|
PR. No. 177. The World Bank Board has approved the Electricity Distribution and Transmission Improvement Project Loan in its meeting held on June 17, 2008 at a total cost of $ 256.852 million for Pakistan. The objectives of the project are to: (i) strengthen the capacity of the distribution and transmission networks to meet increasing electricity demand in the selected areas more efficiently and with better reliability and quality; and (ii) strengthen institutional capacity of the selected distribution companies and support other priority areas of the power sector reform. The project includes the following components: (i) physical strengthening of distribution networks operated by four distribution companies (HESCO, IESCO, LESCO, and MEPCO); (ii) removing some bottlenecks in the transmission grid, operated by NTDC; (iii) technical assistance for capacity building, specialized studies, energy efficiency, and sector reform and (iv) a pilot energy efficiency program, involving installation of energy saving equipment at the customer level. It may be mentioned here that this is the first World Bank loan approved for Pakistan after induction of new government. The approval reflects confidence of the international financial institutions in Pakistan’s economic fundamentals. MA/AR.
PR. No. 178. The annual Urs of Hazrat Amir Khusro (RA) is being held from October 17-23, 2008 at Delhi, India. The interested Zaireen may address the applications to Section Officer (Ziarat), Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat & Ushr, Islamabad on the Newly computerized Application Forms alongwith a bank draft /Postal Order of Rs.100/- (non-refundable), not later than June 30, 2008. Ballot, if required, will be held on 31st July, 2008, in Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat & Ushr Islamabad. The Forms can be obtained free of cost from office of the Director Hajj in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Ministry of Religious Affairs Islamabad. Other details and instructions regarding the Urs are available on the Application Form and on the official website www.mora.gog.pk as well. Applications on old forms will not be entertained. MSG/AR.
PR. No. 179. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan and Yemen are bound by ties of history, common faith and shared perceptions on all important international matters and called upon the need to translate the existing political goodwill between the two countries into tangible cooperation in all fields particularly education, commerce and textile industry. The Prime Minister said this while talking to Mr. Abdul Elah Mohamed Hajar, Ambassador of Yemen in Pakistan who paid him a farewell call at the PM’s House this morning. The Prime Minister said the two countries have signed MoUs and agreements covering almost every field and what is lacking is their implementation and follow-up action. He said the Joint Ministerial Commission should also meet regularly to consolidate cooperation between the two countries. The Prime Minister said that steps are required to be taken for increasing cooperation with Yemen in the textile and education sectors. He said Yemen is a cotton growing country and the Textile ministry would be asked to send a delegation for extending cooperation in this sector. The Prime Minister said both Yemen and Pakistan should work together to dispel the negative image of Islam being projected in the western media. He said Islam is a faith which teaches peace, tolerance and inter-faith harmony. The Prime Minister said the new government is facing numerous challenges including terrorism and extremism. He said PPP has lost its great leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. He expressed government’s strong resolve to address these issues with the support of the people. The Prime Minister said the government is conscious of the fact that stability is necessary for economic growth that is why priority is being given to improving law and order in the country. The Ambassador told the Prime Minister that he is finishing is four-year tenure in Pakistan with pleasant and joyful memories. The Ambassador said that Pakistan is an important country of OIC and its contribution towards world peace is commendable. He said Pakistan, with its variety of cultures, a high standard of education and technically trained manpower is a leading country of the Muslim world. He said the people of Yemen admire Pakistan’s transition to democracy as well as the way the new government is trying to solve the problems by taking all stakeholders along with it. Senator Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa also attended the meeting. DSG/AR.
PR. No. 180. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan attaches high value to its brotherly relations with Kuwait as both the countries share common faith and values and enjoy unanimity of views on all important global and regional issues. The Prime Minister was talking to the Ambassador of Kuwait to Pakistan, Mr. Aziz Raheem Al-Dehani, who called on him here at the Prime Minister’s House this morning. The Prime Minister said that Kuwait has always stood by Pakistan and we take pride in our friendship and are keen to enhance our bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, defense, health & education and other sectors. The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to expand people to people contact between the two countries.
The Prime Minister said that restoring law and order and stabilizing the economy of the country are the two main priorities of his government. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is a frontline state in the war against terrorism and it is in its own interest to fight this war. He said Pakistan also wants a stable Afghanistan so that the over three million Afghan refugees who reside in Pakistan can go back to their homeland with honour and dignity. The Prime Minister said that the sizeable Pakistani community is making valuable contribution to the impressive development of Kuwait and is a source of strength for our bilateral relations. Pakistan has developed a significant base of trained and skilled manpower and is now in a position to meet Kuwait’s specific manpower needs, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister thanked the Ambassador for Kuwait’s generous help for the relief and rehabilitation in the earthquake affected areas in Pakistan. The Ambassador said that Kuwait will continue to extend all possible support and assistance to Pakistan. He said that Kuwaiti investment will also continue to flow into Pakistan in view of the favorable climate that exists in the country. He said that Kuwait is keen to increase the frequency of air flights between the two countries so as to promote people to people contacts and enhance interaction between the business communities of the two countries. He also informed the Prime Minister that Kuwait has allocated another $ 50 million to help establish educational facilities in the earthquake affected areas in Pakistan. The meeting was also attended by Senator Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa along with senior officials. DSG/AR.
PR. No. 181. Hazardous chemicals and wastes pose serious threat to environment and human health as these substances including pesticides are contaminating our soil, water, air and food sources. These views were expressed by Secretary Ministry of Environment Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Quershi, here on Friday, while inaugurating a two day “National Consultative Workshop” on Obligations and Implementation Status of Pakistan on Chemical Related Environmental Treaties organized by Ministry of Environment. He said that sustainable and safe management of chemical and hazardous wastes has always been an important priority of the government. He said that Ministry of Environment is acting as catalyst to bring all the stakeholders at one forum to facilitate the change for management of chemicals and wastes. Speaking on the occasion Joint Secretary International Cooperation (IC), Ministry of Environment Khizar Hayat Khan said that the workshop has been organized to seek consultation and recommendations of stakeholders for developing the Action Plan for implementation of chemical related Conventions in Pakistan in accordance with international commitments and national priorities. The Project Manager Syed Zaheer Ahmed Gillani, Multilateral Agreements (MEAs) Secretariat gave a presentation on the aims and objective of the workshop. Apprising the participants of the workshop Mr. Gillani said that when the Second World War broke out half a million chemicals were known. By the end of the war the number had increased to nearly four million. A decade ago the Chemical Abstracts Service Register (CAS) had some 11 million chemicals. Today it has over 21 million substances and 26 million sequence records. About 4000 new chemicals are added to the Registry each day. The global chemicals industry currently produces about 70, 000 substances in Volumes varying from millions of metric tons to less than a ton. In 1930 the global production of chemicals was one million tons. Currently it is 400 million tones. There is a tenfold increase in the last thirty years. These chemicals have about $1 500 billion sales values. World Health Organization (WHO) projected that for the year 2000 that the number of deaths from exposures to chemicals was about 265, 000, with an incidence rate of 4.6 per 100,000. It was estimated that the total number of poisoning cases was over 160 million persons for a global population of 6 billion. DKKW/ar.
PR. No. 182. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the government is committed to reforming every sector of the society as envisioned by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and mentioned in the manifesto of PPP. The Prime Minister this while talking to the Peer of Kot Mithan Sharif, Khawaja S. Muhammad Amir Koreja, who called on him at his Chamber in the Parliament House. The Prime Minister said the government has taken various measures for providing relief to the common man in the coming fiscal year’s budget. Khawaja Amir Koreja congratulated the Prime Minister on presenting a relief-oriented budget under difficult economic conditions. He also congratulated the Prime Minister on his son’s unopposed victory as MPA of Punjab Assembly from Rahimyar Khan. He invited the Prime Minister to visit Kot Mithan at a date of his convenience. DSG/AR.
PR. No. 183. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has named Islamabad International Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad on the occasion of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s birth anniversary as a mark of respect and reverence for the martyred leader and in recognition of her unparalleled services for the nation, the people of Pakistan and the cause of democracy. The Prime Minister has also named General Hospital, Rawalpindi as Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi and Murree Road as Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Road in consultation with the Government of Punjab. The Prime Minister has given an initial grant of Rs. 50 million for upgradation of the Hospital. The Prime Minister has also decided to build a monument at the site in Rawalpindi where Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. The design of this monument will be selected through open international competition.
PR. No. 184. In recognition of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s unprecedented life-long sacrifices for the supremacy and cause of democracy in the country,Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani,on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Shaheed, has granted 90 days special remission to the prisoners convicted for life imprisonment except those convicted for murder, espionage, anti-state activities, sectarianism, Zina, robbery, dacoity, kidnapping/abduction and terrorist acts and 45 days special remission to all other convicts except the condemned prisoners, convicted of murder, espionage subversion, anti-state activities, terrorist acts. The two remissions will be admissible provided the convicts have undergone 2/3rd of their substantive sentence of imprisonment. Total remission has been given to male prisoners who are 65 years of age or above and have undergone at least 1/3rd of their substantive sentence of imprisonment, except those involved in culpable homicide and those involved in terrorist acts. Total remission has also been given to female prisoners who are 60 years of age or above and have undergone at least 1/3rd of their sentence of imprisonment, except those involved in culpable homicide and those involved in terrorist acts. Special remission of one year will be given to female prisoners who have accompanying children and are serving sentence of imprisonment for crimes other than culpable homicide and those involved in terrorist acts. Total remission has been given to juvenile convicts (under 18 years of age) who have served 1/3 of their substantive sentence except those involved in culpable homicide, terrorist acts, as defined in the Anti Terrorism (Second Sec. 10 offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ord. 1979. DSG/wh
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST OR TELECAST BEFORE THE MORNING
OF 21-06-2008 I never thought a time would come when we would be marking Mohtarma’s birth anniversary without any hope of having her around us ever. It’s been six months since she departed from this world, but her shadow cut such a wide swathe that if we look around as we will still see her everywhere, in her vision, in her guidelines, in her party in her children and above all, in the people of Pakistan Mohtarma has never really left us. For me, Mohtarma was a guide, a mentor, an inspiration; a women who had the courage of a Titan and the tenacity of a gladiator. She could invoke passions in the street that no one other politician except her father could. She was the only leader owned by the whole nation. She was every body’s sister, everybody’s daughter. Mohtarma was a leader whose vision went father than any others. She pioneered a foreign policy that made peace with neighbours its cornerstone, ending the cold war that consumed all of South Asia. As a Prime Minister and as a leader of the opposition, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto tirelessly fought to promote human rights. Every policy she supervised, every paper she drafted and every speech she wrote, she fought for women, for the dispossessed and for the homeless. She wanted Pakistan to be a welfare state on the lines of the Social Democracy model. Shaheed Mohtarma was the only leader who owned the battle against religious orthodoxy and militancy as Pakistan’s internal challenge. She marked clear lines in the sand for it. While advocating a tough response to militancy, she continued pushing the idea of political reforms to heal the wounds of those sidelined by years of no-democratic rule. Throughout her life, Mohtarma fought for regaining space for democracy. Her tragic assassination was the ultimate price the people of Pakistan paid for democracy. Mohtasrma once said in her speech; “Women and men are here to make their mark on the world, and I will always be the first to show them the way.” Even in her death, she continues to show us the way; way to a democratic order, people’s empowerment, way to a future where peace reigns and terrorism is defeated. As a nation, we owe it to Mohtarma to carry forward the mission she laid down her life for.
PR. No. 186. Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Speaker National Assembly has said that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had a democratic mindset and strongly believed in democratic norms. She always worked for democracy, strength of Pakistan and prosperity of its people for which she embraced martyrdom.. Dr. Fehmida Mirza expressed these views in her interview to a private TV channel in connection with the Birth Anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. She said that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the torch bearer of women rights and always advocated for gender equality. She allocated quota for women in the services of Pakistan besides establishing women police stations and the First Women Bank in Pakistan during her Tenure as Prime Minister. The Speaker said that Shaheed Mohtarma loved Pakistan and its people and despite threats to her life, she came back to Pakistan . She further said that it was desire of the masses to see BB as Leader of the House but her sudden death shattered their dreams. She said that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the torch bearer of the democratic and social mission of Late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for which she made sacrifices. She said that the Martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has created a vacuum which is impossible to be filled. The Speaker said that it was the desire of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to see a strong and prosperous Pakistan where its inhabitant can lead an affluent life. The Speaker said that the the best way to celebrate the birth anniversary of BB was to donate blood and hold ceremonies of recitation for the soul of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. MT/wh
PR. No. 187. Today, we are commemorating the birth anniversary of Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. She is not amongst us today, yet she lives in the hearts and memory of the people of Pakistan. According to Islamic injunctions, the martyrs are alive and prostrate before Allah Almighty, who in turn showers His choicest blessings on them. Such sublime is the position enjoyed by a Martyr. The Birth Anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto reminds us of her mission to ameliorate the lot of the poor and the downtrodden, and translate the Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of a developed, democratic and stable Pakistan into reality. She openly denounced extremism and wanted Quaid’s Pakistan to be a centre of intellectual excellence, instead of becoming hostage to narrow identities that lead to extremism and militancy. Throughout her political career, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto endeavoured to uphold the cause of democracy and democratic values, and frustrate evil designs of those petty interests who served dictators and wanted dictatorship to flourish in our land. Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was not the first one to lay down her life for the cause of Pakistani people. Her great father, our ideal and our leader, Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and other members of her noble family also made sacrifices for the rights of the poor masses and the cause of democracy. It is due to her exemplary character, sacrifices and dedication of purpose that people not only in Pakistan but throughout the world hold her in high esteem and reverence. On her birthday, the best way to pay homage to the great leader would be to follow her mission in letter and sprit, shun sectarianism and militancy and work wholeheartedly for the betterment and uplift of Pakistan. Let me assure you on this occasion that the present government, backed by the will of the people, will make all possible efforts to accomplish Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s mission for revival of the Constitution in its original form, supremacy of the Parliament, independence of judiciary, freedom of media, provincial autonomy, strengthening of the State institutions to ensure progress, prosperity and wellbeing of the people of Pakistan. DSG/wh
|
