ISLAMABAD, June 29 (APP): Pakistan believes in mutual co-existence
and friendly relations with neighboring countries including Afghanistan
and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue, Spokesman to the Prime Minister Dr Musadik Malik said on Wednesday.

Talking in a PTV program, Dr Malik said Pakistan and Afghanistan have
strategic and historic relations and it is in their benefit to resolve
the outstanding issues including the matter of Afghan Refugees and border management through dialogue.

“Strategic depth should not turn into strategic divorce. The matter
of return of Afghan refugees should be resolved in a friendly manner.

We have hosted them for decades and their repatriation should be dignified and respectful,” he said in response to a question about repatriation of refugees.

He said strategic depth does not mean solution of issues militarily
but it has other aspects as well and a better understanding on issues was vital to resettle refugees and stop across the border activities of the extremists.

“Once Pakistan and Afghanistan settle their issues, terrorism will
automatically die down and refugees will return to their homeland,” he added.

Answering a question, he said, during last one year around 1.4 million Afghan refugees have been registered under the National Action Plan who were residing in Pakistan illegally. “Pakistan is fulfilling its international obligation to host these refugees and we shall have to sort out a mechanism for their return.”

In this regard he called upon international agencies to prepare a
roadmap for their return along with a package to facilitate them economically and politically in their native country. “There should be a time bound and economically viable mechanism based on economic
opportunities for a dignified repatriation of refugees.”

He said Pakistan’s foreign policy is based on having cordial relations with neighbors and our neighbors should also follow the suit instead of a policy of retaliation or tit for tat. It is our shared responsibility to restore peace in the region for progress of the two countries.

Dr Malik said Pakistan is bettering the border management system to stop illegal movement of Afghan citizens into Pakistan and Afghanistan
has also endorsed our effort.

Answering another question regarding a statement by Imran Khan
about federal government’s seriousness on the refugees issue, the
Spokesman said, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) leader often poise to provocative statements on national issues. “The 18th amendment clearly states that in issue of national importance provinces will also cooperate with the federation. If his party has any reservation about refugees’ issue, they can take up it at the Council of Common Interests. Issuing irresponsible statements on national issues and fuelling provincialism will do no good to the country.”

He reiterated to play any role if Pakistan can bring lasting peace in
Afghanistan and expressed hope that Pakistan’s policy of co-existence will bear fruit and confusions between Pakistan and Afghanistan will be settled down.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 29 (APP): The Cabinet Committee on Energy Wednesday reviewed progress on the ongoing power projects to assess whether the time-lines of the schedule of activities were being observed.

Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting
which also reviewed the progress of on-going power sector projects in
the country and the projects in pipeline.

Federal Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Muhammad Asif,
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan
Abbasi and Secretary to Prime Minister and senior officials of the
relevant ministries attended the meeting.

Secretary Water and Power briefed the meeting on the energy
projects and also dilated on arrangements for evacuation of the
electricity to be produced in future.

Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources gave an
overview of the supply of natural gas and fuel that would be needed to facilitate the upcoming power projects.

Secretary Water and Power also briefed the meeting about the
current state of power generation in the country.

He said that in line with the Prime Minister’s instructions, maximum facilitation has been provided to general public during the holy month of Ramazan by ensuring smooth and uninterrupted supply of
electricity at the time of Sehar and Iftar.

A proper mechanism has been in place to address complaints of any breakdown, he said adding despite severe heat wave experienced in early May and the resultant increased power usage, load management has been carried out with due care.

Furthermore no power unit suffered any shut down this summer which helped maintain supply of electricity to the optimum possible level.

The Finance Minister, on the occasion said that the Prime Minister
had desired a detailed update on the progress of ongoing projects and emphasized expediting work on these projects.

He directed the Ministry of Water and Power to ensure completion
of on-going projects as per schedule. A detailed report containing up-to-date progress would be submitted to the Prime Minister.

KARACHI, June 29 (APP): The PIA has offered full support to Turkish Airlines in transporting their passengers disturbed due to flight diversions in the aftermath of terror incident at Istanbul airport early Wednesday morning.

This was stated by the spokesman of the national flag carrier here.

He further stated that expressing his grief and sorrow over the
incident, the CEO PIA, Bernd Hildenbrand, said that `we are deeply
sorry for this tragedy and as Code Share partners with Turkish
Airlines, we are ready to extend our all out support to them’.

PESHAWAR, June 29 (APP): The spokesman for PM Advisor, Engineer
Ameer Muqam in KP, Muhammad Afzal on Wednesday strongly denied a news item regarding land grabbing in Malam Jabba and said “we have neither grabbed any land nor have link with land grabbers.”

However Muhammad Afzal said a mafia belonging to Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf has illegally occupied 2200 kanal land in Malam Jabba.

He further said PTI ministers from Mardan, Swabi and Nowshera were reportedly involved in this land grabbing and various inquiries against them were initiated in Ehtesab Commission but later the same were put into cold storage and no action was taken against the responsible.

Afzal appealed to NAB and judiciary to take suo moto action against the involved persons in larger national interest.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 29 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz MNA Talal Chaudhry Wednesday said the opposition parties who have filed references against the Prime Minister in Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), will also accept its decision.

Talking to a private news channel, he said opposition after filing
reference against Prime Minster Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, should stand by their position and wait for decision.

He said the mandate of the parliamentary committee to frame Terms of
Reference (ToRs) was to propose a proper forum for investigation of the information revealed through Panama Papers and mention to relevant laws, he said.

Talal Chaudhry said it was also included in its task to formulate
such ToRs that should devise terms for investigation of all those whose names were mentioned in the Panama Papers.

To a question on Prime Minister’s return to Pakistan, he said the
Prime Minister is recovering fast after heart surgery and eager to return.

Transferring powers to Local Governments (LG) will positively be done
after the decision by the Lahore High Court in a case regarding local
governments.

Talal Chaudhry said, few years back Federally Administered Tribal
Areas (FATA) were no go areas. But, with the efforts of the present government, situation has improved and no go areas have almost been abolished.

He said the federal government is working in coordination with the
provincial governments on security issues and is taking every possible
measure to root out extremists and protect lives and properties of the
people.

LAHORE, June 29 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday said that Punjab government had given the biggest development budget in the history of the province and this balanced budget would change the destiny of the masses.

Talking to a delegation of assembly members belonging to PML-N here,
he said that record funds of Rs 550 billion had been allocated under
Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the next fiscal year. He also congratulated the MPAs over the conduct of budget session of Punjab Assembly in an excellent manner and approval of provincial budget for the year 2016-17.

The Chief Minister said that provincial government had earmarked
billions of rupees for the progress and prosperity of the people of
Punjab and implementation of the biggest ADP reflected government priorities to raise people’s living standard. The ADP would usher in a new era of progress as billions of rupees had been allocated for uplift of backward areas and more resources had been allocated like the previous years in the new budget for the welfare programmes of South Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that a positive change would be brought in
the lives of the people through implementation of development schemes under the ADP. He said that utilization of billions of rupees for education, health, agriculture and social sectors would result in development of these sectors.

Shehbaz Sharif said that a splendid package had also been given for the uplift of agriculture and prosperity of cultivators, adding that decrease in the prices of Urea, DAP and tariff rate for agri tube-wells, besides the programme of provision of interest-free loans would benefit the farmers. Facilities were being given to cultivators on priority basis for making up their losses due to recession at international level.

The Chief Minister said the new budget reflected durable development,
strong economy and balanced development of all areas, asserting that measures proposed in the new budget would result in poverty alleviation and minimizing gap between the rich and the poor.

He mentioned that implementation of a big programme for repair and
rehabilitation of rural roads would result in progress of rural economy.

He said that supply of potable water to people living in villages would be ensured through Saaf Pani Project worth Rs 30 billion.

Referring to the efforts for eliminating energy crisis, the Chief
Minister said that a lot of work had been done for overcoming this problem so as to ensure speedy development and promotion of economic and social activities and efforts were being made round the clock for this purpose under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

He said that early solution of energy problem was priority of the government and it was working on various power projects based on gas, coal, solar energy and hydel power. He said that completion of several energy projects would result in addition of thousands of megawatts electricity in the national grid.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab government had completed the only project of power generation from solar energy in the history of the country with its own resources. He said that work was also being carried out on solar power project of 900 megawatt at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park and it would start producing 300 megawatts electricity within next few days. He said that federal and Punjab governments were also working on gas-based energy projects of 3600 megawatts. He said that PML-N government would honor the promise of removing darkness from the country and completion of power projects would result in elimination of load-shedding and availability of cheap electricity.

QUETTA, June 29 (APP): Four personnel of the Frontier Corps Balochistan embraced martyrdom when they came under attack by unknown armed assailants on Double Road in the provincial capital, here on Wednesday.

The police sources said that FC personnel were standing at a motor workshop to get their vehicles repaired when unknown armed men riding motorcycles came there and opened indiscriminate fire.

“Four personnel of the FC suffered gunshot injuries in armed attack,” they said. The assailants managed to escape from the scene.

The injured died on their way to hospital.

According to doctors, the injured received multiple bullet wounds which caused their death.

The dead were identified as Tanvir, Atique, Sharif and Awwal Daraz.
The law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the entire area to trace the suspects.

Further investigation was underway.

LAHORE, Jun 29 (APP): Federal Ministers Khurram Dastagir Khan and Sheikh Aftab Ahmed called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif here on Wednesday.

Talking to the federal ministers, the Chief Minister said that national economy has improved due to tangible economic policies of the government of Pakistan Muslim League-N, adding that promotion of trade and economic activities with more investment have resulted in creation of new job opportunities.

He said government has achieved remarkable success on the economic front during the last three years and the journey of peace, progress and hope has started in the country.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan will be made a peaceful and economically strong country under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

ISLAMABAD, June 29 (APP): Minister of State Muhammad Baligh-ur-
Rehman will attend the Agricultue Package Awarenes Seminar on 30th
June, 2016 as a chief guest at Auditorium of Arid Agriculture
University Rawalpindi, said a press release on Wednesday.