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Pakistan is ready for talks with India: Qureshi
Stessing on the resolution of Kashmir issue, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says Pakistan is ready to hold talks with India.
Obama says quit bickering, pass healthcare reform
President Barack Obama told Congress on Wednesday to end its political bickering and move quickly on a broad healthcare overhaul that would dramatically transform the US health system and insurance market…
Hoarders responsible for sugar crisis, says Kaira
Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira has elucidated that hoarders are responsible for the ongoing sugar scarcity in the country.
Govt committed to solve problems of Balochistan: Gilani
Prime Minister Gilani expressed these views while talking to Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfikhar Magsi on Wednesday at Prime Minister House.
Truck bomb in north Iraq Kurdish village kills 19
A suicide bomber drove a truck packed with explosives into a Kurdish village in north Iraq before dawn on Thursday, killing at least 19 villagers and wounding 25, Iraqi police said.
Pakistan’s Zardari plays down Afghan poll concerns
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari played down concerns on Wednesday that the Afghan election had been tainted by fraud and said he would be present if President Hamid Karzai is sworn in for a new …
Govt committed to solve Balochistan’s problems: PM
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said the government is sincerely hoping to solve the problems of Balochistan on a priority basis and said no decision will be taken regarding the province…
SC asked to hear afresh contempt petition against Musharraf
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has urged the Supreme Court to hear afresh the contempt petition against Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf for sending back former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia…
US urges India, Pakistan to improve ties
The United States on Wednesday called for improvement in Pakistan-India relationship through reciprocal steps as a senior American diplomat described cooperative relations between the two South Asian …
Cabinet approves Education Policy 2009
The federal cabinet has approved the Education Policy 2009 which targets an 86 per cent literacy rate by the year 2015.
LHC verdict on sugar price challenged in SC
The Punjab Sugar Mills Owners Association challenged on Wednesday the decision of Lahore High Court fixing the price of sugar at Rs40 per kg in the Supreme Court.
Distribution companies seek raise in power tariff
All eight electricity distribution companies have asked the National Electricity Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to raise electricity tariff by 38 to 54 per cent by next month.
JUI-F withdraws decision to pull out of coalition
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has postponed its decision to pull out of the coalition after government assurances to carry out Islamic legislation in accordance with recommendations of the Council…
TCP blames minister for sugar crisis
In what appears to be a new twist in the sugar crisis, officials of the Trading Corporation of Pakistan on Tuesday absolved themselves of responsibility and instead passed the buck to the minister for…
Petition to approach ICJ for Aafia’s release dismissed
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday dismissed a petition to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the release of Pakistani national Dr Aafia Siddiqui, detained in a prison in the …
Business & Economy
CCP to probe aviation, energy sectors for any collusive trends
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has decided to examine the aviation and energy sectors to have updated economic data on these sectors to ascertain any kind of collusive behaviour, trends …
Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2009-12 launched
In order to address the challenges confronting Pakistan on the economic fronts, Ministry of Commerce has launched a comprehensive three years Strategic Trade Policy Framework (2009-12) document. Minister…
Punjab Large Cities Project: World Bank experts highlight three-stage reform implementation
World Bank experts have highlighted three stages for reform implementation for 'Punjab Large Cities Project', including: (i) "creating" cities as autonomous entities that can be held accountable for their…
CDGK to spend Rs four billion on social sector
City District Government Karachi has allocated over Rs 4 billion for social sector in the budget 2009-10. The plans for the social sector include the establishment of City Government Cricket Academy and…
PC asked to form policy according to needs of masses
Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Population Welfare has directed the Planning Commission (PC) to form policy taking into consideration the needs of the masses with a realistic vision…
Efforts being taken to upgrade infrastructure: minister
The Sindh Minister for Industries, M A Rauf Siddiqui, has said that the provincial government is taking all possible steps to upgrade the infrastructure of the province on par with international standard…
Tiles, precious stones sector: need stressed for Pak-Turk cooperation
President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Mian Shaukat Masud Tuesday said joint ventures in processing, manufacturing and export of ceramic tiles, marble and other precious stones, …
Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports
The Karachi Port handled 132,844 tonnes of cargo including 74,096 tonnes import and 58,748 tonnes export cargo including 4,956 empty and loaded containers during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on …
PNSC, Spanish firm close to $40.5 million oil tanker deal
Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) is close to an agreement with a Spanish firm for a twin-hull oil tanker of over 100,000 dead-weight tonnage worth around $40.5 million. According to official…
‘PIAF-Founders Alliance to ensure business-friendly atmosphere’
The PIAF-Founders Alliance would ensure a business-friendly atmosphere in the province so that the policies would yield results in true sense of the word. The PIAF-Founders Alliance leaders gave this …
Government to provide comfortable transport system to masses: Kaira
A meeting of subsidy validation committee for strengthening and sustainability of urban transport system held under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Finance and Planning & Development Tanvir…
CAR default on Shershah bridge: Rs one billion may be recovered from contractors
An mount of approximately Rs 1 billion may be recovered from the contractors of the Shershah bridge for defaulting in taking out 'Contractor All Risk' (CAR) insurance policies.
Halal food industry: Pakistan-Malaysia working group to examine possibility of collaboration
Pakistan and Malaysia on Tuesday agreed to establish working group to examine the possibility of bilateral collaboration and promotion of Halal food industry. This was agreed at a meeting between Foreign…
POF, French company sign MoU on rocket technology
Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) and a French company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on upgrading the capabilities of 122 mm rockets used by the Pakistani armed forces on the sidelines of…
Sports
Boxing-Vijender assures India of first world medal
Olympic medallist Vijender Kumar has assured India of its first men's world championship boxing medal.
Wozniacki ends Oudin’s dream to reach semis
Teen upstarts Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium fought through the tension to reach their first Grand Slam semi-finals Wednesday with nerve-testing US Open triumphs.
Oudin’s magical US Open ends with loss in quarters
Roger Federer will play Novak Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals on Saturday, their third consecutive clash at Flushing Meadows after the final of 2007 and the semi-finals of last year.
Kottan spots Pakistani talent in Europe
Pakistan national football team coach George Kottan has spotted three talented under-20 Pakistani players in the European League, a spokesman of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said here on Wednesday…
Prime Minister allocates Rs120m for PHF
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday allocated Rs120 million to the Pakistan Hockey Federation as a special grant for the promotion of the national game, Dawn has learnt on authority.
Lahore break sweat to overcome battling Peshawar
Lahore had to work up a sweat to overcome a fighting Peshawar 6-4 thanks to two-goal Kashif Shah and Abdul Khaliq in Junior Super Hockey League at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Wednesday.
US Open tennis joy for Li, despair for Mirza
Defending champion Serena Williams will play comeback queen Kim Clijsters for a place in the US Open final after both scored straight sets wins in their quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Zidane gets green light for sporting complex
French football legend Zinedine Zidane got the official stamp of approval Tuesday for a project to create a sports complex dedicated to urban football at Milles, near Aix-en-Provence, in southern France…
Technology