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PR No. 197 Pakistan’s need for civil nuclear technology to boost its energy sector has been acknowledged at the just concluded Nuclear Security Summit and we are satisfied with the outcome of the Summit, says a press release received here today from Jakarta. This was stated by Ambassador Sanaullah in a lecture on “Pakistan’s Foreign Policy” at the University of Indonesia (UI) on Monday. He was extended a special invitation to speak on the subject by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UI. He said that cardinal principles of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy were to pursue friendship with all in line with the acceptable international norms and practices embodied in the UN Charter and special relations with the Muslim World, supporting their legitimate causes without violating international peace and security. Within these parameters, the Ambassador said, Pakistan has been conducting relations with neighbours, regional and major powers, bilaterally, regionally and globally. In bilateral relations, Pakistan has never pursued an offensive policy. In the realm of defence, be it conventional or missile and nuclear, we have avoided being sucked into arms race. He said we believed in developing an alert, adequately equipped and well prepared Armed Forces, capable of defending the territorial and ideological frontiers of the country. By the Grace of God, we have long achieved this target. He said that even in case of nuclear weapons, we are not in race with our neighbor. We developed nuclear bomb to ward off a real threat to our existence, he emphasized. Talking about policy towards neighours, the Ambassador highlighted the need to resume the stalled composite dialogue to resolve all outstanding disputes with India. He also spoke of regular contact with Afghanistan at multi-tier level to intensify cooperation to stem terrorists’ activity across Pak-Afghan border. He also emphasized the need for activation of regional organizations i.e SAARC and ECO to facilitate trade among member states. On relations with China, the Ambassador said Pakistan cherished special friendship with China. We remain grateful to Chinese leadership for its friendly gestures in our hours of trial and need. Similarly we value our relations with the Muslim World including Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Iran, the Ambassador added. Regarding Pak-US ties, the Ambassador said these were positive and robust with active cooperation on elimination of militancy and economic uplift in Pakistan. Both countries were engaged in a long term partnership aimed at mutual benefits. Talking of Pakistan-Indonesia ties, Ambassador Sanaullah spoke high of late Indonesian leader Soekarno whose contribution laid the foundation of a comprehensive partnership between the two countries. In the same spirit, he said, other Indonesian leaders gave priority to relations with Pakistan. “We value the decisions made during the visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Pakistan in 2005. No doubt, these decisions have given a boost to trade and healthy tradition of exchanging of high level visits”, he said. “We need to have strong economic content in bilateral relations” and in this context he referred to the ongoing negotiations on PTA which he said would largely expand trade and economic cooperation. He said, both countries shared lots of commonalities in culture and social traditions which should help us build stronger relations. The Ambassador proposed establishment of special chairs in each others’ universities for development of relations. Earlier on arrival at the campus of UI, the Ambassador was received by Vice Dean, Edy Prasetyono and other senior members of the Faculty. He was presented a special souvenir to mark his visit to the Faculty. About two hundred students from different departments of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences attended the lecture. **SJ/Ahmad**
PR No. 198 Federal Minister for SAFRON, Najmuddin Khan has said that dictators have been stopped to destroy democratic system. Doors have been closed forever for them by 18th Amendment. Neither they can destabilize country by unlawful entry into the democratic system nor any conspiracy against peoples elected government in future, would be succeeded. Federal Minister lauded President Asif Ali Zardari’s decision to transfer powers to the parliament. He congratulated the Nation on this occasion. Mr. Najmuddin said in a statement today that people of Khyber Pakhtoonkhah province have been granted their recognition by this name in the result of 18th Amendment. The same was a long awaited demand of people. It would also bring harmony, balance and better working relationship between the institutions.
PR No. 199 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that after the assent of the President to the 18th amendment bill the Implementation Commission on constitutional amendments should ensure its implementation at the earliest. The Prime Minister was talking to Senator Mian Raza Rabbani and Ms. Sherry Rehman, MNA here at the PM’s House this afternoon. The deliberations of the meeting covered broad parameters of the process of implementation of 18th Amendment Bill which has now become part of the constitution.
PR
No. 200 Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that both Yadgar-e-Benazir at Rawalpindi and Memorial Complex at Islamabad which would include Minar-e-Benazir should be designed in a manner that common people can conveniently visit the monuments. The monuments, he added should be prominent and visible from a distance portraying grandeur which commemorates with the personality of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. The Prime Minister was chairing the meeting of Benazir Monument Committee held here at the PM’s House this afternoon. The Prime Minister accorded approval to both the projects (monuments) and directed the concerned Ministries and Organization to initiate the work on layouts at the earliest. He desired that the stone lying ceremony of the monuments be held within next two weeks. The Prime Minister decided that the Yadgar at Rawalpindi will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing and Works while the Monument in Islamabad would be undertaken by the Capital Development Authority. Earlier in the briefing Senator Nayyar Hussain Bokhari apprised the participants of the meeting that 10 acres of land for the monument in Islamabad next to the parade ground opposite I/8 Sector in Islamabad has been acquired and as soon detailed designs are approved work can be started. As regards the Yadgar in Rawalpindi he informed that 100 feet by 100 feet of land close to the spot where Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto embraced Shahdat has been earmarked and formal request for acquisition of this piece of land would be forwarded to the government of Punjab within a day. The monument, he concluded will be a befitting tribute to the great leader who laid down her life in the service of the Nation and these sites will keep alive her memories in the minds of the visitors. The representative of NESPAK mentioned in the meeting that the monument in Rawalpindi could be completed in six months whereas the project in Islamabad will be contracted within a year. The meeting was attended by Leader of House in Senate, Syed Nayyar Bokhari, Minister for Petroleum, Syed Naveed Qamar, Advisor to PM, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, MNA, Ms. Sherry Rehman and Senior government officials. **PMMO/Ahmad**
PR No. 201
The Federal Minister for Education Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali has
said that there is dire need of wider co-operation in the field of
education between
Pakistan
and US. “The two countries can benefit a lot in educational field from
their mutual experience” the Minister added.
**Aj/Ahmad**
PR
No. 202 Federal Minister for Housing & Works, Rehmatullah Kakar has said that vast investment opportunities are existed in the housing sector and the government would facilitate the prospective investors in this regard. He observed these views while presiding over a meeting to review the pace of development activities on the ongoing housing projects in the country. The Minister said that the government has opened the housing sector for investors whether they would participate in the housing projects of their choice individually or with joint ventures aimed at that the private-public companies take full advantage of the investor-friendly environment. The Minister said that construction of one million housing units would alleviate the sufferings of the shelterless people to great extent. He said that Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation and Pakistan Housing Authority were gearing up their efforts for launching more housing projects in the country under Prime Minister’s Housing for All Programme. He said that the government has chalked out an ambitious housing program to provide shelter to the poor, needy government employees and general public at affordable cost. The Minister said that there was a paucity of 7 to 8 million houses in the country and it would mitigate the shelter problem of the people. The Minister reviewed the progress on the housing projects being undertaken by the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation and Pakistan Housing Authority and directed them to accelerate its pace in order to accomplish the task ahead of scheduled time. **MN/Ahmad**
PR
No. 203 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani asked all the provincial governments as well as energy related Ministries and Organizations to work out the details and submit their versions in the Energy Conference till tomorrow. He further directed that the proposals be thoroughly deliberated and no decision be taken in haste. He emphasized that a well coordinated National Plan of Action covering short, medium and long term measures, be prepared ensuring relief to the people at large. The Prime Minister expressed these views during a special meeting with the Chief Ministers and Federal Ministers at the Prime Minister’s House this afternoon after the conclusion of second day deliberations at the Energy Conference. The Prime Minister advised the participants that non-discriminatory and uniform approach for all the regions and sectors be adopted while finalizing the proposals. He asked that final recommendations be presented to him on Thursday and subsequently these would be announced in the afternoon, the same day. The Prime Minister appreciated the devotion and dedication of all the Chief Ministers, concerned Federal Ministers and Heads of relevant departments in addressing the energy crises issue. The concern shown by all, he said, reflected their commitment for a national cause. Such endeavours, he added, is a dividend of the spirit of reconciliation and reaching at decisions with consensus. Earlier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Water & Power briefed the Prime Minister on the discussions held in the Energy Conference and the contributions made by all the provinces, federal Ministries and relevant organizations. He apprised the Prime Minister about the preliminary findings and proposals agreed upon. The proposals, he mentioned, require further discussion at different levels before these could be finalized and every body is working continuously in this regard. He expressed confidence that the proposals / decisions in the form of a final report will be presented to the Prime Minister on Thursday. Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mr. Amir Haider Khan Hoti Federal Minister for Water & Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Food & Agriculture Mr. Nazar Mohammad Gondal and Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira attended the meeting. PMMO/wh
PR No. 204 Addressing a gathering of Indian businessmen under the auspices of Association of Chambers (ASSOCHAM), the visiting Minister for Population Welfare Dr. Firdaus Ashiq Awan laid emphasis on quick resumption of Composite Dialogue process between India and Pakistan. She said that differences and bitterness do crop up among states, but the only way to mitigate the bitterness is to sit together and discuss the differences. “If they do not sit and spell out their differences, they would never be able to come out of the vicious circle”, the Minister added, says a press release received from New Delhi here today. Dr. Firdaus Ashiq Awan narrated that her visit to Mumbai was in fact the expression of sympathy with the people of Mumbai and Pakistan government was the first to condemn the barbaric incident and expressed sympathies and condolences with the affected people. The Minister said that terrorism was a cancer and it should not block the people from coming closer to each other. The Minister said that contacts, both at official level and people to people would help improve relations between the two countries. “Successive interaction at all levels will go a long way in removing the environment of mistrust and bitterness. We have to fight one war and that should be against poverty, ignorance, and the menace of global and regional terrorism”. She exhorted the Indian business community to come forward to develop trade relations between the two countries and help remove the barriers and impediments in this regard. Earlier Mr. D.S. Rawat, Secretary General of ASSOCHAM and Mr. Ravi Vig, Chairman of the SAARC Committee of ASSOCHAM welcomed the Minister. DO/wh
PR No. 205
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