24 May 2004 Monday 04 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 C'wealth re-entry is unconditional, says minister RAWALPINDI, May 23: Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Sunday said Commonwealth has not imposed any condition on Pakistan for restoring its membership. ... C'wealth re-entry Not much has changed internally: Fazl PESHAWAR, May 23: Chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the restoration of Pakistan's membership to the Commonwealth would not change the internal situation of the country. ... 'Readmission brings end to isolation' WASHINGTON, May 23: Pakistan's readmission into the 53-nation Commonwealth ends the exclusion imposed after President Gen Pervez Musharraf seized power in 1999,The Washington Post observed on Sunday. ... Democratic steps helped restore membership: FO ISLAMABAD, May 23: The decision taken by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) is a recognition of Pakistan's principled position and vindication of its commitment towards democracy ... MQM seeks due share for Sindh in award KARACHI, May 23: The National Finance Commission Award be formulated on justifiable grounds to ensure that smaller provinces, particularly Sindh, get their legitimate share in the resources of the country. ... Govt wants one-party system: Khosa LAHORE, May 23: Punjab PML-N President Sirdar Zulfikar Khosa alleged on Sunday the Punjab government was trying to win over the opposition legislators under detention in an attempt to introduce what he called a one-party system in the country. ... Qazi, Fazl to speak at rally tomorrow KARACHI, May 23: To protest against the death of nine of its activists, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal is going to organize a public demonstration near the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam on Tuesday. ... Shujaat asked to put off Sindh visit KARACHI, May 23: Maqbool Ahmed Shaikh, a central leader of the Pakistan Muslim League, has advised the party chief, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, not to start a visit to Sindh, including Karachi ... NWFP to get Rs360m royalty from dam - 70pc of water resources to be utilized - Sherpao PESHAWAR, May 23: Federal Minister for Water and Power, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, has said that the Munda dam will enable the NWFP to utilize 70 per cent of its water for the uplift of the people. ... 'Moderation key to globalization' ISLAMABAD, May 23: Enlightened moderation is the key to globalization while extremism is a barrier to development, said Prof Attaur Rahman, incharge minister for science and technology and chairman Higher Education Commission. ... Rs2 million drought mitigation project for Balochistan ISLAMABAD, May 23: The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has launched a Rs2 million drought mitigation project in Rod Kohi area, Balochistan. ... Rs5,859m plan for coastal uplift KARACHI, May 23: The Sindh Coastal Development Authority (SCDA) has chalked out an ambitious perspective plan with an estimated cost of Rs5,859 million for the coastal belt of Thatta and Badin districts and the province's coastal zone. ... $5m screening machines to be installed at ports ISLAMABAD, May 23: The government has approved a project worth over $5 million to install six containers screening machines at the customs ports for checking imported goods as well as those being exported to meet the demand of the Western countries. ... Power from China for Khunjerab post GILGIT, May 23: The Chinese government will set up communication infrastructure and provide electricity from its western Kashghar city to the newly-established Khunjerab checkpoint at 16,000-foot high Khunjerab Zero Point ... Indian premier urged to guard minority rights ISLAMABAD, May 23: The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) chairman, Shahbaz Bhatti, has felicitated Dr Manmohan Singh on becoming Prime Minister of India ... Call to take people into confidence on mega plans QUETTA, May 23: National Party Secretary-General Mir Hasil Bizenjo has said that the government should take the people of Balochistan into confidence on the mega projects. ... South Asia 'dangerous' region for journalists LAHORE, May 23: South Asia continues to be one of the most dangerous regions in the world for journalists where they are threatened by attacks from gangsters, religious fundamentalists and terrorists and intimidated and harassed... PPP office-bearers resign QUETTA, May 23: The city president and other office-bearers of Pakistan People's Party have resigned from their offices. ... PFUJ, KUJ, Apnec welcome proposal ISLAMABAD, May 23: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (Apnec) have welcomed a reported proposal of the four provincial information ministers to link government advertisements with the implementation of the Wage Award. ... Forum asks occupation forces to quit Iraq KARACHI, May 23: Speakers at a forum on Sunday demanded immediate withdrawal of the occupation forces of the United States and its allies from Iraq ...

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