16 February 2005 Wednesday 06 Muharram 1426 Grand opposition alliance likely in a few weeks ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: A grand opposition alliance is likely to be formed in a few weeks as negotiators of the ARD and the MMA are expected to work out a minimum programme and a unified strategy against President Gen Pervez Musharraf ... Breakthrough in Balochistan talks soon, says Shujaat TAXILA, Feb 15: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said the government will make all out efforts to resolve Balochistan crisis through political means, and a breakthrough in this context was expected very soon. ... Dialogue urged on Balochistan issue HYDERABAD, Feb 15: Secretary-general of the Sindh chapter of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro has said that the Balochistan issue should be resolved through negotiations and use of force should be avoided in the province. ... Withdrawal of army from Sui demanded KARACHI, Feb 15: Opposition leader in Balochistan Assembly Kachkol Ali advocate has urged the federal government to pull out armed forces from Sui area, stop construction of new garrisons in the province ... PA session called for debate on price hike KARACHI, Feb 15: The opposition in provincial assembly on Tuesday requisitioned the assembly session to debate the phenomenal price hike, deteriorating law and order situation and police excesses ... Kalabagh dam poses threat to national integrity: PPP KARACHI, Feb 15: The Pakistan People's Party on Tuesday declared that the decision to construct Kalabagh Dam against the wishes of the people of Sindh and other provinces would pose a serious threat to the country's integrity ... PPP questions multiple taxation ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Senator Enver Baig of People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) on Monday questioned the government about increasing airport taxes from Feb 16 ... Benazir pays tributes to Hariri ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto has condoled the death of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri and paid glowing tributes to him. ... Equal rights sought for nationalities MARDAN, Feb 15: The general-secretary of Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) and former Senator Akram Khan, has alleged that Gen Pervez Musharraf has suspended basic rights of the people, particularly of smaller nationalities. ... Time now to resolve conflicts: Musharraf ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that the era of conflict management between Pakistan and India was over and now they had to strive for resolution of conflicts. ... Body formed to discuss gas pipeline from Qatar ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources on Tuesday constituted a special technical committee to come up with the best possible economic options for the proposed gas pipeline from Qatar to Pakistan. ... Pakistan, Malaysia for enhanced air links ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Pakistan and Malaysia have expressed the desire to enhance air links and increase the number of flights between the two countries. ... Straw visits Gujrat to drum up support: Forthcoming UK election LAHORE, Feb 15: Britain's foreign minister Jack Straw has visited the cities of Lahore and Gujrat in a bid to win over sympathies of London-based Pakistanis for himself as well as for the ruling Labour Party in the forthcoming general election ... Pervaiz wants Kashmir issue solved GUJRAT, Feb 15: "Education is my mission and all energies of the Punjab government have been concentrated towards achieving this single goal," according to Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi. ... WB unlikely to be of much help: minister - Baglihar issue ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: The Senate was told on Tuesday that Pakistan might have to accept, as 'fait accompli', construction of Baglihar Dam by India because war will be the only option left if the World Bank failed to resolve the issue. ... Communist leaders from India due NEW DELHI, Feb 15: Two of India's top communist leaders will make a landmark visit to Pakistan this month, presenting a fresh context to bilateral ties in which the United States will openly be the focus of adverse attention ... FIA unit on human smuggling functional LAHORE, Feb 15: Will the recently established Anti-Trafficking Unit of the Federal Investigation Agency check human smuggling? ... Small dams under severe stress - More rain forecast LAHORE, Feb 15: The system which caused rain in the Punjab and elsewhere in the country on Tuesday would further intensify on Feb 16 and 17, putting small dams under stress and causing landslides and flash flows in hilly areas. ... Grant of allowances by EPZA criticized: Contravention of rules ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has taken serious note of the unilateral grant of allowances by the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) to its employees in contravention of rules. ... Extension to Federal Lodges begins ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Work on the extension of Federal Lodges Block-I has started and the project will be completed within a year with an estimated cost of Rs35.683 million. ... PCSIR assesses damage to environment LAHORE, Feb 15: Scientists of the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research are conducting studies on a regular basis to determine the extent of environmental damage at various sites of some cities ... 'Pakistan to be made a child-friendly state' ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday signed a pledge for child rights movement and called for devising a multi-pronged strategy to create a protective environment for children. ... Communication system project okayed ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved a project worth Rs39 million to establish Internet Communication Network System and digital library at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Karachi. ... Justice Dogar takes over as acting CEC ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, a judge of the Supreme Court, was sworn in as Acting Chief Election Commissioner here on Tuesday. ... Lawyer allowed to implead petroleum ministry LAHORE, Feb 15: Justice Syed Jamshed Ali of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday allowed advocate M.D.Tahir to implead the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources as a party to the latest increase in POL prices ... Death toll in NWFP reaches 320 PESHAWAR, Feb 15: A fresh spell of rain and snowfall across the NWFP has raised the death toll from weather-related incidents in the province to 320. ... $875 million windmill project inaugurated KARACHI, Feb 15: Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister for Environment and Alternate Energy, Noman Saigol said on Tuesday that the Gharo windmill power project would cater 30 per cent power needs of Karachi. ... Cut in seats for women, workers opposed KARACHI, Feb 15: Gen Pervez Musharraf has been asked to withdraw the decision to reduce the number of councillors at union council level and the reserved seats for women and workers. ... Expansion of vaccine coverage stressed PESHAWAR, Feb 15: The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) is implementing a two-year plan in collaboration with the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to boost the coverage of vaccination and save children from preventable diseases. ... Call for concerted efforts to check drug addiction RAWALPINDI, Feb 15: Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Ghous Bux Mahar has stressed making concerted efforts by all sections of the society to save the coming generations from drug addiction. ...

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