ISLAMABAD, Nov 29 (APP): Minister for Commerce Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan Tuesday said the army have been defending every inch of the country.

Talking to private news channel, he said Pakistan valiant armed forces have been giving befitting response to Indian firing on Line of Control (LoC).

The minister said the government had been making efforts to highlight India aggression at LoC in every international fora.

Pakistan’s Representative at the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi has recently highlighted Indian LoC violation at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), he said.

He said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has courageously highlighted Kashmir issue at UNGA many times.

LAHORE, Nov 29 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday presided over second meeting of steering committee set up for improving traffic system which reviewed different proposals, recommendations and steps for this purpose.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that best traffic management system was identity of civilized societies. Effective and comprehensive reforms were being introduced for improving traffic system in big cities of Punjab including Lahore and traffic management would be improved through modern technology, he added.

He said that flow of traffic, management and other matters would be monitored with the help of latest technology. He said that ridding the citizens of traffic problems by improving traffic management was the responsibility of concerned institutions and they would have to fulfill it.

Shehbaz Sharif said that road infrastructure had been improved at cost of billions of rupees and now there should also be improvement in traffic management so that people could get rid of problems resulting from traffic. He directed that in the light of recommendations and suggestions for improving traffic management, a final plan should be presented within next two days.

Giving approval to setting up of a fund of Rs 100 million with regard to improvement of traffic management, the Chief Minister said that there was no need of sending summary for taking steps in connection with improvement of traffic management and added that steering committee should take steps after making decisions.

He said that the role of traffic education was of basic importance in traffic management and steps should be taken expeditiously for making traffic education a part of curriculum. He said that an effective system should be evolved for the awareness of the people about flow of traffic and traffic situation through media.

Seminars should be conducted on traffic education in schools, colleges, public and private institutions in connection with traffic management, he added. He said such steps should be taken regarding traffic management that people should feel improvement in traffic system. He directed to ensure implementation of traffic laws at all costs. He said that all institutions should work in a coordinated manner for traffic management and give results instead of lip service.

The Chief Minister said that on the one hand, the encroachments had marred the beauty of cities while on the other hand, traffic problems had also increased. He said that a plan should be evolved for eliminating temporary and permanent encroachments and it would have to be implemented.

Shehbaz Sharif directed that rotary parking machines should be imported in large numbers and a comprehensive planning should be made after conducting survey for installation of rotary parking machines.

He said that matters would have to set right while performing duty with the sense of responsibility and there should be zero tolerance policy for checking teenage driving. He said that motorcyclists should be bound to use helmets.

He said that complete survey of traffic of Lahore city should be conducted and planning be made in its light. He said that an effective system should be evolved for monitoring of the steps taken in connection with traffic management. He said that steps should be taken for capacity building of TEPA.

The meeting gave approval to make three roads of Lahore including Jail Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg and Ferozepur Road as model roads.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 29 (APP): Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Tuesday said Kashmiris were struggling for their right to self determination while India was trying to suppress their freedom movement.

According to a Senate press release, on the sidelines of 9th plenary session of Asian Parliamentary Assembly being held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the chairman held meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, President of Cambodian Senate Say Chhum, the Cambodian National Assembly President, the Turkish Parliament Speaker and the Laos National Assembly Speaker.

Chairman Senate drew the world attention towards the human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

The upholders of human rights would have to play a role for protecting basic rights of Kashmiris, he added.

Raza Rabbani said the war hysteria of India was a danger to world peace.

He stressed that the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) should be made an effective forum to advance common goals.

APA could play an important role in promoting regional cooperation and “we have to wage a collective struggle for resolving problems of Asian countries”.

He said the forum provides an excellent opportunity to overcome the hurdles in the way of development of people of the region.

Raza Rabbani said the future belongs to countries of Asia and said the countries need to work together and undertake diplomatic initiatives for economic and social progress.

During the APA session, Senator Nuzhat Sadiq was elected as Deputy Chairperson of the APA Women Parliamentary Forum.

The delegates appreciated the efforts made by the Chairman Senate for making APA an effective forum.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 29 (APP): Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique Tuesday expressed the hope that Pakistan Railways was likely to earn revenue of Rs 40 billion by June next year against the target of Rs 36 billion.

Replying to a motion moved by Naeema Kishwar in the National Assembly, the minister said the Pakistan Railways revenues had increased to Rs 32 billion till June this year from Rs 18 billion in 2013.

The revenue from freight trains, he said, had also increased, which would likely to touch Rs 16 billion by June next year.

“The government is continuously working on upgradation of Pakistan Railways to make it compatible with the railway system of developed countries,” he added.

He said the railway system would be upgraded in four cycles and great improvement in the system had been made in the first cycle.

The minister said punctuality of trains had increased to 80 from 20 per cent which was a higher rating as oil reserves were being maintained for 20 days.

Saad Rafique said railway workshops were running on full capacity and trains were being upgraded to facilitate the people.

The minister said train service on Sibbi-Khost-Harnai railway track would be started by the end of next year at the cost of Rs 3 billion.

The train service on Rawalpindi-Jand-Kohat section, he said, would be restored in six months.

The minister said a number of pieces of Railways’ lands had been vacated while efforts were underway to retrieve the rest still under illegal occupation.

Saad Rafique made it clear that Katchi Abadis (slums) on railway land would not be removed.

He said the Pakistan Railways was ready to give its land for the Karachi Circular Railway. The Railways’ land was being allotted for other purposes under a set policy and its violation would not be alllowed.

The minister said the provincial governments did not want to hand over the land to Pakistan Railways despite the order of the Supreme Court.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had handed over 90 per cent land to the Pakistan Railways while the other provinces were not cooperating in that regard.

“Unfortunately, in the past the stoppage of trains was made on political basis and the Pakistan Railways was badly ignored by the previous governments,” he added.

The minister categorically said he would not allocate even an inch of Railways land during his tenure.

Earlier taking part in the discussion on the motion, the members urged that the vast railway land should be vacated from illegal occupation and utilized for earning of revenue.

The lawmakers demanded restoration of different suspended railway trains for the benefit of passengers.

The members appreciated the efforts of Minister for Railways for bringing improvement in the performance of Pakistan Railways.