Tag: Govt

TOKYO - Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Tuesday called on Cairo to form a "democratic government" as several hundred thousand Egyptians massed in an eighth day of protest against President Hosni Mubarak.
"It is desirable that Egypt will undergo a transition to a democratic government in a peaceful manner by communicating fully with the people," Kan told reporters. Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said he wanted the Mubarak government to listen to the Egyptian people and make

LAHORE - The federal government has sanctioned Rs 120 for the Pakistan Hockey Federation and has promised to increase the amount in the next year to meet the PHF's demand of Rs 500 million. The PHF executive board in its last meeting approved a budget of Rs 500 million with a deficit of Rs 300 million.
PHF secretary Asif Bajwa had said that they will raise the deficit amount from different quarters and would ask the government to come to its support. It has been learnt that the

ISLAMABAD - Urging the government to mend its ways, the opposition on Monday warned the treasury benches of an uprising in Pakistan such as those in Tunisia and Egypt, anticipating that Pakistan was fast forwarding to a revolt.
Taking part in the debate on the price hike in the country, Humayoun Saifullah of the PML-Q urged the government to introduce reforms in the existing financial system to check the mounting inflation. Bahadur Khan Sihar said a constitutional amendment

ISLAMABAD - The government on Monday gave a nod to a private members' bill in the Senate suggesting that Friday be a weekly holiday instead of Sunday. The bill led to a heated debate on rules of procedure and parliamentary traditions with the Awami National Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement opposing the bill, and religious elements supporting it.
In the absence of Law Minister Babar Awan, Arbab Alamgir Khan, when asked by the chair, did not oppose the bill introduced by

LAHORE - Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) Chairman Sohail Lashari has demanded the government play a greater role to deal with stagnant industrial activity, rising unemployment and the escalating prices of everyday items.
He urged the government come up with a solution to the economic stagnation of the country. He stated that the acute energy crisis has crippled the industrial sector leaving industrialists with no option but to shut down industrial

ISLAMABAD - Complete record of Reko Diq deals with the foreign exploration and mining companies will be presented by the Balochistan government before the Supreme Court today (Monday).
Advocate General Balochistan Salahuddin Mengal will present the record before a four-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday.
The bench is hearing petitions against leasing of Reko

MULTAN - Government will persist in its policy of reconciliation, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani said while talking to a delegation led by president of district bar association, Arbab Syed. Gillani said government had taken such steps as restoration of 1973 Constitution along with implementing 18th and 19th amendments.
The PM also affirmed government's commitment and strong belief in media's freedom and judiciary's independence. He stressed that lawyers, civil society media

LAHORE - The federal government should not increase fuel prices otherwise a "tsunami of inflation" will hit the country, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Pervaiz Malik said on Sunday.
In a press statement, he said that the federal government would not be allowed to increase fuel prices on the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) pressure and if people come on the roads following protests in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen, rulers would have to

SANAA - Dozens of activists calling for the ouster of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh clashed on Saturday with the regime's supporters in Sanaa, an AFP journalist reported. Plainclothes police also attacked the demonstrators who marched to the Egyptian embassy in Sanaa chanting "Ali, leave leave" and "Tunisia left, Egypt after it and Yemen in the coming future."
The chants were referring to the ouster of veteran Tunisian strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali early this month and

SHERGARH - Jamiat Uleema-e-Islam Chief Fazlur Rehman has said staying in the government or otherwise is a secondary issue. "We should have our own priorities before us. To be in or out of government is a secondary issue," Fazlur Rehman said this while talking to his party delegation in Mardan on Saturday.
The delegation comprised provincial media advisor, Faqir ud Din, Saleem Haleemi, Abdul Maula, Muhammad Ali and Haji Ahmad Khan. He underlined that peace could be ensured only if

LAHORE - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has revealed that the federal government had planned to implicate him and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the murder of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer after "colouring the assassination as a political design".
"All was set to get a case registered under Section 302 against us, but the prime minister opposed the decision," Nawaz spilled the beans in his address at a book launching ceremony on Friday.

ISLAMABAD - Another showdown between the government and opposition parties is expected as the cash-strapped administration is likely to launch another push for an increase in the prices of petroleum products on January 31.
The government will again be walking a tightrope when the proposal is presented during the meeting of the parliamentary committee that will review the petroleum products pricing mechanism and also during the PPP-PML-N talks on proposed economic reforms. An

FAISALABAD - The Faisalabad police have drawn out a new strategy for a speedy action in the investigation of rape cases. According to the new strategy, the police will arrange the DNA tests of rape victims at government expenses. The decision has been taken for swift proceedings in the investigation and to relieve the victims of the heavy charges of the tests that cost Rs 15,000.
SSP Dr Usman has directed all the officers concerned to take into account the new policy while

ISLAMABAD - The federal and provincial governments were asked by the Supreme Court on Thursday to ensure Rs7,000 per month as minimum salary in public and private sector of the country, to carry out surveys and to punish those who are reluctant to pay as much.
SC also ordered the establishing of complaint cells in every district for implementing this directive, also seeking report on the same by February 14.
A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the government is formulating a new economic framework to put Pakistan on a trajectory of sustainable economic growth and development.
He said this while talking to a British delegation led by UK Department for International Development chief Economist Alan Winter in the Parliament House. He said the new economic growth framework envisaging market reforms, improving urban management and engaging youth and community would

ISLAMABAD - Dissatisfied with the government's dilly-dallying, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday decided not to give even one day to it beyond the announced 45-day deadline for the implementation of the reforms agenda.
At a meeting chaired by Nawaz Sahrif, who was also briefed by the PML-N team on the negotiations with the government, the party decided not to panic but agreed to wait for the expiration of the deadline before taking any extreme step.
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BEIRUT - Lebanon's prime minister designate Najib Mikati said he will seek to form a cabinet of technocrats if defeated rival Saad al-Hariri's supporters reject his call for them to join his government.
Mikati, a wealthy businessman who was nominated with the support of Iran-backed Hezbollah, started talks on Thursday to form a government to succeed Hariri, who was brought down by Hezbollah and its allies two weeks ago. The Shi'ite militant group expects its members to be