ISLAMABAD, Apr 19 (APP): The Government of Panama has clarified a statement given by its Deputy Ministry of Economy Ivan Zarak mistakenly referring to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar during an interview with the CNN International this week.

“In his declarations, Deputy Minister Zarak by mistake mentioned he had a conversation with the Minister for Finance of Pakistan during the Global Connect Initiative meeting at Washington D.C. when instead it was with the Federal Finance Secretary Dr Waqar Masood Khan, who represented Pakistani Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar at this conference,” it said.

Panama apologized for the misunderstanding, said a facsimile of a message of Ambassador of Panama in Mexico conveying statement from Panama Government and received here Tuesday from the Pakistan Embassy in Mexico.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 19 (APP): Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad
Ishaq Dar here on Tuesday reviewed the preparations regarding the operationalization of Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company
(PMIC).

Qazi Ahmad Isa, Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Poverty  Alleviation Fund, briefed the Minister that all the legal formalities associated with the Investment Company were being carried out in a transparent manner with the help of Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

The work on Share Holder’s Agreement is almost complete, which
will be signed by PPAF, DFID and KFW in the near future.

RAWALPINDI, Apr 19 (APP): General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter, Chief of General Staff, UK, who is on official visit to Pakistan, called on General Rashad Mahmood, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee at Joint Staff Headquarters, here on Tuesday.

Both dignitaries discussed matters of mutual interest and agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two Armed Forces, said a press release here.

The visiting dignitary lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in fight against terrorism.

COLOMBO, Apr 19 (APP): A high level delegation of 40 high ranking Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks as well as eminent Buddhist scholars led by Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Karu Jayasuriya left for Pakistan on Monday evening for a week-long visit.

The delegation comprises senior monks of all Buddhist chapters including Most Ven. (Dr) Ittpahane Dhammalankara Nayake Thero, Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha, Daharmavijayaloka Maha Viharaya, Most Ven.

The visit aims to introduce the rich Buddhist Gandhara heritage of Pakistan to the people of Sri Lanka as well as to revive the Gandhara trail which has its capital and cultural hub at the present day Taxila.

ISLAMABAD, April 19 (APP): A number of people were killed and wounded in a blast that rocked central Kabul during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, President Ashraf Ghani said.

The Presidential Palace condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms” and said in a statement a number of people had been killed or wounded, a private news channel reported.

A spokesman for an emergency hospital in the city said the facility had received eight lightly wounded Afghan soldiers.

ISLAMABAD, April 18 (APP): Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Monday informed the Senate that cancellation of licence of Bol channel was not linked with the affairs of Exact company.

The Interior Ministry cancelled the licence in July 2013 due to non-fulfilment of proper criteria by the channel, while Exact scandal surfaced later, he said while windng up debate on a motion of  Senator Taj Haider about the closure of Bol media group as a  consequence of action against an information technology (IT) company.

The minister said Bol’s licence was not cancelled due to the  Exact’s issue rather it was was cancelled for not adopting the proper procedure. The way Bol officials got security clearance of the  channel, the Interior Ministry considered it inappropriate.