Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari today advised the government to consider making strategic investment in building fuel storage capacity and advance purchase of fuel oil to help bail out the PIA from its financial woes.  

This he said during briefing on PIA in a meeting today in the Presidency that was jointly presided by the President and the Prime Minister. 

The meeting was attended by Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Federal Minister for Defence, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Capt. Muhammad Ijaz Haroon, Managing Director PIA and officials of relevant ministries and PIA were also present in the meeting. 

The President said that the government could consider hiring the services of consultants to suggest workable plans for strategic investment in the PIA through public-private partnership. He said that the fund raising efforts for the PIA required innovative and non-traditional solutions as the problem was too big for normal bureaucratic procedures and periodic dole outs, he said. 

The President advised the government to also consider developing the Roosevelt hotel property in New York owned by the PIA as a source of permanent income without actually selling the property and retaining PIA's ownership of it. He said that the government may revisit the earlier decision to place the Roosevelt hotel under the Privatization Commission so as to examine the possibility of developing the property for regular income. 

The President said that the PIA could be salvaged through out of box solution and advised the government to have separate smaller meetings of experts on evolving a workable business plan. 

Giving briefing on the PIA the Managing Director of the Airline said that the PIA had 40 airplanes in its fleet operating to 23 domestic and 35 international destinations and employing over 17000 employees. He said that the average age of an aircraft was 13 years but more than half of the PIA fleet was over 23 years old. 

The MD PIA said that the airline industry worldwide had suffered huge setbacks due to volatility in the fuel prices. The projected profit of 9.6 billion dollars of the industry in June 2007, turned into loss of over 6 billion dollars by June 2008, he said. The meeting was informed that although fuel prices had come down, PIA still faced a difficult situation due to many other challenges. Poor governance in the past ignoring best industry practices, aging aircrafts, capacity glut, rupee depreciation and geopolitical situation were factors that posed challenges to the airline. 

The meeting was informed that the airline had focused to improve the equation between revenues and costs during 2009. He said that marketing had been geared to maximize revenues and thereby restore profitability. The overall seat factor was also planned to be higher this year than in 2008. The meeting was informed that a 14% increase in capacity is planned which would also improve the revenue growth considerably. 

About the improvement in services the MD PIA informed the meeting that the facility of online booking had now been extended to more destinations and the list would be expanded further. The reservation system had also been streamlined besides introducing courtesy and customer care training for the front line staff, he said. 

The Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani observed that the problems and issues faced by the PIA could not be resolved through periodic inspections of financial dole outs. He said that the government will take a fresh look at the issues involved to find out a lasting solution. The Prime Minister said that he will hold a separate meeting with the Defence Minister and Advisor Finance and relevant officials to sort out the PIA problems.

President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the government to consider hosting an international conference on mountaineering

Zardari approves renaming of NWFP as Pukhtoonkhwa

By Asim Yasin ISLAMABAD: The government would engage in dialogue with only those who do not challenge the writ of the government, said President Asif Ali Zardari here Thursday. He made these remarks while presiding over a meeting on the NWFP situation. The president gave a green signal to renaming of NWFP as Pukhtoonkhwa, saying the constitutional requirements in this regard will be met. The change was reflected in the official press release from the presidency on the meeting as it mentioned NWFP as "Pukhtoonkhwa'. Law Minister Farooq H Naek briefed the meeting about the draft of amendments to Nazam-e-Adl 1999 in PATA as suggested by the committee headed by him. The proposals have already been sent to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and would subsequently be sent to the NWFP governor and the provincial government for review. Meanwhile, addressing the meeting the president said the government was pursuing three 'Ds' formula made up of dialogue, development and deterrence to root out the menace of extremism from the country. The president said that the government was working on a massive socio-economic development programme with special reference to the Pukhtoonkhwa province and the tribal areas. He said the need for such a programme was increasingly being recognised by the international community and the Lugar-Biden Bill in the United States Senate was a manifestation of this realisation. Earlier, the NWFP chief minister gave an overview of the law and order situation in the province in general and Swat and Malakand in particular. The president said that peace was the foremost priority and that was why the government has pressed into service all available resources to bring stability to the regions affected by extremism. The president said that he would like to have such meetings held more frequently. Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik briefed the meeting on the measures taken to beef up the police force and security agencies in the province. The president directed the interior adviser to furnish a detailed report within a week on the measures taken to beef up the police force in the province and also on what further needed to be done. Those who attended the meeting included Governor NWFP Owais Ahmed Ghani, Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Federal Minister for Law & Justice Farooq H. Naek, Federal Minister for SAFRON Najmuddin Khan, Interior Adviser Rehman Malik, Attorney General Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, Provincial Minister for Planning & Development Rahim Dad Khan, Provincial Minister for Finance Hamayun Khan, Provincial Minister for Health Zahir Ali Shah, Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar, Provincial Minister for Law Barrister Arshad Abdullah, Provincial Minister for Local Government Bashir Ahmad Bilour and Afrasiab Khattak, peace envoy.   PML-N to cooperate with govt. on CoD: Shahbaz ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday that PML-N would extend full cooperation to the government for the implementation of charter of democracy (CoD). According to sources, the meeting was held on the invitation of President Asif Ali Zardari. During the one-on-one meeting, abolishment of 17th Amendment, lawyers' long march and issues relating to the Governor Salman Taseer came under discussion.   Hilary Clinton phones president Zardari WASHINGTON, Jan 23: US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton talked with President Asif Ali Zardari over the telephone and apprised him of the Obama administration policies regarding Pakistan and the region. 'Zardari paid Umra cost himself' By Rauf Klasra ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari became the first head of the state who paid Rs 24.9 million from his own pocket to the government last year when he went to perform Umra along with an entourage of 188 people, including federal ministers, politicians, bureaucrats, their wives, friends and media persons. The details of these payments were laid down before the National Assembly on Thursday by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. A quick look at the papers submitted in the House revealed that unlike former prime ministers, particularly Ch Shujaat Hussain and Shaukat Aziz, who made false claims of paying the cost of Umra from their own pockets, at least President Zardari has kept his promise of paying the full Umra cost of the members of his entourage. Earlier, the information about the payment of the Umra cost by the president was placed before the National Assembly on Thursday when MNA Faiz Muhammad Khan sought the details of the total number of entourage of President Zardari along with the expenditures incurred and the source. It was also asked that the province-wise names and addresses of the members of the entourage should be submitted. The Foreign Office submitted the details of those expenditures, which disclosed that all the expenditures of the PIA chartered flight, accommodation and transport were paid by the president from his own pocket. The PIA chartered flight cost a sum of Rs 19.8 million, accommodation Rs 2.9 million, transport Rs 1.7 million and miscellaneous charges, including the payment of porters, purchases of Ahrams and belts, etc, cost Rs 0.486 million. In the past, Ch Shujaat Hussain had also taken an entourage of his friends, along with the members of his family, to perform Umra when he became the caretaker prime minister for hardly 30 days. However, when the official record was placed before the NA, seeking details of the expenditures of his entourage, it was revealed that Ch Shujaat made a false claim before the nation as millions of rupees were spent from the taxpayers' account for this purpose. Likewise, Shukat Aziz also announced to pay the bill of his entourage when he assumed the office of prime minister in 2005. He beat his drums the world over that he was the first prime minister, who had paid the bill of Umra instead of putting a burden on the taxpayers, like his predecessor Ch Shujaat Hussain.   Secretary General NATO, called on President Asif Ali Zardari

Islamabad: Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Secretary General NATO, called on President Asif Ali Zardari in the Presidency today and discussed with him the regional situation in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the border situation. He was accompanied with Ambassador Henne Schuwer and other senior officials.

The Secretary General NATO said that the purpose of his visit to Pakistan was to explore ways and means to further deepen political and military cooperation with Pakistan. He said that NATO approached Pakistan in its own right and not merely through the prism of Afghanistan.

Welcoming the Secretary General, the President Mr. Asif Ali Zardari said that the fight against militancy was a huge effort that required a regional cooperative approach to tackle it. He said that the government of Pakistan was conscious of the need for launching a massive socio-economic development programme and educational uplift of the tribal areas to dissuade the unemployed youth from being attracted by the militants. President Asif Ali Zardari also underlined the need for international cooperation for the industrialization of tribal areas and openings for the marketing of industrial goods produced in FATA.

 Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.

 President Asif Ali Zardari said that the people of Pakistan welcomed President Obama's emphasis on seeking "a new way forward" with the Muslim world

Islamabad: In response to a question regarding the inaugural address of President Barack Obama, President Asif Ali Zardari said that the people of Pakistan welcomed President Obama's emphasis on seeking "a new way forward" with the Muslim world "based on mutual interest and mutual respect".

He said that renewal by the US President of commitment to high ideals and values would raise hope for a better future for the peoples of the world.

United States undoubtedly carries an important responsibility in charting, alongwith other members of the international community, new perspectives for peace, progress and prosperity in the 21^st century, the President said.

 

National survey on poverty to be started soon: Farzana

MKRMS organises seminar on Current Situation and Our Economy ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Farzana Raja said that the government had decided to hold the door-to-door national survey on poverty soon. "We will organise the survey in collaboration with the BISP across the country, including Fata, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Areas," she said while speaking at a seminar on "Current Situation and Our Economy," organised by the Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman Memorial Society (MKRMS) of the Jang Group of newspapers in collaboration with the Centurus Pak-Gulf Construction Company. Those who spoke among others on the occasion were Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik, PML-N Information Secretary Ashan Iqbal, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Adviser Pak-Gulf Construction Company Abdul Aziz Mirza, PML-Q leader Ms Kashmala Tariq, Sardar Illyas Khan, Syed Kokab Mohiuddin, Prof Dr Ahsan Malik, MA Rauf, Kazi Abdul Hamid Mughul and Anjum Aqeel. Farzana Raja said that the government was taking measures for improving the living conditions of the people and it had taken a number of steps, including the introduction of the BISP, for the social protection of the poorest section of the society. She added that the PPP government wanted the prosperity of the country and its people and working hard at the top political level to achieve this objective. Farzana Raja called for reaching a consensus among all the political forces in the country for the socio-economic prosperity of the country and the welfare of the people. She said that the objective and mission of every political party was to serve the people and work for the solidarity and prosperity of the country. She attributed the current economic situation to the wrong policies of the previous government and called for the coalition partners to support the government efforts for improving the economy. She added that the government wanted to take along all the political forces on the issues of national importance. Farzana Raja said that the government was taking measures for improving the law and order situation in the country and it had taken a number of steps in this regard. She recalled the sacrifices rendered by the leadership and workers of the PPP for the cause of democracy in the country.She lauded the efforts and services of the MKRMS for organising seminars on the issues of national importance. Speaking on the occasion, PML-N leader Ashan Iqbal called for making collective efforts for the economic well-being of the people and the prosperity of the country.He strongly criticised the policies, including the economic policy, devised by former president Pervez Musharraf which caused damage to the economy of the country. He claimed that during the eight-year period of the former government, about Rs 80 billion had come to Pakistan, but regretted that no major development project, like the Diamer-Basha Dam, was initiated from that money. He added that the agriculture sector was ignored during the period. He said that during the period, the former government focused on the consumer-led growth, instead of the export-led growth. He called for promoting knowledge-based economy with a special focus on the skill development of the youth for the prosperity of the country.Speaking on the occasion, Ms Kashmala Tariq highlighted the major achievement of the PML-Q government. She accepted the fact that the energy sector was ignored during the period. She called for making collective efforts to steer the country out of the current economic crisis. The other speakers also called for improving the law and order situation in the country for attracting foreign investments.