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PR. No. 267. See Pakistan Camp for Youth of Fata aimed at promoting interaction between the youth and make them aware of the economical development in the country ended here on Sunday. The Camp was organized by Ministry of Youth Affairs in which about 70 youths from Fata participated. They were taken to many historical places and industrial estates established in capital, Lahore, Sialkot and Gujrat. Addressing to the concluding ceremony of the Camp, Federal Secretary for Youth Affairs Ashfaq Mehmood urged the Fata youth to play their role in the economical development of the country. The secretary urged them to share the experience with the other people of their area they got during their visit of different cities of the country. He also distributed certificates among the participants of the Camp. Some youths from different agencies of Fata also spoke on the occasion and urged the government to solve the problems the people of Fata face like lack of better education opportunities, health facilities and other civic problems. The secretary assured them to play his role for the solution of their problems. Senior Joint Secretary Ministry of Youth Affairs Talib Hussain Sial, Deputy Secretary Abdul Manaff Khattak and other officials of the ministry were also present in the ceremony. MA/AR.
PR. No. 268. The Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Syed Naveed Qamar, held a meeting with the Iranian Commerce Minister Masood Mir Kazemi here on Saturday. During the meeting they exchanged views on promotion of economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries. The Federal Minister told the Iranian official that Pakistan Commerce Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar will visit Tehran soon to attend the next session of the Joint Trade Committee. The Iranian Commerce Minister referring to the import of rice from Pakistan said Iran was interested in dealing with major Pakistani exporters of rice. The Federal Minister assured the Iranian Commerce Minister that Iranian businessmen will be facilitated to import rice from Pakistan. Both the sides agreed to follow up earlier agreements in order to ensure promotion of trade between the two countries. The Federal Minister also called on his Iranian counterpart Mr. Samsami and discussed ways of enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries. While thanking Iranian Minister for hosting 17th JEC, the Minister for Finance Syed Naveed Qamar expressed hope that the current session of the Joint Economic Commission will help in identifying new areas of cooperation. He also expressed hope that this session will be able to follow up all previous decisions. On his part, Mr. Samsami said that both the countries enjoy many commonalities and informed that there is a realization in Iran that volume of bilateral trade is too low and does not reflect the existing potential. Both the sides agreed that a serious effort should be made to identify the bottlenecks and new avenues for cooperation should be explored. The Iranian Minister informed that Iran was ready to explore cooperation in several fields including energy, power plant, dams, railways etc. It was also agreed that an early establishment of Pakistan-Iran Joint Investment Company will also facilitate bilateral trade. Both sides also noted with satisfaction the recent operationalization of the ECO Trade and Development Bank (ECO TDB). The two sides also noted with satisfaction the ongoing cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in different multilateral forums and emphasized that they would continue with the on-going cooperation. Later in the evening, the Ambassador of Pakistan hosted reception in honor of the visiting Minister for Finance. It was attended by Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Sheikh Attar, diplomats, senior Iranian officials, media representatives and a cross section of Pakistani community. MA/AR.
PR.
No. 269. Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Speaker and Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly have condoled the death of Dr. Adeeb Sultana, maternal sister of MQM leader Altaf Hussain. In their separate condolence messages to Altaf Hussain, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of his maternal sister. They prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity. (Amin) MA/AR.
PR. No. 270. Federal Law Minsiter Farooq H. Naek has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Sangeen Wali Khan, brother of ANP leader Asfand Yar Wali Khan. He has also expressed his grief over the death of mother-in-law of Foreign Minster Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Law Minister has prayed that God Almighty may rest the departed souls in eternal peace and give fortitude to both the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.
PR. No. 271. “Government is finding ways and means to give speedy justice to people of PATA including Sawat.” This was said by Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek while chairing a meeting of the Committee to give proposals for reforming laws and regulations in PATA including Sawat. Meeting was also attended by representatives of NWFP . Government including Law Minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah, Law Secretary Farooq Sarwar and Home Secretary Tipu Mahabat Khan. This Committee has been tasked by the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to give proposals fro reforming laws and regulations in PATA including Sawat. Farooq H. Naek said that Committee will take into account the ground realities and wishes of the local people while proposing amendments in Laws. He further said that he himself is studying the relevant laws and will give his suggestions to the Provincial and Federal governments. The Committee will meet again on 1st July and will submit its proposals to the Prime Minister by July 2, 2008.
PR. No. 272. The 17th Session of Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) concluded in Tehran today. Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Syed Naveed Qamar led Pakistan’s delegation in the meeting while Iranian side was led by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. Four documents of cooperation were signed at the conclusion of the JEC meeting including MoU of 17th Session of Joint Economic Commission between Pakistan and Iran; MoU between Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines and Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries; Agreement between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran on International Transport of Passengers and Goods by Road; and an MoU between Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (RIB). The Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs while speaking on the occasion said that Pak-Iran Joint Economic Commission is a useful institutional framework to regulate the economic relations and identify new areas of cooperation. Referring to changing global economic trends the Minister highlighted that Pakistan and Iran needed to take positive steps towards greater economic integration. Both countries also need to take initiatives in order to open up their economics and explore possibilities of enhancing trade, the Minister added. He said, “we look forward to starting the bus service between the two countries by the middle of August which will facilitate travel of Zaireen and other visitors”. The Minister highlighted the investment friendly environment in Pakistan which had facilitated foreign direct investment of over US$ 4 billion in the country during 2007-08. He appreciated Iran’s cooperation in the power sector projects of Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minster Manouchehr Mottaki in his speech commended the recent economic and industrial achievements of Pakistan and underlined that the potential of economic cooperation between the two countries was far more than the present volume of trade between them which is US$500 million annually. He said the leadership of the two countries is determined to increase the level of bilateral trade up to US$ one billion in the near future. The Iranian Foreign Minister said that the two countries were cooperating on the gas pipeline project and expressed hope that Peace Pipeline will benefit not only our two countries but other countries in the region as well. The Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Syed Naveed Qamar expressed hope that the volume of bilateral trade between our two countries will be more than US$ 1 billion annually by the next session of the JEC. He underscored that the present democratic government in Pakistan was devising policies of good governance in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who presented the ultimate sacrifice by laying her life for the cause of democracy and socio economic development of the people of Pakistan. The Iranian Minister expressed sympathies on behalf of government and people of Iran on the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The signing ceremony of the agreements/MoUs was attended by the Ambassador of Pakistan Shafkat Saeed and senior officials from both countries.
PR. No. 273. Federal Minister for Finance Syed Naveed Qamar called on the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today in his office. The Minister of Finance was accompanied by high ranking delegation and Ambassador of Pakistan Shafkat Saeed, says a press release received from Tehran today. The Iranian President stated that Joint Economic Commission was the proper forum to optimize bilateral economic relations and suggested that the scope of JEC should be enhanced to include all possible sectors with main emphasis on energy, technology transfer, culture and health etc. he said that Pakistan should benefit from the expertise that Iran has achieved in certain sectors and likewise. He said with lot of warmth that progress of Pakistan is dear to Iran and Iran remains grateful to Pakistan for its support that it had extended to Iran. On IPI, the Iranian President said that we will witness the finalization of gas pipeline project in very near future. He also cautioned that both countries must remain vigilant and not allow their enemies to spoil the bilateral relations. He asked the Minister of Finance to convey his good wishes and greetings to the President, Prime Minister and people of Pakistan. On his part, the Finance Minister Syed Naveed Qamar said that Pakistan considered Iran as its true brotherly neighbor and informed that the on-going Joint Economic Commission is expected to proceed and further enhance cooperation in all possible sectors. He also informed Iranian President that during his two day stay in Tehran, he held very important and useful meetings with the Iranian Ministers of Interior, Commerce, Finance, Petroleum and that he would soon call on Minister for Energy. The Minister informed that Pakistan has always supported Iran in all international and regional forum and that Pakistan would continue to do so. The President of Iran conveyed his deep sorrow and offered his condolences on the tragic death of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and asked the Minister of Finance to covey his condolences to Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, Co-Chairman, Pakistan Peoples Party.
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