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PR. No. 225. Pakistan Manpower Institute (PMI) organized a training course on “MS Office for Beginners” from 14-26 July, 2008 for the officers and executives from the public and private sectors organizations. The objective of organizing the course was to familiarize the participants with basic concepts of computer, enhance their IT skill to use computer in order to increase their efficiency and productivity. Certificate award ceremony held at Pakistan Manpower Institute on Saturday the 26th July, 2008. Mazhar Hussain, Director General, PMI presided over the concluding ceremony and also award certificates to the participants. MSG/AR.
PR. No. 226. Ministry of Population Welfare with the collaboration of UNFPA is launching a Crash Programme in contraceptive surgery for the local Registered Medical Practioners (RMPs) in major District Hospital in all over the country in the next month. The Programme would be launched in two phases. A badge of ten Registered Medical Practioners in different cities would be imparted surgical training of seven days in the major Districts Hospitals of Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Larkana, Sukkur, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, Multan, D.I. Khan. The purpose and objective of this training programme is to involve the local (RMPs) of these cities so that that may play effective role in conveying the message of smaller family among the masses who practically have interaction with their clients in these areas on general health issues. The said training programme will be monitored and evaluated jointly by the senior doctors of technical and clinical wings of the Ministry of population Welfare, Provincial Departments of Population and the representatives of UNFPA. SA/AR.
PR. No. 227. Syed Naveed Qamar Federal Minster for Finance, Privatization & Investment chaired Daily Economic Monitoring Committee meeting here today. The committee advised Ministry of commerce to immediately ban export of sugar and notify removal of import duty on sugar import by private sector in consideration of increased domestic consumption and in order to stabilize the prices. The Committee advised Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources to expedite CNG Prices Committee meeting, which has been formed to devise a benchmark for OGRA’s guidance, facilitating announcement of CNG consumer prices. The said committee shall complete its homework shortly and submit recommendations to the government. The committee reviewed existing wheat stock position, which is comfortable and directed Ministry of Food & Agriculture to import further wheat to meet the increased domestic requirements. MINFAL informed the committee that it is importing a total of 2.5 million tones of wheat. First shipment has already landed on July 6, 2008, offloaded and distributed. Second shipment of wheat import is due today, while third shipment shall arrive on August 2, 2008 followed by additional imports on need basis. It will help augment domestic wheat stock, MINFAL informed the committee. The committee noted that international market wheat prices are going down because of good crop yield world over. MINFAL further informed the committee about existing wheat stock, which is 3.7 million tones. MINFAL apprised the committee that 50,000 tones of UREA is being imported from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to meet local demand, adding that the brotherly country has further committed 2 lakh tones of UREA to Pakistan. The committee expressed satisfaction that DAP stock position for RABI season is sufficient. It was noted that DAP prices shall be decided by Fertilizer Prices Committee which already has been notified by Federal Government under the chair of Advisor to Prime Minister on Industries & Production. The committee agreed with MINFAL viewpoint, directing to provide 6000 tones of pulses to Utility Stores Corporation (USC), and offload 20,000 tones of pulses in open market. It was also noted that supply of sugar to USC is being increased, adding that Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) shall procure sugar from sugar mills to stabilize sugar supply in the market. SS/AR.
PR. No. 228. A delegation of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by President Haji Mohammad Asif met Finance Minister in Islamabad. The delegation apprised the Finance Minister about their evaluation of existing financial issues confronting the country in general and Sarhad Chamber in specific. The Chamber delegates briefed the Finance Minister on business and industry specific problems of the NWFP province. Finance Minister assured GOP’s all out support to SCC&I delegation in terms of Government incentives, facilitation and support structure aiming to expand the size and volume of industrial and commercial development of the provincial entrepreneurs and industrialists economic development initiatives. Finance Minister appreciated delegates’ individual viewpoint on agri crops yield and distribution related issues, adding that frequent interaction amongst all stakeholders would lead to resolution of all pending problems. The impact of recent taxation on industry and trade related business during CFY-2008-09 is focused to minimize budget deficit, and finally restore national economy to usual health, he added. Both the sides agreed that current financial year is the year of attaining stabilization of national economy that precedes tight economic decisions which finally would lead to good results for all those operating in public and private sector. Finance Minister assured the SCC&I delegation that GOP shall ensure smooth supply of wheat and other food items to NWFP. SCC&I shall also reciprocate by improving its exports in terms of value addition of its products to enhance foreign exchange reserves and boost national economy, he stressed. GOP is planning to create special business and industrial zones in various parts of NWFP to bring the province at par with other provinces of the country in terms of economic development, Finance Minister concluded. SS/AR.
PR.
No. 229. Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi has said that 2009 has been declared as year of Environment Protection with a view to create mass awareness against the hazards of environmental degradation. He expressed these views during a meeting with the NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti at Frontier House, Peshawar. The meeting was attended by Mr. Wajid Ali Khan, Provincial Minister for Environment, Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, Federal Secretary Environment and other high officials Federal and Provincial Government. The Minister for Environment said that an International Conference will be held to celebrate the year of Environment Protection in which renowned dignitaries from all over the world will participate. Beside this a number of programmes will also be arranged to highlight the importance of clean environment for human health and protection of flora and fauna. Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi asked the NWFP Government to implement Environmental Protection Act 1997 to effectively tackle the environment related issues. He said that the protection of environment can be ensured by implementing long term plans and a consistency of policy. The Minister informed the meeting that 3 billion rupees will be spent on the projects for the promotion of forestry and protection of environment. He said that a project will be launched for the protection of river Swat at a cost of 900 million. Likewise, the problem of disposal industrial waste will be addressed by installing treatment plants in the industrial estates. Later, the Minister for Environment while presiding over meeting of high officials of Forest Department, emphasized for growing more forests and taking effective measures for the conservation of the existing ones. He said that forest play a pivotal role in arresting the problem of environmental pollution and soil erosion. On this occasion the Minister was briefed about the measures taken for the expansion in area under forest and prevention of unauthorized cutting of trees. The Minister was informed about the conservation of wild life in different national parks. He was also told about the promotion of fisheries in NWFP. In another briefing the Federal Minister was apprised about the achievements of Environmental Protection Agency in controlling the air, water and noise pollution in NWFP. He was told about the major sources of air pollution are cement units, stone crusher plants and brick Killens. Later, talking to private T.V channels Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi said that future FATA policy will be adopted after its passage from the Parliament. He said that the FATA member of Parliament will be taken on board in the formulation of FATA policy. He expressed the hope that solution to the FATA problem will be found through negotiation and process of reconciliation. About the peace deals with militants the Minister said that the agreements made with the militants in FATA are intact. The Minister, while responding to the question about fighting that has been going on between two religious factions in Khyber Agency said that the matter would be resolved amicably. He said that a peace delegation of JUI (F) has held useful talks with rival groups to end the fighting that has been going between them over the past few years.
PR.
No. 230. In terms of Rule 3 (3) of the Rules of Business, 1973, the Prime Minister has approved the placement of Intelligence Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence under the administrative, finance and operational control of the Interior Division with immediate effect according to a Memorandum issued by the Cabinet Division here today
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