PR No. 290
PRESS RELEASE
43 MINISTRIES, departments made safer work places-Yasmeen Rehman
Islamabad: 26th July, 2010“Forty three ministries and departments working under the federal government have complied with the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act and incorporated the code of conduct into their policies” reveals Advisor to the Prime Minister on Women Development Mrs. Yasmeen Rehman while chairing a second awareness raising Seminar on “Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace”, here today in the auditorium of Planning & Development Division, Islamabad.
She was certain that during the next few months, a considerable number of organizations would have a sound mechanism for addressing grievances about sexual harassment. She also appreciated the fact that more than 300 private sector organizations had adopted this Act even before its enforcement.
Mrs. Yasmeen also announced that one day training of the members of the Inquiry Committees will be organized soon within a period of thirty days.
She also informed that under the Prime Minister’s directive, an Implementation/Watch Committee has been constituted to facilitate and monitor the implementation of recently passed legislation against sexual harassment of women.
“Through this law, a positive approach would flourish as far as resolution of such cases is concerned. Previously, the only solution in the place was to sack the victim”, she added.
The Advisor further expressed that “we will ensure that all organizations that have adopted the code shall display it on prominent place, hold awareness sessions and constitute a three-member Committee to settle the cases of harassment, one of which has to be female. The summary for appointment of an ombudsperson has been moved by the Ministry of Women Development in case the complainant has any grievance against the three-member Inquiry Committee, she said.
All the participants of the seminar emphasized the need of impartial attitude of the inquiry committee members.
The Seminar was attended and co-chaired by Dr. Saba Gul Khattak, Secretary; Mr. Ahmed Awais Pirzada, Additional Secretary; Mr. Rizwan Malik, Joint Secretary of the Planning Commission and Dr. Maliha Hussain, Programme Director of AASHA. (*SNA*)
PR No. 291
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: 26th July, 2010Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the suicide attack near the residence of Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Provincial Information Minister of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa in Pabbi in which a number of innocent person were killed and others injured.
The Prime Minister considered this attack as barbaric and cowardly act. These terrorist, he said, are not only insane and inhuman, they have no regard for any religious believe or social values. Such cowardly acts, he said, cannot weaken the will of the people against terrorism.
The Prime Minister expressed his condolence with the families of those who lost their lives and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in peace and give courage to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss.
The Prime Minister instructed the provincial government to take care of the injured and increase vigilance at the public places. He also directed the concerned law enforcement agencies to investigate the terrorist attack and make efforts to reach out to those behind which attacks of violence.
**PMMO/Ahmad**
PR No. 292
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: 26th July, 2010Planning Commission has taken the initiative by adopting the Code of conduct and notified the three member inquiry committee along with TORs and started creating awareness about code of conduct. With this objective of creating awareness about this law and code of conduct, Planning Commission of Pakistanis holding a series of seminars.
Ms. Yasmeen Rehman, Advisor on Women Development was the chief guest on the occasion. She emphasized on the importance of the Bill on Women Harassment and further stressed the need for implementing this Bill. She appreciated the work done by Planning & Development Division and asked other Ministries to follow its steps. She talked in detail about Women Development Programme being implemented by Ministry of Women Development and the need to have more in this area.
Ms. Maliha Hussain, Programme Director/member AASHA and Ms.Aqsa Khan Executive Director WORDS clarified all the clauses of the law and the way it has been implemented by all organization including Public & Private. They also informed that under Prime Minister’s directive, an implementation/Watch Committee had been constituted which would ensure its implementation in all organizations as well as outside. They also provided very useful information about the way of conducting the inquiry incase of complaint of sexual harassment. They emphasized the need of an impartial attitude of the inquiry committee members.
In the end Joint Secretary Planning Commission, Mr. Rizwan Malik reassured the employees that no injustice would be done to any one in case of harassment complaint received by the committee. He advised the participants that they take with them a positive message with the commitment that they would help in creating a healthy, friendly, clean harassment free atmosphere without any discrimination. He thanked all and officially closed the seminar.
**MS/Ahmad**
PR No. 293
PRESS RELEASE
NAEK, JAMALI CONDEMN NOWSHERA BLAST
Islamabad: 26th July, 2010The Acting President, Mr. Farooq H. Naek and Acting Chairman Senate, Mr. Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali have strongly condemned the suicide bomb blast occurring near the residence of Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Provincial Information Minister, KPK today. They have termed the incident as a despicable act perpetrated by the enemies of the country and the people.
The Acting President and Acting Chairman, while sympathizing with the victims of the tragedy, called upon the people to remain calm, steadfast and united. They have also prayed to Almighty Allah for early recovery of those who sustained injuries in the blast and observed that the government and the people would not submit before a handful of terrorists and continue to put up a brave fight against terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
They also sympathized with the families of the victims and offered their heartfelt condolences.
The Leader of the House in the Senate, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Mr. Wasim Sajjad have also condemned the Nowshera blast.
**RAQ/Ahmad**
PR No. 294
PRESS RELEASE
MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE EXPRESSES SATISFACTION OVER SUGAR STOCKS.
Islamabad: 26th July, 2010The Ministerial Committee set up by the ECC met under the chairmanship of Minister for Industries & Production on 26th July 2010. The meeting was attended by the Federal Ministers for Food and Agriculture, Science and Technology, Petroleum and Natural Resources, Minister for State for Finance and Economic Affairs, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Federal Secretaries for Finance, Planning and Development, Food and Agriculture and Commerce. The provinces were represented by Secretary Industries Punjab, Secretary Food Punjab, Secretary Agriculture Sindh, Secretary Food Baloachistan, Cane Commissioner Punjab, Secretary Food KPK, Cane Commissioner MINFA, Senior representative of State Bank of Pakistan, Chairman TCP, Managing Director USC.
The meeting inter alia was informed of the total stocks position on 26-07-2010 as 11 lac 7 thousand tons with the break up as follows, Punjab 6,00,000 tons, Sindh 2 lacs 77 thousand tons, Kyber Pahktoon Khawa 43 thousand tons and Baloachistan 5 thousand tons while TCP had 1 lac 82 thousand tons. It was agreed to supply sugar through provincial mechanisms to supplement sugar stocks immediately. In the first intervention. It was decided that TCP will complete the tendering process for import of remaining 3 lacs 75 thousand tons of white sugar on schedule. Further to ensure ample supplies in the market and to defeat hoarding and speculation one lac tons of TCP imported sugar will be offloaded in the open market at import price through provincial mechanisms to supplement domestic sugar stocks immediately. The provinces will have to pay in cash as they lift the stocks from TCP well before Ramazan. The respective provincial allocations will be as follows: Punjab, 50,000; Sindh 17,000, Baloachistan 8,000, Khyber Pakhtoon khwa 20,000 tons, AJK/Northern Areas 5,000.
The Committee also recommended that 5 lac tons of raw sugar will be allowed to be imported duty free till the 30th of November 2010 on first some come first served basis. The Committee decided that USC sale price of per kg sugar will be Rs.55 during Ramazan and afterwards the price differential will be not more than Rs. 10 per kg from the average market price prevailing in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The Committee also decided that with the completion of the current sugar import process the market forces will be allowed to prevail and the private sector would be encouraged to import sugar.
The meeting expressed satisfaction at the sugar reserves that were comfortably positioned for Ramadan and thereafter till the onset of the next crushing season.
MAB/wh
PR No. 295
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: 26th July, 2010Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has advised the President to grant special remission upto 90 days in the sentence of prisoners on the occasion of Independence Day falling on 14th August 2010.
This special remission will also include total remission to female prisoners who are 60 years of age or above, as well as, to the male prisoners who are 65 years of age or above and have undergone at least one third of sentence of imprisonment.
This remission will however not be applicable to the prisoners involved in the heinous crimes of terrorism, espionage and murder.PMMO/wh
PR No. 296
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: 26th July, 2010Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has appointed Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan as Chairperson of the Competition Commission of Pakistan.
Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan was the member of CCP since November, 2007
PMMO/wh
PR No. 297
PRESS RELEASE
DR. HAFEEZ SHEIKH CHAIRS MEETING OF THE CABINET COMMITTEE ON TEXTILES
Islamabad: 26th July, 2010The 5th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Textiles was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Federal Minister for Finance here today.
The committee deliberated upon the latest situation regarding cotton arrivals and production, export trends & availability of yarn for value-added industry. After careful consideration of the situation, it was decided to let the duty regime on yarn exports expire on 26th July, 2010 as already decided by the Committee. It was further decided that the situation regarding domestic availability of yarn will be carefully monitored and meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Textiles will be convened whenever expedient.
The meeting was attended by Rana M. Farooq Saeed Khan, Federal Minister for Textiles, Mr. Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Federal Minister for Food & Agriculture, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs and Dr. Nadeemul Haq, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, among others.
KS/wh