Punjab govt. suspends implementation of LMTT

Staff Report

LAHORE: The government of Punjab has suspended the implementation of Lahore Mass Transit Train (LMTT) plan, SAMAA learnt Tuesday.

According to sources, Punjab government had allocated the amount of Rs. 5.75 billion for this project, while total cost was estimated 2.4 billion dollar.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) prepared the feasibility for this project and Punjab government also signed a debt agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Lahore Mass Train (LMTT) plan.

This project had to be started in the beginning of this year but due to lack of development funds it has been suspended. SAMAA

Pak-Afg transit trade pact yet to be signed: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Tuesday said that under the Pak-Afghan transit trade arrangement, only transport of trade goods from Afghanistan would be allowed and that too up to Wagah border only, while no Indian goods would be transported to Afghanistan through this route.

While addressing a press conference at the Prime Minister Secretariat here, he said that only a Letter of Understanding (LoU) has been signed for this purpose so far.

“Confusion is prevailing from the very first day in this regard and reports, editorials and special reports, being contrary to the facts and against the interests of the country, are being published,” said the minister.

“The LoU has been signed for one way transit trade facility for Afghan goods up to Wagah border, and not for reverse trade from India”, he said

This would be a bilateral agreement under which, Pakistan would allow Afghan goods export to India via Wagah border and Kabul will provide transit facility to Pakistani goods to Central Asians States (CARs),” he added.

Kaira said that it was regrettable that despite the fact that even though the government made it very clear right at the outset that the transit facility would only be for Afghan goods, now on the third day of the news, a section of press has carried editorial comments and special reports on the assumption that Indian trade though Pakistan would be against our interests.

To a question, he said that Pakistan Customs would evaluate the Afghan goods at the Torkham border, seal the containers and issue bank bonds, which would only be returned after the goods are handed over to India at Wagah border.

TBL rakes in Rs50m in opening weekend

MUMBAI: Debutant director Abhishek Sharma’s satire Tere Bin Laden has grossed over Rs 50 million in its opening weekend.

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TBL rakes in Rs50m in opening weekend

Zardari doesnt accept Khosas resignation

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister Sardar Latif Khosa called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr here on Tuesday and tendered his resignation as advisor.

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Zardari doesnt accept Khosas resignation

Pakistan denies signing Afghan trade pact

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan and Pakistan have not yet signed the transit trade agreement, latters Ministry of Commerce said in an explanation note issued Tuesday.

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Pakistan denies signing Afghan trade pact

Transit pact with Afghanistan not to benefit India: Amin

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Trade Makhdoom Amin Fahim Monday clarified that agreement on Transit Trade has been made with Afghanistan, therefore, India is not going to get any benefit out of it.

Talking to mediamen at Lahore airport, the Minister said under the agreement goods will be transported to India from Afghanistan via Pakistan land route, ruling out any possibility of the vice versa.

He said Pakistan is completely independent to enter into any trade agreement with the neighboring countries and added that such accords are in the interest of Pakistan, denying any pressure from the US in this regard.

Amin Fahim said providing European and Asian countries access to Afghan markets will not affect China. Talks are underway to hammer out a similar understanding with India, he added.

Pakistan denies India land transit route to Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has denied India land transit route to Afghanistan while Trade Minister Amin Fahim has said that Afghanistan has been allowed to use land route to India for trade.

At the 7th round of talks for Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), the head of Pakistan delegation Himayatullah said the agreement has been reached.

He said under the agreement India cannot be allowed to use land route to Afghanistan and that India could only use air and see routes.

Pakistan denies Afghanistan transit for Indian trucks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday has denied Afghanistan the transit for Indian trucks, which means that there still exist conflicts on trade agreement through border of two neighboring countries, Geo news reported.

Finance Ministry sources told Geo news the signing ceremony of Pak-Afghan transit trade draft has been postponed till the seventh round of the talks, giving rise to speculations that there have appeared the definite disagreements between two countries on some issues.

Afghanistan put forward a proposal of bilateral trade through providing transit to open trucks from India en-route Pakistan but owing to security reasons, Pakistani officials have denied transit to Indian trucks, sources said.

Pakistan has also refused to an Afghan proposal involving India-Afg trade through Pakistani airports, sources maintained.

Democracy only way forward, says Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday that democracy was the only way forward and needed to be strengthened through political process.

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Democracy only way forward, says Gilani

Pakistan to face problems in Tests: Inzamam

ISLAMABAD: Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq observes the current Pakistan outfit will be facing problems in the Test matches as none of its players held regular places in the Test side for quite some time.

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Pakistan to face problems in Tests: Inzamam

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