US supports democracy in Pakistan: Grossman

In an interview, Grossman said Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries all around the world extend cooperation to defeat al-Qaeda.

He said US supports democracy in Pakistan, adding that every time increasing the influence of democracy would decrease the influence of extremism.

To a question, Grossman said obviously, the way Pakistan organises its own government is its business. As far as I’m concerned, I think that the increased amount of democracy in Pakistan, more political parties, more integration of that part of Pakistan into the rest of that society has got to be a positive thing.

We’ve supported the civilian government there and the efforts they’re making politically, economically, democratically to move Pakistan forward. That decision is really for Pakistanis to make. But I think every time you can increase the influence of democracy, you decrease the influence of extremism.

The US special envoy said he was optimistic that Pakistan would support reconciliation process in Afghanistan, adding that over the past few months Pakistan has supported Afghan reconciliation process.

About the kidnapping of US national Weinstein, he said the idea that anyone would come and kidnap him I think is just outrageous. “We have not heard anybody claim responsibility for this. But what I can tell you is we have received excellent cooperation from the Pakistani authorities.”

NEPRA approves power tariff increase for Faisalabad’s IPP, RPP

FAISALABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved power tariff increase for an independent power producer (IPP) and a rental power plant (RPP) of Faisalabad on Tuesday.

According to NEPRA notification issued today, Faisalabad’s Northern Power Generation Company’s (NPGC) Unit no.1 and 2 have been allowed to increase their power tariffs by Rs. 3.41 and Gulf Rental Power Plant (GRPP) by 38 paisa per unit.

After this current increase the power tariff of NPGC has jumped to Rs. 21.74 and of GRPP to Rs. 20.34 per unit.

The NEPRA has allowed this power tariff hike to counter price hike of furnace oil; the increased new power tariff will be charged for the period of March 15 to March 31. TrendPK

Oil prices show 9pc increase in Dec

Oil prices showed an increased of nine percent in December while gas prices decreased by four percent. US crude stocks remained 34 billion barrel. Crude oil prices in the US went up to $91.91 or an increase of over one percent per barrel due to the increased demand and reduced stockpile.

SBP announces monetary policy for coming 2 months

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced the monetary policy for the coming two months, News Trends reported on Monday.
Inflation has been declared as the biggest problem of Pakistan whereas the basic interest rate has been increased from 13.5 percent to 14 percent.

The new monitory policy was announced during a meeting presided over by the president of State Bank Shahid Kardar in Lahore. According to the bank sources the interest rate has been increased in order to control inflation and to control the budget deficit due to increased number of loans taken by the government. The bank also decided that the provinces would not be given loans exceeding their revived limitations in future.

According to the monetary policy inflation since the month of January this year has been 12.5 percent greater than its rate during the same period last year. Serious concerns were also shown during the meeting over the increased number of loans taken by the government.

Sacrificial animals – Trend Pk VIDEO

Waseem Malik from Islamabad reports on the increased prices of sacrificial animals. (November 14, 2010)

US drone kills five militants in Miranshah

MIRANSHAH: A US drone fired two missiles into a militant compound in Pakistan”s northwestern tribal belt on Sunday killing at least five militants, Geo News reported Sunday.

The missiles targeted a militant compound on the outskirts of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan area.

According to local sources, US drones continue to fly across the airspace after the above strikes.

No difference b/w N-League, PPP: Shujaat

LAHORE: President Pakistan Muslim League-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Sunday claimed that there is no difference between Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan People’s Party.

At a press conference in Lahore, Chaudhry Shujaat said both the parties issue statements against each other and then waste no time to patch things up over the telephone.

The state in which affairs of the province are being run is visible to all, he said, adding ‘we had not expected that children would be pulled into the mess’. The children were handcuffed and then orders were sought from above to remove them.

The PML-N President said in his party’s rule no hurdles were created in the departure of Hussain Nawaz for London. “We don’t believe in the politics of revenge,” he claimed.

He maintained that the (Punjab) province has become bankrupt where people are committing suicides.

Water outflow from Attabad Lake reaches 16000 cusecs

ISLAMABAD: Lt Gen (R) Nadeem Ahmed said that after widening of spillway, the outflow from Hunza Lake has reached 16000 cusecs, thus reducing the level of water in the lake.

He said keeping in view the whole situation and meeting with a technical team, decision was taken to remove rocks which were causing hurdles in the way of water outflow. This has further increased the outflow of water through spillway and the water level in the lake has further reduced by 13 inches.

He said, before removal of the rocks which were in the middle of water in the spillway, the inflow of water into Hunza Lake was from 14000 to 15000 cusecs while outflow was over 15000 cusecs.

Now, there is no danger for Lake water”s flow towards houses especially in Shishkat and Gulmit, he added.

Lt. General (Retd) Nadeem Ahmed said that the demand of further widening of spillway is not acceptable as over 30,000 population of 33 villages in down stream area has already been evacuated to the safer places to save them from flooding. The people of these villages have been allowed to go to their homes for routine business only in day time.

Replying to a question General (Rtd) Nadeem Ahmed said that all essential commodities are abundantly available at the moment.

He appreciated activities of Government as well as other organizations for providing assistance to the affected people.

Ireland to close airports in new ash alert: officials

DUBLIN: Ireland said airports in the west of country would be closed early Friday due to the arrival of a huge new cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano which shut down Europe”s skies last month.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) warned a “massive ash cloud” 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) long and 700 miles wide was hovering over the Atlantic, and was drifting into the country”s airspace.

“While the northerly winds are keeping the bulk of the cloud out in the Atlantic, the increased size of the cloud is encroaching on Irish airspace along the west coast of Ireland,” said the regulator in a statement Thursday.

Six airports would be closed, starting at midnight (2300 GMT) Thursday and continuing until 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) Friday. Among those shutting down were Shannon and Donegal, said the IAA.

The shutdown is the third to hit Ireland this week, after two earlier closures led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and travel misery for thousands of passengers.

The fresh disruption came after Europe”s skies were closed for up to a week last month following the eruption of Iceland”s Eyjafjoell volcano. It was the biggest aerial shutdown in Europe since World War II.

Volcanic ash can cause serious damage to jet engines.

Steel Prices Further Up

Pakistan Steel Mills increased the prices of all products in the range of Rs 1500 to Rs 2000. According to sources of the Steel Mills increase of prices of hot and cold Rolled Steel were increased by Rs 1500 to 2000 per ton. The prices of the galvanized products were increased by Rs 1500 while the prices of other products of steel were increased by Rs 2000 per ton.
The Steel Mills’ administration told that the increased prices have been implemented with an immediate effect and said that this step has been taken due to increased prices of products of steel in the international market.
The Steel Mills’ administration stated that the increased rate of the steel prices would also cause the increase in the prices of the local steel products.

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