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PR No. 339
Press Release
Islamabad 10th December, 2009
The Speaker of National Assembly, Dr. Fehmida Mirza in her
meeting here today with the French Parliamentary delegation for Women
Rights and Equal Opportunities for Males and Females highlighted the steps
taken by the Government to protect women’s rights in Pakistan, a press
release received here today.
While talking to Mrs. Marie-Jo Zimmermann, head of the French
delegation, the Speaker highlighted the importance of the role played by
the NGO in protecting women’s rights in
Pakistan. She also
informed the French delegation about the formation of Women Parliamentary
Caucus comprising all women parliamentarians which is playing an active
role in women empowerment and their protection. The caucus has
successfully activated women Police Stations and is involved in
establishing hospitals for burn victims in remote areas through funds
being provided by the parliamentarians, she said and added that recently a
Women Emergency Call Centre has also been established in Karachi.
The Speaker also mentioned the Bill to protect the rights of
females at the work places, especially in government offices which was
introduced in the National Assembly a few months back.
Mrs. Marie-Jo Zimmermann and other members of the French
Parliamentary delegation appreciated the strategy adopted by the National
Assembly of Pakistan under the leadership of Dr. Fehmida Mirza regarding
women empowerment, establishment of caucus, passage of a number of
resolutions and proactive role of women parliamentarians in promoting the
cause of downtrodden people of Pakistan especially that of women.
PR No. 340
Press Release
Islamabad 10th December, 2009
The Speaker of National Assembly, Dr. Fehmida Mirza in her
meeting here today with the President of the French National Assembly, Mr.
Bernard Accoyer appreciated the French Government’s support for democracy
in Pakistan and expressed desire for frequent interaction between
Pakistani and French parliamentarians as that would help understand each
other’s point of view and reinforce bilateral relations, says a press
release received here today.
Dr. Fehmida Mirza is currently on an official visit to
France as head of a seven
member Parliamentary delegation on the invitation of her French
counterpart.
PR No. 341
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: December 10, 2009
Prime
Minister Syed
Yusuf Raza Gilani
has said that the interfaith harmony dialogue to promote better
understanding of the true spirits of Islam, tolerance and brotherhood
among the believers of all faiths is the best way forward to quell the
misguided notions of extremism and menace of terrorism. While recalling
King Abdullah of
Saudi Arabia’s initiative to hold the interfaith dialogue, the
Prime Minister said that a similar initiative from Her Majesty the Queen
of England will go a long way to bring the believers of different faiths
together.
He was talking to Rt. Rev. David James, Bishop of Bradford
and representative of
Archbishop of Canterbury who along his delegation called on
him at the Prime Minister’s House this afternoon.
The Prime Minister apprised the
Bishop of Bradford of his
government’s concerted efforts to mainstream the minorities by providing
them representation in the national and provincial assemblies as well as
reserving special quota for them in
government jobs.
The Bishop of Bradford lauded Prime Minister’s efforts for
the protection of rights and promotion of the causes of minorities in the
country and recognized that there has been marked improvement in the
status of minorities since inception of the present government.
PR No. 342
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: December 10, 2009
The government of
Japan
signed an agreement today with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
to provide us$ 12 million (1,134 million Yen) to facilitate peace
building, governance and economic recovery for the conflict-affected areas
of NWFP and other parts of FATA.
The two year programme will help IDPs reconstruct their
lives. The conflict in NWFP and FATA resulted in displacement of 2.7
million people. Early recovery activities are essential to bridge the gap
between immediate relief, rebuilding and rehabilitation, a long term
process.
The programme will promote and enhance activities such as
rehabilitation of the affected people, improvement of basic
infrastructure, training and technical assistance for basic skills of
livelihood and income, capacity building of the youth and women’s
empowerment, provision of operational and technical support to Special
Support Group (SSG) and provincial relief, Rehabilitation and settlement
Authority (PaRRSA).
The early recovery activities include restoring livelihoods
through cash for work on rubble removal and involving the community in
micro infrastructure projects such as water pumps, water pipelines,
footpaths and culverts etc.People will also be trained in different skills
along with financial support to undertake small businesses in the farm and
non-farm sectors.
Official Exchange of Notes (E/N) to this effect were signed
and exchanged between His Excellency Mr.Chihiro Atsumi,
Ambassador
of Japan to Pakistan,
and Mr.Toshihiro Tanaka, Country Director,
UNDP, Pakistan.Mr.Sibtain Fazal
Halim, Secretary of the Economic affairs Division, and Mr. Ajmal Bhatti
Director of the Provincial Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority
(PaRRSA), NWFP were also present to witness the
signing ceremony.
Mr.Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan, said that
Government of Japan
reiterated the resolve of the Japanese government to help
Pakistan to fight
Extremism, eradicate militancy and to restore law and order situation.
Secretary EAD thanked the ambassador and the Government of
Japan for sustained efforts and support to the Government of Pakistan.
Especially by holding Donors Conference in April 2009.Japan had pledged US
$ 1 billion in the donor’s conference and had granted non-project
assistance of 31
million dollars recently.
PR No. 343
PRESS RELEASE
President meeting with Mr. Sun Ziyu, President China Harbour Engineering
Company
Islamabad,10
December 2009:
President
Asif Ali Zardari
has said that
China’s
invaluable assistance and support for
Gwadar
Port project has contributed a lot towards socio-economic development of
Balochistan and will stand as a living testimony of deep Pak-China
friendship for generations to come.
This he said during a meeting with Mr. Sun Ziyu, President
China Harbour Engineering Company, who called on him at
Presidency
today.
The President said that we envisage developing Gwadar as not
only a transshipment port but also an energy port which could serve the
economic interests of both
Pakistan
and China.
He said that the success of
Gwadar Port can serve as
a catalyst for Chinese exports from its
western regions to the rest of the
world and we would like Chinese enterprises to undertake developmental
projects and increased Chinese investment in the area.
The President further said that Pak-China friendly relations
and mutual cooperation has become a shining example of friendly
co-existence between
developing countries and between the neighboring states.
Minister of States for Ports & Shipping Sardar Nabil Ahmed
Gabol, Secretary
General to the President Mr. Salman Faruqui and Spokesperson
to the President former
Senator Farhatullah Babar were
also present during the meeting.
PR No. 344
PRESS RELEASE
Australia and Pakistan can benefit
greatly from each other’s potential in the
agriculture sector. Nazar M. Gondal
Islamabad December 10, 2009.
The
federal minister for food and agriculture, Nazar M. Gondal has said that
Pakistan and Australia both share agriculture-based economies and can
prove to be extremely beneficial for each other. The minister stated that
Australian assistance in the development of biotechnology; water
conservation system and edible oilseed can prove to be of paramount
importance for Pakistan. The minister said that there is a huge desert
land in Baluchistan and Punjab provinces and other parts of the country
where the Australian expertise can prove to be productive.
Mr.
Gondal emphasized on improving agriculture trade between the two
countries. He said Pakistani Basmati rice and surplus wheat could be
exported to Australia. The federal minister expressed that Pakistan has a
surplus of about 3 million tons in wheat while 5 million tons in rice that
could be exported to Australia. The minister said that Pakistan is keen to
replace some of the land under rice and wheat by oilseed as the country
spends more than $ 2 billion on the import of edible oil annually and the
Australian guidance and technical know-how will be highly appreciated in
this regard.
A
detailed discussion between the honorable minister and His Excellency, Tim
George, High Commissioner of Australia took place as the High Commissioner
called on the minister at his office.
The
minister said that two third of the water is lost from the sources to
fields in Pakistan which is a huge loss and puts a great pressure on the
underground water resources. The minister asked for the Australian’s
assistance and co-operation in improving the water channels to save the
massive loss in water.
The
minister remarked that Pakistan is keen to benefit from Australia in
improving its agriculture-business for processing its agricultural
products. He said that Pakistan would also like to seek Australian help in
developing cheap energy sources.
The
minister thanked the Australian High Commissioner for his country’s
announcement of 100 PhDs scholarships related to agriculture and asked for
Australian help in the provision of short courses and other training
programmes for human resource development.
PR No. 345
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad December 10, 2009.
A four
member delegation of Rawalpindindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI)
headed by Mr. Kashif Shabbir visited Ministry of Zakat and Ushr to get a
briefing on the Zakat System and to express their concerns and mis-conceptions
about the utilization of Zakat Funds. The delegation was received by the
Secretary Ministry of Zakat and Ushr alongwith other officers of the
Ministry. The President of the Chamber stated that business community was
distributing huge sums of money in its private capacity as Zakat but it
was reluctant to route it through the Government channels because of the
general perception that Zakat funds were not properly utilized. He
mentioned that Zakat Funds were also being used to provide subsidy for
supply on food items by the Government which was not proper use of Zakat.
Secretary Zakat and Ushr clarified this strong mis-conception on the part
of the business community and informed the delegation that Zakat had never
been used to give subsidy by the Government on any time. He explained
that the Zakat Funds are utilized strictly in accordance with the
provisions of the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance, which did not allow for
provision of subsidy to sell different edible items at the reduced
prices. He further explained that Zakat is levied on compulsory basis on
specified assets laid down in the Ordinance including savings accounts,
dividends on shares and certificates etc. On other assets members of the
Mslim community are bound to pay Zakat on voluntary basis. The secretary
said that voluntary Zakat can be deposited in State Bank of Pakistan
account number CZ-08.
President RCCI and his team felt satisfied at this explanation and
suggested that there was need on the part of the Ministry of Zakat and
Ushr to engage in more interactions with the business community of the
country so that the misunderstandings and mis-perceptions that have
developed overtime with respect to Zakat utilization were cleared. In
this connection he suggested that there was an urgent need for the
Ministry to have meetings with all the Chambers of Trade and Industry in
the county. Officers of the Ministry used this opportunity to respond a
number of questions that were raised by the Chamber’s delegation to
explain various aspects of the system of Zakat collection and its
utilization through the Provincial channels towards giving Guzara
Allowance to Mustahqueen, providing grant of scholarships to poor
students, providing treatment to the poor patients in Government
hospitals. The President RCCI stated that the business community should
be ready to work with the Government to make Pakistan a welfare state.
But for this to happen, the Government needs to proactively channelize the
Zakat donations in the most transparent manner. He admitted the meeting
was very useful as it helped in clearing a number of misunderstandings and
mis-perceptions about the utilization of Zakat Funds.
PR No. 346
PRESS RELEASE
President asks for Special Fund for Victims of terror
Presides over third balloting of Waseela e Haq program
Islamabad December 10, 2009.
President Asif Ali Zardari has directed Benazir Income Support Program to
devise a comprehensive assistance package for the victims of terrorism. He
also advised that the assistance of professional bodies running charities
may also be sought to attract funds for the Program from various
international donors.
“Negotiations are already under way with the international community and
donors to help create and sustain a Special Fund for institutionalizing
the rehabilitation and assistance to the families of victims of terror on
a permanent basis”.
This he said while presiding over the third balloting of beneficiaries
under the Waseela e Haq program of the Benazir Income Support Program in
the Presidency today.
Briefing the journalists Spokesperson to the President former Senator
Farhatullah Babar said that under the special “Waseela e Haq” a one time
interest free loan of three hundred thousand rupees repayable in easy
monthly installments in twelve to fifteen years is given to poorest of the
poor selected through computerized balloting.
The amount is to be spent on pre-defined income generating schemes by the
poor beneficiaries to help extricate them from the ghettos of poverty, he
said.
Over seven hundred beneficiaries are selected every month through a
computerized balloting. Previously ballotings were held in October and
November and today’s balloting was the third since the launch of the
program.
The event today was also witnessed by some federal ministers, senior
government officials, representatives of NGOs and the poor families.
The President described the program as the “beginning of the end of the
generational poverty trap of the poor”.
He said he was pleased to learn that the BISP program had been extended to
Gilgit-Baltistan also where more than 50,000 deserving families are being
facilitated under the program.
He said that it was an unprecedented program that gave the poor people a
lifetime chance to come out of the poverty traps.
The BISP has been designed to be a comprehensive social protection scheme,
and a platform for women empowerment, health and accident insurance,
vocational training and interest free financing for self employment for
the poor, he said.
The Benazir Support Programme will be the vehicle for banishing poverty
and emancipation of the poor and the downtrodden, the President said.
The President also directed the government to complete the nationwide
survey of the poorest of the poor in a transparent manner. He said that 34
billion rupees were allocated for the BISP in the budget for 2008-09 which
has been enhanced to Rs. 70 billion for the year 2009-10 to give cash
assistance to 5 million families.
The coverage of the Program will be increased to 7 million families over
the medium term by the year 2010-11.
President Zardari said that the program was aimed at empowering women as
benefits under it are available only to the female head of the family.
Stressing the need for transparency the President said that public money
and international funding must be directly and transparently utilized for
the welfare of the most deserving and that the Poverty Scorecard must meet
the internationally recognized standards for assessing poverty.
Transparency will make the Benazir Income Support Program truly BENAZIR,
he said.
The President also thanked the international community for their support
to the Program which he said was vital to bring about a revolutionary
change in the lives of the poor and underprivileged.
Chairperson of the BISP Farzana Raja said that a nationwide survey
launched to identify the poor families had already been completed in 15
districts. By the end of next year the survey of the poor in all districts
of the country would be completed, she said.
She also read out the names of twenty women from different areas of the
country who were selected randomly out of over seven hundred beneficiaries
of the Waseela-e-Haq Programme. The women belonged to Dir, Mardan, Swabi,
Lahore, Peshawar,
Kohat and Attock.
The list of eligible beneficiaries is communicated to Pakistan Post in
electronic form and money orders of two thousand rupees are distributed
every alternate month at the door steps of the poor families. Financial
reconciliation is received from the Pakistan Post and beneficiary payment
details are made available on web.
To guard against misuse and leakage, the management is done by the BISP
Implementation Unit, verification of eligible families by NADRA and cash
disbursement by the Pakistan Post at the door step through Money Orders.
She said that cash grants, Waseela-e-Haq, poverty surveys, Benazir Smart
Card, Mobile Banking, Health/Accident Insurance, vocational training and
emergency relief packages are major components of BISP. The transparency
in cash grants component is being ensured through functional separation
mechanism and individual payment mechanism details are available on BISP
website.
It may also be recalled that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also
announced a contribution of $85 million to BISP during her recent visit to
Pakistan.
Later the President also distributed certificates among the few ballot
selected women beneficiaries from Peshawar, Mardan, Lahore, Swabi.
PR No. 347
PRESS RELEASE
Railway Minister will inaugurate “Tourist Train “on 24th
December
Islamabad December
10, 2009
Ministry
of Railways has initiated to launch a Tourist Train between Rawalpindi and
Taxila in order to promote rail tourism among domestic as well as
foreign tourists throughout the country in phase wise. Under this rail
tourism project, the accessibility of tourists, students and the general
public to the renowned historical places would be made easy, focused,
recreational -cum study oriented and comfortable.
In
the first phase of this project, first tourist train will be run on 24th
December from Rawalpindi station to Taxila and on the same day, it will be
back. Federal Minister for Railways, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour will inaugurate
the first tourist train. Minister for Railways and Secretary/Chairman
Railways will also travel on the tourist train from Rawalpindi to Golara
Sharif Railway Station.
The
scope of this tourist train would be extended in phase wise with the
collaboration of Ministry of Tourism to Attock Khurd, Wahga, Changa Manga,
Qasur, Harrapa (Sahiwal)
Multan, Drawar fort (Bahawalpur)
etc.
The
availability of chartered and steam engine trains are also being made
possible to promote the concept of tourist train to visit such historical
places of the country. These chartered and steam trains would be available
in addition to regular train service.
Pakistan Railways is working closely and jointly with the Ministry of
tourism at federal and provincial level to implement this concept in
letter and spirit. It is hoped that tourist train initiative will also
bring a positive socio economic change as a whole, especially for the
local population located at these historical places.
PR No. 348
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad December
10, 2009
Federal Minister for Investment, Senator Waqar Ahmad Khan has assured the
Chinese companies of Harbour Engineering and Shipbuilding of full
assistance of Pakistan. President China Harbour Engineering Group Mr. Sum
Ziyu and the Chief Representative of China Shipbuilding and offshore
International Co, Ltd. Mr.Zhu Yonghua called on the Minister here today in
Islamabad alongwith the Chinese Ambassador. The Minister reiterated that
Pakistan is an investment friendly country and it always welcomes its
brothers and sisters from
China
who intend to invest in Pakistan.
Senator was all-praise for Mr. Sun Ziyu, President China Harbour
Engineering Group, for the State-of-the-art Services that the group offers
in marine construction, shipping industry, bulk carriers and sea
transportation. Mr. SunZiyu showed keen interest in assisting and
developing Pakistan’s shipping industry. Moreover, both sides agreed to
have most talks in order to enhance investment and trade opportunities.
Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Luo Zhaohui introduced Mr. Zhu Yonghua, Chief
Representative of China Shipbuilding and offshore international Co, Ltd .(CSIS)
to the Minister for having talks on exploring and triggering mutual
investment opportunities.
Ms.Zhu Younghua told that CSIS is an entity with state authorization for
investment and capital management and it is directly under the state
government. The group has a total asset base of USD 13.78 billion and
workforce of 150,000.
Established in July 1999, China Shipbuilding
Industry Corporation (CSIK) is a major state-owned enterprise group and
one of China’s
largest shipbuilding and ship repairing groups. It has over 100
subsidiaries including 49 industrial subsidiaries and 28 R&D institutes.
The main business areas of CSIC include asset
management for the group and its subsidiaries domestic & overseas
investment and financing researching, developing and providing military
products with a strong focus on naval ships, design, building &
repairing merchant ships. Various forms of beneficial economic &
telegraphical cooperation
The Minister thanked the delegation for showing
keen interest in investment in
Pakistan’s shipping
industry and marine infrastructure. Both sides agreed in principle to come
up with more specific approach to materialize mutual investment and
trade goals.
PR No. 349
PRESS RELEASE
PAKISTAN TO COMMEMORATE UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY FROM 10TH TO 17TH
DEC, 2009
Islamabad December
10, 2009
Pakistan
attaches great importance to
Universal Human Rights and has
decided to organize a series of events to highlight importance of the
protection and promotion of human rights amongst all segment of Pakistani
society. Says a press release received from the High Commission of
Pakistan Kuala Lumpur here today.
According to the High
Commissioner for
Pakistan,
Lt. Gen. (Retd) Tahir Mahmud
Qazi, Govt of Pakistan is
celebrating the event from 10th to 17th December,
2009 with the active participation of all the Ministries, Department, Civil
Right Organizations and
Human Rights Activists throughout
the country. The theme for this year celebration will be “Peace and Human
Rights”.
The High Commissioner said that Pakistan was fully committed in promoting
and protecting human rights of its citizens and was among the first few
countries to sign and ratify the
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Pakistan has
also ratified International Convection on the Elimination of all forms of
Racial Discrimination
(ICED) Convention on the Elimination of all forms of
discrimination against
Women (CEDAW) and International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights, he added.
He
said that Pakistan give great importance to the protection of
women rights
and has taken number of initiatives including, political empowerment of
women which is manifested from the fact that currently there are 76 women
legislatures in the National Assembly out of 342 and, on top of it,’ the
Speaker of the National
Assembly Mrs. Fehmida Mirza is a women legislature from the
Rural constituency.
Mr. Tahir Qazi said that Pakistan also attaches great importance to
protection of child
rights, and in this direction, National Commission for
Child Welfare
and Development in collaboration with
UNICEF has established “Children
Protection, Monitoring and Data collection System” with the objectives to
assess the situation of child rights in the country.
Pakistan
has also made progress towards achieving
Millennium Development Goals
particularly those relating to Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) and
infant mortality rate,
he added.
The High Commissioner said that Pakistan’s constitution guarantees equal
rights and status to all citizens, irrespective of religion, race, cost,
colour or creed.
He
said that in line with the constitutional provision, a high power National
Commission for minorities has been established under the Chairmanship of
Minister for Minorities Affairs to protect minorities’, religious, social
and cultural rights. Although the minorities constitute 2.5% of the
population, the government has fixed 5% quota for them in all Federal
Services to provided them
equal opportunities to grow and
prosper.
The High Commissioner aid that Pakistan is party to the International
Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination and is
committed to implement the convention, in letter and spirit. Pakistan also
supports Durban Declaration to combat and eliminate all forms and
manifestation of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and relevant
intolerance, he added.
The High Commissioner hoped that the 7-days celebration would help in
bringing much needed awareness for protection and promotion of universal
human right in Pakistan and around the world.
PR No. 350
PRESS RELEASE
WATTOO DIRECTS CHAIRMAN SEC TO TAKE INITIATIVE FOR LOCAL MANUFACTURING OF
WINDMILL TURBINES
Islamabad December 10, 2009
In
order to overcome energy crisis, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Federal
Minister for Industries & Production has directed Chairman State
Engineering Corporation (SEC) to take initiative with regard to local
manufacturing of windmill turbines in its unit Pakistan Machine Tool
Factory, Karachi, for generating electricity. USAID has already
identified coastal areas of Sindh having substantial potential for wind
energy. He also encouraged the private sector entrepreneurs to extend
financial and technical support to achieve the target, where possible.
International tenders were called through national and international
press. Consequently proposals have been received from different firms.
Ministry of Industries and Production is examining the technical and
financial aspects of the project. Minister for Industries and Production
further reiterated that government is serious to promote low cost windmill
power generation in the country. Underlining the importance of this
project, he directed the concerned officers of the ministry to complete
this task expeditiously.
PR No. 351
PRESS RELEASE
SENATE BODY ASKS OGRA TO PROTECT CONSUMER INTEREST
Islamabad, December 10, 2009
The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has asked OGRA to
protect public interests while fixing the prices of oil and gas in the
country with a view to provide relief to the people. It also instructed
the M/o Petroleum to keep a vigil on gas producing and marketing companies
as there were reports of fleecing the unsuspecting consumers by fixing the
prices at a higher level without taking OGRA on board. It directed the
ministry to take such elements to task and ensure that no foul play will
be allowed to the companies concerned.
The Committee demanded that the OGRA be given powers to review financial
matters of gas producing and distribution companies. The Committee made
these observations while discussing the working and performance of OGRA
and the mechanism adopted for fixing the prices. The Committee was
presided over by its Chairman Senator Shahid Hassan Bugti at the
Parliament House today.
The Committee was of the view that people from far off areas were facing
hardships to find a solution to their problems and other grievances as
OGRA is having its headquarter in the federal capital only. It directed
the OGRA to establish consumer facilitation centers in all the four
provinces to redress the public grievances.
Earlier, senior authorities informed the Committee about the working and
performance of OGRA. It was informed that all out efforts were being made
to provide a level playing field to the investors and to protect the
interests of the consumer and the government.
The meeting was attended by Senators Dr. Khatu Mal, Dr. Safdar Ali Abbasi,
Mrs. Kalsoom Parveen, Engr. Rashid Ahmed Khan, Mir Wali Muhammad Badini,
Begum Najma Hameed and Mrs. Fouzia Fakhur-uz-Zaman Khan besides senior
management of the oil and gas regulatory authority and the M/o Petroleum
and Natural Resources.
PR
No. 352
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad,
December 10, 2009
Prime Minister Syed
Yusuf Raza Gilani
has changed the portfolios of Federal Ministers Mr. Ejaz Hussain Jakhrani
from Health to Sports, Pir Aftab Shah
Jilani from Sports to
Inter-Provincial Coordination and Makhdoom
Shahabuddin from Planning and
Development to Health.
The
Prime Minister has also made changes in the top bureaucracy and appointed
Mr. Tariq Iqbal
Puri as Secretary Labour, Mr. Javeed Akhtar as Secretary Minorities, Mr.
Inam ullah Khan Toru as Secretary Federal Tax Ombudsman, Mr. Mohammad
Saleem Khan as Secretary Investment, Sh. Ghazanfar Hussain as Secretary
Local Government, Mr.
Athar Tahir as Secretary
Social Welfare and Mr. Aziz Bilour
(BS-21 Officer of
Income Tax Group) as Executive Director Navtec.
PR
No. 353
PRESS RELEASE
GERMAN CHANCELLOR ATTENDS PREMIER SHOW OF NANGA PARBAT
Islamabad,
December 10, 2009
German Chancellor Angela
Markel was the Chief Guest at the Premier Ceremony of
Feature Film
Nanga Parbat held last evening here at Delphi film last. The ceremony
followed by viewing of the film, was attended by select gathering of
German politicians, celebrities and artists, says a press release received
from Embassy of Pakista, Berlin-Germany here today.
The
story of the film revolves around two brothers who under took an
expedition in 1970 on Nanga Parbat in
Pakistan, the world’s most
difficult mountain to climb and on their way back the younger brother died
after being buried by an avalanche.
The
co-director and consultant of the film,
Reinhold Messner, who himself
survived but lost his younger brother during the expedition, has filmed
all the major episodes at Nanga Parbat and its surrounding valleys in
Pakistan.
The
film acknowledges the role played by the Ambassador of Pakistan in Berlin,
Mr. Shahid
Kamal in
facilitating the film crew to shoot at Nanga Parbat and its surrounding
locations in Pakistan.
Chancellor Angela Markel watched the whole movie and appreciated the role
played by all the members who were associated with this project.
PR
No. 354
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad,
December 10, 2009
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan
called on President
Asif Ali Zardari here at the
Presidency on Thursday night.
He
remained with the President for some time.
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