Development budget halved

ISLAMABAD: Secretary Finance Dr Farooq Masood has informed the Senate Standing committee for Communication that its development budget of Rs240 billion has been reduced to Rs120 billion because of financial crunch. As per details the Standing Committee presided over by chairman Wali Ahmed Badini was briefed by secretary finance Dr Farooq Masood that due to financial crunch the development funds of the ministries have been slashed.

The committee members have protested against the decision and said they were assured by the PM that there would be no reduction in the development fund of Balochistan.
The committee took notice of the protest and summoned the AGPR in the next session to submit its report. Chairman NHA informed the committee that Rs150 million for Lawari tunnel, and Rs200 million Qalat-Chaman project has been issued.
Chairman planning commission has said that the commission will try its best to release the entire allocated budget for Balochistan but the finance ministry is refusing to release the funds, PM has been informed about the situation in this regard. Committee member Raja Zafar ul Haq has said that AGPR charges 2 per cent commission on the release of all the funds which is wrong. On this the committee summoned AGPR authorities in the next meeting. The committee has asked for the project report for construction of Khusha’al Bridge in the next session of CDWP. Zahid Khan informed that the 1992 project of road construction between Hasan Abdal to Mansehra is still pending and no funds have been released for the project, this will scare off Asian Development Bank as they were suppose to do the funding. -Agencies

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Posted in: AGPR,budget,construction,crunch,development,Dr Farooq,Farooq,financial,financial crunch,PM,project,report

Gilani sees no threat to govt

Says ‘Q’ assures support to government

BHERA: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has reiterated that government is not facing any threats and rather will complete its constitutional term. He was talking to media at Bhera Services Area while commuting between Lahore and Islamabad via motorway on Tuesday.
During the course of his conversation, he said that PPP is a national party and it will complete its term. Time demands from all political parties who believe in democracy to collectively solve the crises.

PM also said country is facing terrorism threats other than inflation and unemployment that we received in inheritance. He said finance ministry is briefing leaders of all parliamentary parties related to recent increase in petrol prices. He said terrorism and floods are among the other contributors to inflation, which we are trying to cope with.
While responding to a question, PM said Ch. Shujaat Hussain has ensured him to support government for the eradication of inflation and to improve law and order situation.
He further said we are trying to remove all reservations of JUI-F and MQM and added that Fazl-ur-Rehman left coalition because of dismissing Azam Swati whereas MQM holds reservations with Home Minister Sindh Zulfiqar Ali Mirza.
It has also been learnt that during his stay in Bhera, member of PML-N’s central committee Barrister Pir Farooq Bahadur-ul-Haq Shah met PM Gilani and extended a special message.-Agencies 

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Posted in: Ali,inflation,Minister,MQM,PM,PM Gilani,PML,Shujaat Hussain,support,that,threat,threats

MQM opts for Opposition

Govt loses majority in NA; PM maybe asked for fresh vote of confidence
* Now the ball is in PML-N court, say analysts  l Altaf Hussain telephones political leaders
* MQM terms POL price hike back-breaking for masses; says landlords should be taxed

Staff Reporter/ Agencies

KARACHI: A sever blow was dealt to PPP-coalition government on Sunday when Muttahida Qaumi Movement — largest coalition partner — announced to carve itself out of alliance citing several reasons, adding government never gave an ear to MQM’s advices, henceforth Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has lost his mandate in the House as government left with 158 members on its side, while Opposition numbers fattens to 174.

It is likely that today (Monday) Prime Minister may be asked to take a fresh vote of confidence, where political analysts say that it would be a tall task for PM Gilani to prove his majority.
According to the press briefing of MQM leaders, the decision to sit in the Opposition was taken by MQM’s Coordination Committee’s meeting held simultaneously in Karachi and London.

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Posted in: Assembly,Faisal,media,MQM,National,National Assembly,PM,PML,Prime Minister,Senate,that

CM Punjab returns from Turkey with big hopes

CM Punjab returns from Turkey with big hopes

Says Turkey vows to set up 150MW plant, a varsity

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that a university and a power plant of having capacity of generating 150 megawatts would be setup in Punjab with the cooperation of Turkey. He was talking to media persons at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore after his arrival back from Turkey, here on Sunday.

Shahbaz Sharif termed his visit to Turkey as successful and said that number of MoUs for mutual cooperation in various sectors have been signed with Turkish government and private sector during the visit.
He said that Turkish government would extend financial assistance to Punjab government to setup a university and a power plant with 150 megawatts power generation capacity.

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Posted in: CM,cooperation,gas,help,Minister,PM,Punjab,Shahbaz Sharif,Sharif,that,Turkey

Malik, Rabbani fail to lure Fazl

JUI-F Chief refuses to rejoin government

ISLAMABAD: Government cronies on Wednesday made other effort to woo back JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazl-ur Rehman back into the fold of the government however the JUI-F Chief has refused to review of his decision.

According to sources Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Head of Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms Raza Rabbani, and 10-member Parliamentary Delegation from Fata led by Munir Khan Orakzai met JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazl separately at his residence and asked the Maulana to Fazl reconsider his decision.

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Posted in: back,decision,issues,JUI,Malik,Maulana Fazl,Minister,party,PM,Rehman Malik,that

Fazl asks Zardari to replace PM

ISLAMABAD: Terming him a threat to the democratic process in the country, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) called upon President Zardari to replace Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

During a press briefing here Tuesday, Fazal asked the President to take strict action against the PM for derailing the democratic process in the country and acting against the reconciliatory policy of the PPP government.
“Bring a new Prime Minister for it is impossible for the democratic process to run in Gilani’s being in power”, the JUI-F chief asked the incumbent government.
He asserted that he was in touch with all the political parties regarding the current political scenario, however added he was expecting some big decision from MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
“We stick to our guns, but the problems facing the country cannot be resolved till the government does not take a solid step”, Fazal maintained. He deplored the political situation in the country. When asked about Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) clash, he said that PML-N has got its own philosophy but it did target MQM first.
Regarding his trip to Saudi Arabia, Fazl said he is going to offer Umrah and added that his tour has nothing to do with Hajj scandal or its investigation. -NNI

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Posted in: chief,country,Fazal,JUI,Minister,MQM,PM,PML,President,Prime Minister,that,Zardari