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PR No. 227
PRESS RELEASE
INCREASING ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE WHILE DECREASING POPULATION
GROWTH IS KEY TO SUCCESS---SAYS DR. FIRDOUS ASHIQUE AWAN
Islamabad: January 23, 2010

There is a dire need to bridge the gap between existing economic growth rate and population growth rate in order to fall into the category of progressive nations”, says Federal Minister for Population Welfare Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, here today, while paying a surprise visit to the Family Welfare Centres (FWCs) and Reproductive health Services (RHS) in the Gynae Department at PIMS Hospital. At 1.9 percent Population Growth Rate (PGR) annually, Pakistan’s population will be doubled in 37 years. Unless there is a well-coordinated combination of measures to reduce fertility and the population plans are fully implemented and sustained population growth will continue to be a major hurdle for development, she also expressed.

She said that Pakistan’s rapid population growth is one of the main impediments in way of the government efforts for achieving the overall national development goals and sustained socio-economic growth.

She also revealed that the Ministry is setting up eight (8) Multi-purpose Service Centres one in each province including ICT, FATA, AJK and Gilgit – Baltistan under parliamentarian’s patronage on pilot basis. Moreover, in order to reduce Maternal Mortality Rate as a part of Reproductive Health package, two (2) Safe Mother Homes and each in Punjab and Sindh provinces on pilot basis has been initiated.

While talking to the journalists, she mentioned that during 2008-09, Ministry has set up 229 Service Centres which include 113 Family Welfare Centre, 6 Mobile Service Units and 110 Reproductive Health Services – A Centres.

Imams and Khateebs are involved for promoting small family norms and Ministry has provided orientation on Population and Development issues to more than two thousand religious Ulmas at the community level, she further added.

PR No. 228
PRESS RELEASE
FOREIGN MINISTER CONDEMNS SUICIDE BLAST IN TANK
Islamabad: January 23, 2010

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has strongly condemned the suicide blast in Tank today which resulted in the loss of precious lives.

The Foreign Minister emphasized that terrorism will never be allowed to succeed in its nefarious designs. Such acts only strengthen our resolve to fight terrorism with more vitality. The Government and the people of Pakistan are determined to root out this menace.

The Foreign Minister expressed his profound condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of those who sustained injuries in the blast.

PR No. 229
PRESS RELEASE
CABINET COMMITTEE FOR IMMEDIATE PEPCO- KESC PPA AND IMPROVEMENT IN POWER GENERATION
Islamabad: January 23, 2010

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy Crisis (CCEC) was held here today under the Chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Water & Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf to discuss the power situation and related matters.

The meeting was attended by Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Minister for Labour & Manpower, Shaukat Tareen, Minister for Finance, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Information, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Salman Siddque, Secretary Finance, Shahid Rafi, Secretary Water & Power, Riaz Ahmed Khan, Advisor Water & Power, Additional Secretary Ministry of Petroleum, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Water & Power, Finance division, CEO KESC and MD PEPCO.

The Minister for Water and Power in his opening remarks said that all the resources are being utilized to bring down the load shedding in Pepco system. He asked the Pepco and KESC that there should be no shut down of plants due to minor faults and all the plants should work at their optimum capacity. He said that the Ministry is closely monitoring the progress of the new power plants.

The meeting directed the KESC to sign PPA with Pepco and FSA’s and other related departments at the earliest. The KESC was also asked to run their plants at full capacity and utilize all their resources in this regard. KESC was also asked to submit a comprehensive plan to address the shortages and ensure stable supply to the power consumers in the next meeting. The CCEC directed that the gas becoming available due to annual closure of Fauji Jordan Fertilizer be diverted to KESC to ensure full capacity utilization of the plants. The meeting also asked Pepco to prepare a national power plan based on next 10 years energy requirements.

Earlier, the meeting was given briefing on the demand and supply situation of electricity by the PEPCO, KESC and other allied matters. ENDS.  

PR No. 230
PRESS RELEASE
MANGLA DAM AFFECTEES TO BE COMPENSATED FAIRLY: MANZOOR WATTO
Islamabad: January 23, 2010

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Watto has directed WAPDA to complete the project of Mangla Dam raising by the end of June and water fill in the dam by December this year.

While chairing a meeting of Committee at Mangla on Friday, the Minister was briefed on the current status of completion of the project. To the satisfaction of the committee it was informed that work portion of dam raising has been completed up to 99% and the dam was ready for test filling subject to resettlement of the affectees.

The Minister stressed that the compensation package to the affectees should be justifiable, and make sure that the affectees receive a fair compensation for their losses.

The Minister KA&GB said that delays in the raising of dam should be avoided which is of national importance and it should be resolved on priority basis.

PR No. 231
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: January 23, 2010

The recommendation of the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan to appoint Mr. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Senior Puisne Judge of the Lahore High Court as Judge of the Supreme Court was duly considered by the Prime Minister and the President of Pakistan. The Prime Minister of Pakistan keeping in view the legal position and the guidelines given in the Al Jehad Case PLD 1996 SC 324 by the Supreme Court that primacy in the matter of elevation of High Court Judges to the Supreme Court has to be given on the basis of seniority. The most senior Judge in the High Court has to be elevated to the Supreme Court, unless found to be unsuitable by the Chief Justice of Pakistan for such elevation. Mr. Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif, Chief Justice of Lahore High Court is the most senior Judge and, therefore, it is his right to be elevated to the Supreme Court.

Keeping in view the Lego constitutional position, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the Prime Minister of Pakistan has advised the President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari to request the Chief Justice of Pakistan to reconsider his recommendation dated 19-12-2009, for making recommendation afresh for the elevation of most senior Judge of the Lahore High Court to the Supreme Court. While accepting the advice of the Prime Minister, the President of Pakistan has been pleased to request the Chief Justice of Pakistan to reconsider his earlier recommendation, so that most senior Judge in the Lahore High Court be appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court. The Hon’ble Chief Justice has been informed accordingly.

PR No. 232
PRESS RELEASE
SHAHBAZ BHATTI ORDERED IMMEDIATE INQUIRY IN TORTURED MAID SHAZIA’S DEATH CASE:
Islamabad: January 23, 2010

Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti has strongly condemned the death of teenaged maid Shazia in Defence ‘A’, Lahore and has ordered the concerned authorities for immediate inquiry of the tragic incident.

Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti took serious notice of teenaged innocent girl’s killing. He further stated that justice would be provided to the deceased’s family and guilty be punished. 

Federal Minister informed that FIR No. 56/2010 dated 22-01-2010 has been registered in Police Station Defence ‘A’ and on the receipt of postmortem report and inquiry report strict action would be taken against the culprits. They would be punished accordingly.

Federal Minister repeated his commitment of provision of protection to the life and property of minorities.

Federal Minister added culprits would be dealt with iron hands to prevent such incidents and to eliminate the menace of cruelty from the society.