Message from Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif On the occasion of minorities’ day 11th august 2013

Islamabad, August 11 2013 (PPI-OT): August 11 is a special day in our national calendar when we reiterate our commitment to the ideals of the Quaid-e-Azam to continue striving for the protection of the rights of all faiths and bringing them in the mainstream of national life. On this day we reaffirm our pledge to honour the commitment made by our great leaders for according equal treatment to all our citizens irrespective of their religion, caste and creed.

This day marks the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that he highlighted in his address to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947. The Quaid said: “You are free to go to your mosques or other places of worship in this state of Pakistan.

You belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state. We are starting in the day when there is no discrimination, no distinction between one caste, creed and colour. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all equal citizens of the state.”

The minority day provides us an opportunity to reassure that despite the diversity in our faiths; we are one nation and are working together for a united and prosperous Pakistan. By observing this day, we are also giving a clear message to the world that the Pakistani society is based on religious harmony, social justice, and human equality.

Let me take this opportunity of repeating Quaid-i-Azam’s words on March 21, 1948 to a Mass Rally at Dhaka. “We shall treat the minorities in Pakistan fairly and justly. We shall maintain peace, law and order and protect and safeguard every citizen of Pakistan without any distinction of caste, creed or community”.

The observance of Minorities’ Day reflects our commitment to integrate people of all faiths in the national mainstream. The Government has all along struggled to uphold the rights of the people of different faiths. We will continue our struggle to do even more.

I am confident that together we shall make Pakistan a strong, progressive and tolerant nation where the minorities have equal rights. Let us on this day also pledge to promote democratic values and culture as a necessary tool of promoting tolerance, peace and harmony and ending violence and extremism as well as alleviating the sufferings of non-Muslim brethren.

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

President’s Message on Minorities Day 11th August 2013

Islamabad, August 11 2013 (PPI-OT): The observance of “Minorities Day” every year is a reminder to us all to strive to fulfil the promise made to our non-Muslim brethren by the Founder of the State Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on the very inception of the state. On this day therefore we renew our commitment to protect the rights of non Muslims as equal citizens of the country.

On this day we also wish to recognize and appreciate the important role played by the non-Muslims in the nation-building process, the sacrifices rendered by them and to focus on the problems and issues faced by them.

We are living in times of great intolerance. The intolerance towards non-Muslims has spread to sectarianism. On this occasion I urge the religious leaders and indeed everyone to imbibe the value of tolerance towards people of different faiths and to also spread the message of harmony and tolerance.

Let us also on this day pay tribute to those courageous individuals who have suffered for the cause of interfaith harmony and for upholding the right of the non-Muslims freely to profess and practice their religion. They are heroes of the nation. They reflect the progressive, tolerant and humane ethos of our people.

Democracies better protect the right of non-Muslims. Unfortunately the right of the non-Muslims to freely profess and practice their religion was abridged during a dictatorship by deleting the word ‘freely’ from the Constitution. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the right to ‘freely’ profess religion by every citizen has been restored in the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

We therefore need to protect and promote democratic values and culture as a necessary tool of promoting tolerance, peace and harmony by ending extremism, intolerance and sectarianism.

On this day let us rededicate ourselves to the ideal of a modern, progressive and tolerant Pakistan that was enunciated by the Quaid-e-Azam in his historic speech today.

While felicitating all the non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan on this day, I wish to reiterate our commitment towards a progressive and tolerant society and to work for the protection of their rights as equal citizens of the state.

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

Legal action against Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan officials on cards Executives involved in scams were appointed by top PPP leaders

Islamabad, August 11 2013 (PPI-OT): The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to take action against former and serving officials of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) who are involved in scams surpassing Rs 200 billion.

The NAB investigators have collected enough evidence against former and serving officials of the regulator which is enough to justify their arrest that has become necessary to complete the process of probe, sources said.

The top officials of SECP are cooperating with NAB despite tremendous pressure from various quarters, they added.

Those involved in the frauds include former SECP Chairman Muhammad Ali and two serving commissioners Asif Arif and Imtiaz Hyder. They have been charged with hiding facts of 2008 stock market crash in which masses lost billions while crooked brokers made fortune overnight.

Moreover, they are involved in Rs 82 billion Ogra scam, harassing honest officials who wanted to bring facts to limelight, hiding personal assets, massive tax evasion, promoting interests of stock and insurance mafia, pushing insurance companies to invest in stock market and reaping benefits from top insurance companies etc.

It may be mentioned that Muhammad Ali, Asif Arif and Imtiaz Hyder were appointed on the behest of powerful business lobbies by the corrupt leaders of the former government who in turn damaged the image of the corporate regulator by their highly objectionable actions.

For more information, contact:
Shakil Ahmad Chaudhary
Head, Internal and External Communication
Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)
NIC Building, 63 Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad
Tel: +9251 921 4005 or 921 4009 (Ext. 378)
Fax: +9251 920 6459
Cell: +92302 855 2254
E-mail: shakil.chaudhary@secp.gov.pk

Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry expresses concern over rising inflation Govt may miss inflation target for the current fiscal Situation to improve if Govt fulfils its reform agenda Stock market optimistic about Govt policies

Islamabad, August 11 2013 (PPI-OT): The Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on Sunday expressed concern over rising inflation and economic slowdown which is adding to the miseries of the masses.

Government should take immediate steps to contain inflation otherwise it may miss the target of keeping inflation at 8 per cent in the on-going fiscal, said Farida Rashid, President IWCCI.

In a statement issued here today, she said that high inflation will compromise Pakistan’s bargaining position with the international lenders during negotiations.

There is no chance of any improvement in the income of masses therefore rising inflation will result in more poverty, reduced savings, decreased investments as well as contracted growth rate, she added.

She warned that inflation would erode local currency while the central bank will have no option but to hike the policy rate in the first monetary policy under the new political setup.

Farida Rashid said that upward revision of interest rates will make loans costly for government as well as business community which will cast a negative shadow on economy.

It will force many businesses to become uncompetitive resulting in lost opportunities at home and abroad, colossal losses, bankruptcies, lower tax collections and unemployment, she warned.

Farida Rashid said that credit of recent wave of price hike goes to the fiscal policies of the former government while the recent steps like hike in Sales Tax and increase in prices of electricity and petroleum products is also to be blamed.

Absence of proper mechanism to check prices during the holy month of Ramadan has also contributed to the hike in prices of food items, she added.

She said that situation can improve if the PML-N government successfully fulfils its reform agenda that comprise reduction in budget deficit, attracting foreign investment, taming energy crisis and control precarious law and order situation.

All the stock markets performed well ahead of the Eid holidays which could be attributed to the confidence of portfolio investors in the government economic policies.

For more information, contact:
Samina Fazil
President
Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Mobile: +92323 5343199
Tel: +9251 2252256

Exorbitant Increase In Electricity To Damage Feasibility of Small and Medium Enterprises Units

Karachi, August 11 2013 (PPI-OT): The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the government of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) not to make the mistake of increasing electricity charges by 70% in one short as it would adversely affect the feasibility of many SME units and make them uncompetitive by increasing the cost of production.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said it is advisable for the economic managers to look at the hyper inflation, unemployment, fall in production of industrial units and also the depreciation of the rupee and take short term and long term measures for improving the economy.

An economist is supposed to study the resources, the behavior of the economy and the role of the government but unfortunately the country has had bankers and accountants as economic managers instead of economist. The contemplated 70% increase in electricity is considered crazy and a grave mistake as it would destroy the industries.

He said the business community is very much disappointed because it expected very positive steps for energy generation, facilitating the SME units and lowering cost of production but it seems the finance mangers are ill advising the finance minister Ishaq Dar and he is playing into their hands without examining the repercussions of increasing the electricity rates by 70% which is exorbitant and beyond comprehension.

He said it would be understandable if the charges were increased very gradually over a period of time and with the simultaneous promotion of alternate energy systems of solar, wind and biomass. The government needs to exempt all alternate energy devices from import duties and sales tax to promote the use of renewable energy but despite demands from the sector the government has given a deaf ear.

The union has invited the attention of the prime minister and urged him to seek the help of experienced economist to advise the government to improve the economy.

For more information, Contact:
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME)
75/1 3rd Commercial Street,
Phase IV, D.H.A., Karachi, Pakistan
Phones: + 92 35884225 and 6
Cell: + 92 300 8245307 and + 92 321 8245307
Fax: + 92 35380642
Email: unisame@gmail.com

Ban on VDCS, Kishtwar probe by Int’l body demanded

Srinagar, August 11 2013 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has demanded the disbanding of Hindu-based so-called Village Defence Committees, while the veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has asked for a probe by an international body into the Kishtwar incident.

Demanding the disbanding of Village Defense Committees (VDCs), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in an interview said that VDCs were the root cause for communal disharmony in the territory.

“We strongly condemn the communal clashes and demand impartial probe to nab and punish those involved in such anti-social activities,” Mirwaiz added.

Syed Ali Gilani talking to media persons at his residence in Srinagar, said that the administration and police were playing a biased role against Muslims in Kishtwar. “They have been left to the mercy of village defence committees and communal elements,” he added.

He maintained that all the residents of the territory irrespective of their religious and regional backgrounds were brethren on humanitarian grounds. He assured the Muslims of Jammu not to feel demoralized and people of Valley were with them. “We will not allow the repetition of 1947 like massacres in Jammu,” he said.

APHC leader patron of Mahaz-e-Azadi, Muhammad Azam Inqilabi in a statement said that India influenced by its colonial approach was fomenting communal violence in the territory to distract the world’s attention from the Kashmir dispute.

President Awami Ittihad Party and Independent MLA of so-called Kashmir Assembly, Engineer Abdur Rasheed in a statement said that Congress and BJP were involved in Kishwar riots for political gains.
.
Meanwhile, the Bar Association in a statement in Srinagar said that the association as a mark of protest against the Kishtwar incident had decided to abstain from work, tomorrow (Monday).

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736

Strike cripples normal life in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar, August 11 2013 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, normal life remains crippled for the second consecutive day, today, in Kashmir Valley due to the strike against the ongoing anti-Muslim violence in Kishtwar town of Jammu. Call for the strike has been given by the veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani.

Most of the shops, business establishments and petrol pumps across the Valley remain closed, while public transport is off the roads.

Meanwhile, the authorities have suspended Internet and mobile phone services across occupied Kashmir, today. Officials said that the step was taken to prevent the spread of rumours.

The entire occupied territory particularly Jammu is tense following the Friday’s anti-Muslim violence at Kishtwar in Jammu region that left two dead and over 20 injured.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736