Pakistan stands committed to global and regional peace and wishes to live in peace and harmony with all its neighbours. This was stated by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. He was speaking as the chief guest at the 91st Mid-Shipmen Commissioning Parade here at the Pakistan Naval Academy (PNA) on Friday.
The COAS said that Pakistan will not enter into any arms race but will maintain balance through a strategy of minimum credible deterrence.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday that Pakistan will chase the terrorists to rid the country of the menace of terrorism.Talking to media persons at the local airport, he said that operation will be carried out wherever needed,” adding that we will have to face the terrorists wherever they are and chase them to defeat terrorism”.

When asked whether operation will be expanded to other areas, he said that operations are carried out with proper planning and keeping in view the resources needed and their availability.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday that Pakistan will chase the terrorists to rid the country of the menace of terrorism.Talking to media persons at the local airport, he said that operation will be carried out wherever needed,” adding that we will have to face the terrorists wherever they are and chase them to defeat terrorism”.

When asked whether operation will be expanded to other areas, he said that operations are carried out with proper planning and keeping in view the resources needed and their availability.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday urged the graduating students to utilize their potential for country’s progress and development. Addressing a gathering of outgoing students and faculty members at the first convocation of Islamabad Model College for Girls F-10/2, the Prime Minister said educated women can do marvels in bringing positive change to the society.
The Prime Minister said education was the basic essential for creating a civilized society and for sustainable economic growth.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has urged the US government for its support in working out a permanent solution with Afghanistan to check uncontrolled, illegal crossings, particularly of militants, terrorists and drug trafficking across the border with Pakistan. Referring to the US Secretary for Homeland Security’s initiative as Governor of Arizona about erecting a wall between the US and Mexico border, he said that a similar pattern of fencing between Pakistan and Afghanistan could be followed to stop infiltration and drug trafficking.

President Asif Ali Zardari Friday called for an out-of-box and innovative solution to enable Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) in implementing the Prime Minister’s Housing Programme. Chairing a briefing to meet the growing housing needs for government officials, public and specially the poor under the PM’s housing programme, the President said housing was a basic human need and neglect of this important sector has resulted in social unrest and discontent.

President Asif Ali Zardari Friday night kicked off a consultative process within the Pakistan People’s Party for constitutional reforms. A marathon brain storming session attended by the party’s leading members constituting informal think-tank was held late Friday night in the Presidency to deliberate on the issue of making the Constitution truly democratic, federal and parliamentary in character.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has sent a message of greetings to Barack Obama, the President of United States of America on the independence day his country on July 4. In his message, the Prime Minister expressed felicitations to the US President on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said the long-standing ties between Pakistan and the United States are based on shared values and common perceptions about peace, freedom and development around the world.

President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed deep grief and shock over the helicopter crash incident in Orakazi Agency in which several security forces personnel embraced martyrdom. In a message to the bereaved families, the President conveyed his heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathies.
He prayed to Almighty Allah to shower his infinite blessings upon the departed souls and grant strength to their families to bear this immense loss with equanimity.

President Asif Ali Zardari Friday stressed the need for assistance to strengthen the civilian security sector for an effective fight against the militants. Talking to US Secretary of Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano here at the President House, the President said Pakistan also needed more assistance for the rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons.

The President also underlined the need for early setting up Reconstruction Opportunities Zones (ROZs) to provide jobs to the poor, to wean them away for extremists.

President Asif Ali Zardari has felicitated President Barack H. Obama on the US Independence Day falling on July 4. In a letter to President Obama, President Zardari said, “it gives me great pleasure to convey to you and our American friends our warmest felicitations on the Independence Day of the United States of America”.

The President said, “We in Pakistan rejoice on the great accomplishments of the American people and highly value the friendship and partnership that has been forged on the basis of shared vision, ideals and values”.

The Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Kamal Nath reviewed the road infrastructure needs of Delhi with the Delhi Chief Minister, Smt. Sheila Dikshit in a meeting on Thursday. The improvement of the National Highways in Delhi, better connectivity to Delhi Airports especially in view of the coming Commonwealth Games, alternative road connectivity between Delhi and Gurgaon to ease off decongestion and expediting the construction of Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) project and land acquisitions were some of the major issues discussed.

Presenting the Railway Budget today in the Parliament, Railway Minister Kumari Mamata Banerjee proposed an outlay of Rs.40,745 cr. for 2009-2010, which is 2840 cr. more than the allocation proposed in the interim budget. The Minister said, Rs.15, 675 cr. will be deployed through internal resources and Rs.9, 170 cr. from market borrowings. The Ministry will also go for issue of tax free bonds for resource generation.

The Union Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee has said that the recruitment policy and the functioning of Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) would be reviewed shortly.

Presenting the Railway Budget 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha today, she announced the launching of special recruitment drive to wipe out backlog in filling up the vacancies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The 187th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees, EPF, has recommended rate of interest for the year 2009-2010 for crediting to the subscribers account as 8.5 %. The meeting was presided over by Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, the Union Minister for Labour & Employment here today. Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Labour & Employment was also present as Vice-chairman of the Central Board of Trustees, EPF.

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari inaugurated the ‘Brigadier Mohd. Usman Memorial Function’ at Jhangar, Naoshera in Jammu & Kashmir today. The function was solemnized to commemorate the sacrifices of Brigadier Usman and other valiant soldiers who laid down their lives for saving their motherland in 1947-48 operations in Naoshera Sector.

Alaska Airlines today will inaugurate service between Portland, Ore., and Maui. The thrice-weekly flights will expand to daily service starting Aug. 7, 2009.

Flights from Portland will depart Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 9:50 a.m. and arrive at 12:45 p.m. Return flights will depart Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 1:45 p.m. and arrive at 10:15 p.m. (All times are local.)

Sarah Palin's announcement that she's resigning provides educators with an opportunity to open a fresh dialog about the pressing issues in Alaska's classrooms. NEA-Alaska stands ready to meet with Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell as he takes over as Governor.

We will meet with him at any time and location of his convenience. Despite numerous overtures during the past year, Governor Palin has not made the time to meet with NEA-Alaska.

Education for Alaska's children cannot be put on hold any longer.

On the eve of the anniversary of our nation's founding, Lt. General Claudia Kennedy and Col. Don Fowler, Co-Chairs of the Democratic National Committee's Veterans and Military Families Council released the following statement lauding the efforts of the President and Democratic Congress to support our veterans:

The ancient Silk Road was not only a route of trade and commerce, but also a bridge between ancient China and the West, having profound effects on the exchange of economics, politics and culture.

This autumn, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the "Silk Road Arts Festival", taking Hong Kong audiences to revisit the mysterious Silk Road and to discover its colourful cultural diversity through wide-ranging and exhilarating programmes.