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB) held here today. The meeting was attended by the Secretary Water and Power Mr. Shahid Rafi, Secretary Planning Commission Mr. Ashraf M. Hayat, Additional Secretary Finance Mr. M. Iqbal Awan, Additional Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources Mr. Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhary, Member Federal Board of Revenue Mr. Zafar ul Majeed, Chairman WAPDA, Mr. Shakil Durrani, Managing Director PPIB Mr. Fayyaz Elahi, Secretary Energy & Power, NWFP, Mr. Khalid Hussain Gilani and Secretary Electricity, AJ&K, Mr. Iqbal Mohayuddin besides other senior government officials. The Minister conveyed his concern at the delays in commissioning of IPPs/rentals and stated that today’s meeting has been called to determine reasons for these delays, and to devise a way forward to expedite their commissioning into the system immediately. The Board of PPIB expressed pleasure over achievement of Financial Close by the country’s first hydroelectric IPP i.e. 84 MW New Bong Escape Hydro Electric Project. This project will open the doors for quick implementation of a portfolio of hydroelectric projects under process with PPIB. It was agreed that the efforts to expedite hydropower projects in the country are required on war footing, and hydropower projects currently being processed at PPIB need further attention. Those projects which are inactive for a long time should be cancelled and fresh bidding process may be conducted for those sites, but those which are slow due to genuine reasons attributed to the current situation in the country and the world wide economic crunch should be facilitated. Beside hydropower, generation of power through coal is required for medium to long term electricity requirements of the country. Efforts to exploit indigenous coal are being accelerated. It was decided that in addition to developing indigenous coal, investors should be invited to establish imported coal projects which is a cheaper alternative to furnace oil, and can be used to setup projects of large capacities. **MY/Ahmad**
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has sent four helicopters and aid mission to the land sliding affected Hunza Village for rescue operation. The Minister has directed the Chief Secretary Baltistan to personally supervise the ongoing relief efforts being provided by the government to the land sliding hit Hunza Village people and extend full cooperation. He directed the hospital authorities to provide best medical facilities to the injured. The Minister expressed grief and sorrow over the deaths of the people in this natural calamity and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. **RBR/Ahmad**
Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, chaired 4th meeting of the Steering Committee constituted to oversee the implementation of the National Trade Corridor Strategy Study (NTCSS), a priority initiative of the incumbent government targeted towards improvement in procedures, services and infrastructure to enhance the trade and reduce the cost of doing business. The NTCCS will assist the government define, plan, prepare and implement programme for infrastructure development consistent with government’s Medium Term Strategic Framework. The steering committee analyzed the report of the consultants to identify the problems and the key options available to Textile & Apparel, Horticulture and Pharmaceutical Industries. The report will be helpful to frame the choices that GOP must now take in crafting an aggressive, informed and compelling Business Development Programme for itself. Analyzing the Textile & Apparel Sector the participants agreed that Power and energy crises, transport Infrastructure and access to international market are the main hurdles for domestic Investor. Deputy Chairman said that yarn is one of the most important components of the Textile sector; special attention is required while making a business plan to exploit the potency of this sector. Like wise dying and finishing should be given equal importance for competing with regional competitors like India and Bangladesh . Deputy Chairman also stressed on the Ware house facilities for Pakistani businessmen abroad. The provision of display centers close to the International community can boost the trade as well. To make the country economically thriving and to use its potential optimally, the Government is encouraging the Public Private partnership, said the Deputy Chairman. Deputy Chairman emphasized the need of improving the infrastructure to facilitate the farmers. Since we are an agro based economy, there is a huge potential in agriculture sector including Horticulture and Floriculture. Along with the use of new technology and fertilizers to increase the yield, we also need new and large cold storages with proper temperature control system. Similarly supply chain value addition is needed to minimize the spoilage of the grain. Horticulture sector also has a huge local expertise which should be introduced to the international market, said Deputy Chairman. The Steering Committee developed a consensus that the growing Parma has gigantic potential so further research is required to tap the hidden potential of this emerging sector. Deputy Chairman emphasized the need of a business plan to ensure the availability of drugs to the consumers at affordable price. Deputy Chairman further said that “ Pakistan is a large contributor of the manpower to the world, we send labor to the entire world, from our vast human resource”, to train this manpower according to the international standards, Government is going to start a pilot project this year. 27 training institutes will start working this year to teach state of the art technology and the latest skills to the youth, within three years there would be 127 such schools throughout Pakistan , and will train 250,000 students annually. The meeting was attended by secretary Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Secretary M/o Commerce, Secretary M/o Industries, Secretary Board of Investment, Representatives of Private sector and Planning Commission. **FB/Ahmad**
PR No. 52 A new era of peace, progress and prosperity will dawn in Pakistan and India after resolving their contentious issues and coming closer to each other, said Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, in New Delhi , yesterday. Addressing Pakistani Community there, the Speaker said that Parliamentarians of Pakistan and India can play a significant role in bringing the two countries closer and resolving all contentious issues between the two countries. She said that it was high time to revive the Pak India forum of Parliamentarians and play its due role. The Speaker said that the Parliamentarians of South Asia should push for the re-allocation of the resources and create opportunities for our coming generations. She said that democracy was best solution to our problems because democracy promotes dignity and fundamental rights of individuals, social justice and creates enabling environment for international peace and reconciliation. The Speaker said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto strived for such enabling environment for peace and her legacy of reconciliation remains the corner-stone of Pakistan’s democratic set-up today. This policy of reconciliation must be implemented to our region in particular and to the world in general, she said. Speaker said that Pakistan was committed to achieving these goals and fostering closer ties with all its neighbors. She said that it was important to keep channels of communication open as dialogue was the only way forward to resolving all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan. She said that collaboration and cooperation between India and Pakistan was important to defeat the evil forces of terrorism. She reiterated that the commitment of the Parliament, the Government and people of Pakistan to fight and defeat terrorism as well as help in building an environment of peace and stability for the prosperity of the people of the region. **MT/Ahmad**
PR
No. 53 The Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC), constituted by MINFA, held its 2nd meeting on the 7th January, 2010 in the Committee Room of MINFA, to estimate the size/volume of expected cotton crop production during the year 2009-10. Mr. Zia-ur-Rehman, Federal Secretary, MINFA presided over the meeting. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Shahid Hussain Raja, Additional Secretary, MINFA, Dr. Qadir Bux Baloch, Agricultural Development Commissioner, MINFA, representatives of Provincial Agriculture Department, Chairman, Karachi Cotton Association (KCA), Chairman, Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) and growers’ members. The committee reviewed/discussed the overall current crop situation and noted that cotton arrivals reported by PCGA as on 1st January 2010 were at 11.930 million bales (22.44% over the last year of the same period). On the basis of overall review of the crop scenario and feed back given by the Provincial Agriculture Department and the other concerned stake holders, the committee estimated this year’s cotton crop size at 12.7 million bales as of todate (Punjab: 8.40, Sindh: 4.20, Balochistan and NWFP: 0.10 million bales) ex-farm. The Committee also expressed satisfactory on/over the prices incentives received by the growers higher/above than the last year’s price. It was decided that next and final meeting of the Cotton Crop Assessment Committee will be convened in the 3rd week of February, 2010. **MS/Ahmad**
PR
No. 54
Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani called on President Asif Ali Zardari in the Presidency on Thursday evening. Matters related to operational preparedness of Pakistan Army, security situation and the ongoing drive against militancy and extremism came under discussion.
PR
No. 55 The full impact of Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme (BESOS) will be felt after its benefits would start transmitting to the workers, which needs to be implemented on fast track basis. Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan Federal Minister for Privatization directed the Privatization Commission (PC) officials while chairing a meeting here today. The Minister said that President Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani attach great importance to the scheme, which ensures empowerment of the workers who have devoted their sweat and blood for the development and progress of their respective entities. The scheme is in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said. The Minister said that BESOS was the hallmark of the present Government’s pro-workers policies, which would ensure the improvement in efficiency, quality and production and increase the value and profit of the company. It would make the workers responsible in further improving the overall performance of the entity and their representation on the Board of Directors would directly involve them in the decision making process for the progress of the entity, he said. The Minister added that the scheme was historic and would usher a new era of workers revolution who were being given free of cost 12 % of the GoP shares in the SOEs and the entities already privatized. The scheme is not limited only to the non-privatized entities as it also includes all the privatized entities having GoP shares. The Minister was informed that Under BESOS so far 22,745 employees have been given shares certificates (12 % of GOP shares) in five entities namely Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC), Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO). BESOS is effective from August 14, 2009 and subsequently the eligible workers will receive benefits according to the set formula within the stipulated period. The scheme is expected to benefit around 500,000 employees of 80 entities. The 80 SOEs identified for the scheme include 16 listed and 33 unlisted public companies, 17 private companies and 14 SOEs established under special Act/ Ordinance. To launch the scheme in the remaining SOEs the relevant Ministries / Organizations have been asked to finalize the procedural / legal formalities for the implementation of the scheme in their respective SOEs. PC had also started kickoff meetings with the concerned Ministries/ Departments, the meeting was informed.
PR No. 56
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