|
PR. No. 114 The Ministry of Population Welfare is taking specific measures to extend the numbers of Family Welfare Centers (FWCs) as this network is the core activity of the Population Welfare Programme. It constitutes the most extensive institutional network in the country to promote and deliver the family planning services in the urban as well as rural areas. The specific measures which will be continued phase by phase during the plan period of 2008-2013 to uplift the activities of family welfare centers are; Baseline DATA collection, Training/orientation session of two weeks at least in every two years for every family welfare workers (FWWs), Satellite Clinics, availability of essential equipments, medicines, contraceptives, IEC material and furniture, male mobilizers. The coordination with other government departments, NGOs, Civil Society Organization will be further strengthened. Now the numbers of Family Welfare Centers in the country is two thousand seven hundred and twelve (2712) which would be expended for the next envisaged plan period (2008-2013) to six thousand five hundred and thirty one (6531). The centers would be strengthened and activated through the concepts of Friends of FWCs. The concepts of Friends of Family Welfare Centers (FWC) have been revitalized including service providers. These friends of FWCs are the service providers of Health, Ministry of Population Welfare, Private Sectors as well as volunteer of National Centers for Human Development (NCHD), and National Volunteer Movement. The project of Friends of FWCs would be tested on pilot basis in eight selected Districts of the country including AJK and FATA. SA/AR.
PR.
No. 115. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan greatly values its relationship with the Czech Republic which is based on mutual respect and similarity of views on various regional and international issues and expressed the desire to further strengthen them in all fields. The Prime Minister said this while talking to the outgoing Ambassador of Czech Republic, Mr. Alexander Langer who paid a farewell call on him at his Chamber in the Parliament House this afternoon. The Prime Minister said that both Czech Republic and Pakistan have supported each other at the international forums on the basis of their principled position on significant international issues. The Prime Minister said Pakistan is appreciative of Czech investment in Pakistan and would like to see more Czech companies investing in the energy and infrastructure projects. We would also like to see more cooperation in the fields of culture, education and science and technology. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is currently facing energy shortages due to its expanding economy and expressed the desire that the two countries would be able to explore the possibility of cooperation in the energy sector particularly in renewable energy sources with the objective of enhancing energy security. The Prime Minister told Mr. Langer that Pakistan greatly values the instant response from the government and the people of the Czech Republic to the devastating earthquake in October 2005. The Prime Minister appreciated the services of the outgoing Ambassador in promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and the Czech Republic during his tenure in Islamabad. He said it is commendable that the trade between the two countries increased manifold during the tenure of Mr. Langer. He however stressed that the volume of trade which stands at $131 million has enormous potential for improvement. The Prime Minister said the private sectors of the two countries need to be put in direct contact to take lead in raising the trade level. He said the signing of MoU between the Chambers of Commerce and Industries is a step in the right direction to strengthen bilateral trade. The outgoing Ambassador thanked the government of Pakistan for facilitating his stay in Islamabad and said that he will fondly cherish the tour of stay which was professionally productive and personally enriching. DSG/AR.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the new democratic government is keen to attract foreign investment in power generation, construction of low cost housing, small and big dams, cement and mineral development in view of the growing demand of housing and electricity in the country. The Prime Minister said the government will provide level playing field to both local and foreign investors by allowing foreign investors to hold 100% equity without restriction on the movement of capital. The Prime Minister was talking to Dr. Ing Detlive Rose, Chairman of M/s Polysius AG of Germany and Syed Asadullah Kazmi, President of Capital Strategies Group who called on him at his Chamber in Parliament House this afternoon. The Prime Minister said the government plans to construct one million low cost houses per year and would also encourage construction of cement plants in the country as besides meeting the country’s own growing requirement for cement; it can also be profitably exported to neighboring countries like India and Afghanistan. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan’s investment policy has been formulated to create an investor-friendly environment focusing on opening up the economy and encouraging Foreign Direct Investment. The Prime Minister said that investment in construction and manufacturing sector is a key to economic development and the government welcomes and facilitates the investment offered by foreign investors in these sectors. The delegation assured that their Groups will continue their investment programme in Pakistan due to attractive investment policies of the present government. They informed the Prime Minister that they are keen to invest in the development of infrastructure and minerals and in this connection would be attending the investment conference being held in Quetta next week to explore the possibilities of investing in Baluchistan. The meeting was also attended by Minister for Investment and Industries, Syed Naveed Qamar, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary Board of Investment and Secretary Industries and Production. DSG/AR.
PR.
No. 117. Pakistan medical mission which had gone to China to provide relief to the 12 May earthquake victims in LongNan, Gansu Province China has arrived back at Islamabad last night. Chinese ambassador to Pakistan and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lieutenent General Retired Farooq were present at the Airport to receive the team. During their two week stay in China Pakistani doctors treated thousands of earthquake victims. This included major surgeries of bones fracture, medication, ultra sound, X-rays, intensive care cases and all type of laboratory tests. Pakistan Medical mission hospital also donated Medicines and food items worth Millions of Rupees .Moreover all Electro Medical equipment consisting complete operation theater, X–Ray machines, Ultra sound machine, Intensive care equipment of mobile surgical hospital, Ambulance car and generator to run the mobile surgical hospital all totaling up to 20 million Pakistani Rupees were also handed over to the Gansu Province health administration. The efforts of Pakistani doctors were highly lauded by all including the President of China. Irfan/AR.
PR.
No. 118. President Pervez Musharraf has said that the economic reforms of the country are creating an enabling environment for the private sector to become an engine of growth and as a result of this Pakistan has become one of the attractive destinations for investment due to its liberal and investment-friendly policies. He made these remarks while talking to Dr. Detley Rose, Chairman Polysius A.G. Germany who called on him here today. The Chairman Polysius A.G. Germany said that we are investing in Pakistan because of the economic building in the country which we have witnessed in the last seven years. We continue to look for venture partners and long term partnership for investment in Pakistan. Pakistan has many major advantages some of which are its important geo-strategic location, good lucrative market of 160 million people and the huge incentives the country offers for investment in the sectors like energy, cement, telecommunication, mining and construction. While talking about the attractions Pakistan offers to investors the President said that there are tremendous opportunities that would benefit not only Pakistan but also the investors because of the location of the country between Central Asia-South Asia, Western China-Afghanistan and India. The President emphasized that Pakistan is looking for trade and investment which would result in job creation, poverty alleviation and better education of the masses. MA/AR.
PR. No. 119. During the session of the National Assembly this morning the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani went to Engr. Amir Muqam’s seat and inquired after the welfare of his son who had a narrow escape when his car was fired upon in Swat in an attempt to kidnap him. The Prime Minister stood with Mr. Amir Muqam for sometime and sympathized with him. He prayed for long and safe life of Mr. Muquam’s son and assured him of his government’s full cooperation in investigating the unfortunate incident and apprehending the culprits. Mr. Amir Muquam thanked the Prime Minister for his gracious gesture and the offer to help investigate the incident. DSG/ank
PR. No. 120. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved a grant of Rs. 64 corer for the electrification of Dalbandin, Chaghi District in Balochistan. Dalbandin, the headquarter of District Chaghi with a population of over 125,000 was so far deprived of this basic necessity. DSG/ank
PR. No. 121. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the Federal Government is committed to providing the basic necessities of life to the people of Balochistan on priority basis in order to improve their standard of living. The Prime Minister said this while taking to Sardar Yar Mohammad Jamali, the head of Jamali tribe, who called on him at his chamber in the Parliament House this evening. The Prime Minister said that the problems of Balochistan would be solved in consultation with the leaders and notables of Balochistan. The Prime Minister said that Federal Ministers have been directed to undertake regular visits of Balochistan and the NWFP for expeditiously solving people’s problems at their doorstep. Sardar Yar Mohammad Jamali apprised the Prime Minister of the various problems relating to his area especially the provision of basic necessities of life to the people. The Federal Minister for Finance, Mr. Naveed Qamar and the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms. Sherry Rahman also attended the meeting. DSG/ank
|
