November 16, 2011

Minister of State for Interfaith Harmony visits Turin, Italy

Islamabad: Minister of State for Interfaith Harmony, Mr. Akram Masih Gill, who is on official visit to Italy, visited city of Turin where he was received by the Mayor of Turin Mr. Piere Fassio alongwith his colleagues on Saturday morning.

The Minister of state apprised the Italian side of the regional and national situation and the steps taken by the Government to safeguard the rights of the minorities. The Mayor appreciated briefing and welcomed the steps taken by the Government of Pakistan. He offered to declare the historic city of Turin as a sister city with one of Pakistani cities. The Minister also held useful discussions with academics based in Turin.

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

November 16, 2011

Message of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Prime Minister of Pakistan on International Day of Tolerance

Islamabad: International Day of Tolerance being observed around the world today draws our attention to the imperative of promoting tolerance and respect for each other’s beliefs and rights. The day provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the dangers of intolerance and immoderation posed to global peace, harmony and social equilibrium.

The United Nations, through its resolution 51/95, asked the member states to observe November 16 as the International Day of Tolerance. The member states of UNESCO adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance on November 16, 1995. Hence the day was declared as an international observance on the initiative of UNESCO. All heads of states and governments demonstrated their commitment in a world summit held to promote and advance progress, human welfare, freedom and foster dialogue, respect and engagement among different cultures and civilizations.

Tolerance and respect for dissent is a building block for construction of a civilized and peaceful society. In an environment marked by violence, strife, extremism and terrorism, there is an urgent need to promote tolerance and engagement, so vital to peaceful coexistence among nations and societies.

Democracy provides conducive conditions within which people having different set of ideas, agendas and belief systems can sit across the table in a spirit of harmony and tolerance and explore commonalities to ensure their wellbeing. It allows people to form consensus and move ahead on the basis of mutual interests. Hence, democracy and tolerance are integral to each other. The negative attitudes such as intolerance and violence proliferate in an environment in which people’s voice has been muzzled and their fundamental rights trampled upon by the undemocratic forces.

Humanity has shared stakes in future. It just does not afford to allow a handful of bigoted minority of extremists driven by their radicalised ideology to hijack our shared values of accommodation, pluralism, tolerance, peace and love. In our efforts to make this world a worth living place for our posterity, there is a need to encourage harmony, engagement, and interfaith dialogue among the followers of different cultures and civilizations.

Media and educational institutions have their job cut out for them. They can play immensely important role in inculcating the values of tolerance and respect for each other’s beliefs.

Let us, on this day, vow to redouble our efforts to eradicate negative attitudes such as injustice, oppression, racism, violence and discrimination and make this world a peaceful place.

November 16, 2011November 17, 2011

زونگ نے اپنی ویب سائٹ اور بہتر بنادی، صارفین کی آسانی کے لئے نئی خصوصیات شامل

اسلام آباد ، 16 نومبر ، 2011 – اپنے صارفین کی سہولت اور جدید خدمات کے ذریعے ان کا ڈیجیٹل لائف پارٹنر بننے کے لئے ، پاکستان کے سب سے تیزی سے ترقی کرتا ہوا نیٹ ورک زونگ نے کامیابی سے اپنی ویب سائٹ کو بہتر بنایا ہے۔ نئی خصوصیات جو ویب سائٹ میں شامل کر دیئے گئے ہیں ان میں VAS ایکٹیویٹ کرنے کی سہولت ، کسٹمر ز کو آن لائن سپورٹ فراہم کرنے کے لئے آن لائن چیٹ اور صارفین کے فیڈ بیک کے لئے سروے شامل ہیں۔

ٹیلی کام سیکٹر میں زونگ نے زبردست ترقی کا مظاہر ہ کیا ہے۔ اپنے صارفین کی بڑھتی ہوئی تعداد کو سامنے رکھتے ہوئے ، کمپنی مسلسل اپنے صارفین کو بہترسہولت فراہم کرنے کی کوشاںہے اور اپنی ویب سائٹ کی بہتری ایسی ہی ایک کوشش ہے۔اپ ڈیٹ کی ہوئی ویب سائٹ اب نئے وضع ، بہتر متن ، نیاآرٹ ورک اور ایک بالکل نئے VAS لینڈنگ پیج کی خصوصیات کے ساتھ پیش ہے۔

ساجد محمود ، زونگ کے چیف انفارمیشن افسر کا کہنا ہے کہ ، “ہم ہمیشہ آج کے کسٹمرکی بدلتی اور سخت مطالبات کو پورا کرنے کی کوشش کر تے رہے ہیں۔آج انٹرنیٹ نے کسی دوسرے علم کی بنیاد سے بڑا پلیٹ فارم فراہم کیا ہواہے۔ موقع پر برتری لیتے ہوئے ہم نے زونگ کی پوری ویب سائیٹ کو پھر سے بنایا ہے۔ ہم نے اس میں کئی تبدیلیاں کی ہیں اور باقاعدگی سے ہم نے اس میں مزید تبدیلیاں لانے کا منصوبہ بنایا ہوا ہے۔ نئی ویب سائٹ صارف دوست ہے اور ہم نے صارفین کی آسانی کو مد نظر میں رکھتے ہوئے ڈیزائن کیا ہے۔

تازہ ترین آن لائن VAS نظام سے کسٹمرز ویب سائٹ کے ذریعے براہ راست تمام ایس ایم ایس کی بنیاد پر ویلیو ایڈڈ سروسز کو سبسکرائب کر سکیں گے۔آن لائن بات چیت کی سہولت کے ذریعے صارفین کسٹمر ریلیشن کے حکام کے ساتھ چیٹنگ کر کے اپنی شکایات، سوالات اور آراءدرج کرنے کے قابل ہو جائیں گے۔ مختلف موضوعات پر صارفین کی رائے جاننے کے لئے آن لائن پول بھی استعمال ہوگی۔

برائے مہربانی مزید معلومات کے لیے رابطہ کریں:
افسر خان
ایشیاٹک پبلک ریلیشنز نیٹ ورک
فون: 35867576-35837674

November 16, 2011November 17, 2011

ZONG revamps its website

Islamabad, November 16, 2011 – To facilitate its customers and moving towards the goal of becoming their digital life partner through innovative services, Zong, the fastest growing network of Pakistan, has successfully revamped its website. New user-friendly features which have been added to the website include value added services activation facility, online chat to provide online support and poll for customer feedback.

Zong has shown tremendous growth in the telecom sector. Keeping in mind the growing number of its subscribers, the company is continuously striving to facilitate its users through state-of-the-art services. Revamping its website is one such effort. The updated website now features new theme, improved text, novel artwork and a brand new value added services landing page.

Sajid Mahmood, chief information officer of zong says, “We are always trying to meet the ever changing and challenging demands of today’s customer. Today, internet has provided people with a platform bigger than any other knowledge base. Taking lead on the opportunity, we have re-vamped the complete Zong Website. We have incorporated several changes and plan to continue bringing such transformations at regular intervals. The new website is user friendly and is designed while keeping in mind the ease of our subscribers.”

The latest online Value Added Services system will allow the customers to subscribe to all SMS based value added services directly through the website. Through the online chat facility, users will be able to register their complaints, queries, feedback on services by chatting with the customer relationship officers in real-time. Online-poll will be used to seek customers’ opinion on varied topics.

For further information, please contact:
Afsar Khan
Asiatic Public Relations Network
Ph: 021-35837674

November 16, 2011

Draft Anti Corruption Strategy Finalized

Peshawar: A High Level Meeting held today at Civil Secretariat Peshawar under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar finalized the much debated Anti Corruption Strategy formulated by NAB KPK in collaboration with Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The basic objective of three years strategy (2011 –2014) is to eliminate the menace of corruption from KPK and ensure good governance through implementation of Awareness and Prevention Regime enshrined in National Accountability Ordinance.

It merits a mention here that this plan has been devised for the province of KPK in the light of consent and direction given by Chief Minister KPK on the eve of a seminar held on 9th December, 2010. The plan is based on Awareness and Prevention aspects of the strategy aimed at nipping the evil in the bud. The input of the provincial government have also been incorporated. DG NAB KPK held a series of meetings with Provincial Govt Authorities in this regard.

In today’s meeting, DG NAB KPK briefed the Chief Secretary and other concerned secretaries of various government departments about the final draft. The meeting with slight amendments endorsed the draft plan which will be sent to the Provincial Cabinet for final approval.

For more information, contact:
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Tel: +9291 921 6889 (Ext 106)
Email: info@khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk

November 16, 2011

Rahman Baba was not only a great asset of the Pakhtuns but of the whole country as well: Minister for Information

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Culture and Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that beside a Sufi poet of high caliber, Rahman Baba (RA) was also a great revolutionary figure who rejected the wealth and honour of this world and preferred a sagacious life and raised an effective voice against the cruelty and exploitation of the society.

He said that Rahman Baba was not only a great asset of the Pakhtuns but of the whole country as well. Therefore, he said, it was need of the hour to adopt his philosophy and thoughts for the proper guidance of our coming generation.

These views he expressed while chairing a meeting held in connection with the preparation of a theatre play by the Culture Department on the life of Rahman Baba here on Tuesday. The meeting besides others was also attended by Secretary Culture, Azmat Hanif Orakzai, Director Culture Pervez Khan and the writer of the mentioned theatre play, Abasin Yousafzai, Ajab Gul a prominent artist is the Director of the play.

The Minister was informed that the script of the play was almost ready and the selection of the local artists for various roles was going on and the same play would be presented in Nishtar Hall Peshawar soon after Muharram ul Haram is over.

He was further informed that in the next phase such theatre plays would be prepared on the lives of Khushal Khan Khattak, Amir Hamza Shinwari and Ghani Khan. While special stage dramas would also be staged on famous romantic stories of this region.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the fate of the nations was not changed with the wealth but by adopting the philosophy and thoughts of the national heroes. Therefore, he said we would introduced to our new generation the lives and deeds of our heroes and important personalities of this soil to help ameliorate the lot of the nation.

He said that there were great and high caliber personalities among us like Rehman Baba but unluckily we could not get benefit of their thoughts. Had we benefited of their thoughts appropriately, today we would not have facing such deteriorating situation.

The Minister Culture directed the high ups of the department to arrange special programmes regarding the lives and achievements of the living personalities in various sectors so that they are encouraged which would have also a far reaching effect on our younger generation.

He also directed the concerned officials to arrange positive cultural programmes within the ambit of available resources and for this purpose the redesigning of the stage of the Nishtar Hall, its lighting and sound system should also be improved.

He also stressed the need for accelerating the pace of work on the proposed Jibran Adeel Cultural Academy and establishment of District Cultural Clubs so that the provincial cultural activities are kept continued without hurdles.

For more information, contact:
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Tel: +9291 921 6889 (Ext 106)
Email: info@khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk

November 16, 2011

AKD Quotidian about — UBL: Undervalued

Karachi: If any big Pakistani bank delivered a positive earnings surprise in the last result season, it was UBL with a 34%YoY growth in 9MCY11 NPAT to PKR10.6bn (EPS: PKR8.66).

According to AKD Securities, while near-term earnings growth momentum is likely to decelerate in a lower domestic interest rate environment (DR reduced by 150bps in Oct11), AKD Securities believes current below book pricing is unwarranted. AKD Securities projects a CY10-CV16F NPAT CAGR of 12.5% driven by declining credit costs and a rebound in fee income. Upside to AKD Securities’ projections (CV12F-CY16F Tier-I ROE: 18.5%) exists if Middle East operations sustainably turnaround (prospects in Qatar in particular appear exciting) and domestic credit costs tag in lower than expected (consumer portfolio now <5% of book which has itself declined in each of the last 3yrs md. CV11F). UBL trades at a CV12F P/B of 0.75x, PER of 4.72x and D/Y of 7.8%. AKD Securities’ revised target price of PKR70/share (25% weight to DDM and 75% weight to Justified P/B) offers upside of 20.6%. Buy!

Estimates Revision

	(PKR)	CY12F	CY13F	TP
Revised EPS	11.21	12.29	13.51	70
Old EPS	10.53	11.27	12.89	69

Source: AKD Research

Very strong 9MCY11: UBL posted NPAT of PKR10.6bn (EPS: PKRS.66) in QMCY11, up 34%YoY. 3QCY11 NPAT clocked in at PKR4.2bn (EPS: PKR3.42), up 51%YoY/39%QoQ. Key highlights of QMCY11 results include 1) strong 18%YoY Nil growth, 2) contained 4%YoY increase in total provisions, 3) robust 24%YoY growth in non-interest income primarily due to ft/derivative income and 4) 15%YoY admin expense growth.

Asset quality metrics to improve: NPL stock stood at PKR54Sbn on Sep 3011, up 18%YoY/55%QoQ, with the NPL ratio at 149% and coverage at 75%. While sequential NPL uptick appears swift, AKD Securities believes NPL stock will likely reduce in the near-term considering circular debt exposure (md. classified assets) has successfully been converted into government securities. This should facilitate an improvement in asset quality metrics while a lower interest rate environment should curtail fresh slippage. In addition, extension of the FSV benefit should also reduce chances of negative earnings shocks in the near to medium term.

Outlook: AKD Securities projects a CY10-CY16F NPAT CAGR of 125% and CY12F- CY16F Tier-I ROE of 185% where1 while NIMs should squeeze across the medium-term, earnings growth should be driven by lower credit costs and gradual filling out of the ADR. Core fee income, dragged down by a smaller consumer portfolio over the last 3yrs, should also improve based on higher remittances commission and forays into e-banking. On the overseas front, while Dubai exposure (-10% of book) still poses concerns, this is somewhat balanced by exciting prospects in Qatar where the economy appears to have entered a secular high-growth trajectory.