December 9, 2003	Tuesday	Shawwal 14, 1424

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WB support for SMEs, health sector sought ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has urged the World Bank to provide support for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country....		Merger of PPP-S, Patriots this month RAWALPINDI, Dec 8: The merger of Sherpao and Patriots factions of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will formally be announced within this month....
Better ties among Saarc states to benefit region’ ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Saarc member countries need to adopt a coherent strategy to harmonise their trade regime, focusing in particular on tariff regimes, transport and transit systems as well as custom...		Govt urged to sign UN convention on smoking ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The activists of a non-governmental organization criticized the government for adopting a half- hearted approach towards implementing existing laws banning smoking in public places....
Cultural heritage facing serious threats: report ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The cultural heritage of Pakistan is facing serious dangers due to the absence of coordinated activity to preserve environments and lack of direction towards conservation procedures....		Land reforms termed key to poverty alleviation ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Redistribution of assets through land and tenure reforms is a key requirement of any programme to reduce poverty and empower the poor and marginalized section of the society,...
Urdu version of L’Etranger launched ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The Urdu translation of the famous novel ‘L’Etranger’ by the French writer, Albert Camus, was launched at a simple reception here on Monday evening at a function with...		Confiscation of milch animals ordered RAWALPINDI, Dec 8: Tehsil Nazim Raja Hamid Nawaz has ordered confiscation of all milch animals found in the city limits and registration of cases against the owners....
CDA’s request for Rs40m turned down: Saarc Summit ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The government has turned down the request of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding release of Rs40 million fund needed to make arrangements for the Saarc summit, a...		Hearing of Naqvi’s bail plea put off RAWALPINDI, Dec 8: The special anti-terrorism court No 1 here on Monday adjourned till December 13 the hearing of bail application of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Islami Pakistan chief Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi...
Book launching ceremony held ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The Asian Study Group on Monday launched a book, “Prisoner on a bus”, (Travels Through Pakistan), written by renowned travelogue writer Salman Rashid....		Power tariff may be cut: Sherpao: Senators criticize Wapda’s performance ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao assured the Senate on Monday that the government would reduce the electricity tariff if the task force constituted in this...
Balochistan wants gas uplift surcharge increased ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The gas development surcharge (GDS) calculation formula has become a contentious issue for the National Finance Commission (NFC) as its largest recipient Balochistan wants to increase its share...		Opposition blasts govt for poor law, order ISLAMABAD Dec 8: The combined opposition in the Senate on Monday blasted the federal and provincial governments for what it termed “worst law and order situation” prevailing in the country....
Hashmi granted A-class in jail ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: District and sessions judge Chaudhry Asad Raza on Monday granted A-class to the acting president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, in the Adyala jail....		Govt urged to solve workers’ problems QUETTA, Dec 8: The All Pakistan Workers Confederation, Balochistan chapter, on Monday demanded the withdrawal of anti-labour presidential ordinances, including the Compulsory Termination Ordinance 2000, the Industrial Relations Ordinance 2002 and...
Turkmenistan deputy premier arrives ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan, Yolly Gurbanmuradov, arrived here on Monday to attend the two-day 7th meeting of the Steering Committee on the Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) Gas...		PFUJ questions minister’s claim about press freedom KARACHI, Dec 8: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has contested Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s recent statement regarding the state of freedom of the press and expression in the country...
ARD not to change protest strategy till 16th ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy has decided not to change its ongoing protest strategy in the Senate and to continue boycott of the proceedings till the...		President hosts banquet for Nazarbayev ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday said Pakistan “wants negotiated settlement of all issues with India” including the festering Kashmir dispute, which has been at the heart of...
Body formed to discuss NFC QUETTA, Dec 8: The provincial cabinet was informed on Monday that the Balochistan government had presented its financial resource distribution formula in the first meeting of the National Finance Commission....		Pakistan, Russia sign MoU to combat corruption ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Pakistan and the Russian Federation on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for eradication of corruption and other financial irregularities, Chairman National Accountability Bureau Lt-Gen Munir Hafiez...
Petition against women senators dismissed ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan on Monday dismissed an election appeal moved against four women senators from Sindh on reserved seats by upholding the earlier decision of...		Cooperation discussed ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will continue to cooperate in the fields of narcotics control and human trafficking....
Muslim Conference wins by-polls MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 8: Muslim Conference candidate Raja Mohammad Yasin won the by-polls in AJK Legislative Assembly constituency LA-14, Bagh-III, on Monday, defeating his rivals from the People’s Party and the Jamaat-i-Islami....		CM announces Rs50m package for Nawabshah NAWABSHAH, Dec 8: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar here on Monday announced a Rs50 million development package for Nawabshah district....
Govt failure to check price hike criticized SUKKUR, Dec 8: The co-chairman, All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, Haji Mohammad Haroon Memon, has criticized the government for failing to control the price of flour and...		Hepatitis-B hits Moro villages NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, Dec 8: A minor boy died of hepatitis-B on Monday and 16 others have been infected with the disease in the Moro area....
NAB arrests 20 SUKKUR, Dec 8: The National Accountability Bureau on Monday arrested at least 20 people in raids from Sukkur, Moro, Khairpur, Gambat and Ghotki on charges of large-scale bungling and corruption during...		Man kills wife over Karo-kari JACOBABAD, Dec 8: A man, Karamullah Jafri, killed his wife, Sughar Khatoon, 25, on the pretext of Karo-kari in the Ghauspur police station jurisdiction on Sunday night....
Kidnapping stirs protest LARKANA, Dec 8: Activists of the Sindh National Front took out a procession here on Monday to protest against the kidnapping of a student in Banguldero....		Promise of regular jobs not fulfilled: Contract doctors in limbo PESHAWAR, Dec 8: Successive provincial governments have failed to regularize the services of hundreds of contract doctors despite making promises, affected doctors said....
Chitral needs girls colleges CHITRAL, Dec 8: Girl students here after passing the secondary school certificate examination face difficulty in continuing their education due to the absence of colleges....		Protesters block Oghi Road MANSEHRA, Dec 8: Hundreds of people on Monday blocked the Mansehra-Oghi Road against the murder of a young boy, disrupting the traffic for hours....
Truck driver denied bail PESHAWAR, Dec 8: A single bench of the Peshawar High Court on Monday dismissed the bail petition of a trucker accused of killing a traffic policeman in an accident....		Two face action for visiting Afghanistan GHALLANAI, Dec 8: The political administration in Mohmand Agency has issued warrants for the arrest of two tribesmen for visiting Afghanistan without the government’s permission....
Naqvi’s arrest criticized PESHAWAR, Dec 8: The Shia Action Committee has warned of a countrywide strike if the cases against the chief of the banned Pakistan Islami Tehrik, Allama Sajid Naqvi, were not withdrawn....		Hazara University to reduce fees MANSEHRA, Dec 8: A syndicate meeting of the Hazara University on Saturday decided to implement reduced fee structure in the next semester, commencing from January 2004....
Concern expressed MINGORA, Dec 8: Different trader unions have expressed serious concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the Swat district....		Efficient UCs to be given Rs5m: PML-Q reorganization LAHORE, Dec 8: Linking development funds’ grant to the PML-Q’s reorganization, Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Monday vowed to give Rs5 million to a union council, which will come up...
Defiant Khar again proposes power sharing: PPP disowns ex-governor LAHORE, Dec 8: The Pakistan People’s Party on Monday disowned Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar as he reiterated his civil-military power sharing formula to strengthen the fragile democratic institutions and grew in...		UHS yet to decide IMDC affiliation case LAHORE, Dec 8: The University of Health Sciences has failed to take any action on Punjab chief minister’s directive with regard to the affiliation case of Islamabad Medical and Dental College....
MMA to benefit if parliament completes term LAHORE, Dec 8: The six-party Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would be the main beneficiary if the present assemblies complete their five-year term, Tehrik-i-Istiqlal president Rehmat Khan Vardag said on Monday....		MMA asked not to sign any deal LAHORE, Dec 8: The PML-N called upon the MMA on Monday not to sign any deal with what it labelled US-backed rulers as by doing so it would be violating the...
Seminaries vow to resist registration LAHORE, Dec 8: Several religious organizations, which are running seminaries, have vowed to resist the government’s move to register these religious schools in the country....		Verdict on NAB chief’s powers reserved LAHORE, Dec 8: A division bench of the Lahore High Court reserved on Monday judgment on the petition challenging the powers of the NAB chairperson to order transfer of a case...
Indian doctors for exchange of expertise in medicine LAHORE, Dec 8: Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Jagjit Singh has said that both Pakistan and India must exchange their expertise in medicine to help poor patients in both countries....		Wheat sowing target to be met by 15th LAHORE, Dec 8: The Punjab cultivated wheat on 10 million acres by Nov 30 against the target of 15.35 million acres, says the Punjab Crop Reporting Centre....
Plea dismissed LAHORE, Dec 8: An accountability court on Monday dismissed PPP secretary-general Jehangir Badr’s application for amending chargesheet against him....		Nadra swift centres LAHORE, Dec 8: The National Database and Registrations Authority has decided to keep open its swift centres even on Sundays to cater to the growing rush of computerized identity cards’ seekers...