19 June 2004 Saturday 30 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 Budget an effort to 'provide relief' LAHORE, June 18: The Punjab budget for 2004-05 reflects the government's conscious effort to provide relief to the poor without disturbing its short and long-term development strategy for sustained growth and poverty alleviation. ... Shaukat justifies defence allocations ISLAMABAD, June 18: Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the government will provide all resources to the armed forces needed for the country's defence. ... PPP calls for judicial probe QUETTA, June 18: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) divisional coordinator Dr Hayatullah Durrani has demanded a judicial probe into the murder of Munawwar Suhrawardy. ... Muttahida deplores accusations of Benazir KARACHI, June 18: The convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement's co-ordination committee, Dr Imran Farooq, has deplored the remarks of PPP chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto, who has implicated MQM in the murder of Munawwar Suhrawardy. ... Altaf rejects allegations against Muttahida KARACHI, June 18: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief, Altaf Hussain, on Friday lashed out at PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed accusing them of making false accusations. ... Protest against murder of PPP leader HYDERABAD, June 18: The People's Party Parliamentarians observed a protest day in Sindh on Friday to condemn the murder of its leader, Munawwar Suharwardy, in Karachi on Thursday. ... Over 33,000 master-degree holders jobless, NA told ISLAMABAD, June 18: The government on Friday conceded before the National Assembly that it had failed to provide employment opportunities to thousands of persons holding postgraduate degrees. ... Punjab unable to confirm poverty reduction data LAHORE, June 18: Punjab Finance Minister Hasnain Bahadur Dreshak on Friday said he was not in a position to state if poverty had decreased in Punjab during the last few years. ... Social indicators a tall order: expert ISLAMABAD, June 18: The social indicators envisaged to be achieved through the budget 2004-05 are unlikely to materialize because of unrealistic assumptions ... Development of police, judiciary envisaged LAHORE, June 18: Development of a massive infrastructure for the judiciary, police and prisons is the main feature of the Asian Development Bank-sponsored Access to Justice Programme, which continues in the Punjab for the second year. ... Efforts on to get PNAC global recognition ISLAMABAD, June 18: The Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) is yet to get registered with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) to make it a globally-recognized body ... Protest to continue till killers' arrest: PPP KARACHI, June 18: Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly and provincial chief of the Pakistan People's Party Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, slammed the government for its failure in protecting citizens' life ... 'Growth no panacea for poverty alleviation' ISLAMABAD, June 18: Growth alone is no panacea for alleviation of poverty unless it is accompanied by redistribution of assets and incomes in order to enable the poor to accumulate financial and human capital. ... Suhrawardy's murder condemned ISLAMABAD, June 18: Chief of his own faction of the PML-N Nawaz Sharif has said the brutal murder of Munawwar Suhrawardy has proved that the government of Gen Pervez Musharraf has failed to maintain law and order ... Kashmiris' involvement in peace initiative stressed KARACHI, June 18: The need for promoting intra-Kashmiri dialogue for ensuring peace and stability in the region was stressed by an Indian peace activist who also asked both Pakistan and India to learn to live in peace with each other. ... Multi-sectoral approach urged to check child trafficking KARACHI, June 18: Multi-sectoral approach and strict implementation of local, international laws and conventions are needed to check growing rate of child trafficking in the region. ... Repatriation a priority: UNHCR PESHAWAR, June 18: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is giving top priority to the repatriation of Afghan refugees to lessen the burden on Pakistan, said Commissioner for Afghan Refugees while speaking at a forum. ... PFUJ stand on Wage Board reiterated KARACHI, June 18: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists in a statement has again regretted the delay in implementation of the Seventh Wage Board award for newspaper workers. ...

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