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PR No. 153 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani chaired a high level meeting to develop a comprehensive, coherent and well coordinated approach for the forthcoming Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue here this morning at PM’s House. Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue is scheduled to be held on 24th March in Washington. The dialogue would broadly cover economic, defence, security and social sectors. A number of other proposals like structured-dialogue process envisaging sectoral track cooperation with the US to review the status of on-going programmes and projects will also be taken up in the talks. The Prime Minister said that the objective of Strategic Dialogue is to enhance people to people strategic relationship which will bridge trust deficit. Giving his vision to the participants, the Prime Minister said that his government’s objective is not only to upgrade the dialogue status enhancing Pak-US partnership to the ministerial level but also to develop a solid and endeavoring framework for long term Pakistan-US relations. He directed all the concerned Ministries to identify specific programmes and projects in each sector in accordance with the national development priorities; both in short and long terms. He instructed the concerned Ministries to clearly indicate priority areas which require support and technical assistance. Minister for Water & Power Raja Parvaiz Ashraf, Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to PM on Social Sector, Mr. Kamal Majeedullah, Special Assistant to PM on Water & Power, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Secretaries, Foreign Affairs, Petroleum, Water & Power, Commerce, Defence, Food and Agriculture, Finance, Information Technology, Science & Technology, Education, Interior and other senior military and civil officers attended the meeting. **PMMO/Ahmad**
PR No. 154 Federal Minister for Defence, Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar, and Federal Minister for Defence Production, Mr. Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi, have strongly condemned a suicide attack in Mengora today in which precious human lives have been lost. Denouncing the attack, the Ministers it is highly barbaric to kill innocent people as no religion permit the killing of innocent people. They said that terrorists wanted to create panic and destabilize the country but they would not be allowed to succeed in their evil designs. The Ministers said that the perpetrators of this cowardly act would soon be taken to task. The Ministers expressed profound grief and shock over the loss of innocent lives in the suicide attack. They sympathized with the bereaved families and prayed to Almighty Allah to shower his blessings on the departed souls and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss with patience and equanimity. **AM/Ahmad**
PR No. 155 Federal Minister for SAFRON, Najmuddin Khan has strongly condemned a suicide attack in Mengora today in which precious human lives have been lost. Denouncing the attack, the Minister it is highly barbaric to kill innocent people as no religion permit the killing of innocent people. The Minister expressed profound grief and shock over the loss of innocent lives in the suicide attack. He sympathized with the bereaved families and prayed to Almighty Allah to shower his blessings on the departed souls and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss with patience and equanimity. **NA/Ahmad**
PR No. 156 The outgoing ambassador of Iraq, Mr. Qais Sobhi Al – Yaqoobi paid a farewell call on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan e Sadr on Saturday. The President while talking to the outgoing ambassador said that Pakistan values its cordial and friendly relations with the brotherly Muslim country Iraq and desires to further strengthen and enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields especially in the economic, trade and commercial sectors The President expressed the hope that the reactivated Pak- Iraq joint ministerial Commission would help boost bilateral cooperation in diverse fields of mutual interest. The President appreciated the services rendered by the outgoing ambassador for bringing the two countries closer and strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries .The President wished every success to him in his future assignments. The outgoing ambassador of Iraq thanked the President for the support extended to him during his stay in Pakistan. **FU/Ahmad**
PR No. 157 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani constituted a Committee which will be headed by the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission to improve the functioning of various organizations of the government through application of latest information technology. Secretaries Information Technology, Finance and Interior will be members of the Committee. The Prime Minister took the decision during a meeting on Emergency Response and Social Administration Information System Project at the PM’s House this afternoon. The Prime Minister said that the government will employ all possible sources at its disposal to provide an efficient communication and a fool proof security system for the citizens. In this connection he added that modern information technology offers multiple options to enhance surveillance and security in our cities and towns. Our objective, he said, should be to look into our future needs. He directed the Committee to work out an effective and efficient system of security and communication to achieve this objective. He further tasked the Committee to examine the projects to avoid overlapping of functions and to assess reasonability of the project cost. Earlier the Minister Interior assisted by Chairman NADRA and Advisor to Prime Minister on Information Technology supported by Secretary Information Technology made presentations on Emergency Response Information and Communication System. The presentations made by both the Ministries aimed at improving the efficiency of government organizations through introduction of latest Information Technology (IT) as well as information-sharing and monitoring for the purpose of vigilance and security. The projects were designed to ultimately cover the entire country for which various stakeholders had already been consulted. At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister and the participants prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls who lost their lives in the Lahore and Mingora blasts Minister for Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik, Advisor to PM on IT Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, Acting Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, Secretaries Finance, Interior, Information Technology, Planning & Development, Chief Commissioner ICT, IGs Police Islamabad and NWFP, Chairmen, NADRA and NTC, and other senior officers attended the meeting.
PR No. 158 The Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has reconstituted the Board of Privatisation Commission with Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan Federal Minister for Privatisation as its Chairman. The 15-members PC Board includes 1. Engr. Iftikhar ul Haq, Master in Public Administration Punjab University (B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering) having 40 years experience of management of projects, companies, corporations and government departments. Since 1987 he is MD, Engineering General Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore. He remained member PC board from 1993 to 1996 and from 2003 to February 2008, 2. Mr. Laeeq Ahmed MBA, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA remained member PC Board from April 1994-96 is presently CEO, Olympus International (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore (project developers in Telecom & Energy sectors), 3. Mr. Mahmood Nawaz Shah, MS (Engineering Management) George Washington University, USA, is agriculturist of Sindh, remained member PC Board from March 2003 to February 2008, 4. Mr. Pervaiz A. Khan, MBA (Finance & International Business) Columbia University, USA is presently CEO Uch Power Project, having diversified experience in energy sector and corporate investment banking, 5. Mr. Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh, MBA from OHIO University, USA, a renowned industrialist former President FPCCI, Vice President ICCI decorated with gold medal in 2002 by the President of Pakistan for his services for Business Community, Chairman MEPCO successfully running complex of industrial groups since 1981, 6. Mr. Asif Kamal, BA in Finance from University of South Florida, USA, Chairman Trust Investment Bank, Chief Executive Tricon Developers, 7. Dr. Masuma Hasan, Ph. D. (Economics and Politics) from University of Cambridge, UK, former Federal Secretary Cabinet Division, Chairperson, Pakistan Institute of International Affairs, Member Board of Governors SDPI, Member Board of Directors PRCL, Member, Board of Governors Aurat Foundation, 8. Prof. Dr. Syed Mansoor Hussain, MBBS, FACC, FACS, Chairman Departement of Cardiac Surgery, King Edward Medical University and head of Department of Cardiac Surgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore and a columnist, 9. Mr. Kurshid Zafar, MBA, Qauid-e-Azam University, presently serving as SEVP & Group Chief Corporate and Investment Banking for Arif Habib Bank Limited, 10. Justice (Retd) Munir A Sheikh, Retirede Judge of Supreme court of Pakistan, decided more than 5000 complaints/ cases relating to Federal Taxes i.e. Income Tax, Sales Tax, Central Excise & Customs as former Federal Tax Ombudsman, 11.Syed Feroze jamal Shah Kakakhel, Bar-at-Law, Lincolin’s Inn, UK, with experience in foreign investment, general corporate, commercial, company advisory and litigation, Banking, Oil & Gas and multilateral institutions, 12. Mr. Saifullah Magsi, Postgraduate diploma in Professional legal Skills, Inns of Court School of Law, The City University, UK, 13. Mr. Atif Salman, 14. Mr. Ali Siddique and 15. Mr. Shahab Khawaja, Secretary/ Member Privatisation Commission. Earlier, the PC board comprised of 8 members, which is now almost doubled with professionals from various walks of life for the execution of Privatisation Program. **TP/Ahmad**
Keeping in view some changes and additional measures suggested by the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) and business community of NWFP, the Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has approved the revised package to rehabilitate the economic life in NWFP, FATA and PATA. Following is the comparative position of old and revised packages.
It may be noted that the Ministry of Finance held six meetings with SCCI and business community of NWFP. In the last meeting, held under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister on February 24, 2010, after detailed discussion with all the stakeholders, the revised package was finalized. **KS/Ahmad**
PR No. 160 Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, Chairman, Kashmir Committee said that Kashmir and water should be on the top of the agenda of the talks between India and Pakistan. He said that Kashmir was one of the items of the Composite Dialogue. The Dialogue was started in January, 2004. However, despite an elapse of more than six years, Kashmir has not as yet been touched. India is always out to find an excuse to avoid Kashmir. The Chairman Kashmir Committee said, dialogue is the only appropriate mean to resolve disputes. But talks for the sake of talks are of no use. The dialogue should be result oriented. Therefore, time should not be wasted on useless talks and both countries should start serious talks on Kashmir, so that the 62 years old dispute of Kashmir could be resolved. Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman said, water issue should also be discussed with India. He said , the recent statement of the Indian Home Secretary, saying that Pakistan is using more water than its share is contrary to the facts. He stated that under the Indus Basin Treaty as well as the international Law India could stop water of Rivers Chenab, Jehlum and Indus. The Chairman, said the inhuman and immoral act of stopping our water is not sudden but a considered decision on the part of India. The Indian Minister Chakarwati said in 2003 that India would stop water of Pakistan and the latter would cry for drops. The Chairman said, India is stopping water to pressure Pakistan on Kashmir, but it won’t be successful, as Kashmir issue can’t resolved by force. It has to be settled on the basis of principles and in the light of the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
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No. 161 After detailed discussions and deliberations, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalized the draft of first ever five-year Strategic Plan in the Commission’s history of nearly 60 years. Under the guidance of present Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Justice ® Hamid Ali Mirza, “The Election Commission of Pakistan has embarked upon a proactive and an interactive approach to initiate reforms in many areas (Constitutional, Legislative and Administrative etc.) and is opening up to all the stakeholders through establishment of Political Party Consultative Forum (PPCF) and the Civil Society Consultative Forum (CSCF) for creating formal consultative mechanisms”, as stated by the Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan, Mr. Ishtiak Ahmad Khan. According to the Secretary, in any democratic society, free, fair and transparent elections serve as a prerequisite where people find an opportunity to elect their representatives in an independent and a democratic fashion. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), being one of the most important Constitutional Institutions, has been entrusted with the sacred responsibility of conducting free, fair and transparent elections. In order to fulfill its Constitutional obligations up to the expectations of the nation, it is vital that the ECP should have regular consultations and dialogue with all the stakeholders. In an unprecedented move, the ECP has decided to share its Strategic Plan 2010-2014, containing Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles of the ECP as well as fifteen (15) Strategic Goals and Objectives to be achieved, with the Election Support Group (ESG), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Political Parties and the media (both print and electronic) through separate meetings and discussions with them. The Strategic Plan determines a sense of direction and a roadmap for the ECP for the next five years. The process of consultation is to start in the last week of March, 2010 when first series of meetings will be held with the above fora. For this purpose, letters have been issued to the Chairpersons/ Presidents of the fora to nominate their senior representatives for the meeting. Besides, as the Judicial Officers will not be available for election duties in future in light of the decision of National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the ECP will also consult the Political Parties and CSOs on proposal of creating a pool of officers of integrity belonging to the Federal and Provincial Governments for appointment as District Returning Officers/ Returning Officers/ Assistant Returning Officers for future elections. “It is my firm belief and hope that these humble efforts will, InshaAllah, make the ECP a model institution capable of realizing the nation’s aspirations for ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in Pakistan a reality for all times to come”, added the Secretary.
PR
No. 162 The 101st meeting of Central Zakat Council (CZC) was held today in the Ministry of Zakat and Ushr. Secretary/Administrator General Zakat Mr. Khalid Idrees presided over the meeting. The meeting was attended by non-official members and official members which included Provincial Zakat Secretaries, Secretary Zakat FATA and officer of Ministries of Health, Finance & Education. Officers of the Ministry were also present to facilitate to meeting. The meeting started with recitation from the Holy Quran. In his introductory remarks Secretary, Zakat and Ushr welcomed all the participants and said that the Council was meeting to decide various policy issues relating to disbursement of Zakat which is a noble cause. He requested to the participants for engaging at an open and frank discussion. He hope that this would enable the Council to arrive at judicious decision on issues being placed before it. The forum discussed allocations for Zakat funds for hospitals at length. It was decided that budget allocations might be increased within the available fiscal space. The forum was told that Zakat allocation for provinces have been increased despite budget constraints. The allocation of AFIC, Rawalpindi, DHQ Hospital Khuzdar and Fatima Jinnah Hospital Quetta was enhanced @ 50%. The DHQ Hospital Pishin has been enlisted as National Level Health Hospital with Zakat grant of Rs.1.5 million. The Council nominated five hospitals each from four provinces namely, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Chandka Medical College Larkana, Sandmen Provincial Hospital Quetta, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar and one from Islamabad namely PIMS which would treat hepatitis patients from Zakat Fund. Each of the hospital would get 20 million rupees for this purpose. The CZC also decided that hospital should be advised not to charge any user charges from mustahiq patients. The Council decided to constitute committees to visit the 18 hospitals and submit reports regarding their applications for enlistment as National Level Health Institution and there request for enhancement of existing Zakat grants. The Council also considered the constitution of Islamabad Capital Territory, District Zakat Committee and finalized its composition. The Council further decided to allow 40% salary increase for Zakat paid staff working on contact basis in the system. Secretary Zakat stated that Ministry was actively involved in convincing public to donate Zakat to the state. For this purpose Zakat programmes are being televised as public service messages on private TV Channels etc. He stressed that there was urgent need to develop public trust in government Zakat system in order to enhance amount of Zakat collection by the government.
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No. 163 Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira and Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Syed Sumsam Ali Shah Bokhari have strongly condemned a suicide attack in Mingora today in which precious human lives have been lost. Denouncing the attack, they said, it is highly barbaric to kill innocent people as no religion permit the killing of innocent people and perpetrators of this cowardly act would soon be dealt with iron hands. They expressed profound grief and shock over the loss of innocent lives in this suicide attack. While sympathizing with bereaved family members, the Ministers prayed to Almighty Allah to shower His blessings on the departed souls and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss with patience and equanimity.
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No. 164 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has called a special meeting of the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday March 17 at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to discuss the law and order situation in the country. The Chief Ministers of the four provinces and heads of the law enforcement agencies have been invited to attend the meeting. The Prime Minister rang up the Chief Minister of Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif this evening and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives in the violent acts of terrorism in Lahore yesterday. He informed him of the special cabinet meeting to be held on Wednesday and asked him to brief the participants on the security situation in the province.
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No. 165 Minister for Interior Mr. Rehman Malik called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at PRIME Minister’s House here this afternoon and briefed him on the law and order situation in the country.
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