Aug 20
ISLAMABAD: Commander United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) General David H. Petraeus called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters on Wednesday.
The visiting dignitary remained with the Chief of Army Staff for some time and discussed the matters of professional interest.
Aug 19
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Another godown of a sugar mill Dera Ismail Khan was raided and 200,000 sugar bags were recovered, Geo News reported Wednesday.
District Food Controller said at least 1.9 million sugar sacks have been recovered today from four mills including the latest raid on the fourth mill where at least 200,000 sugar bags were recovered.
Aug 19
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India should continue dialogue process and enhance people-to-people contacts to further strengthen bilateral ties, said Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
He was talking to Indian High Commissioner Sharrat Sabharwal, who called on him at his residence in Murree on Wednesday.
Nawaz Sharif said that peace process, started in 1999, should continue and instead of allegations and counter allegations, both countries should adopt positive attitude. Bilateral problems should be resolved through negotiations, he added.
Nawaz Sharif said that if issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, are resolved, a new era of development would usher in the region, ensuring peace and prosperity for both countries.
The PML-N chief also stressed the need for increasing trade relations between Pakistan and India.
Indian High Commissioner conveyed good wishes of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and said that his efforts for peace and democracy were appreciated in India.
Aug 19
KHUZDAR: At least four people were injured in a blast at Hospital road here, police sources said Wednesday.
The injured have been rushed to the nearby hospital.
Aug 19
QUETTA: At least two people were injured when a powerful explosion occurred at Saryab Road of Quetta near Tariq Hospital, sources said Wednesday.
The bomb was rigged to a motorbike.
Aug 19
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said he forgave former President Gen (rtd) Pervez Musharraf on his resignation; however, if the parliament brings a consensus resolution against him (Musharraf), he would support it.
Addressing the National Assembly, he said the Leader of the Opposition does not have the majority to get the resolution approved.
The judiciary, having played their role, said the rest lies with the parliament, he said.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto held the democracy the best revenge, he said.
Gilani said he has come to the House, now it is time to bolster democracy, adding it is the first time that he ascended the premiership as the consensus candidate and MQM supported him at a time when it was not a coalition partner.
The PM Gilani said he wants to take all the allies in confidence and the strength of his government comes from the alliance.
All the resolutions were adopted with consensus in 17 months, he added.
Aug 19
LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said until the revolutionary changes are brought about in the outdated educational system, education standard cannot be improved from grass-root to high-level education.
Talking to artist Shehzad Roy, chief of Zindagi trust at MQM International Secretariat London, he said whoever works for modern education, his party will unconditionally favour him.
Roy apprised Altaf Hussain of the efforts of Zindagi Trust in education field for modern syllabus for the schools being run under his trust.
The MQM wants to educate new generation in line with the modern requirements and any organization or NGO which works for education, MQM will unconditionally support it, Altaf said.
Aug 19
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khurshid Shah said Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suffered a massive loss to the tune of Rs. 35 billion in 2008, and its was still in doldrums; in last quarter, it had a deficit of Rs5.8 billion.
Replying to a supplementary question in the National Assembly on Wednesday the minister, however, said this loss had gradually started reducing.
He hoped this year the loss of PIA would be reduced upto 25-30 percent.
Shah said currently there wasn”t any proposal to procure new aircraft, however, he said more planes would have to be purchased any time in future to meet the growing demand.
He said two new airports currently were being constructed namely, New Benazir Bhutto International Airport (NBBA) Islamabad and New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA).
The NBBIA, he said, was being constructed by CAA through its own resources. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 37 billion.
NGIA is being constructed under the Public Sector Development Programme for which the government has already provided Rs. 1.5 billion for purchase of land. The project is estimated to cost around Rs. 7.5 billion.
The minister said PIA had leased a total of eleven aircraft forHajj/Umra during the last year, while for this year it intended to conduct Hajj/Umra operation through its own fleet.
The PIA has Rs142 billion to pay to banks and the main reason for the fiscal deficit is payment of markup on the loans in addition to the burgeoning oil prices.
Aug 19
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Parliamentary leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Haider Abbas Rizvi Wednesday said the sacrifices rendered by his parties are bringing forth fruits.
Addressing the National Assembly, he said the MQM wants action against every dictator of the country.
‘We know that people do change their conscience and character,’ he said.
Aug 19
KHAR: Unidentified men killed three government officials in Khar tehsil of Bajaur Agency, while a Jirga between Tarkhani and Amtan Khel tribes announced action will be taken if tribes do not follow the peace deal.
According to sources, unidentified men killed three government officials, including an official of Bajaur Levies, near Babagai check post in Khar tehsil.
Meanwhile, a Jirga was held between Tarkhani and Amtan tribes in Khar. Addressing the Jirga, Commissioner Malakand Division Fazal Karim Khatak said stern measures will be adopted if tribes of Bajaur Agency do not follow the peace deals made with the administration.
He said government is fully disposed to pay off the damages in Bajaur Agency due to the ongoing operation there.
He said, “security forces operations put an end to the control of the extremists in Malakand Agency, while both the tribes have announced to cooperate with the government.”