Islamabad—The
Federal Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday
decided in principle to regularise the services
of contract employees from Grade 1 to 15 who
have rendered more than two years of service.
The Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also
decided that the contractual employees in PIA
with more than nine months or more of service
will also be regularised
Lahore—Provincial Finance Ministers have said
that poor people will not be taxed in the next
budget and tax system will be improved. In a
meeting in Lahore, NFC, provincial independence
and tax issues were discussed in which ministers
decided that poor people would be given subsidy
in the next budget and government servant’s pays
would be increased. Punjab Finance Minister
Tanvir Ashraf Kaira said that provinces could
provide more benefits to their people if Federal
Government increases funds.
AN INDEPENDENT fore ign policy is a beguiling
but misconceived and misleading slogan. In a
globalized world with ever-growing
inter-dependence not even great powers with
strong economies formulate policies without
taking into account views and reactions of
influential states. Less powerful, especially
developing countries dependent on external
cooperation for extrication from stagnation and
poverty, can ill-afford to ignore international
repercussions of their decisions. Let alone
foreign policy that impinges on relations with
other members of the world community, even
internal affairs traditionally barred to
external interference such as political system,
human rights and governance issues are no longer
exempt from international scrutiny. A provident
state therefore conducts cost-benefit analysis
before making policy decisions, especially those
that affect legitimate interests of other
states.
Lahore—A special session of Punjab Assembly has
been summoned at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (Friday),
sources disclosed here on Wednesday.
According to the sources, the election of the CM
Punjab is expected to be held during the session
and PML-N president Mian Shahbaz Sharif would be
named as the new Punjab chief minister while the
interim CM Dost Muhammad Khosa would willingly
offer his resignation.
Washington—The US Congress Tuesday notified
delivery of 10 refurbished F-16 fighter aircraft
to Pakistan. Of the 12 refurbished planes,
Pakistan is getting from the United States, two
have already been delivered to it. The country
will receive eight jets over two months, four
each in June and July this year, while the
remaining two F-16s will be delivered
subsequently. Pakistan is receiving the planes
as a major non-NATO ally of the United States
and their provision signifies close defence
relations between the two countries. Pakistan
also signed an agreement with the United States
in 2006 for purchase of 18 new F-16 C and F-16-D
aircraft.
THE founder of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb bristling
with indignation, after four years of enforced
silence is finally getting a chance to fight
back. He has denied passing on nuclear secrets.
Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, regarded as a hero by
Pakistanis, wants to set the record straight.
Lahore—About 450 ex-servicemen belonging to
Lahore region, announcing their participation in
the lawyers’ long march, have demanded
impeachment and trial of President Musharraf.
They also differ with the Kashmir policy of
President Musharraf stressing need to to solve
the issue under the UN resolutions.
Addressing a press conference here Wednesday,
Major General (Retd) Shafique Ahmad along with
other representatives of ex-servicemen including
some retired Generals, Brigadiers and Colonels
called for restoration of deposed judges to Nov
2, 2007 position and declared they will not
accept the constitutional package.
Karachi—The exemption of the capital gain tax
till 2010 injected a buying extravaganza in the
market sentiments which proved instrumental to
take the market to the upper circuit with
recovery of a glorious 610 points gain to the
index here today. It was not only the KSE-100
Index level that finished at 13,090 points but
the overall trade volume also surged to 205
million at the close of the session. The dealers
were of the view that the remedial steps have
improved investors’ interest that is also poised
to boost more interest in upcoming trading
sessions.
Islamabad—The injustices of the previous
government towards the Balochistan province
dominated the Senate proceedings on Wednesday.
However, the coalition government promised to
address the grievances of Baloch people.
Senators from the largest province voiced
concerns over the dubious role of secret
agencies in kidnapping the people even after the
February 18 polls.
Islamabad—The
Federal Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday
decided in principle to regularise the services
of contract employees from Grade 1 to 15 who
have rendered more than two years of service.
The Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also
decided that the contractual employees in PIA
with more than nine months or more of service
will also be regularised 
