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PR No. 204
PRESS RELEASE
Minister for Minorities Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti called on President Asif Ali Zardari
Islamabad 17th March,2010President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday asked the Minister for Minorities to set up a special help line in the Ministry of Minorities with an extension to the Presidency for emergency calls from members of the minority communities subjected to violence.
The President said this during a meeting with Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, Minister for Minorities who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday night.
The President also inquired about the progress made in forming interfaith committees and the establishment of skills development centers for minority communities.
PR No. 205
PRESS RELEASE
Speaker Indonesian Parliament, Mr. Marzuki
Ali to visit Pakistan
Islamabad 17th March,2010The Speaker, House of Representatives, Indonesia Mr. Marzuki Ali intends to visit Pakistan along with a delegation of businessmen to explore business opportunities and also to promote engagement between parliaments of the two countries, says a press release received here today.
Ambassador Sanaullah here Wednesday called on the Speaker and handed over a formal invitation from the Chairman Senate, Mr. Farooq to visit Pakistan. He said that the visit would be highly useful in enhancing inter-parliamentary relations and strengthening bilateral ties.
The speaker, Mr. Marzuki welcoming the invitation, indicated that the visit may be organized in the last quarter of May. He also evinced keen interest in the proposal to visit Lahore, the cultural hub of Pakistan. He said that he expected meaningful results from the visit in terms of furtherance of cooperation between parliaments of Pakistan and Indonesia.
Ambassador Sanaullah thanked the Speaker for accepting the invitation and asked for identification of areas where the accompanying businessmen would be interested to interact with their counterparts in Pakistan to make the meetings useful and productive.
PR No. 206
PRESS RELEASE
NADRA briefing on registration of population for issuance of CNIC
Islamabad 17th March,2010A briefing was given to President Asif Ali Zardari by NADRA on the progress made in the registration of population for issuance of computerized national identity cards in Aiwan-e-Sadr this afternoon.
Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Minister for Labour & Manpower, Mr. Murad Ali Shah, Minister for Irrigation and Power Government of Sindh, Mr. Ali Arshad Hakeem, Chairman NADRA, Deputy Chairman NADRA Mohammad Tariq Malik and Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar were present during the briefing.
Deputy Chairman NADRA Mohammad Tariq Malik, briefing the participants, informed that 87% of the adult population in the country has been registered. Progress on registration of poor and women has registered marked increase, he said.
The President appreciated the work of NADRA and asked it to complete the task of registration as early as possible. He said that accurate and complete registration of citizens would help in many areas through provision of accurate statistical data to various departments. He said that the success of various Government initiatives such as BISP depends upon having an accurate database of the population so that the fruits of democracy could reach to the poor and needy.
PR No. 207
PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT INSTITUTES MOHTARMA FATIMA JINNAH AND SHAHEED BENAZIR BHUTTO AWARDS
Islamabad 17th March, 2010President Asif Ali Zardari today formally instituted Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Award and Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah Award to be awarded to outstanding women for excellence in vocational and professional fields.
The Awards approved today on the advice of the Prime Minister will be called “President’s Medal –Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and “President’s Medal – Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah” to recognize the two as national leaders and internationally acclaimed icons for women rights.
The Awards and Medals have been divided into dozens of sub categories for which a financial allocation has also been made in this year’s Budget of the Ministry of Women Development.
The Decorations Act,1975 states that “The President may, by warrant, institute or create from time to time any decorations in recognition of “gallantry” meritorious service in the Armed Forces, academic distinction or distinction in the field of sports or nursing and prescribe the conditions under which a decoration may be awarded, conferred, withdrawal, forfeiture or annulment”.
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PR No. 208
PRESS RELEASE
PEMRA SET TO LAUNCH DRIVE AGAINST UN-HEALTHY MEDIA PRACTICES
Islamabad 17th March, 2010In a recent Regional General Manager’s Conference held at PEMRA Headquarters Islamabad today, PEMRA resolved to take stern action against all those broadcast / distribution operators involved in violating PEMRA laws and Code of Conduct.
The Executive Member PEMRA, Dr. Abdul Jabbar issued directives to all RGMs not to tolerate any violation which is perceived un-acceptable by the viewers or which is against the very essence of PEMRA laws. He asked all RGMs to ensure that the broadcast media and distribution networks should work within defined parameters under the ambit of PEMRA law.
According to press release, important decisions were taken during the meeting including to off-air illegal / un-registered foreign channels on distribution networks which are other-wise bringing disrepute to regulator. During the meeting, issues like growing menace of piracy, non-adherence to intellectual property laws and flooding of illegal decoder / cards in markets were also discussed. Executive Member PEMRA urged to take up the issue with other relevant Government agencies to devise a comprehensive plan in order to curb such menaces.
Besides, a serious notice was taken about airing of illegal health related advertisements of quacks on broadcast media. During the conference, emphasis was laid on protection of viewers rights and it was decided to impose penalty on all those satellite channels airing excessive advertisements beyond their permissible limit under the PEMRA Rules.
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PR No. 209
PRESS RELEASE
SYED NAVEED QAMAR LAUDS CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE ABILITIES OF THE YOUTH OF THE COUNTRY
Islamabad 17th March, 2010The Federal Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar while reposing great trust and confidence in the youth of the country has lauded their innovative, creative and imaginative abilities and resilience against the odds stacked in today’s challenging times.
He was addressing to a large gathering today including the 27 Pakistani teams of student participants of the SHELL Eco Marathon who would be participating in the Global Eco-friendly challenge in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia from July 8-10 and put their fuel-efficient Eco vehicles against 120 teams from Asia.
Syed Naveed Qamar congratulated the company for arranging the event that would provide an opportunity to show case Pakistan’s talent to the world and reflect the true and positive image of the country and its citizens.
M.D. Shell Mr. Zaiviji Ismail and dignitaries from the Netherlands and Malaysian embassy were also present on the occasion.
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PR No. 210
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad 17th March, 2010This is to inform the general public that it has been brought to the notice of the office of the Federal Petroleum Minister that some imposters posing themselves as the Minister have been making phone calls for the past few weeks from their different cell numbers both on the land lines and cell phones of certain businessmen, industrialists, members of chambers of commerce and industries of the country. Their modus operandi includes urging the targeted recipient of calls, purchase tickets from them, at a hefty price, which they offer under the garb of seeking party donations and arranging fund raising dinners / receptions for high offices of the government. Two cell numbers from where said calls were made during the last couple of days are 0321-5975436 and 0333-4046102. Efforts are on to track down these fraudulent elements as early as possible and to know motives behind their activity and at whose behest all this farce is being done. People are hereby cautioned to beware of these culprits and the brazen tactics of these swindlers.
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PR No. 211
PRESS RELEASE
PM’s MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE DISCUSSES PTCL LAND ISSUES
Islamabad 17th March, 2010A meeting of three Member Ministerial Committee constituted by the Prime Minister comprising of Minister for Privatisation Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar and Minister for Information & Broadcasting Mr. Qamar Zaman kiara held here today to review and discuss issues pertaining to mutation of land in the name of PTCL and outstanding installments due from Etisalat amounting to US$ 800 million.
The Committee was briefed on the efforts made by the Privatisation Commission for resolution of land issues. After deliberating on the various categories of land the Committee directed that all relevant authorities of the Provinces and Federal Government should be engaged at the appropriate levels to get as many of the remaining properties as possible mutated in the name of PTCL at the earliest and prepare plan of action for the rest.
It was resolved that Etisalat should be approached for release of the outstanding installments. The Committee further resolved to provide full support to the Privatisation Commission in its efforts to settle the outstanding land issues.
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PR No. 212
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad 17th March, 2010Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani asked the elected members of the parliament to prioritize the public welfare development projects in their respective constituencies in accordance with the immediate need and availability of resources. The government, he said will continue to support the projects in the backward areas despite financial constraints.
The Prime Minister was talking to the groups of Parliamentarians who met him in his chamber at the Parliament House here this evening.
The Prime Minister advised the parliamentarians to work for the education and promotion of healthy activities for the youth of their respective areas. The prospects for creating economic opportunity within their constituencies, he added, may also be explored to generate employment and to help improve the living condition of the people.
The parliamentarians apprised the Prime Minister of the progress of projects in their respective areas and also the problems being faced in the same context.
The Minister for Labour and Manpower, Syed Khurshid Ali Shah and Minister of State for Finance Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar were also present in the meeting.
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PR No. 213
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad 17th March, 2010On the recommendations of the Chief of the Army Staff, the Prime Minister, in consultation with the President, has approved the promotion of Maj.Gen Syed Muhammad Owais, HI(M) and Maj.Gen Asif Yasin Malik, HI(M) to the rank of Lt. Generals.
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