ISLAMABAD: Tragic accidents take place regularly across the country and with no overhead bridges and fences, Karachi?s railway track is also fast beco

More: continued here

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday awarded approval to start 8 rental power projects in line with the recommendations of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Moreover, the cabinet rejected 5 rental projects and decided to review 6 others.

Following the meeting, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said ADB had made 11 recommendations in its report, which were approved by the cabinet.

He further said that work on the approved projects would immediately get underway, which is expected to complete by June this year.

These projects will help generate 1,156 mega watts electricity, while legal aspects of 6 other projects will be reviewed.

Ashraf pointed out that these 8 projects will result in 6.1 percent increase in power tariff and this hike would have gone to 9.9 percent if all 14 projects have got the approval. He said old IPPs will be replaced by the new projects.

He said the government wants these plants to run on gas, but lack of availability in the international market has stopped the process.

More: continued here

ISLAMABAD: Some top constitutional experts, senior lawyers and former judges have been grossly misquoting the judgment in the Al-Jehad Trust case, als

More: continued here

Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) — Pakistan’s budgetary gap may exceed its target in the year ending June 30 because of higher spending, including the cost of fighting militants in tribal areas, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said.

More: continued here

LAHORE

A DIVISION bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday rejected Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik?s application seeking exemption fro

More: continued here

NEW YORK: Pakistan?s ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani has called on US judge Richard Bermen, who is hearing the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.

According to Geo correspondent, Haqqani consulted the lawyers to know about the progress made in Aafia?s case.

Sources said he also met with case?s prosecutor and defense lawyers.

More: continued here

LAHORE

THE Punjab Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed four different resolutions, including those condemning the killing of 12-year-old mai

More: continued here

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Q Central Secretary Information and former Leader of Opposition in Senate Kamil Ali Agha on Wednesday said that those, who made false promises to bring the prices down to 1997 position, were once again trying to deceive the people by making false claims of provision of Roti at Rs2.

?Despite spending Zakat and Bait-ul-Mal money on the Sasti Roti Scheme, they (provincial government) could not provide the roti at Rs2 across the province, then how would they do so all over the country?? he questioned.

In a statement, he said he should not lie after holding the office of Chief Minister of country?s largest province. He alleged that that Shahaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif had yet to pay back the loans they had gotten from the Punjab Bank.

Agha said that Roti was available at Rs2 during PML-Q government as price of flour per kilogram was Rs15 only at that time.

He demanded that Punjab government should keep its promises regarding provision of Roti at Rs2.

More: continued here

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly?s Standing Committee on Food and Agriculture on Tuesday unanimously approved the Seed Protection Bill 2010.

The meeting presided over by its Chairman Javed Iqbal Wariach held at the Parliament House in Islamabad.

According to the bill, unaccredited seed could not be sold, stocked or displayed in the shops.

Under the new bill, trial of the imported bill has been termed obligatory for at least two years. The importer will have to get the seed inspected after trial. Only then the permission will be granted for its sale in the market. However, the permission of the Seed Council has also been termed mandatory.

According to the amendment, 3-month imprisonment and fine worth Rs25, 000 will be imposed on the first violation of the new bill, while the penalty will be increased to six-month imprisonment and Rs200, 000 fine over violation for the second time.

More: continued here

ADELAIDE: Pakistan?s series of failures still continues as they lost the five-match series to Australia, being beaten in the first three consecutive One-day Internationals.

However, Pakistan showed a good fighting spirit chasing a difficult target of 287 runs in the third ODI here at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday and at one time it was looking as they can achieve it. But they were all out for 246 runs as Australia won the match by 40 runs.

First, Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam set the tempo adding 85 runs for the fifth wicket stand and later Shahid Afridi and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan made 58 for the seventh wicket partnership.

Umar Akmal top scored with 59 runs while Shahid Afridi smashed 40 off 29 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Other main scorers were opener Salman Butt (34), middle-order batsman Fawad Alam (33) and allrounder Rana Naved (33).

The most successful bowler for Australia was seamer Ryan Harris, who captured five wickets for 43 runs, while spinner Clinton McKay bagged three for 48.

Harris, who replaced injured Peter Siddle in this match, was later adjudged the man-of-the-match.

Shane Watson and spinner Nathan Hauritz took one wicket each.

Earlier, Australia batted first after winning the toss and amassed 286 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

Opener Shuan Marsh and vice-captain Michael Clarke were the main scorers with 83 and 80 runs, respectively while Michael Hussey (49), opener Shane Watson (33) and Cameron White (28) also made significant contributions to their team?s huge total.

Captain Ricky Ponting was the only batsman to be dismissed for a nought.

For Pakistan, seamers Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Umar Gul claimed two wickets each while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and fast bowler Mohammad Asif took one wicket each.

Pakistan made two changes against one by Australia. They brought in Mohammad Asif, recovered from his hand trouble, to replace Mohammad Aamer who is out with the groin injury,. They also got Fawad Alam in for Shoaib Malik.

More: continued here