ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik Friday said provinces have been instructed to not to allow banned outfits to hold protests. There are 1762 activists of banned outfits in the country out of which 726 were in Punjab only.

He was talking to journalists outside the Parliament House today.

He pointed out that working relationship with the Punjab government was good and an inter-provincial meeting to discuss law and order situation in the country has been convened.

Replying to a question regarding Liyari situation minister said it was a gang war and would be dealt with strong hand.

More: continued here
Pakistan News

LAHORE: Former chief selectors Salahuddin Sallu and Abdul Qadir, and coach Waqar Younis have welcomed the fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar?s returning in the national team but Qadir expressed surprise on inclusion of four openers in the team.

Talking with media here on Thursday, Waqar Younis said that speedster Shoaib Akhtar?s inclusion is a good thing for the team and he would be used in short spells.

Salahuddin Sallu termed the team a balanced one and said while talking with Geo News in Lahore that on inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar and Shoaib Malik will enhance better expectations from the team in the Asia Cup.

More: continued here

Karachi

Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza told Sindh Assembly on Monday that lower staff of Education Department in the city was not paid salaries sin

More: continued here

KARACHI: Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed believes the return of former captains Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik in the squad for Asia Cup and England t

More: continued here

PARIS: Justine Henin?s hopes of a fifth French Open title vanished with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 fourth-round defeat by Australian seventh seed Sam Stosur on M

More: continued here

DUBAI: Rudi Koertzen will retire as a top-flight umpire following the two-Test series between Pakistan and Australia in England in July, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Friday.
The 61-year-old South African’’s career is set to end at Headingley, where the econd ”neutral” Test starts on July 21 after the series opener at Lord’’s.
That will leave Koertzen, renowned for his deliberately slow method of giving a batsman out, with a record of having stood in 106 Tests, a record 209 one day internationals and 14 20 over internationals.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said of his fellow South African: “He is one of the most respected umpires in the game and has always been confident and self-motivated yet humble.
“His outstanding service to the game and a wonderful career at the elite level needs acknowledgement.”
Koertzen, currently officiating in the triangular ODI series in Zimbabwe, said in an ICC statement: “It has been 18 incredible years for me as an international umpire and I have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.
“Even though I will retire after the Leeds Test, I”ll be more than happy to assist and help young umpires if they need my guidance as cricket also teaches us to give something back to the sport.
“After 18 years in business, I think it is payback time.”
South Africa’’s Marais Erasmus and Rodney Tucker of Australia have been included in the ICC’’s elite panel of umpires for the 2010/11 season, starting July 1, 2010.
They will replace Koertzen and England’’s Mark Benson, who stepped down from the elite panel in February.

More: continued here

ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Ministry has assured protesting Lady Health Workers in ?written? that their demands would be accepted, consequently the LHWs ended their sit-in today, which they were holding at Parade Avenue.

As many as 29 persons including eleven women and an equal number of cops were injured during clashes between the police and protesting government employees at D-Chowk in front of the Parliament House here on Thursday.

The police baton-charged the protesters and used tear gas shells in an attempt to disperse thousands of government employees who were staging protest demonstration against the government’’s policy to kill the poor.

They were demanding hefty increase in their salaries in the upcoming budget. Lady Health Workers Federation, All Pakistan Government Employees Federation and teachers had gathered at D-Chowk to stage the protest rally.

Advisor to Prime Minister Yasmeen Rehman told the protestors that the prime minister and the president have instructed concerned ministries for early removal of their grievances and that they would not be terminated and their services would be regularised within three months.

Protestors refused to disperse until written assurance was given, later around 03:00pm health ministry gave them written guarantee.

More: continued here

Islamabad: More investment in the higher education sector can help promote scientific and research culture in Pakistan, Adviser to the Prime Minister

More: continued here
Pakistan News

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Survey 2009-10 showed that the rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was at 4.1 percent compared to 1.2 percent the previous fiscal year.

The achieved target is still far below the desired level given the population growth rate of two percent and labour force of around three percent, the sources added.

Inflation is undoubtedly less severe as compared to last year’’s 22 percent but is still in double digits at 11.5 percent.

Keeping the fiscal deficit low given the security situation, debt repayments and making robust development expenditure to overcome social and infrastructure imbalances and moving towards sustainable and inclusive development, still remains a daunting task.

Despite economic difficulties, the government has made determined efforts to protect the poor and the vulnerable and its overarching objective has been to ensure stabilisation with a human face.

Social protection measures were expanded from around Rs 8 billion two years ago to around Rs 80 billion this year. Direct income support for the poor and needy has been provided mainly through the Benazir Income Support Programme, which in 2009-10 was expanded to cover 5 million families, though actual coverage may be somewhat less, it is still substantive.

Provincial governments have also launched programmes to provide income support, food subsidies and job opportunities for the poor and needy.

Implementation of the 7th National Finance Commission Award and 18th Amendment will require that the federal and provincial governments work in close harmony to ensure that the growth dividend as a result of these changes is fully realised.

The coming year also marks the start of the 10th Five-Year Plan (2010-15), which will provide an overall medium-term policy and development framework to achieve the objective of sustained and pro-poor growth and equitable development.

Main features of the economic performance during the current year are; economic growth in 2009-10 is provisionally estimated at 4.1 percent, higher than the targeted growth of 3.3 percent. This was mainly due to a sharp bouncing lack of large-scale manufacturing (4.4 percent) pushing up industrial growth to 4.9 percent, which triggered robust growth in services of 4.6 percent.

More: continued here

HUNZA: The water outflow from Attabad Lake was 4,160 cusecs whereas inflow has been exceeded to 3,800 cusecs, as helicopter service remained suspended due to bad weather, Geo News reported on Friday.

Assistant Commissioner Gilgit Momin Jan told Geo that water outflow has been increased since morning.

Meanwhile, the width of spillway has been expanded to 32 meters from 18 meters. Sporadic rain is continuing in Hunza and Gilgit forcing suspension of helicopter service.

However, Gilgit-Hunza section of Karakoram Highway has been closed for traffic but in case of emergency special permission would be needed to use the highway.

More: continued here