Saturday, May 17, 2008
Kidnapped Pakistani envoy to Afghanistan recovered safe: FO
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin who was kidnapped more than three months ago has been recovered safe, said the Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq on Saturday. The Envoy Tariq Azizuddin was heading to the Afghan capital Kabul with his driver when he disappeared in the Khyber tribal district bordering Afghanistan on February 11.
“The ambassador was recovered late Friday,” confirmed the spokesman. “He is safe and sound,” he said.
The release came nearly four weeks after Azizuddin appeared in a video aired by Dubai-based Al-Arabiya news channel in which he said he was being held by the Taliban.
He said in the video that he had been taken with his driver and bodyguard who were also shown sitting beside him, while three gunmen stood in the background.
Azizuddin had pleaded in the video to the government and the foreign ministry “to do all they can to protect our lives and to answer all the demands of the Mujahedeen of Taliban in order to secure our release.”
PM urges disabled’s access to telecom technology benefits
ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday said the government was committed to extending fruits of advancement in telecommunication sector to all tiers of society, with specific focus on enabling disabled persons to benefit from the Information Communication Technology (ICT). “The persons with special needs will be encouraged as promoters of ICT, and become beneficiary of building an all inclusive society,” the Prime Minister said while addressing a function to mark the World Communication Day on this year’s theme ‘Connecting Persons with disabilities: ICT opportunities for all’. The ceremony was organized by the Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL) in collaboration with Ufone and Warid Telecom.
The Prime Minister said the ICT sector is considered an engine of socio-economic development all over the world and its benefits should be within the access of marginalized segments of the society including physically challenged people.
He said the theme of International Telecommunication Union was even more relevant to Pakistan in the perspective of massive earthquake of 2005 that left a great number of people disabled.
To get these people into the mainstream, there was a need to introduce special projects for them and enable them through ICT gadgets and equipment to become a productive force, Gilani said.
“The industry should be pro-active to fully exploit the resources for persons with disabilities and introduce equipment that caters to the needs of such people,” he said.
The Prime Minister said special persons must be helped to explore and employ these technologies for self-reliance and urged all stakeholders to make difference in the lives of special people.
He hoped that the era of ICT opportunities would dawn in, empowering all citizens with technological gains and bring improvement in the lives of disabled people so as to help them contribute for the development of country.
Minister for Information Technology Qamar Zaman Kaira said in Pakistan the telecommunication infrastructure is at par with any developed country and the government was fully aware of the need to expoit this sector’s potential for contributing to the economy.
He said at the time of independence, Pakistan inherited a meager network of 12,000 telephone lines while today it had approximately 88 million fixed, wireless and cellular mobile telephone connections.
Gilani mentioned that presently 17 million users were benefiting from over 3.5 million internet connections while the broadband connectivity swelled upto 125,000 connections.
He said his ministry initiated consultation process with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education and NGOs for the formulation of special initiatives to empower the persons with disabilities through ICT gadgets.
President PTCL Walid Irshad Sheikh announced the launching of ‘PTCL Smart’, a new digital multi-channel service that would deliver television programmes to households via broadband connection using the Internet Protocol Technology (IPT).
Later, the Prime Minister formally inaugurated the new service ‘PTCL Smart’ and distributed awards to the winners of and essay competition organized by Wateen Telecom.
‘PTCL Smart’ is a fixed landline service that allows the customer the experience of telephony, broadband and multi-channel TV, all at the same time and same line.
The service requires subscription and Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). An IP-based platform allows the TV service to be ‘smarter’ than the traditional broadcast and cable TV services, by making the TV viewing experience more interactive and personalized.
PTCL’s Smart TV will provide advanced features that are not possible with traditional broadcast television systems, including Time Shifted Television, Parental Control, Electronic Program Guides, Global Television Channels, Video on Demand and near Video on Demand.
PM briefed on PAF’s activities
ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday was given detailed briefing on the ongoing development programmes of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and its preparedness to protect the country’s aerial frontiers, at Air Headquarters here. Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Operation), Air Marshal, Rao Qamar Suleman gave a comprehensive briefing to the Prime Minister, which was also attended by Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, Defence Secretary and other officials. The Prime Minister also held a meeting with Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed and discussed matters of professional interest.
Gilani reiterated the government’s resolve to continue strengthen the country’s air defence by providing all necessary resources to PAF and enable it modernize itself and stay in a state of readiness.
He said the government was focusing on improving PAF’s indigenous capabilities by exploring the possibilities of entering into joint ventures with friendly countries.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan Air Force always proved its mettle in defending the aerial frontiers of the country. He appreciated the PAF personnel for keeping high standards of professionalism and capabilities in performing their duties.
The Air Chief presented the Prime Minister a painting of JF-17 aircraft.
Earlier on his arrival at Air Headquarters, the Prime Minister was presented guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of PAF and was introduced to the Principal Staff Officers.
Sherry Rehman takes notice of rise in polio cases
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister of Health Sherry Rehman has taken a strong notice of the rise in polio cases in the province of Sindh, as one more case was reported this week bringing the total number of affected children in the country to eight.
Expressing her concern at the reports, the Federal Minister of Health has directed the Programme Manager, Expanded Programme for Immunization to immediately look into the issue and ensure effective implementation of the programme. A team comprising Dr H.B. Memon, the National Programme Manager EPI, Imtiaz Elahi, Additional Health Secretary, Dr Khalif Bile Mohamud, WHO Representative to Pakistan, and Dr Wahdan, Special Advisor to the Regional Director WHO is flying to Karachi on Monday to take stock of the situation. The team would also offer assistance in the implementation of the experts’ recommendation on the issue.
“The rise in the number of cases is alarming given the fact that there is no resistance to the immunization campaign in the province of Sindh,” said Ms Sherry Rehman. She noted that all the cases reported in Sindh were found to have failed to receive sufficient doses of polio vaccine.
“We have been told that there are issues of management in the health delivery system of the province with specific reference to polio. This is a cause of concern since this reflects weakness in the implementation area of the programme,” she added.
The Federal Minister assured the provinces of the Federal Government’s cooperation in meeting the target of the total eradication of the disease. “If there was a proper follow up on the programme by the federal and the provincial authorities, the disease would have been eliminated by now. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto initiated this programme in 1994 with the aim to totally eradicate the disease from the country.”
The Minister of Health emphasized that a system of proper screening and efficient selection of polio teams be strictly enforced to ensure an effective implementation of the programme.
“There is also a need to redesign and implement the communication strategy of the campaign since it is clear that communication is one of the weak areas of the programme. Every single individual involved with the EPI need to be sensitized on the significance of this programme.”
She said that “the government is totally committed to carrying out the programme with seriousness and responsibility. A Polio-free Pakistan was the vision of our martyred leader Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and it is our responsibility to ensure that we meet the target of total elimination of this disease in the coming years.”
One security-man killed, 3 injured in bomb blast
KOHAT : One security personnel was killed and three injured in a bomb blast here at OTS road on Friday night. According to police sources, some miscreants had planted a bomb which went off when a security vehicle was passing through the spot.Resultantly, a security personnel Nusrat Hayat was killed while Qurban Ali, Mehrullah and Najeebullah sustained injuries.
The injured persons were immediately rushed to the Combined Military Hospital Kohat, Meanwhile, police cordoned off the area after this incident.
PML (N) vows full support to government for political, economic stability: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal has said that PML-N will extend full support to PPP government for sake of political and economic stability.
Speaking in CNBC programme, he said PML-N had extended full support to the PPP for formation of government and accepted their mandate at the centre and will also lend cooperation to the government to bring out the country from political and economic crises.
To a question he said PPP and PML(N) are trying their best to steer the country out of economics crisis.
Present economic crisis in the country is a result of failed policies of the previous government, he added.
He blamed that pervious government did not set up even a single power unit in the country, agricultural production could not increase that is why presently the country is facing economic crisis and shortage of power and food items.
He said presently the country needed foreign investment for which political stability is required.
To another question he said PML-N is committed to implement Charter of Democracy (CoD) in letter and spirit.
However, he said being a senior partner of this coalition, it is prime duty of PPP to run the matter of coalition government with a good sense. Both parties should avoid to take controversial decisions, he added.
He criticised appointment of Salman Taseer as governor. (PML-N) wants non-controversial governor of the four provinces.
He said PML(N) would have been happy if PPP nominated Jahangir Badar or any other political worker who sacrificed for democracy during the last eight years.
LPG price up by Rs. 1 Per Kilogram
KARACHI: LPG marketing companies have once again increased the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by Rs. one to Rs. 51 per kilogram in Karachi and Rs. 52 in Punjab.
Chairman of LPG Distributors Association, Hadi Khan said the retail price of 11.8 cylinder is up by Rs 10 to Rs 540 in Sindh while it is Rs 560 in Punjab and Rs 585 in NWFP.
He alleged that LPG marketing companies have been increasing their prices without any notices and without any reason.
Hadi expressed disappointment over government’s silence towards arbitrary and frequent increase in LPG prices by marketing companies.
He alleged that producers have reduced LPG production by 90 to 100 metric tons to 1500 MT per day to create a shortage in the country and thus raising prices of poor’s man fuel.
The total demand for LPG is 2000 MT per day in Pakistan, he said.
He pointed out that LPG prices have been increased by Rs. five in last ten days.
He further alleged that producers are selling LPG at Rs. 40,703 to 45,000 per metric ton whereas its actual production cost ranges between Rs 8,000 to 9,000 per metric ton.
He urged the government to ensure that producers do bring down LPG prices at Rs 25,000 per metric ton.
فوج کی قیادت کی تبدیلی سے پاکستان کی خارجہ ودفاعی پالیسی میں کوئی تبدیلی نہیں آئی۔ قاضی حسین احمد
لاہور۔ جماعت اسلامی پاکستان کے امیر واے پی ڈی ایم کے مرکزی رہنما قاضی حسین احمد نے کہا ہے کہ فوج کی قیادت کی تبدیلی سے پاکستان کی خارجہ ودفاعی پالیسی میں کوئی تبدیلی نہیں آئی۔ باجوڑ پر امریکہ کے بغیر پائلٹ طیارے کا حملہ شرمناک ہے اور اس سے بڑھ کر یہ کہ اب بھی امریکی طیارے باجوڑ اور وزیرستان کی فضا میں دندناتے پھر رہے ہیں۔ امریکہ کو اس حوالے سے کوئی خوف وخطرہ نہیں ہے اور نہ ہی افواج پاکستان یا حکومت پاکستان ان کا راستہ روکنے کیلئے کوئی اقدامات کررہی ہے۔ انہوں نے کہاکہ 18فروری کے انتخابات میں شکست کے باوجود پرویز مشرف پھر سر اٹھا رہے ہیں اور ایسا نقشہ تیار کرنے میں مصروف ہیں کہ اپنے مخالفین کو کچلا یا راستے سے ہٹایا جاسکے ۔ ان خیالات کا اظہار انہوں نے ملتان روڈ منصورہ میں قائم کئے جانے والی اسلامک پبلی کیشنز کے شو روم کے افتتاح کے موقع پر صحافیوں سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے کیا۔ قاضی حسین احمد نے کہا کہ جماعت اسلامی کا علم کتاب سے رشتہ بہت گہرا رشتہ ہے۔ مولانا ابوالاعلی مودودی نے 1941ء میں جماعت اسلامی کی بنیاد اسی علمی تحریک کو آگے بڑھانے کیلئے رکھی تھی۔ انہوں نے امید ظاہر کی کہ اسلامک پبلی کیشنز کا یہ شو روم اس عملی تحریک کو آگے بڑھانے میں اہم کردار ادا کرے گا۔ بدقسمتی سے ہمارے ہاں کتاب کی زیادہ مانگ نہ ہونے کے باعث پبلشر بہترین مصنفین کی کتابیں شائع کرنے پر بھی تیار نہیں ہوتے۔ صحافیوں سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے قاضی حسین احمد نے کہاکہ گذشتہ روز گورنر ہاؤس میں گورنر کی حلف اٹھانے کی تقریب کے موقع پر جو کچھ سامنے آیا ہے اس سے لگتا ہے کہ جنرل (ر) پرویز مشرف ایوان صدر میں بیٹھ کر سازشوں میں مصروف ہیں جس کا مقصد ججوں کی بحالی اور اپنے مخالفین کا راستہ روکنا ہے۔ مسلم لیگ (ن) اور پیپلز پارٹی کے درمیان سلمان تاثیر کو گورنر بنانے سے متعلق تنازعہ پر انہوں نے کہاکہ یہ پیپلز پارٹی اور مسلم لیگ (ن) کا داخلی مسئلہ ہے ہم فی الحال کوئی رخنہ نہیں ڈالنا چاہتے اور اس معاملے میں احتیاط سے آگے بڑھنا چاہتے ہیں۔ باجوڑ پر امریکی میزائل حملہ اور پاکستان کے خلاف امریکی جارحانہ پالیسی کے حوالے سے انہوں نے حکومت پاکستان سے بھی کہا کہ وہ واضح کرے کہ ہم کہاں کھڑیں ہیں اور حکومت پاکستان کا کیا سٹینڈ ہے
Amisha Patel’s found a mentor in Aditya?
Amisha Patel recently opted out of Priyadarshan’s latest film, Billo Barber which she had signed with much fanfare as she felt the size of the role wasn’t befitting her talent. The Shah Rukh Khan-Irrfan Khan starrer is a remake of the Malayalam film, Katha Parayumbol and revolves around a humble village Barber (Irrfan) and his superstar friend (SRK). Amisha was to play the barber’s wife. She felt that the film’s focus was the friendship between SRK and Irrfan’s characters. The latest rumour doing the rounds is that it was because of Aditya Chopra’s friendly advice that she backed out of the film.
Apparently, Aditya is a friend, philosopher and guide. She has also signed a three-film deal with Yash Raj Films so they want to make sure her career moves are just right and should not affect their future projects with her. Amisha’s desire to work with SRK is intact and the buzz is that in one of the YRF projects, she may just play his leading lady. And anyway, she’s doing a special dance number in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Amisha certainly seems to be giving her almost extinct career a new lease of life. Well, it definitely pays to be in the good books of a filmmaker who has one of the most viable production houses and boasts of hits like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Chak De in recent times.
Aishwarya gets into corporate power games
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been experimenting with her looks and makeup in every film of late. The actress started working on her look in Dhoom II where she sported not only a lean and sexy look, but also a golden tan. In Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Jodhaa Akbar, Aishwarya wore black lenses keeping in mind the complete Indian princess look.
Now, with Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar Raj, Aishwarya will be sporting a complete corporate look since she plays the head honcho of a power plant. She wears a cool hair bun, teamed with dazzling solitaires and serious business suits. A unit source says, “Since this was the first film that Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya were going to appear together in after their marriage, it was obvious she wanted to look her best. And she wanted to work on all aspects of her look whether it was make up, hair or dress.”
It was also rumoured that Aishwarya’s role is based on the character of glamour girl Rebecca Mark the vice-chairman of Enron. Aishwarya plays the contemporary businesswoman in the film and hence RGV has modeled her role on Rebecca. “I am representing a company in the film but my role is original. Moreover, I can’t have a Dhoom kind of body for every role. It was not a hitting-the-gym kind of role. No special effort was made in terms of looks. It was different and I enjoyed the character,” says Aishwarya. More importantly, Aishwarya had seen Sarkar and knew that Ramu liked understated power. So she wanted her look to be very subtle, but at the same time, powerful. Aishwarya is the new addition to the cast of Sarkar Raj as she was not a part of the original Sarkar.
Pakistan media rights to push '$100 million
LONDON — Former ICC President Ehsan Mani has agreed to advise the Pakistan Cricket Board in their sale of media rights, which he said on Wednesday should earn the board at least $100 million.
The PCB announced on Wednesday that the rights, to broadcast their home international matches over a five-year period from 2008-09, would be open to tender from July and the deal should be concluded by September.
If Mani’s forecast is accurate, the PCB could witness more than a 100 per cent jump from the current deal with Ten Sports and ARY, who paid $43 million in 2003 -- which was also more than a 100 per cent rise from the previous agreement.
“I would be disappointed if they sold for any less than $100 million,” Mani, an expert in the media rights sector, said. “The last deal was the best around but it was still a bad one because India were not touring Pakistan at that time and that was a big issue.
“That is no longer the case so hopefully it will make a big difference. I haven’t seen the whole tour programme yet but there has been a significant convergence of rights as people now watch cricket in so many different ways, whether it is on television, on the internet or on their mobile phone.”
Mani, who was the ICC president from 2003-2006, led the negotiations for the ICC’s media rights deals in 2000, when they sold for a then unprecedented $550 million, and in 2007, when he said they went for “over $1 billion”.
The London-based Mani said he is not receiving any payment for his role with the PCB. “I am happy to help any cricket board,” he said. “I have helped Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies."
The PCB announced on Wednesday that the rights, to broadcast their home international matches over a five-year period from 2008-09, would be open to tender from July and the deal should be concluded by September.
If Mani’s forecast is accurate, the PCB could witness more than a 100 per cent jump from the current deal with Ten Sports and ARY, who paid $43 million in 2003 -- which was also more than a 100 per cent rise from the previous agreement.
“I would be disappointed if they sold for any less than $100 million,” Mani, an expert in the media rights sector, said. “The last deal was the best around but it was still a bad one because India were not touring Pakistan at that time and that was a big issue.
“That is no longer the case so hopefully it will make a big difference. I haven’t seen the whole tour programme yet but there has been a significant convergence of rights as people now watch cricket in so many different ways, whether it is on television, on the internet or on their mobile phone.”
Mani, who was the ICC president from 2003-2006, led the negotiations for the ICC’s media rights deals in 2000, when they sold for a then unprecedented $550 million, and in 2007, when he said they went for “over $1 billion”.
The London-based Mani said he is not receiving any payment for his role with the PCB. “I am happy to help any cricket board,” he said. “I have helped Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies."
Iran says OPEC will not boost output
TEHRAN - Iran's oil minister rejected on Saturday any idea of OPEC raising production, saying it would fail to ease record prices as the market was already "saturated" with oil.
Gholamhossein Nozari also dismissed as a "political move" Saudi Arabia's announcement on Friday of a modest hike in output after an appeal from visiting U.S. President George W. Bush.
"No, the market is saturated with oil and a hike in production does not have an impact on the price," Nozari told reporters when asked whether the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) would increase production.
Oil prices have risen six-fold since 2002 and doubled since last year as rising demand from China and other developing nations cinched spare production capacity, adding pressure on the U.S. economy already hard hit by a housing slump.
OPEC's smallest producer, Ecuador, said on Friday that members should consider raising output to stem the oil rally because high prices are hurting the poor.
But Iran, OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia and a price hawk, says the market is well-supplied with oil and blames the price rise on a weak U.S. dollar, speculation and other factors outside the control of the 13-member cartel.
Oil shot to a record high near $128 a barrel on Friday as a bullish price forecast from investment bank Goldman Sachs drowned out the offer of more supply from Saudi Arabia.
"Political move"
Bush, who has come under increasing domestic pressure to act as the price of oil weighs on the economy, met Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh on Friday to ask for more oil from OPEC to tame record oil prices.
Apart from a modest output hike, the world's top oil exporter also said it was ready to pump more if needed.
Asked about Saudi Arabia's announcement that Riyadh had agreed to boost output by 3.3 percent, or 300,000 barrels per day, to loosen up the market and make up for declines in other OPEC nations, Nozari was quoted by Fars News Agency as saying:
"This action is more of a political move ... this action will only help to increase reserves."
Unlike Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, Tehran and Washington are bitter foes and sharply at odds over Tehran's disputed nuclear plans and also over who is to blame for violence in Iraq.
The United States says more supply would help lower prices, while OPEC officials blame the high price on factors beyond their control, such as speculation and the weak dollar
Prices rose early this week after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying Iran was reviewing a proposal to reduce its output, which hit 4.203 million barrels per day in March, the highest level since its 1979 Islamic revolution.
But Nozari said Iran did not want its production to be lower than its OPEC share.
Gholamhossein Nozari also dismissed as a "political move" Saudi Arabia's announcement on Friday of a modest hike in output after an appeal from visiting U.S. President George W. Bush.
"No, the market is saturated with oil and a hike in production does not have an impact on the price," Nozari told reporters when asked whether the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) would increase production.
Oil prices have risen six-fold since 2002 and doubled since last year as rising demand from China and other developing nations cinched spare production capacity, adding pressure on the U.S. economy already hard hit by a housing slump.
OPEC's smallest producer, Ecuador, said on Friday that members should consider raising output to stem the oil rally because high prices are hurting the poor.
But Iran, OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia and a price hawk, says the market is well-supplied with oil and blames the price rise on a weak U.S. dollar, speculation and other factors outside the control of the 13-member cartel.
Oil shot to a record high near $128 a barrel on Friday as a bullish price forecast from investment bank Goldman Sachs drowned out the offer of more supply from Saudi Arabia.
"Political move"
Bush, who has come under increasing domestic pressure to act as the price of oil weighs on the economy, met Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh on Friday to ask for more oil from OPEC to tame record oil prices.
Apart from a modest output hike, the world's top oil exporter also said it was ready to pump more if needed.
Asked about Saudi Arabia's announcement that Riyadh had agreed to boost output by 3.3 percent, or 300,000 barrels per day, to loosen up the market and make up for declines in other OPEC nations, Nozari was quoted by Fars News Agency as saying:
"This action is more of a political move ... this action will only help to increase reserves."
Unlike Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, Tehran and Washington are bitter foes and sharply at odds over Tehran's disputed nuclear plans and also over who is to blame for violence in Iraq.
The United States says more supply would help lower prices, while OPEC officials blame the high price on factors beyond their control, such as speculation and the weak dollar
Prices rose early this week after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying Iran was reviewing a proposal to reduce its output, which hit 4.203 million barrels per day in March, the highest level since its 1979 Islamic revolution.
But Nozari said Iran did not want its production to be lower than its OPEC share.
World Bank urges Pakistan to check cartel formation
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has been urged by the World Bank to effectively check cartel formation in cement, banking, sugar, automobile and pharmaceutical sectors to save consumers from unchecked price hikes in the country.
Informed sources said that the bank wanted the government to act on the recommendations made by the Pakistan Business Council, Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA) and Management Association of Pakistan to break the cartels.
Elements in the bureaucracy serving “powerful business interests” were blamed for the unchecked growth of the cartels. However, sources said World Bank has taken up the issue with the new elected government in Pakistan. It warned that if certain action was not taken against the cartels, the Bank would be constrained to link its annual assistance especially being offered to the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). The World Bank was providing financial assistance for the capacity building of CCP to ensure prudent business practices.
The rising international prices including that of food was causing growing problems and spreading unrest across the globe. However, it was becoming more serious in the developing countries like Pakistan, therefore, needed to be addressed by the new government, the sources said.
The bank wanted the government to fully empower the CCP to deal with issues concerning cartels. It also asked the government to implement the competition law due to which CCP could not play its due role effectively to check restrictive trade practices by the cartels.
When contacted the chairman CCP said that he was working under a “cardinal principle” of unearthing cartels and act in accordance with law without fear or favour. “We will take action wherever we feel any anti-competition activity”, he assured.
Responding to a question, Mirza said that he was performing a difficult task to check the vested interests of the powerful business groups in the country. He regretted that since the government has not so far implemented the competition law, it was not easy to check restrictive trade practices. In this regard, he referred to “tied sourcing of funding” that has not been provided to CCP by the previous and now by the elected government.
The previous government had promulgated a very good law and instated an excellent team of members. However, they did not seem serious about implementing the law which included making available of sources of funds to the CCP which are independent of the federal budget.
“This has been already provided for in the law itself. Its now simply a matter of implementing this part of the law”. The new government, which has all the political will for reforms, should implement the law and hence provide the necessary resources to the CCP to expand its operational capacity, effectively improve competitive environment and influence the behaviour of firms so that they do not form cartels and engage in abuse of dominance to the detriment of business and industry.
“This in turn would have an indirect positive impact on essential commodity prices. This price impact will trickle down and benefit the masses,” he said. He said the commission needed tied sources of funding to run its day to day affairs and that this could be possible if the competition law was implemented in letter and spirit.
He said that salary structure of the CCP members has not been finalised so far.
In reply to a question, he said the consultative process with the stakeholders initiated by the CCP immediately after coming into being about four months back has proved highly productive. The innovative and non-bureaucratic approach adopted by the CCP, perhaps for the first time in Pakistan of mutual discussions and consultation, in a free and frank atmosphere with professionals and business community, has helped CCP in gaining their confidence.
“They are no more apprehensive about CCP. It is now felt that CCP is there to facilitate them by providing a level playing field for all undertakings and ensuring a fear and healthy competition regime in the country,” he added.
To a question, he said, the demand for converting the “toothless” monopoly control authority into an effective organisation was first made by Naveed Qamar, presently Minister for Privatisation, a few years back in the National Assembly as a member representing the opposition branches. Qamar wanted to move a bill in this regard. The bill was, however, not moved on the assurance given to the house by the government that the government itself would table a bill in the matter.
This was the idea which after a lapse of about two years developed into the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) Ordinance 2007. The CCP which replaced Monopoly Control Authority has been set-up to improve business practices through competition and discouraging cartels and cartel like behaviours by industrial sector, he said.
Informed sources said that the bank wanted the government to act on the recommendations made by the Pakistan Business Council, Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA) and Management Association of Pakistan to break the cartels.
Elements in the bureaucracy serving “powerful business interests” were blamed for the unchecked growth of the cartels. However, sources said World Bank has taken up the issue with the new elected government in Pakistan. It warned that if certain action was not taken against the cartels, the Bank would be constrained to link its annual assistance especially being offered to the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). The World Bank was providing financial assistance for the capacity building of CCP to ensure prudent business practices.
The rising international prices including that of food was causing growing problems and spreading unrest across the globe. However, it was becoming more serious in the developing countries like Pakistan, therefore, needed to be addressed by the new government, the sources said.
The bank wanted the government to fully empower the CCP to deal with issues concerning cartels. It also asked the government to implement the competition law due to which CCP could not play its due role effectively to check restrictive trade practices by the cartels.
When contacted the chairman CCP said that he was working under a “cardinal principle” of unearthing cartels and act in accordance with law without fear or favour. “We will take action wherever we feel any anti-competition activity”, he assured.
Responding to a question, Mirza said that he was performing a difficult task to check the vested interests of the powerful business groups in the country. He regretted that since the government has not so far implemented the competition law, it was not easy to check restrictive trade practices. In this regard, he referred to “tied sourcing of funding” that has not been provided to CCP by the previous and now by the elected government.
The previous government had promulgated a very good law and instated an excellent team of members. However, they did not seem serious about implementing the law which included making available of sources of funds to the CCP which are independent of the federal budget.
“This has been already provided for in the law itself. Its now simply a matter of implementing this part of the law”. The new government, which has all the political will for reforms, should implement the law and hence provide the necessary resources to the CCP to expand its operational capacity, effectively improve competitive environment and influence the behaviour of firms so that they do not form cartels and engage in abuse of dominance to the detriment of business and industry.
“This in turn would have an indirect positive impact on essential commodity prices. This price impact will trickle down and benefit the masses,” he said. He said the commission needed tied sources of funding to run its day to day affairs and that this could be possible if the competition law was implemented in letter and spirit.
He said that salary structure of the CCP members has not been finalised so far.
In reply to a question, he said the consultative process with the stakeholders initiated by the CCP immediately after coming into being about four months back has proved highly productive. The innovative and non-bureaucratic approach adopted by the CCP, perhaps for the first time in Pakistan of mutual discussions and consultation, in a free and frank atmosphere with professionals and business community, has helped CCP in gaining their confidence.
“They are no more apprehensive about CCP. It is now felt that CCP is there to facilitate them by providing a level playing field for all undertakings and ensuring a fear and healthy competition regime in the country,” he added.
To a question, he said, the demand for converting the “toothless” monopoly control authority into an effective organisation was first made by Naveed Qamar, presently Minister for Privatisation, a few years back in the National Assembly as a member representing the opposition branches. Qamar wanted to move a bill in this regard. The bill was, however, not moved on the assurance given to the house by the government that the government itself would table a bill in the matter.
This was the idea which after a lapse of about two years developed into the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) Ordinance 2007. The CCP which replaced Monopoly Control Authority has been set-up to improve business practices through competition and discouraging cartels and cartel like behaviours by industrial sector, he said.
Shares stay weak on weekend selling
KARACHI — The Karachi share market yesterday finished the weekend session on a terribly bearish note as investors again liquidated their long positions amid fears of political confrontation between the contenders of power on some core issues.
The uncertain future political outlook was also well-reflected in fresh massive battering received by the KSE 100-share index, off 245 points or 1.7 per cent at 14,232.89 as compared to 14,479.87 a day earlier as leading base shares remained under pressure owing to weekend selling.
The weakness of the banking sector after lowering of their currency rating by the S&P to B from the B+ halted their recent upward drive under the lead of GDR-based MCB, followed by other leading ones.
Oil shares should have reacted to reports of a fresh record rise in crude oil prices to $127 per barrel but weak economic indicators did not allow consolidation forces to come into full play, analysts said.
“Setting up of an economic council consisting of top economic planners and Shaukat Tareen a well known banker and former chairman of the Karachi Stock Exchange as its convenor to chalk out plans for economic recovery failed to arrest the weekend sell-off,”they said.
As the developing situation on the political front is unfolding progressively chances of peace among the major contenders of power appear now appears to be a remote possibility despite positive lip service, they said adding and that “bearish factor could drag the market further down in the coming weeks.”
Instances of strong selective support were, however, not wanting as a section of investors led by some institutional traders covered positions on those counters, which ensure higher capital gains in future trading.
Minus signs dominated the list under the lead of Nestle Pakistan and JS & Co, off by Rs50.00 and 28.65, while Wyeth Pakistan and Siemens Pakistan were among the top gainers, up by Rs100.00 and 29.10.
Turnover figures showed a modest rise at 169 million shares from the previous 168 million shares but losers held a strong lead over the gainers at 221 to 96, with 28 shares holding on to the last levels.
Pak Premier Fund led the list of actives, easy by eight paisa at Rs13.12 on 17 million shares followed by Arif Habib Securities, off Rs2.60 at Rs190.50 on 11 million shares, Bank Al Falah, easy by 56 paisa at Rs55.30 on 10 million shares, Engro Chemical, off Rs5.65 at Rs315.00 on 7 million shares, DG Khan Cement, off Rs2.67 at Rs93.98 on 6 million shares.
The uncertain future political outlook was also well-reflected in fresh massive battering received by the KSE 100-share index, off 245 points or 1.7 per cent at 14,232.89 as compared to 14,479.87 a day earlier as leading base shares remained under pressure owing to weekend selling.
The weakness of the banking sector after lowering of their currency rating by the S&P to B from the B+ halted their recent upward drive under the lead of GDR-based MCB, followed by other leading ones.
Oil shares should have reacted to reports of a fresh record rise in crude oil prices to $127 per barrel but weak economic indicators did not allow consolidation forces to come into full play, analysts said.
“Setting up of an economic council consisting of top economic planners and Shaukat Tareen a well known banker and former chairman of the Karachi Stock Exchange as its convenor to chalk out plans for economic recovery failed to arrest the weekend sell-off,”they said.
As the developing situation on the political front is unfolding progressively chances of peace among the major contenders of power appear now appears to be a remote possibility despite positive lip service, they said adding and that “bearish factor could drag the market further down in the coming weeks.”
Instances of strong selective support were, however, not wanting as a section of investors led by some institutional traders covered positions on those counters, which ensure higher capital gains in future trading.
Minus signs dominated the list under the lead of Nestle Pakistan and JS & Co, off by Rs50.00 and 28.65, while Wyeth Pakistan and Siemens Pakistan were among the top gainers, up by Rs100.00 and 29.10.
Turnover figures showed a modest rise at 169 million shares from the previous 168 million shares but losers held a strong lead over the gainers at 221 to 96, with 28 shares holding on to the last levels.
Pak Premier Fund led the list of actives, easy by eight paisa at Rs13.12 on 17 million shares followed by Arif Habib Securities, off Rs2.60 at Rs190.50 on 11 million shares, Bank Al Falah, easy by 56 paisa at Rs55.30 on 10 million shares, Engro Chemical, off Rs5.65 at Rs315.00 on 7 million shares, DG Khan Cement, off Rs2.67 at Rs93.98 on 6 million shares.
Bangladesh to get $400 mln World Bank loan
DHAKA - Bangladesh will get $400 million loan from the World Bank for its power sector, a senior official said on Saturday.
"The Washington based lending agency has already approved $130 million and the rest for the power sector project is now under active consideration of the board," said M. Fouzul Kabir Khan, secretary of the power division of the ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources.
A bank mission last month visited Bangladesh to complete the negotiation and pledged to finance the $400 million integrated energy sector project.
"The fund from the soft wing of the bank will be used to set up a 300-megawatt (MW) capacity power plant and a transmission line to add electricity to the national grid," Fouzul told Reuters.
The project also includes laying of a pipeline to supply gas to the new plant, he said.
The fund will also be utilised to set up a 60-kilometre long gas pipeline from Bakhrabad gas field to Siddhirgonj to supply gas to the proposed power station and 11-kilometer long 230kv power transmission line from Siddhirgonj for supplying power to the capital city.
Due to shortages of gas, Bangladesh is unable to produce enough electricity to meet demand and faces a 1,500 megawatts shortfall.
Economists and business leaders have said that due to a lack of regular power supply, Bangladesh incurs up to $1 billion industrial losses yearly.
"The Washington based lending agency has already approved $130 million and the rest for the power sector project is now under active consideration of the board," said M. Fouzul Kabir Khan, secretary of the power division of the ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources.
A bank mission last month visited Bangladesh to complete the negotiation and pledged to finance the $400 million integrated energy sector project.
"The fund from the soft wing of the bank will be used to set up a 300-megawatt (MW) capacity power plant and a transmission line to add electricity to the national grid," Fouzul told Reuters.
The project also includes laying of a pipeline to supply gas to the new plant, he said.
The fund will also be utilised to set up a 60-kilometre long gas pipeline from Bakhrabad gas field to Siddhirgonj to supply gas to the proposed power station and 11-kilometer long 230kv power transmission line from Siddhirgonj for supplying power to the capital city.
Due to shortages of gas, Bangladesh is unable to produce enough electricity to meet demand and faces a 1,500 megawatts shortfall.
Economists and business leaders have said that due to a lack of regular power supply, Bangladesh incurs up to $1 billion industrial losses yearly.
Lankan clashes leave 16 rebels dead
COLOMBO- Sri Lankan ground troops killed at least 16 Tamil Tiger rebels while airforce fighter jets bombed guerrilla targets in the island's north, the defence ministry said on Saturday.
The air sorties were carried out over the rebel-held Iranamadu area late on Friday, the ministry said in a statement.
The air sorties were carried out over the rebel-held Iranamadu area late on Friday, the ministry said in a statement.
Six militants killed in Kashmir gun battle
SRINAGAR, Kashmir - At least six suspected Muslim militants were killed by security forces in a gun battle in Indian-administered Kashmir on Saturday, police said.
The militants were killed in a joint operation by the police, army and paramilitary forces in the Lurgam-Tral village in Pulwama district, some 40 kilometres south of state capital Srinagar.
"The militants had fired at a patrol party of the Central Reserve Police Force after which a gun battle broke out. Six militants were shot dead in the encounter," the district's police superintendent SM Khan told reporters.
The security forces suffered no casualties, Khan said, adding that search operations would continue to track three other militants believed to be hiding in the forested area.
The security forces also recovered some arms and ammunition, including rifles, grenades, radio sets and mobile phones, from the scene.
Meanwhile, the local media reported that the militants belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group which is active in the troubled state.
Officials told the IANS news agency that two slain rebels were top militants from the JeM and the other four were Pakistani nationals.
Kashmir has been at the root of tense relations between the South Asian neighbours since their independence from British rule in 1947.
An estimated 40,000 people, including civilians, militants and security personnel, have been killed in political violence in Indian- administered Kashmir since 1990.
India accuses Pakistan of aiding and abetting Kashmiri secessionist militants.
Pakistan denies the allegations, saying the Kashmiri militants are local freedom fighters.
The militants were killed in a joint operation by the police, army and paramilitary forces in the Lurgam-Tral village in Pulwama district, some 40 kilometres south of state capital Srinagar.
"The militants had fired at a patrol party of the Central Reserve Police Force after which a gun battle broke out. Six militants were shot dead in the encounter," the district's police superintendent SM Khan told reporters.
The security forces suffered no casualties, Khan said, adding that search operations would continue to track three other militants believed to be hiding in the forested area.
The security forces also recovered some arms and ammunition, including rifles, grenades, radio sets and mobile phones, from the scene.
Meanwhile, the local media reported that the militants belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group which is active in the troubled state.
Officials told the IANS news agency that two slain rebels were top militants from the JeM and the other four were Pakistani nationals.
Kashmir has been at the root of tense relations between the South Asian neighbours since their independence from British rule in 1947.
An estimated 40,000 people, including civilians, militants and security personnel, have been killed in political violence in Indian- administered Kashmir since 1990.
India accuses Pakistan of aiding and abetting Kashmiri secessionist militants.
Pakistan denies the allegations, saying the Kashmiri militants are local freedom fighters.
4 civilians, several Taleban killed in Afghan violence
KABUL - A blast in southern Afghanistan killed a child and wounded four people, while coalition forces claimed they had killed "several extremists" and arrested 12 others in separate operations elsewhere the country, officials said on Saturday.
The blast was triggered by explosives attached to a parked bicycle in the western part of Kandahar city, the provincial capital of the same name, on Saturday morning as a police vehicle was passing by, said Mohammad Iqbal, a police official at the scene of the incident.
The explosive that was detonated by a remote-controlled device killed a child and wounded two police officers and two civilians, he said.
In a similar incident in south-eastern Paktia province on Saturday, three civilians were killed when their vehicle was blown up by a roadside mine, provincial spokesman Ghamai Khan Mohammadi said.
He said that the bomb was newly planted on the road, which is often used by Afghan and international forces in the province.
Taleban militants, whose government was ousted in a US-led invasion in late 2001, have stepped up their attacks, mainly by roadside and suicide attacks, both tactics widely believed to have been copied from Iraqi insurgents.
Meanwhile, the US military said that its forces had killed "several extremists" and arrested four in an operation aimed to disrupt militant activities in the south-eastern province of Khost on Friday.
"During their search, the joint force identified two armed militants manoeuvring against their force. They responded with small arms fire and airstrikes, killing both militants," the military said in a statement.
In a separate operation, also on Friday, coalition forces detained eight other Taleban militants in eastern Nangahar province, the statement said.
The operation had targeted a Taleban militant known to have facilitated roadside and rocket attacks against the Afghan and coalition forces in the region, the military said.
The blast was triggered by explosives attached to a parked bicycle in the western part of Kandahar city, the provincial capital of the same name, on Saturday morning as a police vehicle was passing by, said Mohammad Iqbal, a police official at the scene of the incident.
The explosive that was detonated by a remote-controlled device killed a child and wounded two police officers and two civilians, he said.
In a similar incident in south-eastern Paktia province on Saturday, three civilians were killed when their vehicle was blown up by a roadside mine, provincial spokesman Ghamai Khan Mohammadi said.
He said that the bomb was newly planted on the road, which is often used by Afghan and international forces in the province.
Taleban militants, whose government was ousted in a US-led invasion in late 2001, have stepped up their attacks, mainly by roadside and suicide attacks, both tactics widely believed to have been copied from Iraqi insurgents.
Meanwhile, the US military said that its forces had killed "several extremists" and arrested four in an operation aimed to disrupt militant activities in the south-eastern province of Khost on Friday.
"During their search, the joint force identified two armed militants manoeuvring against their force. They responded with small arms fire and airstrikes, killing both militants," the military said in a statement.
In a separate operation, also on Friday, coalition forces detained eight other Taleban militants in eastern Nangahar province, the statement said.
The operation had targeted a Taleban militant known to have facilitated roadside and rocket attacks against the Afghan and coalition forces in the region, the military said.
Afghan census depends on security
KABUL - A historic population count due to start in war-ravaged Afghanistan next month is dependent on the security situation, census authorities assessing safety on the ground warned Saturday.
Census workers have fanned out across the insurgency-hit country to check if it is safe enough to go ahead with the head count, Central Statistics Office chief Abdul Rahman Ghafoori said.
"We are in the process of analysing the security situation to see if we are able or not to conduct the population census," he told reporters.
"After we have analysed the situation, we will ask the government for go-ahead orders," he said.
Ghafoori rejected the possibility of Afghan security forces or international troops being brought in to protect census takers, saying, "We want the process to be independent."
In April a district census official was killed in an ambush in the eastern province of Paktia that was blamed on Taleban insurgents. Insurgency related unrest has also hampered UN backed polio vaccination programmes for children in rebel strongholds in the south.
The Taleban, who were in government between 1996 and 2001, have led a wave of attacks that have made many parts of eastern and southern Afghanistan no-go areas for outsiders.
Afghanistan's only previous census was started in 1979 but was not completed after the Soviet invasion that year plunged the country into decades of war.
An unofficial household count in 2002 had suggested there were then roughly 24.5 million people in the country, Ghafoori told AFP.
The US Central Intelligence Agency "world factbook" puts the Afghan population at 33 million this year.
Census workers have fanned out across the insurgency-hit country to check if it is safe enough to go ahead with the head count, Central Statistics Office chief Abdul Rahman Ghafoori said.
"We are in the process of analysing the security situation to see if we are able or not to conduct the population census," he told reporters.
"After we have analysed the situation, we will ask the government for go-ahead orders," he said.
Ghafoori rejected the possibility of Afghan security forces or international troops being brought in to protect census takers, saying, "We want the process to be independent."
In April a district census official was killed in an ambush in the eastern province of Paktia that was blamed on Taleban insurgents. Insurgency related unrest has also hampered UN backed polio vaccination programmes for children in rebel strongholds in the south.
The Taleban, who were in government between 1996 and 2001, have led a wave of attacks that have made many parts of eastern and southern Afghanistan no-go areas for outsiders.
Afghanistan's only previous census was started in 1979 but was not completed after the Soviet invasion that year plunged the country into decades of war.
An unofficial household count in 2002 had suggested there were then roughly 24.5 million people in the country, Ghafoori told AFP.
The US Central Intelligence Agency "world factbook" puts the Afghan population at 33 million this year.
Pak envoy freed after Taleban release
ISLAMABAD - Taleban militants freed Pakistan's envoy to Afghanistan on Saturday, following the release of more than 40 of their own men by Pakistani authorities over the past few days, according to a senior security official.
Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin was released in South Waziristan, where he was being held by fighters loyal to Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taleban, the official said.
The government has yet to give an official account of the circumstances surrounding the envoy's release.
"I can confirm he is released, and he is safe and sound," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Sadiq said.
Azizuddin, 56, went missing on Feb. 11 along with his driver and a guard as he was travelling from the northwestern city of Peshawar to the Afghan-Pakistani border. He was on his way back to the Afghan capital, where he had been ambassador since 2005.
Over the past few days more than 40 Taleban fighters held captive by the authorities had been released, though it is uncertain whether the ambassador was exchanged for an specific militant, according to a senior security officer.
The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the envoy was originally abducted by one of several kidnap gangs operating in and around the historic Khyber Pass, linking landlocked Afghanistan with Pakistan's northwest.
But he was subsequently passed on to the Pakistani Taleban, who moved him to South Waziristan, at the southeast end of the tribal belt, where he was held in the Mehsud tribal lands by men loyal to Baitullah Mehsud.
Pakistan's new government, sworn in at the end of March, has begun a policy of engagement, negotiating through tribal leaders to persuade Mehsud to halt militant operations from the region.
The ambassador represented one of Mehsud's main bargaining chips and was the last remaining high value captive the Taleban held.
Home Soon
A relative said Azizuddin was expected to return home to his family shortly.
"The authorities contacted us and said that Aziz has been released and he would be back by the evening," a family member told Reuters.
The security official said he believed the ambassador's driver and guard had also been released.
Mehsud's notoriety spread after the Pakistan government and America's CIA made him prime suspect in the assassination last December of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Mehsud has denied any role in her killing, and the new government, led by Bhutto's party, wants a U.N. investigation as it doesn't trust the previous government's findings.
Last month, Azizuddin appeared in a video on an Arabic television saying he was being held by the Taleban and urged the Pakistani government to meet their demands.
The bespectacled and grey-bearded ambassador also complained of high blood pressure and chest pains in the video, which showed two of his captors wearing baggy trousers and tunic, common to the frontier region, and brandishing assault rifles.
The long tribal belt on the border is notorious for being a haven for smugglers and bandits and turned into a major sanctuary for al Qaeda and the Taleban militants who fled from Afghanistan after a U.S.-led invasion in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.
Scores of people have been abducted in the dangerous border region and the ambassador's disappearence highlighted mounting lawlessness in the tribal areas.
The security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated markedly since mid-2007, mainly in the northwest, with militants linked to the Taleban and al Qaeda carrying out suicide bombings.
More than 600 people have been killed in militant related violence since the beginning of this year, but since the peace talks began the violence has tapered off.
US plans new prison in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - The United States intends to build a big new prison at its main military base in Afghanistan, a shift from earlier aims to transfer most detainees to Afghan custody, The New York Times reported.
A Pentagon spokesman confirmed the report in the Times' Saturday edition of the planned 40-acre (24-hectare) complex at the Bagram military base. "There are plans under way to do that," Lt. Col. Mark Wright said.
Wright said the new facility would offer more room and more opportunity for vocational, educational and religious training. The current, makeshift prison at Bagram holds about 630 prisoners, kept in wire-mesh pens surrounded by coils of razor wire, the Times said.
U.S. officials concede a new Afghan-run prison cannot absorb all the Afghans detained by the United States and waves of new prisoners who are expected from an escalating fight against al Qaeda and the Taleban, the report said. It said the plans represent an acknowledgment that the United States was likely to hold prisoners overseas for many years to come.
The new U.S. prison would hold about 1,100 detainees and cost about $60 million, the Times said.
"Our existing theater internment facility is deteriorating," Sandra L. Hodgkinson, the senior Pentagon official for detention policy, told the Times. "It was renovated to do a temporary mission. There is a sense that this is the right time to build a new facility."
A Pentagon spokesman confirmed the report in the Times' Saturday edition of the planned 40-acre (24-hectare) complex at the Bagram military base. "There are plans under way to do that," Lt. Col. Mark Wright said.
Wright said the new facility would offer more room and more opportunity for vocational, educational and religious training. The current, makeshift prison at Bagram holds about 630 prisoners, kept in wire-mesh pens surrounded by coils of razor wire, the Times said.
U.S. officials concede a new Afghan-run prison cannot absorb all the Afghans detained by the United States and waves of new prisoners who are expected from an escalating fight against al Qaeda and the Taleban, the report said. It said the plans represent an acknowledgment that the United States was likely to hold prisoners overseas for many years to come.
The new U.S. prison would hold about 1,100 detainees and cost about $60 million, the Times said.
"Our existing theater internment facility is deteriorating," Sandra L. Hodgkinson, the senior Pentagon official for detention policy, told the Times. "It was renovated to do a temporary mission. There is a sense that this is the right time to build a new facility."
Kidnapped Pakistan envoy released by Taleban
ISLAMABAD - Suspected Taleban militants have released Pakistan's envoy to Afghanistan more than three months after he was kidnapped in Pakistan's Khyber tribal region, a senior government official told Reuters on Saturday.
Pakistani television channels said the envoy, Tariq Azizuddin, had been freed in Afghanistan.
A relative said Azizuddin was expected to return home to his family in Islamabad shortly.
"The authorities contacted us and said that Aziz has been released and he would be back by the evening," a family member told Reuters.
Last month, Azizuddin appeared in a video on an Arabic television saying he was being held by the Taleban and urged the Pakistani government to meet their demands.
In his video, Azizuddin did not say what demands the Taleban were making, but Pakistani media reports had reported they had called for the release of several jailed militants.
A spokesman for the Pakistani Taleban, however, later denied that members the guerrilla movement were responsible for abducting the envoy.
Pakistan's long tribal belt on the Afghan border is notorious for being a haven for smugglers and bandits and has turned into a major sanctuary for al Qaeda and the Taleban militants who fled from Afghanistan after a U.S.-led invasion in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.
Scores of people have been abducted in the dangerous border region and the ambassador's disappearence highlighted mounting lawlessness in the tribal areas.
Blast in Afghanistan kills child, wounds four
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A bicycle bomb killed a child and wounded four people in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Saturday, police said.
The bomb was detonated by remote-control as a police convoy passed through the centre of Kandahar city, police official Mohammad Yaqub told Reuters. Three of those wounded were police, Yaqub said.
A NATO spokesman confirmed the attack, saying the child who was killed was nine years old.
Thousands of people have died in violence in Afghanistan in recent years as the Taliban has stepped up attacks despite the presence of more than 55,000 foreign troops led by NATO and the U.S. military and nearly 150,000 Afghan security forces.
Taliban militants often target Afghan and international security forces in an attempt to topple the U.S.-backed Afghan government and drive foreign troops out of the country.
U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban's strict Islamic government after its leadership refused to hand over al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
The bomb was detonated by remote-control as a police convoy passed through the centre of Kandahar city, police official Mohammad Yaqub told Reuters. Three of those wounded were police, Yaqub said.
A NATO spokesman confirmed the attack, saying the child who was killed was nine years old.
Thousands of people have died in violence in Afghanistan in recent years as the Taliban has stepped up attacks despite the presence of more than 55,000 foreign troops led by NATO and the U.S. military and nearly 150,000 Afghan security forces.
Taliban militants often target Afghan and international security forces in an attempt to topple the U.S.-backed Afghan government and drive foreign troops out of the country.
U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban's strict Islamic government after its leadership refused to hand over al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
After Israel, Bush focuses on Arab side of Mideast stalemate
SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt - U.S. President George W. Bush is pivoting to the Arab side of the Mideast peace dispute, and he may well get a less glowing reception than he did over two days in Israel earlier this week.
Bush begins two days of talks Saturday with a string of leaders key to U.S. goals in the region: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. On Sunday, Bush is meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and several Iraqi leaders.
Bush, who flew to Egypt after having breakfast in Saudi Arabia with King Abdullah, also had planned to see Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora while he was in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, but that session fell off his schedule amid turmoil in Lebanon.
The militant group Hezbollah overran Beirut neighborhoods last week in protest of measures aimed at the group by Saniora's government. The display of military power by the Shiite militant group resulted in the worst internal fighting since the end of Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war.
But on Thursday, Saniora's government reached a deal with Hezbollah, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization, after Lebanon's Cabinet reversed measures aimed at reining in the militants.
Bush was seeing Mubarak in a formal meeting session as well as over lunch at a luxury hotel overlooking the sea. But the Egyptian leader, nearly three decades in power, could be an unlikely partner for Bush's push to spread freedom in the Middle East.
Egypt was the first Arab nation to make peace with Israel and has long been seen as a key mediator in the Mideast dispute that Bush has said he wants to solve by the time he leaves office next January.
But U.S. has seen its longtime alliance with Egypt sour over the pace of political reform there.
Over the past year, several secular newspaper editors in Egypt have been tried, some sentenced to prison, for anti-Mubarak writings. The country's most outspoken government critic, Egyptian-American Saad Eddin Ibrahim, has gone to the United States for fear of arrest; he faces trial on accusations of harming national interests. The Egyptian government also has waged a heavy crackdown on its strongest domestic opposition, the Muslim Brotherhood, arresting hundreds of the Islamic fundamentalist group's members.
Egypt, the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid behind Israel, would still continue to get $1.3 billion (Ð840 million) annually in U.S. aid for the next decade under a package the administration sent to Congress last year.
Bush's meetings with Abbas late in the day they have dinner after a more formal discussion session follow his two-day visit in Israel coinciding with the Jewish state's 60th anniversary celebrations. That milestone is seen by Palestinians as a catastrophe because of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who either fled or were driven out of their homes during the 1948 war over Israel's creation.
Bush did not visit the Palestinian territories while in Israel, nor did he mention their plight. In a much-anticipated speech Thursday to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Bush only gently urged Mideast leaders to make the hard choices necessary," without mention of concrete steps, and spoke of Palestinians only in one sentence that predicted they would have their own state by 2068.
Bush is seen in the Arab world as tilting much too far toward Israel. Comments Friday from Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal about Bush's speech suggested that had not changed.
We are all aware of the special U.S.-Israeli relation and its political dimensions," he said. It is, however, important also to affirm the legitimate and political rights of the Palestinian people."
He also sharply criticized Israel for the humanistic suffering weighed upon the West Bank and Gaza Strip population" of Palestinians. He said Israel's continued policy of expanding settlements on Palestinian territories" undermines the peace process.
Israelis and Palestinians have been negotiating since December, but nothing visible has emerged from the secretive process.
Both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders are weak among their own constituencies and fresh violence from the Gaza Strip and settlement activity by Israelis are diminishing an already precious supply of trust. The president did no negotiating while in Israel and left the Holy Land with no new progress on an accord. APS
BAJWA TAKES CHARGE AS PIO
ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE,(APS)
ISLAMABAD: Principal Information Officer (PIO) Ghulam Hazoor Bajwa took charge of his office here Friday. Ghulam Hazoor Bajwa, who is a senior officer of the Information Group and has an experience of public relations of around 31 years, was appointed as PIO on Thursday.He has held various important posts in the Ministry of Information during the period. He has also served as Press Councilor, Pakistan Embassy in Moscow and Tokyo. Prior to his new assignment, Bajwa was serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Keeping in view his professional competence, the Information Ministry has also given him the additional charge of the Managing Director Associated Press of Pakistan.
گزشتہ فروری میں اغوا ہونے والے سفارتکارطارق عزیز الدین کی رہائی
ایسوسی ایٹڈ پریس سروس
قبائلی علا قے خیبر ایجنسی سے تقریباً تین ماہ قبل اغواء کیے جانے والے ا فغانستان میں پاکستان کے سفیر طارق عزیزالدین کے اہل خانہ کا کہنا ہے کہ انہیں رہا کر دیا گیا ہے اور وہ اس وقت حکومت پاکستان کے پاس ہیں۔طارق عزیزالدین کے اہل خانہ نے بتایا ہے کہ انہیں حکومت پاکستان نے مطلع کیا ہے کہ مغوی سفیر کو رہا کردیا گیا ہے جنہیں بہت جلد ا پنے گھر والوں کے حوالے کردیا جائے گا۔انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ اسکے علاوہ گھر والوں کو حکومت کی طرف سے مزید معلومات فراہم نہیں کی گئی ہیں۔ اسلام آباد میں دفتر خارجہ کے ترجمان محمد صادق نے بتایا ہے کہ طارق عزیز الدین حکومتِ پاکستان کے پاس ہیں۔ جب دفتر خارجہ کے ترجمان سے پوچھا گیا کہ آیا پاکستانی سفیر کی رہائی یا بازیابی طالبان کے ساتھ حکومتی مذاکرات کا نتیجہ ہے تو انہوں نے اس کے متعلق کوئی جواب نہیں دیا اور کہا کہ وہ صرف ابھی اسی پر ہی اکتفا کرتے ہیں کہ طارق عزیز الدین اب پاکستانی حکام کے پاس ہیں۔ طارق عزیزالدین دس فروری کو اپنے محافظوں کے ہمراہ افغانستان جاتے ہوئے قبائلی علاقے خیبر ایجنسی سے اغوا کیے گئے تھے اور دو ماہ دس دن تک لاپتہ ہونے کے بعد ان کی پہلی ویڈیو دبئی میں قائم العربیہ ڈی وی پر نشر کی گئی تھی جس میں انہوں نے حکومتِ پاکستان سے اپیل کی تھی کہ وہ ان کی رہائی کے لیے طالبان کے مطالبات تسلیم کر لے۔ ویڈیو میں پاکستانی سفیر کا کہنا تھا کہ وہ اپنے ڈرائیور اور محافظ سمیت طالبان کے قبضے میں ہیں اور انہیں آرام دہ حالات میں رکھا گیا ہے اور ان کا خیال رکھا جا رہا ہے۔ طارق عزیز الدین نے کہا تھا کہ’انہیں دل کی تکلیف ہے اور ہائی بلڈ پریشر کی بیماری بھی لاحق ہے۔‘ اگر چہ طالبان کے کسی خاص گروپ نے انکے اغواء کی ذمہ داری قبول نہیں کی ہے تاہم پاکستانی ذرائع ابلاغ میں یہ خبریں گشت کر رہی تھیں کہ وہ تحریک طالبان کے سربراہ بیت اللہ محسود کی تحویل میں ہیں تاہم تحریک طالبان نے آج تک اسکی ذمہ داری قبول نہیں کی ہے۔ انکی رہائی کی خبر ایک ایسے وقت سامنے آئی ہے جب حکومت اور طالبان کے درمیا ن مذاکرات میں پیش رفت ہوئی ہے اور فریقین نے آپس میں قیدیوں کا تبادلہ بھی کیا ہے۔ طارق عزیز الدین کو سفارتی حلقوں میں ایک قابل اور زیرک سفارتکار کے طور پر جانا جاتا ہے۔ افغانستان سے ان کے نسلی تعلق، فارسی اور پشتو زبانیں پر عبور اور وہاں پر پہلے بھی خدمات کومدنظر رکھتے ہوئے صدر پرویز مشرف نے انہیں تیرہ دسمبر دو ہزار پانچ کو رستم شاہ مہمند کی جگہ کابل میں پاکستان کا سفیر نامزد کیا تھا۔
ایسوسی ایٹڈ پریس سروس اسلام آباد
نمبر1۔مادھوری ڈکشٹ نے اپنی اکتالیسویں سالگرہ ممبئی میں خاموشی سے منائی
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ بالی ووڈ کی مشہور اداکارہ مادھوری ڈکشٹ نے گزشتہ روزاپنی اکتالیسویں سالگرہ ممبئی میں اپنے گھر پر خاموشی سے منائی۔ان کے سیکرٹری راکیش ناتھ کے مطابق اس دن کو منانے کیلئے کسی رسمی تقریب کا اہتمام نہیں کیا گیا۔مادھوری جو آج کل امریکی ریاست ڈینور میں اپنے شوہر سری رام نینے کے ساتھ رہائش پذیر ہیں ،پچھلے دنوں ’پدما شری ایوارڈ‘وصول کرنے کیلئے ہندوستان آئی ہیں۔حکومت ہندوستان ہر سال شعبہ ہائے زندگی کی اہم شخصیات کو ان کی بہترین کارکردگی پر’پدما شری ایوارڈ‘ نوازتی ہے۔مادھوری کو یہ ایوارڈ ان کی گزشتہ دو دہائیوں میں بھارتی سینما کی خدمات کے صلے میں دیا جا رہا ہے ۔مادھوری نے اپنے کیرئیر میں تیزاب ،رام لکھن،کھل نائیک،بیٹا،دل،ساجن، دل تو پاگل ہے اور دیوداس جیسی درجنوں کامیاب فلموں میں کام کیا ہے۔مادھوری ڈکشٹ نے شادی کے بعد فلم انڈسٹری سے کنارہ کشی اختیار کر لی تھی ۔حال ہی میں انہوں نے دوبارہ بالی وڈ میں قدم رکھا۔ ان کی نئی فلم’آجا نچ لے‘باکس آفس پر کامیابی حاصل نہیں کر سکی لیکن اس کے باوجود فلم میں بہترین کارکردگی کی بنیاد پرانہیں اس سال فلم فئیر ایوارڈ میں بہترین اداکارہ کے لئے نامزد کیاگیا
۔نمبر2۔بھارت کا سونی انٹرٹینمنٹ چینل اپنے ناظرین کے لئے ایک رئیلیٹی شو ’دس کا دم‘پیش کریگا
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ بھارت کا سونی انٹرٹینمنٹ چینل اپنے ناظرین کے لئے ایک رئیلیٹی شو ’دس کا دم‘پیش کر رہا ہے جس کی میزبانی بالی وڈ کے سپر اسٹارسلمان خان کریں گے ۔اس شوکے ٹائٹل گانے کا ویڈیو بنایا جا چکا ہے اور اسے بہت جلدسونی انٹرٹینمنٹ چینل پر نشر کیا جائے گا۔ گانے کو سلمان خان کے پسندیدہ میوزک ڈائریکٹرز’ساجد، واجد‘ نے بنایا ہے۔ اس سے پہلے سلما ن ان دونوں کے ساتھ فلم ’مجھ سے شادی کروگی“اور’پارٹنر‘ میں کام کر چکے ہیں۔ گانے کے حوالے سے بات کرتے ہوئے ساجد نے بتایا کہ اس گانے کو واجد نے گایا ہے اوراس گانے کے بول جلیس شہروانی نے ترتیب دیئے ہیں۔اس شو کے حوالے سے بات کرتے ہوئے واجد نے بتایا کہ سلمان اس شو میں ایک نئے انداز میں نظر آئیں گے ۔ انہوں نے مزید بتایاکہ اس شو کی چار قسطیں ریکارڈ کی جا چکی ہیں اوراس شوکو چھ جون سے جمعے اور ہفتے کے روز رات نو سے دس بجے کے درمیان سونی انٹرٹینمنٹ چینل پرنشر کیا جائے گا
۔نمبر3۔زنبیرسے بہت جلد شادی کرونگی ، تمام افواہیں جھوٹی ہیں،دیپیکا
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ گزشتہ روز رنبیر اور دیپیکا کے جھگڑوں اور علیحدگی کی افواہوں نے لوگوں کو یہ سوچنے پر مجبور کر دیا کہ کیا واقعی رنیر اور دیپیکا کی جوڑی ٹوٹ جائے گی۔ مگر اس سے پہلے کہ لوگ ان افواہوں کو سچ مانتے دیپیکا نے اپنے بیان میں ان افواہوں کی تردید کی اور صاف صاف کہہ دیا کہ ان خبروں میں کوئی صداقت نہیں، وہ اور رنبیر ایک دوسرے کے ساتھ زندگی گزارنے کا فیصلہ لے چکے ہیں اور بہت جلد رشتہ ازدواج سے منسلک ہو جائیں گے۔ دیپیکا کا کہنا تھا کہ گزشتہ سال نومبر میں رنبیر نے انہیں شادی کی پیشکش کی تھی جسے انہوں نے بہ خوشی قبول کیا تھا۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ وہ ایک دوسرے کو بہت پسند کرتے ہیں اور اس قسم کی خبریں ان کے رشتے پر اثر انداز نہیں ہو سکتیں۔دیپیکا کا کہنا ہے کہ وہ اور رنبیر بہت جلد شادی کریں گے اور ان دونوں کے اس فیصلے سے نہ صرف وہ دونوں بلکہ ان کے گھر والے بھی مطمئن اور خوش ہیں
۔نمبر4۔عامر خان کااپنے کتے کا نام شاہ رخ رکھنے کے بعد انڈسٹری میں نئی بحث نے جنم لے لیا
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ بالی وڈ میں عامر خان کااپنے کتے کا نام شاہ رخ رکھنے کے بعد انڈسٹری میں نئی بحث نے جنم لے لیا ہے تاہم عامر خان کے اس اقدام سے کنگ خان نا خوش ہیں۔ شاہ رخ خان کے قریبی دوست کا کہنا ہے کہ عامر خان کا اپنے کتے نام کا شاہ رخ رکھنے پر شاہ رخ خان نے ناراضگی کا اظہار کیا ہے ۔کنگ خان بظاہر عوام کے سامنے اس چیز کو زیادہ اہمیت نہیں دے رہے ہیں۔شاہ رخ خان کا کہنا ہے کہ کچھ عرصہ قبل تک لوگ مشہور شخصیات سے متاثر ہو کر ان کے ناموں پر اپنے بچوں کے نام رکھ کر خوشی محسوس کیا کرتے تھے تاہم ایک مشہور شخصیت کی جانب سے اس نوعیت کے واقعے کی ابتداءایک نیا رواج ہے ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ اس حوالے سے وہ کسی کی نقل نہیں کریں گے جو کہ مناسب نہیں ہے کنگ خان آج کل انڈین پریمئر لیگ کے سلسلے میں کولکتہ نائٹ رائیڈرز کے ساتھ مصروف ہیں۔بالی وڈ میں عامرخان اس سے قبل خود کو نمبر ون اداکار قرار دے چکے ہیں جس پر شاہ رخ خان ما سوائے مسکراہٹ کے کچھ نہ کر سکے تاہم عامر خان کی جانب سے اپنے کتے کا نام شاہ رخ رکھنا ایک نئی سرد جنگ کو ہوا دینا ہے جس پر شاہ رخ خان کیلئے بہتر یہ کہ وہ اس معاملے کو نظر انداز کر دیں اور کسی قسم کی توجہ نہ دیں۔ دوسری طرف اس پر پاکستان میں بھی اس بحث جاری ہے
۔نمبر5۔خصوصی افراد کیلئے میوزیکل پروگرام کا انعقاد
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ لاہور میں خصوصی افراد کے لئے ایک میوزیکل پروگرام کا اہتمام کیا گیا ہے ۔بحالی معذوران کی تنظیم وائس کے اہتمام یہ سالانہ میوزیکل پروگرام الحمرا آرٹس کونسل میں منعقد کیا گیا ،جس میں معروف گلوکاروں نے اپنے فن سے لوگوں کو محظوظ کیا ،عارف لوہار کی پر فارمنس پر حاضرین نے دل کھول کر داد دی ۔گلوکارہ نغمانہ جعفری نے بھی اپنے معروف گیت سنائے ،پروگرام میں معذور فنکاروں نے اپنے فن کا مظاہرہ کر کے لوگوں سے زبر دست داد وصول کی ۔اس موقع پر الحمرا ہال شائقین سے کھچا کھچ بھرا ہوا تھا
۔نمبر6۔فلم” بلو باربر “میرے معیار کے مطابق نہیں ،امیشا پٹیل
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ ”کہو نہ پیار ہے“ سے بالی وڈ میں مقبولیت حاصل کرنے والی اداکارہ امیشا پٹیل نے پریا درشن کی فلم ”بلو باربر“ میں کام کرنے سے انکار کردیا ہے ۔فلم بلو باربر ملیا لم فلم” کتھا پرایمبول “کا ریمیک ہے جس میں کنگ خان کے دوست کا کردار عرفان خان ادا کررہے ہیں اور اس فلم کی کہانی ایک منکسر المزاج حجام اور اس کے دوست کے گرد گھومتی ہے جبکہ فلم میں حجام کا کردار عرفان خان اور ان کے دوست کا کردار شاہ رخ خان ادا کررہے ہیں اور امیشا پٹیل عرفان خان کی بیوی کا کردار ادا کررہی تھیں لیکن اب انہوں نے اس فلم میں کام کرنے سے انکار کردیا ہے ۔امیشا کا کہنا ہے کہ فلم کی کہانی دوستوں کے گرد گھومتی ہے اور وہ سمجھتی ہیں کہ فلم میں ان کا کردار صلاحیتوں کے مطابق نہیں ہے جس کی وجہ سے انہوں نے اس فلم میں کام کرنے سے انکار کردیا ہے ۔فلمی حلقوں کا کہنا ہے کہ امیشا نے اس فلم میں کام کرنے سے انکار ادتیا چوپڑا کے کہنے پر کیا ہے کیونکہ وہ اپنے مستقبل کو صحیح سمت میں آگے بڑھانا چاہتی ہیں اور خواہشمند ہیں کہ اس سے ان کے مستقبل کے منصوبے اثر انداز نہ ہوں ۔تاہم امیشا نے یش راج فلمز سے تین فلموں میں کام کرنے کا معاہدہ کیا ہے جس میں سے ایک فلم میں وہ کنگ خان کے مد مقابل بھی کام کریں گی
۔نمبر7۔روم ماسٹرز : ماریا شراپوا اور یلینا یانکوچ سیمی فائنل میں پہنچ گئیں
اسلام آباد(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ روس کی ماریاشراپوا اور یلینا یانکووچ اٹلی میں جاری روم ماسٹر ٹینس ٹورنامنٹ کے سیمی فائنل میں پہنچ گئیں ہیں۔روم میں جاری ٹورنامنٹ میں سربیا کی یلینا یانکووچ نے امریکا کی وینس ولیمز کو 7-5 ، 2-6 اور 3-6 سے شکست دے کر سیمی فائنل میں جگہ بنائی لی ہے۔ ایک اور میچ میں روس کیAnna Chakvetadze نے بلغاریہ کی Tsvetana Pironkovaکو 2-6 ، 6-3 اور 1-6 سے ہرایا ۔ امریکا کی وینس ولیمز انجری کے بعد میچ سے دستبردار ہوگئیں ۔روس کی ماریہ شراپوا نے Patty Schnyder کو7-6 ، 5-7 اور 2-6 سے ہرا کر سیمی فائنل میں جگہ بنائی ہے
۔نمبر8۔ہیمبرگ ماسٹرز:رافیل نڈال اور اینڈریاس سیپی فائنل میں پہنچ گئے
اسلام آباد(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ رافیل نڈال اور اینڈریاس سیپی ہیمبرگ ماسٹر ٹینس ٹورنامنٹ کے سیمی فائنل میں پہنچ گئے ۔ہیمبرگ میں جاری ٹورنامنت میں ان سیڈڈ اٹلی کے اینڈر یا س سیپی نے جرمنی کے نکولس کیفر کو 3-6 ، 7-5 ، اور 5-7 سے شکست دے سیمی فائنل میں جگہ بنالی ۔ عالمی نمبر دو اسپین کے رافیل نڈال نے کارلوس مویا کو 1-6 اور 3-6 سے مات دی ۔ اس سے پہلے کھیلے گئے کواٹر فائنلز میں ورلڈ نمبر ون راجر فیڈرر نے اسپین کے فرنانڈو ورڈاسکو کو اسٹریٹ گیمز میں باآسانی شکست دے دی۔ فیڈرر کی جیت کا اسکور چھ تین اور چھ تین رہا ۔دوسرے کوارٹر فائنل میں سربیا کے نووک ڈوکووچ نے اسپین کے البرٹ مونٹانس کو چھ دو اور چھ تین سے مات دے کر سیمی فائنل میں جگہ بنائی ۔نمبر9۔روپے کی قدر میں مصنوعی کمی کرنے والوں کیخلاف منصوبہ بندی
کراچی (اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ وفاقی وزارتِ خزانہ،اسٹیٹ
بینک کے ساتھ مل کر ایسی منصوبہ بندی کر رہی ہے جس سے روپے کی قدر میں مصنوعی کمی کرنے والے عناصر کو نقصان ہوگا۔وزارتِ خزانہ کے ذرائع نے صحافےوں کو بتایاکہ روپے کی قدر مستحکم کرکے اسے ڈالر کے مقابلے میں65 روپے پر لانے کے لیے وزارت خزانہ اوراسٹیٹ بینک مل کر منصوبہ بندی کر رہے ہیں۔اس سلسلے میں نیشنل بینک کو یورو اور پاو¿نڈ خریدنے کے لیے خصوصی ہدایت بھی کردی گئی ہے۔ وزارتِ خزانہ، روپے کی قدر میں کمی لانے والے عناصر کے خلاف ضرورت پڑنے پرکارروائی بھی کرے گی۔
نمبر10۔کراچی اسٹاک ایکسچینج: سی ایف ایس سرمایہ کاری میں2 ارب کی کمی
کراچی(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ کراچی اسٹاک ایکسچینج میں سی ایف ایس سرمایہ کاری میں اس ہفتے دو ارب روپے سے زائد کی کمی ریکارڈ کی گئی ۔کے ایس ای کے جاری کردہ اعدادوشمار کے مطابق اس ہفتے سی ایف ایس سرمایہ کاری کی مالیت 52 ارب پچاس کروڑ روپے رہی جو گزشتہ ہفتے54 ارب روپے کی سطح پر تھی ۔ اس ہفتے سرمایہ کاروں کی عدم دلچسپی کے باعث سی ایف ایس سرمایہ کاری پر شرح سود میں 49 بیسس پوائنٹس کی کمی ہوئی اور یہ 11 اعشاریہ 56 فیصد رہی ۔ مستقبل کے سودوں میں سی ایف ایس فنائنسنگ کی مالیت 24 ارب نوے کروڑ روپے رہی اور اس میں دو بیسس پوائنٹس کی معمولی کمی ریکارڈ کی گئی ۔
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ بالی ووڈ کی مشہور اداکارہ مادھوری ڈکشٹ نے گزشتہ روزاپنی اکتالیسویں سالگرہ ممبئی میں اپنے گھر پر خاموشی سے منائی۔ان کے سیکرٹری راکیش ناتھ کے مطابق اس دن کو منانے کیلئے کسی رسمی تقریب کا اہتمام نہیں کیا گیا۔مادھوری جو آج کل امریکی ریاست ڈینور میں اپنے شوہر سری رام نینے کے ساتھ رہائش پذیر ہیں ،پچھلے دنوں ’پدما شری ایوارڈ‘وصول کرنے کیلئے ہندوستان آئی ہیں۔حکومت ہندوستان ہر سال شعبہ ہائے زندگی کی اہم شخصیات کو ان کی بہترین کارکردگی پر’پدما شری ایوارڈ‘ نوازتی ہے۔مادھوری کو یہ ایوارڈ ان کی گزشتہ دو دہائیوں میں بھارتی سینما کی خدمات کے صلے میں دیا جا رہا ہے ۔مادھوری نے اپنے کیرئیر میں تیزاب ،رام لکھن،کھل نائیک،بیٹا،دل،ساجن، دل تو پاگل ہے اور دیوداس جیسی درجنوں کامیاب فلموں میں کام کیا ہے۔مادھوری ڈکشٹ نے شادی کے بعد فلم انڈسٹری سے کنارہ کشی اختیار کر لی تھی ۔حال ہی میں انہوں نے دوبارہ بالی وڈ میں قدم رکھا۔ ان کی نئی فلم’آجا نچ لے‘باکس آفس پر کامیابی حاصل نہیں کر سکی لیکن اس کے باوجود فلم میں بہترین کارکردگی کی بنیاد پرانہیں اس سال فلم فئیر ایوارڈ میں بہترین اداکارہ کے لئے نامزد کیاگیا
۔نمبر2۔بھارت کا سونی انٹرٹینمنٹ چینل اپنے ناظرین کے لئے ایک رئیلیٹی شو ’دس کا دم‘پیش کریگا
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ بھارت کا سونی انٹرٹینمنٹ چینل اپنے ناظرین کے لئے ایک رئیلیٹی شو ’دس کا دم‘پیش کر رہا ہے جس کی میزبانی بالی وڈ کے سپر اسٹارسلمان خان کریں گے ۔اس شوکے ٹائٹل گانے کا ویڈیو بنایا جا چکا ہے اور اسے بہت جلدسونی انٹرٹینمنٹ چینل پر نشر کیا جائے گا۔ گانے کو سلمان خان کے پسندیدہ میوزک ڈائریکٹرز’ساجد، واجد‘ نے بنایا ہے۔ اس سے پہلے سلما ن ان دونوں کے ساتھ فلم ’مجھ سے شادی کروگی“اور’پارٹنر‘ میں کام کر چکے ہیں۔ گانے کے حوالے سے بات کرتے ہوئے ساجد نے بتایا کہ اس گانے کو واجد نے گایا ہے اوراس گانے کے بول جلیس شہروانی نے ترتیب دیئے ہیں۔اس شو کے حوالے سے بات کرتے ہوئے واجد نے بتایا کہ سلمان اس شو میں ایک نئے انداز میں نظر آئیں گے ۔ انہوں نے مزید بتایاکہ اس شو کی چار قسطیں ریکارڈ کی جا چکی ہیں اوراس شوکو چھ جون سے جمعے اور ہفتے کے روز رات نو سے دس بجے کے درمیان سونی انٹرٹینمنٹ چینل پرنشر کیا جائے گا
۔نمبر3۔زنبیرسے بہت جلد شادی کرونگی ، تمام افواہیں جھوٹی ہیں،دیپیکا
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ گزشتہ روز رنبیر اور دیپیکا کے جھگڑوں اور علیحدگی کی افواہوں نے لوگوں کو یہ سوچنے پر مجبور کر دیا کہ کیا واقعی رنیر اور دیپیکا کی جوڑی ٹوٹ جائے گی۔ مگر اس سے پہلے کہ لوگ ان افواہوں کو سچ مانتے دیپیکا نے اپنے بیان میں ان افواہوں کی تردید کی اور صاف صاف کہہ دیا کہ ان خبروں میں کوئی صداقت نہیں، وہ اور رنبیر ایک دوسرے کے ساتھ زندگی گزارنے کا فیصلہ لے چکے ہیں اور بہت جلد رشتہ ازدواج سے منسلک ہو جائیں گے۔ دیپیکا کا کہنا تھا کہ گزشتہ سال نومبر میں رنبیر نے انہیں شادی کی پیشکش کی تھی جسے انہوں نے بہ خوشی قبول کیا تھا۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ وہ ایک دوسرے کو بہت پسند کرتے ہیں اور اس قسم کی خبریں ان کے رشتے پر اثر انداز نہیں ہو سکتیں۔دیپیکا کا کہنا ہے کہ وہ اور رنبیر بہت جلد شادی کریں گے اور ان دونوں کے اس فیصلے سے نہ صرف وہ دونوں بلکہ ان کے گھر والے بھی مطمئن اور خوش ہیں
۔نمبر4۔عامر خان کااپنے کتے کا نام شاہ رخ رکھنے کے بعد انڈسٹری میں نئی بحث نے جنم لے لیا
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ بالی وڈ میں عامر خان کااپنے کتے کا نام شاہ رخ رکھنے کے بعد انڈسٹری میں نئی بحث نے جنم لے لیا ہے تاہم عامر خان کے اس اقدام سے کنگ خان نا خوش ہیں۔ شاہ رخ خان کے قریبی دوست کا کہنا ہے کہ عامر خان کا اپنے کتے نام کا شاہ رخ رکھنے پر شاہ رخ خان نے ناراضگی کا اظہار کیا ہے ۔کنگ خان بظاہر عوام کے سامنے اس چیز کو زیادہ اہمیت نہیں دے رہے ہیں۔شاہ رخ خان کا کہنا ہے کہ کچھ عرصہ قبل تک لوگ مشہور شخصیات سے متاثر ہو کر ان کے ناموں پر اپنے بچوں کے نام رکھ کر خوشی محسوس کیا کرتے تھے تاہم ایک مشہور شخصیت کی جانب سے اس نوعیت کے واقعے کی ابتداءایک نیا رواج ہے ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ اس حوالے سے وہ کسی کی نقل نہیں کریں گے جو کہ مناسب نہیں ہے کنگ خان آج کل انڈین پریمئر لیگ کے سلسلے میں کولکتہ نائٹ رائیڈرز کے ساتھ مصروف ہیں۔بالی وڈ میں عامرخان اس سے قبل خود کو نمبر ون اداکار قرار دے چکے ہیں جس پر شاہ رخ خان ما سوائے مسکراہٹ کے کچھ نہ کر سکے تاہم عامر خان کی جانب سے اپنے کتے کا نام شاہ رخ رکھنا ایک نئی سرد جنگ کو ہوا دینا ہے جس پر شاہ رخ خان کیلئے بہتر یہ کہ وہ اس معاملے کو نظر انداز کر دیں اور کسی قسم کی توجہ نہ دیں۔ دوسری طرف اس پر پاکستان میں بھی اس بحث جاری ہے
۔نمبر5۔خصوصی افراد کیلئے میوزیکل پروگرام کا انعقاد
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ لاہور میں خصوصی افراد کے لئے ایک میوزیکل پروگرام کا اہتمام کیا گیا ہے ۔بحالی معذوران کی تنظیم وائس کے اہتمام یہ سالانہ میوزیکل پروگرام الحمرا آرٹس کونسل میں منعقد کیا گیا ،جس میں معروف گلوکاروں نے اپنے فن سے لوگوں کو محظوظ کیا ،عارف لوہار کی پر فارمنس پر حاضرین نے دل کھول کر داد دی ۔گلوکارہ نغمانہ جعفری نے بھی اپنے معروف گیت سنائے ،پروگرام میں معذور فنکاروں نے اپنے فن کا مظاہرہ کر کے لوگوں سے زبر دست داد وصول کی ۔اس موقع پر الحمرا ہال شائقین سے کھچا کھچ بھرا ہوا تھا
۔نمبر6۔فلم” بلو باربر “میرے معیار کے مطابق نہیں ،امیشا پٹیل
لاہور(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ ”کہو نہ پیار ہے“ سے بالی وڈ میں مقبولیت حاصل کرنے والی اداکارہ امیشا پٹیل نے پریا درشن کی فلم ”بلو باربر“ میں کام کرنے سے انکار کردیا ہے ۔فلم بلو باربر ملیا لم فلم” کتھا پرایمبول “کا ریمیک ہے جس میں کنگ خان کے دوست کا کردار عرفان خان ادا کررہے ہیں اور اس فلم کی کہانی ایک منکسر المزاج حجام اور اس کے دوست کے گرد گھومتی ہے جبکہ فلم میں حجام کا کردار عرفان خان اور ان کے دوست کا کردار شاہ رخ خان ادا کررہے ہیں اور امیشا پٹیل عرفان خان کی بیوی کا کردار ادا کررہی تھیں لیکن اب انہوں نے اس فلم میں کام کرنے سے انکار کردیا ہے ۔امیشا کا کہنا ہے کہ فلم کی کہانی دوستوں کے گرد گھومتی ہے اور وہ سمجھتی ہیں کہ فلم میں ان کا کردار صلاحیتوں کے مطابق نہیں ہے جس کی وجہ سے انہوں نے اس فلم میں کام کرنے سے انکار کردیا ہے ۔فلمی حلقوں کا کہنا ہے کہ امیشا نے اس فلم میں کام کرنے سے انکار ادتیا چوپڑا کے کہنے پر کیا ہے کیونکہ وہ اپنے مستقبل کو صحیح سمت میں آگے بڑھانا چاہتی ہیں اور خواہشمند ہیں کہ اس سے ان کے مستقبل کے منصوبے اثر انداز نہ ہوں ۔تاہم امیشا نے یش راج فلمز سے تین فلموں میں کام کرنے کا معاہدہ کیا ہے جس میں سے ایک فلم میں وہ کنگ خان کے مد مقابل بھی کام کریں گی
۔نمبر7۔روم ماسٹرز : ماریا شراپوا اور یلینا یانکوچ سیمی فائنل میں پہنچ گئیں
اسلام آباد(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ روس کی ماریاشراپوا اور یلینا یانکووچ اٹلی میں جاری روم ماسٹر ٹینس ٹورنامنٹ کے سیمی فائنل میں پہنچ گئیں ہیں۔روم میں جاری ٹورنامنٹ میں سربیا کی یلینا یانکووچ نے امریکا کی وینس ولیمز کو 7-5 ، 2-6 اور 3-6 سے شکست دے کر سیمی فائنل میں جگہ بنائی لی ہے۔ ایک اور میچ میں روس کیAnna Chakvetadze نے بلغاریہ کی Tsvetana Pironkovaکو 2-6 ، 6-3 اور 1-6 سے ہرایا ۔ امریکا کی وینس ولیمز انجری کے بعد میچ سے دستبردار ہوگئیں ۔روس کی ماریہ شراپوا نے Patty Schnyder کو7-6 ، 5-7 اور 2-6 سے ہرا کر سیمی فائنل میں جگہ بنائی ہے
۔نمبر8۔ہیمبرگ ماسٹرز:رافیل نڈال اور اینڈریاس سیپی فائنل میں پہنچ گئے
اسلام آباد(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ رافیل نڈال اور اینڈریاس سیپی ہیمبرگ ماسٹر ٹینس ٹورنامنٹ کے سیمی فائنل میں پہنچ گئے ۔ہیمبرگ میں جاری ٹورنامنت میں ان سیڈڈ اٹلی کے اینڈر یا س سیپی نے جرمنی کے نکولس کیفر کو 3-6 ، 7-5 ، اور 5-7 سے شکست دے سیمی فائنل میں جگہ بنالی ۔ عالمی نمبر دو اسپین کے رافیل نڈال نے کارلوس مویا کو 1-6 اور 3-6 سے مات دی ۔ اس سے پہلے کھیلے گئے کواٹر فائنلز میں ورلڈ نمبر ون راجر فیڈرر نے اسپین کے فرنانڈو ورڈاسکو کو اسٹریٹ گیمز میں باآسانی شکست دے دی۔ فیڈرر کی جیت کا اسکور چھ تین اور چھ تین رہا ۔دوسرے کوارٹر فائنل میں سربیا کے نووک ڈوکووچ نے اسپین کے البرٹ مونٹانس کو چھ دو اور چھ تین سے مات دے کر سیمی فائنل میں جگہ بنائی ۔نمبر9۔روپے کی قدر میں مصنوعی کمی کرنے والوں کیخلاف منصوبہ بندی
کراچی (اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ وفاقی وزارتِ خزانہ،اسٹیٹ
بینک کے ساتھ مل کر ایسی منصوبہ بندی کر رہی ہے جس سے روپے کی قدر میں مصنوعی کمی کرنے والے عناصر کو نقصان ہوگا۔وزارتِ خزانہ کے ذرائع نے صحافےوں کو بتایاکہ روپے کی قدر مستحکم کرکے اسے ڈالر کے مقابلے میں65 روپے پر لانے کے لیے وزارت خزانہ اوراسٹیٹ بینک مل کر منصوبہ بندی کر رہے ہیں۔اس سلسلے میں نیشنل بینک کو یورو اور پاو¿نڈ خریدنے کے لیے خصوصی ہدایت بھی کردی گئی ہے۔ وزارتِ خزانہ، روپے کی قدر میں کمی لانے والے عناصر کے خلاف ضرورت پڑنے پرکارروائی بھی کرے گی۔
نمبر10۔کراچی اسٹاک ایکسچینج: سی ایف ایس سرمایہ کاری میں2 ارب کی کمی
کراچی(اے پی ایس)۔۔۔ کراچی اسٹاک ایکسچینج میں سی ایف ایس سرمایہ کاری میں اس ہفتے دو ارب روپے سے زائد کی کمی ریکارڈ کی گئی ۔کے ایس ای کے جاری کردہ اعدادوشمار کے مطابق اس ہفتے سی ایف ایس سرمایہ کاری کی مالیت 52 ارب پچاس کروڑ روپے رہی جو گزشتہ ہفتے54 ارب روپے کی سطح پر تھی ۔ اس ہفتے سرمایہ کاروں کی عدم دلچسپی کے باعث سی ایف ایس سرمایہ کاری پر شرح سود میں 49 بیسس پوائنٹس کی کمی ہوئی اور یہ 11 اعشاریہ 56 فیصد رہی ۔ مستقبل کے سودوں میں سی ایف ایس فنائنسنگ کی مالیت 24 ارب نوے کروڑ روپے رہی اور اس میں دو بیسس پوائنٹس کی معمولی کمی ریکارڈ کی گئی ۔
After quake, migrant worker searches for home
ZIPINGPU DAM, China - With eyes red from sleeplessness and worry, migrant worker Li Angui has only one thought in mind -- to return to his town devastated by China's earthquake.
The 43-year-old villager was working at a construction site in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern Sichuan province when the massive 7.9-magnitude quakestruck the region five days ago.
Since then, he has been travelling by foot and boat in a desperate bid to return to his "laojia" -- or birthplace -- in Gengda, a town surrounded by picturesque mountains, bamboo trees and home to giant pandas.
"My entire family is over there, my father, my mother, my grandmother and my wife. They're all there," Li said of his hometown about 450 kilometres (280 miles) northwest of Chengdu.
"But I don't have any news," he said in a worried voice, and carrying a plastic bag with few possessions.
"I found out that a cousin was able to leave and get to Chengdu, but I haven't been able to reach him on his mobile so I don't know what the situation is."
China estimates that more than 50,000 people have died in the country's worst natural disaster in a generation, while another 4.8 million have been left homeless.
When Li started walking to Gengda, he discovered to his dismay that the roads were blocked by landslides and other debris from the quake. He made it as far as the town of Yingxiu, where "everything, all the houses, lie in rubble."
Unable to reach his own village, he lent a hand in rescue operations, helping on Thursday to pull out two children from the remains of a school.
"They're doing well," Li said.
He reached Yingxiu by heading on a boat across the lake created by the Zipingpu Dam. But Li, who has walked roughly 200 kilometres since Monday, is now waiting to find other routes by land to make it to his own town.
Li is one of an estimated 140 million people in China who have left their homes in search of work.
While most have headed for the boomtowns of the east coast, home to bustling factories fuelling China's soaring economic growth, migration is also common between small towns and big cities elsewhere in China.
The domestic migrants sent home about 30 billion dollars in 2005, providing a major source of income to people in remote areas, according to a study last year by the International Organisation for Migration.
As for Li, he went to a meeting point for displaced people where the police and army began to make arrangements for the hundreds of people stranded and looking to get back to their villages.
Volunteers have also pitched in, helping care for people from the countryside who are now stuck in Chengdu or other major cities.
Fearing for the safety of his family, a determined Li has gathered his friends and is ready to set off again for his hometown.
The 43-year-old villager was working at a construction site in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern Sichuan province when the massive 7.9-magnitude quakestruck the region five days ago.
Since then, he has been travelling by foot and boat in a desperate bid to return to his "laojia" -- or birthplace -- in Gengda, a town surrounded by picturesque mountains, bamboo trees and home to giant pandas.
"My entire family is over there, my father, my mother, my grandmother and my wife. They're all there," Li said of his hometown about 450 kilometres (280 miles) northwest of Chengdu.
"But I don't have any news," he said in a worried voice, and carrying a plastic bag with few possessions.
"I found out that a cousin was able to leave and get to Chengdu, but I haven't been able to reach him on his mobile so I don't know what the situation is."
China estimates that more than 50,000 people have died in the country's worst natural disaster in a generation, while another 4.8 million have been left homeless.
When Li started walking to Gengda, he discovered to his dismay that the roads were blocked by landslides and other debris from the quake. He made it as far as the town of Yingxiu, where "everything, all the houses, lie in rubble."
Unable to reach his own village, he lent a hand in rescue operations, helping on Thursday to pull out two children from the remains of a school.
"They're doing well," Li said.
He reached Yingxiu by heading on a boat across the lake created by the Zipingpu Dam. But Li, who has walked roughly 200 kilometres since Monday, is now waiting to find other routes by land to make it to his own town.
Li is one of an estimated 140 million people in China who have left their homes in search of work.
While most have headed for the boomtowns of the east coast, home to bustling factories fuelling China's soaring economic growth, migration is also common between small towns and big cities elsewhere in China.
The domestic migrants sent home about 30 billion dollars in 2005, providing a major source of income to people in remote areas, according to a study last year by the International Organisation for Migration.
As for Li, he went to a meeting point for displaced people where the police and army began to make arrangements for the hundreds of people stranded and looking to get back to their villages.
Volunteers have also pitched in, helping care for people from the countryside who are now stuck in Chengdu or other major cities.
Fearing for the safety of his family, a determined Li has gathered his friends and is ready to set off again for his hometown.
US plans new prison in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - The United States intends to build a big new prison at its main military base in Afghanistan, a shift from earlier aims to transfer most detainees to Afghan custody, The New York Times reported.
A Pentagon spokesman confirmed the report in the Times' Saturday edition of the planned 40-acre (24-hectare) complex at the Bagram military base. "There are plans under way to do that," Lt. Col. Mark Wright said.
Wright said the new facility would offer more room and more opportunity for vocational, educational and religious training. The current, makeshift prison at Bagram holds about 630 prisoners, kept in wire-mesh pens surrounded by coils of razor wire, the Times said.
U.S. officials concede a new Afghan-run prison cannot absorb all the Afghans detained by the United States and waves of new prisoners who are expected from an escalating fight against al Qaeda and the Taleban, the report said. It said the plans represent an acknowledgment that the United States was likely to hold prisoners overseas for many years to come.
The new U.S. prison would hold about 1,100 detainees and cost about $60 million, the Times said.
"Our existing theater internment facility is deteriorating," Sandra L. Hodgkinson, the senior Pentagon official for detention policy, told the Times. "It was renovated to do a temporary mission. There is a sense that this is the right time to build a new facility."
A Pentagon spokesman confirmed the report in the Times' Saturday edition of the planned 40-acre (24-hectare) complex at the Bagram military base. "There are plans under way to do that," Lt. Col. Mark Wright said.
Wright said the new facility would offer more room and more opportunity for vocational, educational and religious training. The current, makeshift prison at Bagram holds about 630 prisoners, kept in wire-mesh pens surrounded by coils of razor wire, the Times said.
U.S. officials concede a new Afghan-run prison cannot absorb all the Afghans detained by the United States and waves of new prisoners who are expected from an escalating fight against al Qaeda and the Taleban, the report said. It said the plans represent an acknowledgment that the United States was likely to hold prisoners overseas for many years to come.
The new U.S. prison would hold about 1,100 detainees and cost about $60 million, the Times said.
"Our existing theater internment facility is deteriorating," Sandra L. Hodgkinson, the senior Pentagon official for detention policy, told the Times. "It was renovated to do a temporary mission. There is a sense that this is the right time to build a new facility."
Bush in Egypt on last leg of ceremonial Middle East tour
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt- US President George Bush, on the last leg of a largely ceremonial tour of the Middle East, was due to meet Egyptian leaders Saturday in the Sharm el-Sheikh resort.
Bush, arriving from Saudi Arabia, was expected to discuss with President Hosny Mubarak a major concern for Arab leaders: the growing influence of Iran against the backdrop of recent violence in Lebanon.
In Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia, Bush shared his concerns over the rising influence of Shia Iran, not only in Lebanon, but also in Iraq.
US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said both countries shared the concern that Iran would be emboldened by recent events in Lebanon.
The US and Saudi Arabia share the view of "condemning what (the Lebanese radical Shia movement) Hezbollah did."
In Egypt, Bush is likely to hear the same concerns over Iran's "calling the shots" in key Arab questions: Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian issue, Arab diplomatic sources said.
Bush's plan for democracy in the region is unlikely to be high on the agenda of his talks in Egypt.
Bush's initial enthusiasm and what seemed to be a firm commitment to prodding democratic reforms in the Middle East have faded.
Human rights activists in the region have ceased to pin hopes on a strong US backing of pro-democracy movements in the region.
Egypt, a country where democratic reforms lie in tatters, is a strong ally of the US.
Bush is expected to thank Mubarak for his unwavering efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel antpeace front, most analysts say the prospects for significant progress towards a final agreement between Israel and the Palestinians are slim.
With only eight months left in office, Bush is unlikely to achieve a major breakthrough.
On his second trip, and probably his last, to the Middle East, Bush has so far achieved nothing. The trip has been largely ceremonial.
During his talks in Saudi Arabia on Friday, Bush failed to get the oil-rich kingdom to help reduce pressures on oil prices, which are hurting the US economy.
During his January trip to the kingdom, Bush's request for an oil output increase was politely turned down.
During talks over oil on Friday, discussions were "friendly," Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said.
"He (Bush) didn't punch any tables or shout at anybody. I think he was satisfied," al-Faisal said.
The Saudis argue that any output increase was unlikely to push prices down.
Last week, a group of Democrats in the US Senate introduced a resolution to block a multimillion-dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom increases oil production to curb price hikes.
The Saudis will get US assistance in the development of a nuclear programme for peaceful purposes under an agreement that was signed on Friday.
Kidnapped Pakistani envoy to Afghanistan recovered safe: FO
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin who was kidnapped more than three months ago has been recovered safe, said the Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq on Saturday. The Envoy Tariq Azizuddin was heading to the Afghan capital Kabul with his driver when he disappeared in the Khyber tribal district bordering Afghanistan on February 11.
“The ambassador was recovered late Friday,” confirmed the spokesman. “He is safe and sound,” he said.
The release came nearly four weeks after Azizuddin appeared in a video aired by Dubai-based Al-Arabiya news channel in which he said he was being held by the Taliban.
He said in the video that he had been taken with his driver and bodyguard who were also shown sitting beside him, while three gunmen stood in the background.
Azizuddin had pleaded in the video to the government and the foreign ministry “to do all they can to protect our lives and to answer all the demands of the Mujahedeen of Taliban in order to secure our release.”
PPP sets up complaint cell at Peoples Secretariat
KARACHI: President, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Karachi Division, Syed Faisal Raza Abidi inaugurated a Complaint Cell at Pakistan Peoples Party Secretariat here on Friday evening.
The cell would help address party activists’ problems pertaining to the party affairs.
The Cell established at Karachi level has been put under the charge of senior PPP leader, Shahnawaz Shani.
Cell has been given the task to take up complaints of the party workers and take measures to resolve the same.
Members of the Complaint Cell include Ejaz Baloch, Faisal Sherwani and Izhar Shah.
Faisal Raza Abidi has advised the party men to contact the Cell for resolution of their complaints related to party affairs.
UN forum ends with call for more investment in research and development
UNITED NATIONS : The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) wrapped up its annual session Friday by calling for ramping up investment in research and development in innovative and sustainable agricultural technologies and infrastructure in poor countries. The Commission, concluding two weeks of discussions in New York, examined the obstacles and barriers that have prevented sustainable development in the areas of agriculture, land use, rural development, drought, desertification and Africa. Countries will now follow-up on these issues with policy recommendations at next year’s meeting.
The session also provided a foundation for international discussions on the global food crises that will take place in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), of which the CSD is a subsidiary body, next Tuesday in New York, and at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome in early June.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in an address earlier this week, said that “after a quarter century of relative neglect, agriculture is back on the international agenda, sadly with a vengeance. The onset of the current food crisis has highlighted the fragility of our success in feeding the world’s growing population with the technologies of the first green revolution and subsequent agricultural improvements.”
The Secretary-General stressed that agriculture needs invigorating. “We need to work together to develop a new generation of technologies and farming methods which make possible a second green revolution, one which permits sustainable yield improvements with minimal environmental damage and contributes to sustainable development goals.”
Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang said: “We do need to address the runaway food prices as an emergency. We need to take quick, targeted action to deliver emergency food aid to the people in need.” But he added that crisis management was not enough. “We need to make sure it does not happen again.”
Many countries expressed concern that a number of factors had contributed to the present situation, including climate change, unfair trade policies, poor land management, biofuel production, and a lack of roads and access to markets in rural agricultural areas.
PAKISTAN
Pakistan called for a concerted plan of action that must include emergency actions, including humanitarian aid, to enable severely stressed developing countries to provide affordable food to their peoples.
“It (the action plan) must also provide inputs to ensure larger food production in the near term, inter alia, to ensure supplies and moderate prices,” Ambassador Munir Akram said.
Almost 60 ministers attended the CSD, along with 680 representatives from 126 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Representatives from civil society, including women, farmers, science, business, children and youth, local authorities, workers and trade unions, indigenous peoples and nongovernmental organizations participated far more extensively than in the past.
Pakistan Army officer serving UN dies
UNITED NATIONS : A Pakistan Army officer serving in the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Cote d’ivoire (UNOCI) has died in a road accident, the U.N. announced Friday.
The body of Major Ahmar Raza will reach Karachi on May 19, the announcement said.
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and UNOCI have expressed their condolences to the members of the family and Government of Pakistan on the sad demise of Major Ahmar Raza.
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