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PR No. 314
PRESS RELEASE
PARLIAMENTARIANS TO SPEARHEAD CAUSE OF ENVIRONMENT – FAROOQ H. NAEK
Islamabad: 27th March, 2010Chairman Senate, Mr. Farooq H. Naek has called for coordination among Parliamentarians, different sections of society, government institutions and NGOs to conserve energy and save environment for future generation of Pakistan . He was speaking on the occasion Earth Hour 2010.
“We have to work together to save every sapling, every drop of water and every unit of energy to ensure a bright and prosperous future of our coming generations”, Farooq H. Naek said. He said that it was a matter of satisfaction that Ministry of Environment had decided to join hands with the world community to observe Earth Hour 2010, which will sensitize all the sections of the society and general public at large with regard to the significance of environment and conservation of energy in the country, the Chairman Senate added.
“This shows the significance that Government of Pakistan and Pakistani nation attaches to the issues related to the environment, climate change and conservation of energy to save our earth – the only home of humanity in the universe”, Farooq H. Naek added.
He also underscored the importance of spearheading the cause of environment and energy conservation by the Cabinet Members, party groups and Parliamentarians to give it a political ownership.
**RAQ/Ahmad**
PR No. 315
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: 27th March, 2010A flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Embassy of Pakistan in Bucharest on 23rd of March, 2010, to commemorate the National Day of Pakistan. The function was attended by members of the Pakistani Community in Romania including businessman, students and executives working in International Organizations. The function started with recitation of a verse from the Holy Quran, followed by national anthem and hoisting of the Pakistan flag by the Charge d’ Affaires. Messages of the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan on this occasion were then read out to the audience by the Charge d’ Affairs. Special prayers were held for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, says a press release received here today from Bucharest.
In his remarks, the Cd’ A said that despite being faced with numerous internal and external challenges, the leadership was striving to realize the dream of the Quad-e-Azam as reflected in the messages of the President and the Prime Minister. Pakistan must do everything to strengthen their hands in realizing these objectives and forge close unity among themselves.
**DO/Ahmad**
PR No. 316
PRESS RELEASE
MIR HAZAR KHAN BIJARANI CONDOLES WITH SPEAKER NA AND QAZI ASAD ABID
Islamabad: 27th March, 2010Federal Minister for Industries & Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani has expressed his profound grief and sorrow over the death of Dr Qazi Anwar Abid, the elder brother of Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmida Mirza and Chairman Ibrat Group of Publications Qazi Asad Abid, who passed away in Karachi yesterday after protracted illness at the age of 73.
While expressing his sympathies with members of the bereaved family, 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. 317
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: 27th March, 2010The Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo hosted a luncheon in the honour of newly appointed Governor Madam Shama Khalid, CM Gilgit-Baltistan, Syed Mehdi Shah and MLAs of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Minister congratulated Madam Shama Khalid for her appointment as Governor Gilgit-Baltistan.
**AZA/Ahmad**
PR No. 318
PRESS RELEASE
PROPOSALS FOR ISSUANCE OF OGDCL BONDS TO BE TABLED BEFORE CCOP IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK
Islamabad: 27th March, 2010World’s top 10 investment groups have been asked to submit proposals along with market assessment for issuance of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL)’s Bonds, to be tabled before Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) in the upcoming meeting being scheduled in the following week, in accordance with Privatisation Commission (PC) Ordinance 2000 under section 25: “Modes of Privatisation”, which authorizes the PC to carry out privatisation in accordance with the prescribed procedure, through any of the modes including sale of assets and business, sale of shares through public auction or tender, public offering of shares through a stock exchange, management or employee buyouts by management or employees of a state owned enterprise, lease, management or concession contract or any other method as may be prescribed.
The PC Board in its meeting on March 18, 2010 attended by the representatives of Ministries of Finance and Petroleum & Natural Resources approved to obtain proposals and detailed market assessment for submission to Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) to proceed further. Citibank, J P Morgan, Nomura Investment Inc; UK, Barclays Bank, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Merrill lynch and others had also made presentations before the PC Board including their top management through electronic mode. All these financial institutions have been asked for respective proposals and reports. A summary in this regard has been sent to the Prime Minister.
The PC intends to appoint a Bookrunning Consortium for divestment of equity of OGDCL via a US $ 500 million exchangeable bond with an upside option of US $ 100 million with no sovereign resource. The groups have been asked to submit their separate sealed Technical and Financial proposals free of cost, indicating their relevant experience, competence of team, work plan, methodology and presentations with hard underwriting and coupon services.
The OGDCL Bonds activity will build a diversified and high quality international investor base and would also improve standing of domestic capital markets through increased foreign institutional investors and foreign direct investment flows.
On March 25, 2010, the top management of OGDCL held a meeting with the Minister for Privatisation and expressed their full support for the completion of the transaction, which would help OGDCL to speed up their exploration activity. The Minister assured the management to take forward the transaction on fast track basis keeping in view the keen interest being shown by the market players.
PR No. 319
PRESS RELEASE
ENVIRONMENT MINISTER OBSERVES EARTH HOUR 2010 WITH PARLIAMENTARIANS AND WWF
Islamabad: 27th March, 2010Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi has said that Earth Hour 2010 in collaboration with WWF Pakistan is about; empowering the individual with a sense of being part of something great, a platform to show what we are doing or announce what we are going to do to combat climate change, a chance to promote leadership, an opportunity for individuals, businesses, community groups and governments to showcase climate solutions. He expressed these views while observing Earth Hour at National Assembly today.
He said that as we launch Earth Hour 2010, there is need to reaffirm our commitments to conserve our natural resources that we have been blessed with. With the Earth Hour 2010 Launch in Pakistan, the Ministry of Environment aims to usher a new era of climate consciousness, encouraging personal accountability and behavioral change to facilitate sustainable living. Afridi further said that taking the first step is as easy as turning off a light or lighting a candle. But, we need to take it to the next level by encouraging entire cities across the country to perform one simple act for just one hour and a message will be delivered to the world: a solution to the threat of global warming is possible through the aggregate of our actions. He further said that this is global commitment for energy conservation, climate change, Global warming and sustainable future.
The lights of National Assembly switched off at 8.30 p.m and Federal Ministry for Environment, lighted candles with his fellow Parliamentarians and WWF Pakistan Go Green Parliamentarian Group members. Moreover, He also observed Earth Hour 2010 at the International Islamic university with the Environmental Club Students and faculty at 9.00pm to show solidarity towards energy conservation and combating climate change.
Officials of Geo News, UNILEVER Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines, Getz Parma, Digi Space, Bank Alfalah, Rose Petal, Shell Pakistan, Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Dawood Hercules Chemicals Limited Government Servants and general public also observed Earth Hour 2010.
It is also important to mention here that switching off took place at the government secretariats all over Pakistan. All the concerned Ministries and Provincial Governments also observed the Earth Hour 2010.