LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that he is himself a supporter of provincial autonomy, urging the center to transfer more resources and powers to the provinces.
Speaking to various delegations of Balochistan at the Chief Minister House in Lahore, he said the provinces should transfer the resources to Tehsil level.
The PML-N chief said he was firm on his stance regarding constitutional reforms. “Time will tell whether his decision is right or wrong,” he said.
However, former premier there was some progress about constitutional reforms.
“We will have to take special measures to address the deprivation of Balochistan people,” said Nawaz.
Source: http://www.geo.tv/3-31-2010/62099.htm
I believe in provincial autonomy: Nawaz
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Labels:
Pakistan
39 militants killed in Orakzai operation
Labels:
Pakistan
KOHAT/HANGU/KALAYA: Thirty-nine militants were killed and 49 sustained injuries in the ongoing military operation in various parts of Orakzai Agency, official and tribal sources said on Tuesday.
The sources said the military operation continued for the eighth consecutive day in Orakzai Agency during which fighter jets and gunship helicopters pounded the hideouts and compounds of the militants in Anjani, Mamozai, Katapanra, Khwa Sturikhel and Malandara areas.
The sources said a woman was killed and two others sustained injuries when an artillery shell fired by security forces hit the house of Haji Arjali Khan in Aliri Village in the Ferozkhel area. Meanwhile, security forces arrested nine militants in a clash with the militants in Zainakhel and Tajkan areas. Their identity could not be ascertained.
The sources said security forces fired heavy artillery from their base camp in Ferozkhel at Arghanjo in the Mamozai area where the Government Primary School, a dispensary and a market came under attack.
The official sources said eight hideouts and a training camp being used by the militants in the Masozai area were also destroyed in the bombing by fighter planes. Separately, nine members of a family were killed when a rocket fired from an undisclosed location hit a house in Meshti Bazaar in Orakzai Agency, tribal sources said on Tuesday. The sources said a rocket fired by unidentified men missed its target and hit a house, killing nine members of the family.
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28082
Balochistan unrest must come to an end, says Nawaz
Labels:
politics
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s chief Nawaz Sharif. — AP Photo
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s chief Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed that incidents of target killing should stop in Balochistan.
Nawaz Sharif was holding a press briefing after a meeting with a delegation of Baloch leaders in Lahore.
Nawaz said the unrest in Balochistan must come to an end. He said the PML-N was holding indirect talks with the federal government for an early resolution of the province’s issues.
He said Wednesday’s meeting would strengthen relations between Punjab and Balochistan and also help in the latter’s progress. — DawnNews
Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-nawaz-on-balochistan-qs-08
Verdict in Afaq and Aamir cases put off till April 7
Aamir Khan said he was prepared to enter into reconciliation even with Jamaat-i-Islami for the sake of Karachi. — Photo by White Star
KARACHI: The court trying the cases against Mohajir Qaumi Movement leaders Afaq Ahmed and Aamir Khan, postponed the announcement of decision in the last case against them till April 7.
Later, talking to media outside the court, Afaq Ahmed said that target killings in Karachi should end now and this kind of politics should be abandoned.
Replying a question he denied any contacts with the government or intelligence agencies.
Speaking to reporters, Aamir Khan extended the hand of reconciliation to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). He, however, refused any reconciliation with Afaq Ahmed.
He said he was prepared to enter into reconciliation even with Jamaat-i-Islami for the sake of Karachi.
Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/04-afaq-amir-qs-09
NAB writes to Attorney of Geneva for Swiss cases
Labels:
Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Naveed Ahsan said the Bureau has set in motion the action for re-opening the Swiss cases and letters in this connection have been written to Swiss officials and Attorney of Geneva, Geo News reported Wednesday.
Also, 158 cases have been restored after the SC’s ruling on the NRO.
It should be mentioned that the apex court gave Naveed Ahsan 24 hours to implement a ruling against corruption allegedly perpetrated by numerous officials.
Last December, the supreme court ordered that hundreds of old cases be reopened after scrapping a controversial 2007 amnesty, which had protected Zardari and other politicians from possible court proceedings.
The court demanded the return of millions of dollars plundered by leaders and bureaucrats, as well as action against former attorney general Malik Qayyum and an increase in the number of anti-graft courts to speedily resolve cases.
Naveed told SC’s larger bench comprising seven members that the Law Secretary has been contacted for opinion on cases against Malik Qayyum and the measures for the SC’s orders on NRO are afoot.
Ahsan said in his statement that 158 references have been restored in the country and punishments to criminals have been restored in 10 cases.
Ahsan said the inquiry will be initiated on April 18 against those prosecutor at the Accountability courts, who caused the release of the accused.
In response to the query asked by Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday regarding cases in Spain, the NAB chief said Pakistan did not send any request for these cases.
Later on, the apex court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow, telling the NAB’s chief he needs not come to the court tomorrow; however, court may call him if needed.
Source: http://www.geo.tv/Pakistan.htm
US wants four-month Jerusalem building freeze
Labels:
World News
Israeli border policeman checks the identity card of a Palestinian man before he enters Jerusalem's Old City through Damascus Gate on March 29, 2010. — AFP
JERUSALEM: The US wants a four-month Israeli building freeze in occupied east Jerusalem, one of a series of demands from Washington aimed at reigniting dormant peace talks, media reports said on Wednesday.
In return for a Jerusalem freeze — something Israel has refused to contemplate in the past — the United States would pressure Palestinians to hold direct talks with Israel, the Haaretz daily reported.
The paper, quoting unnamed Israeli officials, said the four-month freeze would coincide with the period the Arab League had backed for talks between the Palestinians and Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned last week from a tense visit to Washington that appeared to deepen a bitter row with the administration of President Barack Obama over the building of Jewish settlements, including in annexed Arab east Jerusalem.
He was reportedly given a set of demands for wide-ranging measures including the extension of a partial settlement halt and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to promote a restart of the stalled peace process with the Palestinians.
Neither Israel nor the US has said what the demands are. However, Netanyahu has been meeting with his security cabinet to craft a response to the US demands.
Israel's Channel Two news, which also reported the demand for a Jerusalem freeze, said no answer was expected from Israel until after the Passover holiday ends next week.
Officials in Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the reports.
The spat with Washington erupted after Netanyahu's government announced it would build 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in east Jerusalem as US Vice President Joe Biden was in the region earlier this month hoping to promote peace talks.
The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their promised state, and refuse to resume direct negotiations with Israel without a complete freeze of settlement construction in the occupied territories.
The two sides had agreed earlier this month to hold US-brokered indirect talks but the announcement of the plans to build 1,600 settler homes in east Jerusalem brought the initiative to an abrupt halt.
Israel has already agreed to a 10-month freeze of settlement construction in the West Bank, excluding Jerusalem, which Israel considers its capital.
And since returning from Washington, Netanyahu has said Israel would not stop building in all of Jerusalem.
“The prime minister's position is that there is no change in Israel's policy on Jerusalem that has been pursued by all governments of Israel for the last 42 years,” his office said on Friday.
Direct negotiations have been frozen since Israel launched a devastating 22-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip in December 2008 in a bid to halt rocket attacks from the Palestinian territory ruled by Hamas.Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/04-jerusalem-freeze-qs-05
Day of reckoning
Labels:
Pakistan
By Sohail Khan
ISLAMABAD: It was indeed a day of reckoning for many of the mightiest of the land. The first victim of an enraged Supreme Court, angry because its NRO judgment was not being implemented, went to jail on Tuesday and a 24-hour ultimatum was given to others to implement the court verdict, including writing the letter for the reopening the Swiss cases against President Zardari.
A six-member larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Naveed Ahsen to implement the court’s verdict on the NRO by tomorrow (Wednesday) after a close friend of President Asif Ali Zardari, FIA officer Ahmed Riaz Sheikh was ordered to be sent to Adiala jail.
Other members of the bench included Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Ch Ijaz Ahmed, Justice Tariq Pervez, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday.
Ahmad Riaz Shaikh was sent to jail and the court directed the chairman NAB to seize the assets of Shaikh and submit a report before the registrar of the apex court within three days. Soon after the court’s order, the police took Ahmed Riaz Sheikh into its custody and shifted him to Adiala jail.
The Swiss cases and repatriation of $60 million in President Zardari’s Swiss accounts reverberated repeatedly in the Supreme Court as the judges heard the chairman NAB and other officials.
Appearing on notice Chairman NAB Naveed Ahsen submitted his written statement however, the court expressed dissatisfaction over it, ruling that no progress has been made so far by NAB in the implementation of its order.
“Your report is not satisfactory Mr chairman and you will have to assure implementation of our verdict of December 16, 2009 in letter and spirit”, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said while addressing the NAB chairman.
Secretary Law Justice (retd) Muhammad Aqil Mirza also assured the court to implement the court’s order of December 16, 2009 by tomorrow, including taking action against former attorney general Malik Muhammad Qayyum for writing to the Swiss authorities in connection with the cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, removal of the prosecutor general NAB as well as taking measures for establishing extra accountability courts in the country.
The court enquired of the secretary law as to why he had failed so far to take action in this regard despite the announcement of the court verdict. The secretary law, however, assured the court to implement the court’s verdict by tomorrow (Wednesday).
The court while hearing a revived corruption reference against FIA’s Additional Director General (Economic Crimes Wing) Ahmed Riaz Sheikh restored his punishment of five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs20 million.
The court ordered the arrest after he appeared before the court and withdrew his appeal which he had filed in the apex court against his conviction, maintained by the Lahore High Court (LHC), originally awarded by the NAB court
Ahmed Riaz Sheikh was convicted and awarded 14-year rigorous incarceration along with imposition of a Rs20-million fine and confiscation of property by an accountability court on corruption charges in 2001.
He was dismissed from service in 2002. Later, he was reinstated under the NRO in 2008 by extending benefit of doubt. Before his conviction he was serving as deputy director. Moreover, he was also promoted to the position of FIA’s additional director general even after the NRO was declared null and void.
The court also expressed dissatisfaction over the replies submitted by the secretary interior, the additional secretary interior, the director general FIA, the secretary Establishment Division, the joint secretary Establishment Division and NAB’s acting chairman as well as chairman NAB in connection with the implementation of court’s verdict of December 16, 2009.
The court the other had issued show-cause notices to heads of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the interior ministry, and officials of the Establishment Division for failing to implement its decision of December 16, 2009 on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
Chairman and Acting Chairman NAB Naveed Ahsen, Irfan Nadeem, Additional Secretary Interior Raja Ahsan, Secretary Establishment Ismael Qurashi submitted their written replies but the court expressed dissatisfaction over it and will give its ruling in this regard today (Wednesday).
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28080
Indo-Pak water talks remain inconclusive
Labels:
World News
LAHORE: India and Pakistan failed to arrive at a conclusion as the two sides ended their three-day deliberations on the ongoing water dispute on Tuesday.
The Indo-Pak talks on Nimoo-Bazgo hydel generation project, which India is constructing on Indus River in occupied Kashmir, remained inconclusive as no consensus could be developed on the issue.
According to agenda items, Pakistan showed serious reservations on the delay in the provision of details of the project by India.
Under the Indus Water Treaty, India is bound to give technical details of water sector projects to Pakistan six months before beginning construction of such projects.
At the end of final day of discussions, both water commissioners told a joint press briefing that they had failed to arrive at a consensus.
Next round: They said the issue would now be taken up in the next meeting in New Delhi, which is likely to be held in May.
Indian Water Commissioner G Aranga Nathan said the reservations put forward by Pakistan would be resolved soon.
However, Nathan rejected claims that India was involved in water theft or blocking Pakistan’s share of water.
He said relatively low rains and continuous dry spell resulted in the reduced release of water to Pakistan.
To a question on the delay in communicating technical data to Pakistan, Nathan said they had provided information on priority basis.
When asked to comment on the meetings, Pakistani Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah said the two sides had different points of view on the Nimoo-Bazgo project, adding that the people should not expect major outcomes from the meetings, as the issue required time to settle.
Shah said they had asked the Indian Water Commission to arrange for a site visit of the under-construction projects in June-July, hoping India would respond positively to Pakistan’s request.
He said that the commission had also been requested to limit the acreage of agricultural water.
Meanwhile, a private TV channel reported Nathan as saying that objections raised by Pakistan over the proposed Indian water projects had no substantial grounds, however, the objections could be discussed in the next round of the talks in May.
Talking to reporters, he said that India was not stealing river water, and all hydropower projects being built by the country conformed to the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960. staff report/daily times monitor
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\31\story_31-3-2010_pg7_2
Suicide attack kills 7 civilians in Afghanistan
Labels:
World News
KANDAHAR: At least seven Afghan civilians were killed on Wednesday when a suicide bomber blew himself up close to where government officials were distributing aid to people in a town in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, a provincial official said.
Five people were wounded in the attack in Babaji, outside Lashkar Gah, Helmand's provincial capital, said Dawood Ahmadi, a spokesman for Helmand's governor.
Ahmadi did not know if any officials were among the casualties.
Provincial government spokesman Daoud Ahmadi said people hadgathered in the area to receive free seeds from the government aspart of a program to encourage them not to plant opium poppy.
Source: http://www.geo.tv/World.htm
ECC decides to discourage subsidies
Labels:
Business
The meeting, presided over by PM Gilani, deferred the proposal for offloading wheat stocks, to overcome storage problems and liquidity crunch faced by the banking sector, until a complete picture of wheat situation was available by April 1. - APP photo
The ECC meeting presided over by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani took the decision while discussing a proposal to offload wheat stocks to overcome storage problems and liquidity crunch faced by the banking sector.
“The practice should end now,” Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh was quoted by a senior official as saying at the meeting. He criticised the way the subsidies were being sought to sell wheat and other essential commodities when there is a surplus and to import them at the time of shortages.
Mr Shaikh, who was authorised by the prime minister to chair the ECC meetings in future, said he would not allow any proposal to be taken up by the committee unless all aspects of the issue were sufficiently covered and comments of all stakeholders incorporated into the summary. He said it did not make any sense that some ministries sought subsidies in the event of both shortage and surplus.
The meeting deferred the proposal for offloading wheat stocks. According to sources, the prime minister said the case should be resubmitted to the ECC when a complete picture of wheat situation was available by April 1.
However, the committee approved a proposal to subsidise 100,000 tons of wheat to be provided to the Utility Stores Corporation from Passco stocks to ensure regular availability of flour at USC outlets.
The meeting was informed that the country had stocks of about 11 million tons, including 3.5 million tons of last season’s carryover and 7.3 million tons of fresh crop.
The ECC did not take any other major decision except allowing the issuance of a standby letter of credit of $300 million for import of liquefied natural gas, modifying its earlier decision of providing a sovereign guarantee of $500 million for the project.
Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf informed the meeting that the system would start generating more electricity by the end of next month when the water situation would improve. The prime minister directed the ministers for petroleum and water and power to work on a crash programme to address the issue of power generation.
Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/13+import-and-export-of-commodities-ecc-decides-to-discourage-subsidies-130-za-01
Provinces table VAT bills in assemblies
Labels:
Business
ISLAMABAD: All provincial governments have tabled draft legislations in their respective assemblies for imposing Value-Added Tax (VAT) on the services sector including travel agencies, tour operators, services in areas of culture, sports and entertainment, hotels and restaurants, transport services, telecommunications and others from July 1.
This has been done to comply with a key IMF condition for the approval of the fifth tranche of $1.2 billion. Certain services have now been proposed to be brought into the VAT net from the next fiscal year 2010/11.
According to the draft legislation bills of the provinces, copies of which are available with The News, certain services remain exempted from the proposed VAT from the next fiscal year.
The exempted services included funeral, burial or similar services, services by religious institutions exclusively for the observance of religious practices, services by (an approved non-profit charitable organisation], financial services, a supply of “educational services,” consisting of tuition or instruction for students provided by an institution duly registered by the ministry of education, being-
(a)A pre-primary, primary or secondary school;
(b)A technical college, community college or university;
(c)An educational institution established for the promotion of adult education, vocational training, improved literacy or technical education;
(d)An institution established for the education or training of physically or mentally handicapped persons; and
(e)An institution established for the training of sportspersons.
The following supplies of immoveable property:-
(a)A supply of vacant land.
(b)A supply of land to the extent that it is to be used for agricultural purposes.
(c)A supply of immoveable property to the extent that the property relates to residential premises, including land that is reasonably attributable to such premises.
(d)A lease, licence, hire or other forms of supply, to the extent that it is a supply of the right to occupy or be accommodated in residential premises. A supply of holiday or hotel accommodation, if the accommodation is provided to an individual (alone or together with other individuals) who resides therein under terms consistent with a landlord and tenant agreement and for a continuous period of more than 45 days (counting the first day on which the person is supplied the accommodation and disregarding the day on which the person ceases to be provided with the accommodation).
According to the proposed bill, a supply of services that is made in Pakistan and is not subject to tax under the Federal Value-Added Tax Act or a Provincial Value-Added Tax, other than this Act, is made in the province if the registered office of the supplier, or of the supplier’s Value-Added Tax representative in Pakistan, is located in the province.
A supply of services shall be zero-rated if it consists of the repair, maintenance, cleaning, renovation, modification, treatment of goods brought temporarily into Pakistan, so long as the goods are removed from Pakistan after the services have been performed and are not used in Pakistan except to the extent required to perform the service.
A supply of services that are typically performed directly in the physical presence of individuals shall be zero-rated if the services are performed outside Pakistan. A supply of telecommunications service by a telecommunications supplier resident in Pakistan to a telecommunications supplier resident outside Pakistan shall be zero-rated.
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=231737
Foreign portfolio investment : KSE hits $100m mark in March
Labels:
Business
KARACHI: The foreign portfolio investment (FPI) hit $100 million mark in March, which is the highest monthly inflow in the current financial year.
Despite political and security concerns, the Karachi Stock Exchange attracted net buying of $100 million so far during the current month. Currently the foreigners have flooded the local stock market in recent weeks.
“The abnormal flows, is the result of renewed interest of fund managers in frontier and emerging markets,” Topline Securities analyst Farhan Mahmood said and added that the increasing role of foreign trade can be judged from the fact that their share in the total volumes in March 2010 was 15 percent as compared to the average 9 percent in 2009.
Foreigners remained net buyers in Pakistan in the last 10 months with total net inflow of $419 million since June 2009 with benchmark index gaining 38 percent (33 percent in dollar) in these 10 months. Historically it has been seen that every year there is one month in which foreign buying (net of selling) has breached the $100 million mark. Earlier in Feb 2008 net buying of $105 million and then $127 million in September 2009 were made and now in March 2010 offshore investors have already bought $100 million in with one more day remaining.
However, unlike previous trend, KSE index is up only 5 percent this month although it crossed 10,000 points mark after 18 months. Last time when $100 million plus net buying was seen in September 2009 the market rallied 8 percent. Before that in February 2008, the index rose 7 percent. Relatively less enthusiasm this time is due to aggressive profit-taking by the local investors amid liquidity crunch. According to the SBP statistics, foreigners held shares valuing $2.1 billion as of March 20, 2009. The current holding is 6 percent of the market capitalisation. But in relation to free float it is at 23 percent.
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\31\story_31-3-2010_pg5_3
Waqar urges Yousuf to reconsider decision
Labels:
sports
LAHORE – Newly-appointed Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has asked Mohammad Yousuf to reconsider his decision of quitting international cricket and said the former captain still has plenty to offer to the country.
“Yousuf still has a lot of cricket left in him and he should review his decision for the sake of Pakistan cricket,” Waqar said after the senior batsman announced his retirement on Monday.
Yousuf announced his retirement at a press conference in Karachi, saying that he was disheartened by Pakistan Cricket Board’s treatment and also because the board had accused him of being a disruptive influence on the team.
Yousuf’s retirement came at a time when the board has imposed an indefinite ban on him on the recommendations of a inquiry committee that looked into reports of infighting on the recent tour of Australia.
Pakistan will miss Yousuf,
ex-players say
Former cricketers on Tuesday lamented the retirement of Mohammad Yousuf, saying Pakistan will badly miss the ace batsman if he sticks to his decision.
Yousuf said Monday he was quitting international cricket to protest against a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ban imposed over a disastrous tour of Australia, but kept his options open by saying his decision was “for the time being”.
Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas said the 35-year-old Yousuf was still up to Test cricket.
“Yousuf is a world-class batsman and can still play Tests for Pakistan,” Abbas told AFP. “Everyone knows the reason behind his decision, so he should decide on his future and we must respect that.”
The PCB banned Yousuf and fellow former captain Younus Khan indefinitely earlier this month over infighting following an investigation into dismal performances on the tours of United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Australia.
Yousuf took on the captaincy following Younus’s withdrawal after the UAE tour. Pakistan lost all three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match on their December-February tour of Australia.
“Yousuf has served the country for 12 years and deserved a better end to his career. It’s now a catch-22 situation for him, but he will have to think about his future himself,” said Abbas, himself a great batsman in his day.
Source: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Sports/31-Mar-2010/Waqar-urges-Yousuf-to-reconsider-decision
Mohsin backs PCB punishments to players
Labels:
sports
LAHORE: Chief selector of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Hasan Khan said the decision of PCB to punish players on discipline violation was right.
Talking to media, Mohsin said if such step will be taken 14 years ago, cricket would be free of such violations. He said now the player who will be fit and disciplined will play for Pakistan.
Chief selector said ban and fine will be abolish if players admit mistakes and tender written apology. Replying to a question, he conveyed best wishes for Shoaib and Sania.
Source: http://www.geo.tv/Sports.htm
Shoaib, Sania in cross-border match
Labels:
sports
NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis queen Sania Mirza, two of South Asia’s best known sports personalities, are to marry in April, the players said on Tuesday.
Mirza, who has a recurring wrist injury that has affected her game, said she would continue to play after the wedding. “I’m very happy, we’re all very happy,” Mirza told reporters in her home town of Hyderabad. “It’s still a few days away or a few weeks away.”
Malik, an all-rounder who captained Pakistan between 2007 and 2009, told television channels in Pakistan: “We both are also happy and it’s happening next month”. The couple will settle in Dubai after their marriage, Mirza said. “It will be a home away from home,” she said.
The 23-year-old was the first Indian to win a WTA tour event in 2005 and reached her highest world ranking of 27 two years ago although she has since slipped to 92nd.
Malik, 28, has been fighting a 12-month ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board for poor performance and indiscipline. Marriages between citizens of the rival nations are not entirely uncommon, with Muslim families who migrated to Pakistan after the nation was carved out in 1947 maintaining ties with families who remained in India.
Earlier, Sania flew into New Delhi on a brief visit to get her visa to Pakistan where a post-wedding reception is scheduled in April. Accompanied by her mother, the Sania, went to the Pakistan High Commission and completed the formalities.
“We have got the visa. We are happy. Now that we have got the visa, we will be travelling to Pakistan”, her mother Nasima Mirza told reporters. Nasima said the family was very happy with Sania’s decision. “We are very happy about her decision. We are all with her and Inshaallah we wish all the best to her,” she said.
“My wedding Inshallah is going to be the biggest day of my life. I have been in the constant glare for too long and would appreciate privacy at this very personal moment in my life,” Sania said.
While the marriage is likely to be held on April 11 or 12 in Hyderabad, the ‘Valima’ or reception is expected to be held in Lahore on April 16 or 17. In Islamabad, six members of Shoaib Malik’s family have applied for visas to travel to India for the former Pakistan’s captain’s wedding to Sania Mirza.
“Six members of the Malik family have applied for visas but Shoaib himself hasn’t submitted his application so far. But he is expected to do it soon,” official sources said.
The applications were submitted by Shoaib’s uncle Zafar Malik.
Sources also confirmed that Shoaib’s mother was granted visa to travel to India last month. It is speculated that Shoaib’s mother made the marriage proposal to the Mirza family during the trip.
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=231713
Style with social activism
Labels:
Entertainment
The brainchild and namesake of Lebanese entrepreneur Sarah Beydoun, Sarah's Bag is a Lebanese designer label that blends style with social activism. Sarah's Bag employs female convicts and underprivileged women from rural areas to create purses and accessories that have made their way into top fashion stores in London and Paris.–Text & Photos by AFP
A woman holds a handmade clutch bearing a map of Beirut for the label Sarah's Bags in Beirut. Sarah's funky designs include colorful Andy Warhol-inspired prints of Egyptian diva Um Kalthum and Lebanese singer Sabah, a map of Beirut turned into a clutch and evening purses intricately stitched with Arabic proverbs.
Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/media-gallery/17-style+with+social+activism-ek-04
Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/media-gallery/17-style+with+social+activism-ek-04
Pakistan in ‘civil nuclear deal’ with China
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Labels:
Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has entered a civil nuclear deal with China for the establishment of two nuclear power projects of 640 megawatts in Chashma, Daily Times has learnt.
The breakthrough deal – under which Pakistan would be provided a loan, technology and installation facilities – was finalised ahead of the latest round of the Pak-US strategic dialogue, as the federal cabinet granted financial approval at a meeting on March 24.
Sources privy to the deal said the federal cabinet had approved an inter-government framework agreement on the financing of ‘Chashma Nuclear Power Project 3’ and ‘Chashma Nuclear Power Project 4’ with China.
The sources said under the agreement, China would provide 82 percent of the total $1.912 billion financing to Pakistan as a 20-year soft loan, with an eight-year grace period.
In a bid to guarantee financing for the two plants, the inter-government framework agreement requires both countries to enter three loan agreements. Under the first loan agreement, Pakistan would be provided $104 million with an annual interest rate of 1 percent, management fee of 0.2 percent and a commitment fee of 0.2 percent. Under the second preferential buyer credit agreement, Pakistan would get $1 billion with an annual interest rate of 2 percent, a management fee of 0.2 percent and a commitment fee of 0.2 percent – while the third buyers credit agreement would provide Pakistan $474 million with an annual interest rate of 6 percent, a management fee of 0.75 percent, a commitment fee of 0.5 percent and an insurance rate of 7 percent.
However, according to the inter-government framework agreement, the annual composite interest rate would not exceed three percent in any case.
The sources said that frequent visits by President Asif Ali Zardar and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani helped secure the deal. They said the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had already approved the two projects.
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission would be the executing agency for the establishment of the two plants – which would be completed in eight years.
The sources said each 320-megawatt unit would contain a nuclear steam supply system, a turbine-generator set and the associated auxiliary equipment and installations.
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\30\story_30-3-2010_pg7_2
Police officials suspended for mistreating Malik Riaz
Labels:
Pakistan
LAHORE: SSP Operations Lahore Chaudhry Shafique suspended four constables, a sub-inspector and SHO for allegedly mistreating MNA of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Malik Riaz after stopping him on a security picket, Geo News reported Tuesday.
Talking to Geo News, SSP Operations Chaudhry Shafique said Malik Riaz was en route to Chief Minister House, when he was stopped him there for 20 minutes and police mistreated him besides searching him.
Taking notice of the incident on Malik Riaz’s complaint, the police personnel were suspended.
Source: http://www.geo.tv/3-30-2010/62007.htm
SC gives 24 hours to implement NRO verdict
Labels:
Pakistan
ISLAMABAD – Supreme Court on Monday while issuing contempt of court notices on Chairman and Acting Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) set 24 hours deadline for implementation of its December 16th verdict on the National Reconciliation Order (NRO).
In its order, the apex court observed that no one was above the law and it did not matter if one was a king. The court directed the Chairman NAB to reopen all such cases pertaining to the NRO within as well as outside the country without any fear or hesitation. The court directed the NAB Chairman not to waste time in writing letters to the Law Minister or Attorney General and only follow the apex court’s judgement in this regard.
A six-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chuadhry and comprising of Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad, Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday heard a number of the NRO related cases, which stood revived after its decision on December 16 last year.
The court summoned the Acting Chairman NAB, DG FIA, Secretary Interior, Joint Secretary Establishment in the court for not implementing the apex court’s verdict in letter and sprit and issued show cause notices on them and asked them to explain their position before the court on Tuesday (today).
The bench observed that the SC gave appropriate time of four months to the Parliament to decide the fate of NRO but in the TV talk shows and newspapers all were criticising only judges and seeking reforms for the SC instead of implementing its verdict accordingly.
The court asked the Acting Chairman NAB to explain what authority was preventing him form complying with the court’s orders and as to why the cases had not been reopened so far. If a king is involved, he would have to come to pre-NRO position, it observed. Pakistan is only country in the world where the judges make requests for implementation of their orders, the court further observed.
During the course of hearing of a case pertaining to Ahmad Riaz Sheikh, the CJ observed that it should be made clear why the cases had not been reopened against him so far. The bench ordered the Acting Chairman NAB to submit detailed report and directed him to appear before the court Tuesday (today). “They want to hush up everything, nothing will happen to them but you will have to go behind the bars,” the court told the Acting Chairman NAB.
Source: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/30-Mar-2010/SC-gives-24-hours-to-implement-NRO-verdict
NAB continues to defy SC, bars prosecutor on Swiss cases
Labels:
Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: In yet another show of persistent defiance to the Supreme Court’s repeated orders to get the Swiss cases reopened, NAB has barred the most efficient of its prosecutors from appearing before the apex court in the relevant case to be heard on Tuesday.
The deputy prosecutor general NAB, Raja Aamir Abbas, who was appreciated and praised by the Supreme Court for being the only efficient prosecutor in the Bureau, has been formally asked by NAB bosses not to appear before the Supreme Court in the case involving the Swiss accounts of President Zardari.
Raja Aamir Abbas is the same NAB prosecutor, who had dared to write to the Law Ministry to remove Chairman NAB Navid Ahsan and Prosecutor General Danishwar Malik besides seeking implementation of the apex court judgment on the NRO in letter and spirit.
He had also asked for permission to write to the Swiss authorities to get the corruption cases, including those against President Asif Ali Zardari, reopened. In a hearing last month, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, had expressed its complete displeasure over the NAB’s prosecution but said that DPG Raja Aamir Abbas was the only exception.
In another case of the Bank of Punjab, the Supreme Court during the hearing of the case had observed that Raja Aamir Abbas should take full charge of the cases. NAB, however, responded negatively and has formally disassociated Raja Aamir from the case in which the Supreme Court had issued repeated directions for the implementation of the NRO judgment.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the chief justice of Pakistan, had given 48 hours to NAB to implement the unimplemented parts of the NRO decision, including writing to the Swiss and other foreign authorities.
NAB, which now is directly under the Law Ministry, did not move as directed by the Supreme Court. On March 12, another three-member bench of the Supreme Court, which was headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, again expressed the court’s displeasure over the non-implementation of the NRO judgment and gave another two weeks to write to the Swiss authorities.
But now NAB would be going before the Supreme Court without moving an inch from what was the situation on March 12 as far as the reopening of foreign corruption cases are concerned. Now NAB would be represented by one Abid Zubairi, who has been lately hired by the Bureau, to represent NAB in the case of the NRO implementation.
Interestingly, the order for the detachment of Raja Aamir Abbas has been issued by Prosecutor General NAB Danishwar Malik with the approval of incumbent acting Chairman NAB Irfan Nadeen. Danishwar Malik is the official, who along with the Chairman NAB Navid Ahsan and the then additional prosecutor general Baseer Qureshi, was to be removed by the government following the Supreme Court’s order issued on December 16, 2009.
NAB spokesman Ghazni Khan when approached said there was no mala fide in the replacement of Raja Aamir Abbas and claimed that it was done because of the workload. Although the NAB spokesman did not offer any comment on the question of delay in the reopening of foreign cases, a NAB source said the Bureau would not do anything that does not suit the government.
He cited the cases of acquittal of powerful NRO beneficiaries and friendly prosecution to press that NAB cannot deliver as per the directions of the courts unless it is made independent of the government’s control.
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28059
Israeli shoot dead Palestinian teenager in Gaza: medics
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World News
GAZA CITY: Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teenager near the southern Gaza border town of Rafah on Tuesday, Palestinian medics said.
Muawiya Hassanein, the head of Gaza emergency services, said Mohammed al-Faramawi, 15, was shot dead close to Gaza's defunct airport, without giving further details.
The Israeli military would not immediately comment on the report.
Gaza's borders had been mostly quiet since a massive 22-day Israeli offensive against the territory's Islamist Hamas rulers ended in January 2009.
But two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinians were killed last weekend in Gaza in the heaviest clashes since the end of the war, and several rockets have been fired by Palestinian militants in past weeks.
Source: http://www.geo.tv/3-30-2010/62003.htm
‘Abbas wanted Hamas toppled in Gaza war’
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World News
JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Israel to topple Hamas in the Gaza war last year, then turned around and blamed Israel for war crimes.
Lieberman said that raised questions over Abbas’s fitness as a leader with whom Israel could make peace.
“Over the past year, I witnessed (Abbas) at his best. In Operation Cast Lead, (he) called us personally, applied pressure and demanded that we topple Hamas and remove it from power,” he told Israel’s Maariv daily. “A month after the operation ended, he filed a complaint against us with the International Court of Justice at The Hague for war crimes. Is that a partner?” An aide to Abbas vehemently denied the allegation, accusing the right-leaning Israeli government of trying to deepen the deadlock over US-sponsored efforts to revive negotiations.
“This is not true. It is a continuation of the (Israeli) campaign of defamation ... to create an atmosphere that would destroy any chance of salvaging the peace process,” Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rdainah said. Israel launched its three-week Gaza offensive on Dec 27, 2008 with the stated aim of stopping rocket attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian factions. Such attacks have tapered off since, though there has been sporadic cross-border violence.
The war’s Palestinian toll - 1,400 dead, mostly non-combatants, while Israel lost 10 troops and three civilians - drew fierce censure abroad and stalled negotiations between Abbas and then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, a centrist. Lieberman was not in government during the Gaza war. A spokesman declined to say on what the foreign minister had based his allegations. But a senior Israeli official serving Olmert at the time said Lieberman’s account was “essentially accurate”.
Hamas claims vindication: Hamas, which has already accused its rival Abbas of cheering Israel on in the war, saw Lieberman’s charge as vindication of its suspicions against the Palestinian president. “The grave statement reaffirms the fact Mahmoud Abbas is no longer fit to represent our people, who conspired against his people during a war,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. Hamas has been locked in a power struggle with Abbas’s formerly dominant secular Fatah faction since winning a 2006 Palestinian election. It scorns Abbas for his recognition of the Jewish state and declared readiness to renounce armed struggle.
Abbas joined the condemnation of the Olmert government’s Gaza offensive. But he outraged many Palestinians by initially vacillating over support for a UN war-crimes report in September that focused scrutiny on Israeli conduct. In the Maariv interview, Lieberman was largely dismissive about prospects for progress with Abbas’s government, whose mandate was cut down to the Israeli-occupied West Bank after Hamas seized the Gaza Strip and took full
control in 2007.
Hopes of starting indirect talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas were dashed this month by the announcement of a new Jewish settlement project on occupied land where Palestinians seek a state. The project, slated for an area of the West Bank that Israel annexed to Jerusalem, also drew US questions about Netanyahu’s seriousness about peacemaking. That dispute remains unresolved. reuters
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\30\story_30-3-2010_pg4_1
US military expects long offensive in Kandahar
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World News
US President Barack Obama meets with troops at Bagram Air Base in Kabul. Obama arrived unannounced in Afghanistan on Sunday, his first visit to the war zone that could define his presidency since his election as U.S. commander-in-chief. Air Force One landed in darkness at Bagram airfield north of the Afghan capital, and Obama was whisked by helicopter to Hamid Karzai’s palace in Kabul, where he was greeted by the Afghan president and a band playing the US national anthem. – Reuters Photo
WASHINGTON: The US military this summer is looking toward a lengthy offensive in the Taliban heartland of Kandahar, an operation that could ultimately define the outcome of the war.
The two-month campaign, expected to begin in June, also will test President Barack Obama’s bet that tens of thousands more troops can make the difference in an eight-year war that has shown only modest progress.
“This is really a strategic moment in the history of our involvement,” national security adviser Jim Jones told reporters aboard Air Force One during Obama’s covert overnight flight to Afghanistan last weekend.
Kandahar has long been considered crucial to winning the war. US officials believe it was where al-Qaida leaders planned the Sept. 11 attacks, and it served as a governing capital to the Taliban before the 2001 invasion.
That the Taliban still enjoys considerable influence in the city and other areas in the south was a primary reason that Obama decided last fall to send 30,000 more troops. Under his plan, there will be nearly 100,000 US forces in Afghanistan this year – nearly triple the level when he took office.
Military officials have already reported progress in other areas, as fresh troops have begun to trickle in. But officials hope wrestling Kandahar away from the Taliban will deal a fatal blow to the insurgency and help persuade the Afghan people to swing behind the central government in Kabul.
A senior military official said Monday that the offensive on Kandahar was expected to begin in June. The goal is to rid the city of Taliban forces before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins in August.
The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the operation, discussed it on condition of anonymity.
US officials have previously disclosed plans for a Nato-led offensive in the area this year, but have not said when it might happen.
Until the start of major military operations, US troops are working on securing transit routes and persuading the leaders of districts surrounding Kandahar to cooperate with NATO forces.
Even after major operations begin, officials say it won’t look like World War II’s D-Day. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top US and Nato commander in Afghanistan, said much of the focus will be on working with political leaders and teaming US forces with Afghan police.
Still, US officials are warning of increased casualties as a result of operations in Kandahar and elsewhere.
“We all expect the fight to get tougher as we carry out the new campaign plan,” said Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Obama made his first trip to Afghanistan on Sunday, meeting with troops and Afghan leaders.
During his six-hour visit, Obama told Karzai and other Afghan officials that they must step up and make progress on reducing corruption and ensuring the delivery of basic services to the Afghans. In a visit to troops at Bagram Air Field, Obama said the fate of the nation is ultimately up to the Afghans.
“Our intent is to make sure that the Afghans have the capacity to provide for their own security. That is core to our mission,” Obama said.
At least 945 members of the US military have died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan since the war’s start, according to an Associated Press count. With the fight engaged more intensely now, the number killed in the first three months of this year was roughly double the total from the same period last year. –AP
Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/21-us-military-expects-long-offensive-in-kandahar-03
SBP Quarterly Report on State of Pakistan’s Economy
Labels:
Business
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has raised the fiscal deficit forecast for the current financial year 2009/10 (July-June) to between 5.0 and 5.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) from the targeted 4.9 per cent in the wake of high defence spending and low revenue collection.
The SBP in its Second Quarterly Report on the State of Pakistan Economy maintained its GDP forecast for FY10 at between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent, but lowered its projection for the current account deficit to 3.2 to 3.8 per cent from the previous estimates of 3.7 to 4.7 per cent.
“The fiscal outlook appears especially challenging,” the SBP said in its Second Quarterly Report (October-December) for FY10 on the State of Pakistan’s Economy. “Existing rigidities in current expenditures have been exacerbated in FY10 by the strong build-up in domestic and external debt, and rising military spending on anti-terrorist operations.”
The growing energy sector circular debt and the government’s controversial policy of paying higher-than-market price to farmers for certain commodities also contributed to widening of the fiscal deficit, the bank said.
Analysts say that keeping the fiscal deficit target at 4.9 per cent remains one of the key conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under its $11.3 billion Standby Agreement with Pakistan.
Hamad Aslam, head of research at BMA Capital Management, however, said that the widening of fiscal deficit would have little impact on the Standby Agreement with the IMF. “In practice these numbers have been shared with IMF officials so it won’t0 be much of a problem for the governmentÖ But, the rising current expenditure on the large government machinery should be bothering the IMF.”
According to the SBP report, weak revenue generation and considerable lags in the receipts of Coalition Support Fund also contributed to the widening of fiscal deficit, which rose to 2.7pc of GDP in July-December 2009, compared with 1.9pc in the same period the previous year.
“In recent consultations with the IMF, need for cut in Public Sector Development Program and relaxation in fiscal deficit target was also recognised,” the report said. However, the central bank said that a cut in the development spending is not desirable. “The government’s ability to protect development spending has been severely cramped by non-availability of expected external aid inflows from the Friends of Democratic Pakistan.”
The central bank’s forecast for the current account deficit improved to 3.2 to 3.8 per cent from 3.7 to 4.7 per cent estimated in its first (Jul-Sep) quarterly report. Better than expected exports and robust performance of remittances helped slash the current account deficit, the bank said.
“The good news on the external sector ends here,” it said, adding that a monthly breakup for July-Feb shows most of the improvement was concentrated in the first quarter of the fiscal year. Thereafter, the year-on-year trend has steadily deteriorated with imports rising and remittances slowing down.
The report said Pakistan will achieve GDP growth of 2.5 to 3.5 per cent in the current fiscal year despite weak agricultural output on the back of industrial recovery and reasonable performance of the services sector.
A rise in demand for consumer durables, cars and cement led the growth in large-scale manufacturing sub-sector. “Nonetheless, it will be extremely challenging o sustain the growth seen in Jul-Jan 2009/10 given the prevalent energy shortages.”
The SBP said the country’s overall economic outlook remains mixed as inflationary pressures have decisively reemerged in recent months. The year-on-year inflation, which dropped to 8.9 per cent by October 2009, bounced back to the double digits of 13 per cent by Feb 2010, the bank said.
Also, sustaining current account deficit is challenging given rising import requirements and evident weakness in pace of growth in remittances, it added. “Prospects for real GDP growth are better relative to the preceding year. However, this level of growth is not adequate to generate required employment opportunities.”
About criticism of its tight monetary policy by the industry, the central bank said given the weakness in the country’s fiscal outlook and risks to external flows and rising inflation, policy options for Pakistan were limited.
The SBP said trends in financial and capital accounts were discouraging as of the $3.7 billion surplus for Jul-Feb about $2.8 billion were recorded in the first quarter. Practically, all of the external financing was in the form of debt, significantly adding to the country’s vulnerability to external shocks, it said.
The rupee also depreciated sharply between mid-December 2009 and mid-February 2010 despite continued inflows from the IMF pushed up Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, the bank said.
Projections of Major Macroeconomic Indicators
FY10
FY09 Annual Plan SBP
Targets Projections
growth rates in percent
GDP 2.0 3.3 2.5 - 3.5
Average CPI inflation 20.8 9.0 11.0 - 12.0
Monetary assets (M2) 9.6 - 14.5 - 15.5
billion US dollars
Workers’ remittances 7.8 7.0 8.0 - 8.5
Exports (fob-BoP data) 19.2 19.9 18.7 - 19.2
Imports (fob-BoP data) 31.7 28.7 30.5 - 31.0
percent of GDP
Fiscal deficit 5.2 4.9 5.0 - 5.5
Current account deficit 5.3 5.3 3.2 - 3.8
Note: Targets of fiscal and current account deficit to GDP ratios are based on nominal GDP in the budget document for FY10, while their projections are based on projected (higher) nominal GDP for the year.
Highlights
• Pakistan likely to sustain revival of economic growth during the current fiscal year.
• FY10 GDP growth target remains unchanged from the previous quarter.
• GDP growth not adequate to generate required employment opportunities.
• Pakistan’s overall economic outlook seen mixed.
• FY10 headline CPI inflation estimates in the range of 11 to 12 percent.
• Current account deficit narrows on better exports, robust remittances.
• FY10 fiscal deficit seen higher on extraordinary defense spending and weakness in revenue collection.
• Fiscal deficit seen in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 percent of GDP during FY10.
• Aggressive fiscal reforms seen key to achieve and retain macroeconomic stability in the mid-term.
• Growth prospects for the agriculture sector remain weak.
• Broad Money (M2) growth accelerates to 5.7 percent during July-Feb. FY10 from 2.0 percent in the same period of FY09.
• Net Foreign Assets of the banking system records a depletion of Rs46.6 billion in July-Feb
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=231575
US considering fund for investment in Pakistan
LAHORE - US Assistant Secretary of State Robert O Blake has said that the United States is considering establishing an investment fund for American businessmen that would help provide them new opportunities to invest in Pakistan.
The US Assistant Secretary of State was addressing a select gathering at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday. LCCI former Vice President Shahzad Ali Malik, US Consul General in Lahore Carmela Conroy, former LCCI Presidents Iftikhar Ali Malik, Mohammad Ali Mian and Convener Standing Committee on Diplomatic Missions Mian Tariq Misbah also spoke on the occasion.
Mr Robert O Blake said that the United States was working on many fronts to help Pakistan achieve economic stability. He said the US was about to begin work on Bilateral Investment Treaty. “There is considerable effort being undertaking now in Washington so it is expected that the Bilateral Investment Treaty would be ready soon after which bilateral negotiations with Pakistan would be started.
He said that the United States was going to add a new page is Pak-US relations by maximizing it support in a number of sectors including power, Agriculture, Market access, infrastructure and water.
The US Assistant Secretary of State pledged American Assistance in overcoming electricity shortage developing agriculture sector besides cooperation to maximize exports of Pakistani products.
He said this was a very historic juncture now in relations between Pakistan and the United States. The strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States aimed at broadening and deepening Pak-US partnership in a very systematic way. The US official said that this time it was different because for the first time a steering group and working groups were being established that would cover all aspects of bilateral relations particularly the trade and investment areas. “The US sees Pakistan as an extra ordinary important partner right now not only in dealing with terrorism but also in helping to achieve stability in this strategically important part of the world. We want to help government in overcoming energy shortage and to delivers basic services to people and also improve governance.” He said that it was quite important that trade and business organizations like LCCI should take responsibility of advising the govt about the areas in which the govt should focus.
Source: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Business/30-Mar-2010/US-considering-fund-for-investment-in-Pakistan
Pak cricket team training camp begins tomorrow
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sports
LAHORE: The training camp of the Pakistan cricket team in preparation of the Twenty20 World Cup will begin tomorrow in Lahore.
The players included in the squad reported at the camp.
Pakistan team with its new coach and new captain will begin its preparations for the T20 World Cup.
The five reserve players will also take part in the camp along with the selected 15 players of the team while eight more players from the 30 probables have also been invited for practice at the camp.
According to the PCB spokesman, first a detailed meeting of the players and the management will be held before the camp begins in the morning and the practice schedule will be finalized.
Later, the players will do net practice from 3-00 pm to 6-00 pm.
Coach Waqar Younis will address at the news conference during the camp.
Source: http://www.geo.tv/3-28-2010/61905.htm
Pakistan's KRL face tough battle in AFC President's Cup
Labels:
sports
KRL secured the berth in the event for the first time on 13 December, 2009, when they clinched the Pakistan Premier League 2009 title at Karachi. They last appeared in an AFC event in 11th Asian Cup Winners Cup in 2000. -Photo by APP
They will take on
KRL secured the berth in the event for the first time on 13 December, 2009, when they clinched the
KRL’s six matches will be played at
Group B games will be played at
AFC has also reminded the participating clubs to submit the required documents for players and officials registration before the deadline of April 6, 2010. The group champions and the best runners-up will qualify for the finals which is scheduled to take place in September.
Three-times champion Regar-TadAZ of
Regar regained the title on 21 September 2008 after edging out host Dordoi 4-3 on tie break after 1-1 draw at Spartak Stadium in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Regar claimed their third win on home soil when they defeated the same opposition - Dordoi (who never missed a final) - 2-0 at
Group A (
Dordoi (
Group B (
Vakhsh (
Group C (
Yadanarbon (
Source:http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/sport/08-pakistans-krl-face-tough-battle-in-asian-presidents-cup-ts-03
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