Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Military kills 11 militants in Swat operation: ISPR


Updated : Wednesday May 13 , 2009 6:33:41 PM

RAWALPINDI: At least 11 militants, including a key rebel commander Naseeb Khan, have been killed during last 24 hours of the ongoing military offensive in Swat and adjacent districts, ARY OneWorld reports.

In a statement issued here Wednesday, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that four security personnel were also martyred and 12 others wounded in the battles with the militants in different areas of Malakand division.

"The troops have taken over Peochar area," the statement claimed, adding that fierce fighting between troops and the militants was still underway at Banai, Pir Baba and Bariyan Bridge areas of Swat.

ISPR said that the area from Khwaza Khela to Bariyan Bridge have been cleared from militants.

Meanwhile, five corpses were recovered from various areas of Mingora.

On the other hand, calm has returned to Buner, where local shopkeepers and farmers have started business activities, the channel says.

Pak to get $25mn from WB for transport sector


Updated : Wednesday May 13 , 2009 10:13:09 PM

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank on Wednesday approved US$ 25 million IDA credit for Pakistan to help the country improve its trade and transport logistics.

According to a statement issued by the bank here said that the Second Trade and Transport Facilitation Project will provide technical advisory services to help implement the National Trade Corridor Improvement Program (NTCIP).

NTCIP is a comprehensive government programme designed to significantly cut the cost and time of exporting and importing goods.

The program encompasses services, infrastructure, reforms and investments in highways, trucking, ports and maritime transport, air transport, railways and trade facilitation.

World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Yusupha Crookes said that over the past decade, the government of Pakistan has done much to improve its trade procedures and logistics services.

"Further improvements will help boost, trade, strengthen economic growth and ultimately reduce poverty", he added.

Strong implementation of the NTCIP is vital to bring the quality of transport services to international standards adding that this project will provide an important analytical foundation necessary to execute the reform agenda and investments for this programme, he said.

He said Pakistan recognizes that transport and trade logistics efficiencies are necessary for economic growth and this was emphasized in the Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy for 2009-2011 which identifies removal of infrastructure bottlenecks as one of the key pillars of the strategy.

The objective is to make road transport services faster and more reliable to allow export companies to meet short deadlines by international buyers and to help railways regain their competitiveness against road transport in order to satisfy potential demand for freight transport.

The credit is also aimed to reduce port costs compared to other ports in the region; to facilitate customs procedures; and to make air transport capable of responding to the growth demand resulting from a growth economy.

He said that the project builds on the results achieved by the World Bank's first Trade and Transport Facilitation Project, which closed in 2006, and will extend efforts to streamline and integrate trade data exchange and strengthen cooperation between public and private sectors at regional, national and local level.

It will also assist Pakistan in the World Trade Organization negotiations on trade facilitation.

Jean-Noel Guillossou, World Bank senior Transport Economist and project co-team leader said that at the world level, as an integrated and well coordinated programme, NTCIP can be considered a best practice example of a corridor programme.

The NTC serves domestic needs and links Pakistan's main industrial centers and neighboring countries with international markets through the ports of Pakistan.

BD signs MOU with Russia for nuclear power


Updated : Wednesday May 13 , 2009 8:32:57 PM

DHAKA: Bangladesh signed a deal with Russia on Wednesday to develop a plan for a nuclear power plant to produce up to 1,000 megawatts to ease its energy shortage, a senior energy official said on Wednesday.

The project, which may cost between $1.5 billion and $2.0 billion, aims to produce power by 2014, said Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, adviser to the prime minister on power, energy and mineral resources..

A delegation from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission will visit Russia next month to develop technical expertise, he said.

"With the signing of the memorandum of understanding we have diversified the sources for producing electricity," Tawfiq told reporters after signing the deal.

Bangladesh laws allow the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he said.

Growing concern over a shortage of power led Bangladesh to consider nuclear as natural gas reserves were fast depleting.

The gap between demand and supply of natural gas will be wider after 2011 unless new gas fields are discovered and explored, energy officials said.

Bangladesh has 13.54 trillion cubic feet of proven and recoverable gas reserves but faces up to 250 million cubic of gas shortages a day, they said.

Bangladesh's electricity shortfall can reach 2,000 MW due to power plants which are up to 60 years old.

UK pledges 12 mn pounds for Pakistan IDPs


Updated : Wednesday May 13 , 2009 9:04:03 PM

LONDON: Britain Prime Minister Gorden Brown has announced 12 million pounds in aid for the internally displaced persons affected by the military operation against militants in north west of Pakistan, reports ARY OneWorld.

Addressing a joint press conference with President Asif Ali Zardari who visited 10 Downing Street Wednesday, Brown assured his country’s all-out support to Pakistan in its war against militants in its territory.

“We want the elimination of militants’ sanctuaries besides assuring that these elements could not be helped with concealed monetary assistance,” Brown told the newsmen, adding that his country wants to pour more aid in Pakistan’s northern and border areas to root out extremism from there.

Praising Pakistan’s role in war against militants he said that the people of both Pakistan and Britain are the victim of terrorism.

“We also discussed strategic ties between the two countries,” Brown told the newsmen about his meeting with Zardari.

To a query Brown said that he didn’t discuss the issue of induction of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in President Zardari-led Pakistani government in his meeting with party chief Mian Nawaz Sharif held during his recent visit to Pakistan.

President Asif Ali Zardari said that his country is doing his best to root out extremism from its territory.

“The war we are facing today is a long, new and difficult war. Militants want to create an atmosphere of fear and terror,” President Zardari told the newsmen, vowing to defeat the terrorists in his country.

Zardari said that the ongoing operation in Malkand division enjoys the full support of country’s Parliament, adding that the Britain would provide the human assistance to tackle the catastrophe occurred in response to military operation against militants in the area.