NA body wants Railways to implement minimum wage system

The N.A standing committee for Railways has advised the ministry to increase the salary of contract employees to Rs.7000 within 30-day period.

The meeting convened by Chairman Ayaz Sadiq on Monday, also deliberated on other important Railways’ issues like approved and attested documentation for each transaction attached, with any accords thus signed, and transparency in purchase of newer engines, for which a 5-member technical team has been formed.

The chairman standing committee expressed his great chagrin over the fact that despite PM’s announcement of minimum wages of Rs.7000 for labor, Railways had failed to implement the scheme, which was also tantamount to contempt of Court, as Supreme Court had also endorsed it.

Clarifying the issue, cabinet representative, central labor advisor Javed Iqbal informed that PM’s directive for Rs.7000 minimum salary pertained to private industrial and commercial sector, and did not apply to ministries. However Supreme Court’s verdict in case of PTCL and Lady Health workers issue, had endorsed this minimum salary policy for all governmental employees.

The standing committee directed Railway officials to implement the policy of Rs.7000 as minimum salary for Railways’ contract employees, and resolve the issue in coordination with Finance ministry.

The issue of regularization of contract employees was also raised in the meeting, with directives issued to regularize contract employees, whose tenure with Railways’ equaled three years or above.

The committee also deliberated over the issue of purchase of locomotive engines, with directives to follow prudent measures and regulations in their purchases, following the routine of tenders.

The committee also noted that Railways’ annual production amounted to Rs.24 billion in 2008, which had decreased to Rs.18 billion, while the committee desired an annual target of Rs.22 billion, by taking practical prudent steps.

US national kills 3 in Lahore

Lahore: An employee of US Consulate in Lahore killed three people in Lahore, trendpk.com reported on Thursday.

According to details, US national named Raymond David shot at 2 persons at Qartaba Chowk and hit another bike rider while driving rashly, in an attempt to to escape the scene. The motorcyclist Ubaidur Rehman was killed on the spot while other two injured – Faizan Haider and an unidentified person – succumbed to their injuries in the Services Hospital.

Police apprehended Steve David from Purani Anarkali and confiscated a pistol with bullets and three mobile phones from his possession. Police have taken Raymond’s car into custody and started investigation of the incident. The accused told the police that he opened fire on the deceased at Qartaba Chowk, Lahore in his defence as they tried to rob him.

SSP (security) Rana Faisal,while talking to trendpk.com, confirmed that the foreigner is a US citizen and the two deceased wanted to stop Raymond on gun point.

Taking serious notice of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif sought a comprehensive report from the authorities concerned.
US Embassy spokesman in Islamabad said that they are in contact with Pakistani government over the issue.

Kaira defends sacking of Kazmi, Swati

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira defended the sacking of Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Azam Swati as federal ministers, saying that it was the demand of the media and judiciary.

Speaking to journalists in Islamabad toady, he denied reports of differences between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani over the issue of ministers’ removal.

“Those talking about these differences will fail to achieve their vested interests,” he said.

He quoted the judiciary saying that a transparent probe into Haj corruption was not possible in the presence of the Secretary and Federal Minister. TrendPK

HIV positive cases increase in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Health specialists expressing the concerns over the issue on Wednesday said that 16 HIV positive cases are being confirmed in Khbyer-Pakhtunkhwa by each month.

During a seminar held at the Government Frontier College for Women Peshawar, they said that according to the statistics, 620 AIDS positive cases were confirmed in 2010 in the provinces including the tribal areas. They said that the figure increases by each month.

Provincial Minister for Higher Education Qazi Asad also addressed the seminar. Trend Pk

National Assembly’s session adjourned after unrest due to price hike

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The ongoing session of National Assembly has been adjourned after unrest due to the recent price hike in the country.

According to details after the start of today’s session in the National Assembly, opposition members began a very hot debate over the issue of the ongoing price hike of necessities and growing inflation throughout the country.

The debate gradually became more heated and chaotic as members of the ruling and opposition parties went out of control.

Seeing no other way to control the house, the speaker adjourned the session till tomorrow.

During this fiery debate, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member Khushbakht Shujaat said that if fake degree holders can reach the Parliament, then surly they can be found in educational institutes as well. Trend Pk

Israel plans 1,300 homes in Arab East Jerusalem

JERUSALEM: Israel is pushing ahead with plans to build 1,300 new apartments for Jewish families in Arab East Jerusalem, the Interior Ministry said on Monday, despite fierce opposition from Palestinians.

The timing of the announcement could prove an embarrassment for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in the United States looking for ways to revive Middle East peace talks that have stalled over the issue of Jewish settlement building.

Interior Ministry spokeswoman Efrat Orbach said plans for some 1,300 Jewish housing units in two neighbourhoods on land Israel seized in a 1967 war had been made public, passing another procedural stage towards eventual construction.

She said the public could still raise objections to the plans and it could take a long time before building commenced.

“It can take months or years from this point until

Hockey not included in National Games

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Hockey is Pakistan’s national game but this time it has not been included in the National Games therefore the Sports Minister Eijaz Jakhrani has taken the notice and has asked the Pakistan Olympic Association to explain immediately.

The spokespersons of the Sports Minister said that Eijaz Jakhrani was not happy over the issue.

On the other hand, Asif Bajwa, the Secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation, told Trend Pk that such attitude with the national game was pathetic.

The National Games are being started from 25 to 31 December in Peshawar. Trend Pk

Dunya News tortures case: CM Punjab takes notice

The Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has taken a serious notice of the torturing incident of the Dunya News team and school teacher Fauzia Iftikhar. He has decided in principle to change the DG LDA Umer Rasool whereas the contract of the security company has been cancelled, Dunya News reported on Sunday.
Upon the news of CMs notice of the incident, the DG LDA has apologized unconditionally from Dunya News over the issue whereas the contract of the security company has been cancelled with an immediate effect.
It is to be remembered that the LDA guards tortured the school teacher Fauzia and upon covering the incident the guards also tortured Dunya News team brutally. The CM Punjab has constituted an inquiry committee to probe the unfortunate incident of torture. The CM also inquired about the health and condition of the Dunya News team members as well as wished good health to them.

Flood tax not to be imposed in Punjab: Shahbaz

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that flood tax would not be imposed in Punjab because people were already paying a number of taxes.
Talking to flood affectees in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan, the CM said that Watan Cards distribution would be completed this month. He said that free fertilizer and seeds would be provided to the farmers having 25 acres land. In this way, the farmers can be settled earlier, he added.
Flood tax is a one time tax to be imposed on the immovable property of the well-to-do to collect revenue for the rehabilitation of flood affectees. Few days ago, according to media reports, President Zardari had approved one time flood-tax in Sindh province which was opposed by MQM and ANP. Sindh Health Minister Dr Saghir Ahmed and Youth Affairs Minister Faisal Sabzwari, both of the MQM, said that their party had not been taken into confidence over the issue of flood tax.

Shiv Sena, MNS threaten Bigg Boss over Pakistani presence

MUMBAI: The new Indian reality show ‘Bigg Boss’ TV series has run into trouble with Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) even as it has barely begun, with both parties warning against the participation of two Pakistanis in the show.

The parties have demanded that the Pakistanis be ‘evicted’ from Bigg Boss’ house immediately.

The show, hosted by Salman Khan in its fourth season, aired its introductory episode Sunday on Colors TV channel. The two Pakistanis include model Veena Malik and TV actor Ali Saleem, whose TV persona Begum Nawazish Ali is very popoular both in Pakistan and India.

Shiv Sena Chitrapat wing chief Sangram Shirke said the party has sent a letter to the management of Colors TV channel, expressing its displeasure over the issue.

“We request them to immediately remove Pakistanis from the show. Is there a dearth of celebrities

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