PR No. 61
Press release
Dr. Paul condemns murder of members of Hindu community
Islamabad: November 10, 2011Adviser to Prime Minister for National Harmony Dr. Paul Bhatti has strongly condemned the murder of three brothers of Hindu Community in Shikarpur district on Eid day.
As a human being and representative of minorities I shocked to know the brazen murder of Hindu citizens and share the sense of outrage of the Hindu community, Dr. Paul said in a statement.
He said some anti-peace elements are trying to create sitatuation of law and order in the country which will be foiled with the help of the democratic people of Pakistan and their nefarious designs will never be let to fulfill.
Dr. Paul said minorities are the equal citizens of Pakistan and we are committed to ensure the protection of their constitutional rights.
The Adviser said all possible steps are being taken for the safety and protection of the minorities and perpetrators will be brought to the book as early as possible.
PR No. 62
Press release
Pakistan condoles with Turkey offers immediate assistance
Islamabad: November 10, 2011The entire Pakistani nation is deeply shocked over the terrible news of the earthquake that hit eastern Turkey Wednesday night, says a press release received here today from Ankara, Turkey.
President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani have expressed their deep sympathies and condolences to the leadership and the people of Turkey on the loss of precious lives and destruction of property.
The Government and the people of Pakistan stand in full solidarity with their Turkish brothers and sisters and are ready to send any assistance to help overcome the effects of this natural calamity.
PR No. 63
Press release
Meeting on facilitation of Rabi Crop
Islamabad: November 10, 2011President Asif Ali Zardari has directed that Rabi Assistance Plan be launched without any further delay in the rain affected areas of Sindh and the availability of seeds to the farmers be ensured so that sowing of Rabi crop in Lower as well as upper Sindh could take place well in time.
Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that during a high level meeting on facilitation of Rabi Crop in flood affected areas held at Bilawal House Karachi today, the President was informed that during the current heavy rains, crop areas of 2.166 million acres was damaged and a loss of Rs. 218 billion was sustained by the agriculture sector.
President Asif Ali Zardari was informed about the existing arrangements made by Agriculture Department Sindh for the distribution of seeds to the affected farmers.
It was informed that the distribution of wheat seed would be carried out through EDO (Revenue) of the concerned districts and a Monitoring Committee comprising of elected representatives, DCO, Representative of Sindh Chamber of Agriculture and Representative of Sindh Abadgar Board would ensure transparent distribution of seeds.
The Agriculture department Sindh proposed a package costing Rs. 4.4 billion to be equally footed by the federal and the provincial government for growers of flood/rain affected districts. Under the package proposed by the Agriculture department, wheat would be cultivated on an area of 1.100 million acres. Wheat seeds would be provided to the affectee farmers at the rate of 50 kgs per acre with one bag of urea weighing 50 kg. Agriculture department also informed that the total requirement of wheat will be 55000 Metric Tons to cover the proposed area. The Sindh Government has already released Rs. 1.00 billion from its share in the first phase. It was informed that initially 25% of the wheat seed equaling to 13750 Metric Tons was being provided in the affected districts.
The President directed the required amount of certified wheat seed be purchased from for Food Department Sindh and distributed among the growers.
The President was informed that compensation of seed would be provided to the farmers maximum upto 25 acres irrespective of land holding. It was informed that the DCOs have already been assigned task of preparing detailed list of the affected growers on the basis of their NICs and the lists are to be placed on the internet at district website.
The availability of imported fertilizer was also discussed during the meeting. It was decided to convene another meeting on Saturday to discuss the distribution of locally produced fertilizers as the imported fertilizers availability would take some more time.
Those who were present during the meeting included among others Provincial Ministers Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo, Agha Siraj Durrani, Mr. Sharjeel Memon, Mr. Murad Ali Shah, Haji Muzzafar H. Shujrah, Chief Secretary Sindh, Provincial Secretaries of concerned departments and other officials. Mir Irarullah Zehri, Minister for National Food Security & Research, was also present.
PR No. 64
Press release
Meeting on rebuilding damaged infrastructure in Sindh
Islamabad: November 10, 2011President Asif Ali Zardari today directed that the infrastructural projects related to irrigation and roads which have been approved by the provincial Government of Sindh should be finalized by the Planning Commission within one week and the work on these projects be started immediately and completed within one year.
At a high level meeting at Bilawal House Karachi on rebuilding of damaged infrastructure, the President Asif Ali Zardari advised the government to setup infrastructure bank to finance infrastructure projects and invite private entrepreneurs to rebuild roads , bridges, rail tracks and other infrastructure projects on Build-Operate and Owned (B OO) basis.
The President also advised Sindh government that 35 million dollars loan of offered by Exim Bank of China be utilized for reconstruction of road links covering three major cities of SindhNawabshah (Shaheed Benazirabad) Sanghar and Mirpur Khas and provincial government should also fund Qazi Ahmed Nawabshah sector by providing around 330 million rupees.
Farhatullah Babar Spokesperson said that during a presentation on rehabilitation of infrastructure, President Asif Ali Zardari also said that in wake of unprecedented losses caused by recent rains to the infrastructure of the province, the Government was tapping all possible resources for rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure.
The President during the meeting said that the Government was prioritizing the rehabilitation/reconstruction of roads networks due to the pivotal role of the roads and the vision of the Government to enhance road density in the country.
The President said that rehabilitation of thousands of kilometers of national and provincial roads, huge damages to the Railway track and breaches and overflows in protective bunds of the canals was a huge challenge. He said that Pakistan looks towards its friends for assistance in rehabilitation efforts so that the affected people could be facilitated to take afresh start over the wreckage of the natural calamity.
The President said that we thank Chinese Government and the EXIM Bank of China for their assistance in the said project which is crucial for communication linkage between the three major cities of Sindh province.
Those who were present during the presentation included among others Provincial Ministers Pir Mazhar ul Haq, Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo, Agha Siraj Durrani, Mr. Sharjeel Memon, Mr. Murad Ali Shah, Haji Muzzafar H. Shujrah, Chief Secretary Sindh, Provincial Secretaries of concerned departments and other officials besides Secretary to the President Malik Asif Hayat.
The President said that various components of the proposed road project be completed on the basis of foreign loan facility, Public Private Partnership and the share to be contributed by the Government of Sindh.
It was informed during the meeting that LBOD (Left Bank Outfall Drain) system has damaged at various locations as it was designed for 3500-4000 cusecs whereas the reported discharge was more than 14000 cusecs.
The meeting also considered recommendations of Planning and Development department for the allocation of the loan including the share to be contributed by the Government of Sindh for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the proposed road and that of the drainage system.
PR No. 65
Press release
THE COMMISSION, CONSTITUTED BY THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN IN RENTAL POWER CASE (CONSTITUTION PETITION NO.67 OF 2011) HAS ISSUED NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS
Islamabad: November 10, 2011The Commission constituted by the Honble Supreme Court of Pakistan in Constitution Petition No.67 of 2011 (Khawaja Muhammad Asif Vs. the Federation of Pakistan & others) has issued following Notice to all interested persons who wish to lay any information or file affidavit to appear in person or send their names with full particulars and address in the office of Mr. Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi , Chairman, Commission for Rental Power Projects, in the Supreme Court Building Islamabad on or before 24.11.2011:-
Take notice that vide order dated 26.10.2011, passed in the Const. Petition No.67/2011 (Khawaja Muhammad Asif Vs. the Federation of Pakistan & others), pertaining to causing delay in the installation of two power projects, to be set up at Nandipur, District Gujranwala & Chichokimalian, District Sheikhupura, has constituted the Commission to probe and determine the following:
(i) as to whether there is any negligence on the part of the executive authorities which has caused delay in completion of both the projects; if it is so, how much loss has been caused to the national exchequer in terms of opportunity-costs and other loses;
(ii) who is responsible for causing delay in the completion of documents.
All the interested persons who wish to lay any information or file affidavit on the above subject to appear in person or send their names with full particulars and address or file affidavit before the Commission in the Supreme Court of Pakistan Building, Islamabad, on or before 24.11.2011.
