Administrator Karachi Metropolitan Corporation express concern over rising number of blood diseases

Karachi: Administrator KMC Muhammad Hussain Syed has expressed concern over the rising numbers of blood diseases in Pakistan. “This situation is getting serious day by day as nearly 7 percent population in our country was affected by thalassaemia and haemophilia while the number the people affected from these diseases have now crossed the one and half lac mark.

These people can live upto 50 or 60 years and spend their life like normal people if they are provided with timely and correct medical treatment”, he said after giving the check of annual grant from Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to Fatmid Foundation Trust. The Secretary of Fatmid Foundation and its Chief Operating Officer Walid Bin Azhar received the check from Administrator Karachi.

On this occasion Administrator KMC Muhammad Hussain Syed appreciated the services provided by Fatmid Foundation to poor and low income people for treatment of various blood diseases. He said the main reason of thalassaemia and haemophilia in children was a cousin marriage which leads to acute troubles for parents if they did not get the opportunity for dealing with such deadly diseases.

Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed said that the haemoglobin electro process test before marriage could save the next generations of couples from these harmful diseases. KMC was reviewing the possibility to provide this facility in its hospitals while measures were being taken to ensure availability of blood to citizens in the hospitals and dispensaries run by KMC.

He said KMC was already spending millions of rupees on health care services for citizens and on the control of contagious diseases. Secretary Fatmid Foundation Dr.Walid Bin Azhar said their organization provides medical treatment and blood to millions of needy patients each year without any charges.

For more information, contact:
Administrator Secretariat
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC)
City District Government Complex, 1st Floor, Civic Centre,
Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
Tel: +9221 9923 2400 -01
Fax: +9221 9923 2406
Email: administrator@karachicity.gov.pk

A section of media has speculated on the contents of discussion between the President and army chief in the meeting today

Islamabad: Commenting on it Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that the reports, without quoting source, are hypothetical, based on conjectures and in the realm of speculation.

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

Pakistan’s Sovereignty Non-Negotiable: Prime Minister

Islamabad: The meeting of Defence Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has started at the PM House today, which is being attended by Senior Minister for Industries and Defence Productions, Minister for Defence, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Interior Minister, Information Minister, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of Army Staff, Air Chief, Naval Chief, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Director General of Intelligence Bureau. The meeting will consider the US Centcom Inquiry Report on the border incident of November 26, 2011.

While addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.

Following is the text of the opening statement of the Prime Minister.

I welcome you to this meeting of the DCC. I attach great importance to this Forum, which is responsible for policy consultations and coordination on issues pertaining to national security, defence and foreign policy.

It is a matter of immense satisfaction that the DCC has held regular meetings and deliberated on all important matters relating to safeguarding Pakistan’ security.

The decisions taken by the DCC have guided the Government in steering the court in a particularly difficult phase, given the complexity of the regional and global environment.

It has been our consistent endeavour to safeguard Pakistan’s supreme national interests in a most effective and inclusive manner. Terrorism and the continued strife and conflict in Afghanistan have impacted directly and severely on Pakistan.

Thousands of our people, officers and jawans of the armed forces and security personnel fell victim to terror and militancy. We have achieved notable success in dealing with the menace of terrorism. We have done so in our national interest.

Our Government and Parliament and above all our patriotic people have stood fully behind our brave armed forces and security personnel and there is complete national consensus that terrorism will not be allowed any space on the sacred soil of Pakistan.

Pakistan has also been cooperating with the international community. Our cooperation is based on a “partnership” approach, which entails mutual respect, trust and mutual interest.

Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are not negotiable. We would reject any approach that would tend to compromise our sovereignty, honour and national dignity. Our contribution and steadfast commitment to stability and peace at home and in our region is unquestionable and second to none.

Following the NATO/ISAF attacks on our border posts on 26 November 2011, this Forum took clear decision. These were subsequently endorsed by the Cabinet. The Parliamentary Committee on National Security was entrusted to formulate recommendations for consideration by the Parliament. The Committee has held several meetings and its conclusions and recommendations will be considered by the Parliament.

A full review of the terms of cooperation with US/NATO/ISAF is in process. We hope that decisions in this regard will be in line with the aspirations of our people and go a long way in preserving and protecting our national interests and promote peace in the region.

Pakistan is a peace loving country. We are committed to forging good relations with all neighbours and the international community. Pakistan will continue to play a responsible role for promoting global and regional peace and security. Our record in international peace keeping has been appreciated by the international community on a number of occasions.

National unity is the need of the hour. Democracy provides avenues to forge national consensus. Each organ and state institution has to play its due role, within its respective domain, to bring forth the best in promoting Pakistan’s national interest.

The armed forces of Pakistan are a pillar of the nation’s resilience and strength. The nation applauds their heroic services in the defence of the motherland. Similarly, the civil institutions have their due role to play for socio-economic development and for ensuring progress and prosperity.

Together in complete harmony with each other and other vital institutions we can change the country’s destiny and accord, its rightful place in the comity of nations.

It has been my Government’s policy to allow and enable all state institutions to play their role in their respective domains for the common good of the people of Pakistan. It is this desire to set good and healthy democratic traditions that has enabled us to always seek strength from the Parliament, which is the hallmark of a democratic government.

Our record attendances of the National Assembly and more than 100 Cabinet Meetings are testimony to the government commitment to strengthening democracy in the country. In the same vein, timely ECC meetings and regular meetings of the DCC with the cooperation of all institutions have gone a long way in achieving consensus on important issues. Forums for inter-Ministerial and inter-agency consultations and coordination, such as the DCC and the Cabinet exit and are functioning smoothly.

The nation’s strength is its institutions. We will do everything to strengthen our institutions with a view to enhancing their effectiveness and capacity. There should be no ambiguity on this account.

The specific agenda before the DCC is the consideration of the US CENTCOM Inquiry Report on the Border incident of 26 November, 2011.

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

MS. Rubina Shaheen Wattoo meets the Prime Minister

Islamabad: Ms. Rubina Shaheen Wattoo, MPA and Chairperson Ameer Begum Welfare Trust called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at Prime Minister’s House today and apprised him about various philanthropist projects completed under auspices of the Trust.

The Prime Minister appreciated the contributions of the Trust rendered for the well being of the poor throughout the country.

The Prime Minister also directed the Ministry of Finance to immediately release the amount to the Trust announced by the Prime Minister in a function organized by the Trust in Lahore on January 01, 2012.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
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Second track of Banaras flyover opened

Karachi: Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan said on Friday that parliament and other institutions were working for strengthening democratic dispensation in the country and this process must continue for the well-being of the people and country.
He said this while speaking to the media after inaugurating the second track of the Rs2.5 billion Banaras flyover project.

Responding to a question about the local government system, Governor Ebad said that the process of consultation was continuing between allies and soon some good news would arrive.

He told a questioner that all political parties wanted a system that would address issues of the common man.

The governor also visited various other development projects in the city, including the project at the Afza flyover near Habib Bank Chowrangi in SITE, along with Home Minister Manzoor Hussain Wassan and Industries Minister Rauf Siddiqui.

Dr Ebad said that the project was important for the industries of Karachi and it should be completed on schedule.

He announced that police and Rangers checkpoints, 15 Madadgar centre, Edhi and KKF ambulance centres and a fire brigade station would be established under the flyover after its completion.

Mr Siddiqui said that the Afza flyover would be opened for the traffic on Feb 15 this year.

The governor also made a surprise visit to the Liaquatabad police station.

Home Minister Manzoor Wassan told a questioner that he had said that Senate elections would be held in February while the local government elections would be held in April whereas general elections will be held in October.

For more information, contact:
Sindh Governor House
Syed Wajahat Ali
Press Secretary to Governor
Tel: 99201217, 99201201-3
Email: press_secretary@governorsindh.gov.pk

Korangi Association of Trade and Industry hails supply of gas from Kunnar gas field

Karachi: The trade and industry has lauded the efforts of Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Husain and his team on inauguration of gas field Kunnar – Pasakhi gas field.

The Patron In-Chief Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) S M Muneer, Chairman Ehtishamuddin, Vice Chairmen, Hasham A Razzaq Tariq Malik and former Chairman Mian Zahid Hussain said that the gas supply to the tune of 300 mmcfd from Kunnar Pasakhi would provide big relief to the country’s industry particularly the Karachi’s industry which is the backbone of national economy.

They opined that in energy crises situation this field of 300 MMCFD would prove to be life a-saver for the industry. It is learned that the system has started receiving 100 MMCFD from Kunnar-Pasakhi. They further requested the minister to also activate more gas fields which have yet to produce gas and explore additional gas fields in the country especially in Sindh province where many reserves are yet to be explored.

They asked the minister to exempt the industry from gas load-shedding and resolve low-pressure problem which is being faced by the industries at this juncture.

For more information, contact:
Nadeem Ahmed
Press Secretary
Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI)
ST-4/2, Sector 23, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi 74900
Tel: +9221 3506 1211 -2
Cell: +92346 2012346
Fax: +9221 3506 1215
Email: kati@kati.pk

Prime Minister Briefed On Half-Yearly Performance Of Economy

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Masood called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here at the Prime Minister’s House and briefed him on half yearly promising performance of economy starting from July to December 2011.

The Prime Minister said that he would give a policy statement in Parliament soon about the salient features of economy and the achievements of the government in this regard.

The Minister for Finance said that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the current FY-2011-12 was expected to be around 4%. He said that it was for the first time after 24 months that inflationary pressures had begun to recede in December as compared to the same period last year. All three price indexes namely Consumer Price Index (CPI), Wholesale Price Index (WPI), and Sensitive Price Index (SPI) came down to single digit range and SPI fell as low as 3%.

The Minister said that the external sector of economy continues to give strong performance. Exports, which registered an impressive achievement of $ 25 billion last year, have continued to grow and increased by 4% in the first six months of current financial year as compared to the same period last year, the Minister added.

Finance Minister said that remittances during the same period increased by 19%, averaging more than a billion dollar per month. He said that on the budget side, the government measures to increase the tax revenue had shown remarkable growth as during the first six months of current FY-2011-12.

Federal Board of Revenue had collected 840 billion rupees, representing an increase of 27% as compared to last year. This achievement could be considered as unprecedented increase in the revenue collection, the Minister said.

The Finance Minister further said that the government had also continued to exercise strict control on the expenditure side. Total expenditure during the first half of the current financial year was kept below 50% of budgetary expenditure at 45%.

The Minister said that the foreign exchange reserves remained above $17 billion and the government would pay back a tranche of $1.2 billion to International Monetary Fund next month, which had been allocated in the budget.

The Prime Minister was apprised of the upcoming auction of 3-G Spectrum and mobile license for which advertisements had appeared in the newspapers and transactions as planned would be undertaken in the next few weeks.

The Prime Minister was also briefed about the progress of Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for which over Rs.100 billion had been released so far to complete the projects of electricity, highways, water and other areas of national priority.

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