September 2, 2011 – AsiaNet-Pakistan

September 2, 2011September 5, 2011

National Disaster Management Authority Sends 2nd batch of Response Teams to Sindh

Islamabad: Unusual monsoon rains have caused flooding incidents in the country, especially Sindh, and caused damage to life and property.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has directed NDMA to send more relief goods to the flood ravaged areas of Sindh. In compliance with the directives of the Prime Minister, the NDMA has despatched 10,000 ration bags for Shaheed Benazirabad, additional 50,000 family ration bags for Sindh, 10,000 family tents and 10 motor boats to the flood hit areas of Sindh. NDMA has already provided 17,740 tents and 283,000 family ration packs to the affected areas of Sindh.

In order to ensure provision of timely rescue and relief services to the flood hit population of Sindh, the NDMA had sent response teams on 23rd August. The continuous monsoon spell has inundated more areas of the province. On special instructions of the Chairman NDMA, Dr. Zafar Qadir, another batch of NDMA response teams has left for the flood affected areas of Sindh.

These teams will take part in relief activities in Tando Allah Yar, Tando Jam, Tando Muhammad Khan, Jamshoro, Jacobabad, Badin Thatta, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad and coordinate with PDMA Sindh and all concerned DDMAs and DCOs to speed up the relief efforts. In addition, 10,000 tents have also been sent for the affected districts.

Arrangements are being made to procure 50,000 more ration packs from utility stores, while 10,000 ration packs have already been sent. With the help of districts and provincial bodies NDMA is also providing medicines, mosquito nets and clean drinking water to almost 1 Lac people in relief camps.

For more information, contact:
Ahmed Kamal
Spokesperson
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Tel: +9251 9215412
Cell: +92300 5278981 and +92331-5657779
Email: maf@ndma.gov.pk

September 2, 2011September 5, 2011

National Disaster Management Authority Constantly Providing Relief to Sindh

Islamabad: Incessant rains in Sindh have inundated a considerable part of Sindh. According to the latest estimates, 2,497,073 acres of land and 2,024,701 people have been affected by the downpour. In wake of the situation, 374 Relief Camps have been established which are sheltering 93,860 affectees.

The NDMA has so far provided a total of 27,740 tents, 283,000 Family Ration Packs, 40,000 Blankets, 30,000 Mosquito Nets and 13 Water Purification Units to the flood affectees of Sindh.

For more information, contact:
Ahmed Kamal
Spokesperson
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Tel: +9251 9215412
Cell: +92300 5278981 and +92331-5657779
Email: maf@ndma.gov.pk

September 2, 2011September 5, 2011

Heavy Rains predicted in Sindh/South Punjab/Eastern Balochistan in next 3 Days Heavy rains would generate flooding in Sindh/Balochistan

Islamabad: Met Office warned about more widespread heavy at times very heavy rains in Sindh including Karachi, southern Punjab and eastern parts of Balochistan during next 3 days (Sat to Monday). Heavy to very heavy rains would generate more flooding in Sindh and flash flooding in D.G.Khan division and at a number of places in Balochistan during next 3 days.

Met Office further informed that the current spell of monsoon rains would continue for another 4 days, and scattered rain/thundershowers are also expected in rest of the country (upper Punjab, Khyber Pukhtoonkhawa and Kashmir) during the period.

All concerned authorities are advised to remain ALERT during next 3 days.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Meteorological Department
Sector H-8/2, Islamabad- Pakistan
Tel: +9251 925 0360 -1
Fax: +9251 925 0368
Email: pakmet_islamabad@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.pakmet.com.pk

September 2, 2011September 5, 2011

President’s meeting with Afghan President

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari, today proposed a trilateral trade agreement to include Tajikistan along the line of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement.

During his meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai here at Dushanbe—one day before the Quadrilateral Summit taking place– President Zardari said that in order to eradicate poverty and illiteracy, the root cause of breeding militant mindset, the regional countries need to concentrate on exploring more and more economic opportunities for their people and to provide them better future prospects.

Briefing the media about the meeting, Spokesperson to President Mr. Farhatullah Babar said that the President while emphasizing upon the need to have trilateral trade arrangements said that such an arrangement would not only benefit the people of the three countries would also generate huge economic activity in Afghanistan.

The President said that connectivity through all available modes hold the key to the development of the region by tremendously boosting the mutual trade activities and prompting people to people contacts.

Issues related to Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement also came under discussion. The two Presidents agreed upon the need to resolve all the issues in this regard, if any.

Other matters that came under discussion included situation in Afghanistan, war against militancy, regional situation, developmental projects in the region with special reference to the energy projects under consideration, reconciliation process undergoing in Afghanistan and post 2014 future scenario.

Talking about situation in Afghanistan, the President reiterated that stability and peace in Afghanistan were vital for stability and peace in Pakistan. He said that our mutual efforts have enabled us opening a new chapter in our bilateral relationship and we are keen to see a stable and peaceful Afghanistan on our western side.

The President said that Pakistan has always called upon the international community to support and work for the permanent solution to the issues in Afghanistan and we are ready to provide all possible assistance to the international community in this regard. He said that Pakistan would continue to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of reconciliation.

The President said that we look forward to the fifth meeting of the trilateral ‘Core Group’ later this month in the USA. He said that Islamabad would soon host the 2nd working level meeting of the Joint Commission for Peace Reconciliation.

The President said that the success of Afghanistan transition hinges on the progress in reconciliation with various factions as well as preparedness to Afghan institutions to handle its responsibilities. He said that Pakistan was ready to provide all help in capacity building of Afghan institutions.

Discussing development of Afghanistan, the President highlighted that the two countries direly need energy avenues to meet their developmental requirements. He said that we should work zealously on all the energy related projects to meet our growing needs and to expedite process of development. The President also emphasized upon the early implementation of CASA-1000 project.

During meeting the President also called upon international funding agencies to honour their commitments with respect to vital projects that promise a new era of development and prosperity in the region.

Recent incidents on the border also came under discussion during the meeting. The two leaders welcomed setting up of a joint military commission to deal with such unwanted incidents that could hamper the amicable equation of the two countries.

The two President also welcomed the holding of third Quadrilateral Summit in Dushanbe by Tajikistan hoping that the forum would help to bring the participating countries further closer to one another and would provide them with an opportunity to not only find ways and means for promoting development in their countries but would also help to find regional solutions to the regional problems.

Foreign Minister Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Defence Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Petroleum Minister Dr. Asim Hussain, Chairman BOI Mr. Saleem H. Mandviwala, Pakistan Ambassador in Tajikistan Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial and Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar were present during the meeting.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
Fax: +9251 925 2325 and +9251 925 2326
Email: piopid@gmail.com

September 2, 2011September 5, 2011

President’s meeting with Tajik President

Islamabad: A day before Quadrilateral Summit taking place in Dushanbe, President Asif Ali Zardari and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met here at Qasr-e-Millat, Dushanbe, to discuss matter relating to bilateral relations, regional situation, common challenges and the way forward in addressing the issues of common concern.

Briefing about the meeting of President Zardari and President Rahmon, Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar said that from the onset of the meeting, President Zardari thanked his Tajik counterpart for providing an opportunity to the leadership of the four participating countries to meet and have candid discussions at the platform of Quadrilateral Summit and also during their one-on-one meetings.

Mr. Babar said that the third visit of the President to Tajikistan—first as Member National Member National Assembly in 1995 and second in 2009 to participate in first Quadrilateral Summit, would not only help in bringing Pakistan and Tajikistan further closer and cementing bilateral relations but would also help in chalking out mutually agreed strategy to find way forward to the issues concerning the two countries and to explore possibilities where all participating countries could pool their resources for the betterment of the people of the region.

Mr. Babar said that the visit and meeting is also important in the backdrop of evolving geo-strategic scenario in post 2014 Afghanistan. He said that being the immediate neighbours, the two countries have vital stakes in peace and stability of Afghanistan.

He said that during today’s meeting the two Presidents agreed upon the need to work earnestly on extending existing connectivity modes between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

He said that the existing road link from Dushanbe to Peshawar via Kabul-Torkhum does not generate much business activities owing to difficulties faced by the business community in shape of security hazards and high tariffs. Moreover, the bounds restrictions on goods vehicles also impede business activities due to unnecessary off-loading and on-loading process twice in Afghanistan thus multiplying the cost and transportation time.

The two Presidents also welcomed Russia’s intended participation in building rail link network among the four participating countries of the Summit.

Mr. Babar said that matters relating to extending air links between the two countries also came under discussion. Various options in this regard were discussed by the two Presidents and both the sides agreed to work further on establishing air links as soon as possible.

President Emomali Rahmon appreciated President Zardari for his efforts for promoting regional connectivity which promises to usher a new era a development for the region.

The two Presidents also agreed upon early implementation of CASA-1000 project for the mutual benefit and called upon IFIs to honour their commitments.

Those who were present during the meeting included Foreign Minister Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Defence Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Petroleum Minister Dr. Asim Hussain, Chairman BOI Mr. Saleem H. Mandviwala and Pakistan Ambassador in Tajikistan Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial.

Later the two Presidents left for Ismail Somoni where President Zardari laid the foundation of Pakistan Embassy Complex.

Earlier upon the arrival of the President at Dushanbe Airport, he was received by Mr. Rahmat Bobokalonov, Minister for Melioration and Water Resources, Tajik Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Zohidov Nizamuddin and other Tajik officials.