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PR. No. 218. Ambassador-designate of Mexico, Ambassador-designate of Chile, Ambassador-designate of Serbia, Ambassador-designate of Namibia, High Commissioner-designate of Malta and Ambassador-designate of Bhutan to Pakistan presented their credentials to President Pervez Musharraf at an impressive ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr today. After presenting their credentials, the Envoys called on the President separately and discussed bilateral as well as matters of mutual interest. Earlier, upon arrival of H.E Mr. Arturo Hemandez-Bassave, Ambassador designate of Mexico, H.E Mr. Francisco Marambio Vial, Ambassador designate of Chile, H.E Mr. Miomir Udovicki, Ambassador designate of Serbia, H.E Mr. Leonard Nombahu, Ambassador designate of Namibia, H.E Mr. Carl Xuerab, High Commissioner designate of Malta, H.E Mr. Tshering Dorji, Ambassador designate of Bhutan at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the National Anthems of Pakistan and their respective countries were played and the Envoys were presented Guard of Honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army. They inspected Guard of Honour and took Salute. **AJ/Ahmad**
PR. No. 219. Ministry of Youth Affairs will hold a reception in the honour of Chinese Cultural Attaché here on Thursday. The reception is being held in recognition to services rendered by the Cultural Attache for the promotion of Cultural relations between both the countries. The reception would be attended by Secretary M/O Youth Affairs, Ashfaq Mehmood, Chinese Ambassador, Chinese Cultural Attaché and representatives related to the culture and sports organizations. MA
PR. No. 220. Federal Minister for Housing & Works, Rehmatullah Khan Kakar has said that upcoming mega housing projects would open unprecedented investment opportunities for the local and foreign construction companies besides generating tremendous socio-economic activities in the country. He said this while talking to a delegation from Malaysian NAMFATT Corporation headed by its Vice President Dao Jaffery, Keng Keong currently on a visit to Pakistan. The Minister said that the government is launching mega housing projects constructing one million houses annually for the poor, needy and shelterless under “Prime Minister Houses for All” program. He said that Pakistan Housing Authority would start six pilot housing projects in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Multan and Larkana within a week for construction of the houses in the country. The Minister said that the Malaysia has made tremendous socio-economic development in a short span of time and the government would welcome Malaysian NAMFATT investment in the upcoming housing activities with a view to learn a lot from each other’s experiences in the housing and construction fields. Vice President of NAMFATT briefed the Minister about his company’s involvement in mega housing projects in various countries including construction of 6500 affordable apartments in Thailand. Secretary, Housing & Works Samiul Haq Khiliji, MD, Pakistan Housing Authority and Senior Officials were also present on the occasion. ***EH/Ahmad***
PR. No. 221. The Government of Pakistan has signed an agreement with the World Bank for IDA credit of SDR 15.8 million (equivalent to US $ 25 million) for the Balochistan Small Scale Irrigation Project. The agreement was signed by Mr. Junaid Iqbal Ch, Acting Secretary Economic Affairs Division on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, Mr. Ahmed Bakhsh Lehri, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Balochistan on behalf of Government of Balochistan and Mr. Yousapha B. Crookes on behalf of the World Bank. The Government of Pakistan will repay the credit in 35 years including 10 years of grace period. The credit is interest free, however service charges @ 0.75% per annum and commitment charges of 0.5% per annum on undisbursed balance will apply. Balochistan Small Scale Irrigation Project (BSSIP) will support efforts by the Government of Balochsitan to improve the management of scarce water resources in the Pishin Lora Basin . Project activities are designed to recognize the importance of direct participation of water users and other stakeholders. Key indicators include: (i) increased surface water availability and reduced groundwater depletion; (ii) increased water productivity through a combination of engineering, management, and agricultural measures; and (iii) expanded local capacity and participation of farmers to implement similar schemes and formulate plans for sustainable water resources development and watershed management. The project will focus in the Pishin Lora Basin in the northern part of Balochistan and it will have three components: (a) partial restoration of water storage capacity in the Bund Khushdil Khan (BKK); (b) development of small scale irrigation schemes in the Pishin Lora Basin; and (c) institutional strengthening and capacity building of the Irrigation and Power Department (IPD), water management institutions, and farmer and community organizations and further studies and preparation activities for the next phase. Improved watershed and rangeland management and on-farm water management, including introduction of high efficiency irrigation systems, will be integral components. ***IH/Ahmad***
PR. No. 222. Syed Naveed Qamar Federal Minister for Privatisation, Investment, Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs will chair a meeting of Board of Privatisation Commission to formulate recommendations for Cabinet Committee On Privatisation (CCOP) and to review the status and progress of various ongoing and upcoming transactions at Privatisation Commission, Committee Room, 5-A EAC Building, Constitution Avenue, Islamabad on June 26, 2008 (Thursday) at 11 a.m. The representatives of the respective ministries and departments will also attuned the meeting. **TP/Ahmad**
PR. No. 223. Government is committed to provide employment more and more people so that the poverty should be eliminated from the country. This was stated by Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower & Overseas Pakistanis, Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah while chairing the meeting of the committee for review of contract appointments here today. The Federal Minister said that the people who were dismissed from services in 1996-97 on political basis will be reinstated on their services. It was decided in the meeting that at the first step the contract employees from Scale 1-15 will be regularized from 1st July, 2008. Their seniority will be fixed at the basis of age and provincial quota. It will be observed that the employee working at the post fulfills the educational qualification for the post if he does not fulfill the requirement he will be regularized at the lower grade. Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Farooq H. Naiq, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Secretaries, Labour and Manpower, Finance and Establishment Division and other high officials of M/O Labour & Manpower were also present in the meeting. **MSG /Ahmad**
PR. No. 224. A cohesive national health policy keeping in view the requirements of healthcare and the resources available shall be developed soon. Secretary Health Mr. Khushnood Akhtar Lashari said this at a roundtable meeting of healthcare financing here Tuesday. The working group on healthcare financing of the National Health Policy Task Force organized the roundtable which was attended by stakeholders including provincial representatives, civil society organizations, health professionals and donors. Mr. Lashari said the main objectives of the proposed health policy should be to improve the health related quality of life of the common man, particularly the poor. He said strategies shall be developed to improve utilization of existing primary health care infrastructure in the country and make it more functional by staffing it with necessary manpower. This will result in a decline of the out of pocket health expenditure by the poor people and thus help in alleviating poverty, he added. “Safety nets, social health insurance, and exploring alternative models of health delivery should be the strategies that need to be explored by the task force,” said Secretary Health. “Large network of private health providers, who are contributing a lot in providing healthcare, shall also be brought under the national health system.” Results of national health accounts which are being carried out at moment will be another policy planning tool for us, he added. Speakers in their day long deliberations made presentations on reforming the healthcare financing, social health insurance and micro-insurance. The task force which is formed on the directives of the Health Minister is carrying out situation analysis of the existing health system and conducting an analytical review of the existing health strategies/programmes. The National Task Force on Health Policy is focusing on the specific areas through working groups namely National Health Service and Governance, Health Financing, Hospital Management, Medical Education and Human Resource, Development, Ethics in the Medical Profession, and Pharmaceutical Sector. **AA /Ahmad**
PR. No. 225. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that there is a vast scope for foreign direct investment in the telecom sector which is being actively promoted by the government. The Prime Minister said this while talking to a delegation headed by Mr. Bjorn Hemstad, Chairman, Ericsson, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa, who called on him here at Prime Minister’s House this afternoon. The Prime Minister said the new government has taken several initiatives to leverage the full potential of the telecom sector and to improve teledensity in the country. He said that the government is also considering fresh incentives to attract more investment in the telecom sector. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan has a longstanding mutually beneficial relationship with Ericsson and we want the company to help Pakistan groom quality telecom human resource and develop R & D in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan would appreciate Ericsson’s help and assistance in promoting health and education in the country. The Prime Minister said that government is also considering introduction of 3G system in order to achieve broadband in the country. The Prime Minister said the new government visualizes Pakistan as a hub of skilled human resource in the region and intends to improve the investment friendly climate in the country. The Prime Minister said that government is providing a level playing field to both local as well as foreign investors in every sector of the economy in order to ensure better provision of quality services to the Pakistani consumers. Mr. Bjorn Hemstad apprised the Prime Minister that Ericsson has initiated its Graduate Training Programme in collaboration with Pakistan’s leading engineering universities aimed at selecting the top performing students of these universities for grooming them as telecom professionals. He informed the Prime Minister that the company has also launched “Ericsson Expertise Center” and “Field Service Unit” for producing and grooming quality telecom human resource. Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for KANA & Minister incharge Information Technology and Member Telecom also attended the meeting. DSG/ank
PR. No. 226. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani chaired a high-level meeting and reviewed progress on the war on terror and the law and order situation in NWFP. The meeting was attended by Mr. Owais Ahmed Ghani, Governor NWFP,Mr Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Minister NWFP, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Minister for Environment, Mr. Najamuddin Khan, Minister for SAFRON, Mr. Mahmud Ali Durrani, Advisor to PM on National Security, Mr. Rehman Malik, Advisor to PM on Interior, General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, Chief of Army Staff and DG ISI. The meeting unanimously agreed that elimination of terrorism and extremism is the gravest challenge to Pakistan’s national security and to fight this menace a multi-pronged strategy will be followed. The main thrust of Pakistan’s policy to counter this challenge will be political engagement of the people through their elected representatives, tribal elders and local influentials. It was also agreed that in addition to the political instrument, large scale development, economic, empowerment and selective use of military force will be the other prongs of the strategy. It was decided that the broad objective of this strategy will be to bring about peace, reconciliation and normalcy of life in the country and marginalize the hard core terrorist, militants and criminal elements, so that Pakistan’s national interest reigns supreme. The meeting decided to ensure that local tribal customs, traditions and Rivaj are respected by all representatives of the government including the military and law enforcement agencies and ensure that all foreign fighters will be expelled from Pakistan’s territory. The meeting decided that Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used against other countries, especially Afghanistan and under no circumstances will foreign troops be allowed to operate inside Pakistan. It was decided that while the Provincial governments will be responsible for their jurisdictions, the Governor NWFP will be the Chief Coordinator for all activity in FATA and manatin intimate liason with the Federal Government, Provincial Government, important political leaders and the local Military commander. The meeting decided that the Governor In consultation with the Federal and provincial Governments, will remain responsible for planning execution and coordination of a well thought out, comprehensive development plan in FATA. All agreements with the tribes in FATA will be backed by a robust enforcement mechanism. It was decided in case of non-compliance and violation of the agreement, the Government will reserve the right to use force. The meeting decided that the Governor will also lead all reconciliatory efforts, making sure that the political agreements made with the tribes are based on mutual respect and trust drawing strength from the Riwaj; expulsion of foreign fighters will be the responsibility of tribes and they will be held accountable for the presence as well as actions of all foreign fighters. The tribes will also be responsible for stopping cross border movement for militancy across the border from their areas. However this will require intimate coordination between the political and the military/security prongs of the effort. It was decided the that tribes will not fight or target the Army, Frontier Crops and other law enforcing agencies in their areas. They will be made to understand that the use of the force by the military will be justified if the tribes act contrary to their obligations. It was decided that all agreements with the tribes in FATA will be backed by a robust enforcement mechanism. It was decided that in case of non-compliance and violation of the agreement, the Government will reserve the right to use force. It was decided that the Chief of Army Staff will be the Principal for application of the military effort. Although Frontier Corps NWFP and Law Enforcement Agencies will be the instruments of the Governor and Chief Minister in their respective jurisdiction for law and order, they will fall under his command for military operations. It was agreed that the Army Chief will have the authority to decide on the quantum, composition and positioning of military effort. It was agreed that the principle of use of minimum force and avoidance of collateral damage will be kept in focus; initiate swift operations based on actionable intelligence to eliminate terrorists and to stop hostile movement across the border for operations against Coalition Forces in Afghanistan; decide on the level of liaison , contact and cooperation with ISAF in Afghanistan and keep the Government appropriately informed; and keep the Prime Minister, the Governor NWFP, Defence Minister and Adviser Interior informed about the operations. DSG/ank.
PR.
No. 227. Overall political situation in the country and law and order situation in NWFP and FATA came under discussion during a meeting between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and the Chief of JUI(F) Maulana Fazlur Rahman, MNA when he called on the Prime Minister at the PM’s House this afternoon. The Prime Minister said that the government is giving high priority to improving the law and order situation in the country as it is directly linked with economic stability and growth. The Prime Minister said that the government is committed to ensuring the supremacy of parliament, upholding the rule of law and restoring the 1973 constitution in its true form as mentioned in the manifesto of Pakistan Peoples Party. The Prime Minister also said that it is the duty of every Muslim to portray the true image of Islam which emphasizes tolerance, harmony, peaceful co-existence and universal brotherhood. The Prime Minister said the government is taking steps for improving basic health and education facilities in the rural areas of NWFP as well as the tribal areas for improving the standard of living of the people. Maulana Fazlur Rahman congratulated the Prime Minister and his finance team for presenting a balanced budget under challenging circumstances. DSG/ank
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