! Daily Islam News Serivce

India approves plan to develop Iran's Chabahar port

2014-10-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

India will float a company to develop Iran's Chabahar Port, a government statement said on Saturday, as New Delhi aims to take advantage of a thaw in Tehran's relations with world powers.

The port of Chabahar in southeast Iran is central to India's efforts to circumvent Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan where it has developed close security ties and economic interests. Iran and six world powers are engaged in talks to agree on a deal easing sanctions against Tehran before a late-November deadline.

The powers want Iran to scale back its uranium enrichment programme to ensure it cannot produce nuclear bombs. Iran says the programme is for peaceful purposes. India plans to sign an agreement with Iran for the development of the port and New Delhi intends to lease two berths at Chabahar for 10 years, the statement said. The planned Indian company will invest USD 85.21 million in one year to convert the berths into a container terminal and a multi-purpose cargo terminal, the statement said, adding India would consider the participation of Iranian firms if needed.

Turkish businessmen for joint ventures to promote business

2014-10-21T09:49:00.001-07:00

Turkey for being the second fastest growing economy of the world after China has a lot to offer to their Pakistani counterparts through joint ventures, said Murat Agabay, leader of a four-member Turkish delegation, on Monday.

Speaking during a meeting with businessmen at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), he said the Turkish businessmen were keen to initiate joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts.

He called for exchange of business delegations so that both the sides could have first hand knowledge of the available opportunities in Pakistan and Turkey.

He said both the countries had huge untapped business potential that needed to be realised by maximizing the involvement of private sectors of the two countries.

LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz said the businessmen of both the countries should enhance their bilateral relations which would be beneficial for the people of both sides.

He said the textile sector of Pakistan had traditionally been the biggest sector of the economy, adding in the context of having won the GSP plus status, the need of technology improvement and capacity building in textile sector of Pakistan was necessary and Turkey could help Pakistan in this regard.

Ijaz said Turkey was well positioned to take advantage of Pakistan’s economic potential and its geo-strategic location and added with regard to solid waste management, it was proposed that waste-to-energy solutions were gaining a lot of success in modern world.

He said Pakistan was facing severe crisis in energy sector and it was the best way to go for all possible options of alternative energy. He emphasized that some kind of understanding should be developed between the private sector representatives of both the countries that will certainly provide basis to convert that into business deals.

He said these practical steps would surely go a long way in enhancing the current level of two-way trade between Pakistan and Turkey which does not reflect the friendly relations.

He also called for B2B (Business to Business) meetings on regular basis in order to strengthen our business ties asserting that Turkey and Pakistan both were great attraction for tourists.

Vice President Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi also spoke on the occasion. Former LCCI president Bashir A Buksh, who is also Chairman of Puk-Turk Business Council, EC members- Waqar Ahmed Mian, Khawaja Khawar Rasheed, Raja Adeel Ashfaq, Khurram Lodhi, Tanzila Yousaf, Kamal Mahmood Amjad Mian, Rizwan Shamsi, Mian Muhammad Afzal and Sheikh Muhammad Fayyaz Ahmed were prominent amongst the others. Other members of the Turkish delegation were Huseyin Moralioglu, Mustafa Dundar and Osman Ozen.

French researchers 'develop 15-minute test for Ebola'

2014-10-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Device can be used in the field without special equipment, according to developers

Paris
French researchers have announced they have developed a 15-minute diagnostic test for Ebola.

The Ebola virus diagnostic kit - described as being similar to a simple pregnancy home test - gives results in less than a quarter of an hour, said the researchers from the Commission for Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies (CEA) on Tuesday.

The device can be used in the field without the need for any special equipment using a drop of blood, plasma or urine of the patient with symptoms of the disease.

Current tests based on genetic testing of the virus are very sensitive but require special devices and should only be performed in a laboratory, CEA experts said, adding that the results usually take more than two hours.

The French developers said the test could be available for a clinical trial by the end of October in order to allow doctors to diagnose a patient with suspected Ebola in a short period of time.

In recent months, Ebola – a contagious disease for which there is no known treatment or cure – has killed at least 4,546 people in the three West African states of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ebola - a tropical fever which first appeared in 1976 in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo - can be transmitted to humans from wild animals.

It can also reportedly spread through contact with the body fluids of infected persons or of those who have succumbed to the virus.

Qadri ends Islamabad sit-in, to hold demos in different parts of the country

2014-10-21T09:44:00.003-07:00

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Tuesday announced that he was ending sit-in at D-Chowk in the federal capital,

While addressing the sit-in participants on Tuesday, Qadri said the sit-in had turned into a revolution, and now there will be sit-ins across the country.

“The participants should pack their bags, return to their homes,” he said.

A schedule for PAT protest sit-ins was also announced.

On October 23, Qadri will travel to Abbottabad to hold a protest demonstration. In Bhakkar on November 23. A rally will be held in Sialkot on December 14 while another protest will be organised at Karachi’s Mazar-e-Quaid on December 25.

Qadri, along with his allied parties on Monday had decided to not hold rallies during the month of Muharram.

ARY News channel’s license suspended for 15 days

2014-10-20T10:52:00.002-07:00

ISLAMABAD: In compliance with an order of the Lahore High Court (LHC), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) banned on Monday a local TV channel, ARY News for a period of 15 days and imposed a fine of Rs10 million for airing a derogatory programme against the judiciary.

A special meeting of Pemra was called in today to review the talk show anchored by Mubasher Lucman on the orders of LHC. Pemra officials found the show in contravention with the Pemra act and it’s code of conduct.

The regulatory authority had also banned Lucman and his programme “Khara Sach” on Saturday.

Sindh Assembly approves local government amendment bill

2014-10-20T10:50:00.003-07:00

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday approved the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2014 giving the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) the authority to carry out delimitation of constituencies in the province.

The bill was tabled by Sindh's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro and was approved with majority votes.

The authority to carry out delimitation was previously held by the provincial government.

Reconstruction of Quaid-e-Azam Residency begins in Ziarat

2013-10-12T14:04:00.006-07:00

ZIARAT: Reconstruction process of the Quaid-e-Azam Residency began here on Saturday.

According to technical adviser and a member of committee constituted by Balochistan Government for reconstruction of the residency, Abdul Jabbar, construction work of the damaged building had begun and it would be completed soon.

Jabbar told media that the initial estimated cost of the project was Rs 45 million to 60 million. All the expenses would be borne by provincial government, he added.

It is to be mentioned here that the residency of Quaid-e-Azam, the founder of Pakistan, in Ziarat was destroyed in militants attack with hand grenades on 15 June.

Army ready to use force against militants if required: Gen. Kayani

2013-10-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

KAKUL: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani reiterated on Saturday that the Pakistan Army is ready to use force against militants if required.

He said that the Pakistan Army supports the initiative taken by political leadership to hold peace talks with the militants but stressed dialogues should be held within the ambit of the constitution of Pakistan. However, he asserted use of force will be the last option if proposed talks with the militants fail.

He dispelled the impression that the decision to hold peace talks with militants was taken after failure of the military operation against the militants.

Addressing the 128th PMA long course passing out parade at the military academy Kakul, Gen Kayani stressed upon the continuity of the democratic process, adding it is a positive thing that the democratic government completed its tenure for the first time in the country's history.

Gen. Kayani also stressed over better coordination between the civil, military leadership for the betterment of the country.

"Pakistan can be stronger only if the people stand by the army in these tough times," he said.

He congratulated the passing out cadets and hoped that they will follow the golden principles of Quaid-e-Azam..

Bahawalpur: Work begins on ambitious Rs200 bln solar energy project

2013-10-12T14:03:00.002-07:00

BAHAWALPUR: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday inaugurated the 1000-megawatt Quaid-e-Azam Solar Energy Park project in Cholistan that envisages an estimated investment of Rs200 billion,

Addressing an inauguration ceremony, he said that the energy crisis being faced by the country is due to the corruption and incompetence of the previous government.

But he said that the present government is making concerted efforts to end the energy crisis.

The proposed is project is spread over 11,000 acres in Cholistan desert which will have the capacity to produce 1000 megawatts.

It is anticipated that initially 100 megawatt from the project will be added to the national grid by the first quarter of next year.

At the end of the ceremony Punjab chief minister excused from laying the groundbreaking stone and left the ceremony while promising that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will soon perform the task.

SHC to conduct hearing of petition against PM Sharif on October 14

2013-10-12T14:01:00.003-07:00

KARACHI: Sindh High Court will conduct hearing of a petition, regarding contempt of court, against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on October 14.
A local citizen, Mehmood Ahtar Naqvi, has filed the plea in court against a recent statement of the Prime Minister.

PM Sharif had said in his statement, “The judicial officers are under pressure of the wrongdoers,” and the petitioner has termed this declaration of the PM, in his plea, as contempt of the court.

The petitioner has requested the court to launch proceedings of the contempt of court, over the statement, against the Prime Minister. The Sindh High Court has approved the petition and scheduled its hearing on October 14.

Manmohan demands action from Pakistan ahead of summit

2013-09-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

UNITED NATIONS: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned Saturday that Pakistan must stop being “the epicenter of terrorism” if it wants better ties ahead of his first meeting with Nawaz Sharif.

Singh will sit down for breakfast Sunday on the sidelines of the United Nations summit with Sharif, Pakistan's newly elected premier, who appealed Friday for a “new beginning” with the historic rival.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Singh said he shared Sharif's hopes for better relations but warned that Pakistan must no longer be “the epicenter of terrorism in our region” in the wake of another deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

“For progress to be made, it is imperative that the territory of Pakistan and the areas under its control are not utilised for aiding or abetting terrorism,” Singh said.

“It is equally important that the terrorist machinery that draws its sustenance from Pakistan be shut down,” he said.

Singh said he supported resolving questions over Kashmir – which is divided between the South Asian powers and is claimed by both – but stood firm that the Himalayan territory is “an integral part of India.”

“There can never, ever, be a compromise with the unity and territorial integrity of India,” he said.

The Singh-Sharif meeting on Sunday is considered as a fresh chance for one leader to push for peace on the subcontinent – and likely the last chance for the other.

It is their first face-to-face since Sharif's election victory in May. Singh will step down next year.

Sharif calls the meeting a chance for a “new beginning” and Singh on Saturday told the General Assembly that “I reciprocate his sentiments.”

But Singh has tamped down expectations for the talks, which take place amid an upsurge in militant attacks in disputed Kashmir. Speaking Friday after a White House meeting with President Barack Obama, Singh said, “the epicenter of terror still remains focused in Pakistan.”

In Saturday's speech, Singh said India was committed to resolving all issues with Pakistan, but he again expressed his concerns about terror attacks and repeated his government's view that Kashmir “is an integral part of India.”

The need for peace between the South Asian nuclear rivals has rarely been greater. They have been at odds since Britain granted independence and carved up the subcontinent in 1947, but the impending US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, where India and Pakistan have competing interests, adds new uncertainty to a region increasingly threatened by Islamic militancy.

“It's timely for them to meet,” said Karl Inderfurth, a former top US diplomat for South Asia and now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington.

“It's Nawaz Sharif's first chance as the new prime minister to reach across to his Indian counterpart and it's maybe Manmohan Singh's last chance to do what he has repeatedly said he wants to do, which is open up a new relationship with Pakistan.”

Both men are familiar with the pitfalls of seeking to improve ties between India and Pakistan – a relationship scarred by three wars and deep mutual suspicion. Sharif was in power when Pakistan first tested a nuclear bomb in 1998. But he also presided over one of the more upbeat episodes in recent relations with India.

Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Bradar has reached North Wazirstan

2013-09-25T10:54:00.003-07:00

Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Bradar has reached North Wazirstan Agency (NWA) after his recent release and has started efforts for a dialogue process between the government and Taliban.

According to media reports, Baradar has started meetings with the Haqqani group, Afghan Taliban and the Tehreek-e- Taliban Pakistan.

Participating in meetings of the ‘Taliban Shura’, Baradar is trying to unite all extremist factions on a single agenda regarding the dialogue process -

Palestine: At least 25 Palestinians injured in Hebron

2013-09-25T10:51:00.004-07:00

IMEMC & Agencies: Tuesday evening Palestinian medical sources have reported that at least 25 Palestinians have been injured during renewed clashes that took place in Bab Az-Zawiya and Shallala Street, in the center of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

Eyewitnesses said that the soldiers fired rounds of live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades leading to more than 25 injuries.

They added that Palestinian security officers in the city tried to prevent dozens of residents from reaching the clashes area, but the residents pushed through.

Furthermore, several soldiers occupied rooftops of high buildings in the city, used them as monitoring towers, and fired rounds of live ammunition at the protesters.

In addition, clashes took place near the main entrance of the Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, while the soldiers also installed several roadblocks in several areas in the city, and around it, closing the entrances of several villages and towns.

Mexican storm death toll jumps to 130

2013-09-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

MEXICO CITY, (Xinhua): The death toll from the recent two devastating storms in Mexico has jumped to 130, after more bodies were found from a landslide, authorities said Tuesday.

The bodies were recovered in Acatepec in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero, one of the hardest-hit states by Tropical Storm Manuel last week, said Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong.

Soldiers and rescuers are still seeking bodies buried in the massive landslide, which smashed into La Pintada, a mountainous village, where 68 people remain missing, with most presumed dead.

Mexico’s national meteorological service has warned that a new low pressure zone would bring more moderate to heavy rains to the state of Guerrero later on Tuesday.

Ingrid and Manuel, the two storms that hit Mexico’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts respectively within 24 hours last week, have affected about 1.2 million people in 24 of the country’s 32 states.

A total of 312 cities in 14 states declared a state of emergency due to heavy rains caused by the two storms. About 59,000 people have been evacuated nationwide, of whom 39,000 are still living in shelters, according to the Interior Ministry.

Syria. Major success of the Mujahideen of Army of Emigrants and Supporters. 2 bases captured in Hama

2013-09-25T10:49:00.003-07:00

Sources of website FiSyria.com reported that as a result of the successful military operation, the Mujahideen of Army of Emigrants and Supporters had taken control over two major bases of Assadites in the suburbs of the city of Hama. The Assadites fled after suffering heavy losses in manpower.

The mujahideen seized a large number of trophies, including tanks, BMPs, air defence systems, radars, surface-to-air missiles, artillery, ammunition, light arms, mortars, etc.

All the captured weapons were taken to a safe place.

Up to 1 thousand Mujahideen of the Army of Emigrants and Supporters (AES) under the command of Emir of Northern Direction of the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS), Umar al-Chechen, took part in the operation.

In an interview with FiSyria, Umar al-Chechen said that it was a successful military operation.

According to the command, 19 Mujahideen martyred, Insha'Allah, during the assault on two enemy military bases.

We would like to point out that about 3,000 Mujahideen from CIS countries, Russia, the Caucasus Emirate, the Crimea, Ukraine, Europe, Arab countries, Central Asia, and in fact Syrians themselves are now fighting within the ranks of Jaish Ansar wa Muhajirin, or the Army of Emigrants and Supporters.

The Army of Emigrants and Supporters consists of structured units, which are called sariyats. The sareeyats in turn form "kataibs", or brigades. The largest Caucasus unit within the AES is sariyat "az- Zubayr", commanded by Emir Salahuddin.

Massive earthquake hits Balochistan: death toll rises to 328

2013-09-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

KHUZDAR: The death toll from a massive earthquake that jolted southwest Pakistan rose to 328 on Wednesday, with officials saying thousands have been left homeless in remote parts of Balochistan province.

The 7.7-magnitude quake struck Tuesday afternoon in the province, toppling thousands of mud-built homes as it spread havoc through Awaran and Kech districts and the southwestern parts of the country.

Jan Muhammad Buledi, a spokesman for the Balochistan provincial government, confirmed 328 people were killed and at least 440 injured.

“I fear further increase in the number of dead,” said Buledi. He said the rescue workers were yet to reach out to several survivors in Awaran since the earthquake had badly affected the communication system in the remote district.

Pakistan’s military on Wednesday rushed to reach the scene of the earthquake to launch a relief operation in the affected areas.

“A total of six districts, Awaran, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur, Chaghi and Khuzdar, and a population of over 300,000 have been affected by the earthquake,” Buledi earlier told a press conference. The provincial spokesman said aid workers were facing difficulties in reaching out to survivors since the communication system was severely affected by the earthquake. He said teams were working to recover bodies, but the priority was to move the injured to hospitals as soon as possible, a difficult task in a desolate area with minimal infrastructure.

“We are seriously lacking medical facilities and there is no space to treat injured people in the local hospitals,” he said. “We are trying to shift seriously injured people to Karachi through helicopters and others to the neighbouring districts.”

“There is nothing, patients are dying,” Rehmatullah Muhammad Hassani, an earthquake survivor told a local newspaper via phone from the District Headquarter Hospital in Awaran.

He said the patients were facing difficulties in getting basic first aid treatment in the hospital. “There are no doctors and paramedics,” Hassani said.

Hassani said that a large number of mud-walled houses had collapsed as result of the powerful earthquake tremors. “We fear there are people still trapped under the rubble,” he said. The Awaran resident added that authorities had yet to launch an effective rescue operation to retrieve the people stuck from under the rubble.

Nazar Muhammad, a paramedic, said 70 injured had been brought to district hospital Awaran for medical treatment. He said: “We have no surgery equipment and we are only providing basic first aid to the survivors.”

The army has sent 100 personnel as medical staff and 1,000 troops to the area to help with rescue efforts and has established a medical centre in Tarteej, one of the worst-affected villages.

The scale of the affected territory is daunting. Awaran's population is scattered over an area of more than 21,000 square kilometres. More than 60,000 people live within 50 kilometres of the epicentre, according to the UN disaster agency, mostly in easily collapsible mud homes.

Television footage showed collapsed houses, caved-in roofs and people sitting in the open air outside their homes, the rubble of mud and bricks scattered around them.

Abdul Rasheed Baloch, a senior official in the district, said teams had worked through the night to try to retrieve bodies and survivors from the rubble. “Around 90 per cent of houses in the district have been destroyed. Almost all the mud houses have collapsed,” he said.

Some of the dead have already been laid to rest in their villages, he said.

7 Pakistani fishermen arrested

2013-09-22T01:32:00.004-07:00

KARACHI: Seven Pakistani fishermen have been taken into custody by the Indian navy personnel from near the Kajhar Creek.

The incident took place on Wednesday.

“Their names are not yet confirmed though we believe they belong to Karachi’s Ibrahim Hyderi area.

They were fishing at Kajhar Creek along with other fishermen when arrested for stray-ing into the Indian terri- tory,” Kamal Shah of Pakis-tan Fisherfolk Forum told Dawn.

“We were informed about it by the fishermen returning from the sea on Friday, though the incident took place on Wednesday,” he added.

Police bust Facebook kidnap gang in Gujranwala

2013-09-22T01:31:00.004-07:00

LAHORE: Pakistani Police on Saturday busted a gang using a female member to lure youngsters through Facebook and telephone calls and then kidnapping them for ransom, police said.

The gang, which included a lawyer, his wife, the son of a policeman and four others, was active in the industrial town of Gujranwala in central Punjab province and was traced by tracking phone calls.

“This gang of friends was using their female member to trap youngsters on Facebook and through phone calls,” Shoaib Khurram, a senior police official, told AFP.

“The girl was assigned to trap targeted young boys in fake love on Facebook and phone and then invite them for dates,” he said, adding that the other members would kidnap the boys when they came to meet her.

“So far, we have got verification about two boys who were trapped in fake love of this lady and were then kidnapped by this gang. Their families later paid ransom amounts worth millions of rupees to get them free,” he said.

Pakistan earlier this month cracked down on “immoral” love chat services offered by mobile phone companies, stifling hopes of illicit romance in the conservative Muslim country, where dating is frowned upon.

In 2010, Pakistan shut down Facebook for nearly two weeks over blasphemy and continues to restrict hundreds of online links.

Blast near church in Peshawar kills 25, injures 55

2013-09-22T00:55:00.004-07:00

PESHAWAR: An explosion near a church in Peshawar's Kohati gate area killed 25 persons and wounded 5 others on Sunday.

The victims of the blast included children and women who were shifted to the Lady reading Hospital.

Hospital sources confirmed that 25 people had died in the attack whereas 55 others were wounded.

The blast also shattered the windows of nearby buildings.

Security officials said that the blast was apparently carried out by a suicide bomber however they declined to confirm the details until a thorough probe was conducted.

Meanwhile another explosion in Balochistan's Sibi area injured nine persons on Monday and damaged several cars and shops in the vicinity of the blast.

Police sources said that the bomb was planted on a motorcycle which was remotely detonated on Nishtar road in Sibi's Karim chowk area.

All injured were shifted to Civil hospital Sibi where the condition of two wounded was reported as critical.
Security and rescue reams reached the blast site and cordoned off the area as a probe into the incident went underway.

No one claimed responsibility for the incident till the filing of this report.

Nawaz unveils Rs 20bln youth uplift package

2013-09-21T10:58:00.002-07:00

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday announced a development package worth Rs20 billion for the country's youth comprising six projects, aimed at providing them assistance mainly through affordable education, soft loans and skill-based training.

The six projects include Micro Interest Free Loans Scheme, Small Business Loans Scheme, Youth Training Scheme, Youth Skill Development Scheme, Fee Assistance Scheme and PM's Scheme for Laptops Provision, said Nawaz Sharif in his second televised address to the nation.

He said the government was committed to the uplift of youth. “I am sure that a self-reliant and prosperous youth will prove as a vanguard in the nation's journey towards national integrity, prosperity and sovereignty.”

The premier announced that the six development schemes would be applicable for the youth of the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The federal cabinet had approved the basic features of these programmes on September 13 and the system for their implementation was also in place.

Sharif said, however, to ensure more transparency, clarity and merit in these schemes, it was his desire to seek guidance from general public.

He said input on these schemes could be given at the website, www.pmo.gov.pk, being uploaded on September 23.

A special mobile phone number '80028' had also been dedicated for this purpose to which suggestions could be sent through SMS.

The prime minister said the details of these schemes would also be circulated through national media including newspapers and television channels.

Nawaz Sharif said the general public was welcome to send their written proposals addressed to the Prime Minister's Office in Islamabad as well. He said 10-days had been allocated for collection of suggestions and recommendations, and added he would not be satisfied until receiving an ample response from youth on the schemes meant for their prosperity.

The schemes would be launched soon after working on the proposals and giving them a final shape.

He said Rs20 billion allocated for the schemes for youth was not a big amount; however the limitation of resources owed to the severe economic problems of the country.

The issues including electricity shortage, the projects about construction of roads, motorways, hospitals and setting up of industrial units needed large monetary resources.

He expressed hope that a time would come when the tax payers' money would be largely spent on the welfare projects and vowed to allocate more funds for the schemes of public importance in coming years.

About the first scheme, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the 'Micro Interest Free Loans' is especially focused upon the financially weak segments of the society.

Under this scheme, a total of Rs3.5 billion would be earmarked in the current financial year, which would benefit about 250,000 people. No interest would be charged on these loans.

He also announced ‘Small Business Loan Scheme’ exclusively for the educated youth willing to initiate their private businesses.

The prime minister said 50 per cent loans would be specified for the women. Under this scheme, skilled individuals would get loans worth Rs0.5 million to Rs2 million each to help start their work in agriculture sector or to open workshops.

“The markup rate on this loan would be 8 per cent as the remaining would be borne by the government. Initially, the National Bank of Pakistan and First Women Bank will extend this loan,” said the premier, adding that the government had allocated Rs5 billion for the scheme.

The third initiative, he said was ‘Youth Training Scheme’ under which the youth having completed 16-year education from accredited educational institutes would be provided training so that they may find suitable job opportunities locally or abroad.

He also prayed that every citizen may get job opportunity in the country without going abroad.

Prime Minister Sharif said during the on-job-training, the youth will be paid Rs10,000 stipend monthly for one year and Rs4 billion have been allocated for the scheme that would benefit around 50,000 graduates.

Under the ‘Youth Skill Development Scheme,’ he said youngsters would be trained to help them earn their livelihood respectfully. The youth aged up to 25 years and with education up to eighth grade would be entitled to avail this facility.

Picture issued of Al-Qaeda suspect arrested from PU

2013-09-20T10:34:00.003-07:00

Lahore: Punjab University (PU) administration has issued the picture of a suspected terrorist named Ahmad Sajjad, who was arrested by the Intelligence Agencies (IAs) a few days ago from university hostel.

The picture with Ahmad Sajjad's residential address of Okara written on it, was issued on Friday.

He was suspected to be having ties with Al-Qaeda.

The IAs, after Sajjad hinted at some locations during investigation, conducted raids at different places in Lahore and arrested several other suspects.

According to PU's administration, extremist literature and audio cassettes of motivational anthems were also recovered from the hostel room, Ahmad Sajjad had been residing in.

Karachi: Rangers kill 4 gang war members, a terrorist

2013-09-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

KARACHI –Rangers and police crackdown against criminal has been intensified in the city. A joint operation by Rangers and police was launched in Lyari Wednesday.

They cordoned off the areas under the influence of gang war accused Wasiullah Lakhu and Jabbar alia Jeengu.

Unknown armed man attacked the Rangers and police during raids in Shah Baig Lane and three accused including Imran, Nauman and Ghafoor were killed in exchange of fire.

The police also arrested the five accomplices of the attackers. Tension griped different areas of Lyari after the incident.

Earlier, an alleged activist of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban was killed in joint action of Rangers and CID Police in Manghopir area.

In another raid, Quaidabad Police arrested two suspects namely Amjad and Hakeem Sher and recovered ammunition and hand grenades from their possession.

Meanwhile, Rangers arrested more than 60 suspects during targeted operation in different areas of the city.

Afghan forces kill six Pakistanis in border area

2013-09-18T10:19:00.001-07:00

ZHOB - At least six Pakistani citizens were killed and several others injured when Afghan security forces opened unprovoked firing near Pak Afgan border in Qamar Din area on Wednesday.

According to officials, Afghan forces penetrated inside Pakistani territory on three vehicle and opened unprovoked fire on a tribal village.

The deceased were identified as Mullah Fateh Noor, Zahir Khan, Muhammad Ameen and Mir Dad who belonged to Lawoon tribe.

The wounded were shifted to Zhob hospital for treatment.

This was not first incident on western border when Afghan forces ambushed inside Pakistani territory, similar incidents are common in north tribal areas.

Pakistan has been protesting with Kabul on cross border attacks however Afghan officials denied such incidents.

Major General and Lieutenant Colonel killed in IED attack in North Waziristan

2013-09-15T03:40:00.003-07:00

NORTH WAZIRISTAN: A Major General and a Lieutenant Colonel were killed when a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED) targeted their vehicle near Upper Dir, the administrative headquarters of North Waziristan.

According to a military source, the security forces’ vehicle was undertaking a routine patrol when it came under the IED attack. Subsequently, Major General Sanaullah and Lieutenant Colonel Tauseef were killed whereas another security official was injured.

The casualties were shifted to a local military hospital in the area.

Meanwhile, security forces’ personnel cordoned off the area and investigations went underway to apprehend those responsible for the attack.

North Waziristan is one of the seven regions in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) governed by tribal laws. An extremist insurgency led by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) plagues the region and the area is known to be infested with militants, including those from Al Qaeda and other armed extremist organisations.

The region also comes under attacks from US drones frequently, which target militant hideouts in the area. The region is chiefly off-limits to reporters because of security worries and government restrictions due to which reliable casualty figures are difficult to acquire from there.

Post-hajj flights operation starts

2012-10-30T10:21:00.004-07:00

ISLAMABAD: A month long post Hajj flights operation is set to start from Tuesday night to bring over 180,000 Pakistani pilgrims from Saudi Arabia after performing the sacred religious ritual of Hajj.

According to an official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the first flight is scheduled to arrive here from Jeddah on Tuesday night.

In pre hajj flight operation, Pakistani hujjaj were airlifted with the help of a total of 283 flights including 149 of PIA, 80 flights of Shaheen Airline and 54 flights of Saudi Airline.

Expressing satisfaction over the smooth conduct of pre-Hajj flight operation, he hoped that the post-Hajj flight operation would be completed within the prescribed time.

"The successful and timely completion of pre and post-Hajj flights operation will be a big achievement of the ministry," he added.

PIA had airlifted 45,481 pilgrims including 6,639 from Islamabad, 5,633 from Lahore, 6,639 from Karachi, 7,057 from Quetta, 9,049 from Peshawar, 6,958 from Multan, 3,506 from Sialkot.

Saudi Airline had lifted 45,481 pilgrims including 2,660 from Islamabad, 2,660 pilgrims have been airlifted from Lahore, 2,000 from Karachi, 6,000 from Peshawar, 320 from Rahim Yar Khan and 3,010 from Faisalabad, he said.

Shaheen Air had airlifted 20,700 pilgrims including 5,300 each from Islamabad and Lahore, 6,100 from Karachi and 4,000 from Peshawar.

To serve and facilitate Pakistani hujjaj, a contingent of over 625 doctors, paramedics and ancillary staff was deployed in Saudia. One doctor had been deployed to serve every 1000 pilgrims, he said.

As many as 330 Pakistan based Mauveneen-i-Hujjaj (Khuddam) had performed the duties of the welfare of pilgrims. Likewise 900 local Mauveen-e- Hujjaj had been recruited for 40 to 60 days for the welfare and services of the Hujjaj, he said.

And a contingent of 170 seasonal staff from Ministry of Religious Affairs has also been deployed in facilitation desk for the facilitation and guidance of pilgrims.

Yet another 1475 welfare staff including 330 Muaveeneen , 625 hajj medical mission, 350 volunteer Mauvaneen and 170 Seasonal Duty Staff had also served the hujjaj during the hajj days.

In Hajj area, he said 25 Saudi hospitals were provided quality services to the hujjaj, Four hospitals established in Arafat, Four in Mina and seven in Mekkah tul Makarama, he said.

141 healthcare centres had also been set up in the hajj area. The centres provide 5,250 beds including 500 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and 550 emergency room beds. A total of 20,000 Saudi doctors, paramedics are present to serve the hujjaj in addition to Pakistan hajj mission, he said.