|
-
PR No. 375 Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shehbaz Bhatti has congratulated Hindus community all over the world and Pakistan on the day of Holi on Sunday. He said Holi is a festival of happiness, joy and togetherness. In a statement, Federal Minister stated that all religion teach, peace, love, and equality. No religion teaches hate and injustice. We all congratulate Hindu brothers on this auspicious occasion of Holi. Teachings of religions are to be spread, to promote them at this time when world has so many challenges. Federal Minister said present democratic government has decided to celebrate religious occasion of all minorities of the country. This is to recognize their services in the movement and in the development of Pakistan. Federal Minister further said that PPP government is very keen to promote religious freedom, interfaith harmony, and equality. It is working for these principals and for the uplift of minority,. Government would provide protection to them. (End)
PR No. 376 Capital Development Authority (CDA) is celebrating 50 glorious years of Islamabad. In this regard CDA has organized Golden Jubilee Spring Tree Plantation Drive 2010 on Monday March 01, 2010 at 10:00 AM in Green Belt, G-13, Islamabad. Federal Minister for Environment Mr. Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi will grace the occasion as Chief Guest. Government Employees of different Ministries/Divisions, Private Sector General Public and people of all walks of life are emphasized to take part in Spring Tree Plantation Drive 2010.
PR No. 377 Federal Minister for Interior, Senator A. Rehman Malik has said that the country is going through a critical time and we have been committed to overcome terrorism. The enemies and other hostile elements are trying to destabilize the country through sectarian violence now. It is believed that the hostile elements are also funding the sectarian elements which are being paid through their agents. The Government is aware of these conspiracies and hence, all the Intelligence Agencies and other forces have been instructed to deal them with iron hand. The Minister for Interior has ordered Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the incidents occurred during yesterday in Dera Ismail Khan (D.I.Khan) and Faisalabad. The Minister for Interior has appealed to all Ulema Karaam to come forward and help their beloved country and block this sectarian violence in their respective areas. All Provincial Governments have been instructed to exercise extra vigilance. A joint Statement has also been issued after a meeting of Federal Minister for Interior with Ulema Karaam in Karachi.
PR No. 378 British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called on President Zardari today, during the latter’s private visit to the United Kingdom, says a press release received from the High Commission of Pakistan, London here today. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction that ever since the democratic government had assumed office in Pakistan relationship between the two countries have further strengthened. The close cooperation was manifested in the increased number of high level visits, and enhancement of UK’s development assistance from £ 240m in 2007 to £ 665m, which is an acknowledgment of Pakistan’s contribution to the international war on terror, and the need to offset the negative impact in socio-economic sectors. Appreciating Pakistani forces’ successful military operations against the militants and the extremists, he paid tribute to those Pakistanis who laid down their lives in this noble cause. President Zardari and Foreign Secretary Miliband noted that the progress in relations has been further marked with the establishment of Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP), pioneered by the Great Britain’s agreement to establish a Summit level Strategic Dialogue during President’s visit in May 2009; and formation of a high level Education Task Force by the UK to assist Pakistan in reforming its education sector. The issues of visas, particularly of the Pakistani students and immigration matters, also came under discussion. They assessed the regional situation including Pakistan – India dialogue and Afghanistan. Mr Miliband stressed the need for India and Pakistan to engage with each other and supported resumption of composite dialogue between the two countries. Acknowledging the pivotal role of Pakistan, he conveyed his country’s deep appreciation for Pakistan’s support to the efforts towards peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan. The President also made a strong case for Pakistan’s requirement of ‘Market Access’ for its products in the EU and sought the UK’s support to that end. The President also emphasized early mitigation of visa problems faced by Pakistani students. Foreign Secretary Miliband assured the President that there was no discrimination against Pakistani students and delays in visas would be streamlined. The UK is Pakistan’s lead EU partner in terms of trade, investment and development assistance. On February 16, the DFID in collaboration with Punjab Government launched a £ 50m project in the Pakistan’s dairy sector. The Pakistani Diaspora in the UK is a source of great strength to the bilateral relations and reinforces the two governments’ efforts towards solidifying relations.
PR No. 379 Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources has said that the present government will continue to show unwavering commitment towards providing employment to the poor and downtrodden, as per the vision of Shaheed Prime Minister Ms. Benazir Bhutto. He said this on the occasion of the signing of the historic Charter of Demands between the management of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and office-bearers of Peoples Labour Union (CBA) at the Company Head Office in Karachi on Saturday 27, 2010. A significant feature of the Charter was the rise in the workers salaries from 16% to 26%. Dr. Faizullah Abbasi, Managing Director, SSGC and Ejaz Baloch, President, PLU inked the agreement followed by signing on the Charter by other Company management and the Union’s office-bearers. The Company management, office-bearers and workers were present in large numbers to witness this historic accord. The Charter entailed an annual package of Rs. 400 million and included numerous other benefits for SSGC’s subordinate staff and workers. Syed Naveed Qamar added that the present government has restored all those government employees who had been rendered jobless by the previous autocratic regime. He said that the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s basic philosophy that Pakistan’s institutions and resources were people’s property and provision of employment to them was their birthright was fervently followed by the present government. The Minister further added that the Pakistan-Iran Gas pipeline project scheme was in its final stages and the project will soon be implemented. He reiterated that the services of Pakistani experts and consultants will be availed in the implementation of the project for the ultimate aim of providing employment to our own countrymen. The Minister thanked the management of SSGC for restoring some three thousand jobless employees of the Company through the Presidential Ordinance for the Restoration of the Employees. He recommended taking steps to regularize the contractual employees of the Company also. Speaking on the occasion, MD, SSGC said that the Company had substantially increased the salaries and fringe benefits of the staff and workers and hoped that they would make collective efforts for curbing the menace of gas theft and work towards ensuring payment of outstanding dues, which to date are the biggest challenges facing the Company. CBA office-bearers including Ejaz Baloch, President, Riaz Akhtar Awan, Chairman and Rizwan Mallah, General Secretary congratulated the SSGC workers for maintaining industrial peace and for their cooperation in signing the biggest-ever agreement of the kind in the Company’s history. Mr. Baloch said that all efforts will be made to turn SSGC into a highly profitable gas utility and assured the management that PLU will work dedicatedly in reducing the rising incidence of Unaccounted-for-Gas (UFG). Earlier, Major ® Mohammad Hussain, DGM (Industrial Relations) dilated on the salient features of the agreement. Apart from the substantial increase in the salaries, a special allowance of Rs. 1,200 per month for each worker and a further increase of Rs. 2,500 maternity allowance per child are two of the important features of the Charter. In addition, the number of employees selected to perform Haj every year at the Company’s expenses has been increased from 30 to 42 while 21 employees will perform umrah through a lucky draw each year. On the other hand, budgetary allocations for the Yatra-performing minority workers of the Company have been increased from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 35,000 per year. The Charter also entails providing employment on merit to those employees’ sons who have either retired or have expired on duty. This historic agreement has sent waves of joy among the workers of SSGC. It is expected that the accord will ensure industrial peace in the Company and unify the management and the workers in jointly striving towards consolidating SSGC’s position as a model utility. AK/wh
|
