US National Security Advisor meets FM Qureshi

Associated Press Service

ISLAMABAD:The US National Security Advisor, Gen (Retd) James Jones met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the Foreign Office on Friday and conveyed a strong message of support from President Obama for Pakistan-US strategic partnership.Gen. James Jones was accompanied by his Deputy for counter-terrorism, John Brennan.Minister of Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar and Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin also participated in the meeting during which bilateral and regional issues were discussed.
The US National Security Advisor also conveyed appreciation to the Government, people and the armed forces of Pakistan for their valiant struggle against extremism and terrorism and pledged the US Administration’s complete support.
In addition to highlighting the need to focus on Pakistan-US bilateral relations, the Foreign Minister raised the issue of peace and security in Afghanistan and its repercussions on Pakistan.
Need for close coordination and consultations on all issues of importance was also underlined.

Govt to promote gender equality, economically empower women: Prime Minister

Ahsan Premee

Staff writer

Associated Press Service

Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said the present government has a definite agenda for women development and empowerment and efforts are underway to promote gender equality, end violence against women and create further economic opportunities for them. Addressing a national convention in connection with the International Women Day here on Sunday, he said nobody can deny the importance and vitality of women’s contribution to the national and international socio‑economic development.
He said the convention is an opportunity for effective representation of women from all parts of the country and is an expression of the will and determination of Pakistani women for a better tomorrow.
Gilani said, “Our belief in the equality of women originates from the teachings of the Holy Quran.” Pakistan, as an active member in the comity of nations, has taken tangible initiatives for an accelerated improvement in the status of women, he said adding the government has been endeavoring to bring a positive change in the lives of women within the available resources.

“We want them to realize their full potential as equal citizens of the country.” He pointed out there is a full‑fledged Ministry of Women Development which was created in 1989 during the premiership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. Narrating achievements of the past PPP governments, he said the then government made women development a priority. Women police stations were set up; First Women Bank was established; medical and technical assistance training programmes for women were launched in hospitals all over the country.
Similarly, computer training programme was initiated in the public sector colleges for women, and a quota of five per cent was reserved for women in public sector jobs. In 1996, Pakistan ratified the United Nations Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women.
Gilani said all these landmark initiatives were taken by our earlier governments and the present government is fully cognizant of the existing critical issues and problems confronting women, ranging from family life to national life.
“Women are victims of gruesome acts of violence. It takes the form of honour killings, acid throwing, rapes, and forced marriages. It happens also in the form of denial of right to inheritance, demand for dowry, and harassment at workplace. We consider these evils, not only as crimes against women, but crimes against humanity. Unfortunately, these crimes have become deep rooted in our social fabric, centuries old customs and un‑Islamic traditions. Illiteracy and poverty further compound the issues.”
Under a four pronged strategy, efforts are underway to reduce feminized poverty, promote gender equality, end violence against women and legislate laws to empower women, he added.
He said that two bills, namely Protection against Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2009; and Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2009, are being introduced in the National Assembly shortly while, Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2009, is being finalized in consultation with all stakeholders.
Legislation to enable women to own property and assets is being formulated and it is being ensured that the existing 10% quota for women in the public sector jobs is fulfilled. Efforts are underway to establish Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Centres for Women in every district of the country, he added.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring gender justice and equality and enabling women to play their due role in the socio-economic development of Pakistan, in line with the vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.
“The government, in line with the vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, is determined to enable women to play their due role in the socio-economic development of Pakistan”, the Prime Minister said in a message on the International Women’s Day 2009, being observed across the world on March 08.
He said he is certain that all of us, regardless of gender, will unite to end violence against women and girls as well as for combating the social attitudes and behaviors that condone, tolerate, excuse or ignore the prejudices against women.
“These prejudices persist in every country as a pervasive violation of human rights and a major impediment to achieving gender equality. Zero tolerance of violation against women is the target of this government”, Gilani maintained.
The Prime Minister said like other countries in the world, Pakistan, too, is committed to ensuring gender justice and equality in the country, adding, “No nation can afford to ignore women as they from almost fifty percent of the world’s population.”
He said the government accords high priority to the development and empowerment of women, and is addressing issues pertaining to discriminatory laws, introducing new legislation and has earnestly stepped up its efforts to eliminate abuse of women in all its forms with the active involvement of women parliamentarians, civil society organizations and NGOs.
“The elimination of discrimination has to be achieved through the dedicated efforts to the entire nation”, he added.
The Prime Minister said he is confident that “if we safeguard the rights and acknowledge the contribution of women in our development agenda, we can make Pakistan a peaceful and a prosperous country.”

President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the government feels a special responsibility towards the women-related issues and considers promotion of women’s rights as a moral, political and religious obligation. In a message on International Women Day, President Zardari, also the co-chairperson of Paksitan Peoples Party said, “On this occasion let us resolve to protect women from discrimination and violence.”
The President said women the world over and in Pakistan, have been subjected to varying degrees of discrimination, exploitation and violence. He said the discrimination against them, in some cases embedded in the law,and their backwardness has nothing to do either with the religion or cultural
values. “It is simply the result of prejudice. This situation must change; it will,” he said.
President Zardari said Pakistan has the distinction of having Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto the first woman ever elected as Prime Minister of an Islamic nation. He mentioned that for the first time, the country had woman as the Speaker of National Assembly. “These are distinctions of which the women of Pakistan, indeed all of us, can genuinely feel proud,” he said. President Zardari said during the two tenures of Shaheed Mohtarma Bhutto government, a trend was set in gender equality and protection of women from violence.
“Let us resolve today to make that trend now irreversible,” he said.
He congratulated the women of the world in general and of Pakistan in
particular, and said he saluted them for their heroic struggle for emancipation and an end to discrimination.
He said the introduction of Benazir Income Support Program with focus on women is a step in the direction of empowering women of the country. He said the journey may be long but the bearings are correct.
The President urged the members of Parliament to revisit the laws discriminatory to women adopted by male prejudice and begin to review them.
He said a thought should also be given to expand the Benazir Income Support
Program into a comprehensive social action programme largely for the benefit of women in rural areas.
Zardari asked the political parties to join hands beyond partisan politics to extricate women from the agony and embarrassment of discriminatory laws.
“Let us on this day send a powerful message that crimes against women would
not be tolerated,” he said.
He also appealed for the mobilization of the collective power of women to help make out country, the region and the world more tolerant, harmonious and secure.
“I am confident that together we will win the fight,” he said.
He said the celebrations under the auspices of the United Nations
demonstrate that women everywhere are waking up.
Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza has said that womenfolk comprise more than 50 per cent of the total population of the country and their participation is imperative for the national development and prosperity. In her message on the International Women’s Day she said that women representation in public affairs was central to the functioning and strengthening of democracy and struggle against oppression.
She said that it was the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to empower women so that they could better contribute in the national development. In realization of the vision of Benazir Bhutto women have been sufficiently represented in the present Parliament and opportunities are being provided to them for their enhanced role in the national development, she added.
Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that the women were also subject to violence, economic exploitation and lack of basic healthcare facilities and education. She said that present government was committed to bringing changes in the relevant laws to provide safe working environment for women. She said that miscreants involved in violence and oppression against women would be dealt with sternly so that deterrence is created against such acts. She said that on this day we should resolve to protect women from discrimination and violence.
The NA Speaker said that the government was committed to providing basic healthcare facilities and education to women and has allocated substantial funds for this purpose. Women need to be economically empowered, therefore women entrepreneurs are being encouraged to play active role in economic activity, she said.
Dr. Fehmida said that the establishment of Women Parliamentary Caucus in the National Assembly was a significant achievement, which she added had been formed with the objectives fo protecting women rights and empowering them politically and economically. Women Caucus would leave no stone unturned in mobilizing the collective power of women to make Pakistan, the region and the world more tolerant, harmonious and secure, she added. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman said the government has a clear agenda for the protection and development of women and it is determined to implement its reforms on gender equality. Addressing a national convention in connection with the International Women’s Day here on Sunday, she said the PPP government has a conscious belief that no serious policy initiatives can filter down to the grassroots without women’s ownership of those policies and their proactive engagement. In recognition of this reality, the PPP has always partnered its reform agenda for women with civil society and the party made it a priority that women should be brought in the mainstream, she added. Sherry said the international women’s day is dedicated to recognition of women as a potent and equal force of social, economic and political change for societies. She mentioned that the government led by Prime Minister Gilani is directing considerable resources and energy at expanding its women‑centred initiatives. She said the People’s Party has always had one great advantage in terms of women: its leadership has pioneered change, and until today remains committed to the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto encapsulated in the 1973 constitutionand to the global championing of women’s rights by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
“Mohtarma lights our way to progress and has laid many goalposts for reform that we look to as our government’s agenda for change.” She said People’s Party recognizes that women’s rights cannot be separated from fundamental human rights and democracy and political participation are essential to women empowerment, particularly in the Muslim world.
It is only the democratic experience that invariably empowers women, in articulating a vision, pursuing goals and sharing collective experiences, she added. The Minister recalled that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir’s government was the first to actively ainstream women in the social and non‑social sectors.
“Mohtarma appointed women judges to our higher judiciary and instituted women police stations. A Women Bank still powers women in small businesses whilea sports board promotes women for competing at national and international forums.Human Rights was accorded a full fledged ministry and a National Commission onthe Status of Women was initiated. Despite severe opposition from some quarters Pakistan became a signatory to the international Convention on Discrimination Against Women.
Today, even in the health sector, Pakistan’s largest field health programmeat the primary care level, Mohtarma Shaheed’s Lady Health Workers program, has become a gold standard among public health practitioners the world over,” she enumerated.
The Minister noted that Pakistan’s development indicators for women health,education and economic empowerment continue to be a source of worry. “Similarly, we are faced with the global after shocks of growing poverty, food and energy insecurity in Pakistan, the brunt of which is undoubtedly being borne by women as care givers and bread‑earners for their families,” she added.
The Minister pointed out that legislation that criminalises violence and harassment of women has been introduced by the government, but laws even when enacted are not enough. “We need social change for that, we need state action against criminals,which we are taking , but we also need the power of education so we can save lives from honour killing and acid burning, as well as from other crimes against women,” she added.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza renewed the government’s commitment to women development and progress. She said women need an enabling environment to achieve their political,economic and social rights. The Speaker said women in Pakistan have come a long way and they are now present in assemblies and performing remarkable job in judiciary, military and foreign missions. A long list of women have become role models for their sisters, who are striving to realise their dreams and aspirations, she added. Without participation of women, rule of law, a strong democracy cannot be ensured, she said. Fehmida said history bears testimony to the struggle of women for their basic rights. She said Quaid‑e‑Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah forcefully endorsed the inclusion of women in all walks of life.
Referring to the dismal state of women in the world, particularly in Pakistan, she called for concerted efforts to improve gender equality. ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE,ISLAMABAD

In Memory of Martyr of Democracy

By:Farzana Raja
Chairperson,Benazir Income Support Programme
Twenty seventh day of the last month of the last year December, 27 2007 was really a bad day as we had lost a great leader who was known internationally for her restless struggle for democracy and human rights.Mohtarma Benazir Shaheed was daughter of a great father who was sole voice of poor and down trodden. He was leader of poor Mohtarma was leader of the party known for representative of poor in Pakistan. She was wife of a person who was imprisoned for nothing and faced serious difficulties in the jail for a long time.She was mother of such patient children who had been facing the ultimate consequences of their mothers being in to exile. Shaheed Bi Bi was always ready to face any difficulty in the way of fulfillment of dreams of his great father for the betterment of poor in Pakistan. She was never ready to compromise on her struggle for democracy and for realizing the dream of her father for uplifting poor in Pakistan. Mohtarma was of diverse personality. She was leader of international stature and staunch believer of democracy. There is no denying the fact that she was sign of federation of Pakistan. At the age of twenty five, after the martyrdom of his father for right and just cause, she said goodbye to her personal life and embarked on the mission of challenging despots and dictators.Not only Pakistan but the whole Muslim world is proud of her being the youngest and first Muslim premier of a Muslim country. Her martyrdom is really a shock for supporters of democracy and human rights across the globe. World comity has expressed her concern in this regard by conferring the highest UN award for human rights upon her after her demise.Her absence from the national politics is being felt seriously,Rule of true democracy and public welfare was amongst her top priorities. Study of her career would bear witness to it. Absence of true democracy and wellbeing of down trodden people of Pakistan has paved the way of extremism, terrorism and lawlessness in the country. Due to these reasons present government is striving hard according to the vision of her shaheed leader for strengthening sustainable democracy and wellbeing of people of Pakistan, It is due to her trust posed in Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, evident from her will, that present Government is pursuing the policy of reconciliation for strengthening democracy and alleviation of poverty in Pakistan. He is striving hard to pull Pakistan out of turmoil and face challenges bravely. Memories of last ten days which I had spent with Mohtarma are still in my mind. Right from public addresses at Muzaffargarh, Rahimyar Khan and Bahawalpur to her place of eternal rest I had accompanied her. On the occasion of her long and hectic days in the Punjab, traveling from one city of the Province to the other one, from dawn to dusk of December,27.2008 and C-130 journey from Chaklala base to Mohenjodaro and helicopter journey from Mohenjodoro to Nodero and ultimately to eternal rest in the graveyard. I can not forget those all moments as all are fresh and I can feel tiredness of it. Public sentiment for their leader was unprecedented and she was also very serious for their betterment. She appeared in hurry all the way and doing the things as she had known about the scarcity of time at her disposal. She wanted to meet more and more people. She wanted to be in communication with the masses and address their problems.Inspite of her very busy schedule; she was very strict in following the time of her public meetings. During her public meetings, she used to take oath from party ticket holders to work for the betterment of people. In line with the said approach, our government is striving hard to achieve the goals set by shaheed Bi Bi for her nation. Present govt is also committed with the nation and pledges to Shaheed Bi Bi to turn her dreams for the betterment of poor into reality. Although, she is not amongst us today but lives in the hearts of every farmer, worker and poor living in every nook and corner of cities, towns and mohallahs.Her philosophy of life and martyrdom has become an example for all those who are struggling for the realization of their rights. Her martyrdom is also a lesson for tyrants as some time martyrdom of a leader becomes a big source of inspiration for the followers than life of their leader. That is why there is a big roar from every house
Yeh bazi khoon ki bazi hay
Yeh bazi tum he haro gay
Har ghar sey Bhutto nichley ga
Tum kitnay Bhutto maro gay
It has passed one year without her. But we can feel her roar like a lioness as she had made an unprecedented sacrifice for her nation.Mammoth rallies are heading towards Gari Khuda Baksh to pay homage and tribute to their sister, their leader. Their passion and respect for their leader is unexplainable. Tradition for spilling blood for truth would remain alive till the time unknown. On this occasion let us all pledge to take revenge of our leader. Our revenge would not be fulfilled till the realization of rights of poor. We would follow the foot steps of our leader. Associated Press Service

Gilani pledges to take country out of crises

Ahsan Premee

Staff Writer ,APS



ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani pledged to the nation on Saturday to render every sacrifice to meet the challenges facing Pakistan and urged people to support the government in steering the country out of the crises. In his first address to the nation, after taking oath three months ago, the Prime Minister said, long years of dictatorship have plunged the country into crises.
“We will take out this country from all the crises. We will give the people confidence, we will give the nation not just their dream but its fulfilment,’ he said in his address telecast live on television and radio.
Prime Minister Gilani gave an overview of the problems the government had inherited and various steps that have been taken to stem the economic down slide and provide immediate relief to the common man.
Gilani said Pakistan was facing the crisis of flour shortage, load-shedding, terrorism and extremism, restoration of judges, economic down slide and, above all, the inflation and unemployment which had their roots in the past.
“This situation sapped people’s confidence and kill their hope,” he said and added in this situation the government had only two ways; either to surrender to these problems or face them upfront.
“Like my political predecessors, I have chosen the second path (to fight against these challenges).”
Prime Minister Gilani attributed these problems to external factors, like rising oil and food prices in the international market.
Secondly, he said during the last eight years, neither the gravity of international challenges were realised nor any future planning was made that created multiple problems and plunged the country into crises.
He described inflation as the biggest challenge and part of a global crisis, saying Pakistan today is faced with an economic turmoil.
“Abundance of automobiles and mobile phones are not a yard-stick of progress,” he said and added that the previous government instead of setting up new industries, preferred imports and made Pakistan a consumer economy.
He said agriculture was totally ignored and inflation, the country faced today, was the result of running the country by printing money and heavy borrowing from the State Bank of Pakistan.
Outlining efforts of the government to counter these problems, the Prime Minister said the government was trying to overcome inflation while avoiding past mistakes.
Instead of cosmetic presentation of the economic situation, the priority of the government is to improve the situation in real terms, he added.
He said industrial and agriculture production would be increased to counter inflation and reduce financial deficits. Hoarding and profiteering will be done away with, he added.
Prime Minister Gilani asked the traders, industrialists and investors to make maximum investment in Pakistan.
“I appeal to my business community to keep their capital in Pakistan. We assure them every protection.”
He also appealed to the nation to reduce consumption of those items which were costing the country hugely in terms of foreign exchange.
The Prime Minister said that reduced consumption of fuel and edible oil can save billions of dollars in foreign exchange, which will not only reduce trade deficit but also gradually reduce the external debt.
Being an agriculturist, Prime Minister said he was fully aware of the problems of the farming community. He regretted that an agrarian country like Pakistan was facing the problem of food shortage.
The Prime Minister underlined steps the government has taken to overcome the problem.
The Wheat Support Price has been increased to Rs. 625 per 40 kg from Rs. 475 and the government will significantly increase the minimum support price before the next harvest.
The government is importing 2.5 million tonnes of wheat to ensure adequate supplies, he added.
Agriculture loans for farmers have been increased by Rs. 30 billion and an amount of over Rs. 20.50 billion has been allocated for the agriculture development programme.
He said the government has already announced a new policy for import of agriculture equipment and cheap tractors. Sizeable subsidy is being given on fertiliser and sales tax on it has been abolished, he added.
The insurance scheme for crop loans has been approved and he announced that the government will pay the premium for small growers.
The Prime Minister said water reservoirs will be constructed on priority basis as development of agriculture sector was impossible without adequate water supplies.
Prime Minister informed that the government was giving incentives to some 10,000 dairy farmers to increase milk production to bring about a White Revolution in the country.
Pakistan was facing the acute power shortage which, the Prime Minister attributed to neglect of the sector in the past eight years that created an imbalance in supply and demand.
The Prime Minister recalled that the country faced similar load shedding problem during the second government of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
At that time, he said, the private power producers were given incentives adding today a large portion of the total energy production is obtained from projects set up by these companies.
“Just think what would have been the situation if the government of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had not started these projects 14 years back,” he posed a question.
The Prime Minister said the government has taken a series of measures in a short span of time which would help overcome load shedding significantly by next year.
Gilani said reposing confidence in the government’s policies, international companies have offered to make $ 4 billion investment in power sector and work on the proposals is being undertaken at fast track.
The government has taken practical steps to utilise the huge reserves of coal in Thar and for this purpose Thar Coal Authority has been set up.
He said he would chair a roundtable conference attended by international financial institutions on July 29 in Washington for investment in the sector.
Moreover, special attention has been focused on alternative sources of energy including wind, solar and atomic energy, Gilani said.
Under the programme to conserve energy, besides various other steps, supply of energy saver bulbs would be ensured and due to these steps the future needs of energy would be fulfilled, he said.
The Prime Minister pointed out that no country could attract investment, or make progress, if the lives of ordinary citizens are insecure.
“When we took over, hundreds of lives were lost in numerous suicide attacks in 2007, affecting lives of thousands of people,” he added.
He recalled that chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto also became the target of dreadful wave of terrorism.
The personnel of law enforcement institutions were also being targeted, he added.
The Prime Minister informed that an extraordinary meeting of the heads of allied parties would be held on July 23, in Islamabad to formulate a comprehensive strategy to end terrorism and extremism.
Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan was fighting the war against terrorism in its own interest and added that the country for its geographical location can play a central role for economic progress and peace in the region.
“This role of Pakistan is being acknowledged all over the world.”
The Prime Minister said good relations with neighbouring countries were the major planks of the country’s foreign policy.
It was with this spirit that Pakistan has agreed to fifth round of composite dialogue to improve ties with India and resolve all disputes, he added.
Referring to his first speech in the National Assembly, the Prime Minister said that he had clearly stated that resolution of Kashmir issue in line with the aspirations of Kashmiri people is essential for durable peace and prosperity of south Asian region.
He said Pakistan wanted friendly ties with the entire world and vowed that sovereignty of Pakistan will never be compromised.
Gilani made it clear that no foreign power will be allowed to take action on Pakistan soil and added that any decision or action within its boundary will be taken by the country itself.
The Prime Minister said the government is preparing a comprehensive strategy to improve and reflect true image of Pakistani nation in the world, particularly in the west.
This “can tell the world that we are the victim of terrorism and will leave no stone unturned to counter the menace.”
The Prime Minister reaffirmed that by the grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan’s defence is strong and “we are responsible nuclear power and our (nuclear) assets are in safe hands.”
The whole nation fully trust its armed forces and the government will utilize all resources to fulfil country’s defence needs.
The Prime Minister also announced a number of measures to provide relief to the common people.
The Prime Minister said under Benazir Income Support Programme, targeted support of Rs 1,000 each will be provided to the poor families to help them overcome poverty and inflation.
He said initially, 3.4 million families will benefit from the scheme which would be expanded later.
For this scheme, he added, special Benazir Cards will be issued and the scheme will be formally launched on August 14.
The Prime Minister said that another scheme has already been launched for free issuance of national identity cards, which would benefit some 25 million people.
He said Utility Stores would be established at every Union Council level to provide basic commodities of life including flour, ghee and pulses at cheaper rates.
Mobile Utility Stores in remote areas has already been started, while 1600 new Utility Stores are being set up soon.
The Prime Minister said 20 percent increase in salaries and pension of government employees has been made, while minimum wages of labourers have been enhanced from Rs. 4600 to Rs. 6000 per month.
Yousaf Raza Gilani said a revolving fund of Rs. 2 billion has been created under the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme and he would soon inaugurate its pilot projects at the federal as well as provincial capitals.
Government employees and rural areas would be given special importance in this scheme, he added.
The Prime Minister said under the Green Transport Scheme the government has decided to run 8000 CNG buses in ten big cities. The scheme will cost around Rs. 40 billion and its investors were being given special incentives, he added.
He said the Lady Health Workers programme introduced by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in 1994 was appreciated and welcomed at the local and international level.
The government will add another 20,000 lady health workers this year in the existing number of 100,000, the Prime Minister said and added the quota of lady health workers for Balochistan had been doubled.
The Prime Minister said a mother child health-care programme had been initiated at a cost of Rs. 20 billion, under which 20,000 community midwives would be recruited this year.
He said for the first time a new programme would be introduced for diagnosing diseases, which would specially help in preventing hepatitis and polio diseases.
Besides, the Prime Minister said, a special programme for treatment and control of Hepatitis had been initiated, which was being supervised by himself. He also appealed for cooperation from the local and international institutions in this regard.
He said a new Rs. 5 billion school feeding programme has been initiated in rural areas to provide food to boy and girl students in the primary schools.
The Prime Minister said quota for women in government jobs has been doubled, while the legislation is underway for the protection of women and their rights.
He said government was focusing to make operational the Chinese Economic Zone, especially created for Chinese investors in Lahore.
The Prime Minister said the restrictions on trade and student unions had been lifted and in this respect legislation work had been initiated. The measures were afoot to restore the government servants forced out of jobs on political grounds, he added.
He said the government had regularized the services of contract employees from Grade 1 to 15.
The Prime Minister said the government believed in equal rights for minorities and would ensure protection of their religious sites as well as freedom of worship.
He said a bill had been tabled in the National Assembly for amendment in the PEMRA Ordinance to ensure freedom of media. The legislation work on the Freedom of Information Bill 2008 had been initiated, he added.
The Prime Minister said a Journalist Victim Fund had been created to provide protection to journalists. Consultation process on Wage Board Award had started to support the working journalists, he added.

WORLD - ASIA -PAKISTAN ....SPEAKER NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PAKISTAN GRIEVED OVER DEVASTATION CAUSED BY EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA

Contributor:Ahsan Premee

Associated Press Service

The National Assembly Speaker Dr. Fahmida Mirza has expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious human lives and property caused by devastating earthquake in southwest China.In her message to the Chairman People National People’s Congress of China, the Speaker said that she was deeply shocked to hear the news of the earthquake, which caused loss of lives and property in China. She said that the people of Pakistan stand with their Chinese friends in this hour trail and distress and they equally share their grief. In her message the Speaker expressed the confidences that the people of China will overcome this adversity. “Our sympathies and prayer are with bereaved families and the victims of this natural disaster,” the message said.

National grid to have 2200 MW additional electricity in one year, Cabinet decides

Ch.Ahsan Premee

Staff writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE


ISLAMABAD : Federal Cabinet Wednesday decided to add 2200 MW electricity to the national grid system in one year to meet energy needs and provide relief to the people. Ministry of Water and Power has already added 310 MW through saving of line losses, said Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms Sherry Rehman while addressing a press briefing on the decisions taken by Federal Cabinet which met here with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair.
She said Prime Minister had outlined an action plan in his policy speech, whereby 2200 MW of additional electricity generation will be added in the national grid system.
Sherry Rehman said present government realizes that the people are suffering owing to load shedding, therefore, it is pursuing different means to meet the shortfall.
The Minister said the Cabinet deliberated upon the severe energy shortage and probed into the possibilities of various measures that could be adopted to conserve energy.
However, she said before any measures are adopted, all the stakeholders will be taken on board including the private sector and for this very purpose, a one point agenda meeting of the Cabinet will be held soon.
The special cabinet meeting will come up with a constructive policy for saving energy and power generation, Sherry Rehman said.
She informed that the Prime Minister said the conservation efforts need the support of all sections of the society - every family, every institution and every sector.
“All of us have to contribute our share in this national exercise, workers and the common man, all have to sacrifice a bit of their need and accordingly determine for themselves how to reduce the consumption of electricity, gas and fuel,” she added.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman said the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Housing and Works to come up with concrete proposals in consultation with all stakeholders to build one million housing units every year for low income sections of the society at affordable price.
She said Minister for Housing apprised the Cabinet that a contract will be awarded to start work on housing units in various cities prior to the completion of 100 days of the present democratic government.
Sherry Rehman said the Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Interior to computerize the record of the Kachi Abadis with a clear objective of development planning of the Abadis to provide civic amenities to the residents. It was also meant to discourage the land grabbers and save the inmates from the curse of litigation, she added.
The Minister further informed that the meeting decided to transfer the subject of “Kachi Abbadi” to the Ministry of Local Bodies.
Highlighting the other decisions of the Federal Cabinet, she said it also decided that henceforth all MoUs signed with other countries would be followed up and implemented in letter and spirit unlike the past.
She said the Cabinet approved in principle to start negotiation on draft agreement on security cooperation between Pakistan and Iran.
It also approved the decisions including avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion of income tax and the ratification of agreement between governments of Pakistan and Zimbabwe on deputation of Pakistan Armed Forces Personnel to Zimbabwe.
The Minister said the Cabinet accorded ex-post fecto approval for initiation of negotiations for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Government of Pakistan and Government of Malaysia in the field of agriculture, livestock and trade.
Replying to a question, she said the government wants that the bye-elections should be held in June.
Sherry Rehman said “The committee on the judges is holding meetings and would come up with a comprehensive plan to reinstate as well as carry the current judges that we have with us.”
When asked about the postponement of bye-election, she said Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani and Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari have discussed the matter and the government hopes that the Election Commission would fulfill its constitutional responsibility by conducting the polls in June.
On price hike and inflation, she said prices of edible commodities and oil in the international market have risen which has left an adverse impact on national economy.
However, realizing this fact, she said the government is planning to provide a special relief to the poor by the coming budget.
Sherry Rehman said it was unfortunate that the previous regime handed over power to the peoples’ representatives with economy in dire straights and added this government is ready to face challenges and would surely provide relief to the masses as it did in the past.
The government was making all out efforts to bring stability in the prices of daily use items.The aim of the government is to facilitate the poorest of the poor and in this regard it is already taking measures to launch a scheme for provision of food items on subsidized rates.
Answering another question, she said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told the Cabinet that within next 14 months, the economy would be able to turn around.
On energy policy, she said “conservation was discussed in detail during the meeting, but certainly there was need of comprehensive energy policy in the country.”
She said the present government would promote the policy of constructing small dams and utilize all resources like solar, wind, coal to meet the energy demand.
The Minister said the past government should have thought about the increasing power demand as without enough power wheels, the economy cannot move forward.
A meeting of experts on energy sector both from public and private sectors would be held soon to devise methods to overcome this crisis.
“Load shedding is crippling both economy and the user and a special cabinet meeting would be called soon for specifically addressing this issue,” she told another questioner.

EC revises schedule for bye-polls

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE



ISLAMABAD : Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday again revised the schedule for bye-polls setting June 26, 2008 the new date for polling on 38 National and Provincial Assembly seats.
The constituencies for polling include eight National Assembly seats and 30 Provincial Assembly seats from Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan provinces.
In National Assembly seats five have been vacated by those who have won on more than one seats and election was terminated in two seats due to the death of candidates.
Secretary Election Commission, Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad stated that stages of schedule would now commence from the filing of nomination papers from May 8 to 13.
Dates for scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officers have been set for May 14 to 20, last date for filing of appeals against decisions of the Returning Officers on rejecting or accepting nomination papers would be May 24 and last date for deciding appeals by the Tribunals has been set for May 31.
Last date for withdrawal of candidature would be June 2, publication of revised list of candidates would be made the same day and polling would be held on June 26.
Giving details, the Secretary Election Commission said, the National Assembly constituencies of polling include NA-11 Mardan-III, NA-52 Rawalpindi-III, NA-55 Rawalpindi-VI, NA-119 Lahore-II, NA-123 Lahore-VI, NA-131 Sheikhupura-I, NA-147 Okara-V and NA-207 Larkana-cum-Shikarpur-cum-Kamber Shahdadkot (Old Larkana-IV).
For the provincial assemblies constituencies he mentioned were PP-10 Rawalpindi-X, PP-48 Bhakkar-II, PP-59 Faisalabad-IX, PP-70 Faisalabad-XX, PP-99 Gujranwala-IX, PP-107 Hafizabad-III, PP-118 Mandi Bahauddin-III, PP-124 Sialkot-IV, PP-141 Lahore-V, PP-154 Lahore-XVIII, PP-171 Nankana Sahib-II (Old Sheikhupura-X), PP-219 Khanewal-VIII, PP-229 Pakpattan-III, PP-243 D G Khan-IV, PP-258 Muzaffargarh-VIII, PP-277 Bahawalnagar-I and PP-295 Rahimyar Khan-XI as constituencies for Punjab Assembly.
In Sindh, the constituencies of polling include PS-30 Khairpur-II, PS-44 Mattiari-cum-Hyderabad (Old Hyderabad-II) and PS-62 Tharparkar-III and in NWFP Assembly the constituencies are PF-20 Charsadda-IV, PF-45 Abbottabad-II, PF-59 Battagram-I, PF-75 Lakki Marwat-II, PF-81 Swat-II, PF-91 Upper Dir-I and PF-92 Upper Dir-II.
From Balochistan province, the constituencies are PB-9 Pishin-II, PB-32 Jhal Magsi (Old Kacchi-III) and PB-44 Lasbela-I.
Dilshad clarified that candidates who have already filed nomination papers with the Returning Officers concerned by May 5, need not to file their nomination papers afresh.
However, the candidates who filed their nomination papers on May 6 will be required to file their nomination papers afresh within the time specified in the notifications for filing their nomination papers.

Judges restoration decided, committee working out modalities: Zardari

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE


ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday expressed Party’s commitment with regard to restoration of deposed judges, saying “it (restoration) is decided as only modalities are being worked out by the judges restoration committee.”
PPP Co-Chairman made these remarks in an exclusive interview with private television channel (ARY One World).
He said, PPP was optimistic about restoration of the deposed judges by May 12 as it was already decided that judges would be restored and only modalities are being worked out.
Zardari said, PPP has political will to reinstate the deposed judges, saying “I am with the PML-N Quaid, Mian Nawaz Sharif in his each and every political will.”
A committee of experts has been constituted to remove legal impediments as the judges resolution would be drafted, defended and implemented. If flaws are left, the opponent forces will take benefit out of the situation.
To a question about commitment of Law Minister Farooq H. Naek to restoration of the judges, PPP Co-Chairman said the party would fully support him in achieving the task.
It is a mater of principle that both the parties must fulfil the promises made to people of the country, he added.
The committee has representation from both the political parties, he said adding that political impasse is not on restoration of the judges but, only on modalities of restoration. Modalities would be formed in accordance with the constitution.
He said, tabling of the draft was not an easy task as the proposed suggestions have to be given a draft shape, which later has to be defended and implemented.
“I am not a lawyer. They (committee members) have to articulate the language, the law and then bring it into the parliament as we do not want to be laughing stock.”
The previous government was not a true representative of the masses as they were just collection of opportunists put together and their way of working was different he added.
To a question, he said Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan represents Supreme Court Bar Association and he represents the PPP only on the political front.
On not fulfilling 30 days deadline to reinstate the deposed judges, he said PPP wants restoration of judges so there was need to remove some legal complications on this way.
The Co-Chairman said, the government inherited various problems from the previous regime, and there is need to resolve them by creating an atmosphere of reconciliation in the country.
He vowed to pull out the country of inherited crisis including electricity, flour and price hike to mitigate sufferings of the commonman. People want quick resolution of their problems, he added.
Zardari said, PPP would welcome positive criticism from the opposition parties to improve the functioning of the coalition government. Criticism for the sake of improving the situation would be welcomed.
About freedom of media, he said even before forming of the PPP led coalition government, banned TV channel programmes started airing again.
He said, Peoples Party is fighting for the people, adding it lost five Bhuttos and more sacrifices are being given for improving the fate of the people.
To a question, Asif Ali Zardari said PPP does not want to indulge in discussion of PCO or non-PCO judges as “PPP wants resolution of the issue”. Citing the example of test cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s case, he said phone calls were coming demanding that Shoaib should be allowed to go to India for playing cricket, so he directed to resolve the issue.
Zardari said, he was still on bail in fake cases including drug case adding
several journalists investigated it but found nothing concrete against him.
According to Charter of Democracy’s (CoD) spirit, all the judges are PCO judges and some allies are also questioning it, zardari said. Maulana Fazalur Rehman is saying that all PCO judges should be fired, but the Prime Minister has no authority to do so as there is a set procedure to fire the judges, he added.
Fazalur Rehman is adamant that CoD should be honoured, he said adding alliance with JUI-F will continue as PPP wants to revive the economy to bring prosperity in the country.
He said, PPP wants to promote economic friendship with neighbouring countries including India and stressed the need of establishing SAARC economic forum for welfare and progress of the south asian region.
“Advantage can be taken from Indian and Chinese markets for a generating 18 million jobs for our youth”, he added.
To a question, Zardari said, he spent eleven years in jail, paying price for the people and for the cause of democracy.
He said, judges restoration was on PPP agenda, however he admitted that it was not election slogan of his party as its slogan was “Roti, Kapra aur Makan.
He cited an example of PPP candidate Dr Israr who faced defeat in the general elections because the people voted for his opponent for restoration of the judges.
He said, menace of poverty was being faced across the world even in China and USA.
Zardari said, the coalition government was committed to improve living standard of the common citizens by providing them more opportunities of earning respectable livelihood.
PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said his party wants to see atmosphere of national reconciliation promoting in the country.
Commenting on 17th amendment, he said all and sundry are against the 17th amendment, and if the coalition undo the amendment then women seats, joint electorate and minority seats would be affected.
Coalition government wants to keep intact good things in the 17th amendment, and remove other clauses but, it lacks the required strength, he further said.
Zardari said, spirit behind the constitutional package will be to improve the situation in judiciary and ensure quick and cheap dispensation of justice to the masses.
“It is being said that poor do not get justice, and even he (Zardari) himself was in power but did not get justice”.
Backlog of supreme court cases was in hundreds and thousands, and if the number of judges is enhanced then “we do not have issue with that,” he added.
Under the constitutional package, in future the judges would be appointed in accordance with a package. Parliament will be involved in appointing judges of the superior courts, Zardari added.
He said, his personal political thinking is that there should be a proper procedure for appointment of judges.
There must be scrutiny of the appointment of Chief Justice of Pakistan. Every Pakistani has a right to debate appointment of CJP, PPP Co-Chairman said.
Judges should not judge each other. The Indian package is being contemplated. There should be a committee of ex-judiciary and senior judiciary to look into the complaints of Chief Executive or any citizen against a serving judge, which should be forwarded to the Parliament which should take decision on it.
Asif Ali Zardari said, procedure for appointment of judges is mentioned in the Charter of Democracy and the same will be adopted.
He urged all political parties to extend cooperation for implementation of Charter of Democracy.
Commenting on judges restoration committee, he said it has been decided that suggestions of the committee will be put up before PPP and PML-N leadership.

Zaradari-PM agree on holding by-polls in June

APS
ISLAMABAD: Co-chairman Pakistan People’s Party, Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani in a meeting Tuesday agreed to hold the by elections in June.The meeting between the two leaders continued for more than an hour in which it was decided to hold the by elections in the month of June.Discussion was also held during the meeting regarding holding of by-polls after the announcement of budget which is due in the same month.Leader of Awami National Party (ANP), Zahid Khan said no matter when the central government holds the elections the fact remains that ANP being a member of the ruling coalition was not consulted before reaching any decision on the matter of holding by-polls, he maintained.All the four provinces will once again send reports on law and order to ECP, source said.

US, EU must cut back on biofuels: UN

BRUSSELS - The United States and Europe should cut back on production of biofuels because they are hurting food supply at a time of rising prices, an adviser to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday. Biofuels derived from crops have come under attack in recent weeks on fears they compete with food for farming land and help to push up food prices, worsening a global crisis that is affecting millions of poor.
"We need to cut back significantly on our biofuels programmes," said Jeffrey Sachs, a prominent U.S. academic who is a special adviser to Ban on anti-poverty goals.
"(They) were understandable at a time of much lower food prices and larger food stocks but do not make sense now in a global food scarcity condition," Sachs told a news conference.
High food and fuel prices have sparked protests and riots in poor countries across the world in the past few months. Many governments have introduced food subsidies or export restrictions to counter rising costs.
"In the United States as much as one third of maize crop this year will go to gas tank. This is a huge blow to the world food supply," Sachs said before talks in Brussels with EU lawmakers.
EU leaders pledged last year to increase the proportion of biofuels used in petrol- and diesel-consuming land transport to 10 percent by 2020 as part of measures to tackle climate change. Governments are now working on draft EU laws.
Faced with growing unease among EU states over food prices and the biofuels' green credentials, the European Commission has stuck to the target, but EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said last month it would be subject to strict conditions to prevent social harm.
The United States is the world's biggest producer of biofuels. The fuels are made from crops like corn, wheat, sugar and palm oil, which refiners turn into ethanol or oil to replace gasoline and diesel.
Supporters say they are the only renewable alternative to fossil fuels and generally result in lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Incest suspect's lawyer defends insanity plea

VIENNA - A lawyer for Josef Fritzl, the 73-year-old Austrian accused of keeping his daughter as a sex slave in an underground cellar for 24 years, defended his client's likely insanity plea on Monday.
'I believe that someone who is said to have committed such a crime is psychologically ill,' Rudolf Mayer said in an interview with AFP.
'And if someone is psychologically ill, then they must be examined by an expert to determined whether the illness is so far progressed that they cannot be held responsible.'
His client, Fritzl has been remanded in custody since last week after he told police he imprisoned and sexually abused his daughter for more than two decades in a specially-built bunker underneath the family home.
A total of seven children were born out of that abuse, three of whom were kept incarcerated in the 60-square-metre (645-square-feet) cellar.
Another three were legally adopted by Fritzl and lived with him in the house upstairs. The seventh child died shortly after birth and Fritzl told investigators he disposed of the body in a wood-fired boiler in the cellar.
The case has sparked shock and outrage in Austria, triggering widespread debate about tougher sentences for sex criminals.
Mayer rejected suggestions that an insanity plea was a way for Fritzl to get himself off the hook.
'It's about finding out what really happened,' he said. 'This is not just a strategy of mine' to get Fritzl a shorter sentence, Mayer insisted. 'In these sorts of cases, the question of responsibility is asked automatically.'
Neither would such a plea be a way for Fritzl to be released earlier, the lawyer continued.
'A psychiatric commission meets once a year to discuss whether someone can continue to be classified as dangerous or not. In cases such as this one, it can be assumed that the commission will not release a person, not least because of their advanced age. They'll be all the more difficult to treat,' Mayer said.
'I can't imagine that the commission will simply give him a clean bill of health after a few years.'
The lawyer said he had met his client three times last week and would see him again this week.
'I believe I've succeeded in winning his confidence,' he said.
The head of the prison where Fritzl is being detained described him as an 'unproblematic inmate: he's calm, collected and alert.'
However, Fritzl was refusing to take the daily one-hour walk allowed in the prison yard. 'He doesn't want to go out,' prison director Guenther Moerwald told the Austrian news agency APA.
A psychiatrist examined Fritzl on Friday and decided the father did not have suicidal tendencies, the prison chief said.
Thomas Mueller one of Austria's best-known criminologists said Fritzl was a typical case of a 'malignant narcissist'.
The malignant narcissist could only increase their own self-value by oppressing others. 'They lock them in or inflict pain on them. The perpetrator wants to be seen as powerful,' said Mueller, who trained as a profiler with the FBI in the United States.
'To me, it's as if they have a black hole inside them. With every sadistic act, they try to fill that hole. But every time they do something, the hole just gets bigger,' Mueller said in an interview with Austrian public radio Oe3.
Asked why the criminal therefore persisted with the crime, Mueller explained: 'For a short time, they experience a feeling of relief. They have the feeling they have power over life and death. But then the perpetrator sees that there are some things that didn't fit in with their fantasies. So they seek out another victim.'
'Sexually abusing your own child is about power, because you're exercising control,' Mueller said. 'It's easy to control a young, weak child. But when the child grows up, there's an increased danger that they'll rebel.
'So the perpetrator has to think pragmatically, such as building a bunker to lock the victim in.'
By making their captives totally dependent on them, they feel increased self-worth every time they bring them food, Mueller said.

EU to launch visa-free talks ahead of Serb vote

BRUSSELS - The European Commission will start visa liberalisation talks with Serbia this week in a move it hopes will boost the pro-European camp before the May 11 parliamentary election.
EU Commissioner Jacques Barrot will travel to Belgrade on Wednesday and Thursday to present a "road map" for talks that should lead ultimately to visa-free travel in the European Union for Serbia's 7.5 million citizens, a Commission spokesman said on Monday.
"We have a building block to tell Serbs, 'We will open doors to the EU and we invite you to join us and become members of the European family'," spokesman Friso Roscam Abbing said.
The official start of the talks, announced in January, comes a week after the 27-member bloc signed a long-stalled pact on economic and political ties with Serbia in a first formal step on the long road to membership.
The visa road map Barrot will present to Serb President Boris Tadic and Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic includes specific conditions which Serbia needs to fulfil to get visa-free access to the EU, he said.
"After that we can start the talks on the substance. We cannot say when the (visa) liberalisation will take place, but that is the long-term objective."
Conditions include meeting EU standards on security of borders, police cooperation, fight against organised crime and adding biometric identifiers in passports, Roscam Abbing said.
Brussels hopes the prospect of visa-free travel will give beleaguered pro-European forces in Belgrade a political boost.
Tadic defeated nationalist Tomislav Nikolic in the February presidential election, but narrowly.
With public dismay high over Kosovo's Feb. 17 Western-backed secession from Serbia, polls forecast a tight parliamentary vote. Nationalist prime minister Vojislav Kostunica is set to tip the result in favour of the anti-EU camp if the two main parties are tied.
Serbs have needed a visa to travel to the EU since the wars that followed Yugoslavia's break-up in the 1990s. Most young Serbs who will take part in the May 11 election -- which analysts say amounts to a referendum on the country's EU future -- have never been abroad.
The EU overcame internal differences to sign last week a Stabilisation and Association Agreement on political and economic ties with Serbia, although its implementation remains frozen before Serbia fully cooperates with the U.N. war crimes tribunal.

At least 15,000 killed in Myanmar cyclone

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

YANGON - At least 15,000 people have been killed in two divisions of Yangon and Irrawaddy in Cyclone Nargis that swept Myanmar's five divisions last Friday and Saturday, according to official sources Monday evening.
The casualties in Irrawaddy division's Bogalay alone are feared to have gone beyond 10,000 and at least 1,000 in Laputta in the same division. Earlier official figures said 3,880 people were killed in Irrawaddy division. The sources said 2,375 people in the division and 504 in Yangon division were missing. In Haing Kyi island in the Irrawaddy division alone, nearly 20,000 houses were destroyed, leaving more than 92,000 people homeless. The deadly cyclone, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit Yangon, Bago, Irawaddy, Kayin and Mon. Myanmar has declared the five divisions and states as disaster-hit regions. The government has formed a national central committee for prevention of natural disaster to carry out relief and resettlement tasks. DPA adds: In Bangkok, United Nations agencies and other international aid organisations met Monday to prepare for emergency disaster relief for the country, although Myanmar's military leaders had yet to give the green light for such an operation.'That's basically a limitation, but the government has at least not said no,' said Terje Skavdal, regional director of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), who headed the Bangkok meeting.While there are already several UN offices in Myanmar, they are small and not capable of managing the aftermath of a disaster of this magnitude.'It's too early to provide an accurate assessment but we're speaking about hundreds of thousands of homeless,' Skavdal said. 'The UN support system is not sufficient inside Myanmar.'There are doubts that the military would welcome international aid at this juncture, as it is gearing up to stage a national referendum Saturday to vote on a draft constitution that promises to legitimise the military's dominant role in Myanmar's future politics.'I think they are too proud to call for international aid,' said Jens Orback, a former Swedish minister for democracy and gender equality who was in Yangon at the weekend to assess preparations for the referendum when he got caught in the cyclone.'I think that now, the generals want to show that they can put the country in order again without international help,' Orback said in Bangkok.Despite the disaster wrought by the cyclone, state media reports Monday confirmed that Myanmar's military regime intended to go ahead with a referendum May 10.'The referendum is only a few days away, and the people are eagerly looking forward to voting,' a government statement carried by state-run media said.The storm's devastation has raised questions about the propriety of the government's referendum plans.'Yangon ... is without electricity and without water, so I don't see how you can conduct a referendum under those conditions,' one Yangon-based Western diplomat said.'It's a catastrophe,' he added. 'Almost all the electricity poles were blown down. It will take weeks to repair.'The Irrawaddy division was also hard hit by Nargis although details about its effects there remained sketchy.Myanmar's third most populous city of Pathein, the Irrawaddy capital, was reportedly inundated by floodwaters, causing untold damage and deaths.The fertile, low-lying division is Myanmar's chief rice-growing area.Damage to the Irrawaddy's irrigation systems and crops was unreported by state television, which is tightly monitored in the military-run country.A Western diplomat said. 'This will certainly effect the rice crop negatively.'The disaster caused sharp rises in fuel and food prices by Monday in Yangon.A bottle of water was selling for 1,000 kyat, compared with 350 kyats last week, while the minimum bus fare had jumped from 50 kyats to 500 kyats in the city, a Yangon resident said.Last week's black-market rate for the kyat was 1,120 to the dollar.