Daylight saving time extended till Oct 31

Responding a question, the Minister said that she did not see any vilification campaign launched by the US government, adding “the news report about Asif Zardari originated from the United Kingdom and US has nothing to do with it.”  The Minister said that such media trial could not affect election campaign of Asif Zardari and added that PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) had invited Zardari in the name of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to accept this office.       

To a question, she said there was nothing unusual about telephonic contact between Zardari and Khalilzad as such interactions at international level were a matter of routine.

To a query about former President Pervez Musharraf, she said that the present government did not believe in witch-hunting and emphatically said that the PPP did not take any action against remnants of Ziaul Haq who were involved in judicial murder of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.       

She said that new appointments in government institutions would be made after finalization of a framework in this regard. Sherry Rehman said exports had gone up by 29.5 per cent in July this year as compared to the corresponding month of last year. “Tax collection was up by 40.6 per cent, rising from Rs 50 billion to Rs 70 billion, posting healthy increase of 40.4 per cent in July 2008”, she stated.        

The Minister said workers’ remittances amounted to US $ 627.2 million in July 2008 - the highest ever in a single month, showing an increase of 26.5 per cent over US $ 495.6 million in July last year. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was up by 76 per cent, and that suggests the confidence of the foreign investors in the future prospects of the country’s economy.      

The Federal Government through National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has provided 5000 tents, 6000 blankets, and 19000 plastic mats for the Bajaur refugees. The Cabinet Division Emergency Relief Cell is in close liaison with the NWFP Government to monitor the situation and the  agencies concerned have been advised to take immediate action in the event of emergency situation.      

The Utility Stores have also been directed to provide 10000 bags of composite ration to the displaced families of Bajaur Agency. The Minister said the government was expecting the arrival of PL 480 wheat from the US in the coming days.