US should not leave Afghanistan for 5 years
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday urged the US that it should stay in Afghanistan till accomplishment of the mission.
In an interview with a foreign news channel, Qureshi said US should stay in Afghanistan for at least five years. He said Pakistan is continuously striving for the integrity and stability of the region. The US must transfer its drone technology to Pakistan “so that we can cope well with extremism ourselves,” Qureshi added.
US should not leave Afghanistan for 5 years was first posted on December 1, 2009 at 11:03 pm.
Germany assures Pakistan for greater access to European markets
Germany has assured Pakistan to get bigger access to European markets while Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said relations with Germany have entered into a new era. He said that US drone attacks are counterproductive and are creating difficulties for Operation in Waziristan. In a joint press conference after the meeting with Germen Chancellor Angela Merkel, PM Gilani said that Germany is the biggest trade partner of Pakistan in the European Union.
He thanked the German government to support Pakistan on different issues including war on terror. Chancellor Merkel pointed to the long political and business cooperation between Pakistan and Germany over the decades and said the two sides “agreed to maintain a strategic political dialogue.” She also recalled their brief meeting in Beijing and said Gilani’s current visit will bolster the bilateral relations between the two countries. The two leaders also mentioned the inking of a new Bilateral Investment Treaty by their respective investment ministers and hoped the private sectors of the two countries would immensely benefit and boost the two-way trade. “The new investment protection agreement will lay a solid foundation for future between the two countries and enable her country to help Pakistan in energy, mutual investments, and technology transfer,” Merkel said. She said the new investment protection agreement will lay a solid foundation for future between the two countries and added that her country will help Pakistan in energy, mutual investments, and technology transfer.
The two leaders also agreed to further deepen and broaden their cooperation in multifaceted fields and to focus on expanding economic ties as a follow up of signing of new investment agreement.
Prime Minister Gilani said Germany being one of the largest economies of the European Union can assist Pakistan for greater access to its goods to the European markets. He said Pakistan desires improvement of trade and economic ties with Europe, and said Germany can play a key role in helping it with a Free Trade Agreement with the EU. Chancellor Merkel said the government will show constructive attitude and encourage the EU to promote these matters. The strategic importance of Pakistan is seen by all and other members of the EU are understood to have seen its importance.”
Germany assures Pakistan for greater access to European markets was first posted on December 1, 2009 at 11:11 pm.
Supreme Court to hear NRO cases on Dec 7
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News : The larger bench of the Supreme Court will hear all cases related to the NRO on Dec 7.
This order was issued by Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in light of the decision taken by the bench comprising Justice Shakir Ullah Jan and Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed on August 12.
This two-member bench had issued the order on the request of the former Assistant Director FIA Fazal Jatt that all cases pertaining to the NRO should be piled up and brought up for hearing by the larger bench. Thus, the Chief Justice ordered the same for legal inspection and summarising. He also ordered that all involved including the lawyers and the accused be issued notices too.
Asfandyar Ali Khan’s case which has been pending since 2001 will also be included in the NRO cases for second hearing.
Those requesting relief through the NRO and who were sentenced will also be heard by this bench.
Dr Mubashhir Hassan and Ruidad Khan’s requests about the constitutional status of the NRO are also pending in the Supreme Court. It has been requested to declare this ordinance to be against basic rights.
Supreme Court to hear NRO cases on Dec 7 was first posted on December 1, 2009 at 11:14 pm.
LPG prices have been increased
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News : The LPG prices have been increased by Rs 5.77 Tuesday, said the LPG Association Chairman Mohammad Irfan Khokhar.
This price increase is followed by the increase in the prices of petroleum products.
The price of LPG in Lahore is now Rs 85 to Rs 90 per kg; in Peshawar it is Rs 90 to Rs 95 per kg; in Murree, FATA and Southern regions it is Rs 95 to Rs 100 per kg and in Karachi it is Rs 82 to Rs 88 per kg.
He said that the increase in the price of an 11.8 kg household cylinder is Rs 68 and on that of a commercial cylinder is Rs 272.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had increased the fuel prices Monday.
There has been an increase of Rs 5.25 per litre for light diesel and the new price is Rs 60.22 per litre. The price of petrol has been increased by Rs 4.37 and the new price is Rs 66 per litre.
Hi-octane experienced a Rs 4.93 per litre increase in price, which makes the new price Rs 80.52 now.
Ogra had sent the summary to the government to increase fuel prices on October 30 but the cabinet knocked it down.
The increase in fuel prices is sure to attract criticism and furor among the consumers given the presently escalating inflation in the country.
