An influential pro-Taliban cleric who had brokered a failed peace deal in northern Pakistan’s troubled Swat Valley was arrested by police on Sunday.
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KURUNEGALA: After an interesting practice match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ?A?, the home team won by 15 runs here on Monday.
For Pakistan, Umar Akmal smashed a brilliant century and remained not out on 103. He faced only 76 balls and hit three sixes and seven fours.
Batting first, Sri Lanka ?A? made 348 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
Mahela Udawatte scored 161 and Chamara Kapugedera made 101 while captain Thilina Kandamby hit 59.
Chasing the target of 349, Pakistan batted well but were all out for 333 in 50 overs.
For Pakistan, Abdul Razzaq gave an allround performance taking four wickets for 70 runs and scoring 56 from 29 balls with four sixes and four boundaries.
Besides, Fawad Alam made 85 and Shahid Afridi scored 34 runs.
The first of the five One-day Internationals between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played at Dambula on July 30.
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Trade Makhdoom Amin Fahim Monday said the law and order situation and power crisis across the country has had a negative impact on the overall trade.
Announcing the new trade policy 2009-12 here, Makhdoom Amin Fahim said the law and order situation will be improved and electricity crisis overcome in order to achieve the set targets.
Earlier today, the Federal Cabinet gave approval to the Trade Policy 2009-12.The Cabinet meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
The total imports of the country stood at 34.9 billion dollars in the last fiscal. The imports slashed by 13 percent and exports by 7 percent in the previous year.
The global economic growth shrunk by 9 percent as a result of world recession which also had its negative impact on Pakistan?s trade.
Textile exports decreased from 10.1 billion dollars to 9.6 billion while garments exports reduced by 21 percent.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim said exports of engineering goods recorded a 26 percent rise. Exports of gems and jewelry increased from 213 million dollars to 280 million.
He said the government has held consultations with all the stakeholders at a difficult time.
Steps will be taken for the capacity of building of local industries under the new trade policy, he said, adding ?technological development be undertaken for enhancement of exports of unconventional goods.?
He announced that investment will be made in 10 sectors under Entrepreneur Fund.
Trade diplomacy will be enhanced through Doha development agenda for gaining better access to international markets including those of the US and Europe.
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KARACHI: Defence Minister Ch Ahmed Mukhtar has said that Pakistan is capable of defending itself from all sides.
?We don?t want war but we are fully prepared to defend ourselves?, he said while replying a question about nuclear submarine issue at his press conference here Monday.
?Pakistan’’s defence is impregnable and the nation fully prepared to defend itself from all sides - land, sea and air?, he said in his brief remarks.
He was respondng to a question at his press conference on India’’s indigenous nuclear submarine launched on July 26 Sunday by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The government IS ready to face all challenges, Ahmed Mukhtar said.
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LAHORE
FORMER Minister Sherry Rehman has said the rights of women are being exploited all over the world and they must make a collective strugg
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RAWALPINDI: Special Court of Anti-Terorrism has sent former MNA Shah Abdul Aziz and accused Ataullah to Adyala jail on judicial remand. They were arrested on charges of Polish engineer?s murder.
The accused were presented before the Court number 2 of the Anti-Terrorism and the court after a brief proceeding sent two accused to jail while accused Zafar Iqbal, Zahid Iqbal and Saleem Iqbal were handed over to police for physical remand.
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PESHAWAR: Security forces have succeeded in recovering 200 children who were being trained for carrying out suicide bombing from Swat.
According to sources, the children?s age ranges between 6 to 13 years.
The security forces have kept the recovered children in Mardan where they are being mentally rehabilitated to become common citizens.
Steps are being taken to get the children through a treatment from psychiatrist.
Senior NWFP Minister Bashir Bilour talking to Geo News, said the children were completely brainwashed who now consider all others as infidels.
?These children have brainwashed in a way that now they even want to kill their own parents,? he said, adding, however that they were not administered any drugs in the process.
Bashir Bilour said some children were pleased when they were handed over to their parents. But, a few days later, the parents came back with complaints that the boys are now threatening to kill them which, they (parents) said, is a worrisome thing for them.
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KARACHI: Trials have begun for selection of cricket teams for the 18 towns of Karachi as thousands of young cricketers displayed their talent before former cricketers.
Trials were held under City Government at seven places including the National Cricket Academy and the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium where former first-class and Test cricketers supervised the trials.
Players in a large number participated in the trials.
However, complaints of mismanagement at a few places were also received.
Selectors Saleem Jaffar and Shoaib Mohammad expressed hope that Pakistan cricket would be benefited from the formation of teams at grass-root level.
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COLOMBO: Test cricketer Danish Kaneria said that every player of the team is disappointed for not winning the final Test against Sri Lanka.
He said that all players worked hard to win the match but wicket did not give any help.
Talking with Geo News in Karachi, Danish Kaneria said that Pakistan?s batting line collapsed in the first two Tests.
He said that the team is pleased with its performance in Colombo Test but disappointed that it could not win the match.
Kaneria said that he is leaving on August 4 for England to play County cricket.
He further said that he desires to represent Pakistan also in One-day Internationals and Twenty20 matches besides Test cricket.
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Pakistan News
The BBC’s David Loyn looks at how artists in Pakistan’s cultural capital, Lahore, are defying - and making fun of - the Taliban.
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