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Wednesday, 16 May 2012

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China to play host SCO summit next month: Foreign office -

BEIJING, May 16 (APP): The 12th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be held here June 6-7. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the announcement at a press briefing on Wednesday. President Hu Jintao will chair the meeting, said Hong, adding that leaders from SCO member states and observer countries, as well as guests of China and heads of international organizations will attend the meeting. How to further improve friendly cooperation among the SCO members given the new circumstances will be discussed at the meeting, according to Hong.

White House opposes moves to condition aid, CSF repayment for Pakistan -

WASHINGTON, May 16 (APP): The White House has strongly opposed recent Congressional moves to impose restrictions on reimbursement of coalition support funds for Pakistan as well as requirements of certification. Reacting to a series of proposals made by the House Armed Services Committee in National Defense Authorization (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2013, the White House budget office objected to several of them. The White House Office of Management and Budget argued that limiting reimbursement of funds for Pakistan at this sensitive time would have negative repercussions for counterterrorism efforts in the region.

Little hopeful of re-opening Pak Nato supplies soon -

WASHINGTON, May 16 (APP): The Pentagon has voiced hope that Pakistan would reopen its ground supply lines into landlocked Afghanistan in the very near future and said it wanted to reinvigorate the bilateral relationship, strained by a string of incidents in the recent past. “We are hopeful that in the very near future they will reopened,” George Little, acting assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, told journalists during a briefing.

At UN, Pakistan calls for freeing hostages held by Somali pirates -

UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (APP): Pakistan Tuesday urged the Somali government for help in freeing Pakistani and other hostages being held by pirates, while stressing the need for countering the menace off the African country’s coast and in the Gulf of Aden. “Any help that the government of Somalia can possibly extend in this regard would be appreciated highly,” Ambassador Raza Bashir Tarar, Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, said during a UN Security Council debate on the situation in Somalia in the presence of the country’s President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

UN envoy welcomes deal to end hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners in Israel -

UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (APP): The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, has welcomed the agreement reached to end the hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. Serry urges all involved to implement the agreement in good faith and promptly, according to a statement issued Tuesday in Jerusalem. More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners had begun an open-ended hunger strike on 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners Day, to protest against unjust arrest procedures, arbitrary detention and bad prison conditions.

Sport News

Jamshed dropped for Sri Lanka series

ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Pakistan opening batsman Nasir Jamshed has been dropped out for next month’s Twenty20 and one-day series against Sri Lanka due to fractured finger, a private news channel reported.According to details Jamshed fractured his left index finger during a club match last week and the “doctors have advised him rest of 4-6 weeks.” PCB has not named a replacement for Jamshed.Jamshed, 22, has played 16 one-day internationals and scored his maiden century against India during the Asia Cup in March.Pakistan will play two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three tests against Sri Lanka, the series will begin with a Twenty20 in the southern port city of Hambantota on June 1.

Easy sailing for top seed Aqeel Khan in Chief Minister Tennis Cup

PESHAWAR, May 16 (APP): Easy sailing for top seed Aqeel Khan after defeating Shehzad Khan of PAF in the pre-quarter-final match and reached to the quarter-finals of the ongoing Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Open Tennis Championship being played here at Garrison Club Grass Courts on Wednesday.Aqeel Khan, who recently won the Khyber Open for the 12 times, is in great form and given no chance to Shehzad Khan to straight back. Shehzad did some resistance in the second set but he was failed in the first set won by Aqeel Khan 6-1. After winning the first set, Aqeel Khan got the second set 6-2.

KCCA Stadium ready for installation of floodlight towers

KARACHI, May 16 (APP) - Refurbished Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) Stadium will be equipped with floodlights by end of June, KCCA President, Syed Sirajul Islam Bukhari said on Wednesday. “New grass has been laid and five new strips have been prepared at the ground and it will be ready for staging matches by end of this month,” he said. KCCA Chief said due to salinity and water-logging ground was raised by three feet. He said an amount of Rs. 4.5 million was spent on the facelift and improvement of the stadium.

PCB working on alternative options to host Australia: Intikhab Alam

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): Director of Game Development Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Intikhab Alam has said that the board is working to host Pakistan’s series against Australia at some alternative venue after it was cancelled by Sri Lanka Cricket. Pakistan-Australia series which was scheduled to comprise five one-day internationals and three T20s to help the sides prepare for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka was recently cancelled by Sri Lanka Cricket, due to a fixture clash with the Sri Lankan Premier League “Yes it’s disappointing to see the series against Australia not going ahead in Sri Lanka and it would have provided ideal practice for the Pakistan team ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, but it’s out of our hands and we have two or three alternatives to Sri Lanka in mind,” PakPassion.net., quoted Alam, as saying.

Latest News

Science, technology system need to be improved with new vitality: PM - Turkish PM to visit Pakistan from May 20 - SC dismissed appeals of two removed judges - 29 mln people can be affected from incoming floods: Chairman NDMA - Sharif brothers urged to stop using state machinery, other resources... - Govt committed to empower women in all walks of life: President

Govt promoting interfaith harmony: Zardari

News - National

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said the government while vigorously promoting interfaith harmony was determined not to let anyone misuse the blasphemy law against minorities and other vulnerable sections of the society. The President was talking to Father Robert McCulloch, Procurator General from the Vatican, who called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. He highlighted the contributions of the minorities in Pakistan and informed him of the constitutional protection to their fundamental rights. He said the government had taken important measures to ensure protection of the minorities.

Critical decisions needed as relations with US, NATO in delicate phase: Gilani

News - National

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said the country needs to take critical decisions as its relations with NATO and the United States are passing through a delicate phase. In his opening remarks while chairing the meeting of federal cabinet here at the PM Secretariat, the Prime Minister said the decisions must be taken keeping in view national interests and the country’s strategic importance in the region. “We did not and will not compromise on our principled stand. But will also not take emotional decisions, which do not auger well for us in the long run,” Gilani told his cabinet members.

President lauds services of outgoing Canadian Envoy

News - National

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday appreciated the services of outgoing High Commissioner of Canada Ross Hynes for promoting and strengthening bilateral relations of Pakistan and Canada. The President wished the outgoing envoy goodluck in his future life and assignments. Ross Hynes thanked the President for meeting and for the support extended to him by the government in discharge of his duties during his tenure here.

Science, technology system need to be improved with new vitality: PM

News - National

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said the national science and technology system needed to be infused with new vitality if it was to play a beneficial role in advancing the well-being of all sections of the society. “The national S&T policy and its implementation has to be adjusted to new global realities as well as satisfying local social and economic needs,” the Prime Minister said while speaking at Research Productivity Award (RPA) distribution ceremony here.He said in order to formulate appropriate S&T policies, the decision makers needed to be better informed and have an access to data on S&T statistics and indicators. This is where the role of Pakistan Council for Science and Technology assumes greater significance, he added.

Decision on NATO supplies resumption to be taken in light of Parliament resolution: Kaira

News - National

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Wednesday that decision on the issue of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) supplies resumption,will be made as a responsible country in light of the Parliament’s resolution keeping in view the national interests and national dignity.While replying to media persons questions at the briefing held to announce the decisions made in the Federal Cabinet meeting here,the minister said that Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) on Tuesday discussed the matter of Pakistan’s relations with United States and NATO in detail.Dispelling the impression given by a section of the media about concealing the decisions,he said that the government will not hide any decision on the matter of restoration of supplies for NATO in Afghanistan.

Sharif brothers urged to stop using state machinery, other resources on protests: Rehman Malik

News - National

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik on Wednesday said protests led by Sharif brothers are an eye opener for public as to what level can they (Sharifs) go for their personal enmity where they even do not mind using state machinery and other resources.He said law and order situation is not satisfactory, corruption and mismanagement can be seen in Punjab province as wrong and vague policies of Chief of PML (N), Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif have made people to suffer.The minister was responding to a question raised in a press conference regarding statements being issued by Nawaz Sharif against the government.“I advise both the Sharif brothers to avoid telling a lie and bring change in their attitudes. They should realize that people of Pakistan support Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) which is trying to bring positive change in their lives,” he said.

Gilani takes PML-N to task for undermining chief executive office’s sanctity

News - National

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday took the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to task for undermining the sanctity of the office of the country’s chief executive.“While I was abroad, some political leaders tried to undermine the sanctity of the office of the Prime Minister and urged their party workers to stage protest rallies, but they miserably failed due to the people’s commitment to democracy,” said the Prime Minister while chairing the Federal Cabinet meeting here. He said such politicians could not interpret the court judgments according to their “own whims” and asked them to avoid influencing the courts by their “na‹ve interpretation”.

Govt plans to celebrate 60th anniversary of Pak-Japan ties: PM

News - National

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that on the eve of the 60th anniversary of Pakistan-Japan diplomatic relations, the government is planning exchange visits and cultural programmes. The Prime Minister was talking to Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Oe who called on him at the Prime Minister House yesterday morning. Gilani said Pakistan and Japan enjoy excellent relations throughout the history of their diplomatic relations.The Ambassador said both Pakistan and Japan were working on a programme to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in a befitting manner.

Pak-India decision on bolstering trade links to benefit their people

News - Business

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): The decision of Pakistan and India to open up their trade relations to tap the existing potential of bolstering mutual trade will greatly benefit their people, a leading British magazine said. In its latest issue the Economist commenting on the decision of the two neighbours said the current bilateral trade last year was $2.6 billion while trade between New Delhi and Beijing in the same period was $100 billion. “Unofficial trade boosts the figure, but it is still pathetic for countries with population of 1.2 billion and 180m respectively, and combined economies of over $2 trillion,” it said.

Pakistan desires to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia: President

News - National

ISLAMABAD, May 15 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said Pakistan attached great importance to its special relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and desired to further strengthen its bilateral cooperative relations. The President was talking to Prof Dr Sulaiman Abdullah Abal-Khail, Rector of Imam Mohammad Bin Saud Islamic University, Riyadh and Pro-Chancellor, International Islamic University (IIU) who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr. The President congratulated Dr Sulaiman on his appointment as Pro-Chancellor of IIU and said the association of an eminent and erudite scholar like him augured well for the IIU.

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