Forensic science agency: Auditors find irregular payments of Rs481.9m




LAHORE: 

Government auditors have recommended recovery of Rs481.9 million from the officials responsible for irregular payments made on purchases and other purposes between 2009 and 2011 for the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) project, The paksarzameen.tk has learnt.



The Audit and Inspection Report (AIR), conducted by a team from the office of the Director General of Audit, Punjab – a federal office – and led by Deputy Director Muhammad Younas, also recommended disciplinary action against the officials. A copy of their 250-page report is available with The paksarzameen.tk.


The auditors found that several payments made to contractors and suppliers were irregular, for various reasons. Many were not sanctioned by the competent authority. Some of the new equipment had not even been installed after most of their warranty period had expired. Officials failed to recover liquidated damages from suppliers who failed to meet agreements. Most of the irregularities were blamed on the PFSA project director, an office held by Nayyar Mahmood from 2009 to 2011


Irregular purchases


The auditors branded several purchases by the PFSA as irregular. The agency bought vans for Rs2.5 million without inviting bids in an open tender. It purchased three Toyota Hiace vans in 2010 for Rs8.94 million without floating a tender, and made the entire payment in advance without deducting 20 per cent in general sales tax. Another six cars – four Suzuki Swifts, a Toyota Corolla GLI and a Toyota Corolla XLI – were bought for Rs3.22 million without the approval of the competent authority and again without deducting general sales tax.


The project director purchased 28 kanals and 16 marlas for Rs72.86 million without the approval of the competent authority.


The auditors said that a lot of the lab equipment that had been purchased by the agency had almost gone past its warranty period and had yet to be installed. For example, the agency bought chromatography equipment from HA Shah & Sons, Islamabad, for $812,500 (Rs76.375 million) without carrying out a prequalification of the firms in violation of Punjab Procurement Rules (PPR) 2009.


The office neither installed the equipment nor commissioned it to check it.


The agency bought an autoclave for Rs378,450 in July 2010 but it had not even been installed nor staff trained to use it. Almost two years later, the 27-month warranty period for the equipment has almost expired. A UPS purchased in June 2010 for Rs1,306,013 had yet to be installed.


Other laboratory equipment including ovens, refrigerators, baths and stirrers purchased irregularly for Rs6.48 million had yet to be installed though most of its warranty period had passed.


The auditors said several items had been purchased at high rates. For example, they said, the agency had overpaid to the tune of $449,000 (Rs42.25 million) in purchasing a forensic laboratory information management system for $1.1 million (Rs103.51 million).


Easy on contractors


The PFSA project director was accused of giving undue benefit to Al-Imam Enterprises, the contractor who built the agency's headquarters near Thokar Niaz Beg. For example, the auditors said, the original contract of Rs887.548 million was revised to Rs957.548 million. The agency did not deduct income tax of Rs5.3 million from payments made to Al-Imam Enterprises and HA Construction for the supply of various items.


The agency failed to recover Rs88.75 million Al-Imam should have paid for delays in the completion of its work. The audit report stated that Al-Imam was paid Rs107 per kg for providing, and placing steel reinforcing bars when it should have been paid Rs85 per kg, resulting in overpayment of Rs20.46 million.


The agency also failed to recover damages, known as liquidated damages, from suppliers who failed to provide equipment on time as stipulated in the purchase agreement. For example, 18 microscopes were purchased for $395,227 (Rs37.2 million) but these were not supplied on time.


The agency did not recover liquidated damages of $11,730 (Rs1.1 million). Liquidated damages of $10,352 (Rs974,123) had not been recovered from the supplier of histology equipment, and of $17,925 (Rs1.69 million) from the supplier of radiology equipment.


The audit report said that networking and IT equipment had been bought irregularly for $1.69 million (Rs159.03 million). It said that a loss of $215,050 (Rs20.24 million) had been caused due to the expiry of the maintenance support period for the equipment, while liquidated damages of $29,285 (Rs2.76 million) had not been recovered.


The auditors noted that the project director had spent Rs1 million on the purchase of stationery, shields, bags and handmade carpets and printed brochures and banners for seminars and workshops, when he was authorised only to sanction spending of up to Rs100,000 in this regard. The AIR also noted an irregular purchase of library books for Rs1,866,199, which the agency's management had admitted was a mistake. The agency recorded expenditure of Rs431,755 on vehicle repairs when there was no proof that any vehicle had been sent to the workshop.


Published in The paksarzameen.tk, July 11th, 2012.






Orignal From: Forensic science agency: Auditors find irregular payments of Rs481.9m

3rd Test: Perera̢۪s late blitz puts SL on top




PALLEKELE: 

Young all-rounder Thisara Perera followed his four wickets on the first day with 75 off 86 balls as Sri Lanka seized control of the final Test against Pakistan in Pallekele.



Pakistan, seeking a series-levelling win, paid for sloppy fielding as Sri Lanka recovered from a middle-order collapse to make 337 in their first-innings on the third day. The tourists, trailing by 111 runs, were 27 for one in their second-innings at stumps, losing opener Taufeeq Umar for four, leg-before to seamer Nuwan Kulasekara. Mohammad Hafeez was unbeaten on eight and Azhar Ali was on six, with Pakistan trailing by 84 runs with nine wickets in hand.


"We have quite a fight ahead of us," said Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore. "The pitch is still playing well, but we have to bat long and deep to save this game. The last session went against us. We were not able to capitalise on the chances that came our way. We must now find a way to get out of this situation."


All-rounders lead recovery


Earlier, Sri Lanka were only 10 runs ahead when they lost their seventh wicket but Perera and Kulasekara (33) snatched the initiative by adding 84 for the eighth. Perera smashed four fours and three sixes in his maiden half-century after being dropped on 11 and 22. Umar Gul first missed a return catch and then saw skipper Misbahul Haq spill a low chance in the slips.


Perera, whose four wickets in the first-innings engineered Pakistan's collapse, was the last man out when he was bowled by left-arm seamer Junaid Khan who finished with five for 70, his second successive five-wicket haul.


The third day's play provided a keen tussle between bat and ball, compensating for the entire second day being lost due to rain. Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera led Sri Lanka's charge with a fourth-wicket stand of 143 after surviving a testing morning session in overcast conditions. Left-handed Paranavitana scored 75, his highest score in the series, and Samaraweera made 73 in a timely return to form after aggregating just 21 runs in the previous two Tests.


"I was under pressure but I have a lot of faith in my own abilities," said Paranavitana. "I may not have got a hundred, but I am pleased with my 75 since the pitch is not easy to bat on. The lead we have got is very good, hopefully we can go and win the game from here."


Missed opportunities


Samaraweera was lucky to get to a half-century as Younis Khan floored a shoulder-high catch off Gul when the batsman was on 49. The fourth-wicket stand was broken midway through the afternoon session when Samaraweera played back to Ajmal and was out leg-before. New man Angelo Mathews fell for nine when he sliced Junaid to Asad Shafiq at gully. Paranavita's five-hour vigil ended soon after, bowled by Ajmal to make Sri Lanka 204 for six, still 23 runs away from gaining the lead.


Published in The Pak Sar Zameen, July 11th, 2012.






Orignal From: 3rd Test: Perera's late blitz puts SL on top

‘Sword still hanging on our heads’




KARACHI: Despite a two-month extension to implement the 2005 National Sports Policy, the Pakistan Olympics Association (POA) President General Arif Hasan is worried that the international governing body may still take action against the violation of its charter before the London Games.


The official added that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will hold a meeting this month to decide its course of action.


The government-run Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had won the case of policy implementation, which bars an official of any national body to have more than two tenures with each not lasting for more than four years. Its stance stems from the claim that the POA falls under the PSB's umbrella, forcing it to implement the National Sports Policy. However, the IOC, which strongly discourages government interference, refused to accept the PSB's claim, stating that the POA is an affiliated unit of the international body.


As the issue gained prominence, the IOC summoned officials of both parties, asking them to resolve the issue amicably. While the PSB remained adamant on its stance, it also gave a two-month extension to the POA to implement the policy amid danger that Pakistan will not be allowed at the London Olympics.


"The IOC board will hold a meeting on July 20 or 21," said Hasan. "The matter will be discussed and anything can happen. We have a precedent of a ban on Kuwait and Ecuador. We want an amicable solution as all the arrangements on our participation in the Olympics have been finalised."


The POA chief stressed that due to the tenure restriction by PSB, other national federations were facing similar threats of suspension from their global bodies from where they get hefty grants. He also blamed the decline of sports in the country on the PSB.


Published in The Pak Sar Zameen, July 11th, 2012.






Orignal From: 'Sword still hanging on our heads'

Dunya TV

Dunya TV


Altaf honors Malik over quitting on dual nationality

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has congratulated PM&rsquo;s Advisor on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik for resigning from the Senate on the issue of the dual nationality.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The MQM chief said that Rehman Malik has raised the heads of over 1.5 million overseas Pakistanis with pride by resigning the senate membership.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The MQM chief said that Malik had demonstrated by showing solidarity with the overseas Pakistanis, that the bill was actually introduced for giving the right to vote to Pakistanis living abroad.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Democracy still popular in Muslim countries: survey

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Democracy is still popular in six Muslim-majority countries, over a year after the Arab Spring, and the majority in some countries favors laws based on the Koran, according to a poll published Tuesday.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The first two Muslim-majority nations to overthrow a dictator still &quot;desire&quot; democracy, with some 67 percent of Egyptians and 63 percent of Tunisians saying &quot;democracy is preferable,&quot; according to the survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in recent months.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the rest of the region, 84 percent of Lebanese and 71 percent of Turks say &quot;democracy is preferable,&quot; but Jordanians and Pakistanis are less enthusiastic, at 61 and 42 percent respectively.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Forty-five percent of Tunisians say the country has improved without ousted 23-year president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, and 42 percent disagree. Tunisians are still optimistic about the future of their country, with 75 percent saying the nation&nbsp;s flailing economy will improve. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Aside from Lebanon, which boasts a large Christian minority, a majority of poll participants across the surveyed Muslim nations feel Islam does and should play a central role in government. Points of view differ across the countries regarding the degree to which Islam should affect policy. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In Pakistan, 82 percent of participants feel &quot;laws should strictly follow the teachings of the Koran.&quot; In the rest of the Muslim world, only 72 percent of Jordanians, 60 percent of Egyptians, 23 percent of Tunisians and 17 percent of Turks and Lebanese agreed. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A majority of poll participants believe women should have the same rights as men. Lebanese led the pack with 93 percent believing in gender equality. Only 74 percent of Tunisians and 58 percent of Egyptians support equal rights for women. Some 67 percent of Tunisian women say that equal gender rights are very important, whereas only 50 percent of men agree.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The overwhelming majority of most poll participants opposed extremists, even if Al-Qaeda is seen as favorable by 19 percent of Egyptians, 16 percent of Tunisians and 13 percent of Pakistanis. The polls were conducted in March and April, with a sample of 1,000 participants per country and a margin of error ranging from more or less than 3.9 to 5.2 points across the different countries. <br />&nbsp;</p>


Israel: Ex-PM guilty of graft, cleared on other charges

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>An Israeli court on Tuesday found former prime minister Ehud Olmert guilty on one charge in a closely watched corruption case, but cleared him on two other charges, in a verdict he hailed as just.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The decision to convict Olmert on the lesser charge of &quot;breach of trust&quot; over favours he granted a colleague during his time as minister could jeopardise Olmert&nbsp;s political future. But the Jerusalem district court&nbsp;s acquittal of the former leader on the two more serious corruption charges, related to his alleged receipt of cash-stuffed envelopes and multiple-billing for trips abroad, was seen as a victory for Olmert.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;We unanimously decided... to convict the defendant on the felony of breach of trust,&quot; the three judges overseeing the case wrote in the verdict.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Olmert still faces a second trial over allegations he accepted bribes during his time as Jerusalem mayor to smooth the way for the construction of the massive Holyland residential complex in the city. But his acquittal on the most serious charges against him, including the allegations that forced him to resign as premier in 2008, was described as a win for him by political observers.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The first charge, on which he was convicted, related to favours he granted a former colleague, Uri Messer, during his time as trade and industry minister.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Olmert was also accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from Jewish-American businessman Morris Talanski, in return for promoting his companies in Israel. And he was alleged to have engaged in multiple-billing of trips overseas, on occasions charging as many as four different institutions for the same trip, in what was dubbed the Rishon Tours affair.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>But he was acquitted on both those charges, with judges saying the evidence failed to prove &quot;beyond a reasonable doubt&quot; that Olmert was guilty. The former premier hailed the verdict outside the courtroom.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;There was no corruption, I received no money, there were no cash envelopes, there was nothing from all of these things they tried to attribute to me,&quot; Olmert told reporters. &quot;The Talanski and Rishon Tours affairs were at the heart of the accusations levelled against me and I have been cleared on both these cases. It was all false,&quot; he said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He acknowledged his conviction on the third set of allegations, but said the judgment described his behaviour as &quot;procedural misconduct.&quot;<br />&nbsp;</p>


Russia proposes UN resolution on Syria

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Russia on Tuesday proposed a UN Security Council resolution on Syria that would extend the UN mission in the conflict-stricken country without any threat of sanctions, diplomats said. The resolution was sent to the council&nbsp;s other 14 members ahead of a briefing on Wednesday by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan on efforts to revive his peace plan, Russia&nbsp;s deputy UN envoy Igor Pankin told reporters.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Russia&nbsp;s move is the opening round in a potentially tense diplomatic battle at the Security Council that must decide the future of the UN observer mission in Syria by July 20. Russia is the main ally of President Bashar al-Assad and has fiercely resisted international action against the Damascus government. The United States and European powers want sanctions against Assad over the conflict, in which activists say more than 17,000 people have died.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Pankin said the Russian resolution &quot;is aimed at providing further support to the efforts of Kofi Annan and the implementation of his plan.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The draft, obtained by AFP, proposes extending the UN Supervision Mission in Syria for another three months. The UNSMIS mandate ends on July 20. It also backs a proposal by UN leader Ban Ki-moon that the UN operation take on a more political mission and cut back the number of military observers.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The draft &quot;strongly urges&quot; all sides to immediately cease violence and calls for &quot;urgent&quot; and &quot;immediate&quot; implementation of Annan&nbsp;s plan. But there is no threat of action against Assad and the Syrian opposition, even though Annan has said there should be &quot;consequences&quot; for not carrying out his plan.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Russian draft commits the Security Council &quot;to assess the implementation of this resolution and to consider further steps as appropriate.&quot; Almost 300 UN unarmed military observers have been in Syria since April monitoring a ceasefire that has never taken hold. The observers suspended patrols on June 16 because of the growing danger.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Western nations have been demanding pressure on Assad to carry out Annan&nbsp;s peace plan and are likely to reject the Russian text. &quot;It&nbsp;s basically a rollover,&quot; said a diplomat from another Security Council country of the Russian draft. &quot;At minimum, it needs to be combined with some pressure.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The United States and European powers have drafted their own resolution, but have not yet decided whether to circulate it to the council. The Western states had wanted application of the Annan peace plan to be made mandatory under Chapter VII of the UN Charter so that follow-up action, including sanctions, could at least be threatened.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Russia and China have twice used their powers as permanent members of the Security Council to veto resolutions on Syria that hinted at sanctions.<br />&nbsp;</p>


PIA Deputy MD fired

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Salim Sayani was receiving $50,000 tax-free salary per month. He was highly salary taking official in the history of PIA.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Two residential houses in Karachi and Dubai were also allocated to him.<br /><br />&nbsp;</p>


Khairpur: 8 killed, many injured in car-bus collision

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to reports, a bus coming from Sehwan Sharif after attending Urs celebrations of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar collided with a car at Rasool Abad Highway near Khairpur. Fire erupted as gas cylinders of both the vehicles burst. As a result at least eight people were killed on the spot and many others were wounded.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The injured persons have been shifted to nearby hospital. <br />&nbsp;</p>


No democracy, no independent judiciary: PM

Posted:

<p><br />Opposition parties have been offered to handle current national issues with consensus, he said.</p><p><br />Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, he said that the government is following the policy of reconciliation, adding that stumbling blocks may be removed with unity and faith.</p><p><br />Terming the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner as victory of democracy, he said it has enhanced prestigious role of Pakistan in the world.</p><p><br />He said that the PPP is true representative of the poor and middle class, adding that the Supreme Court is as respectable to government and its coalition partners as is claimed by the Opposition.</p>


Nawaz, Imran are US supporters:Munter

Posted:

<p><br />US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter said that restoration of Nato supply is not enough; Pakistan is, yet, to do a lot of things.</p><p><br />Talking to UK News channel, Munter said that he has met Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif and both of them have assured him that they are staunch supporter of the US.</p><p><br />He said that restoration of Nato supply is not enough; Pakistan would have to do a lot of things in order to curb terrorism and enhance economic cooperation. Blockage of Nato supply was a challenge for Pakistan who was deprived of more than 50 friends, he said.</p><p><br />He said that fight against common enemy was &nbsp;possible only when Nato supply is restored properly.</p><p><br />He accepted that the US offered an apollogy to Pakistan on Salala check post but the reality is that the issue was resolved when both the states recognized that both of them would have to deliver jointly.&nbsp;</p><p><br />He said that the US is in dire need of endurance and broad-mindedness regarding its ties with Pakistan, adding that Pakistan may become part and parcel of solution to these issues but for this purpose it would have to express true responsibility of leadership, he said.</p><p><br />The US envoy made it clear that Pakistan would have to have &nbsp;firm confidnce in masses&rsquo; power as masses are the sole power of any nation.</p><p><br />He said that Pakistan would also have to admit that he is confronted with hectic challenges which may be resolved with the help and support of the people.</p>


NASA's Mars chief frets over heat shield

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>With weeks to go until its latest mission is due to arrive on the Red Planet, the head of NASA&nbsp;s Mars Exploration Program says his biggest worry is that the spacecraft&nbsp;s heat shield will not detach as planned.</p><p><br />Doug McCuistion cautioned Tuesday at the Farnborough Airshow south of London that many things can go wrong when the Mars Science Laboratory mission sets down a large, mobile laboratory on Mars.</p><p><br />He says the odds, historically, are against a successful outcome: of the 40 Earth missions to Mars, only 14 have succeeded. He predicted that this latest mission has a medium-to-low risk profile.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Allies are with PPP on dual nationality bill: Kaira

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>He said if any of them had any reservations&sbquo; these would be removed.</p><p><br />Talking to newsmen in Islamabad on Tuesday he said the contempt of court bill is not directed at interfering with the independence of the judiciary.</p><p><br />He said the intention is not to level allegations against the judiciary but to remove ambiguity in the law. He said the law would ensure transparent trial. <br />&nbsp;</p>


Spend of 20% of budget in 1st quarter mandatory

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The federal departments have been informed that 20% funds of the budget regarding development and non productive expenditures would be allocated in the second quarter of the current fiscal year while 30% each funds would be released in third and fourth quarter.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br />However, the extra funds could be released with the approval of the federal finance secretary in case of payment of foreign debts. <br />&nbsp;</p>


Bill for revisiting SC verdicts tabled in NA

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Awami National Party, a close government ally has announced not to support the bill.</p><p>Earlier, Senator Eitzaz Ahsan and Raza Rabbai also expressed their reservation about the bill.</p><p>MQM MNA Abdul Qadeer presented the bill Supreme Courts&rsquo; decisions review bill 2012 before the House.</p><p>At the occasion he said if the parliament finds any flaw or lacuna in the Supreme Court&rsquo;s decision, it should have the right to discuss and review it.</p><p>Bushra Gohar opposing the Amendment 21 said judges were already drawing hefty salaries and there was no need to increase the pensions of their widows.</p><p>Rana Tanvir of PML-N, Khursheed Shah and Imtaiz Safdar Warriach exchanged harsh words on the occasion. <br />The MNAs of Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan People&rsquo;s Party also scuffled with one another during the session. <br />&nbsp;</p>


PILDAT demands to ban dual nationals to contest election

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>In view of the news reports that the Parliament may consider amendment to the Constitution to allow for foreign/dual nationals to contest election to become members of Parliament, PILDAT has demanded that such an amendment should not be considered and that article 63-1-c of the 1973.<br />Constitution must be retained in its present form.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Criticizing the move, as reported in the media, PILDAT has demanded that only citizens of Pakistan must be qualified to represent the people in the Parliament and Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Outlining the reasons for retaining the Constitutional bar on being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Parliament for those who either &ldquo;cease to be the citizens of Pakistan or acquire the citizenship of a foreign state,&rdquo; PILDAT has stated that under international law, countries are not obliged to recognize dual nationality.&nbsp;</p><p>Another argument against allowing dual nationals to become public representatives in Pakistan is that nationality of another country is usually obtained as a convenient means of attaining improved economic opportunity, which Pakistani law recognises. In essence, however, it trivializes what it means to be a citizen of Pakistan.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Dual nationals&rsquo; fate is not tied to the fate of Pakistan and therefore allowing them to be put in the driving seat of making policy decisions of Pakistan can be detrimental to the interests of Pakistan. When the going gets tough in<br />Pakistan, Pakistani citizenship can be just as easily discarded when it is no longer beneficial.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Legitimate recognition for the role of overseas Pakistanis and their respect cannot be synonymous with granting them with a right to represent the people of Pakistan. It must also be noted that mainly (over 58 % in 2010-11) remittances are sent from Pakistanis residing in the Middle East, a vast majority of whom are NOT dual nationals.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Pakistanis living overseas, dual nationality holders and those residing in the AJK together constitute only 4.7 million voting adults according to the number of NICOP holders at present. These 4.7 million already have a right to vote in Pakistan.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>PILDAT has also demanded that, as provided under the Representation of People Act, the ECP should initiate the formal process for candidates in the next General Election to declare if they hold the status of permanent residence, such as the US green card, in any country other than Pakistan.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>


IMF urges to face challenges to global economy

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>In a bid to address the common threats facing the global economy, &ldquo;solutions need to be grounded in cooperation,&rdquo; said head of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>She said the global community must work together to meet the challenges thrown up by the global financial crisis and to ensure future stability and growth.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Lagarde said over the past few months, the outlook for the global economy had become increasingly worrying. There are signs that activity is slowing across both advanced and emerging market economies.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>IMF research suggests that a coordinated strengthening of policies across the Group of 20 leading economies (G-20) could raise global GDP by 7 percent and boost jobs by 36 million over the medium term.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Lagarde identified major areas which needed addressing to &ldquo;break the main chains of this crisis: weak sovereigns, weak banks, and weak growth.&rdquo; By weak sovereigns, Lagarde was referring to the weak fiscal positions and high national debt of some advanced economies.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>She said countries must deal decisively with the issue of public debt, as well as restoring the health of the financial sector. But in addition, there needed to be structural reforms, whether in labor, service, or product market reforms.<br />&nbsp;</p>


25m people in Pak live in extreme poverty: WB

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The World Bank report says that from 2008 onwards, the adverse impacts of global financial, food, and fuel crises posed multiple challenges to Pakistan&rsquo;s rapidly evolving social protection sector.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The militancy crisis, as well as recurring natural disasters, further exacerbated the situation by exposing an even larger number of Pakistan&rsquo;s vulnerable population to the risk of falling into abject poverty.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The nation&rsquo;s main safety net programs (i.e. Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, and the Zakat) were hampered by a number of factors. They had limited coverage (reaching only. approximately 5 percent of the total population) and were poorly targeted, as around 25 and 32 percent of resources distributed by these programs, respectively, was going to non-poor households).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Additionally, benefit levels were small, payments were infrequent and irregular, administration arrangements were inadequate, and implementation and monitoring and evaluation capacity were both very weak. Consequently, these programs had little impact on addressing the issue of poverty and vulnerability.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Supported by IDA&rsquo;s technical assistance since 2009, Pakistan has established the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), a flagship national safety net initiative that provides income support in the form of cash transfers of US$12 per month to 3.5 million of the poorest families.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>To determine eligibility, the program uses an objective &lsquo;poverty scorecard&rsquo; that has been rolled out through a door-to-door national census, collecting information on more than 27 million households in Pakistan. The information yielded through this initiative, which was validated through Pakistan&rsquo;s National Identity Database, has helped the government to set up a National Poverty Data Registry; the first in the South Asia region.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Watch Pakistani Dramas Online: Aitraf episode 10 by ary digital – 10th july 2012

Watch Pakistani Dramas Online
DramasOnline
Aitraf episode 10 by ary digital – 10th july 2012
Jul 10th 2012, 17:03

Aitraf episode 10 by ary digital – 10th july 2012




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Watch Pakistani Dramas Online: Review: Ashk Episode 5

Watch Pakistani Dramas Online
DramasOnline
Review: Ashk Episode 5
Jul 10th 2012, 17:24

'Abu g, Aap ki Khatir Kisi bhi Rishtay Ko Kabul Kur Lu Gii" (Mehru to her father)

 

"Pehle Tera Ghar Basao Gi Phir Socho Gi Apne Bare Mei" (Mehru to Zebu)

 

"Zebu Ki Maa Bun Ke Baat Kur Rahi Hu" (Mehru to her father)

 

"Is Dua Ki Jitni Bari Qeemat Muje Dena Pari Hai Mei Jaanti Hu" (Mehru to Bilal)

 

 

Oh my God Mehru, congrats on accomplishing this complicated task very tactfully and maintaining the status of "bechari". The first dialogue I mentioned made my jaw drop, Mehru is one twisted character. The second dialogue made me jump out of my seat with surprise, what Mehru said was TOO right but in a very different way. Zebu ki maa would never have done to her, what you have done Mehru. And what qeemat did you have to pay for this dua??? The explanations that Mehru gave to her father in Zebu's defense were seriously lame especially the part about Zebu giving Rohail Mehru "ke hisay ki mohabbaat". Are you kidding me, is Mehru suggesting that Zebu likes Mehru's 'utran' since they were kids and Rohail is just that? Mehru, being the glorified soul that she is would rather have anyone bear the brunt of HER doing, whether it is her father or sister, as long as things are going well for her. God, this woman is making my blood boil; she is so selfish and cunning.

 

So, Zebu decided to marry Rohail, I am thinking primarily because her sister said to her that she should come out of the room and pay the person who insulted her in the same coin, so this is Zebu's way of getting back at Rohail for what he did.

 

After, very tactfully handling everything at home, Mehru runs off to see Bilal and asks him to send a proposal for her since she told her dad that she will marry the next man who proposes her. I MUST add here that Mehru is not just selfish and cunning but also highly manipulative. It was great to see Irfan Khoosat on-screen after ages playing Bilal's father. I am definitely looking forward to seeing more of him. The whole "Topi and Chadar" conversation was very filmi indeed, but overall the Bilal-Mehru meeting was quite interesting and these two obviously have great on-screen chemistry. Resham's performance today was much better than the last two episodes, but overall I am not enjoying the inconsistency in her acting.

 

 

Poor Rohail, all he needed was a lecture from Deenga, of all the people in the world, but I could not help but chuckle at his response about Mohabaat being like Bhang…this was a very apt reply, just what I wanted to hear and probably the only way Deenga could have understood where Rohail was coming from! I am truly enjoying the relationship between Rohail and his mother. They always have such healthy communication, no matter what the circumstances maybe. Fawad Khan and Seemi Raheel are doing a great job for sure. The response that Maleeha gives Bedi Singh when he comes to give her the "good news" was yet another one of those things which I was waiting to hear and made me chuckle.

 

 

Overall today's episode was quite happening and you can guess from my review that whether I want to or not I am totally into the characters if not the play as a whole. I guess, primarily because the initial ashk would-be -the -next-big-thing phase is over and i am willing to accept ashk for what it is and it is turning out to be quite interesting. Apart from some dialogues today that were a bit over-the-top for me (nothing new there, I guess), all was good and it made for an entertaining episode.

 

Watch ASHK Episode 5

 

Author: Fatima Awan.

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Contempt bill against Holy Quran, Sunnat and justice: Imran Khan




ISLAMABAD: The contempt of court amendment bill passed by the National Assembly late on Monday is against the Holy Quran, Sunnat, justice and the country's Constitution, remarked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday.


Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Khan said that through the bill, the incumbent government are being given a license to loot. The government is itself corrupt and is now involving the bureaucrats as well, he warned.


Khan further said that the bill is not only against the Constitution but also against the supremacy of law, and the judiciary's independence is being eliminated with it.


He added that the PTI is holding talks to challenge the bill in Supreme Court.


The bill still has to clear the Senate, signed by the president – which will probably be done before July 12, when the court takes up the Swiss letter matter.






Orignal From: Contempt bill against Holy Quran, Sunnat and justice: Imran Khan

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