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PR No. 269 Advisor to Prime Minister for Information Technology, Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa has said government is committed to provide most modern telecom services to the masses living in smaller towns and cities in a bid to bring all parts of the country at par with each other. He further said with such consistent efforts and spirit, Ministry of Information Technology will undertake more challenging and productive programmes in the future for the promotion of telecom related services. The Advisor expressed these views while addressing a ceremony of awarding contracts worth Rs. 1.037 billion in total for providing broadband internet services in the un-served urban areas of Central Telecom Region (CTR) to PTCL and Wateen Telecom here on Wednesday. The Advisor said the prime objective of the government to allocate Rs. 1 billion out of Universal Service Fund, which consists of contributions of licensed telecom service providers, is to provide most modern services to the Pakistanis living in smaller towns and cities where this facility would not have come for another 3 to 5 years. He said through this project, broadband services will be provided in 37 towns and cities of the districts of Kasur, Nankana, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal and Sheikhupura. In addition to this, 215 higher secondary schools, colleges and public libraries will get educational broadband centers. 57 Community Broadband Centers will also be established. 101,500 broadband connections are targeted to be provided under this project. He said after signing of these projects the total amount committed by Universal Service Fund for various ICT projects has reached 13.3 Billion Rupees. Out of 13.3, broadband in 06 telecom regions is getting 6.1 Billion. In his briefing he stated that target No. of Broadband connections are given so that the service providers not only lay the infrastructure but also sell the connections for which they would have to create awareness and give incentives to the people of those areas. The Advisor expressed hope that the Universal Service Fund will continue to run Rural Telecom projects in which more than 3,000 unnerved villages have already been provided service and work is in progress to provide telecom services in another 3,000 un-served villages. He informed that all amounts are disbursed exclusively through open, transparent competitive bidding process and all the bidding documents and bidding results etc are kept on USF website so that anyone can see at any time. Secretary Information Technology, Naguibullah Malik also witnessed the ceremony. CEO-PTCL, Walid Irshaid and CEO-Wateen Telecom, Tariq Malik signed these contracts with CEO-Universal Service Fund, Parvez Iftikhar.
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No. 270 Federal Minister for Labour & Manpower Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadar today. The Federal Minister briefed the President about labour issues including the new Labour Policy which is under finalization. The President inquired about the progress on reinstatement of the sacked workers who were sacked after the dismissal of government of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and which were to be reinstated through Sacked Employees (Reinstatement) Ordinance, 2009. The President directed that the reinstatement of sacked employees in accordance with the provisions of the said ordinance should be completed expeditiously.
PR No. 271 Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Tariq Majeed called on President Asif Ali Zardari here at the Presidency on Wednesday. Matters relating to security situation and professional matters of the armed forces with special reference to Azm-e-Nau III were discussed during the meeting.
PR No. 272 Prime Minister of AJ&K, Raja Faooq Haider called on the Chairman Senate, Mr. Farooq H. Naek in the Parliament House, here today and discussed with him matters related to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the victims of 2005 earthquake and ongoing developmental projects in AJ&K. While speaking to the delegation headed by the Prime Minister of AJ&K Farooq H. Naek applauded the work done by various departments, agencies and international donors in rehabilitation of earthquake victims and termed their efforts as a great success story to be emulated by other nations afflicted by natural or man-made disasters. “This great disaster has brought to the fore the bravery, unity and resilience of our nation and commitment of the international community, donor agencies and friendly countries at the face of such a great calamity”, Chairman Senate added. Farooq H. Naek also lauded the Government and people of AJ&K for their great resolve and arduous struggle to come out of this tragedy. He also assured the Prime Minister that the Government and people of Pakistan will leave no stone unturned in supporting the people of AJ&K in rebuilding the State. Chairman Senate also informed the delegation about the facilities provided by Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS) for the training of the Parliamentarians and staff of National Assembly and Senate and offered to extend these services for AJ&K Parliamentarians. Raja Farooq Haider and the Speaker of AJ&K Legislative Assembly, Shah Ghulam Qadir congratulated the Chairman Senate on the passage of monumental Eighteenth Amendment Bill from the Senate and expressed keen interest in the working of Senate. **RAQ/Ahmad**
PR No. 273 It is notified for information of general public that all the hajj applicants are required to produce valid Computerized National Identity Card (CNICs) or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and International Machine Readable Passport, having at-least one year’s validity on the date of filing application for Hajj, therefore, they may kindly prepare the above documents well in advance of the announcement of the Hajj Policy - 2010. In the above context, a meeting was held today with the representatives of Directorate General of Immigration & Passports and NADRA in order to facilitate the intending Hajj Pilgrims for the issuance of above documents and they have agreed to the following arrangements for Hujjaj:- a. Passport offices will establish special counters at designated branches of their offices who will display the banners for facilitation of intending Hujjaj. b. NADRA’s service of Mobile Units will also be available for far-flung areas for rendering service to the intending Hujjaj; c. NADRA and Passport offices have been requested to work even after office hours and will specifically render services to intending Hujjaj; d. In case urgent service is required from NADRA for issuance of CNICs, they will charge Rs.200/- and its delivery will be made after two weeks; e. In case Fast Track Service is required from NADRA for issuance of CNICs, they will charge Rs.1,000/- and its delivery will be made after one week, however, applicants will not have to stand in long queues while depositing papers and receiving CNICs; f. International Machine Readable Passport will be issued after 12-14 days on normal fee of Rs.2,100/- while urgent International Machine Readable Passport will be issued after 5-7 days on payment of urgent fee of Rs.4,000/-; g. Hajj applicants can have special treatment for obtaining International Machine Readable Passports by showing their deposit receipt. Above arrangements may kindly be given wide coverage through electronic and print media. **DO/Ahmad**
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No. 274 President Asif Ali Zardari today advised the government to expedite work on the satellite imaging and monitoring of major development and strategic projects for effective implementation and monitoring. He said this during a briefing given to him on the working of the special committee constituted to monitor developmental projects through satellite imaging. The briefing was attended by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr. Ishfaq Ahmed, Chairperson of the special committee Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Chairman SUPARCO Maj. Gen. ® Syed Raza Hussain, Secretary General to the President Mr. Salman Faruqui, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Mr. Kamal Majidullah, Secretary to the President Malik Asif Hayat, Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar and senior officials of the Planning Commission and related ministries. The meeting was pursuant to the directives of the President dated 20 November 2009 in which he directed that a provision for satellite imaging of the developmental projects in FATA be included in PC-1 proposals in the future for effective implementation and monitoring of various developmental projects undertaken in the tribal areas and his meeting with the delegation of elders from Balochistan on 14 December 2009. The President directed that the reports of developmental projects should be supported by satellite images so that efficiency and transparency could be ensured. The meeting was informed that the online project monitoring and evaluation system (PMES) available with the Planning Commission had limited capacity for storage of satellite imagery. The President directed that provision for monitoring equipment for quality assessment of infrastructural projects particularly bridges, roads, dams and pavements to be made on priority basis. The President also advised the Planning Commission to take up as pilot activity the satellite monitoring of the strategic infrastructure projects in the country. He also advised the related government departments including Planning Commission, the Geological Survey of Pakistan and SUPARCO to pool their resources and work in coordination to develop an effective satellite monitoring system. SH/wh
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No. 275 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani while commenting on the judgement announced by the Supreme Court on the promotion of senior civil servants said that the government respects the judgement of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and would implement the decision given today. He further said the officers should continue to work and need not be dishearted since the government would look after thier interests and justice will be done accross the board. He also mentioned that the government would not go for appeal against the decision. PMMO/wh
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No. 276 The Prime Minister of Bhutan had invited all the heads of SAARC delegations at lunch today and all sat around a table to be able to converse with each other. The leaders of delegation particularly the President of Maldives expressed desire for an early meeting between the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh while in Thimphu. The Indian Prime Minister mentioned that the Prime Minister of Pakistan is looked upon with respect as he has a number of spiritual followers in India. His forefathers, the Indian Prime Minister said had laid the foundation of Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Sikhs population is aware of this fact. Later upon insisted by the leaders of delegations both the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India walked together in the SAARC village and exchanged views. They strolled for sometime before returning to thier respective villas in the SAARC Village. PMMO/wh
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No. 277 Present Government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, has laid great emphasis on the technical training of the youth in accordance with the local, regional and international market’s demand. In this regard, Prime Minister has established a revolving Fund for self-employment of NAVTEC trainees which would help in poverty alleviation. This was stated by Chairman NAVTEC, Mr. Adnan A. Khawaja, during a meeting with Minister for technical educational, Government of Sind, Mr. Abdul Salam Thaheem, who called on him at his office at PM’s Secretariat here today. The Provincial Minister stated that our manpower was a great asset for the country provided it is properly trained and utilized in a productive manner. A considerable enhancement can be made in foreign remittances by exporting trained and skilled workforce to foreign countries especially Middle East and Gulf Region. He showed his optimism that the solid cooperation and collaboration of NAVTEC with Provincial Government for training people for various skills, would usher in an era of economic development and social uplift in far flung and backward rural areas of the Sindh Province. During the meeting, the Chairman NAVTEC, apprised that a number of projects have been launched for skill development in collaboration with various public sectors institutes including the Armed Forces, Police, Rangers and all provincial Governments. Special focus has been given to 79 uncovered Tehsils under the “President Funni Maharat Programme” where 130 Vocational Training Centres are being established with the cost of 1.17 billion rupees where 48 thousand youths would be fully trained within a span of 2 years, he added. He further stated that under Prime Minister “Hunar Mand Pakistan Programme”, till todate, 180 thousand trainees are being trained in 216 different courses and its completion would lead to the right direction for socio-economic uplift. Executive Director NAVTEC, Mr. Aziz Bilour was also present in the meeting. RT/wh
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No. 278 President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday felicitated the newly elected office-bearers of Daily Jang and Press Workers Union for the year 2010-2011.
Nasir Chisti group has been winning the election of Daily Jang and Press Workers Union for the last nine years.
SAK/wh
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