PIA demands Rs.1.7 bln bail-out package

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The financial crisis of the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), made it demand a bail-out package of Rs.1.7 billion.

According to PIA spokesman Sultan Hasan, the Finance Ministry has been presented with a five-year plan to pull the national airline out of the prevailing financial crisis.

Under the plan, the bail-out package would be spent for payment of debts, purchase of new aircrafts and improvement of the current fleet.

PIA’s administration has requested the government to write off losses so that that it can turn into a profitable entity.

The national airline is faced with annual losses of Rs.80 billion. Trend Pk

Assad says Israeli raid raises war risk

LONDON: Syria”s President Basharal-Assad has said Israel is being run by a “pyromaniac government” and its raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla had increased the risks of war in the region.

The Israeli commando attack on a flotilla in which ninepro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed had “destroyed any chance for peace in the near future”, Assad told the British television interview aired on Thursday.

He said this was so “mainly because it proved that this government is another pyromaniac government, and you cannot achieve peace with such a government”.

Assad said that even before the raid, he had not viewed the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “partner for peace” in the region.

“No, we definitely don”t have a partner, we know this,” he said.

Israel Okays plan to ease Gaza blockade

JERUSALEM: The Israeli security cabinet on Thursday approved a plan to ease the blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Under the plan, Israel would “liberalise the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza and expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision,” the statement said. But it also stressed that Israel would “continue existing security procedures to prevent the inflow of weapons and war materiel.”

12,000 Cops to Ensure Karachi Security on Eid

KARACHI, Pakistan News: On the directives of Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Ali Mirza, the police have finalised security plan for maintenance of law and order on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha throughout the Province.

According to the plan over 12000 strong police force would be on deployment, especially in Karachi while installation of security cameras have been ensured for monitoring of major Eid congregations.

Under the plan all SHOs are in continuous contact with the management and office-bearers of Masajid, Imambargahs, organisers of Eidgahs and shopping centres, bachat bazaars and cattle markets.

The police are carrying out picketing, patrolling and snap checking at all entry and exit points while arrangements were complete for the force deployment in the city.

Besides, deployment of police in plain cloth for gathering intelligence at police station level, the mobile and special squads patrolling are also part of the plan to give a sense of security to people.

During Eidul Azha, the parking would be kept at a distance from Msajid, Imambargahs, Eidgahs, shopping centres, bachat bazars and congested public places, hotels, fast food outlets etc for fool proof security while bomb disposal squads are also on duty.

Deployment of traffic cops at all busy roads, light signals, inter-sections and round-abouts has been made and arrangements made to keep people informed about alternate traffic routes.

Implementation of Code of Conduct issued by the Home Department is also being ensured. Under the security plan, Control Room in West Zone with telephone number 37712926, East Zone with telephone No 99231246 and South Zone with No 99201197 and 99201196 are functioning round the clock for taking an immediate action.

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12,000 Cops to Ensure Karachi Security on Eid was first posted on November 28, 2009 at 9:16 am.