Islamabad—The Economic Survey, released here
Tuesday, says that the outgoing year was bad for
Pakistan’s economy because of internal and
external shocks of very high intensity and the
economy growing 5.8 percent during the outgoing
year as against the target of 7.2%. Launching
the survey, a pre-budget document, at a news
conference, Finance Minister Syed Naveed Qamar
said the year saw several political and economic
events, both on domestic and external fronts,
occurring unexpectedly. He said these
events adversely impacted the performance of the
economy. The performance of agriculture has been
far from satisfactory as it grew by 1.5 percent
as against 3.7 percent last year and target of
4.8 percent.
Multan—The deposed Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar
Mohammad Chaudhry was accorded a historic
welcome on his arrival at Multan airport here on
Tuesday and was showered with rose petals by the
lawyers and the civil society members present on
the scene. While talking to media men at the
welcome ceremony on airport vice president of
PML (N) Javed Hashmi vowed to support the
lawyers’ movement on behalf of Nawaz Sharif and
other party leadership will participate in the
sit-in protest before the parliament along with
lawyers, he added.
Islamabad—The agriculture growth performance has
been far from satisfactory during the financial
year 2007-08 as it grew by 1.5 percent against
the target of 4.8 percent. According to Pakistan
Economic Survey 2007-08, which was launched here
on Tuesday by Federal Ministry for Finance, Syed
Naveed Qamar, the agriculture performance had
grown by 3.7 percent during the last year. The
poor showing was mainly on account of dismal
performance of major crops such as wheat and
cotton, the survey added.
Islamabad—The Federal budget for the next
financial year is being announced Wednesday
evening. The budget will be presented in the
National Assembly at 6.30 p.m by the Federal
Minister for Finance Syed Naveed Qamar. It is
expected that the Finance Minister would
announce relief package for poor segments of the
society aimed at improving their socio-economic
conditions. The budget is also expected to
provide relief to the salaried class and the
pensioners who have been hit hard by rising
inflation. The budget is expected to focus on
correcting the country’s economy which has been
showing a downward trend.
Islamabad—Wheat should be exported to
Afghanistan at a special price as a friendly
gesture to the brotherly country, Prime Minister
Yousuf Raza Gilani gave the directive.
It may be recalled that PM recently allowed
export of 50,000 metric tons of wheat to
Afghanistan while currently wheat cannot be
exported from Pakistan. The PM directed that
wheat should be exported to Afghanistan at the
lowest rates. Talking to an eight member Afghan
delegation, Gilani said a stable Afghanistan is
in the best interest of both Afghanistan and
Pakistan as neither country can grow and prosper
without peace in the region.
Islamabad—Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior,
Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that the Prime
Minister has constituted a committee to find out
a strategy in consultation with lawyers for the
smooth holding of long march in the Federal
Capital. “We are also discussing route of the
procession with the representatives of lawyers
and hope to reach a good solution tomorrow,” he
informed the National Assembly while responding
to a point of order in this regard. He said a
procession of lawyers, civil society and workers
of some political parties would be coming to
Islamabad on June 12.
Islamabad—Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud
Al Faisal on Tuesday said relationship existing
between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has always
been warm, cordial and brotherly that would
further strengthen with the passage of time. He
was talking to the Pakistani delegation
currently on a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia led by Asif Ali Zardari, which called on
him at his office. The delegation also included
Chaudhary Ahmad Mukhtar Minister for Commerce,
Defence and Textile, Chairman NRB Dr. Asim and
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Admiral (R)
Shahid Karimullah.
Islamabad—In a bid to block long march on
Islamabad the Constitution Avenue has been
blocked with huge containers and barbed wires as
well as paramilitary forces were deployed in
surrounding of parliament house, Prime Minister
House and presidency along with the police
forces. D. Chowk has been blocked with ten
containers and entry and exit routes of several
others avenues have also been blocked. The
security has been beefed up and snap checking
has been started at Constitution Avenue and
other venues leading toward parliament house
besides deploying paramilitary troops and police
on important check points and places.
Islamabad—Federal Minister for Information
Sherry Rehman says PPP never recognized
Musharraf as a legal and constitutionally
approved president, but he is “a reality” and
equally “a compulsion”. Talking to a private TV
channel she said that recognizing the ground
realities was not easy for some people and PPPP
had not come to power through NRO but through
the power of the people in February elections.
The ex-government had gifted them with a bitter
pillbox, which has been inherited by PPPP, and
the party needed some time to get rid of the sad
situation prevailing in the country.
