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PR
No. 188 Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim has sent his good wishes and a bouquet for veteran politician and leader of Jamaat Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad in hospital in Peshawar. The Federal Minister also prayed for early recovery of Qazi Hussain Ahmad. **SH/Ahmad**
PR No. 189 In pursuance of rule 17(2) of the Rules of Business 1973, the Prime Minister has constituted the Cabinet Committee on Restructuring of Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs). The Committee will consist of the following members:
i. Minister for Finance, Revenue,
ii. Minister for Law, Justice iii. Minister for Privatization - Member
iv. Minister of State for Finance
v. Deputy Chairman, The committee may co-opt any other professional, as required. The provincial representatives may also be associated with the committee for taking them on board. In the first phase, the committee shall consider restructuring of the following eight PSEs: i. Pakistan Railways ii. Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) iii. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) iv. Pakistan Steel v. National Highway Authority (NHA) vi. Utility Stores Corporation (USC) vii. Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) viii. Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) The terms of reference of the Committee include: To restructure the Boards and Managements of the PSEs. To direct the Boards to prepare and present restructuring plans. To review and monitor implementation plans on a quarterly basis. The Economic Reform Unit of Finance Division will be the Secretariat of the Cabinet Committee on CCOR.
PR No. 190 The Federal Government has allowed Private Sector to import 0.75 million tons of white sugar on first cum first serve basis with the incentives i.e. by waiving of Sales Tax and Excise Duty provided the sugar reaches the country before 1st of June 2010 positively. The government has taken this decision to overcome the present sugar crisis in the country by maintaining regular supply and availability of sugar in open market and to contain sugar prices to the maximum. To implement on the National Sugar Policy 2009-10, the Ministry of Industries and Production had basically prepared a summary of this proposal with the consensus of all other relevant Ministries for allowing Private Sector to import white sugar with the incentives mentioned above. Ministry of Industries and Production placed this summary before the Economic Coordination Committee of Cabinet for approval which the ECC approved it in its meeting held on 12-01-2010. The Cabinet Division today has issued Corrigendum of its earlier letter issued on 16-01-2010, says a press release received by the Ministry of Industries and Production today. MAB
PR No. 191 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has reaffirmed his government’s firm resolve to promote the politics of reconciliation and hoped that this would help in further strengthening the democratic institutions and improving the governance at all levels. The Prime Minister was talking to a group of Parliamentarians who called on him at his Parliament House Chamber this evening. The Prime Minister said tolerance which is the basic essence of democracy could greatly facilitate in improving the political atmosphere paving way towards developing consensus on issues of national importance.
The Prime Minister said the government accords high priority to the welfare and betterment of the people and the government would welcome the proposals and suggestions of all in this context. The group of Parliamentarians included Minister of State for Interior Mr. Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Mr. Shahid Bhutto, MNs,Mr. Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Mr. Nawab Ali Talpur, Mr. Bahadur Khan Sihar, Mr. Justice ® Fakharunisa Khokar, Mr. Riaz Fatyana, Mehar Zafar Ahmed hiraj and Raja Shaukat Hayat. Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Social Sector, Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali was also present during the meeting. PMMO/wh
PR No. 192 Senior leader Awami National Party and Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour paid rich tributes to veteran leaders Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan for their extraordinary contribution during the independence movement. In a statement, the Minister said, “Today is a day of grief and sorrow as 22 years back the hero of independence movement Abdul Ghaffar Khan passed away. And two years back on January 26 Abdul Wali Khan left us.” “Today we are remembering these two towering political personalities.” He said Abdul Ghaffar Khan known as Baacha Khan was a feudal lord. Baacha Khan led a simple life, he always wore khadar and travelled in lower class in trains. He had three sons Abdul Ghani Khan, Abdul Wali Khan and Abdul Ali Khan. He was always aware that he belonged to a poor nation and should not live a life of luxury. Throughout his life he preached non-violence and fought for freedom from Britain. After independence of Pakistan, he struggled for democracy, provincial autonomy and basic human rights, he added. The Minister said Baacha Khan spent 34 years of his life in jails but never made compromise with English rulers and their stooges. His son Wali Khan was also a big politician in his own right. He was a reformer and never hoodwinked people with false promises and always worked for his fellow human beings and to spread love. The Minister said Baacha Khan advised rulers to adopt the path of dialogue and avoid war. He strictly followed the philosophy that non-violence engenders love and violence breeds hate. The great leader based his political thought on integrity and progress of Pakistan, democracy, provincial autonomy, independence of judiciary, sovereign parliament, freedom of press and friendly relations with neighbouring countries, he added. Bacha Khan believed that Pakistan could not have been divided in two parts and became economically dependent if it had good relations with neighbours. He declared Afghan war, a war between Russia and America. The Minister prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls. SM/wh
PR
No. 193 A delegation of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by its President, Mr. Riaz Arshad, called on the Federal Minister for Finance, Mr. Shaukat Tarin here today. During the meeting, the members of the delegation discussed the problems faced by the business community in NWFP in the wake of incidents of bomb blasts in the provinces. Describing the situation quite alarming from business point of view, members of the delegation demanded the federal government to provide incentives to the industrialists, business community and small traders. The Federal Minister for Finance appreciated the sacrifices of people of NWFP at large and the business community in particular in the war against terror. He said that in recognition of the losses and problems faced by the business community of NWFP the Prime Minister has announced incentives for them Mr. Shaukat Tarin assured the delegation of sympathetic and serious consideration of their genuine grievances and demands. KS/wh
PR
No. 194 Chairperson Benazir Income Support program Farzana Raja has said that BISP will extend assistance program to seventy lakh needy families within coming three years. She also said that through waseela-e-Haq three lac Rupees provide to BISP Beneficiaries through computerized Draw. She was addressing in press conference at provincial office Lahore. She said that BISP is a biggest to poverty alleviation program in South Asia. Through this program twenty-seven lakh families are benefiting every month she added. Farzana Raja also said that through Waseela-e-Haq fourth draw BISP has provided three lac rupees to each 762 families through computerized draw. Through this amount they will start their own business without any trouble. She said that test phase survey of poverty alleviation has been completed in 15 Districts and will start soon in more than 20 selected districts in whole Pakistan She also said that in south Asia first time we introduced poverty survey. She added that our main objective to alleviate poverty from Pakistan as soon as possible. Chairperson BISP has said that through this program we have introduced Benazir Smart Card and we will start very soon Health Insurance and vocational training to BISP families. She said that present government is working for common people. SK/wh
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