|
|
|
PR. No. 102. President Pervez Musharraf has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan must sail together as there were tremendous economic opportunities accruing from the geo-strategic location of the two countries to serve as a gateway between Central Asia and the World. He further said that the tremendous economic opportunities could only materialize through peace and stability in the region. He was talking to a delegation of Afghan Senators who called on him here today. Senator Syed Hamid Gailani, the leader of the delegation, said that he is honored and flattered to meet the President of Pakistan. He said that he and his team were committed to open a new chapter giving fresh value to the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “The Parliamentarians of Afghanistan have decided that they will not allow foreign intruders to spoil the relation between Pakistan and Afghanistan” he added. Emphasizing the brotherly ties between the two countries he said that we must have one voice, one team, common friends and common adversaries. He further said that he has always felt that the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan must be viewed by the world as one people. He expressed his extreme gratefulness to President Musharraf and Pakistan for the help that has been given to his country and his people over a long period of time. He also said that “we the parliamentarians of Afghanistan will never allow anyone to use Afghanistan to work against or to cause destabilization of Pakistan”. He pledged that the two people must fight together to win the war against terror. He also said that the Afghans have always thought that their future is linked with Pakistan and that they would pressurize their government whenever required to convey the worries and issues of Pakistani people. The President thanked the delegation and the people of Afghanistan for their love and affection and wished the delegates a nice stay in Pakistan. AK/ank.
PR. No. 103. The Chairman Senate, Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro and Deputy Chairman Senate, Mr. Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali have expressed their deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of the wife of the Director General, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), Mr. Murtaza Solangi, who breathed her last in United States a few days ago. In their separate messages of condolence to the DG (PBC), they prayed that the Allah Almighty may rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the members of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity. The Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting, Senator Liaquat Ali Bangulzai has also offered his heartfelt condolences to Mr. Solangi on the sad demise of his wife and prayed for her eternal salvation. SM/ank
PR. No. 104. The Federal Cabinet approved the budget proposals for the year 2008-09 it its meeting here today with the Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, in the chair. The Minister for Finance later presented the budget in the National Assembly in his budget speech. The Prime Minister in his opening remarks complimented the Finance Minister and his team for preparing an agriculture friendly, investment friendly and people friendly budget under extremely difficult circumstances. The Minister for Finance, Mr.Naveed Qamar, apprised the Cabinet of the budget proposals covering the relief measures for the government employees, incentives to the agriculture and industrial sectors directed to stimulate the economy for making a turn around. It is not an easy task but the democratic government, with the support of the people, will succeed in achieving the goals listed in the budget proposals, the Finance Minister said. Later, the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Mr. Abdullah Yousaf, unfolded the tax proposals which are strategically focused to increase the revenue of the government without affecting the industrial growth in the country. Proposals regarding incentives for the agriculture sector will help a great deal to overcome the food shortage in the country and will also result in dividends for the farmers. The Cabinet members discussed each proposal threadbare, and their inputs were valuable to make the budget as the best document under the circumstances. The Cabinet particularly appreciated Benazir Income Support Programme which provided Rs.1000/- per month per household and will cover over 5 million households. The Cabinet meeting lasted about five hours. GHB/ank
|
