Saraiki province call shouldnt die in Speakers chamber: Governor

Taking to the media after condoling death of PPP Lahore head Qasim Zia’s sister, Punjab Governor Latif Khosa said that the poetry of southern Punjab was enough to make the people understand about agonies and sufferings of the people of those areas. The thing which mattered was deprivation of the people.

He said that he was concerned about gorgeous development in Murree and devastating backwardness in Fort Minro.

He made it clear that he was ready to talk on the issue whether the province should be termed Saraiki, Pajnad or Southern Punjab.

India, France sign pact to build two nuclear power plants

India and France on Monday signed a framework agreement for construction of two 1650 MW nuclear power reactors in Maharashtra.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and French company Areva signed an agreement for building two European pressure reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Prime Minister, however, made it clear that issues related to pricing of nuclear power and other technical matters were yet to be settled.
India and France plan to jointly set up six nuclear power plants of 1650 MW each at Jaitapur at an approximate cost of 25 billion dollars.

Obama seeks better ties with sceptical Muslim world

JAKARTA: President Barack Obama held up his boyhood home of Indonesia as an example to the Muslim world in a speech on Wednesday in which he said America was not at war with Islam but acknowledged it was hard to eradicate “years of mistrust”.

“Relations between the United States and Muslim communities have frayed over many years … I have made it a priority to begin to repair these relations,” he told a crowd of thousands in Jakarta, capital of the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

“I have made it clear that America is not, and never will be, at war with Islam. Instead, all of us must defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates, who have no claim to be leaders of any religion — certainly not a great, world religion like Islam.”

Obama said Indonesia served as a powerful example as an emerging democracy working to develop its economy and a Muslim

nation

Army Wont Impose Martial Law: PM Gilani

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday maintained that he would not dissolve the National Assembly nor the military would impose martial law in the country.
Addressing the NA, Gilani said those who want suspension of those people who are seeking dissolution of the National Assembly are not sincere with the nation.
Gilani also lashed out at PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for floating the idea of Charter of Pakistan.
He said the mid-term elections have no place in the Constitution; the opponents should inform the government about the mechanism of these polls. He emphatically said the military is sincere with the nation and backs democracy and it would never impose martial law in the country.

Indian Kashmir violence claims education as victim

SRINAGAR: Thousands of teenagers in Indian Kashmir have been involved in violent, often deadly, pro-independence protests for months — and Ali Raza’s friends expected him to be in the middle of the mob.

But instead of throwing stones at security forces, Raza, 17, and his three cousins slipped away in September at the height of the unrest that engulfed Kashmir for much of the summer.

“My parents booked our air tickets to New Delhi, arranged for our stay and instructed us to apply to a college for the next academic year,” said Raza, who is now in the Indian capital studying for the college’s entrance exam.

Raza says he topped his class in Srinagar, the main town in Muslim-majority Indian Kashmir, and he is keen to pursue a career in banking.

“The recent violence made it clear that if I want to do something meaningful with my life then I needed to get

No time frame for NATO supplies restoration: Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, while protesting the recent NATO violations of Pakistans territorial boundaries, has said that no time frame can be given for NATO supplies restoration. On the other hand, Secretary General of NATO Anders Rasmussen has appealed for an immediate restoration.
In a meeting with the Secretary General of NATO in Brussels, Qureshi said that Pakistan would defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at any cost. He made it clear to Rasmussen that the Government is available with many other options in case of similar violations in future. Qureshi said that no time frame could be given for NATO supplies restoration.
Speaking on the occasion, Rasmussen has confessed that NATO intentionally attacked inside Pakistans territory.

NATO containers case: SC orders customs officials to submit report

On presenting of evidences by Director Dunya News Dr. Moeed Pirzada about evasion of customs duty by NATO containers, the Supreme Court has ordered customs officials to submit details of the matter within 24 hours. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Ch. said that it was a national service to get back theft money and deposit in the treasury.
Three-member bench of the Supreme Court led by the CJP heard the case of smuggling and tax evasion by 11,000 NATO containers. Dr. Moeed Pirzada who appeared in the court for assistance presented the evidences and told that customs intelligence didnt complete the investigation because customs officials refused to give details to the customs intelligence during the investigation.
The court was also presented such computer record which made it clear that all containers bound for Afghanistan never reached the country and Pakistan suffered huge losses due to customs duty theft. The court has asked the member customs Muneer Qureshi to submit written reply on customs intelligence report within 24 hours.

Hafeez for concrete steps to boost economy

KARACHI: Government is taking measures for the improvement of economic situation; Federal Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh said this during his first post budget visit to Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) on Monday.

According to Geo News, Finance Minister met with KSE members and assured them that government is taking measures to bring improvement in economic situation; however, he made it clear that assistance from private sector will be needed in this connection.

CGT will be implemented from July 1,2010 and those sales their shares within six months will have to pay 10 percent, between 6 to 12 month will have to pay 7.5 percent and after 12 month sale will be exempted from the tax.

About tax collection system, Hafeez Sheikh said that investors will not be harassed, however, question will be asked about source of the money. He made it clear that Sindh will remain collect the tax on services.

Eight teams to play Champions Trophy

LAHORE: Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa said that the number of teams to participate in the Champions Trophy has been increased from six to eight and two teams would be given wild card.

Talking with Geo News on returning from Singapore after attending the meeting of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), Asif Bajwa said that qualifying rounds have been removed and instead a world hockey series would be introduced.

He said that 24 teams would take part in the world hockey series and only on the basis of this series the teams would participate in the World Cup, Olympics, Champions Trophy and other such events.

The PHF secretary said that there is a suggestion to omit also the Champions Challenge Cup.

He said that the approval of the proposals made in the FIH meeting would be given by its executive board.

Sher-e-Punjab wrestling to be held on June 6

LAHORE: Sher-e-Punjab wrestling will be held here on June 6 in which Shahid Pehlwan will defend his title.

Secretary sports Punjab Saeed Ahmed Nawaz along with members of the organizing committee told at a news conference here at the National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday that there would be 20 small and big bouts in the event.

He said that main contest would be held between Shahid Pehlwan Khoaewala and Usman Shahid Pehlwan while other bouts would include those between Goga Pehlwan and Maloo Pehlwan and between Sarwar Sain Pehlwan and Ikki Pehlwan.

Cash prizes of more than Rs300,000 will be distributed among the wrestlers.

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