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PR. No. 197. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed strong desire of his government to work closely with Canada to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan wants to further improve its cordial relations with Canada in all fields including economic, defence, trade and investment areas. The Prime Minister was talking to Mr. David B Collin, the outgoing High Commissioner of Canada, who called on him in the Prime Minister’s House this morning. The Prime Minister said that during the recent elections the people of Pakistan have voted for moderate and democratic forces in the country. He said broadbased governments representing these forces have been formed in the country including the NWFP and Balochistan. The Prime Minister appreciated the valuable contributions made by the High Commissioner in strengthening relations between the two countries during the tenure of assignment in Pakistan. He wished him well in his next assignment. He also appreciated the useful work done by the Canadian observers in monitoring the elections in Pakistan. Talking about Afghanistan, Prime Minister said that Pakistan wants a stable and peaceful Afghanistan as it will help promote economic development in the region and also pave the way for increased regional cooperation. Pakistan also wants early repatriation of Afghan refugees to their country with dignity and honour. As for the illegal cross border movements, the Prime Minister said Pakistan has taken several measures to check these including the setting up of 900 check posts and installing biometric system along the border. Pakistan is also ready to fence the border with Afghanistan and appreciated the Canadian help in this connection. He said Afghanistan’s response in this connection is awaited. The Canadian High Commissioner said he had valuable support from the government of Pakistan in the discharge of his duties during his stay in the country. He said his tenure was pleasant and productive and he would always fondly remember it. He said how the entire Pakistani nation rose to help the earthquake affected people in the country will also stay etched in his mind. He said that Canada’s relations with Pakistan will grow and strengthen in the years to come as significant bilateral cooperation already exists between the two countries. He said he is sure that Canadian investment in Pakistan will also continue to grow and expand in the coming years. Mr. Collin also assured that his country intends to take more active interest in the issue of the resettlement of the Afghan refugees in their own country. Senior government officials also attended the meeting. **Ahmad**
PR. No. 198. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the federal government in collaboration with the NWFP government is focusing on the provision of basic necessities of life to the people and development of infrastructure in all areas of NWFP. The Prime Minister said this while talking to a delegation of ANP MNAs including the Federal Minister for local government Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Mr. Mateen Khan, Mr. Muzaffar ul Mulk, Arbab Zahir, Mr. Pervaiz Khan, Pir Dilawar, Ms. Jamila Gilani, Ms. Bushra Gohar and Ms. Khursheed Begum. The Prime Minister said that the government is giving top priority to improving law and order situation in the country and stabilizing the economic situation. The Prime Minister said that PPP and ANP are development-oriented and progressive parties and are jointly working for increasing employment opportunities, improving law and order and for the empowerment of women in the province. The Prime Minister said the government is conscious of the problems of the people and steps are being taken for solving them on priority basis. He asked the parliamentarians to spend more time in their constituencies in order to become better aware of the problems of the people. The Prime Minister specifically mentioned the PM’s special initiative which aims at the eradication of Hepatitis in the country. The Prime Minister said that extremist and terrorist elements have brought bad name to Islam as well as the country. He emphasized that government will not enter into any agreement with the militants and dialogue would be held only with those who have laid down their arms and have joined mainstream political activities. The parliamentarians thanked the Prime Minister for providing development funds worth Rs. 10 million to them, immediately after assuming office, despite the economic constraints being faced by the country. They also congratulated the Prime Minister on the passage of the poor-friendly budget under difficult economic conditions. **Ahmad**
PR. No. 199. The Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that his government is committed to supporting the just struggle of Kashmiris and is determined to seeking a peaceful solution of the issue in keeping with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. We will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to the cause of Kashmir until a just and honourable settlement of Kashmir is reached as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister said Kashmir remains the core issue between the two countries and Pakistan will never accept any solution of the issue unless the people of Kashmir accept it are fully onboard, he said. The Prime Minister said Pakistan is convinced that any settlement that does not have the backing of the Kashmiri people will not be durable and sustainable. The Prime Minister said that we look at the struggle by the Kashmiris with great admiration and their untold sacrifices for a just solution of the Kashmir dispute will not go in vain. The Prime Minister said that during his recent meeting with President George Bush, he took up the Kashmir issue with him and he (President Bush) agreed that the time has come to resolve this issue. He said he also discussed the Kashmir issue in detail with the Indian Foreign Minister during his visit to Pakistan and impressed upon the need to resolve it in keeping with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The Chairman of APHC, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq said that Kashmiris are beholden to Pakistan and its people for their consistent support for the cause of Kashmir since 1947. He said that their struggle would not have been recognised internationally without Pakistan’s support. He said that Kashmiri’s struggle remains strong as no less then over 4.5 lacks troops are still deployed in Kashmir. He said that APHC leadership is highly appreciative that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has invited them to visit Pakistan soon after the formation of the new government in Pakistan. He said that he has carefully gone through the various statements made by the Prime Minister on Kashmir and expressed satisfaction over them. Mirwaiz also expressed his deep condolence over the tragic martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, which he said, was a great loss not only for Pakistan but also for the people of Kashmir. He said that it was during Benazir Bhutto’s government that APHC got Observer’s status in the OIC. He said that the elections are to be held in Kashmir next September. We do not however recognize elections as a substitute for our right of self-determination, he said. He said that APHC supports the peace process between Pakistan and India and the CBMs being taken by the two countries. He however emphasized the need to accelerate this process in order to reach a just solution of the Kashmir dispute. He also informed the Prime Minister of the efforts being made by the APHC to forge unity in their ranks. Professor Abdul Ghulam Bhatt also thanked the Prime Minister for Pakistan’s support for the cause of Kashmir and said that APHC supports a peaceful step by step approach to resolve the Kashmir dispute on a permanent basis. Senior officials of the Foreign Ministry were also present in the meeting.
PR. No. 200. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani gave Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 3 lakh to Mr. Amir Altas and Mr. Farhan Mahboob respectively for being the winner and runner-up of the International Squash Tournament held recently in Islamabad. The squash players paid a courtesy called on the Prime Minister at the PM’s House this morning. Talking to the players the Prime Minister said that the entire nation is proud of them and hoped that their achievement will help revive the prospects of squash and also help the country regain its erstwhile glory in the game. While encouraging the squash players to work harder at the game to bring greater laurels to the country, the Prime Minister also asked them to at the same time continue focus their on academic studies. Mr. Amir Altas and Mr. Farhan Mahboob thanked the Prime Minister for his encouragement and assured him that they would do their best to improve Pakistan’s international ranking in this sport. Minister for Sports, Mr. Najmuddin Khan, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mehmood Ahmed, and senior government officials also attended the meeting.
PR. No. 201. Political situation in the country came under discussion during Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani’s meeting with PPP Co-Chairman, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari at the PM’s House this afternoon. The meeting lasted for about two hours and was followed by lunch. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Sherry Rahman, Advisor to PM on Interior, Mr. Rahman Malik, Advisor to PM on National Security, Mr. Mahmood Ali Durrani also attended the meeting.
PR. No. 202. “Approval of the Finance Bill by the National Assembly that also provides for raise in the strength of Supreme Court judges from the current 16 to 29 will break the deadlock over the issue of restoration of deposed judges. It will also help the major coalition partners, PPP and PML (N) to move forward on the proposed constitutional Package.” This was stated by Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo Advisor/Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives here today. Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo said that both the major coalition partners, PPP and PML (N) had shown great political wisdom and maturity in finding a way to move forward on the issue of judges’ restoration “Its not a defeat or victory for any party nor it will give political advantage to one party or the other rather it has established supremacy of the parliament”, said Mr. Wattoo adding that “this development will certainly strengthen the ongoing democratic process by cementing the coalition between PPP and PML (N). He further said that agreement on judges’ issue will help the coalition government to focus on other pressing problems, and challenges being faced by the people of Pakistan. AU/wh
PR. No. 203. Federal Minister for Sports and SAFRON, Najmuddin Khan has said that Sports Academies will be established at all provincial capitals, AJK, N.A and FATA and in the first phase Peshawar and Islamabad have been selected. He said this while chairing the 68th executive committee meeting of Sports Board of Pakistan, today. During the meeting the executive committee took some major decisions like, regularization of all PSB employees from 1-15 in line with cabinet decision, pension to all PSB employees and 100% incensement of salaries of the coaches and last but not the least incensement the allowances of players. It was also decided that Sport quota should be restored in all major departments like PIA, customs and Banks for national and international players in order to give them jobs and for this purpose, committee has been constituted which will submit their proposals with in a week. While giving answer to the questions of generalists, the Minister mentioned that we were closely monitoring the performance of all federations and those who are not following the policy and can not deliver the desired results, we will take action against these federations under the law. He further explained that drastic changes will be made in sports in order to arrest the decline condition of games in the country. While highlighting the removal of Secretary Hockey Federation, he said that we had taken the decision for the interest of Hockey under the umbrella of law.
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