Dar hints at 10 percent raise in salaries

 

ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that the government was considering increasing employees’ salaries by ten percent in the upcoming budget.
According to a private news channel, the finance minister said the PML-N government had also decided to continue the BISP and a sufficient amount would be allocated for the programme.

A meeting of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC), held with Ishaq Dar in the chair, discussed all aspects of the national economy. The economic Advisory Council recommended various measures to bring about an improvement to different sectors of the economy.

The sub-group on energy presented its proposals related to the oil and gas sector with the aim of achieving lower cost of energy and to become self-sufficient in national needs.

The sub-group on industry and trade recommended diversification of the export base, moving away from the prime focus on textiles and rice and for promoting a non-agriculture based export industry. The sub-group on food security recommended establishment of a special task force on social safety nets.

The sub-groups on resource mobilisation and expenditure management and the social sector also submitted their recommendations to the council.

Speaking on the occasion, the finance minister said the social safety net was an area of priority for the government.

He said that 50 percent of the country’s population was living below the poverty line.

Altaf hints at early homecoming

 

KARACHI: The self-exiled London-based MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, on Saturday hinted of his imminent homecoming saying that Pakistan was his home and will remain so forever.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Nazeer Hussain University, Karachi, over the phone from London, Altaf confirmed media reports about his furnishing an application with the Pakistan High Commission for the renewal of his Pakistani passport.

He said if his application was rejected, his legal team would seek justice from the higher courts. He said the MQM never demanded the separation of Sindh; rather it wanted justice for all Sindhis.

He further said his party stood for establishing peace, not only in Karachi but also in the country, the region and the world.He said Musharraf was not even on the ground when Nawaz Sharif’s government was toppled in 1999 and it was others who had arrested Nawaz.

He asked why only Musharraf was being tried for breaching the Constitution. “Why are those who were involved in aiding and abetting the coup being spared?” He said if Musharraf was to be hanged those who arrested Nawaz should also meet the same fate.

He further said: “We want to establish friendly relations with Pakistan’s neighbouring countries with dignity and mutual respect.”The MQM chief also said Islam was a religion of peace but some clerics had distorted its peaceful image through their irresponsible actions.“Islam teaches us tolerance and respect for all faiths, religions and beliefs. Islam teaches us to seek a peaceful resolution to conflicts and disputes through dialogue and negotiations.”

Lindsay Lohan hints at ‘Mean Girls’ reunion

Lindsay Lohan has revealed that a new 'Mean Girls' reunion might be in works.

Actress Lindsay Lohan has revealed that a new ‘Mean Girls’ reunion might be in works.
The 27-year-old actress, who had starred as the homeschooled girl Cady in ‘Mean Girls’, said that the screenwriter of the movie Tina Fey has hinted at the possibility of a new reunion, reported Ace Showbiz.
“When I saw Tina backstage and she mentioned maybe doing some sort of reunion,” Lohan said during a show.
When the show host said it was a wonderful revelation, she added, “This is important. This needs to happen.”
The 2004 hit movie about the lives of teenage girls also starred Rachel McAdams, Lizzy Caplan, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried and Tina Fey.

Salman Khan hints at marriage this year to Romanian beauty Iulia Vantur

Salman Khan said, “It's time to stop sighing because something soon will happen in my life.”

Superstar Salman Khan has hinted at a possibility of getting hitched by the end of this year as he is tired of being single for a long time.
The 48-year-old ‘Jai Ho’ star did not rule out the chances of marrying Romanian beauty Iulia Vantur, whom he is allegedly dating for quite sometime.
“Now I’m in transit period and I like it. From the age of 15, I did not get a transit period. For the first time, I have such a chance to sigh. I am sighing more since it has been two-and-a-half years. It’s time to stop sighing because something soon will happen in my life…

“I follow humanity. I follow Islam, Christianity, and follow right thing as much I can. I have been kind of blessed. Father is Pathan, mother is Hindu, second mother is catholic, and brother-in-law is Punjabi. Wife, I am thinking to bring from outside…,” Salman said.
Salman has often been linked with his co-stars and also being termed as a ‘possessive’ boyfriend. He admitted that he was a miserable lover but a great friend.
“When you are in a relationship you try everything to see that she doesn’t leave you. You try to be good. You give her a silent treatment. You yell, cry and when nothing works you say go.
“I thought they were the most correct people for me… Great girls bad boyfriend. I have not been like the most incredible boy friend. I could be the friend and I have heard this from the ex girlfriends also that (he is) a great friend but miserable boyfriend,” Salman said.
The actor also thanked his parents – father Salim Khan and mothers Sushila Charak Khan and Helen – for being with him at his worst times.
“No child would have given them as may problems. I was a naughty kid. They had to hear slanderous things about their son from others – the jail episodes, the cases that have come. If these things would not have come, my father and mother would have looked as young as I look now,” he said

Maulana Yusaf Shah hints at resumption of Govt-Taliban peace talks from Monday

NOWSHERA: A joint meeting of the Government and Taliban-nominated negotiating team has been convened on Monday (March 03) in Islamabad.

Coordinator Taliban committee Maulana Yusaf Shah Saturday said that the meeting is likely to be chaired by Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan.

He said Patron of the Taliban Committee Maulana Samiul Haq had cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and was on his way back to Islamabad for participating in the Monday's meeting.

Addressing an emergency press conference here at Darul Uloom Haqqani Akora Khattak, he congratulated the nation over ceasefire announced by the TTP.

He appealed to the people of the country to pray for the success of peace talks which were stalled for last couple of weeks due to the deadlock.

He said "we have fulfilled our commitment made with the nation" and added seriousness showed by the Taliban leadership should be reciprocated by taking the peace process forward.

He said, "I, on behalf of the Maulana Samiul Haq, thanked the leadership of Taliban for announcing ceasefire and I am hopeful that Taliban leaders would not disappoint the nation."

Meanwhile, member Taliban Committee Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim has welcomed the ceasefire announcement by the Taliban and described it a very positive development.

This was stated by a spokesman of the Jamaat Islami Israrullah Advocate said in a statement.

Prof Ibrahim said entire nation should unite against the anti-peace forces who wanted to sabotage peace talks between the government and the Taliban.