Dear All,
This is to inform you that we have recently added followings Magazine/Journal in our Development Resource Centre (DRC).
1. The Supreme Court Monthly Review
2. The All
3. The Economist
4. Humsookhan
Regards,
Roohi Bano
Source: http://epaper.dawn.com/ArticleText.aspx?article=25_06_2009_005_011
ISLAMABAD, June 24: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has directed the PTCL to shift its fixed line numbering plan from seven-digit to eight-digit series and the initial migration from seven to eight series would take place in Lahore and Karachi.
According to sources, the digit “3” will be added to all the existing seven-digit telephone numbers of Karachi and Lahore except the numbers starting from “9”, while the digit “9” will be added to all the existing numbers starting from “9”.
The PTCL has said that the digits being added to the existing numbers are not area codes, with the exemption of army exchanges which would remain unchanged.
“For the customers’ awareness and facilitation, the new series plan will run parallel to old one for a period of three months from July 1 to Sept 30,” a PTCL spokesman said, adding that the period from October till the end of 2009 would be covered by announcements which would be made in order to facilitate customers.
Meanwhile, the PTA has reported that the teledensity in the country reached 61.5 per cent in May this year, which was five per cent higher than in May last year.
According to the PTA, the highest contributor remained the cellular industry with 57.9 per cent penetration, while landline penetration slightly declined to two per cent. The wireless local loop (WLL) penetration witnessed an increase in penetration to 1.6 per cent.
Date: 22 Jun 2009
DUBAI, 22 June 2009 (IRIN) - The UN Secretary-General's special humanitarian envoy, Abdelaziz Arrukban, after a two-day fact-finding mission to Pakistan, has urged Gulf countries and others to step up support for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northwestern Pakistan.
"I visited IDPs living in camps, schools and with host families in the Mardan area [
He said the revised Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan, which includes projects by UN agencies and NGOs amounting to US$532, "urgently needs more support". The Plan has been 35 percent funded, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement on 22 June.
"I appeal to the countries of the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] and the rest of the international community to step forward and support their brothers through this crisis," Arrukban said.
Arrukban, who is from Saudi Arabia, became the Secretary-General's special humanitarian envoy on 10 July 2007 and acts a bridge between UN humanitarian agencies and Middle East/North African humanitarian players to enhance partnerships with countries in that region.
In Mardan District, where most IDPs from Swat and Buner districts are living, Arrukban visited a camp and a girl high school currently used by displaced families and as a humanitarian aid distribution centre, according to OCHA.
Host families also need help
"The vast majority of IDPs are living with host families, and the sheer scale of the displacement makes it difficult to reach everyone in need," Arrukban said, adding: "The needs of the families and friends who have taken them in so generously. must not be overlooked."
Commenting on the speed of IDP formation, he said: "In
He said the coming monsoon made it all the more important to act quickly: "Shelters need to be adapted to cope with the heat, and precautions need to be taken to mitigate the risk of epidemics in the coming months."
The humanitarian community was working hard to overcome these challenges and there were 44 humanitarian hubs distributing tens of thousands of tons of food and non-food items to the affected people, Arrukban said. "We are moving in the right direction, but the response needs to be scaled up still further to match the scale of the displacement," he said.
At/cb
OCHA highlights - updated 18 June 2009
The registration of some 1.9 million IDPs has so far been confirmed by Pakistani authorities. Some 260,000 IDPs are living in 27 camps and the remainder with host families.
Concerns have been raised regarding the establishment of several spontaneous camps in
There are presently 10 Registration Centres and 34 Humanitarian Hubs, which distribute 47,000 tons of food and non-food items to IDPs living in and outside camps. Ten more distribution points are inside IDP camps.
Precautionary measures have been taken in host communities to prevent any outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea and other illnesses which could occur with the upcoming monsoon season
The ceremony was arranged for scholarship-holders leaving for
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector and HEC in charge Shehnaz Wazir Ali congratulating the scholarship holders said they were selected through transparent procedure.
Women, being part of this scholarship programme, will be able to serve as major agents of change through exchanging cultural values and learning new practices, she said.
Young men and women have selected different fields like journalism, culture, archeology, philosophy and social sciences besides science and medical studies.
She said well qualified professionals were required in every field that will help transform the nation and this scholarship programme will produce active and productive citizens of the country.
US Ambassador Anne Patterson said the students leaving for
They will get an opportunity to learn about other countries by sharing their experiences with other students and professors there, she said.
The Ambassador said the
United States Education Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) Executive Director Grace Clarke said the students from all provinces of
After completing their studies, they will serve as public administrators and leaders of business community, she said. app
(Budget 2009-2010)
Source:The News (http://jang.net/important_events/budget2008/pages/default.asp)
· Naveed Qamar says concerted efforts and strict measures are required to tackle current economic challenges.
· Rs.30 billion additional loans to Agriculture sector.
· NFC session will be convened.
· Agriculture sector ignored during last 8 years, wheat support price to be re-evaluated in next season for improving agriculture sector.
· Rs. 75 billion reserved for improvement in population resources.
· All contractual employees up to Grade 15 being regularized.
· Import duty levied on Luxury vehicles to be increased from 90 to 100 percent.
· Defence budget to be tabled in National Assembly and all its components to be discussed.
· The performance of Securities and Exchange Commission being further enhanced to protect investors.
· Pay and Pension committee to be set up to review salaries and allowances of employees.
· Rs. 34 billion allocated for Benazir Support Program, which will be later, increased to Rs. 50 billion.
· Govt. to check rising cost of production, and spiraling of prices, effective measures being taken to control the problem.
· 90 percent tax exemption to be given for development of industry in rural areas in first year.
· Domestic and foreign investors will be encouraged to initiate new projects Pakistan.
· Reduction in expenditures of the Prime Minister's Secretariat and National Assembly.
· Low Cost Housing.
· One million housing units to be built for low-income groups.
· Ban imposed on import of luxury goods by govt offices.
· Import duty raised from 30% to 35% on 300 luxury items.
· All expenses of govt offices freezed except for salaries.
· Sales tax raised to 16% from 15%
· Import duty raised to 100% from 90% on luxury cars.
· 30 percent cut in NAB's budget.
· Govt. to set up Textile City, Marble City and other Industrial Zones to boost national exports.
· Rs. 24.3 billion to be allocated for Education sector
· Rs. 37 billion allocated to improve country's road network and highways
· Lady Health Workers Program initiated in Benazir Bhutto's tenure of 1994, will be further strengthened by hiring 100 thousand more Lady Health Workers.
· New medical programs being initiated to eradicate deadly diseases, more funds will be allocated for this purpose.
· 15 percent custom duty abolished on CNG
· One million houses to be built for poor and low paid govt employees.
· Minimum pension raised to Rs2000 from Rs300.
· Conveyance allowance doubled for employees of Grade 1 to 19
· Contractual employees of Grade 1 to 15 to be regularized.
· Medical allowance raised from Rs425 to Rs500 for govt employees of Grade 1 to 16
· Number of Supreme Court judges increased to 29 from 16
· Federal govt employees' salaries raised by 20%, same increase for armed forces proposed
· Pensions increased by 20%
· Budget deficit target 4.7% of GDP.
· Rs1000 per month to be provided to poor families
· Later, Benazir Cards will also be issued to help the poor
· Custom duty abolished on energy savers
· EPB zone to be established in Balochistan
· Profit on national savings schemes to be raised by 2%
· Rs.543 billion allocated for development programs in the budget
· 5 percent excise duty abolished on crop insurance scheme
· Remittances coming into Pakistan after the incident of 9/11 could not be best utilized, the basic infrastructure could have been improved from this amount.
· Agriculture Bank to be strengthened so that more incentives could be given to agriculture sector.
· 10 percent custom duty is being abolished to improve the production of rice.
· The gap between demand and supply has increased over the years and there has been no investment in the power-generation sector since 1994.
· The number of Utility Stores will be increased to 6000 so that poor people could be provided with more relief.
· Rs.28.4 billion allocated for Peoples Works Program.
· National Identity Cards to be provided free of cost to people.
- Import duty on PTA reduced to 7.5% from 15%
- Import duty reduced from 10% to 5% on import of chemicals used in manufacturing of medicine.
- Rs.75 billion allocated for construction of dams and for irrigation
- Wheat support price fixed at Rs.625.
- Demand-supply gap of electricity is 2500 MW.
- 25% increase in FBR revenue target.
- PSDP Rs.543 billion.
- Exchange rate witnessed 6.4% decrease.
- Rs.66 bn allocated for power sector.
- Import duty raised from Rs.150 to Rs.200 per kg on betel leaf.
- Minimum wage raised from Rs.4600 to Rs.6000
- Benazir Income Support Programme to be launched with Rs.34 billion which will be increased to Rs.50 bn later.
- Country's fiscal deficit will be controlled and Foreign Exchange Reserves will be increased.
- Efforts are being made to save electricity; duration of load shedding will be shortened, government will make sure that enough electricity is available for agriculture and industrial sectors.
- The economic situation worsened due to previous government's policies and past fiscal deficit.
- Our industry is not market-driven and due to increased electricity prices the situation has seen a drastic change.
- Sales tax abolished on fertilizers.
- Improvement of tax mechanism on auto-industry.
- Proposal to give relief to call centers from excessive taxes.
- PTA duty to be fixed at 7 percent.
- Pharmaceutical industry to be given more incentives.
- Govt. to take measures to increase production of cotton in the country.
- Rs.1.1 billion reserved for improvement for fish-brewing sector.
- Pakistan will be made an investors friendly destination, and efforts will be made to strengthen the social sector for which focus will be given to housing sector.
- More focus to be given on revenue generation, FBR performance has been satisfactory; there has been considerable increase in revenue collection.
- 5% excise duty abolished on crops insurance.
- 10% custom duty on import of rice seed abolished.
- Sales Tax abolished on fertilizers.
- Minister of Finance, Revenues, Economic Affairs and Privatization, Syed Naveed Qamar is presenting the budget at the floor of lower house.
- The Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani along with other Cabinet Ministers is present in the National Assembly.
- This budget is aimed at stabilizing the economy.
- Demand supply gap in electricity of 2500 MW in the country.
- Cold storage stores to be constructed to boost export.
- DAP fertilizer subsidy increased from Rs.470 to Rs.1000.
(Budget 2008-2009)
Source:The News (http://jang.net/important_events/budget2008/pages/default.asp)
| · Naveed Qamar says concerted efforts and strict measures are required to tackle current economic challenges. · Rs.30 billion additional loans to Agriculture sector. |
· NFC session will be convened.
· Agriculture sector ignored during last 8 years, wheat support price to be re-evaluated in next season for improving agriculture sector.
· Rs. 75 billion reserved for improvement in population resources.
· All contractual employees up to Grade 15 being regularized.
· Import duty levied on Luxury vehicles to be increased from 90 to 100 percent.
· Defence budget to be tabled in National Assembly and all its components to be discussed.
· The performance of Securities and Exchange Commission being further enhanced to protect investors.
· Pay and Pension committee to be set up to review salaries and allowances of employees.
· Rs. 34 billion allocated for Benazir Support Program, which will be later, increased to Rs. 50 billion.
· Govt. to check rising cost of production, and spiraling of prices, effective measures being taken to control the problem.
· 90 percent tax exemption to be given for development of industry in rural areas in first year.
· Domestic and foreign investors will be encouraged to initiate new projects Pakistan.
· Reduction in expenditures of the Prime Minister's Secretariat and National Assembly.
· Low Cost Housing.
· One million housing units to be built for low-income groups.
· Ban imposed on import of luxury goods by govt offices.
· Import duty raised from 30% to 35% on 300 luxury items.
· All expenses of govt offices freezed except for salaries.
· Sales tax raised to 16% from 15%
· Import duty raised to 100% from 90% on luxury cars.
· 30 percent cut in NAB's budget.
· Govt. to set up Textile City, Marble City and other Industrial Zones to boost national exports.
· Rs. 24.3 billion to be allocated for Education sector
· Rs. 37 billion allocated to improve country's road network and highways
· Lady Health Workers Program initiated in Benazir Bhutto's tenure of 1994, will be further strengthened by hiring 100 thousand more Lady Health Workers.
· New medical programs being initiated to eradicate deadly diseases, more funds will be allocated for this purpose.
· 15 percent custom duty abolished on CNG
· One million houses to be built for poor and low paid govt employees.
· Minimum pension raised to Rs2000 from Rs300.
· Conveyance allowance doubled for employees of Grade 1 to 19
· Contractual employees of Grade 1 to 15 to be regularized.
· Medical allowance raised from Rs425 to Rs500 for govt employees of Grade 1 to 16
· Number of Supreme Court judges increased to 29 from 16
· Federal govt employees' salaries raised by 20%, same increase for armed forces proposed
· Pensions increased by 20%
· Budget deficit target 4.7% of GDP.
· Rs1000 per month to be provided to poor families
· Later, Benazir Cards will also be issued to help the poor
· Custom duty abolished on energy savers
· EPB zone to be established in Balochistan
· Profit on national savings schemes to be raised by 2%
· Rs.543 billion allocated for development programs in the budget
· 5 percent excise duty abolished on crop insurance scheme
· Remittances coming into Pakistan after the incident of 9/11 could not be best utilized, the basic infrastructure could have been improved from this amount.
· Agriculture Bank to be strengthened so that more incentives could be given to agriculture sector.
· 10 percent custom duty is being abolished to improve the production of rice.
· The gap between demand and supply has increased over the years and there has been no investment in the power-generation sector since 1994.
· The number of Utility Stores will be increased to 6000 so that poor people could be provided with more relief.
· Rs.28.4 billion allocated for Peoples Works Program.
· National Identity Cards to be provided free of cost to people.
Head of state Asif Ali Zardari (replaced Pervez Musharraf in September)
Head of government Yousuf Raza Gilani (replaced caretaker prime minister Muhammad mian Soomro in March)
Death penalty retentionist
Population 167 million
Life expectancy 64.6 years
Under-5 mortality (m/f) 89/99 per 1,000
Adult literacy 49.9 per cent
A civilian government was elected in February. The new government released prisoners detained during the November 2007 state of emergency but failed to fulfil many of its promises to ensure human rights protection. Torture, deaths in custody, attacks on minorities,
enforced disappearances, “honour” killings and domestic violence persisted. After the new government announced that it would commute
death sentences to life imprisonment, it executed at least 16 people; at least 36 were executed throughout the year. Violence in the tribal
areas bordering
Following general elections on 18 February, a civilian government took office on 31 March. However, the ruling coalition began to split when the parties could not reach agreement on how to reinstate the judges who had been unlawfully dismissed during the state of emergency in November 2007. President Musharraf resigned in August under threat of impeachment for violation of the constitution and misconduct. On 6 September, Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto’s widower and Pakistan People’s Party leader, was elected President.
The majority of the deposed judges resumed office after taking a new oath. The lawyers’ movement objected stating that reappointment, under a new oath, amounted to endorsing the illegal imposition of the emergency and dismissal of judges in November 2007.
Faced with an escalation of armed attacks, including suicide bombings, the new government vacillated between military operations and accommodating tribal armed groups and Pakistani Taleban. On 22 October, both houses of parliament unanimously passed a resolution urging the government to replace military operations with civilian law in border areas with
The Afghan and US governments repeatedly called on
India-Pakistan relations deteriorated after allegations by the Indian authorities that the November Mumbai attacks had been carried out by people or groups based in
"Some 20,000 Pakistanis crossed the border to seek refuge in
Despite some positive efforts,
In November, a separate Human Rights Ministry was established. On 15 October, the cabinet approved a draft bill to set up a national human rights commission but parliament did not pass it by year end.
Police continued holding detainees for long periods of time without bringing them before a magistrate as required by law.
In the wake of attacks in November on civilian targets in
Law enforcement and security agencies routinely used torture and other ill-treatment, including beating, prolonged standing, hanging by the ankles and rape. Several deaths in custody were reported.
In April, Law Minister Farooq Naik promised the government would trace all people subjected to enforced disappearance. According to the government’s own figures, 1,102 people have disappeared in Balochistan province alone. In May, the government set up two committees to trace disappeared people. In June, the government stated that 43 disappeared persons had been traced in Balochistan, and had either been released or detained in an official place of detention. Petitions relating to hundreds of cases of disappearances remained pending before the Supreme Court.
On 21 November, Human Rights Minister Mumtaz Alam Gilani announced that a new law was being prepared to facilitate the recovery of disappeared people and stated that his ministry had 567 documented cases of enforced disappearance.
On 25 November, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior reportedly acknowledged that intelligence agencies maintained “countless hidden torture cells” across the country. Despite these initiatives, new cases of enforced disappearance were reported.
Pakistani security forces deployed in the tribal areas bordering
The government’s operations displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Many internally displaced persons remained without access to humanitarian assistance or adequate protection by the government. Some 20,000 Pakistanis crossed the border to seek refuge in
Armed groups, many of them explicitly pro-Taleban, committed serious human rights abuses, including direct attacks on civilians, indiscriminate attacks, abduction, hostage-taking, torture and other ill-treatment, and killing captives.
Pakistani Taleban took dozens of hostages including an Afghan and an Iranian diplomat, a Pakistani and a Canadian journalist, and a Polish engineer. The Afghan diplomat was later released but the others remained missing.
In September, the Swat chapter of the Tehrik-e-Taliban
Local Taleban unlawfully assumed judicial functions and “tried” and “convicted” people they accused of having transgressed Islamic law or spying for the government. Dozens of people were unlawfully killed after such “trials”.
Women and girls suffered human rights violations at the hands of the state and, in the absence of appropriate government action, in the community, including “honour” killings, forced marriages, rape and domestic violence. The Protection from Harassment at the Workplace Bill, approved by the cabinet in November, and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, submitted to the Ministry of Women Development in August, remained pending.
Zainab Khatoon, the mother of missing Faisal Faraz, with his children,
© Amnesty International
Girls were also handed over in marriage to settle disputes.
Threats by Pakistani Taleban prevented thousands of women from voting in the February elections.
The government failed to adequately protect religious minorities against widespread discrimination, harassment and targeted violence.
Seventy-six people were charged with blasphemy in 25 registered cases, including 17 people charged under section 295C Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) which carries the death sentence for insulting the name of the prophet Muhammad.
Recruitment of children by armed groups, trafficking of children, domestic violence against children, in particular girls, continued. According to the NGO Sahil, 992 children, 304 boys and 688 girls, were subjected to sexual abuse between January and June.
In July, authorities in Swat discovered Pakistani Taleban had recruited 26 boys aged between 13 and 18 for training.
At least 236 people were reportedly sentenced to death, mostly for murder. The total number of prisoners under sentence of death was at least 7,000.
On 21 June, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced that death sentences would be commuted to life imprisonment. However, President Zardari issued an ordinance in November that extended the death penalty to cyber crimes causing death.
At least 36 people were executed during the year, including 16 after the commutation announcement.
In December,
