PORT ELIZABETH: Uruguay?s players heralded a new era for the two-time World Cup winners in the wake of their 3-2 defeat by Germany in the third place

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KARACHI: The new Shaban moon was not sighted today, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee said today. Therefore, Shaban One, 1431 AH will fall on Wednesday.

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LARKANA: Police arrested four persons on a complaint of a woman for publicly beating and attempting to kill her here on Monday.

Police also registered a case against the arrested men, including husband and a brother of the woman, named Hafiza Bhutto, aged 30, who was beaten in a broad day light.

Hafiza, told Geo News that she was tortured by her husband, Rajan Bhutto, whom she married a month ago and left home to live with her parents. Four men, including her husband and brother barged into her parents house and forcibly drove her away in a car.

She shouted for help when she saw police. This infuriated the husband and brother who severely tortured her and then attempted to throw her off into a lake.

Later, police sprung to action and took Hafiza into safe custody before shifting her to a women police station.

Hafiza says she cannot live with her husband anymore and demanded justice from authorities.

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Population Welfare, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday said addressing population issue is directly related to overall economic prosperity of the country.

“Population is the single factor which leaves negative impact on economic indicators in the form of water scarcity, energy, food crisis, unemployment and terrorism”.

To address this biggest challenge Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has announced the year 2011 as “Population Year”, and the ministry has planned to launch a number of project for creating awareness, sensitization and advocacy campaign to disseminate importance of family planning.

Addressing a press conference here she said economic growth rate is directly linked with the population growth rate.

She said high population growth rate is consuming our resources rapidly and stock of reserves national resources are decreasing gradually.

The minister added that 48 percent of our population consists on youth and if they are trained properly they would contribute positively in national economy and become a supporting pillar for the country.

She said for the next year a project for involvement of Khateeb has has also been launched under which Khateeb of 48 villages would be engage to sensitize masses regarding family planning.

Firdous said under the project the Maulvis and Imam Masjids would work as national partners with population ministry.

She informed that during the year 2011 Tickets for Population Welfare would be issued to ”Champions of Population Planning”.

“These tickets are issued to the families that would observe small families size”, the minister said.

The minister added that a campaign would also planned for the next year in collaboration with all press clubs of the country to create awareness, advocacy and sensitization of masses.

She added that district level population data is not available due to which allocation of resources according to requirements cannot be determined. To cater to this problem, she said, a district level research has been conducted with the help of National Institute of Population Studies.

The minister said parliamentarians are role models for people of their respective constituencies, adding, a parliamentary campaign has been launched in which parliamentarians would be engaged to conduct convention in their constituencies for creating awareness among their workers at grass root level.

Dr. Firdous said the ministry has also planned to initiate a project of discouraging early marriages trend through conducting brain storming session at universities and college targeting youth.

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ISLAMABAD: Commander of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan General David Petraeus called on Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters on Monday.

It was his first visit to Pakistan after assuming command of the ISAF.

Both the military commanders discussed matters of professional interest and expressed satisfaction over the level of cooperation between the two forces.

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ISLAMABAD: Governor Punjab Salman Taseer called on President Asif Ali Zardari Monday afternoon at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Matters relating to law and order situation, development in the province and overall political situation came under discussion during the meeting.

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PORT ELIZABETH: Uruguay?s players heralded a new era for the two-time World Cup winners in the wake of their 3-2 defeat by Germany in the third place

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RAWALPINDI: Ambassador of United States Anne W. Patterson called on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters here on Monday.

The visiting dignitary remained with him for some time and discussed matters of mutual interest.

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ISLAMABAD: Following negotiations with government, Flour Mills Association has ended the strike that continued for five days.

Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal said this while talking to newsmen after having a meeting with a delegation of Pakistan Flour Mills Association here on Monday.

He said a proposal of increase in atta and wheat products? export to Afghanistan will be forwarded to National Economic Committee. The exports presently stand at 200000 tonnes.

Pakistan Flour Mills Association representatives cited the kickbacks to FC personnel and political agents at Afghan border as the reason behind going on strike, which has now been ended after assurances held out by the government as a result of negotiations.

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LAHORE

The ninth death anniversary of Qateel Shifai, a great lyricist and famous poet of the subcontinent, affectionately known among the peopl

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