Pension benefits raised - Oman Daily Observer

NEWS IN BRIEF
Islamic Bank announces
$3 billion support
A HIGH-level mission from Islamic
Development Bank (IDB) that visited
Pakistan from March 13-22 announced
indicative financing of around $3 billion
(Rs 225 billion) that the IDB Group will
give for multi-sector and area-focused
programmes during 2012-2015. The
mission visited the country to develop
Member Country Partnership Strategy
(MCPS), which will decide the details of
co-operation between Pakistan and the
bank over the next four years.
Mohammad Jamal al Saati, Director,
Country Department of IDB, announced
that IDB will consider expanding its local
office in Pakistan to improve and speed
up the implementation of the IDB-funded
projects. He said Pakistan was the second
largest beneficiary of the IDB Group financing
among 56 member countries.
China declares 500
student scholarships
CHINA has announced 500 scholarships
for Pakistani students for the next
three years, whereas the number of
scholarships will be increased each year,
Chinese Embassy Cultural Counsellor
Yang Linhai announced here yesterday.
He made the announcement while
addressing a conference on ‘Pak-China
Friendship Year 2011’ cultural activities
reception and opening ceremony
of Chinese experience centre. The
event was organised by the Confucius
Institute, National University of Modern
Languages (NUML).
Yang Linhai appreciated the efforts
of the NUML Confucius Institute. He
lauded the performance of the Chinese
and Pakistani students and said that the
students studying Chinese language
in the country are the future diplomats
who can play their dynamic role in
intensifying deeper understanding of
the two countries as both the countries
are good neighbours to each other.
“The leadership of both the countries
has focused on the student-to-student
relationships. For this purpose we are
supporting Pakistani student delegations
to visit China,” he said.
Malaysia to support Halal
sector development
MALAYSIA is ready to share its
experiences with Pakistan to develop
its Halal industry, according to Halal
Industry Development Corporation
Malaysia Chief Executive Dato Seri
Jamil Biden. Addressing an International
Halal Conference yesterday, Biden said,
“You do not need to spend 30 years, as
we want to see you emerging as a big
player in the global Halal market in
coming years. We are ready to share all
our experiences with Pakistan.”
Biden, part of a nine member
delegation, at the Halal Conference 2011,
said, “Malaysia has made some very
strict laws for the industry, keeping in
mind that Halal means ethical.”
Panel launches inquiry
against state TV
THE Competition Commission of
Pakistan (CCP) launched an inquiry
against the management of the state-run
Pakistan Television for collecting Rs
35 as its licence fee through electricity
bills from each and every consumer
of power utilities since July 1, 2004,
officials said yesterday. CCP Chairperson
Rahat Kaunain Hassan told a select
group of newsmen that the Commission
proceeding aims to ascertain whether
such collection of TV licence fee remains
justified under the law.
The decision to collect TV fees
through electricity bills was made when
former president Pervez Musharraf was
in power and implemented on July 1,
2004 through Finance Bill. Billions
of rupees were generated per annum
through this scheme which helped run
the state-owned media. Initially, TV
fee was imposed at the rate of Rs 25,
which was later increased to Rs 35 per
connection.
Exhibition of paintings by
mentally retarded patients
A PAINTING done by a mentally
retarded patient from Fountain House
is about to be hung up in an exhibition
very soon in Lahore. Anyone looking at
the painting may think it is ridiculous,
especially if they see it out of context
but Dr Asim Amjad can see a lot in it.
Dr Amjad glances at a paper with what
seems like a child’s drawing on it, done
in black crayon, with round shapes
drawn on it. But then the entire drawing
is covered with jagged lines drawn up
and down as if the artist has trashed the
painting. In fact, he has not.
“See these shapes?” she asks, tracing
his finger on the circles that have been
drawn without any connection it seems.
“These are typical of patients who
have mental retardation (MR). Call it
their instinct or whatever but circles
are common — in fact very common
— among MR patients. And look at
this drastic colouring that he has done.
It shows so much more!” His eyes are
pensive as he tries to work out what it
is the patient is about in one glance. But
one glance is never enough.
ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan Day was
celebrated yesterday across the country
and with traditional zeal and enthusiasm
to commemorate the passage of the Lahore
Resolution, later called, the Pakistan
Resolution, which eventually led to
the formation of Pakistan.
The day dawned with special prayers
for progress and prosperity of the country
and with 31 gun salutes in the federal
capital as well as 21 gun salutes in provincial
capitals.
The national flag was hoisted on
important public and private buildings
throughout the country and all Pakistani
missions abroad. This year too, the permanent
feature of armed forces parade
on Pakistan Day was cancelled owing to
security reasons as well as hectic engagement
of troops in the tribal areas of the
country to fight against armed groups.
Governmental, political, cultural, social
and other organisations chalked out
various programmes to mark the day in a
befitting manner. It was a public holiday
yesterday.
In the provincial capital, Lahore, several
dignitaries visited the mausoleum of
Allama Muhammad Iqbal to pay homage
to the great poet and philosopher. People
belonging to different walks of life also
visited the mausoleum and laid wreaths
on the grave.
16 PAKISTAN
OMAN DAILY Observer
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011
National Day celebrated with traditional zeal
LAHORE — Pakistani government
will fully stimulate the private sector
for conducting modern research
in agriculture sector to make the
country self sufficient in food, said
Punjab Agriculture Minister Ahmad
Ali Aulakh here yesterday.
He said that private-public partnership
in agriculture can contribute
collectively for evolving new
varieties of the best quality seeds of
all crops. He said both sectors can
share their field experiences and
vast potentials with each other and
finally nation will be its major beneficiary.
He said that government has allocated
a sum of Rs1 billion exclusively
for Punjab Agriculture Research
Board (PARB) for conducting modern
research in agriculture sector to
help boost agricultural production
in the province.
He said special emphasis has
been laid on modern research for
developing disease resistant new
seed varieties for commercial production,
introduction and application
of new agriculture technology
for excellent yield of all crops.
He said Ayub Agriculture Research
Institute, Faisalabad and all
other research centres of all crops
PESHAWAR — She is just 12 and suffering
from thalassaemia but lucky too
to get her wish to be a flyer in the army
fulfilled.
“I don’t know how long am I going
to live, but for me it’s like a dream come
true,” said the soft spoken Naima Gul
from Mingora, Swat, who was granted
her wish by Chief of Army Staff Gen
Ashfaq Parvez Kayani here yesterday
on the special occasion of celebrations
of Pakistan day.
As a Grade 4 student, she had written
to the army chief some time back that
she wanted to become the first female
Sindh Governor, Dr shrat-ul-Ebad
Khan and other dignitaries visited the
including rice, cotton, sugarcane
and pulses etc working in different
locations of the province have also
been directed to make all out efforts
for innovation of new varieties.
The minister said another sum of
Rs 2 billion was also being spent for
2,500 new water courses for proper
utilisation of water for agriculture
with zero wastage.
Aulakh said that an additional
subsidy of Rs 4 billion was also given
to farmers across the province during
the last couple of years for purchasing
modern agriculture implement
besides provision of bulldozers
on rent and laser land levellers at
highly subsidised rate to peasants
on first come and first serve basis
through transparent computerised
balloting.
Ahmad Ali Aulakh said Punjab
was the only province in the country
where cultivators were being offered
services at their door-steps.
He said that first time in history,
9 solar tubewells would be
installed at selected government
farms in Punjab under a pilot
project. — Internews
SOLDIERS march during a National Day ceremony in Karachi yesterday. — AFP
pilot in the Army Aviation one day. And
yesterday she was inducted as a pilot in
9-squad on the first female flyer in army
aviation’s history.
“1 will live for my country, and will
die for it,” she declared on the occasion.
“In whatever capacity my beloved
country needs my services, I’m ready to
perform despite suffering from a fatal
disease.”
The ceremony started with the recitation
from the Holy Quran, before her
medical check-up when she arrived in
the morning at the Aviation Base, followed
by a welcome address by Lt-Col
mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad
Ali Jinnah in Karachi and laid floral
Govt to promote research
in agriculture by pvt sector
ISLAMABAD — The land-
mark Supreme Court judgement
on the National Accountability
Bureau (NAB)
chairman’s appointment has
closed all doors for the Presidency
as well as the government,
present or future, to
appoint the anti-corruption
apparatus at high posts.
The apex court clearly
concluded that those facing
inquiries could not be given
the right to make such a crucial
appointment. The judgement
leaves no room for the
government to continue using
NAB to cover up corruption
instead of curbing it.
Written by Justice Asif
Saeed Khan Khosa, it said:
“The National Accountability
Bureau, which happens to
be a premier and high-profile
anti-corruption institution of
the country, started being perceived
as an institution which
was possibly being misused
for covering up corruption at
high places and such cover-up
was perceived to be controlled
and managed through appointment
of its handpicked chair-
RANGERS disperse angry protesters who set ablaze tyres after a rocket hit a wall of a religious school in Karachi
yesterday. Yesterday morning, unknown men fired at least two rockets in Karachi's Malir area from unidentified
directions. However, no loss of life was reported, Dawn newspaper reported. — Reuters
Riazat, commander Aviation Base.
After Naima Gul had taken the vow
to do duty to the country, Lt Gen Asif
Yasin Malik awarded her an enrolment
letter, a flying badge and aviation jacket.
“I’m lucky to receive prompt reply
from the army chief who not only fulfilled
my dreams but also gave courage
to me and others like me, to fight against
the deadly disease,” she added.”
My induction as the first lady pilot of
Pakistan Army Aviation would certainly
give me a chance to generate awareness
among the thousands of mothers and fa-
wreaths and paid great homage to the Father
of the Nation.
Chief justice now a party
man.”
The Presidency has now
not only lost its darling chairman
Justice (r) Deedar Shah
but is simply out of the official
loop, which is now relevant
for the appointment of
impartial, fair and independent
chairman NAB.
The question now is
whether the government will
continue with the status quo
or abolish the headless NAB
because the future NAB chairman
would now be appointed
only after a meaningful consultation
between the Prime
Minister, leader of the opposition
and the Chief Justice of
Pakistan.
Although President Zardari
did not mention corruption
in his annual address to the
Parliament’s joint sitting, the
Supreme Court in this judgement
underlined it as an “unfortunate
bane of our society”
and hinted that even the high
public offices are facing serious
corruption allegations.
The court also addressed
the fundamental question:
“How those facing corrup-
tion charges and sitting in
high public offices could be
entrusted the power to make
their choice appointment of
anti-corruption apparatus’s
head.”
The NAB, which during
former president Pervez
Musharraf’s tenure was used
to victimise the opposition,
has become totally irrelevant
as an anti-corruption body
under the present authority.
The present NAB, on the one
hand, started closing past corruption
cases (including the
NRO cases against the ruling
elite) and, on the other, it is
massively being used to cover
up the corruption scandals. It
has practically become a corruption-protecting
agency.
The inclusion of the Chief
Justice among the three persons
body has left no chance
for any possible understanding
between the government and
the opposition for the appointment
of a pliable NAB Chairman,
as has been the case in
the past and most recently in
the case of Syed Deedar Hussain
Shah. — Internews
thers who didn’t know how to face these
challenges, Naima further added.
Naima Gul also laid a floral wreath at
the ‘Shuhada Monument. Her instructor
Major Zahid took her to the simulator
room. After that, she visited the operational
room and was briefed about map
marking to help her evacuate an injured
man during her first 9 km flight.
Next was her first flight on a Lama
chopper during which she conducted
evacuation of an injured person. Naima
also had a round of the base where
she was briefed about the operational
system.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali
Shah also laid floral wreath at the Quaid's
mausoleum and paid rich tributes to the
Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad
Ali Jinnah at mazar-e-Quaid.
Provincial ministers were also present
on this occasion. A large number of people
belonging to all walks of life also visited
the mausoleum.
Pakistan Day was celebrated with
traditional zeal across Baluchistan to
commemorate the passage of Pakistan
Resolution.Various programmes and ceremonies
were held at different places including
Governor House, Quetta Cantt,
Askari Park, Ayyub Stadium, Hana Lake
and others to commemorate the passage
of Pakistan Resolution and to pay rich
tributes to leadership and activists of Pakistan
Movement who rendered sacrifices
for forming an independent country.
The National flag was hoisted at important
governmental installations and
public points. Special Shuhada Parade
was held at Staff College Road Quetta
Cantt in which rich tributes was paid to
martyrs of the Pakistan Movement.
Pakistan Television, Radio Pakistan
and private channels aired special programmes
to highlight the significance of
Pakistan Day and various aspects of the life
and work of founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-
Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and other
leading personalities. — Internews
Punjab allows
2m tonnes
to name new NAB chief wheat export
ISLAMABAD — The fed-
KARACHI — The recently passed
tax ordinances, coupled with the continuous
rise in fertiliser prices, are
unlikely to cause a significant effect
on farmers, according to analysts.
According to BMA Capital, the
agriculture sector contributes around
23 per cent to the country’s GDP, but
accounts for less than one per cent of
government revenues.
Tax collection from the sector remains
minimal despite the fact that it
continues to enjoy subsidised inputs,
such as fertiliser, and freedom to
charge prices over and above international
prices.
Analysts believe in order to increase
Pakistan’s dismal tax to GDP
ratio, which stands at 10 per cent, the
policy framework should start targeting
the agriculture sector.
Overall, three major increases in
fertiliser prices have taken place over
the last two years, due to gas curtailment
and implementation of sales
tax. Cumulatively, the urea price increase
was a significant 48 per cent
since December 2009.
eral government for providing
fiscal breathing space
to the Punjab government
has allowed shipment of
two million tonnes of wheat
from the province to generate
foreign exchange for the
cash-starved province.
“This will be the second
phase of wheat exports from
the province. In the first
phase, one-million-tonne
has already been exported,”
a senior official in the ministry
of commerce said here
yesterday. When contacted
Food and Agriculture Secretary
Junaid Iqbal confirmed
that the shipment of two million
tonnes of wheat from the
province had been allowed
in the last ECC meeting.
After the completion export
of one million tonne
of wheat from the country,
the customs authorities
have withheld further shipments
from the ports in the
wake of a letter issued to the
customs authorities asking
them for regulation of the
wheat exports to the prescribed
limit of one million
tonnes. — Internews
Recent taxes unlikely to
affect farmers: analyst
However, increasing crop prices
has allowed for easy absorption of
the increase.
During the period, crop prices
have rallied significantly, resulting in
improved farm revenues, while gross
profitability for certain products such
as sugar has increased by up to 63 per
cent.
Improved farming margins have
aided growth of rural incomes. As a
result, rural incomes have catapulted
much faster than witnessed before.
Additionally, farming feasibilities
have improved due to the widening
input-output gap which has provided
farms an incentive to expand and improve
current practices.
Thus, while rising crop prices are
beneficial for inducing modern farming
techniques, taxation of some inputs
is unlikely to cause a significant
dent in crop feasibilities.
Edging closer to the fiscal 2012
budget, it remains to be seen if any
concrete steps are announced in this
direction. — Internews
Weak in body but not in spirit: thalassaemia child becomes army pilot
Young Gul’s father Zabatullah Sohail,
her mother Shabana Anjum, younger
sister Roqaya Manal were also there
and saw Naima flying the chopper. “I’m
a proud man today, as my daughter got
the honour of becoming the first lady
pilot in Pakistan Army,” Sohail said.
“We are happy that army would bear all
the medication and education expenses
of Naima,” he added.
Her mother while commenting on
this occasion also thanked the army
chief for honouring her call. With tears
rolling down her cheeks, she said: “We
are proud parents. — Internews