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PR. No. 232. Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan has said that Government attaches high priority to seed sector and committed to develop seed industry on sustainable basis. He expressed these views while addressing at the one day workshop on “National Commercial Seed Production” here today. The conference is being attended by the Provincial Agriculture Secretaries, Vice Chancellors of Agriculture Universities, Directors General of Provincial Agriculture Research and Seed Departments, Representatives of FAO and NGOs. Nawabzada Liaquat Ali said that Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani while unveiling the 100-days programme had clearly underscored that Government would ensure increased supply of quality seed to the farming community. He said that agriculture plays a central role in the development of our economy and the government believes well being of its people hinges on the pace of progress in this sector. The Parliamentary Secretary said that efforts were underway to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure better returns to farmers and achieving balance between inputs and out-puts. He said that the government is implementing a two-pronged agriculture policy aiming at narrowing productivity gap between progressive and subsistence farmers as well as bringing additional area under the plough with greater concentration in diversification and value addition. In his address FAO Representative Mr. Mohammad Ali said it was encouraging to note that essential basic ingredients of good seed program from variety development to seed production and distribution were in place and working with varying degree of efficiency and effectiveness. He said that FAO was assisting the government of Pakistan to prepare a National Commercial Seed Production Programme. Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food & Agriculture Shahid Hussain Raja said that today’s workshop on the seed sector issue was a timely move and it would give a new impetus to efforts of raising productivity of various crops for achieving food autarky and agriculture sector competitive. He said that a national drive to increase production and supply of quality seed would reduce the cost of production ensuring more farm profitability a daunting challenge under present unprecedented price like of DAP fertilizer and energy cost. Earlier, wheat Commissioner of Ministry of Food & Agriculture Dr. Shakeel Ahmed highlighted the objective of workshop on national commercial seed production. EH/AR.
PR. No. 233. Federal Tax Ombudsman, Justice ® Munir A. Sheikh has asked Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to re-open the impugned order-in-original passed on the complainant. The decision was taken by the FTO on the complaint of Mr. Abid Hussain Bhatti, against the seizure and detention of his Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeep by Custom’s Intelligence Staff in Kamoki on the ground that the chassis number of the imported vehicle was not genuine. The FTO has ruled that passing a non-speaking order and the failure to record findings on the issues raised by the complainant before the adjudication officer amounts to ‘maladministration’ because such non-speaking orders militate against the principles of natural justice.
He has recommended to the FBR to direct competent authority
to reopen the impugned 0-1-0 under the Customs Act, 1969, decide
complainant’s case afresh after taking into consideration all the
arguments of the complainant and various documents produced by him in
support of his contentions, including the bill of entry and the police
examination report, and pass a speaking order after providing the
complainant the opportunity of being heard. FK/AR.
PR. No. 234. The Senate Standing Committee on Environment headed by Senator Dr. Muhammad Ali Brohi will review the possibility of revival of “Karachi Circular Railway Project” in Karachi on July 31,2008, as this services was withdrawn by the last regime during their tenure due to losses in this scheme. Senate Standing Committee on Environment has taken serious note of its closer and recommended that the Karachi Circular Railway Services should be restarted as this is essential to solve the traffic problem of the people of Karachi. This project is very feasible and in public interest so why this project was suspended during tenure of last regime, said Members Standing Committee. Committee will also review the issue of vacation of five depots allocated by city district government, Karachi (CDJK) to be used for CNG bus stations in the CNG bus project sponsored by Federal Government, presently in occupation of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh. The Members of the Committee are Senators Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri, Shuja-ul-Mulk, Bibi Yasmeen Shah, Dr. Abdul Khaliq Pirzada, Sardar Muhammad Jamal Khan Leghari, Sardar Mehmood Khan, Maulana Rahat Hussain, Mir Mohbat Khan Marri, Farooq Hamid Naek, Syed Muhammad Hussain and Senator Muhammad Saleh Shah while Minister for Environment Hameed-ul-Jan Afradi is the ex-officio member. QAM/AR.
PR.
No. 235. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly has expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of sister of Justice ® Javed Nawaz Gandapur. In his condolence message to Justice ® Javed Nawaz Gandapur, the Deputy Speaker said he was grieved over the passing away of his sister. He prayed to almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and forbearance to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity. QAM/ank
PR.
No. 236. The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas which met in the Parliament House today under the Chairmanship of Senator Mir Wali Muhammad Badini has exhorted the Federal and Provincial Government authorities to re-double their efforts to bring the under developed areas at par with the developed ones at the earliest. The Committee made this recommendation while reviewing the progress made on various development projects being undertaken in various under developed areas, with particular reference to operationalization of Gwadar Port. The Committee was told that all new ports have inertia and they take time to operationalize. It was told that Port Qasim is a case in point which was supported by the Government through assured Cargo, Afghan Transit Trade and National EXIM for about 10 years. The meeting was informed that the Government had decided to import 2.5 million tones of wheat and it was hoped that some of the wheat would come through Gwadar. However, TCP’s recent tendering of wheat import minus Gwadar Port not only came as a shock for the people but it also sent wrong signal to the shipping community as well as to the people. The members of the Committee were of the view that at least 1/3rd of wheat imported should have been routed through Gwadar. There was a general consensus that road and railways network must be made fully operational by completing their development projects speedily and that extra resources could be put in place to make the port economically viable. The representatives of the M/O Ports and Shipping informed the Committee that the Government was keen to make use of the fullest potential of Gwadar Port as it would be the future of Pakistan. In reply to a question, the Committee was informed that there was neither any grid station at Gwadar Port nor dredging facilities were available at the Port. The Committee was informed that the Federal Government has allocated funds for developments schemes for the Parliamentarians and that each Parliamentarian can now submit development schemes worth Rs. 10 million. The Chairman of the Committee, highlighting the cumbersome procedure being adopted in the release of funds for the development schemes for the MPs’suggested that the procedure be simplified and the funds be directly sent to the prosecuting agencies, instead of the DCO. The representatives of the Gwadar Port said that things at the Port have changed a lot as some evacuators, automatic plants etc have already been installed and the Port is even ready to receive the wheat. It was told that the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet had decided that the Port will get a fair share in the import of wheat. Regarding the establishment of Planning and Monitoring Cell in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Committee was told that in order to plan, monitor and evaluate the development projects and to maintain data base of programmes/projects, the Cell has been established in the Ministry of Local Government. The Committee was also given a detailed briefing about Khushal Pakistan Programme – 1, Pilot Project for Model Village development in Pakistan and Human and Physical Development project of AHK, NCRD project. The project, it was told, would become fully operational on joining the position by the authorized staff and procurement of equipment and elaborate programme for monitoring and evaluation of the schemes administered by the Ministry in all the four Provinces and FATA will be undertaken on regular basis with a view to ensure improvement in portfolio management and quality of the schemes. The meeting was attended, besides the Chairman of the Committee Senator Mir Wali Muhammad Badini by Senators Muhammad Amjad Abbas, Nawab Muhammad Ayaz Khan Jogezai and Hafiz Rashid Ahmad. The representatives of the Planning and Development Division; Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, NHA, Gwadar Port Authority and various ministries of the Provincial Governments of Balochistan and Sindh were also present. QAM/ank
PR. No. 237. The British Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Member parliament, Ms. Hazel Blears called on the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaire here today. Matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting. The discussion focused on developing a tolerant society in U.K, and Pakistan with special emphasis on Kashmiri youth also deliberated upon and there was agreement that such integration needed to be nurtured at the grass root level. At the request of British Secretary, who headed the delegation, Mr Qamar Zaman Kaira agreed to visit U.K. and extend his support to the U.K. government by speaking to a large segment of the Kashmiri and Pakistani youth, emphasizing their respective responsibilities to their nation state. During the discussion Pakistan’s stand on the Kashmir issue was highlighted by Mr. Kaira. He emphasized that the Kashmir issue as other world events also impacted the minds of the Pakistan/Kashmiri Youth living in U.K. As such U.K. and other global powers needed to combine their energies to reduce the after shocks of such world events and play a mediating role in conflict resolution. There was agreement that the issue of alienation required a multi-pronged effort so that communities could imbibe a value system which accepted diversity as a way of life. In this connection an individuals economic development and his empowerment by creating a sense of civic participation and working within democracy required a concerted effort on the part of nation states. Both sides agreed to promoting exchange programmes between youth to build mutual confidence in each other. It was also felt that institutions at the grass roots level like Local Governments could play the necessary bridging role for bringing people together. Mr. Salman Siddique, Secretary Kashmire Affairs also participated in the meeting.
PR. No. 238. A delegation of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council of Commerce and Industries headed by Mr. Zulfiqar Abbasi paid a courtesy call on the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira here today. During the meeting Mr. Abbasi congratulated Mr. Kaira on assumption of office and introduced matters related to AJKCCI including setting up of a dry port at Mirpur, Industrialization and the role of the AJK Council, establishment of new industrial estate at Mirpur and setting of Mangla Dam affectees. The Minster was invited to address the chamber at Mirpur and gratitude was expressed to Mr. Kaira for being forthcoming in finding solution to their problems. Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira agreed to come over and to address the Chamber so as to look into the issues on the ground. He also agreed that a joint meeting stakeholders should be convened where all of them be invited to deliberate upon various issues being confronted by them and a mechanism be evolved for resolution of the problems.
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