26 February 2004 Thursday 05 Muharram 1425 President's pledges come under fire ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: The fate of promises made by President Gen Pervez Musharraf since taking power in 1999 came under a critical scrutiny in the Senate on Wednesday as the upper house continued its debate on his address ... Qazi suggests APC nuclear issue PESHAWAR, Feb 25: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed has asked the Jamali government to convene an all-party conference on the crisis concerning the nuclear issue, and evolve a consensus to get it solved. ... MPA withdraws plea for separate seat PESHAWAR, Feb 25: The lone Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Noorani) member of the NWFP Assembly has withdrawn his application for allotment of a separate seat in the house. ... PA speaker seeks early tabling of Hasba bill PESHAWAR, Feb 25: NWFP Assembly Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan Advocate has urged the provincial government and the governor not to lock horns over the proposed Hasba Act, and has asked for early tabling of the bill. ... SC adjourns wage award hearing till March 15 ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: The Supreme Court on Wednesday again adjourned till March 15, the hearing of APNS petition challenging the Seventh Wage Board Award. ... MQM chief stresses realism KARACHI, Feb 25: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday emphasised the need for taking decisions on the basis of realism. He was addressing Ulema in an interactive telephonic dialogue at Lal Qila ground ... Steps for women's active role in politics suggested KARACHI, Feb 25: The one-day interactive media workshop, held here on Wednesday, observed that media, particularly electronic media, could play a pivotal role through its dramas in creating political awareness in women. ... Russia, Pakistan discuss defence cooperation ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: A visiting Russian delegation discussed with Pakistani officials here on Wednesday matters related to defence and communications cooperation between the two countries. ... French FM due on Saturday ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: French Foreign Minister Dr Dominique de Villepin, would be arriving here on Saturday on a day's visit, described as "very significant" by the foreign office. ... Punjab not to surrender its water share LAHORE, Feb 25: The Punjab would neither surrender its share of water nor lay claim to the share of other provinces. This was the unanimous resolve of the treasury and opposition benches in the Punjab Assembly ... 'Steps taken to boost trade with Kabul' PESHAWAR, Feb 25: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah said on Wednesday that initiatives had been taken to facilitate tradeand transportation of goods at the Torkham border checkpoint. ... Core group for promotion of life sciences constituted ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has set up a core group for the promotion of life sciences in public- sector universities of the country. ... ADB seeks city dist status for Rawalpindi RAWALPINDI, Feb 25: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has asked the ministry of local government and rural development, Punjab, to award the status of city district to Rawalpindi Tehsil as per Local Government Ordinance (LGO), 2001 ... Reopening of Khokhrapar border urged HYDERABAD, Feb 25: The Pak-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy, Sindh chapter, at a meeting held here on Tuesday demanded that the government should reopen the Khokhrapar route ... Australian pilot's body arrives from Kabul RAWALPINDI, Feb 25: The body of an Australian pilot, who died after coming under fire in Afghanistan, was airlifted to Islamabad and shifted to the mortuary of Pims on Wednesday, an official source told Dawn. ... EU policy detrimental to CBMs KARACHI, Feb 25: Egyptian scholar Dr El-Sayed Selim on Wednesday criticized the West's selective application on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction ... Flour at 205 designated sale points LAHORE, Feb 25: The Pakistan Flour Millers Association and the food department on Wednesday decided to designate 200 shops and five mills' gates in the city to provide a 20kg bag for Rs210. ... Third World facing rise in diabetes, says expert KARACHI, Feb 25: Today there are 194 million people worldwide who suffer from diabetes. This number is expected to jump to 333 million by the year 2025. ... Epilepsy treatable, meeting told KARACHI, Feb 25: Some 1.4 million Pakistanis, mostly teenagers and children, suffer from epilepsy. Even though misconceptions about the disease abound, it is fully treatable. ... Litigation for protection of environment stressed KARACHI, Feb 25: Speakers at a seminar observed that civil society could build up pressure on agencies concerned for protection of environment by innovative use of public interest litigation. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004