Diplomatic AffairsApril 22-28, 2013

An eyeful of weekly

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Roots celebrates 25 years of service

Libyan delegation participates in Int’l Judicial Conference

Russian Federation Air Force Chief visits PAF HQs, Air Defence CommandMusharraf

in troubled waters

Saudi, Pakistani ministers meet

Judicial system aims to ensure protection of democratic system: CJ

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www.diplomaticaffairs.netinfo@diplomaticaffairs.net An eyeful of weekly Chief Editor: Abubakar Siddique

Publisher, Abubakar Siddique published at House no: 20, Street No 29, F-8/1, Islamaabd

Indubitably, judiciary, being one of the unavoidable pillars of the state, plays a pivotal role in a coun-try’s development. The Pakistani nation has made an admirable struggle for freedom of judiciary. The

role of lawyer fraternity and political parties cannot be neglected while mentioning the efforts for an independent ju-diciary, as they played a lead-ing role in the movement for restoration of the institution after it was crippled by suspen-sion of Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Activities held to shed light on im-portance of freedom of judiciary are always of high weight and substance. The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan annually holds International Judicial Conference, wherein delega-tions of different countries participate and discuss a variety of issues relating to judicial development.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said in the concluding session that an independ-ent judiciary played an important role in providing justice to the people. He said judiciary gives priority to those who are in search of justice. He said judiciary has taken oath of protection of constitution and judiciary is re-sponsible for dispensation of justice to the people.

It is a welcoming statements the CJ made in his ad-dress that confidence of masses on judiciary has im-proved in recent years. He said ‘judiciary is the third pillar of the state and independent judiciary plays vital role in providing justice in society.’ He observed there is need to strengthen judiciary as an institution. He rightly

observed that the current judiciary is not like that of before 2007 judiciary.

No doubt the judiciary is taking measures for rule of law in the coun-try. These measures are actually im-perative for ensuring speedy justice to the people of Pakistan.

The remarks of the CJ that Pakistan is not an underdeveloped country but a nuclear power are also very notable, as he has really shown the optimis-tic approach, which every Pakistani should adopt.

Representatives from 21 countries

attended the conference. The participants of the con-ference urged for joint efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the society. The conference recom-mended that all states should respect and secure pro-tect human rights irrespective of region‚ ethnicity or

nationality. It also called for strengthen-

ing cooperation among states at the regional and internation-al levels in order to deal with international crimes.

Such conferences are a regu-lar and an important event. This annual event aimed at providing a forum to the stake-holders of justice sector to share experiences and evolve strategies for addressing the problems which are being faced by the judicial system. This year the international conference was held with the same spirit to provide an op-portunity to international and national luminaries in law, re-searchers and academia to sit together and share thoughts,

experiences and knowl-edge for resolving common concerns and problems faced in

the administration of justice.

Delegations from various countries of the world par-ticipated in the recently held International Judicial Con-ference. The participants assembled in the thematic groups. Group One discussed ‘Role of Judiciary in De-veloping World’; Group Two discussed ‘The Rule of Law and International Peace’; Group Three discussed ‘Terrorism and Money Laundering’; Group Four dis-cussed ‘Public Interest Litigation: a Tool to Protect Fun-damental Rights’; Group Five discussed ‘The Role of Judiciary in Consumer Protection’; Group Six discussed ‘Legal and Judicial Education’; Group Seven discussed ‘Alternate Dispute Resolution’; Group Eight discussed ‘Parental Child Abduction and Transnational Jurisdic-tion’; and Group Nine discussed ‘Cyber Crimes’.

Such conferences are very important, as in interna-tional conferences expert from different countries share their experiences. Such experiences help the participat-ing countries improve their status and strengthen their institutions.

Pivotal role of Int’l Judicial Conference

No doubt the judiciary is

taking measures for rule of

law in the country. These

measures are actually im-

perative for ensuring speedy

justice to the people of Paki-

stan...

Such conferences are very im-

portant, as in international

conferences experts from dif-

ferent countries share their

experiences. Such experiences

help the participating coun-

tries strengthen their institu-

tions.

April 22-28, 2013

3

DA REPORT ISLAMABAD

After his return to Pakistan according to his promise, former president Pervez Musharraf is facing cases

registered against him for his acts he did during his regime.

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) the other day sent former president Pervez Musharraf on a 14-day judicial remand in the judges’ detention case.

The former president, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was pro-duced before the ATC amid tight secu-rity. Despite the high security, a large number of lawyers reached the spot and started chanting slogans against Musharraf and also scuffled with his supporters.

Meanwhile, the chief commissioner, Islamabad, constituted a Joint Investi-gation Team (JIT) headed by SP (City) Capt (retd) Mohammad Ilyas to inves-tigate the terrorism case against former president Pervez Musharraf, registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorist Act (ATA).

Musharraf came to the national po-litical scenario by his military coup in 1999. He first became the chief ex-ecutive and then president of Pakistan, while being in his military uniform. During his tenure, he made several constitutional changes. Shortly after Musharraf’s takeover, Musharaf issued Oath of Judges Order No. 2000, which required judges to take a fresh oath of office swearing allegiance to military. On 12 May 2000, the Supreme Court asked Musharraf to hold national elec-tions by 12 October 2002.

In October 2002, general elections were held which the pro-Musharraf PML-Q won with wide margins. The PML-Q formed government with far-right religious parties coalition, the MMA and the liberals MQM; the coali-tion legitimized Musharraf’s rule.

Among his decisions that have long-lasting impact on the country is his alli-ance with the US on war against terror-ism. Musharraf allied with the United States against the Afghan mujahideen in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks.

On March 9, 2007, Musharraf sus-pended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muham-mad Chaudhry and pressed corruption charges against him. He replaced him with ally Acting Chief Justice Javed Iqbal. The move drew large condemna-tion and led to a movement for restora-tions of judiciary. Similarly, Musharraf is highly criticized over Lal Masjid in-cident.

On 7 August 2008, the Pakistan Peo-ple’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) agreed to force Musharraf to step down and begin his impeach-ment. Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sha-rif announced sending a formal request or joint charge sheet that he step down, and impeach him through parliamen-

tary process upon refusal. Musharraf refused to step down.

However, on 18 August 2008, Musharraf resigned. On 19 August, he defended his nine-year rule in an hour-long speech.

On 2 October 2007, Musharraf ap-pointed General Tariq Majid as Chair-man Joint Chiefs Committee and ap-proved General Ashfaq Kayani as vice chief of the army starting 8 October. When Musharraf resigned from mili-tary on 28 November 2007, Ashfaq Parvez Kayani became Chief of Army Staff.

Since quitting politics in 2008, Musharraf has been in London since 24 November 2008 in self-imposed exile. Musharraf launched his own political party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, in June 2010.

Now, Musharraf returned to Paki-stan after announcement of holding of general elections in May. After coming to country, Musharraf is faced with various cases. The former president is at his farmhouse as an inmate, as the administration has declared Mushar-raf’s farmhouse at Chak Shehzad as sub-jail and shifted him there as a pris-oner.

Authorities handed over the control of the sub-jail to the administration of Adi-ala Jail, Rawalpindi, and to law enforcing agencies with the direction to provide extraordinary security to the sub-jail. The Adiala Jail officials, headed by a dep-uty superintendent, had already taken over internal control of the farmhouse before the shifting of Pervez Musharraf. The issue is going to witness more devel-opments and the time will tell about the fate of Musharraf’s future.

BUREAU REPORTLAHORE

A Chinese language course has been launched by the Punjab chapter of the PHMA for its members,

mostly consisting of importers and dealers.

The PHMA Punjab president Saj-

jad A. Sheikh, while addressing the concluding ceremony of the language workshop, observed that our majority of the members deal in import from China but they don’t even have a basic knowledge of the Chinese language. The course will equip the importers with basic skill of the language, creat-ing better understandings of business and trade with China.

AGENCIES ISLAMABAD

Federal Minister for Human Resource Development, Barrister Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel has demanded

from Budapest members’ countries and European Union representatives to enhance the Quota of Pakistan manpower export to European Un-ion and Budapest member countries. Federal Minister emphasized that Pakistan and other silk route region countries’ quotas of legal migration should be enhanced on merit, with out any kind of discrimination, racism and xenophobia.

The Minister was addressing the 5th International Ministerial Confer-ence of Budapest process in Istanbul Thursday evening, a message re-ceived here Friday said.

He said that it was his firm belief that enhancing legal migration quota

would be an effective way to decrease illegal migration from silk route re-gion to Budapest member countries. Federal Minister said that approxi-mately 6.45 million Pakistanis have proceeded abroad for employment, out of which 96 percent went to Gulf countries whereas less than 1 percent Pakistanis have been given an oppor-tunity in European countries, and this discrimination against Pakistan and silk route region countries gave rise to illegal migration. More so, he added Pakistan Government had established Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and Migration Management Cell under the Interior Ministry of Pakistan to curb illegal migration and these bodies were also exchanging data with Buda-pest member countries.

Budapest Process Ministerial con-ference is an International forum where more than 50 countries discuss and formulate the migration policies of member countries.

Pakistan demands more manpower export to EU, Budapest members

Musharraf in troubled waters

Chinese course for importers launched

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Pakistan and Azerbaijan are two Muslim brother countries, having profound love and regard for each

other, therefore, Azerbaijan strongly desires to further enhance its bilateral, economic and commercial ties with Pa-kistan.

These remarks were made by Dash-gin Shikarov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan

in Pakistan during a meeting with Zafar Bakhtawari, President Islamabad Cham-ber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI). He said that Azerbaijan has expertise in energy sector, having huge hydel power plants as well as expertise in exploration

of oil and gas sector, therefore, both the countries could cooperate in these areas to further enhance their bilateral rela-tions.

The ambassador said that Azerbaijan would increase its airline fleets by 2014 as Azerbaijan is keen to establish direct air-link between Islamabad and Baku which would bring people of the two countries closer to each other. He also underlined the need of establishing Pak-Azerbaijan Business Forum as well as invited ICCI’s delegation to visit Azerbaijan that would open new avenues of cooperation.

Dashgin said that construction sector is one of the fastest growing areas of the Azerbaijan’s economy as it is in process of construction huge buildings and a new island having worth of $130billion. He said that the two countries also have a potential of joint ventures in pharma-

ceutical, agriculture and manufacturing sector.

In his welcome address, Zafar Bakhta-wari said that it was a long standing demand of the Islamabad Chamber for establishing direct air-link between Paki-stan and Azerbaijan as we have request-ed Turkish airline to consider connecting Istanbul-Baku-Islamabad through at least two of its flights in a week which would help businessmen in visiting each other country and exploring new areas of commercial linkages.

He said that both the sides must en-sure liberal visa policy to enable the businessmen get visa easily and meet each other which is imperative to boost trade ties between the two countries as there is enough potential in various fields between the two countries to increase trade.

Azerbaijan keen to resolve Pak energy crisis: envoyn Says country keen to establish direct air-link between islamabad, Baku

PESHAWAR: Ambassador of Korea to Pakistan, Choong Joo Choi speaking during his visit to Chamber House here the other day. DA

April 22-28, 2013

4

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

The Roots Millennium Schools’ flagship Millenni-um Campus I-9/3, Islama-bad organised a colourful

ceremony to celebrate the silver ju-bilee of the school system.

The celebration was coupled with a high achievers award ceremony where students were awarded with medals for their achievements in O-Levels, IGCSE, AS&A-Level, BSc University of London International Programme, Ivy League University placements, Cambridge University acceptance and Global Undergradu-ate scholarships.

The ceremony was attended by nearly 500 scholarship recipients and their families. Turkish ambas-sador Mustafa Babur Hizlan was chief guest on the occasion, while Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan was the special guest of honour.

Dr Junaid Zaidi, Rector Comsats, Zenen Buergo Concepcion, ambas-sador of Cuba, Muhammad Rashad Daureeawo, Mauritius high commis-sioner, Emilian Ion, ambassador of Romania, Bharat Raj Paudyal, am-bassador of Nepal, Ms Uzma Yousaf, country manager CIE, Nadia Kam-ran, director education UK British Council attended the ceremony.

A total of 18 students from RMS Islamabad secured CIE outstand-

ing learner awards and Edexcel dis-tinctions in various subjects, with Usama Bin Shafqat being the star of the show with five distinctions in mathematics (without coursework), additional mathematics, information and communication technology and physics. He was also the best student across six Cambridge IGCSEs and topped in Pakistan. An outstanding millennial, Syeda Shanze Gillani, topped in entire Pakistan in biology; Ali Mumtaz Warraich topped in Pa-kistan in business studies whereas Abdullah Nasir topped in Pakistan in chemistry. Ali Amin and Hiba Nasir topped in accounting and economics; Zawar Hussain topped in Urdu lan-guage in Pakistan and Maham Khan

stood first in Islamabad in English lit-erature. Faran Farooq acquired joint third place across three Cambridge Advanced Subsidiary Level courses. Abdullah Nasir topped in Pakistan across seven Cambridge IGCSEs. Maaz Khan acquired second place in Islamabad across six Cambridge IGCSE’s whereas Safyan Aman Me-mon and Tuba Majid acquired joint third place in Islamabad across six Cambridge IGCSE’s. Xarlish Amjad topped in the entire region in A Level Edexcel Law and Zona Ali topped in Edexcel A Level Law in entire Paki-stan.

Speaking on the occasion, RMS Chief Executive Faisal Mushtaq said, “As a national career counsellor

and student university applications sponsor, my team and I work very closely with each student and I take pride and honour to announce that my students across Pakistan have won scholarships to the tune of Rs 1.4 billion this year.

Chief Guest Mustafa Babur Hizlan appreciated the outstanding achieve-ments of the RMS Millennium Cam-pus and said, “I would like to offer my felicitations to all the students, parents and teachers who have won recognition, and salute the dedica-tion and commitment of this great institution, leadership, management and teachers who are nurturing the future of Pakistan and also the silver jubilee celebrations.”

academic excellence

Roots celebrates 25 years of service

April 22-28, 2013

5

AGENCIESISLAMABAD

Pakistan and South Africa have set a moderate bilateral trade target of $1 billion until 2015 that would be achieved by im-

proving trade mechanism between the two countries.

At present, the trade between the two countries is very nominal as South Africa’s trade with world is $75 to $80 billion and its trade with Pakistan is less than one percent of its total trade.

“We can even surplus the set trade target if trade mechanism is improved,” Deputy Director General Asia and Mid-dle-East, Department of International Relations and Cooperation Anil Sookal said at the third session of Pak-South Africa Joint Commission meeting.

The third session of Pak-South Afri-ca Joint Commission meeting was held here Monday during which progress on about eight memorandums of under-standing (MoUs) was discussed.

In light of the understanding reached earlier at the second joint commission meeting, substantive deliberations took place in the meeting in a cordial and

constructive manner on a number of relevant aspects relating to the bilateral trade, enhanced economic cooperation and identifying areas of mutual coop-eration.

Both sides agreed for close inter-action between various ministries to deliberate in-depth on related aspects and propose concrete steps to move forward.

The Pakistan delegation that partici-pated in the talks was led by Additional Foreign Secretary, Seema Naqvi while the South African delegation was head-ed by Anil Sookal.

Both the sides thoroughly discussed the progress on various MoUs in various sectors of economy including health, higher education, agriculture, mining, information technology, nar-cotics control and defence production.

During their discussions, the del-egation head of South Africa said that his country was in need of experts in science and mathematics fields and of-fered that joint ventures to tap the po-tential of mining sector of Pakistan. He said that South Africa has expertise in this field and has been using modern technology.

MONITORS REPORTJeddah

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ campaign to help the people of Pakistan has provided the World As-

sembly of Muslim Youths (WAMY) with as many as 1478 school bags to be distributed over orphans’ schools in Pakistan.

This came according to the memo-randum of understanding signed between the campaign and Pakistan-

based WAMY Office which is respon-sible for implementing the current school bags project of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ campaign to help the people of Pakistan.

For his part, WAMY Assistant Secretary General in Makkah Dr. Mohammed bin Omar Badhah ex-pressed thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ campaign for its generous support for WAMY to enable it to participate in the efforts to help the brotherly Paki-stani people.

BUREAU REPORT PESHAWAR

Ambassador of Afghani-stan to Pakistan Mo-hammad Sadiq said that a prosperous and

peaceful Afghanistan is eminent for stability in Pakistan and entire region, saying that they strongly support any peace effort carried out jointly by the two neighbour-ing states.

He was addressing at a seminar on “Pak-Afghan relations in the

changing world scenario” organ-ised by department of Political Sciences, University of Peshawar here on Thursday.

The Afghanistan is strongly sup-porting the reconciliation and peace process comprising all the ethnic groups and stakeholders in the war affected country, said Sadiq. He fur-ther said that the relationships with neighbours are not easy due to dif-ferences and outstanding disputes. He, however, said there is need to address all issues through dialogue and in a peaceful manner.

Though, the Afghan Envoy ac-knowledged that both neighbour-ing states have made mistakes in the past. “We need to move for-ward to achieve regional prosper-ity”, he stressed. He informed that price of daily use products have been registered a substantial in-crease due to delaying supply of goods from Pakistan. Currently, he said, the trade volume between two neighbouring states stood around $2 billion per year, while the unofficial trade reaches around $5 billion per annum.

Pakistan, S Africa to lift trade up to $1 billion

KSA extends generous support

Peaceful Afghanistan a must for stability in Pakistan, region: envoy

DA REPORT ISLAMABAD

Pakistan expressed its readi-ness to cooperate in the peaceful withdrawal of the Nato-led forces from Af-

ghanistan, urging all the stakeholders to devote their energies towards mak-ing Afghanistan peaceful‚ progressive‚ prosperous and stable country in the post withdrawal period.

Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, while respond-ing to various queries during weekly press briefing, said Pakistan is ready to cooperate with all stakeholders to achieve the overall objective of achiev-ing peace and stability in Afghanistan in 2014 and beyond.

He said Pakistan is in contact with all concerned in this regard and is monitoring the evolving situation, adding that Pakistan is convinced that peace‚ stability and reconciliation in

Afghanistan is in its own interest and it will facilitate peace process in Af-ghanistan in every possible manner.

Commenting on the negative ges-tures coming from Kabul, the spokes-man said that Islamabad does not re-spond to any allegation with a counter allegation. For us, the most important thing is the peace process in Afghani-stan, he said. “We are convinced that peace and stability in Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan and the region, and we will continue to facilitate the peace process in every possible way,” he added.

Recently, Afghan Defence Minis-try had alleged that Pakistan was in-volved in terrorist activities inside Af-ghanistan after Kabul claimed to have captured a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative. However, the spokesman said Paki-stan and Afghanistan are maintaining contact through appropriate channels to address the issues of mutual con-cern, adding that the DGMOs of the

two countries recently met and re-solved the border coordination issues, including border post construction. “In our view, effective border man-agement can help interdict any cross-border terrorist activity. We welcome such bilateral interactions in order to enhance bilateral cooperation and re-duce space for detractors,” he added.

The spokesman avoided responding repeated media queries regarding the former president Pervez Musharraf who is currently under the custody of Islamabad police on the court orders in the judges’ confinement case. To a question whether any foreign mission in Pakistan actually contacted Govern-ment of Pakistan to provide asylum to Pervez Musharraf, he expressed his complete ignorance saying “I am not aware of any such approach by any foreign mission.”

Similarly, when asked whether For-eign Office was in loop regarding any foreign contact and pressure about

the Musharraf issue either from Lon-don, Washington, Jeddah or any other country and whether there was any record available at the Foreign Minis-try regarding past agreements which were related to certain political leaders and to which certain foreign dignitar-ies were witness and signatories, he

again declined to make any comment saying he was not aware of any for-eign contact or agreement. To another question, the spokesman said that he does not have any information re-garding the reported arrival of Prince Mukran from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan to talk about Pervez Musharraf.

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

The Australian High Commis-sion celebrated ‘Australia Day in Spring’ 2013 here the other

day.

Australian High Commissioner, Pe-ter Heyward, was joined by Pakistan’s Senate Chair Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari as chief guest, among other Pakistani and expatriate dignitaries, to celebrate Australia in Pakistan. The event celebrated the growing Austral-

ian-Pakistan’s bilateral political, cul-tural and economic relations. A photo exhibition, depicting long historical ties between Australia and Pakistan, was also held. Australian performers entertained also the audience at the ceremony.

Pakistan vows coop in NATO pullout from Afghanistan

‘Australian Day in Spring’ marked

April 22-28, 2013

6

UN expresses sympathies over quake, offers support to victims

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

The United Nations in Pakistan expresses condolences and sincere sympathies to the peo-

ple and the Government of Pakistan following the earthquake that struck the border region of Iran and Pakistan the other day.

“We extend our deep condolences to the people of Pakistan for the dev-astation that resulted from the earth-quake and its aftershocks, particularly to those whose loved ones were in-jured or lost their lives,” said Humani-tarian Coordinator Timo Pakkala.

Reports indicate at least 40 people were killed and over 180 others injured in border towns and villages of Paki-stan following the earthquake recorded at 7.9 on the Richter scale in south-east Iran with a depth of 76 kilometres. Strong tremors were also felt across Pa-kistan, India and the Gulf States.

In Pakistan, reports indicate hun-dreds of houses collapsed, rendering thousands of people homeless in the town of Mashkel and nearby villages in Washuk district, Balochistan province. The area’s communications system was destroyed. Government authorities have dispatched medical supplies, shel-ter items and other relief items to the affected areas in Balochistan.

The UN and its humanitarian part-ners stand ready to support the gov-ernment’s ongoing relief effort for the people affected by the earthquake and mobilize any international support, if requested.

Ban pledges aid to Iran, Pakistan

MONITORS REPORTUNITED NATIONS

Voicing sorrow over the vic-tims of earthquake in Iran and Pakistan, Secretary-

General Ban Ki-moon promised both countries the other day the United Nations assistance should they need it.

“I understand that the damage is less than might have been expected for an earthquake of this strength,” he said at a ceremony marking the re-opening of the Security Council Chamber following its refurbish-ment. “Still, there are deaths and terrible damage. I express my pro-found condolences to the families of the victims, and to the Governments and people of both countries.

“I will continue to follow the news closely as relief workers and search and rescue teams reach the areas. The United Nations stands ready to help as necessary if asked to do so,” he added.

According to media reports doz-ens of people were killed in both countries when the quake struck the border region, with one Iranian offi-cial quoted as saying it was the big-gest earthquake in Iran in 40 years with the death toll expected to be in

the hundreds.

France sympathises with quake victims

DA REPORT ISLAMABAD

France the other day expressed grief over the earthquake in the region, a press release issued

by the French embassy said. It said “We learnt with sorrow

about the earthquake which impacted the area of Saravan, located in the re-gion of Sistan-Baluchistan in Iran.

France presents its condolences to the families of the Iranian and Paki-stani victims. France remains at the disposal of the authorities of those two countries regarding humanitarian as-sistance’.

Kerry offers condolences for families affected by earthquake

MONITORS REPORTWASHINGTON

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday of-fered condolences to the

families of those who were killed in Tuesday’s earthquake in southeast-ern Iran and western Pakistan.

“The United States sends our deep-est condolences for those lost in the earthquake in southeastern Iran and western Pakistan today. Our thoughts are with the families of those who were killed, those who were injured, and with those communities that have suffered damage to homes and proper-ty. We stand ready to offer assistance in this difficult time,” a statement re-leased by the US Embassy in Islama-bad quoted him as saying.

A powerful earthquake struck a bor-der area of southeast Iran on Tuesday killing at least 35 people in neighbour-ing Pakistan, destroying hundreds of houses and shaking buildings as far away as India and Gulf Arab states.

Japan expresses sorrow

DA REPORTIslamabad

Japan has expressed deep sor-row over earthquake which devastated in Balochistan, Pa-

kistan. Japan also expressed readi-ness to offer necessary assistance to the afflicted people as quickly as possible

“I am deeply saddened by the earthquake in southeast Iran and western Pakistan on Tuesday, April 16, which caused many casu-alties” stated Fumio Kishida, Japa-nese Minister for Foreign Affairs in a statement adding, “On behalf of the Government and people of Japan, I extend my heartfelt con-dolences to those affected by the earthquake”.

He assured that the Government of Japan stood ready to offer necessary assistance to the afflicted people as quickly as possible, if the request from the Government of Pakistan.

MONITORS REPORTWASHINGTON

US Secretary of State John Kerry has rejected a Con-gressman’s suggestion on cutting off assistance for

Pakistan, advocating that such a move would be unwise in view of bilateral cooperation on high-stakes issues.

“Well, you know the old saying, Dana, about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Cutting off aid to Pa-kistan would not be a good move, certainly, at this point in time, for a lot of different reasons”, Kerry firmly told Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher during a Congressional hearing.

Rohrabacher, who has a history of adopting anti-Pakistan stances, was insisting that instead of conducting quiet diplomacy Washington should stop aid to Pakistan over imprison-ment of Pakistani doctor, Shakeel Af-ridi. Dr Afridi, working for CIA, ran a fake vaccination campaign in the hunt for Osama bin Laden, but has been jailed due to his links with militants.

“We are working with Pakistan with respect to nuclear weapons safety and nonproliferation. We are working with Pakistan to get our supplies both in and out of Afghanistan,” Kerry said while underscoring Pakistan’s key importance in the countdown to 2014

military drawdown from neighbour-ing landlocked Afghanistan.

Kerry was testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the Obama administration’s request for 2014 budget. Pakistan is expected to receive $1.2 billion in economic and military assistance in the new fiscal year.

In his answer, the top US diplomat also reminded the Congressman of Pa-kistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorists, saying the country lost per-haps 50,000 people in the last years to terror.

He also drew the lawmakers’ atten-tion to complications surrounding the issue of Dr Afridi, saying, “It is just not as simple as holding everything ac-countable to one thing where they – they assert that there were certain laws that were broken.”

Questioned by another l a w m a k e r about his per-spective on India’s role in Af-ghanistan, Kerry said New Delhi can play an important role but at the same time point-

ed out implications of a complicated circle between Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

“I’ve always believed in – because of their democracy, because of their tra-dition, there are great reasons for us to partner with India in many significant ways. But India and Pakistan obvi-ously have a very different relation-ship. And so it’s a very complicated circle between Afghanistan, Pakistan, India.”

He also noted that the extent of In-dian presence in Afghanistan, affects Islamabad’s views.

“How much India’s in Afghanistan affects Pakistan’s views, and they each have a capacity to see bad things happening depending on what the other does. So we have to work at that diligently.”

In his prepared statement for the testimony, Kerry noted, “Wash-ington’s anti-terrorism assistance funding has helped the lives of hundreds of people in places like Pakistan, India, Lebanon, by training law enforcers to detect and neutralise explosive devices

and help us interdict plots be-fore they come to our

shores.”

Kerry for continued US assistance for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Kashmir Af-fairs and Gilgit-Baltistan exchanging views with Ambassador of Republic of Cuba, Jesus Zenen Buergo Concepcion. DA Desk

World grieved over earthquake

LAHORE: German Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Cyrill Nunn meeting with former CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif at his resi-dence. DA Desk

April 22-28, 2013

7

BUREAU REPORTLAHORE

Punjab University and Turkey’s Suleman Shah University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for academic

collaboration between the two univer-sities.

In this regard, a Turkish delegation consisting of Suleman Shah Univer-sity’s Dean Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof Dr Adnan Aslan,

Director of International Office Mr Mu-rat Kaygusuz and Director Rumi Forum Lahore Mesut Koken called on PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran at his office. Additional Registrar Prof Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir, Dean Faculty of Be-havioral of Social Science Prof Dr Zakria Zakir and Director External Linkages were also present on the occasion.

The meeting discussed various is-sues of mutual interest and stressed the need to enhance academic collabora-tion among Pakistani and Turkish Uni-

versities. Talking to the delegation, Dr Mujahid Kamran said that the Turkish government was providing free educa-tion till PhD level in public sector uni-versities, which was a commendable and revolutionary step. He said that during his recent visit to Turkey, he had found Turkey much more organized and changed than the past and it was progressing by leaps and bound. He said that Turkey had been centre of intellec-tuals and it was contributing to modern civilization and sciences.

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Chinese Ambassador to Pa-kistan, Liu Jian, vowing to strengthen Pak-China ties fur-ther in all fields said the other

day that China has been cooperating with the international community and regional partners to ensure peace, pro-gress and prosperity in the region and the world.

Addressing a function at the inaugu-ration of “China Hall” here at Strategic Studies Institute Islamabad (SSII), a newly formed think tank, the Chinese envoy said that Pakistan and China have very strong strategic and long-term rela-tions.

He said both the countries always extended their support to each other on all-important issues. He said China will always stand by Pakistan.

The Chinese ambassador said strong, trustworthy and time-tested Pak-China relations are the real source of strength for the people and governments of the two countries. He said the Pak-China ties, growing on fast track, are being strengthened in all the fields.

Referring to the strong political rela-tions between the two countries, the am-bassador assured that China will contin-ue to further enhance and strengthen its friendly relations with new leadership being elected following the forthcoming process of general elections being held in Pakistan. He said China will continue it sincere support and cooperation to the economic and social development of Pakistan through enhancing strategic cooperation.

Referring to the menace of extremism

and terrorism, the Chinese ambassador said both Pakistan and China are victims of this menace and emphasised upon the need for international and regional cooperation to fight extremism and ter-rorism.

The ambassador said China always extended its full support and coop-eration to counter-terrorism strat-egy through more cooperation. He said, “China is playing an important role in the fight against terrorism,” adding that there is more need for international co-operation in this regard.

Referring to the change in the lead-ership of China, the ambassador said there should be more exchange of young leadership between the two countries. He said young leadership should be involved at all levels and should be en-couraged to interact with each other on all issues. On strong bilateral Pak-China ties, the ambassador said these are on very strong footing and both the coun-tries have been cooperating in all fields.

The ambassador said that China success story has become an impor-tant source of encouragement for other countries in the region and for the world. He said China is working for peaceful in-ternational community, and promoting world peace. He said China is commit-ted to promoting cooperation with all the countries and continue to work jointly with intentional community for peace and security.

The ambassador said China has also adopted a policy of close and consolidat-ing friendship with all its neighbours.

Earlier, former ambassador Inam-ul-Haq speaking on the occasion high-lighted the importance of improving Pak-China relations in all fields.

DA REPORT ISLAMABAD

Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Sania Nishtar while respond-ing to concerns with re-

gard to visit of Adviser on Finance to Washington to attend IMF meeting, said the caretaker government was fully aware of the fact that it should not indulge itself in long-term policy making matters.

“The delegation from Pakistan had gone to Washington just to represent the country in joint meeting of IMF and World Bank,” she told the Sen-ate, negating the reports that the in-terim set-up was going to strike a deal with the Fund. She said that the man-date of the caretaker set-up is to en-sure free and fair elections and all out efforts are being made in this regard. She said the caretaker setup is fully conscious of the fact that it should not indulge itself in long term policy mak-

ing matters. The caretaker minister said they

would honour the suggestions of the public representatives sitting in the Senate for smooth holding of the gen-eral elections. The opposition leader in the Senate Senator Ishaq Dar also agreed that due to lengthy process in-volved, the caretaker government did not have much to time to reach any agreement with the IMF or World Bank. However, Ishaq Dar on a point of order said the outgoing govern-

ment is always bound to hand over its balance sheet to caretakers so that the same could be shared with the nation. Dar suggested the chair to do away with the question hour as the caretaker ministers were already un-der pressure to ensure fair and free elections. “They should also prepare their balance sheet and hand it over to the new government,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate was in-formed that Caretaker Government was not negotiating with the com-

pany associated to Reko Diq project in Balochistan province. “I had re-ceived a request from the company for meeting which I declined believ-ing that the caretaker government did not have mandate to strike any deal with the company,” caretaker Law Minister Ahmer Bilal Soofi told the House. “We are not negotiating any deal with the company. The right mandate to sort out the issue would be of the upcoming government,” he added.

PU signs MoU with Tukish varsity

Pak-China strategic cooperation to be enhanced: envoy

Caretakers not striking any deal with IMF, says minister

DNA PESHAWAR

The Malik Saad Shaheed Sports Trust (Registered) Pakistan (MSSST) is doing a valuable services to the

community by providing them op-portunities for healthy Sports activi-ties apart from encouraging deserv-ing youth in education section.

This was stated by His Excel-lency Mr Choong Joo Choi, Ambas-sador of Republic of Korea during his visit the MSSST Head Office at Central Police Offices (CPO) the other day. The visiting Korean Ambassador Mr C J Choi who was accompanied by Mr Afhan Aziz newly appointed Honorary Con-sul of Republic of Korea in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was warmly re-ceived by MSST Chairman Malik Naveed Khan, Member Board of Trustees(BOT) Mr Ahmad Hassan, Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani, Mr Mazhar-ul-Haq, Mr Imtiaz Ahmad Ali, Mr Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi along with staff of MSSST office upon his arrival. The Ambassador also appreciated

the MSSST initiatives for the peace through Sports, education and health care facilities while review-ing the picture gallery at MSSST office. The MSSST Chairman Malik Navved Khan briefed the Ambassa-dor Choi on the aims and objectives of the MSSST and also informed him about future planning to fur-ther enhance the network of the Trust to other parts of the country. The Ambassador was pleased to know about the establishment of more than 100 Sports academies of different disciplines in all major

city towns of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA during short span of time which shows the dedication and devotion of the MSSST team towards the achievements of aims and objectives of the establishment of the MSSST. He also expressed his interest in the exchange delega-tion visit to Korea from MSSST and from Korea to Pakistan on the in-vitation of trust which will further enhance the mutual understanding among the institution and both can take advantages from each experi-ence in respective fields.

Korean ambassador appreciates MSSST community services

April 22-28, 2013

8

MONITORS REPORTVIENNA

The Council of GCC Ambas-sadors and Permanent Representatives to the In-ternational Atomic Energy

Agency (IAEA) has held a meeting, presided over by the Kingdom of Bah-rain’s Permanent Representative in Vienna.

It discussed the potential hazards and ramifications of Iran’s earthquake and consequential aftershocks on Bushehr nuclear plant and the haz-ards of the Great Earthquake which hit Pakistan-Iran border region on Tuesday 16 April 2013 which was felt in a number of GCC member States.

At the beginning of the meeting, Bahrain’s permanent representative, Ambassador Dr. Abdul-Kareem Bu Cheeri emphasized that there are real dangers which threaten the Arabian Gulf region in the aftermath of recent events and developments connected with Iran’s nuclear reactor in Bush-ehr.

He cited the GCC countries’ readi-ness to cope with any potential eco-disaster resultant from any nuclear radiation from Bushehr reactor.

At the end of their meeting, the GCC

Ambassadors at IAEA submitted a collective letter to the IAEA Direc-tor General in which they expressed the GCC member States’ concern lest a nuclear accident occurs as a result of earth tremors in Bushehr nuclear plant and requested the IAEA to move quickly and to work with the Islamic Republic of Iran according to trans-parency and nuclear safety standards.

They also agreed to meet with the IAEA Director General in the upcom-ing days to deliver the same message and convey the common stance of the GCC countries regarding this impor-tant issue.

IAEA holds meeting in Vienna

DA REPORT ISLAMABAD

Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Hiroshi OE paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Justice (R) Mir

Hazar Khan Khoso at the Prime Minister’s House.

While talking to the Ambassador, the Prime Minister said that his government is focusing all its en-ergies on holding free, fair, trans-

parent and credible elections in the country on time. “Power will be handed over to the elected repre-sentatives without delay” affirmed the prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan and Japan have close and friendly relations. We look forward to further improving our economic and trade relations and seek Ja-pan’s assistance in the field of edu-cation.

Referring the close cooperation

between the two countries, Mr. Hi-roshi OE appreciated the support extended to Japan by Pakistan in the election of its candidate to the office of President Asian develop-ment Bank.

The Prime Minister said that we value friendship with Japan and would like to benefit from its ad-vancement in the field of the tech-nology so that we can accelerate the pace of economic development in Pakistan.

Govt to ensure free, fair polls, PM tells Japan envoy

British High Commission celebrates Queen’s birthdayBUREAU REPORT

LAHORE/KARACHI

British High Commissioner, Adam Thomson, and the chief guest caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Najam Sethi cut a

cake to celebrate Queen’s birthday. The British High Commissioner

and the chief guest also toasted their respective heads of State.

The Queen’s birthday celebrations are an important occasion for the UK, Pakistan and the other Common-wealth countries. 2013 marks the 61th anniversary of when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II became both the British Sovereign and the Head of the Commonwealth.

This year Her Majesty the Queen also signed a formal ‘Commonwealth Charter’ of core values of democ-racy, rule of law, good governance and similar legal systems, agreed for the first time by all Commonwealth countries.

Speaking on the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday the

British High Commissioner to Paki-stan, His Excellency Adam Thomson, said: “The Queen’s birthday is an oc-casion to reflect on the close ties be-tween the UK and Pakistan. Pakistan came into being only shortly before Her Majesty became Queen and the enduring partnership between Pa-kistan and the UK has taken shape during her reign. It is a partnership that is set to become more important as we continue to work together for the mutual prosperity and security of both our countries.

“This year is particularly impor-tant as the upcoming elections are a crucial milestone in Pakistan’s demo-cratic history - the first time in dec-ades that there will have been a dem-ocratic transfer of power between one civilian government and another.

As a fellow Commonwealth coun-try and friend of Pakistan, we look forward to witnessing elections this year that are credible and acceptable to the Pakistani people and that will bring democratic continuity to this wonderful country.”

“Ahead of her funeral this Wednes-day, I also want to remember our loss of Baroness Margaret Thatcher and

pay tribute to her great contributions to Britain and the Commonwealth. As our current Prime Minister David

Cameron said last week, we have lost a great Prime Minister, a great leader and a great Briton.”

Minister calls for increasing exports of value added servicesDA REPORT ISLAMABAD

Federal Minister for Com-merce and Textile Maqbool H H Rahmatoola has said that they must increase

export of value added items for the survival of the country.

He said that government is work-

ing on increasing exports while fo-cusing on small and medium enter-prises.

He said this while speaking at a training workshop for female entre-preneurs jointly organised by TDAP, FWBL, UNIDO and IPALMO at the Islamabad Expo 2013 organised by Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Minister for Commerce and Tex-tile Maqbool H H Rahmatoola said that business community lags be-hind in value addition which is im-perative to increase the economic value and consumer appeal of a product.Women must understand that value added product has more market value than raw commodity, he stressed.

He said that all the women cham-bers should unite for the cause of women empowerment and that gov-ernment will extend all possible sup-port in this regard.

Expos are exciting events which exhibit skills of artisans is one of the best ways to get recognition and take businesses to the next level, he said. “I believe supporting women

amount to supporting future genera-tions,” said Rahmatoola, adding that government will continue to strive and support all moves aimed at en-hancing capacity of women.

Women deserve opportunities to transform their potential into profit for which they should know how to make best use of internet, he stressed.

April 22-28, 2013

9

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has projected

the economic growth upto 6 percent in the region during 2013.

The UN ESCAP the other day launched at 37 location across the world including in Pakistan its an-nual report on Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific.

Former adviser Ministry of Fi-nance, Dr Ashfaq Hassan Khan launched the Pakistan specific report in particular and the regional outlook in general. He quoting the report said economic growth in the develop-ing counties of Asia and the pacific slowed to 5.6 percent in 2012 as re-sult of the double-dip recession in the euro zone and tepid recovery of the US economy.

Despite a significant reduction poverty, the regions still home to more then 800 million poor strug-gling to survey on an income of $1.25 per day which represents nearly two-third of the world’s poor, it added.

The report revealed in many coun-tries of the region rapid growth in in-come since 1990s has been accompa-nied by increase in income inequality and higher resource-intensity of eco-nomic growth has spurred a rapid

rise in emission of greenhouse gases and made the countries vulnerable to commodity price shocks.

Economic insecurity has also risen amid rapid growth and more than one billion workers in the region are in vulnerable employment and more than 900 people are living just edge of extreme poverty on an income of $1.25 a day and $ 2 a day.

The report highlighted food secu-rity was also major problem in Asia and region with an estimated 563 million people undernourished and vulnerable of natural climate.

The report suggests inclusive and sustainable development can con-tribute to supporting broad based economic growth in the region by

stimulating domestic sources of ag-gregate demand, which can have beneficial spill over effects across the region through trade.

ESCAP report suggested for set-ting of minimum wages in another policy that could contribute to both addressing rising income disparities and supporting aggregate demand.

According the report Pakistan finds it difficult to contain the budget deficit, estimated at 8.5 percent of the GDP in 2012 against 6.6 percent in 2011.

To contain budget deficit, the government continued its efforts to broaden the tax base and simplifying the tax structure adding that the ef-forts are underway to move towards

tow main taxes like income tax and sales tax.

On the expenditure sides the re-port said austerity measures were adopted however, policy of not passing the entire burden of oil prices of electricity and preserve the safety nets for the vulnerable groups have added to government expenditures.

The report said solving the energy problems would help to macroeco-nomic stability through improving GDP growth, higher revenues and less subsidy expenditures.

The report said Pakistan achieved strong export growth at 28 percent in 2011 and value of total merchandise exports reached $25 billion.

Despite the crisis in euro zone a major destination of Pakistani ex-ports the country could maintain exports at nearly the same level as in the pervious year this implies the marginal negative growth of exports in 2012, it added.

The imports grew by 15 percent primarily due to higher volumes of oil and fertilizers being imported, it said that overseas workers remit-tances continued to grow and cross the $13 billion make in 2012.

The ESCAP report revealed growth rate in remittances over the past two years exceed 45 percent partially due to government efforts to diverts remittances from informal to formal chancels.

UN report forecasts 6pc growth in Asia-Pacific region in 2013

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April 22-28, 2013

10

DA REPORTRAWALPINDI

Amid tension at Pak-Af-ghan border, a delegation of Afghan Army headed by Director General Mili-

tary Operations (DGMO) Afghan National Army Major General Afzal Aman, visited GHQ and held meeting with Major General Ashfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Director General Military Operation, Pakistan Army over bor-der coordination issues.

The Inter-Services Public Rela-

tions (ISPR) termed the meeting fruitful, which was held in a cordial environment. The cross-border co-ordination issues like construction of a border post in Mohmand Agen-cy were discussed. Both the sides agreed to amicably resolve all issues. Both sides agreed on “continuation of such bilateral interactions to en-hance bilateral border coordination and reduce space for detractors”.

It has been reported that hun-dreds of Afghan university students in the eastern city of Jalalabad also came to streets on Monday to pro-

test against building of Pakistani military gate. The Afghan defence ministry claimed that the gate was built inside Afghanistan.

It added further fuel when a statement was issued by Afghan President Hamid Karzai who directed his officials to take im-mediate action for removal of the gate and other military installa-tions near the Durand Line. The Afghan government believed that activities by either side along the Durand Line must be approved by both the countries.

Afghan Army team meets DG MO

DA REPORTRAWALPINDI

Ambassador of Sudan Al Shafie Ahmed Mohammad has said that Pakistan has favourable environment for

investment and Sudan is keen to en-hance trade relations with Pakistan. Muslims countries must develop a bloc like European Union and others

to provide a platform for the Muslim Ummah to establish their economies.

He said that Rawalpindi Chamber will be provided every assistance by the Embassy to organize single coun-try in Sudan. He was exchanging these views with the President of the Raw-alpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Manzar Khurshid Sheikh during his visit to the RC I here on Tuesday.

He said that Sudan was keen to en-hance the bilateral trade relation with the Pakistan and every possible step would be taken in this regard. He fur-ther said that Pakistan and Sudan are two brother Islamic countries and it is need of the hour to promote trade activities between the two states. He was of the view that Muslim countries should extend trade relations with each other to come out of the prevail-

ing world economic crunch.The Ambassador said that Pakistani

cotton products, textile, and Pharma-ceutical products are very much liked in Sudan trade markets. He said that current trade volume between the two countries is $54.80 million, which is very low for two brother countries. He said that Sudan Embassy will facilitate the Pakistani businessmen in visa pro-cess. He ensured his full support to the

President RCCI in this regard.Speaking on the occasion, President

RCCI Manzar Khurshid Sheikh has said that Pakistan is a country full of natural resources and it is need of the hour to explore and to utilize them accordingly. “Bilateral trade relation should be enhanced and trade volume between the said countries must be improved”, he stressed. He invited the Ambassador to invest in Pakistan and

Russian Federation Air Force Chief visits PAF HQs, Air Defence Command

RAWALPINDI: Lt Gen Viktor Nikolayevich Bondarev, Commander-in-Chief Russian Federation Air Force, in a meeting with General Khalid Shamim Wynne, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. DA

DA REPORT ISLAMABAD

A regional peace confer-ence was held the other day by Paiman Alumni Trust in the federal cap-

ital, with its objectives to provide a platform for a discourse on root causes of extremism, its impact on women and youth and ways of en-gaging mothers and youth in mod-erating extremism in Pakistan.

The conference aimed to share the findings of the survey carried

out by Paiman’s team with four categories of respondents in three districts of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and one agency of Federally Ad-ministered Tribal Area (FATA).The report will make the basis of Paiman’s intervention in the aforementioned areas. The sur-vey explores the role of mothers in addressing violent extremism as well their role in the processes of both radicalisation and de-rad-icalisation, and the tools do they need to expand their ability to in-tervene.

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

In keeping with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to provide assistance to the people

of Pakistan and to support techni-cal and vocational educational there, the UAE Project to Assist Pakistan (UPAP) has announced completion of the project to build Technical College at Bajaur in Pakistan at a total cost of US$ 3.4 million.

The project was delivered to the local government in Bajaur following completion.

The official inauguration of the col-

lege was attended by Chief of Pakistan Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Isa Abdullah Al Basha Al Nuaimi, Ab-dullah Khalifa Al Ghafli, Director of the UPAP and senior Pakistani officials.

The college is built of a 34,000 square feet area. It will provide diplo-ma level technical education for upto 450 students in various disciplines of engineering including electrical, me-chanical, civil and mining.

Trust organises regional peace conference

UAE project inaugurates technical college in Pakistan

April 22-28, 2013

11

MONITORS REPORTKARACHI

The Pakistan Eco-nomic Forum (PEF) has urged the government

to announce Pakistan-India investment regime at the earliest and simplify investment procedures.

“Investment from India up to $25 million should be allowed in a non-discriminatory fashion; larger investment may be subjected to greater scru-tiny,” a position paper of the forum recommended.

The paper maintained that cross-border ac-quisitions would help transfer the management expertise and should be encouraged. Besides, cross-border information and technology and wind power joint ventures hold great promise and should be promoted.

India is a major player in global IT sector, while Pakistan’s software in-dustry is still at a nascent stage, though the country has strong potential to emerge as a major soft-

ware exporting and train-ing center.

India and Pakistan could enter into joint ventures to tap the global software market, accord-ing to the PEF.

“Prospects of success in this sector appear good as the basis for India’s com-parative advantage in IT sector, such as low-cost highly qualified English-speaking technical per-sonnel can be replicated in Pakistan,” it added.

A potential area for a joint venture or direct in-vestment is wind power plants in Thar. Although the development of wind power in India began in 1990s and India is a rela-tive new comer in com-parison to Denmark or

the United States, the country has the fifth larg-est installed wind power capacity in the world.

Experts in alterna-tive energy development said both Rajasthan in India and Thar in Paki-stan respond to the same turbine types because the ambient wind condi-tions are similar. Hence, Pakistan will greatly ben-efit from joint ventures in wind power. In the case of foreign direct invest-ment initiatives, banks play an important role when it comes to raising finance and facilitating transactions in the host country.

In the absence of for-mal banking channel between Pakistan and

India, trade payments are made through the Asian Clearing Union, a clearing house to facilitate pay-ments for intra-regional transaction.

Reciprocal commercial banks will be very benefi-cial to the small and me-dium enterprise sector, the paper noted.

The sector experts in the forum opined that Pa-kistan-India trade in com-pliance with the World Trade Organization will help make Pakistan a re-gional trade hub.

The position paper of the forum on regional trade noted that without normalising the bilateral trade, the Indus Basin will be a T-junction rather than a crossroad of eco-nomic transactions.

“Trade with India in the regional context presents an opportunity for Paki-stan to harness India’s growing economic capa-bility to its advantage, bridge the income gap and then overtake India’s growth rate, as it did in the 1960s and 1970s,” stated the PEF.

Pak-India investment regime sought

Zardari assures Obama of help in fight against terror

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

President Asif Ali Zardari in a letter to US President Barack Obama said that Pakistan would continue to extend all-out cooperation in the fight against terrorism in all its manifestations.

He strongly condemned the heinous act of terrorism in the city of Boston‚ Massachusetts, during the Boston Marathon and expressed pro-found grief and sorrow over the deaths and injuries in the terrorist attack.

President Zardari, while extending his deepest condolences, said that the government and people of Pakistan condemned this heinous act of terror-ism in the strongest possible terms.He assured the US president of the con-tinued support of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and said that the people of Pakistan being the victims of terrorism for a long time shared the pain and anguish of the families of the victims.

BUREAU REPORTKARACHI

Pakistani medicines are very popular in Nigeria as the country holds a very big market for Pakistani

pharma products with prospects of fetching substantial annual orders out of $1.1 billion imported annually by the Nigeria.

Pakistani medicines are rated at par with European countries as evi-dent from the fact even the Indian doctors preferred to prescribe Pa-kistani medicines in Nigeria to their patients, said Ahmed Ali Sirohey Deputy Ambassador of Pakistan at Nigeria addressing leading Nigerian pharma industrialists led by Ahmed

Ibrahim Yakasai.Sarohi emphasised this was the

right time for the Pakistani export-er to enter in the Nigerian market as after two to three years later it would be very difficult as the local manufacturers’ was coming to this business.

He informed the present Director General of NAFDAC (The National Agency for Food and Drug Admin-istration and Control was a Nige-rian government agency under the Federal Ministry of Health that was responsible for regulating and con-trolling the manufacturer, importa-tion, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water.

MONITORS REPORWASHINGTON

Dr Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance, has

met here with Pakistani Minister of Finance Minister Dr Shaheed Am-jad and Governor of Pakistani Cen-tral Bank Yasin Anwara on the side-lines of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank held in Washington.

During the meeting, they dis-cussed the strategic relations be-tween the two countries and ways of enhancing them in accordance with the aspirations of the two countries’ leaders.

The meeting was attended by a number of officials.

Pakistani medicines popular in Nigeria

Saudi, Pakistani ministers meet

LUMHS, SALU sign MoUs with Turkish varsities

HYDERABAD

The Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, and Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Khairpur signed memorandums of understanding with Turkish universities in sepa-

rate ceremonies the other day. In Jamshoro, LUMHS signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sifa University and Gediz University of Turkey in order to strengthen scientific infrastructure.—Monitors Report

KARACHI: Ambassador of Vatican Edgar Pena Parra during a meeting with Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad at Gover-nor House. DA Desk

ISTANBUL: Federal Minister for Human Resource Development, Barrister Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel in a group photo with Turkish Minister for Interior, Mr. Hamper and Turkish Governor Mr. Guller during 5th International Budapest Conference. DA Desk

April 22-28, 2013

12Libyan delegation participates in Int’l Judicial Conference

ABU BAKAR SIDDIQUE ISLAMABAD

A three-member Libyan delegation, headed by Judge of the Supreme Court of Libya, Maqtoof

Blaeed Ashkal, and comprising Judge of the Libyan SC Abdul Mu-naim Jabir and Cassation Prosecu-

tion, SC of Libya, Ismail Ibrahim Alsagifi participated in the Interna-tional Judicial Conference 2013.

The delegation was invited by the Law and Justice Commission of Pa-kistan to handle the fourth article – Public Interest Litigation as a Tool to Protect the Fundamental Rights. The delegation participated in dis-cussion with its useful views and the

panelists appreciated the contribu-tion.

Later, the delegation called on Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at his office. The CJ warm-ly welcomed the delegation and ap-preciated its members on their ac-tive participation in the moot. The CJ offered the Libyan delegation complete support in judicial applica-

tion in Libya. He also offered train-ing and sharing of experiences to the Libyan delegations in this regard, saying that Pakistan has also made a laudable struggle for restoration of an independence of judiciary.

The Libyan delegation extended gratitude to the CJ and said, “we get inspiration from Pakistani’s judici-ary struggle for restoration of inde-

pendence of judiciary in the country. In this matter, Pakistan is a role model for others.”

The delegation members said Libya is passing through a process of institutional stabilization, adding that they are making efforts to turn the judiciary from a subsidiary insti-tution into an independent pillar of power.

April 22-28, 2013

13LHC CJ hosts dinner for moot participants

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Lahore High Court Chief Jus-tice, Mr Umar Ata Bandial hosted a dinner in honour of the participants of Interna-

tional Judicial Conference at Punjab House.

Dignitaries from various coun-

tries attended the dinner. The pur-pose of the conference was to pro-vide an opportunity to international and national luminaries in law, re-sear chers and academia to sit to-gether and share thoughts, experi-ences and knowledge for resolving common concerns and problems faced in the administration of jus-tice.

April 22-28, 2013

14

DNA ISLAMABAD

Islamabad Chamber of Com-merce & Industry (ICCI) organ-ised a webinar on US imports from Pakistan under Generalized

System of Preferences (GSP) Program in collaboration with US Embassy and Ministry of Commerce.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Zafar Bakhtawari, President ICCI said that USA is already the Pakistan’s single largest export market taking almost 16 percent of our total exports but there is a greater need to take measures for further promoting Pakistan’s exports under GSP scheme to USA.

Bakhtawari said that Pakistan is very strong in textile sector and this sector contributes more than 60 per-cent to our total exports but most of our textiles products are not eligible for GSP duty-free access to US market. He said that it is highly appreciative if US enhance the scope of GSP scheme to most of our textile products which would help in further improving Paki-stan’s exports to USA.

Robert Ewing, Economic Counsel-lor US Embassy explained how Paki-stani exporters can further take ad-vantage of the duty-free access to the United States currently available for

over 3,500 Pakistani products under the GSP program. He said that US im-ports from Pakistan under the Gener-alized System of Preferences program surged by 49 percent in 2012, touching $195 million.

James Fluker, Commercial Consel-lor said, “Pakistan can enhance its duty-free exports to the United States. Pakistan exported $3.6 billion worth of goods to the United States in 2012, yet only 5.7 percent of that amount took advantage of the duty-free treatment available under the GSP program. Pa-kistan, therefore, has the opportunity to expand its exports substantially un-der the GSP.”

Citing an example of how Pakistani

exporters can enhance sales to the United States under the GSP, he said that Pakistani exports of gemstones, precious metals and jewellery to the United States showed impressive growth of 300 percent in 2012 which is around $32.4 million.

The US officials advised Pakistani exporters that there are several ways to make the most of the available tariff advantage. He said that by using GSP as a marketing tool with the US buy-ers, the US importers may be willing to buy new products from Pakistan or buy more of a particular product if they know that the item is eligible for the duty-free treatment under the GSP.

US should enhance scope of GSP scheme for textile sector

UNDP assists ECP in organising polls efficiently: Franche

DA REPORT ISLAMABAD

Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme in Pakistan Marc-Andr‚ Franche has said that UNDP along with its partners is assisting the Election Commission in organising the polls efficiently.

Talking to Radio Pakistan‚ he said that the forthcoming elections provide a historic opportunity for the country to re-order its developmental priori-ties. He was confident that following introduction of several measures‚ the Election Commission would be able to avoid the possibility of any fraud in elections. He said the Commission is now independent and assertive that augurs well for strengthening of democracy in Pakistan.

To a question‚ he said presence of foreign observers would enhance cred-ibility of the electoral process.

Pakistan calls for strengthening measures to end rape in war zones

MONITORS REPORTUNITED NATIONS

Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council to take “targeted measures” through relevant sanc-

tions committees against the per-petrators of sexual violence in war zones in a bid to end that crime.

Speaking in debate on women, peace and security, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Masood Khan said that while preventing sexual vio-lence is a primary responsibility of Governments, steps were needed to strengthen efforts to root out its causes and prevent sexual attacks, which primarily target women and girls.

He said that while the United Nations was doing much to pro-tect women, we all know this is not enough. As the largest troop con-tributor, Pakistan could testify that the appointment of gender advis-ers in the field had served a useful purpose and the practice must be strengthened.

Supporting the call for all parties to conflict to end violence against women and make time-bound com-mitments to ensure non-recurrence of such acts, Masood Khan said the Secretary-General’s six-point pri-ority agenda was a good way to at-tack impunity and foster national ownership.

Also, full implementation of res-olution 1325 (2000) would elevate women’s status to equal partners in preventing and resolving conflicts. He said that resources be allocated for protection advisers and the pro-vision of multi-sectoral assistance for victims.

The international community must also invest in consciousness raising, dialogue and engagement, as punitive measures were not enough to accomplish the objective.

Societies in conflict must address the root causes, resolve their differ-ences, and avoid hurting their own communities and nations or fellow human beings across the borders. “Humanity and humanitarianism must prevail, not primordial barba-rism,” he added.

ISLAMABAD: High Commissioner of Maldives Ms Shenaz Adam, Mrs Suhrab Hossain, wife of Bangladesh High Commissioner and other posing for a photo during the launching ceremony of a new song. DA

BERLIN: Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi, who was chosen as Deutsche Bank Artist of the Year-2013, with Ambassador of Pakistan to Germany, Abdul Basit and others after exhibition of his art work in Berlin. DA Desk

‘Pakistan, Iran enjoy cordial relations’

BUREAU REPORT KARACHI

Consul General of Islamic Re-public of Iran Mehdi Subha-ni called on Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh Justice ( R )

Zahid Kurban Alavi at Chief Minister House the other day and exchanged views about the forthcoming elec-tions and other issues of mutual in-terests.

Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh said that both the brotherly countries have always enjoyed cordial relations. He ex-pressed his deep grief over the deaths of precious lives of Iranian peoples in yes-terday’s severe earthquake and added that we are with the peoples of Iran in this difficult and testing time. He offered the assistance and cooperation to the Iranian Consul General from Sindh Gov-ernment for the affected peoples of Iran.

Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh stressed the need to further strengthen bilateral relations especially trade, busi-ness and Agriculture fields. He said that Pakistan is Agricultural Country and through developing the Agro – based in-dustry better results could be achieved.

He added that Agriculture sectors needs to be developed on modern sci-entific basis for maximum production of the crops.

April 22-28, 2013

15

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

The World Bank has agreed to provide $840 million for the Tarbela Dam extension project after the Ministry

of Water and Power accepted the WB condition to open a separate escrow account to avoid the curse of the cir-cular debt, a national daily reported citing a senior official.

The WB decision will be a big blow to the oil mafia which is minting bil-lions of rupees on account of thermal generation based on costly furnace oil and diesel. The secretary water and power took the much-awaited decision to open the escrow (revolv-ing) account to obtain the credit line of $840 million for the Tarbela Ex-tension IV Project, which the World Bank had withheld and linked to the opening of the account.

“Yes, we have decided to open the account and the World Bank will soon issue the NOC (No Objection Letter) to this effect. The NTDC will open the account either in the Nation-al Bank of Pakistan (NBP) or in Habib Bank Limited (HBL),” a senior official of the Ministry of Water and Power told The News.

Wapda Chairman Syed Raghib Ab-bas Shah also confirmed to The News that the secretary Ministry of Water and Power had asked the NTDC to open the escrow account so that Pa-kistan could benefit from the cheaper electricity of 1,350 MWs, which the Tarbela IV extension project would produce.

“This will pave the way for ensur-ing the World Bank’s credit line of $840 million, which is imperative to complete the most viable project i.e. Tarbela Extension IV project.”The

Tarbela IV project, with a capacity to generate hydropower of 1,350MWs, had earlier hit snags as the NTDC in-fluenced by the mighty oil mafia had refused to open the account.

The World Bank insisted on the account to prevent the viability of the Tarbela-IV project from the adverse impact of the monstrous circular debt, which is feared to touch a stag-gering Rs 792 billion by the end of the current financial year.

The NTDC would have to deposit all proceeds in the new account for electricity to be supplied to it under the Tarbela-IV project to avert the cash flow crisis. The oil lobby does not want Pakistan to increase its reli-ance on hydro generation as 68 per-cent electricity generation is taking place through costly diesel and fur-nace oil and the oil lobby considers the Tarbela-IV project as detrimental to its interests in the country.

According to the official, under the Tarbela-IV extension project, three turbine units, each having a capac-ity to generate 450MWs will be in-stalled. The country has right now the capacity to generate hydropower of almost 7,000MWs and in case the said project materialises, the hydro generation would increase up to 8,300MWs.

World Bank okays $840m for Tarbela extension project

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

The European Union (EU) Election Observation Mis-sion (EOM) has deployed 52 long-term observers (LTOs)

to different parts of the country to ob-serve the May 11 general election.

The observers left for their respec-tive deployment stations to observe the electoral process.

In his message, Chief Observer and Member of the European Parliament Michael Gahler said, “I am proud to see my fellow observers fan out into Pakistan’s provinces. The observers

are critical for implementing the EU’s long-term comprehensive approach to observation. They will be seeing things first hand and gathering the facts essential for our assessment. They are the eyes and the ears of our mission in Pakistan.”

The EOM teams are being deployed to provincial capitals and other base stations.

The mission is observing polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh. Due to the security situation, the EOM cannot deploy LTOs to Ba-lochistan and FATA. But the mission will be following electoral events in these areas.

as elections near

EU deploys observers across country

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s national and pro-vincial mechanisms for the control of Tuberculosis are producing positive results

but there is a need to “go into the fifth gear with greater dedication and more sleepless nights in order to realise the vision of TB elimination in the coun-try during our lifetimes.

This was said by Dr Mohamed Ab-del Aziz, World Health Organisation’s Regional Adviser on Stop Tubercu-losis for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). He was addressing a meeting of national, provincial and regional managers of Tuberculosis Control in Pakistan here the other day.

“The programmes were working under highly challenging conditions including security problems in Khy-ber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and FATA and grappling with the huge TB burden in Punjab and Sindh but they were doing very well under the circumstances. Pakistan accounted for 60% of the Regional TB burden

so its success or failure in combating the disease would translate into the region’s success or failure,” stressed Dr Aziz who is heading a mission to Pakistan.

Dr Aziz praised the programme for having an over 90% treatment suc-cess rate and a gradually increasing case detection rate; however, there was a need to tap the private sector more in order to detect more cases. He particularly appreciated the province of Sindh for attracting a large number of national and international partners. He pointed out that WHO would be or-ganising a review mission of the pro-gramme in November 2013.

Dr Ejaz Qadeer, National TB Control Programme Manager described WHO as a strategic technical and highly

supportive partner for operational re-search and advocacy purposes, which was vital for the programme. He ap-preciated the WHO-HQ, WHO-EMRO and WHO Country Office for their consistent support. Wasiq Khan from WHO-EMRO, Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi and Dr Salem Barghout of WHO Paki-stan, Dr Ismet Ara Director TB Control Programme Sindh, Dr Ghulam Mur-taza Shah Manager TB Control Balo-chistan, Dr Hussain Hadi representing Mercy Corps and Dr Khalid Farough of GreenStar Marketing also expressed their views.

The Mission later met with Dr Ni’ma Saeed Abid, Acting WHO Representa-tive in Pakistan and exchanged views of mutual interest. Dr Abid pledged his unflinching support to the programme as Tuberculosis was causing such a lot of morbidity and mortality in Pakistan and acting as an impediment in the country’s economic development. He was confident of the national owner-ship and commitment for the pro-gramme leading to enormous public health gains over the last 12-13 years since it was rejuvenated.

BUREAU REPORTLAHORE

German Ambassador to Pa-kistan Dr Cyrill Jean Nunn Pakistan has said that Ger-many is the biggest sup-

porter of GSP Plus status to Pakistan and hopefully Pakistan would get the status once the legal formalities are complete. The Ambassador was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The ambassador said that the GSP plus status to Pakistan will help strengthen this country economically besides improving its trade relations with European Union countries. He said that German government was well aware with the ongoing energy crisis in Pakistan and ready to extend every possible help to this regard. He said that Germany has made remark-

able progress in alternate energy sec-tor. He said it was an encouraging sign that a number of German com-panies had already signed MoU in energy sector.

He said that private sector in Pa-kistan should join hands with their German counterparts to overcome energy challenge, the country has been facing for the last many years. The Ambassador said that tourism and trade fairs & exhibitions could help highlight Pakistan’s soft image to the outer world therefore, both the government and the private sector should focus in these two areas.

He said that these are the proven tools that always contribute im-mensely when it comes to revival of economic activities in any part of the world.

LCCI President Frooq Iftikhar said that Pakistan offers a great potential

for foreign investment. It has a stra-tegic location with abundant raw ma-terials. Any investment made in Pa-kistan will automatically find its way to the regional countries which goes to the extent of Central Asian States.

He urged the Ambassador to mo-tivate the German investors to con-sider Pakistan as a safe haven for investments in sectors like energy, livestock, dairy, beverages and etc.

He that factors like cheapest agri-culture land abundantly available in Pakistan, enormous size of consumer market and etc., will certainly catch the attention of German companies interested to expand their businesses in Sub Continent.

He said that Pakistan is severely hit by a horrifying energy crisis that has badly affected our industries. We have never been as much in need for renewable energy sources as today.

Germany biggest supporter of GSP plus status to Pakistan: envoy

Pakistan needs to go into fifth gear for TB elimination: WHO

April 22-28, 2013

16

BUREAU REPORT LAHORE

A Pakistani student has bagged silver medal in in-ternational environmental competition held in Baku,

Azerbaijan. Students representing 47 countries

presented 123 projects in the 7th In-ternational Environmental Project Olympiad (INEPO Eurasia).

Alvaz Adnan, a student of PakTurk School Lahore presented her biol-ogy project regarding pre-treatment of bread mould to remove azodyes from effluent of factories to win silver medal.

The INEPO Eurasia, held once a year, encourages students from

around the world to develop projects that can solve environmental issues.

Commenting on the success, Chairman PakTurk Unal Tosur said that Pakistan students have been leaving others behind in almost all the international competitions which has encouraged us to boost investment in the future of Pakistan.

We aim to shape the view of Paki-stani students to think on global scale while being dedicated to their tradi-tions and values; they should be well acquainted with the competitive envi-ronment and capable to cope with the on-going and forthcoming challenges, he said.

We will continue to encourage stu-dents become independent, innova-tive and knowledgeable so that they

can become great leaders in the years to come, said Tosur.

Kamil Ture, Director Education, PakTurk said that we are competing with the world for Pakistan and giv-ing students a chance to participate in various international competitions is a tradition which will be carried for-ward.

“We think promotion of education and encouraging students is best way to ensure a prosperous future for Pa-kistan,’ he said.

While maintaining positive and supportive environment in and outside classroom, we are creat-ing opport unities for students to pursue their own interests and practise skills in a variety of ways, said Ture.

PakTurk to boost investment in future of Pakistan

Pak student wins silver medalMONITORS REPORT

MULTAN

A Pakistani student has bagged silver medal in international environ-mental competition held

in Baku, Azerbaijan, says a release issued by Pak-Turk School officials.

Students representing 47 coun-tries presented 123 projects in the 7th International Environmental Project Olympiad (INEPO Eurasia).

Alvaz Adnan, a student of Pa-kTurk School Lahore, presented her biology project regarding pre-treatment of bread mould to remove azodyes from effluent of factories to

win silver medal.The INEPO Eurasia, held once

a year, encourages students from around the world to develop projects that can solve environmental issues.

Commenting on the success, Chairman Pak Turk, Unal Tosur, said Pakistan students had been leaving others behind in almost all the international competitions which has encouraged us to boost invest-ment in the future of Pakistan.

“We aim to shape the view of Pa-kistani students to think on global scale while being dedicated to their traditions and values; they should be well acquainted with the competitive environment and capable to cope

with the on-going and forthcoming challenges”, he said.

“We will continue to encourage students become independent, in-novative and knowledgeable so that they can become great leaders in the years to come, the release said.

Kamil Ture, Director Education, PakTurk said the school was com-peting with the world for Pakistan and giving students a chance to participate in various international competitions, a tradition which will be carried forward.

“We think promotion of education and encouraging students is best way to ensure a prosperous future for Pakistan,” he said.

April 22-28, 2013

17

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

The US imports from Pa-kistan under the Gener-alised System of Prefer-ences (GSP) programme,

which offers duty-free market ac-cess to the United States, surged by 49 per cent in 2012, reaching $195 million, said senior U.S. officials.

Talking during a presentation at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, they said this repre-sented one of the largest increases among all major GSP beneficiary countries.

During a seminar for members of the Pakistani business community, senior officials from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) explained how Pakistani exporters can further take advantage of duty-free access to the United States currently available for over 3,500 Pakistani products under the GSP program. USTR identified all GSP-eligible products and highlighted

how Pakistani exporters who are actively looking for potential U.S. buyers can use GSP to increase their exports to the United States.

Deputy Assistant Trade Repre-sentative Bill Jackson told partici-pants, “Pakistan can grow its duty-free exports to the United States even more. Pakistan exported $3.6 billion worth of goods to the United States in 2012, yet only 5.7% of that amount took advantage of the duty-free treatment available under the GSP Program. Pakistan therefore has the opportunity to expand its exports to the United States sub-stantially under GSP.”

Citing an example of how Paki-stani exporters can enhance sales to the United States under GSP, Mr Jackson noted that Pakistani exports of gemstones, precious metals, and jewelry to the United States showed impressive growth of 300% in 2012 - totaling $32.4 million - following a previous train-ing session that raised awareness about available market access.

‘Pakistan benefitting from duty-free market access to US’

MONITORS REPORTWASHINGTON

A US State Department spokesman has con-demned incidents of violence against political

leaders and candidates for Pakistan’s upcoming elections, saying Wash-ington hoped for a peaceful transi-tion of power.

“It’s important that violence such as this not prevent the Pakistani peo-ple from achieving their aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous and demo-cratic nation,” Spokesman Patrict Ventrell said, reacting to attacks against political leaders, including Tuesday’s militant bombing on an ANP rally in Peshawar that claimed 16 lives. “(W)e continue to look for-ward to timely, free and fair elections with a peaceful transition of power,” he said, adding: “And as we note, this historic election marks the first civil-ian government to complete its term

in Pakistan’s history, thus leading into elections to a new civilian gov-ernment.”

Asked about disqualification of former president Pervez Musharraf from parliamentary elections, the spokesman said the United States respects Pakistan’s constitutional procedures but has no position on the issue.

“In terms of Mr Musharraf, we respect Pakistan’s constitutional and legal procedures and refer you to the Government of Pakistan on the sta-tus of his candidacy. So we don’t take a position one way or another.”

On the US sending any election observers to Pakistan, the spokes-man said the United States plans to participate along with the European Union in election observation efforts.

The United States supports a fair and transparent election process and has committed aid as well through USAID nonpartisan support to the tune of $6.5 million.

BUREAU REPORTKARACHI

Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology and University of Malaga, Spain, has agreed in principle to have collaboration

between the two for Masters and PhD pro-grams besides exchange of students and faculty members in various disciplines of engineering.

The agreement reached at a meeting held between Chancellor SSUET, Engr Adil Usman and Dr Javier Poncela, a vis-iting Professor from the reputed Spanish Malaga University. The meeting was at-tended, among others, by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid Hasan Rizvi, Chairman Electronics Department, Prof Dr Bilal Alvi, Registrar Shah Mahmood H. Syed, Dr Makhdoomi, Dean of Engineering, Dr Najeeb Ahmed, Associate Dean Engineer-ing, Director QUE, Prof. Zakaullah, Mo-hammed Shafiq, Chief Consultant, Yahya

Waliullah, Director IT and Statistics and M. Aamir, Assistant Professor Electronics Engineering.

During discussion Dr Javier sought col-laboration between the two universities with focus on research and development. He said he has seen the facilities available at this university and he was of the opinion that such collaboration between the two institutions would be of mutual benefit, particularly for collaboration in PhD pro-grams, exchange of students and faculties and possibilities of undertaking joint re-search programs. In his remarks Chancel-lor SSUET Engr Adil Usman said the uni-versity looks forward for this collaboration in higher engineering courses, Masters and PhD. We will evolve a system to get ben-efit from the Malaga University, he stated. Vice-Chancellor Dr Jawaid H Rizvi said the university would welcome such collabora-tion as far as possible and would further discuss faculty exchange in particular as well as Masters and PhD programs.

‘US hopes peaceful power transition in Pakistan’

SSUET, Spanish university strike education accord

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

After the successful ne-gotiations between two archrivals India and Pakistan, the former

has agreed to release 117 Pakistani prisoners who have completed their term in prison.

A national daily reported that other day that these Pakistanis were detained on charges of overstay and other minor crimes, the sources said. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan had released 54 Indian prisoners last year and India while showing harmony and goodwill ges-tures had agreed to release the Pa-kistani prisoners. In this regard, the incumbent Indian HC played an im-portant role for the release of the Pa-kistani prisoners. Sharat Sabharwal, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, has been given six-month extension to settle the important issues due to his good diplomatic relationship with the Zardari gov-

ernment. Pakistan and India have already exchanged the lists of pris-oners in each other’s custody under the agreement and consular access has already been signed between the two countries. Under this agreement both the countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year.

India agrees to release 117 Pak prisoners

SIALKOT: First Secretary (Economic) of Germanny in Pakistan, Peter Lartz addressing the business community at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry. DA Desk

SCCI lauds webinar on live online by USTR

MONITORS REPORTSIALKOT

SCCI President Sheikh Abdul Majid expressed satisfaction on live on-line Webinar conducted

by US Trade Representative (USTR) from Washington to present New US-GSP Policy.

He mentioned that the webi-nar took place in Sialkot Cham-ber Auditorium connecting Pakistani exporters in major business hubs.

As per the presentation, he appreciated the fact that US im-ports from Pakistan under the Generalized System of Prefer-ences programme surged by 49 percent in 2012, touching $195 million.

He said this represents one of the largest increases among all major GSP beneficiary coun-tries.

He said with the help of duty-free treatment available under the GSP programme Pakistan could enhance its duty-free ex-ports to the United States. He said the Webinar proved out to be a good tool in order to remove ambiguities regarding New GSP policy, said a media release.

SIALKOT: Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan, Bharat Raj Paudyal posing for a group photo with Sialkot Chamber of Com-merce & Industry officials during his visit. DA Desk

April 22-28, 2013

18

MONITORS REPORTISLAMABAD

The nation commemorated the 74th anniversary of the death of national poet Al-lama Muhammmad Iqbal.

Before general elections are con-ducted, this is a last minute opportu-nity to reflect on how the lofty goals of the Allama, one of the Founding Fathers of Pakistan, will be met by the parties contesting the poll. The Allama put forward the dream of a separate homeland for the Muslims in his Alla-habad Address, unambiguously envi-sioning an Islamic, democratic welfare state. Quaid-i-Azam returned from the UK at his behest, to head the Muslim League and reiterated the same un-derstanding of the new state, leading to the formal demand for it, at the La-hore session of the All-India Muslim League. Though the Allama passed away at the age of 63, in 1939, his vi-sion soared on in the hearts of those whom it had inspired.

The ideals envisioned by Allama to be the governing factors of a home-land should provide political parties a benchmark, by which they should judge their own campaign promises, and even their performance if they have held office. Political parties will find they are borrowing hope from the Allama to offer to the people, and with

good reason. Iqbal’s vision and depth of thought is not that of an ordinary man, none have yet matched him. It is ironic that at a time when the country did not yet exist, Iqbal provided cour-age to the teeming masses hopeful of a homeland. And today, in a time of continuous violence, disappointment, cruel uncertainty and crippling pov-erty and lack of opportunity, Pakistan today has to look for solutions within itself. By large consensus, in a throw-back to Iqbal, Pakistanis are looking within themselves for answers to the dilemmas they face. Introspection and self-correction are the need of the day. If Iqbal were to see the state we are in

today, one wonders whether he would provide the same gentle inspiration or perhaps use a harsher tone to berate us for our own failings in pursuing our destiny. Meanwhile, the philosophy of today seems to be centred entirely around self-interest, with morality and principles now thought to be traits of a long gone, glorious past. There is not just a dearth of modern philoso-phy to counter the challenges of the age, but also a lack of understanding of their nature. A thinker of the clarity and stature of Iqbal is a gift we have been left in heritage. Yet, despite this formidable inspiration, Pakistan con-tinue to flounder. It’s people all aspir-ants for the utopia envisioned by Iqbal, it’s leaders by and largely morally bankrupt and saddled with a patron-age addicted electoral system. Thus this election is more about the process than about results. If this is the state of democracy, it is perhaps no won-der that there has not been sufficient stress placed on ensuring that the state functions, in and of itself, not just as a favour done to people by special persons. The best way of commemo-rating this anniversary would be for the voters to exercise their suffrage with sense and logic, so as to make sure that their investment of their vote is in the candidate best able to fulfill Iqbal’s vision in service to their coun-try and it’s people.

Iqbal’s death anniversary marked

MONITORS REPORTGENEVA

Red Cross chief Peter Mau-rer has condemned US drone strikes outside ar-

eas officially engulfed in armed conflict, adding that drone use in Pakistan was “particularly prob-lematic”.

A national daily quoted Maurer, as saying that Washington’s secre-tive and controversial use of drones

was not a problem in itself, as in the context of an armed conflict drones are considered legitimate weapons. But if a drone is used in a country where there is no armed conflict, there is a problem, he added.

Maurer urged for “very re-strained use” of the weapon. Maur-er said a drone used in Afghanistan or Yemen is a drone used within the context of an armed conflict, and is legitimate, but strikes in Pa-kistan are a “problem”.

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

An F-22P frigate built for the Pakistan Navy with Chinese assistance was commissioned during a

ceremony held at a naval shipyard in the southern port city of Karachi today.

Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila was the chief guest at the commissioning of PNS Aslat, which was built at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works.

The event was also attended by senior officials from China and Pa-kistan, including the Chinese Am-bassador and the vice president of

the China State Shipbuilding Cor-poration.

The commissioning of PNS Aslat marked the culmination of a con-tract signed by Pakistan and China in 2005 for four F-22P warships.

Three of the frigates were built in China and technology was trans-ferred for constructing the fourth warship in Karachi.

PNS Aslat is fitted with advanced weapons and sensors that make it a “highly potent platform” capable of operating in a multi-threat environ-ment.

Its inclusion in the Pakistan Navy’s destroyer squadron will strengthen the country’s capabili-ties to defend its maritime frontiers, the navy said in a statement.

MONITORS REPORUNITED NATIONS

Pakistan called for “serious dis-cussions on a compromise so-lution” when the deadlocked intergovernmental negotiations

aimed at restructuring the UN Security Council into a more representative, effi-cient and transparent body resumed the other day.

“We need to collectively explore a win-win solution that accommodates different views and commands consensus,” Am-bassador Masood Khan, Pakistan’s per-manent representative to the U.N., told delegates from 193 countries when they met after a space of 10 months.

The Pakistani envoy regretted that the situation of the reform process remained

unchanged since the last round of the in-tergovernmental negotiations when five groups presented their respective posi-tions, with no individual position com-manding decisive support.

“Initiatives anchored in individual na-tional positions do not have the support of the general membership,” he said in an obvious reference to the antics of the Group of Four—India, Brazil, Germany and Japan—who are seeking permanent seats in an enlarged Council.

“Such positions further polarize the membership and stall the negotiation process,” Masood Khan said. “Attempts at artificial acceleration, through claims of majority-minority, deepens stalemate.” Pakistan, along with other members of the Uniting for Consensus (UfC), oppose any additional permanent members in

the expanded Security Council. They support the Italy-Columbia pro-

posal that would create a new category

of members—not permanent members—with three to five years duration and a possibility to get re-elected.

It envisages the Security Council’s enlargement by 10 seats to make it a 25-member body. The Security Council is currently composed of five permanent members—Britain, China, France, Rus-sia and the United States—and 10 non-permanent members that are elected in groups of five to two-year terms on the Council.

Pakistan is currently a non-permanent member of the Council. “Pakistan and its partners in Uniting for Consensus (UfC) Group have always advocated compromise and flexibility as a vehicle for forward movement in the reform process,” the Pakistani envoy said. “We are the only group to offer a compromise

formula, which is reflected in the Italy-Colombia paper.” He said Italy, which along with Pakistan, head the UfC hosted an important Ministerial Conference on Security Council reform in Rome recently that stressed the need for urgent and comprehensive reform through compro-mise and flexibility.

“It is abundantly clear that through compromise alone can we move forward.

The nature of this compromise can only be determined through by negotia-tions.” The Pakistani envoy backed Afri-ca’s demand for a permanent seat on the Security Council as a “special case.” “Af-rica’s just demand for permanent seats in the Security Council is made on behalf of the entire continent and is, therefore, dif-ferent from those who seek a permanent seat for themselves,” he said.

Red Cross chief condemns US drone strikes in Pakistan

Pakistan Navy gets fourth Chinese-built F-22P warship

Pakistan urges compromise to move forward on UNSC reform

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Caretaker CM Najam Sethi in a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardar At Aiwan-e-Sadar.

April 22-28, 2013

19

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI) hosted the 57th Executive Com-

mittee Meeting and the 18th General Assembly of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SAARC CCI) the other day at Kathmandu.

Over 50 members from National chambers/ Federation of South Asian member states including 12 members from Pakistan participated in the Ex-

ecutive and General Assembly meet-ing. Handover takeover ceremony of

SAARC Chamber’s Young Entrepre-neurs Forum and roundtable on Finan-

cial Cooperation in South Asia was also convened.

H. E. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary South Asian Association for Re-gional Cooperation addressed the

Executive Council of SAARC CCI.Pakistan delegation comprising

of Mr. Traiq Sayeed, Mr. Iftikhar ali Malik, Mr. Zubair Ahmed Malik, Mr. Haroon Rashid, Mr. Fazal Elahi, Mr. Hameed Akhtar Chadda, Enginner Abdul Jabbar Memon, Mr. Zahid

Maqbool, Mian Mahmood Ahmed, Mr. Iqbal Tabish and Mr. Mumtaz Khan, attented the ceremony.

Nepal hosts 57th EC of SAARC CCI

DNA ISLAMABAD

Indo-Pak Chamber of Com-merce & Industry President, S M Munir visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & In-

dustry to discuss various measures for further improving Pak-India bi-lateral trade.

He said that non-tariff barriers were impeding the businessmen of both countries from promoting bilateral trade up to the potential and stressed that Pakistan and In-dia should take urgent measures to remove all NTBs.

He said liberalizing trade re-lations with India would create many new business opportunities for entrepreneurs in Pakistan and also build confidence to Pakistan economy. He said Pakistan should consider granting early MFN status to India as it would greatly help in-creasing the trade between the two nations.

S M Munir assured that Indo-Pak Chamber of Commerce & Industry would play a positive role in bring-ing entrepreneurs of the two coun-tries closer to explore all potential areas of mutual cooperation.

Speaking at the occasion, Zubair Ahmed Malik, President, Fed-eration of Pakistan Chambers of

Commerce & Industry said that improvement in trade relations between Pakistan and India would help in strengthening regional in-tegration and uplifting the living standards of millions of poor people of this region. Therefore, it is high time that without wasting more time, both countries should focus on promoting commercial tries.

Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Is-lamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry in his welcome address appreciated the efforts of Mr.S.M. Munir for improving trade relations between the two countries. He said despite having disputes, trade rela-tions between India and China were growing as their bilateral trade was over US$ 66-billion during 2012 while both countries were aiming to take this figure to $ 100-billion by 2015.

However, it is unfortunate that despite close proximity and com-mon borders, Pak-India reciprocal trade was still below $ 3-billion, which has the potential to reach $ 12-billion within few years. He stressed that moving forward, both countries should take con-crete measures to eliminate barri-ers, simplify visa regimes, improve trade facilitation including trans-port infrastructure and harmonize customs regimes.

Non-tariff barriers impeding Indo-Pak trade

Moazzam calls on President

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s Ambassador designate to Neth-erlands, Moazzam Ahmed Khan, called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr and discussed matters relating to his new

assignment. The President felicitated the newly appointed

envoy on his new responsibilities and urged him to focus on further strengthening Pak- Netherlands bilateral relations especially trade and commercial ties. The President also emphasized pursuance of economic diplomacy to further promote economic interests of the country. The ambassador thanked the President for the confidence reposed in him and assured he would utilize all his capabilities to boost Pakistan’s bilateral ties with Netherlands with focus on trade and investment ties.

‘Guru’s hanging revitalises Kashmiri struggle’MONITORS REPORT

MUZAFFARABAD

President Asif Ali Zardari said the other day that India’s move to hand Kashmiri

freedom fighter Afzal Guru has fuelled anger in Kashmiris and that it has revitalized Kashmiri freedom movement.

Addressing a session of the Azad Kashmir Legislative As-sembly, President Zaradri re-iterated Pakistan’s stand to support just Kashmiri struggle

against Indian occupation in held Kashmir.

He said that saner voices in India as well are raising hue and cry over Indian aggres-sion in the held Kashmir valley, adding Kashmiri nation could not be defeated by such aggres-sion.

President Zardari said that big and small nations around the globe are inspired by the Kashmiri freedom struggle, adding that Islamabad would never compromise on its stand over Kashmir.

The President said Pakistan will continue moral diplomatic and political support to Kash-miris for their just right of self determination.

He said Pakistan has taken various steps at international level to resolve the issue which is hindering development of the region.

President Zardari said Pa-kistan wants constructive and result orientated with India to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir to bring sta-bility in the area.

ISLAMABAD: President FPCCI Zabair Malik, S.M.Munir, ICCI President Zafar Bakhtwari and others pose for photo.

US delegation calls on army chief

DA REPORTRAWALPINDI

A US delegation called on General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff. The delegation comprised Ambassador David Pearce, Acting Special Rep-resentative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; Lieutenant General (Retired) Dagulas Lute, Special Assistant to the President on Afghanistan and Pa-

kistan; Dr Peter Lavoy, Principal Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs and Ambassador Richard Olson.The two sides discussed matters of mutual interest with particular focus on Afghani-stan reconciliation process. From Pakistan’s side, Mr Jalil Abbas Jillani, Foreign Sec-retary also attended the meeting.

April 22-28, 2013

20

MONITORS REPORTMANSEHRA

US Consul General in Pe-shawar Robert Reed said the other day that his country would continue

to support Pakistani youths in high-er education and English language courses with the financial assistance by the United States Agency for In-ternational Development (USAID).

“The construction of faculty of edu-cation building at Hazara University

is the evidence of our commitment to development of Pakistani youths. We have been providing them with higher education and will continue to bring more such programmes and projects for Pakistani youths,” he said during a certificate distribution cere-mony on the campus.

Certificates were given to students, who have completed English course under English Access Micro Scholar-ship Programme.

The US consul general said under English Access Micro Scholarship

Programme, more than 6,000 male and female students of various Paki-stani universities were attending dif-ferent English courses.

“This programme is launched not to teach English to Pakistani students but it is a strong effort on behalf of USAID to bring the people of the two countries closer,” he said.

Mr Reed said the youths attend-ing English courses under the pro-gramme would not only compete internationally but could also put their country on way to prosperity

and development though science and technology.

He praised Pakistani students for being hardworking, saying he was much satisfied with the performance of participants and hoped that they would use English language to bring the people and culture of both coun-tries closer.

Hazara University Vice Chancel-lor Dr Sakhawat Shah, who was also in attendance, said efforts of the US consulate general for promotion of English language in the country were

commendable.“In fact, English language has be-

come the basic tool of learning in-ternationally. The countries ignoring it and not teaching it to their youths will lag behind in science and tech-nology,” he said.

M Shah said USAID had not taught English only to 100 students of Haz-ara University and other colleges in Mansehra but it had been taught to 100 families. He said learning of Eng-lish language would bring revolution in the relevant people’s life.

US to help Pak youth acquire higher education: envoy

MONITORS REPORTKARACHI

Hundreds of scientists, doctors and other experts from around the world launched the Scientific Declaration on Polio Eradication.

Declaring that an end to the paralysing dis-ease is achievable and endorsing a comprehensive new strategy to secure a lasting polio-free world by 2018. A statement said that the declaration’s launch coincides with the 58th anniversary of the announcement of Jonas Salk’s revolutionary vaccine - the Microbiologist who had de-veloped the first polio vaccine. It said that more than 400 signatories to the declaration urged governments, interna-tional organisations and civil society to do their part to seize the historic opportunity to end polio and protect the world’s most vulnerable children and future generations from this debilitating but preventable disease. The declaration calls for full funding and implementation of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018, developed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). With polio cases at an all-time low and the disease remaining endemic in just three countries, the GPEI estimates that ending the disease

entirely by 2018 can be achieved for a cost of approximately $5.5 billion. “Pakistan is making progress towards polio eradication with only 58 cases last year, a decrease of more than 70 percent from 2011’, said Sania Nishtar, Federal Min-ister for Science and Technology, Information Technology, Education and Training in the Government of Pakistan. “However, big challenges remain to be tackled including improving accountability mechanisms, overarching coor-dination of the polio programme as well as ensuring the safety of health workers. We need to overcome these bot-tlenecks to ensure that Pakistan becomes polio free’.

Pak scientist leads Global Declaration on Polio Eradication

MONITORS REPORTBEIJING

A Pakistani national, Ghaz-anfar Ali Sanpal, has been selected as Vice-Chair of Distributed Management

Task Force (DMTF) Cloud Manage-ment Sub-Committee on behalf of renowned Chinese ZTE Corpora-tion.

DMTF is North America based organization which is responsible for developing the standards for the distributed computing technologies and promotes interoperability of dif-ferent cloud technologies to meet the

market needs, said a company state-ment.

Ghazanfar Ali represents ZTE Corporation, Nanjing, China at vari-ous industry standards organiza-tions and forums, and an active re-searcher, contributor and technical editor in the development of Infor-mation and Communications Tech-nologies (ICT) related specifications and standards in different reputed organizations such as International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) and Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF).

His other major distinctions in-

clude: Attended more than 40 face to face International technical meetings held in different continents includ-ing Pacific Asia, Europe, and North America;

Delivered and presented about 400 proposals/contributions in dif-ferent technical standards developed in ITU SG13, OMA, and DMTF; he received his MSc degree in Com-puter Science in 2003 from Quad-e-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad. His MSc thesis was on the design and implementation of an Internet Protocol-Private Automated Branch eXchange (IP-PABX). ZTE has long history of cooperation with Pakistan.

DA REPORTTAXILA

The Sikh religious festival of Baisakhi, which marks the New Year, concluded here at Gurdwara Punja Sahib,

Hassanabdal the other day.The concluding ceremony “Bhog”

was attended by over ten thousand Sikh and Hindu pilgrims.

The festival initially lacked its tra-ditional enthusiasm and hustle, but the arrival of Hindu and Sikh devotees from Sindh and FATA added colours to it, as Sikhs with yellow turbans and ladies with colorful dresses occupied the temple.

The chief guest and caretaker fed-eral minister for religious affairs, Shahzada Jamal, reiterated the Paki-stani government’s commitment to provide religious freedom and facili-ties to the Sikh community.

He said minorities enjoyed equal rights in the country and the govern-

ment was making efforts to preserve their religious places, adding that all religions need to work towards peace and tolerance.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Ch Riaz, termed the Sikhs from India as “ambassadors of peace” and asked them to convey to fellow Sikhs living in India that there was no threat to their community in Pakistan.

He said ETPB had played a key role in the renovation of temples, and a number of projects were in the pro-cess to extend the facilities.

The leader of Indian Sikh pilgrims, Sardar Balwindar Singh, lauded the Pakistani government for provision of facilities to the pilgrims.

The Indian yatrees left on Saturday evening for Nankana Sahib via four special trains to offer religious rituals, from where they would leave for Gur-dwara Ameenabad, Lahore and then to India.

Sikh festival concludes China’s ZTE honours Pak national

World Medical Education & Research Moot heldBUREAU REPORT

PESHAWAR

A three-day International Medical Education & Re-search Conference was held at Khyber Medical

University, wherein the need for improving medical curriculum was highlighted

In the inaugural ceremony, Khy-

ber Medical College Vice Chancellor, Dr Muhammad Hafizullah said that holding of International Medical Ed-ucation & Research Conference not only supplemented the capabilities of our researchers and medical pro-fessionals but also helped in improv-ing the sector of medical education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said we are facing the dearth of teachers in medical sector and technical experts

are capable of competing foreign medical professionals.

He highlighted the need of improv-ing medical curriculum to make it more result oriented regarding pre-ventive and precautionary measures and said that treatment of diseases is the main focus of health profession-als in existing scenario.

Dr Hafeezullah said that educa-tion process is based on three im-

portant factors including education, curriculum and examination, adding harmonization of these three factors would pave the way for achieving desired results.

He said that keeping in view the significance education, curriculum and examination; Institute of Health Profession Education has been es-tablished under which education of Master Level would be given to 20

health professionals annually in the first phase. He said PhD, M.Phil and short courses would also be started in the institution.

The ceremony was also attended by former Principal of KMC; Dr Siraj Ahmad, Prof. Dr Gohar Wajid, Prof Dr Idrees Anwar, Dr Fazal Me-hmood, Director Academics Prof. Dr Shad Muhammad and renowned medical professionals.

April 22-28, 2013

21

iran National armed Forces Day commemorated

JUNAID YOUSAF

ISLAMABAD

Islamabad Traffic Police organ-ised a two-day family gala in F-9 Park, which was attended by a large number of families.

Stalls of different multi-national companies were set up on the oc-casion. The gala was organised with the collaboration of Alkoza, AzimSuzukiMotors,ATS Solar De-vice Makers, Saiban Builders, Nicon,

Shezan Beverages, Shama Oil and Banaspati.

Stalls of clothes, toys, jewelry, edi-bles and gifts attracted people. The Magic and Music Show enthralled a large number of children and youths.

ITP senior officers were also pre-sent on the occasion. Talking to Dip-lomatic Affairs, citizens shared their views that ITP played a very great role to assemble citizens of Islama-bad at one place.

ITP holds family gala

70 years of anjuman Faizul islam services to nation

DA REPORT ISLAMABADDistinctive in its nature, Anjuman

Faiz-ul-Islam observed its Yaum-e-Tasees (Foundation Day) with a theme ‘Role of Anjuman Faizul Islam in National Reconstruction’ to pay glowing tributes to those who served this high-esteemed institution.

Anjuman Faizul Islam organised the day to remember the pioneers who rendered inestimable services to the organisation.

For the Foundation Day cer-emony, the organisation held vari-ous programmes including speech contests, national songs competition and quiz programme. Children in a large number participated in these constructive activities with great en-thusiasm.

An academic seminar titled ‘Na-tional Integration’ was also organ-ised by the organisation, wherein scholars and experts from various fields shared their viewpoints on the topic. Four major elements were brought under consideration in the seminar including Islamic system of life, ideology of Pakistan, Urdu language and national educational system. The speakers stressed the need for sticking to Islamic com-mandments and promoting Pakistan ideology while taking the country to the new heights of development. They also underscored the signifi-cance of promotion of national lan-guage – Urdu – and positive reforms in educational system. Similarly, the organisation also held creative and scientific exhibition.

Talking to Diplomatic Affairs, An-juman Faizul Islam, President Mian M Siddique Akbar, Vice President Dr M D Khan and Secretary Press

& Publications Muhammad Badr-e-Muneer said said Anjuman Faizul Islam was estalished on April 2, 1943, adding that on the onset Ghulam Qadir Ghubar laid the foundation of Darul Faiz with the collaboration of likeminded people. Anjuman Faizul Islam initiated its humanitarian ser-vices at the behest of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah by retreiving 30 destitute children from famine and riot-stricken Bengal and by pro-viding them with shelter, education and other necessities of life.

The main objective of the An-juman is national reconstruction through collective efforts for pro-motion of Islamic values, national ideology, cultural traditions, social welfare and educational activities. It does not indulge in political strifes, sectarinism, regional prejudices and extremism.

Syed Mustafa Shah Gilani played a vital role in bringing the kids to the safe hands. He became the first president of Anjuman Faizul Islam in 1943.

Besides first General Manager and founder Raja Ghulam Qadir Ghubar and first president, other person-alities like Mian Hayat Bakhsh, who remained lifetime president of the Anjuman, lifetime secretary gen-eral Malik Jamal-ud-Din and former president Syed Saghir-ul-Haq played a highly laudable role for the welfare of the Anjuman. Similarly, Mehmood Ali, who migrated from East Paki-stan and remained lifetime federal minister, also made a remarkable contribution to the welfare of the or-ganisation. The president said now his daughter regularly provides ‘Me-hmood Ali Scholarship’ to the chil-dren residing under the patronage of

the organisation. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali

Jinnah had also visited Darul Faiz and donated Rs 500 from his pocket. Similarly, Fatima Jinnah also graced the Anjuman by her visit and dona-tion of Rs 10,000. Mufti-e-Azam Palestine Aminul Hassan Hussaini, Mother Teresa, Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, Syed Sarwar Chishti of Ajmer Sharif, American senator Madam Sheila Jackson, Gen Zia-ul-Haq, president Rafique Tarar, Nusrat Bhutto and ambassadors of various countries have visited the organisa-tion.

The Anjuman president said Badria Yaqoob, wife of former am-bassador of Kuwait to Pakistan, is still extending her assistance and pa-tronage to the organisation. He said the organisation accomodates over 1100 children from across the coun-try with a majority from Balochistan. He said it provides the children with Islamic as well as contemprary edu-cation, adding that they also focuss on ensuring cocorrucular and extra-curricular activities for the children so that they grow up in a healthy environment. The organisation runs six welfare centres including Trunk Bazaar centre, Faizabad centre, Mandra centre, Doberan Kalan cen-tre, Pakkah Khooh centre and Guf Sangal centre.

The organisation, he said, runs entirely with the donations extended by philanthropists. He said Paki-stanis living in the US, UK, UAE and other countries regularly contribute to the organisation expenditures. He said the organisation runs technical training institutions, where children do one-year short courses to three years long courses.

April 22-28, 2013

22

Shahbaz meets German envoy

BUREAU REPORTLAHORE

Shahbaz Sharif has said close relations between Germany and Pakistan should be converted into solid economic rela-tions.

He was talking to German ambassador in Paki-stan Dr Cyrill Nunn called on him at his resident the other day. The visiting ambassador appreci-ated the development vision of the former CM Punjab and termed various projects, including Metro Bus, as great success stories of his govern-ment.

UN-based scholarship fund congratulates Nizami

MONITORS REPORTUNITED NATIONS

The head of a prestigious scholarship fund, set up by the UN corps of cor-respondents in 1962 to honour the memory of late Secretary-General Dag

Hammarskjold, congratulated Arif Nizami, Pa-kistan’s minister for information and broadcast-ing, on his appointment to the high post.

Nizami had covered the 27th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York when the Dag Hammarskjold Fund for Journalists selected him for the three-month assignment on its scholar-ship programme.

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Turkey is ready to provide financial and technical support for the construc-tion of Kurram Tangi Dam

and Dera Ismail Khan Airport, said Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Babar Hazlan in a meeting with ex-federal minister Salim Saifullah Khan here on Monday.

The Turkish ambassador said Tur-key will also support democratic pro-cess in Pakistan for which timely and transparent elections are of utmost

importance.Salim Saifullah Khan while thanking the Turkish envoy for providing financial and technical sup-port for construction of Kurram Tangi Dam and DIKhan Airport said Turkey and Pakistan enjoyed cordial rela-tions and Turkey has always assisted Pakistan in times of crisis. Important matters regarding upcoming elections were also came under discussion.

The former senator said construc-tion of Kurram Tangi Dam would not only help in resolving energy crises but would also help in curtailing problems related to drinking and agricultural water of southern districts of Khyber-

Pakhtunkhwa. He said the construc-tion of Kurram Tangi dam would also eradicate flood dangers in the area and that would be a blessing for the people where flood create havoc every year. He said the construction of D I Khan Airport would also enhance develop-ment in southern districts.

Mustafa Babar Hazlan said Tur-key had great regard for the people of Pakistan and gave value to rela-tions with Pakistan. He assured that Turkey would provide all possible support to the people of southern districts, which still lack basic neces-sities of life.

Hizlan meets Salim Saifullah

Turkey ready to extend assistance for Kurram Tangi Dam, DI Khan Airport construction

Pakistan, South Africa joint meeting in Sept

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

The third session of Pakistan-South Africa Joint Commission on Bilat-eral Cooperation was held the other day in Islamabad.

Ms Seema Naqvi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan and Dr Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director General, Department of

International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa led their respec-tive delegations.

The agenda of the meeting covered prospective cooperation in Trade, Industry, Engineering, Energy, Agriculture, Health and Education.The two sides noted with satisfaction that the Joint Business Council would hold its first meeting in Sep-tember/October, 2013 in Pretoria. They also agreed, in principle, to enhance the bilateral trade volume to over US $ 1 billion by 2015. In view of the fact that South Africa excels technologically in Mining, prospects of cooperation in Mining Sector were discussed. The Pakistani side also handed over to South African side a MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health Sector.

MONITORS REPORTNEW YORK

Malala Yousafzai, the teenage girl shot by the Taliban for

promoting girls’ education, will make her first public speech on her 16th birthday in New York, the office of Britain’s former prime minis-ter Gordon Brown says.

She will speak at the United Na-tions on July 12, said Brown, speak-ing in his capacity as the UN Special Envoy for Global Education.

Malala was shot at point-blank range by a Taliban gunman as her school bus travelled through Paki-stan’s Swat Valley on October 9 last year,

She was flown to Britain for sur-gery on her head injuries and, once she had recovered sufficiently, re-turned to school in Birmingham, central England last month.

“Malala is a true inspiration and a shining beacon for girls education around the world,” said Brown.

“I am full of admiration for her

courage a n d

de-t e r -

m i - nation in the journey she is on, and am sure that she can become a real leader in the campaign for a school place for every girl - and every boy.”

Malala has become a global sym-bol of the campaign for girls’ right to an education and has been nomi-nated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Some 4,000 young people are expected to be in attendance for her debut speech.

Her self-penned life story is due out later this year in a deal report-edly worth around three million dollars.

Malala to make UN speech

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of France to Pakistan Philippe Thiebaud being presented a shield. DA

Sherry recognised among world’s top Women of Impact

MONITORS REPORTWASHINGTON

A prominent American or-ganisation dedicated to women’s advancement on Tuesday recognised

Pakistan’s ambassador to the Unit-ed States Sherry Rehman, among their rating of influential women leaders in the world.

Calling her a “master tactictian”, the Women in the World Foundation said, “Sherry Rehman, Pa-kistan’s ambassador to the US, is known for her eloquence, ele-gance, and diplomatic savvy.” Names of 125 top Women of Impact were also released.

“And no one seems better at calming the stormy relationship between Washington and Islamabad,” the foundation added.

Ambassador Rehman has led Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach in Washington at a challenging time for Pakistan-US relationship, which has seen improvement from an unprecedented low-point in 2011-12. Last month, the president of Pakistan conferred on Am-bassador Rehman the highest civilian honor Nishan-e-Imtiaz for her outstanding services to the country and the role she played in restoring the Pakistan-US relationship since her appointment in early 2012.

Prior to her appointment as Islamabad’s envoy in Washington, Sherry Rehman served as a distinguished parliamentarian and federal minister and has been a longtime champion of women’s rights and freedom of the media.

April 22-28, 2013

23

DA REPORT ISLAMABAD

Motamar al-Alam al-Islami has worked to encourage a shared identity among Muslims regardless of

country and politics and it actively engaged the wider world in matters of promoting peace, justice and well be-ing.

These views were expressed by Dr Gavin D Brockett, Associate Professor of Middle East and Islamic History at Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada, while delivering a lecture titled “Muslim World United and the Role of Motamar Al-Alam Islami” which was organized by Iqbal International Insti-tute for Research and Dialogue of Inter-national Islamic University, Islamabad here on Monday. The lecture was pre-

sided over by Director General Shariah Academy, Dr Tahir Mansoori.

In the lecture, Dr Gavin D Brockket highlighted the basic objectives and historical perspective of Motamar al-Alam al-Islami. He observed that Mot-amar played a vital role in the unity of Muslim world and it gave a platform to promote the religion in peaceful man-ners.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ta-

hir Mansoori appreciated the briefed lecture of Dr Brocket and said the de-livered lecture has gaiven a life to the role of Motamar al-Alam al-Islami in Muslim world.

A large number of participants from Iqbal International Institute for Re-search and Dialogue, Shriah Academy, teachers of Dawah Academy and re-search associates were also present on the occasion.

IIUI holds lecture on ‘Muslim World Unity And The Role of Motamar Al-Alam Islami’

IIUI starts short Arabic language course for deans, directors

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Arabic Language Cen-tre at Faculty of Ara-bic of International Islamic University

has started a functional Arabic short course for Deans and Di-rectors of university.

First class in this regard was held on Monday where Dr Hafiz Muhammad Bashir, Dean Fac-ulty of Arabic welcomed the participants of the course and briefed them about the contents and techniques of the course. He said Arabic is official language of the university and it is neces-sary for all the heads officials to get familiar with it. The 2-month course will focus on making offi-cials familiar about basic written and spoken Arabic language.

KBTE affiliation committee visits Iqra College

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Affiliation committee of Khyber Board of Technical Education (KBTE), headed by

Secretary of the board, Hidayat ullah visited IQRA College of Technology, International Is-lamic University, Islamabad (IIUI). Committee visited dif-ferent departments and labora-tories of college while Principal IQRA College of Technology, En-gineer Javed Ahmed Tipu gave a detailed briefing about the col-lege.

The committee lauded the performance of IQRA College and assured every possible sup-port to it.

IIUI holds workshop on “Bridging the gap between academia and industry”

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Department of Com-puter Sciences & Soft-wareEngineering (DC-SSE), Female Campus,

International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) conducted a Workshop on “Bridging the gap between

academia and industry”. Ms Zakia Jalil and Ms Sadia Arshad lecturers DCSSE were the organ-izers of workshop. The workshop aims to give better understanding of new technology and to provide an opportunity to become familiar with current research in software engineering and more generally with the methods and challenges of scientific research.

Team Members of Code Insti-tute F-6 Mr Arshad Ali Business Head/Project Manager, Mr Rahat Ali Project Manager, Mr Imran Tanveer Android Developer /android Instructor, Mr Mohsin Tariq Senior software Engineer, Ms. Nellofar Senior Software En-gineer, Ms Nadia Mehreen Pro-gram Coordinator, Mr. Ali Asghar Sales Manager spoke on the sub-ject. All guest speakers were in-vited to share the ideas, new tech-nology and to solve the quires of final year projects of the students.

DA REPORTISLAMABAD

Minister for Petro-leum and Natural Resources Sohail Wajahat said that

Ministry of Petroleum highly appreciates and welcomes the offer of cooperation in the Oil and Gas sector by Ukraine.

In a meeting with ambassador of Ukraine Volodymyr Lako-mov, Ambassador of Ukraine to Pakistan, who called on the Min-ister here Sohail Wajahat said that the government of Pakistan would facilitate establishment of Ukrainian Oil and Gas ser-vices companies in Pakistan and would initiate experts’ exchange programme as an activity of the Inter-Governmental Science and Technology Commission, be-

tween the two countries.Sohail Wajahat further in-

formed that Pakistan holds huge potential in the hydrocarbon sector and any help offered by

the Government of Ukraine and Ukrainian companies would be welcomed.

Earlier, H.E. Volodymyr La-komov, Ambassador of Ukraine

apprised the Minister Petroleum that Ukrainian companies are in-terested to work in the oil and gas exploration in Pakistan and there are technologies available which can be shared between the two countries.

He further elaborated that Ukraine is using state of the art technology, which provides cost efficient solutions for oil and Gas exploration, while as considerably reducing the time spent on explo-ration surveys.

The Minister said that OGDCL and PPL can utilize the expertise offered by Ukraine.

Sohail Wajahat further said that Pakistan’s consumption require-ments of oil & gas are more than the available supply and there-fore, major emphasis is on addi-tion of oil & gas into the system through enhanced exploration.

Ukraine’s coop offer in oil, gas sector welcomed

April 22-28, 2013

24

DA REPORT ISLAMABAD

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that independent judiciary plays pivotal role in eradication of oppres-sion and injustice.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has said that the objective of Pa-kistan’s judicial system is to ensure protec-tion of democratic system in the country.

Addressing the concluding session of the three-day International Judicial Conference in Islamabad‚ he said that the judiciary has ensured rights of the people.

The Chief Justice said that independent judiciary plays pivotal role in eradication of oppression and injustice. He said judiciary gives priority to those who are in search of justice.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muham-mad Chaudhry said that an independent ju-

diciary played an important role in provid-ing justice to the people. He said judiciary gives priority to those who are in search of justice. He said judiciary has taken oath of protection of constitution and judiciary is responsible for dispensation of justice to the people.

Representatives from 21 countries are attending the conference including India‚ Egypt‚ Iran‚ Iraq‚ Afghanistan‚ Libya and Britain.

The participants of the conference urged for joint efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the society.

The conference recommended that all states should respect and secure protect hu-man rights irrespective of region‚ ethnicity or nationality.

It also called for strengthening coopera-tion among states at the regional and inter-national levels in order to deal with inter-national crimes.

Judicial system aims to ensure protection of democratic system: cJ

ISLAMABAD: Diplomatic Affairs Chief Editor, Abu Bakar Siddique shaking hands with Chief Justice If-tikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. He paid rich tributes to the CJ for his struggles to ensure provision of justice to the nation and congratulated him on holding of a successful International Judicial Conference. DA

DA REPORTKAKUL

Without explicitly nam-ing India or any other nation, Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani

said the other day that Pakistan has acted with restraint despite some “very belligerent statements.”

“We have exercised restraint in the face of some very belligerent state-ments in recent months,” said the top Pakistani general. “Let it suffice to say that Pakistan is fully capable of responding effectively to any threat. Despite our current focus on internal

security, we remain fully prepared to defeat an external direct threat.”

The Army chief was addressing the passing-out parade of the 127th PMA Long Course, 46th Integrated Course

and 1st Mujahid Course at the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, as the chief guest.

“In our short history, we have over-come many a challenges that would have overwhelmed lesser nations,” said Gen Kayani.

“I am sure we can do it again. We are going through difficult times, but so has every other successful nation at some time in their history,” he added.

“The Pakistani Army is fully com-mitted to the cause and as always standing with the nation. I assure you that we will succeed if we remain com-mitted to the basis for creation of Paki-stan and remain steadfast as a nation.”

“Let me remind you that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam and Islam can never ever be taken out of Pakistan,” he said.

However, General Kayani said Islam should always remain a unifying force. He assured that regardless of odds, Pakistan Army will keep on doing its best towards common dream for a truly Islamic Republic of Pakistan en-visioned by the Quaid-e-Azam and Al-lama Iqbal.

Speaking about peace in the region he said: “Pakistan is a peace loving country. Our quest for peace is es-sentially based on a genuine desire to improve our lot and that of our fu-

ture generations. Let no one see it as a weakness.

“Let there be no doubt that with a strong Pakistani Army and the nation standing behind it united, no harm can ever come to Pakistan, Inshallah.”

A large number of senior serv-ing and retired armed forces officers, parents of cadets, foreign diplomats and relatives of graduating cadets wit-nessed the spectacular parade.

He congratulated all the graduat-ing cadets on successful completion of their basic military training, includ-ing those from our brotherly Islamic countries of Palestine, Sudan and Turkmenistan.

Pakistan prepared to defeat external threats: Kayani