ISLAMABAD: Government of Pakistan is giving priority to the well-being of the people of Baluchistan hence Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is working on the same lines for the socio-economic uplift of the province as per the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. This was said by Chairperson BISP Madame Farzana Raja while talking to a delegation of PPP General Secretaries from Baluchistan and who called on her here in BISP Secretariat.

BISP’s role in Baluchistan was the topic under discussion during which the delegation raised certain issues that need to be addressed. Madame Farzana Raja said that under the Baluchistan Package launched by current government, BISP initiated nationwide poverty survey in the province on priority basis whereas all the projects under the programme are being introduced in Baluchistan for the welfare of the masses. She said that the government is committed to bring masses of Baluchistan in national mainstream of progress and prosperity and BISP will leave no stone unturned in this regard. Chairperson issued directives to proactively resolve issues faced by the people of Baluchistan related to BISP.

Later, recently elected office bearers of Peoples Youth Organization (PYO) called on Madame Farzana Raja. She congratulated the youth members on their achievements and said that she salutes President Asif Ali Zardari and Mohtarma Faryal Talpur for steering the party according to the mission and aspirations of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. The delegation of newly elected PYO members was consisting of President Peoples Youth Organization Rwp Raja Inayet ur Rehman, General Secretary PPP Isb City Shabbir Babar and President PYO Isb City Raja Imran Janjua.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani nation is all set to celebrate its 66th independence day with full pomp and show on August 14 14 across the country including USA, UK, France and other countries of the world with tribute to its founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who single-handedly attained this motherland after going through sheer hard work and struggle.

Pakistan’s appearance on the map of the world was his great achievement for which our great Quaid would be remembered forever in the hearts of all communities of Pakistan.

Preparations in this regard are in full swing in all cities and districts of the country to celebrate independence day with traditional zeal and enthusiasm.

Despite fasting and the scorching heat the passion of the people has not dulled to mark the day.

People, especially children, are enthusiastically purchasing national flags, buntings, posters, stickers and candles to decorate their homes on the day.

A number of social, cultural and literary organizations and educational institutes have chalked out various programs to mark the day.

All important government buildings, including the Parliament House, Supreme Court of Pakistan, PM’s House, Presidency, Pakistan Secretariat and Faisal Mosque have been illuminated as part of the Independence Day celebrations.

“This is the freedom day of Pakistan. On this day, the Muslim nation of the sub-continent got freedom from the British. This is very valuable day of the Pakistan history. So the entire nation of Pakistan celebrates this day with great zeal ana passion.

August 14, 1947, represents the victory of those politicians who burned the mid-night oil and freed the Muslims from the repression of the British. Men, women and children from all over Pakistan celebrate Independence Day to pay their respect to those patriotic leaders because of whom this nation is breathing an air of freedom. On this day, people from all religions come together as one and celebrate this important moment of their history.

“Our aim is to make Pakistan completely polio free. We aim that no child lives in the fear of being crippled for life,” she said. Aseefa stressed the need for producing polio vaccines within the country and hoped that Pakistan-China Memorandum of Understanding would help start manufacture of vaccine in Pakistan as well.

Emphasizing upon child health being the collective responsibility of all, she called for making a determined effort that no child should miss out polio drops. Aseefa pointed that some extremists were opposing polio eradication plans.

“In Pakistan of the Quaid-i-Azam and Quaid-i-Awam, we cannot allow extremists to stop us from carrying forward the welfare agenda. With democracy taking roots, these forces are bound to fail,” she remarked.

Chairperson BISP Farzana Raja said with President Zardari as the chief patron of polio eradication program and Aseefa Bhutto as ambassador, the program would prove as a success in coordination with BISP. She said that Mohtarma Shaheed introduced a revolutionary agenda in the social sector which was based on investment in health and education.
Ms. Farzana Raja said that polio eradication campaign was initiated by Mohtarma Shaheed aiming to save the children, the future of Pakistan. Following the same agenda, she said, BISP is now recognized as a landmark initiative in helping the sufferings of those who are less fortunate.
She pledged her support for the cause of polio eradication and said that an awareness campaign in this regard is being launched in FATA from 20th June 2011 whereas the practice will also be carried out in far off districts of Balochistan and Sindh as well.

Chairperson BISP said the survey teams of BISP would work in close coordination with the polio teams ensuring every household was covered.

A documentary on polio eradication program was also screened showing the control over disease through concerted national efforts.

He disclosed this while addressing an important meeting of the Sialkot based business tycoons, and local politicians held at SialkotInternationalAirport here after this noon.

Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa, federal ministers Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Mian Manzur Ahmed Wattoo and local PPP parliamentarians were also present on this occasion.

PM assured that the remaining special grant of Rs.500 million out of total Rs.750 million would soon be released to SialkotInternationalAirport by the federal government. Earlier, PM had released Rs. 250 million special grant to Sialkot airport during his visit to Sialkot on April 24, 2010.

Gillani assured the country’s business community about the continuity of the government’s effective and positive economical and trade policies for strengthening the national economy and promotion of sustainable trade activities in the country.

PM said that the maintenance of the upsurge in country’s economy was the main focus of the country, as the government was making all out sincere efforts to bring a revolution of industrial and industrial development through the improvement and development of country’s SMEs sector.

PM said that the government was making all out efforts for bringing boom in national exports, besides, creating strong industrial base through the provision of maximum job opportunities to the unemployed youths.

He added that the government was making adequate efforts for enabling the country to stand in the line of the economically developed nations, as the present government was committed to inject new life into country’s sick economy.

Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani said that the government was fully aware of the perturbing problems being faced by the country’s business community and government was making all out sincere efforts for the amicable solution of these problems by taking the business community into confidence.

He said that the present government was making all out efforts for bringing boom in national exports, besides, creating strong industrial base through the provision of maximum job opportunities to the unemployed youths.

He said that the future of country’s economical developmental so lie in the development of the SMEs sector, as the government was also making direly needed steps for improving the country’s Communication Infrastructure.

Copyright PPI (Pakistan Press International), 2011

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday urged all the political forces of the country to foil attempts of the “enemies of Pakistan” who were trying to create a wedge between the nation and armed forces.

Speaking to state television, she said it was time to stand behind the Armed Forces like a solid rock and boost their morale.

“They should be assured that they are not alone and the whole nation is behind them,” she said.

The Information Minister said the DG ISI in his address to the parliament pointed out that some members of the political parties were criticising the Pakistan Army and country’s intelligence services and said acts like this would go against the national interests and strengthen the enemy.

“They need to be supported at this critical juncture,” he said and mentioned the thousands of sacrifices that the country’s Armed Forces have rendered to make Pakistan safe from the terrorists.

She said the DG ISI also recalled that since 1947, the agency played a key role in safeguarding the country and apprehended hundreds of hard core terrorists and high value targets, this fact has been acknowledged by the world, time and again.

He said the ISI had in fact rendered al-Qaeda paralysed and broken its back, even before the killing of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, by shattering its entire network.

Dr Ashiq Awan said the “comprehensive briefing” also addressed the security concerns of the parliamentarians about the country’s strategic assets.

She said a highly sensitive and modern security system was in place to guard Pakistan’s strategic assets that were spread across the country and warned that no one should even consider casting an evil eye.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the in-camera session was also addressed by the DG Military Operations who spoke in detail about the ground realities and how the Pakistan Army reacted to the unilateral action by the United States Army.

The Deputy Air Chief spoke about the availability and status of the radars along the Pakistan-Afghan borders. He also mentioned the factors involved and how the PAF responded.

The DG ISI said that the United States used stealth technology on its helicopters that could not be detected by the radars.

“It was due to the technological superiority that they managed to get in,” undetected, she quoted the DG ISI as saying.

She said it was informed that fully armed US aircraft were ready to react to any Pakistani reaction.

The Information Minister said the DG ISI presented himself for full accountability before any forum and said if there was any “negligence or intentional failure”, he was ready to face the consequences.

He, however said that it was also the responsibility of the provincial government, the local police and related agencies to have information about the al-Qaeda chief.

“We are, of course, not shying away from our responsibility, but all must share their failure,” she quoted the DG ISI as saying.

The DG ISI assured the nation that despite this shortcoming, the country’s defence forces were fully ready to avert any misadventure.

He was, however critical of the role of some media and termed it “irresponsible” in the wake of the incident and said at a time when the focus of entire world was on Pakistan, the media should show that the Pakistani nation was neither weak nor divided.

The Information Minister said the briefing, followed by the question-answer session, also covered the Pakistan-US relationship over the years and it was pointed that Pakistan needs to redefine its ties.

She said the DG ISI asked the Parliament to discuss Pak-US relationship threadbare and come up with a national policy how to go about it.

Regarding the reaction of the Parliamentarians on the briefing, Dr Fridous said there was a positive reaction from all the members. She, however said that it was expected from the opposition to act with responsibility and avoid criticism of the army and the intelligence agencies as it could benefit the enemies of Pakistan.

She reminded that it was the constitutional and legal binding on the members not to discuss the briefing at television talk shows, in the best interest of the nation.

ISLAMABAD: The Director General of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt, Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha while briefing the joint parliament “in camera” session regarding the Abbotabad Operation, said that the May 2 incident was his institution’s failure, DawnNews reported.

During the joint sitting of parliament, Pakistan’s military and security officials delivered details about the US operation in which Osama Bin Laden was killed.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, heads of all three armed forces and DG, ISI attended the meeting.

The ISI head Shuja Pasha asked the nation and parliament to forgive him and stated that if the parliament orders his resignation he would be willing to step down.

Pasha said that Pakistan is facing several troubles and does not have the latest technology. He said that ensuring the security of the country is the top-most priority of his institution.

He further stated that currently contact between the ISI and the CIA are next to nothing.

Earlier PM Gilani said that all reservations of the members were to be addressed in parliament. He further said that the people are confident about their institutions and the government will take care of the security and sovereignty of the country.