PR. No. 377
PRESS RELEASE
Community, French Government, NGOs from France donate 7.5 million Euros for flood affectees
Islamabad: August 30, 2010A total of 7.54 million Euros have been so far donated by the Pakistani Community, French Government and various NGOs from France for flood affected people of Pakistan. This amount includes 1.3 million Euros from French Government, 6.059 million Euros from various French NGOs, 186379 Euros from Pakistani Community and other individuals and groups, says a press release received here today from Paris.
This amount is in addition to the goods and services provided by NGOs, French Government and Pakistani Community. A French NGO, ACTED has provided water and food support for 10,000 people in KPK. The French Government has also despatched 35 tons of emergency relief goods including tarpaulins, water tanks, blankets, jerry cans, cooking kits and water purification tablets I addition to 200 Shelter Boxes. An NGO, Veolia Foundation has despatched water purification plant of six tons. Another NGO, Pompiers de l’ Urgence and Tulip Association has contributed four tons of medicines.
The first French plane carrying the relief goods reached Pakistan on August 19, while the second is likely to depart very soon. A ship carrying 400 tons of relief goods is likely to be sent by mid-September.
**TK/Ahmad**
PR. No. 378
PRESS RELEASE
Pakistan’s Tallest man, Tallest Women and Shortest man Delighted Malaysians
Islamabad: August 30, 2010Pakistan’s second tallest man, Mr. Haq Nawaz, tallest women Ms. Zainab Bibi and Shortest man Mr. Ali Zaman who are currently visiting Malaysia as a part of their world tour delighted and amazed Malaysians with their extraordinary heights and traditional costumes, says a press release received here today.
These three extraordinary persons also met with the High Commissioner for Pakistan in Malaysia, Mr. Masood Khalid, in Kuala Lumpur, today.
The High Commissioner welcomed them in Malaysia and hoped that by their extraordinary heights and traditional attires they will certainly introduce Pakistan to the Malaysian people in a pleasant manner.
While explaining the purpose of their visit, they told the High Commissioner that they arrived in Malaysia on 10th of this month as a part of their world tour program and have so far visited two cities of Malaysia, Penang and Kedah, before coming to Kuala Lumpur on 28th of this month.
They described their visit to Malaysia as extremely successful and termed Malaysian people very loving, friendly and receptive.
Since 1996 they have introduced Pakistani culture and their uniqueness to more that 23 countries of the world.
Mr. Haz Nawaz, 24, hails from Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan and is 245cm(7’7 inches) tall, , Zainab Bibi, 32, is from Faisalabad, and is 230cm (7’4 inches) tall and Ali Zaman, 48, stands at just 15.3cm (39 inches) tall.
Mr. Ijaz of Pakistan is the tallest Pakistani man with height of 7’8 inches.
Mr. Alam Channa of Pakistan with height of 231.8 cm (7 ft 8 inch) remained the tallest man of the world for seven year. He died of kidney failure in a New York hospital in 1998.
PR. No. 379
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad 30th August, 2010The situating of high flood in New Saeedabd, Halla and Matiari is under control. On the directives of Makhdoom Amin Fahim, federal minister for commerce, the volunteers of sarwari jamaat and the local villagers along with the government functionaries were monitoring the sensitive points round the clock. Makhdoom Amin Fahim visited the camps and assured the affectees of flood that each possible support would be provided to them including food, medicine and shelter. Makhdoom Amin Fahim along with notables of the district Matiari visited bhanote bund, Hala old, sekhat and dero Matiari bund.
Employees of the Trade development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), an attached department of the ministry of Commerce, handed over their one day salary Cheque of Rs. 3, 40,153 to federal minister for Commerce to be deposited in the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund.
PR. No. 380
PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources Clarifies
Islamabad, 30th August, 2010Responding to the news item carried by the daily Dawn, dated 30th August, 2010, entitled “Economic Decisions taken by Cabinet Ignored,” the spokesperson of the Ministry has clarified that the Ministry of Water and Power has already moved a summary for Economic Coordination Committee regarding allocation of gas from the Kunnar Pasakhi field. The Ministry of Petroleum has given its comments that the decision for allocation of gas may be taken by the Economic Coordination Committee in consultation of all the stakeholders, i.e. Domestic, Commercial/Industry, Cement, Fertilizer, Compressed Natural Gas (C.N.G.), Transport as well as the Power sector. As regards the Liquefied Natural Gas (L.N.G.) project, it is under consideration with the ECC. Therefore, the news item is out of context to the extent that the Ministry of Petroleum is either opposing or failing to act on Prime Minister’s directions in this regard.
PR. No. 381
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad August 30, 2010.Procurement Price of Canola and Sunflower increased to Rs.1800 per 40 kg. Farmers to be given credit with subsidy to enable them to sow Canola/Sunflower in the flood affected areas. Nazar M. Gondal
Federal minister for Food & Agriculture, Nazar M. Gondal announced Rs.1800 as the purchasing price for canola/sunflower and set a target of one million acre to be utilized for edible oil sowing in the flood affected areas of Pakistan.
The minister was holding a press conference here at Islamabad.
“Farmers in the flood affected areas would be given seed and other inputs on a deferred payment pattern. One million acre of land in the flood affected areas would be brought under canola and sunflower. This will not only help the farmers but would decrease the country’s heavy import bill on edible oil”, said the minister.
Mr. Gondal said dispelled the speculations that the country might face a severe shortage as the floods have greatly damaged the wheat stocks in the country. He said that enough strategic reserve are laying in the public sector to meet the local needs. He however said that the exact status would be clear once the floods are totally over and the needs for the next crop seed are calculated.
The minister added that the government would help and assist the worst hit farmers of the country to enable them in reviving the agriculture sector of Pakistan. He said that a package of incentives would be announced before the sowing of each crop in the flood hit areas.
PR. No. 382
PRESS RELEASE
SYED MUMTAZ ALAM GILANI; MINISTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PR
Islamabad: August 30, 2010Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that the people of Pakistan are contributing generously for the relief of flood affected people. He assured complete transparency in disbursement of the funds among flood hit regions.
The Prime Minister was talking to Syed Mumtaz Alam Gilani; Minister for Human Rights who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House here today and presented a cheque of Rs. 01 million for Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
The Prime Minister observed that the government was aware of the sufferings of the flood affectees, therefore, mobilized Federal and Provincial government machinery to provide maximum possible facilities at the relief camps.
Syed Mumtaz Alam Gilani apprised the Prime Minister of details of various relief activities in his constituency. He told the Prime Minister that he has dispatched relief goods worth 04 million to various relief camps. In addition to that the people of his constituency under his supervision will collect Rs. 10 million for the presents and Eid gifts for the flood affectees, said Minister of Human Rights.
PR. No. 383
PRESS RELEASE
SECRETARY GENERAL OIC CALLED ON PM
Islamabad: August 30, 2010Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that top most urgent priority of his government was to provide alternate shelters and tents to the people displaced from their houses due to the floods. He further said that his government is planning to offer cash compensation to the affectees for rebuilding their damaged or destroyed house after recession of the flood waters. Since the cash compensation in this regard alone involves an amount of approximately US $ 03 billion, therefore, the international community and Islamic world in particular should expedite their assistance to help his government to implement this plan.
The Prime Minister was talking to Professor Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of OIC who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House here this afternoon.
The Prime Minister appreciated OIC Secretary General’s gesture of expressing solidarity with the people of Pakistan by undertaking his present visit and from his initiatives to mobilize assistance from the Muslim world for the flood affectees.
The Prime Minister thanked the Secretary General for convening the Emergency Coordination Meeting of relief organizations of OIC countries in Islamabad held yesterday during which pledges of US $ 01 billion, including the assistance of US $ 05 to 07 million were made. He also noted, with appreciation, the fact that OIC Secretary General has earlier convened the Emergency Meeting of permanent representatives of OIC countries in Jeddah to sensitize the member states and create better awareness among them about the magnitude and scale of destruction and losses caused by this natural catastrophe.
The Prime Minister hoped that OIC’s efforts would soon be translated into practical support as time was the most important factor in the relief and rehabilitation efforts of his government.
The Prime Minister while assuring the OIC Secretary General of his government’s full support to his proposals for establishing an OIC Emergency Disaster
Response Fund to help the member states in the future in case of such natural disasters, underlined the need for OIC’s focus on using its influence with Saudi Development Funds, Kuwait Development Fund and similar funds of the Gulf and other Muslim countries to help Pakistan in its rehabilitation and reconstruction phases.
The Secretary General OIC conveyed his heartfelt condolences and commensuration to the Prime Minister on the losses of lives and extensive damage to the properties and physical infrastructure caused by the floods and assured the Prime Minister that OIC will do whatever is possible to help Pakistan in this hour of need.
Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stated that his helicopter visit to flood affected area of Rajanpur in the morning had further strengthen his impression that while government of Pakistan was making organized efforts and was in control of the flood situation, yet it needed urgent assistance to cope up with this unprecedented devastation.
The Secretary General said that he had impressed upon the relief organizations of Muslim countries yesterday that destruction and losses of Pakistan’s floods was far greater than the combined damages caused by Tsunami, earthquake of 2005 in Pakistan and Haiti last year, therefore, contributions and help should also be corresponding with the scale.
Noting the Prime Minister’s top present priority for providing tents and shelters to displaced persons, Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said OIC would try to generate funds for urgent procurement of tents from wherever possible for their urgent delivery to the government of Pakistan. He said that as head of this organization, he considers it a duty to mobilize Muslim Ummah for helping their Pakistani brethren in distress and hence would undertake every effort possible to galvanize Muslim world’s support for Pakistan in these trying times.
PR. No. 384
PRESS RELEASE
US$ 396000/- CASH FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
BY IRANIAN COMMON MEN
Islamabad 30th August, 2010Owing to Ambassador M.B. Abbasi and his team’s dedicated and sincere calls for all-out and urgent aids for flood victims of Pakistan through appeals, pamphlets and press briefings an amount of US$ 396000/- has been deposited to the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s Relief Fund Account No.0107000073002) Melli Bank Iran, Noshirwan Branch, (0811) by the common Iranian people,says a press release received here today.
2. This recent donation in cash, in fact is, other than the aid and efforts, which are being made by the Iranian government for the flood effectees of Pakistan through Iranian Red Crescent and other sources.
3. Furthermore, English and Persian newspapers are highlighting the relief efforts underway to provide aid to the flood affected people in Pakistan. The media also published Flood related news continues to appear in the Iranian print media. Appeals by prominent Iranian religious personalities to extend every help and assistance to the flood effectees in Pakistan, are also given due publicity.
PR. No. 385
PRESS RELEASE
Executive Director/UNDER Secretary General UNICEF Meets Environment Minister
Islamabad, August 30, 2010Mr. Anthony Lake, Executive Director/Under Secretary General UNICEF met Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi today in his office to discuss joint efforts in collaboration with Ministry of Environment and UNICEF to provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to the people affected by the presently heavy flood in different areas of Pakistan.
Environment Minister welcomed Mr. Anthony Lake and appreciated his deep concern for the emergency situation in Pakistan. The Minister informed Mr. Lake about the magnitude of the unprecedented floods, which caused one of the largest humanitarian crisis ever witnessed by Pakistan. While briefing he told that more than 18 million people all across Pakistan have been affected. Moreover 1.237 million houses, 6.248 million acres of crop land and 140,000 livestock destroyed. Minister further appraised that Ministry of Environment is the focal Ministry for UNICEF in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene. He also told that Ministry and UNICEF signs Annual Work Program to jointly pursue interventions for improving water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in the Country in association with other stakeholders. Minister informed that since 2005 commendable achievements have been made and the Ministry in collaboration with UNICEF has prepared National Sanitation and Drinking Water Policies and Provincial strategies and Action Plans for their implementation and supporting establishment of Water and Sanitation Directorate in the Ministry for implementation of a coordinated program in the Water and sanitation sector.
Mr. Afridi acknowledged UNICEF’s support in the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities during emergencies especially in the camps established for housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) along with the Ministry of Environment under TAHAFUZ Program as well as in meeting emergencies of displaced persons at Attabad and Hunza landslide. Minister also acknowledge and highlight UNICEF’s support to the Ministry of Environment through Water, Environment and Sanitation Program and School Sanitation Program for addressing drinking water and sanitation issues in the Country.
Earlier, Mr. Anthony Lake discussed about UNICEF’s key emergency interventions of providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to the flood effected population. He also exchanged his views about UNICEF’s activities to mobilize additional resources to expand the safe drinking water and sanitation facilities for larger section of the affectees. Like wise different ways and means to further enhance the existing collaboration with the Ministry of Environment in responding to current emergency with regard to water and sanitation also came under discussion.
Mr. Martin Mogwnja, Country Representative UNICEF and Mr. Omar El-Hattab, Chief WES (Water, Environment and Sanitation), UNICEF were along with Mr. Anthony lake, Executive Director UNICEF while Secretary Environment Javed Malik, Joint Secretary Abid Ali, Additional Secretary Kamran Ali Qureshi, Director General (Environment) Javed Ali Khan and other high officials of the Ministry were also present during the meeting
PR. No. 386
PRESS RELEASE
FARZANA RAJA SAYS BISP WOULD RAISE AWARENESS IN REGARD WIT
EDUCATION BESIDES POVERTY ALLEVIATION INITIATIVES
Islamabad, August 30, 2010Besides striving for poverty alleviation and women empowerment, Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) is playing vital role to sensitize society in regard with importance of education. Federal Minister and Chairperson BISP, MS. Farzana Raja said this during special meeting held here on the direction of President Asif Ali Zardari aiming at evaluating various efforts pertain to enhance education in the country.
Jointly Chaired by Chairperson BISP MS. Farzana Raja and Advisor to Prime Minister and Chairperson Pak –UK joint Education Task Force, MS. Shehnaz Wazir Ali, the meeting was held under the directions of President Asif Ali Zardari to explore practical avenues for the promotion of education with special reference to emphasis on education in the manifesto of Pakistan People’s Party. Besides others, Chief Director and Founder Director of the Children Global Network Pakistan, Mehnaz Aziz was also present on the occasion.
MS. Farzana raja informed the participants that in line with the commitment of the PPP government with education portrayed in its manifesto as well, BISP would initiate Early Childhood Education Training Programme for its beneficiaries, under Waseela e Rozagar to provide basic education facilities to its registered families. “Through Waseela e Haq, another initiative of the BISP, the deriving families are being imparted training regarding various businesses”, she said and added the establishing ‘Day Care Centers’ is has been decided to incorporate in the list of such businesses as these centers would provide education and learning facilities to the children aged 3 up to 5.
The Chairperson of the BISP said that women may establish education and learning centers in their homes or mohallas and this step would be instrumental in raising awareness for the importance of education as well as a source of income for the women venturing in this innovative idea. She added further that training of various skills is also being imparted to BISP’s beneficiaries under its vocational training initiative. Ends
PR. No. 387
PRESS RELEASE
ENVOYS OF GULF COUNTRIES CALL ON PRIME MINISTER
Islamabad: August 30, 2010Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the Government was mobilizing all the available resources with the generous support being extended by the international community to intensify its efforts for the relief and rehabilitation of over 20 million flood affectees in various parts of the country.
He expressed these views while talking to the Ambassadors of Gulf Countries Mr. Mohammad Ebrahim Mohammad Abdul Qadir of Kingdom of Bahrain, Mr. Nawaf Abdulaziz A A Alenezi of State of Kuwait, Mr. Mohammad Bin Said Bin Mohammad Al-Lawati of Sultanate of Oman, Mr. Ali Saif Sultan Al-Awani of United Arab Emirates, and Mr. Mohammad Harib Mattar, Charge d’ Affaire of State of Qatar who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House here today.
During the meeting, the envoys of the Gulf Countries conveyed deep grief and sorrow on behalf of their leaders, the governments, and the people over the huge loss of lives and property caused by recent devastated floods in Pakistan. They informed the Prime Minister that the people of their perspective countries were really perturbed on this natural calamity and stood by their Pakistani brethren in their difficult times.
The Prime Minister thanked the envoys for their sentiments and gratitude. The Islamic countries and international community, he said, have extended whole-hearted support to Pakistan to mitigate the sufferings of the flood affected people which has been duly acknowledged and appreciated.
Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Water & Power, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and Secretary Foreign Affairs, Mr. Salman Bashir were also present during the meeting.
