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PR. No. 333. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of the mother of Dr. Jabbar Khattak, Vice President of CPNE and chief editor Daily Awami Awaz, Karachi. The Prime Minister prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in peace and give courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss. DSG/st.
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No. 334. Vice Admiral Asif Humayun, Chief of Staff of Pakistan Navy called on the Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira today. During the courtesy call matters regarding ports and shipping in the country came under discussion. The Minister and the acting naval chief discussed ways and means to enhance cooperation and coordination between navy and the ports and shipping ministry and to further good liason between the two. Issues regarding land for construction of shipyards in Gawadar Port and at Port Qasim were also deliberated upon during the meeting. Secretary ports and shipping, Mr. .Mohammad Saleem apprised the Minister that 600 meters of quay length has been earmarked at the Gawadar port. Mr. Kaira said that close liason among the concerned stakeholders should be ensured as this area needs special attention. The naval chief of staff presented a souvenir as a token of his visit. AK/st.
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No. 335.
Project Director Medical Rehabilitation of Persons With Disabilities in the earthquake affected areas MRDEA-ERRA Dr. Jehanzeb Khan Aurakzai and Technical Advisor MRDEA/World Health Organization Dr Marymm Mallick and Deputy Director NIRM Mr, Ghulam Murtaza Bodla distributed certificates among the Community Rehab Workers and Supervisors of Muzaffarabad and Bagh Districts on the successful completion of a 4-week training workshop jointly organized by ERRAs Project MRDEA and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). Speaking on the occasion Dr. Jehanzeb Khan Aurakzai said that people with disabilities must be included in Community Based Rehabilitation programs in all stages and levels. He added that primary objective of CBR program activities is the empowerment of the quality of life of people with disabilities and MRDEA is raising the awareness in the community to create positive attitudes towards people with disabilities. He further said that their staff is motivating the community members to fully support and participate in CBR activities. Project Director MRDEA and Director National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) Dr, Jehanzeb Khan Aurakzai informed that they are providing assistance for people with disabilities (Physical, Intellectual, Speech and Language impairments) in the earthquake affected areas. He mentioned that enablement is convinced that the role of people with disabilities with in the field of development and rehabilitation should become more prominent than it has been so far. Promising developments related to advocacy and emancipation of people with disabilities are taking place in many parts of the world. These changes require increasingly innovative professionals who can and will be able to adapt the changing nature of their role in this filed. He stressed the PWDs to prove themselves more productive for the nation and country by playing a practical role in the National Development Program. Dr Jehanzeb Khan Aurazai informed that they involved the local community members in CBR programs at all levels because they already know the local environment conditions, the local political situation and how to work with them. He appreciated the role of AJK and NWFP governments which are fully cooperating them. Technical Advisor MRDEA/World Health Organization Dr. Maryam Mallick in her address informed that in Pakistan, presently 12.29% of the population is suffering from some part of disability ending up a total number of 20 million and 90% “Persons with disabilities are unemployed”. She added that people with disabilities are more effective than non-disabled people as role models for and counselors of other people with disabilities. People with disabilities have an important role in community education. As community educators, they serve as living examples of people with disabilities who make a significant contribution, provided that they are given the opportunity and the right type of assistance. She mentioned that World Health Organization is providing assistance MRDEA-ERRA in the earthquake affected areas to minimize the problems of persons with disabilities. In the workshop Training Coordinator Dr, Munazza Mahmood and resource persons Dr, Asim Anwar Niazi, Javed Shabbir, Mrs Sadaf Noveen,Mr Qamar Mahmood Mr Mohammed Ishfaq, Bushra Malik, Dr Sohail Mumtaz, Ms. Saleha Khatoon , Ms Humera Shaheen , Dr Sobia and Dr Ghazala delivered the lectures on the introduction of CBR approach and orientation to education, livelihood, social integration and empowerment. In the 4-week training workshop resource persons belonging to World Health Organization, National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and Medical Rehabilitation of Persons With Disabilities in the earthquake affected areas trained the 62 community rehab workers and 8 supervisors. Project Director MRDEA, Dr. Jehanzeb Khan Aurakzai thanked all the concerned stakeholders for organizing this workshop.
PR. No. 336 Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza said that providing relief to the people especially those in the lowest income groups is the topmost priority of the government in the forthcoming budget. The Prime Minister expressed these views while chairing a meeting to discuss budgetary matters at the Prime Minister's House this morning. The Prime Minister said that government is well aware of the problems of the poorest and vulnerable groups who are facing hardships due to food inflation and expressed government’s strong resolve to address their needs through a mix of various incentives. While explaining government's priorities, the Prime Minister stressed the need to incorporate measures which helps in addressing the challenges being faced by the country. He said that boosting of agriculture and manufacturing growth, overcoming energy and water shortages, developing human resource as well as providing relief to the lowest income groups are the real objectives to be incorporated in the budget. The Prime Minister said that construction of small dams, incentives for private sector to invest in the power generation projects, increased allocation for water conservation and management are some of the areas need focussed attention to meet the growing demand of energy. In order to improve the overall socio-economic condition of the country, the Prime Minister said that concrete proposals need to be adopted for launching of new schemes which help in creating job opportunities both in the manufacturing and agriculture sector. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Finance Syed Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to PM on economic Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Special Assistant to PM Ms. Shahnaza Wazir Ali, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Mr. Salman Farooqi, Members of economic advisory committee, Chairman FBR, Secretary Finance and Secretary Planning.
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No. 337 Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved the up-gradation of Institute of Engineering & Technology Training Multan and Institute of Engineering & Fertilizer Research Faisalabad to the status of university to meet the needs of growing number of students and to cater the industrial sector requirements in these regions. The Prime Minister allowed the National Fertilizer Corporation (NFC) to finance Rs. 2 billion from its own resources for the up-gradation of the Institute of Engineering & Technology Training Multan and Institute of Engineering & Fertilizer Research Faisalabad. The Prime Minister also gave permission for the allocation of Rs. 1 billion through Higher Education Commission for faculty development, up-gradation of labs and acquisition of additional land for the Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan. The Prime Minister observed that since there is no dedicated engineering university in Southern Punjab, therefore, the establishment of engineering university in that region will facilitate the people of the region to get quality engineering education at their doorstep besides promotion of indigenous research culture and solution to local industrial problems. Earlier, Chairman NFC in his presentation briefed the Prime Minister about NFC proposed plan for the up-gradation of the NFC institute of engineering & technology training in Multan and NFC institute of engineering & fertilizer research in Faisalabad. The Prime Minister was informed that out of 19 public sector universities established in Punjab there are only two universities in lower Punjab whereas there is no engineering university in that region to cater the needs of the industrial sector. It may be mentioned that NFC presently running institute of engineering & technology in Multan, institute of engineering & fertilizer research in Faisalabad, plastic technology centre in Karachi and synthetic fibre development and application centre Karachi.***
PR. No. 338 Co-Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Mr. Asif Ali Zardri has given his approval to the Constitutional Package which was submitted to him last night by Federal Law Minister Mr. Farooq H. Naek. Co-Chairman suggested some changes which were incorporated into the package. After getting approval from Co-Chairman PPP Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and making necessary changes, the Law Minister Mr. Farooq H. Naek has started handing over the package to all the coalition partners. Package could not be handed over directly to Mr. Asfandyar Wali Khan, Central President ANP because he is in Karachi. However, the Constitutional Package was handed over by the Law Minister to Ms. Bushra Gohar, Central Vice President ANP as requested by Mr. Asfandyar Wali Khan. The Law Minister also had a telephonic conversation with Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman who is in Saudi Arabia. Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman congratulated the Law Minister, terming the Constitutional Package a great victory for the democracy. On Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman’s request, the Law Minister handed over the Constitutional Package to his representative Mufti Abrar. A representative member of MQM has also received the package which will be sent to MQM Chief Mr. Altaf Hussain in London. The Law Minister after discussion with PML(N) leader Khawaja Asif, is fying to Lahore on Sunday morning to hand over the Constitutional Package personally to Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Quaid PML(N). the meeting is fixed at 10:00 a.m in Raiwind. It is clearly written on the package that changes can be made in the Constitutional Package as per suggestions from all the coalition partners and others.
PR. No. 339 Mr. A. Rehman Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior paid a surprise visit to Directorate of Immigration and Passports Headquarters where he was briefed about the ongoing projects of passports. The Advisor to the Prime Minster on Interior has directed Director General, Immigration and Passports to attend to the problems and difficulties of the people intending to obtain passports. The Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior has further directed Director General, immigration and Passports to start issuing Machine Readable Passports (MRP) to the people of Federally Administered Areas (FATA) with immediate effect and replace manual passports with Machine Readable Passports.
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