Karachi: The State Bank of Pakistan has decided to prohibit all the banks from levying any service charges for opening and maintenance of regular savings accounts with effect from July 01, 2011. ‘The services rendered by banks for the opening and maintenance of regular savings accounts shall be free of charge. There shall be no condition of maintaining a minimum balance for these accounts. These instructions are applicable equally on all existing and new accounts. Similarly, no charges would be [...]

Islamabad: In order to promote an understanding between Turkey and Pakistan, the Embassy of Pakistan in Turkey in collaboration with National Education Directorate of Turkey organized an art competition titled “Chughtai Art Award,” named after renowned Pakistani artist Abdul Rahman Chughtai. High school students of the 25 districts of Ankara Province participated in the competition. Depicting students’ ideas about Pakistan and Turkey, a total of 66 paintings were shortlisted for consideration of the jury, who selected 9 paintings for prizes [...]

Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has sent a message of greetings to the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Artur Rasizade on their Independence Day falling on 28th May 2011. In his message, the Prime Minister said “on the auspicious occasion f the Republic Day of Azerbaijan, it gives me immense pleasure to convey to you, on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan, our warm felicitations. Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy friendly and brotherly relations which continue [...]

Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has sent a message of greetings to the Prime Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Mr. Meles Zenawi on their Victory day falling on 28th May 2011. In his message, the Prime Minister said “on the government of Pakistan and on my own behalf, it gives me great pleasure to convey to Your Excellency and the brotherly people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia our heartiest felicitations on the occasion of [...]

Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the reconciliation process should be Afghan led and Afghan owned to usher lasting peace in Afghanistan. He observed that the only way forward in Afghanistan is through building of Afghan institutions which will bring stability on the long term basis. He said Pakistan and Afghanistan are both victims of terrorism and we should jointly fight the common enemy to bring peace in the region as well as at international level. [...]

Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that collective wisdom and collective approach is the need of the hour to confront the national challenges particularly security concerns arising out of terrorism. The government he added is determined to overcome the problems in order to ensure political and economic stability. The Prime Minister was talking to Senior Minister, Minister for Defence Production and Industries, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and President PML, Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who called on him at PM’s [...]

Islamabad: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar hosted an interactive dinner yesterday, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the resident Heads of Mission at ASEAN countries, in Islamabad. The dinner was attended by Heads of Mission of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, Myanmar and officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Minister stated that Pakistan enjoyed close, friendly and cooperative relations with all member countries of ASEAN. She underscored that the region was strategic [...]