Brussels—The European Union and Pakistan on
Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to
cooperate in the fight against terrorism, both
within the framework of the United Nations and
bilaterally. President Asif Ali Zardari led
Pakistan at the first ever Pakistan-EU summit
here with the European Union represented by
President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic,
Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European
Commission and Dr. Javier Solana, High
Representative for the EU’s Common Security
Policy.
Peshawar—As the operation Rah-e-Rast in Malakand
agency and operation Rahe-e-Najat, initiated
against Baitullah Mehsud and his accomplices in
South Waziristan agency a couple of days back,
were in progress, the security forces claimed to
have gunned down a couple of dozen more
militants in Dir district and Swat which also
include important militant commanders. Besides
17 trouble makers were also apprehended by the
security forces.
Peshawar—Amid token walkout by the ‘N’ and ‘Q’
faction of the PML over frequent mentioning
Pukhtoonkhwa for the province in the budget
speech, the NWFP senior Minister Rahimdad Khan
presented Rs.214.2 billion tax free budget in
the provincial assembly for the year 2009-10,
with deficit of Rs.3.1 billion and massive
reliance on federal grants in the absence of any
new levies.
Karachi/Islamabad—The outgoing ambassador of
Saudi Arabia from Pakistan Ali Awad Al-Asseri
has said that the Pakistani family arrested in
Saudi Arabia for smuggling heroin would be
provided full justice.
Washington—The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Tuesday unanimously passed Enhanced
Partnership with Pakistan Act, that will
authorize $ 1.5 billion annually to the key
South Asian anti-terror ally for five years. The
bipartisan measure will now have to pass the
full chamber before the Senate and the House of
Representative hold a conference to arrive at a
reconciled version of the bill. The US House has
already passed the bill. The Senate version -
known as Kerry-Lugar Bill- is less restrictive.
Islamabad—Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani
on Wednesday told the National Assembly that
development of Gwadar port is number one
priority of his government.
Islamabad—The Federal Cabinet in meeting held
here Wednesday under the Chairmanship of Prime
Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani approved new
Hajj Policy and abolished all sorts of special
Hajj quotas.
