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PR. No. 66. The threat of suicide attack still persist in the major cites of Punjab including Islamabad. The recent tragic incident in Islamabad wherein 17 policemen belonging to Islamabad and Punjab police lost their lives was targetted against the police by the suicide bomber. The gathering of Lal Mosque was handled and protected by the raw enforcement agencies promptly which disbursed after acknowledging and praising excellent arrangements made by the Government. Mr. A. Rehman Malik, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior has taken Mr. Shahbaz Sharief, Chief Minister, Punjab into confidence with regard to serious threat level reported by the intelligence agencies. In view of the persistent threat level and the recent shahadat of so many innocent policemen, we request the lawyer’s community to review their date of protest to some later date till the security situation improves. However, the Adviser stated that we will not stop lawyer’s rally and allow them to lodge the peaceful protest at a venue agreed mutually between Islamabad Administration and lawyers. We will also provide protection to lawyer’s community as we feel duty bound to thwart the serious security threat to our lawyer’s community. The Adviser on Interior has appealed to lawyer’s community to heed to the advice which is being given purely on the basis of the serious security threat prevailing in the federal capital and now an open secret after suicidal attack in which 20 innocent citizen and policemen lost their lives and 28 injured who are struggling for their life in hospitals. **SMA/Ahmad**
PR. No. 67. Institutional and legal reforms are mandatory and much needed to improve the socio-economic and security environments in the country and to get it out of the present morass, stated Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Federal Minister for Local Government & Rural Development. The Minister was presiding over a high level meeting of the provincial ministers and secretaries of Local Government & Rural Development held in Islamabad on Tuesday 8th of July 2008 to solicit and coordinate provincial views and finalize way forward on priority issues in light of the Prime Minister’s directives for formulating policy on katchi abadis & urban slums improvement, capacity development for local governance, and other initiatives of the Ministry of LG&RD. Mr. Dost Muhammad Khosa, Minister for Local Government & Rural Development, Government of Punjab, Mr. Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Minister for LG&RD, Government of NWFP, Mr. Abdul Khaliq Bashar Dost, Minister LG&RD, Government of Baluchistan besides Federal Secretary LG&RD, Additional Secretary Cabinet division, secretaries of the LG&RD department from all four provinces and Director of the Capital Development authority attended. The meeting reviewed the policy for Katchi Abadi regularization, rehabilitation and development proposed by the Federal Ministry under the “100 Days Action Plan” announced by the Prime Mini8ster in his inception statement on the floor of the National Assembly on March 29, 2008. The meeting agreed that the issue of transfer of title and upgrading of all the Katchi Abadi that stand confirmed and declared in light of the policy, 1985, along with adjacent slum areas may be implemented under a holistic plan . It supported the adoption of a multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral approach towards the development of the Katchi Abadi and that any intervention should be mainstreamed into the relevant urban plan for incremental implementation. The provincial representatives however, observed that the provinces need to review the policy proposals in light of their own local conditions and requirements and comment on the proposed strategies and modalities accordingly. They also urged that the proposed need assessment survey and land status of the confirmed and declared Katchi Abadis should be carried out urgently and in close collaboration wit the provinces with a view to develop an accurate data base and ground information position along with strengthening of the legal framework to stop further growth of Katchi Abadis and urban slums. The meeting agreed that the provinces and the CDA would review the draft policy proposals in detail and submit their considered views/recommendations thereon to the Federal Ministry at an early date for consolidation and further processing in light of the Prime Minister’s announcement. The meeting also deliberated on the devolved system of local government functioning under the Local Government Ordinance 2001. The participants noted that political changes in the country have given rise to the necessity to address local demands and needs to bring about economic and political systems closer to local communities and make them more responsive, efficient and transparent. Frail local government system need to be strengthened to reflect and address the true aspirations and demands of the citizen’s and bring the country at par with the developed nations. Without putting in place standard parameters and policy framework developed through consensus keeping in view the local needs, effective coordination mechanism, and a clear action plan and political support the challenges cannot be addressed in a timely manner. The provinces urged on an urgent introspective review of the system and necessary changes to bring about improvements in the quality of governance and delivery of public sector services. It was decided that the committee chaired by the Federal Minister of Local Government and rural Development and comprising of the provincial ministers and secretaries of Local government & Rural Development, NRB and other participants would reconvene at an early date to look into this issue. Meanwhile, the provincial departments of local government and rural development would coordinate amongst themselves to firm up their views and recommendations for discussion in the above mentioned meeting. The meeting appreciated the new initiatives proposed by the MLG7ERD to improve quality of living conditions and bring about prosperity in the rural areas of the country such as rural roads construction, rural reconstruction and enterprise development and urban renewal & small town development proposals. The proposal for establishment of National Research & Development center and School of Local Governance & Rural Development at the National Center of Rural development Islamabad in network with provincial local government training institutions was also welcomed. The meeting recommended the need for review of the existing cooperatives system and structure in the country in light of the best practices in the neighboring countries and elsewhere in the region for possible replication. ***FK/Ahmad***
PR. No. 68. Pakistan is strategically located at a regional hub with abundant land and natural resources, strong human resources, large and growing domestic market which offer tremendous investment opportunities to countries like Japan. This was said by Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Advisor to the Prime Minister/Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives in a meeting with Ambassador of Japan Mr. Seiji Kojima who called on him here today. Mian Manzoor Wattoo further said that Japan is one of the leading donor countries giving economic aid to Pakistan and it has played an important role in Pakistan’s development through economic and technical assistance thereby promoting strong economic and political relations between the tow countries. “We want Japan to bring more investment in Pakistan”, said Mr. Wattoo. Mian Manzoor Wattoo said that Gawadar Port is an ideal location, where Japan can explore the possibility of investment in the fields of petrochemicals, heavy engineering, food processing, metal works, steel products and other export-oriented industries. Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) of Pakistan offers attractive incentives/facilities for investment in EPZs. Investment from Japanese investors is welcome where they can set up their own exclusive country zone in Pakistan. Mian Manzoor Wattoo also emphasized that as Pakistan’s economy is developing, we need more market access in Japan in the areas where Pakistan has the potential to collaborate in terms of technology tie-ups, co-manufacturing, co-financing and co-export. The Ambassador told that they were already cooperating with SMEDA (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority), a subsidiary of Ministry of Industries and Production on various SME projects. He further told that Japan is concentrating rating on development of infrastructure in Pakistan. The Ambassador also informed that a Japanese Company, YKK, is setting up two plastic mould centers one in Karachi and one in Lahore. ***AUR/Ahmad***
PR. No. 69. The Chairman Senate, Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro and Deputy Chairman Senate Mr. Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali have condoled with Mr. Tariq Aziz, Secretary National Security Council over the sad demise of his mother. In their separate condolence messages, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman offered their heartfelt condolences to Mr. Tariq Aziz over the passing away of his mother. They prayed that Allah Almighty may rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant fortitude to the members of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity. ***SM/Ahmad***
PR. No. 70. Meetings of the Sub Committee of Senate Standing Committee on Communication and Railway will review the issue of misuse of land leased out by Pakistan Railway for public matters in Railways Headquarters, Lahore on July, 11, 2008. Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi will be the convener of the sub committee while other members are, Senator Engr. Rashid Ahmad Khan and Senator Nawab Mohammad Ayaz Khan Jugezai. Sub Committee also review the issue of grant of ownership to the residents of Kachi Abadies on the Railway land. Later, Sub Committee will submit its report to the Standing Committee for further discussion. ***QAM/Ahmad***
PR. No. 71.
The Ambassador of United States of America
to Pakistan, AM/Ahmad
PR. No. 72. Utility Stores Corporation (USC) is an effective relief mechanism and every effort should be made to improve its services. This was said by Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo Advisor/Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives (MOIP&SI) while chairing a meeting on expansion plans of USC here today. Meeting was also attended by MD USC Brig® Hafeez Ahmad, General Managers and Zonal Managers of USC, and senior officers of the MOIP&SI. Government wants to give relief to the people through the schemes like Benazir Bachat Cards which will be implemented through the network of Utility Stores across the country. So, USC must expand and improve its services to facilitate the implementation of Benazir Bachat Card Scheme, said Mr. Wattoo adding that USC must open 1500 more stores in this regard by August 14, 2008. Mian Manzoor Wattoo informed that MOIP&SI is moving a summary to the Prime Minister for seeking approval for recruitments in USC so as to effect the expansion programme. He also directed for strict vigilance of the stores so that the complaints of poor quality and black-marketing are addressed. He also directed the USC to make arrangements for third-party evaluation from private consultants with the view to improve performance of the USC. Mr. Wattoo instructed the USC to focus on five essential items- flour, rice, sugar, ghee/oil and pluses. MD USC in his presentation told the Advisor that already 200 stores have been opened under the expansion plan and every effort will be made to meet the target of August 14, 2008. He also told that one more region is being created in each province under the expansion programme. He informed that a model utility store with a new logo of USC will be opened very soon in F-7 Islamabad. He emphasized that whenever Government gave subsidy through utility stores it helped stabilize prices in the market. ***AUR/Ahmad***
PR. No. 73. In a condolence message from USA, Mr. Hoti expressed sympathies with all the members of the bereaved family and prayed Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant them courage to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude.
PR. No. 74.
In a condolence message Mr. Najmuddin Khan
prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and
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