LEGHARI PASSED AWAY
MULTAN,Oct 20th:The Funeral prayer of Former President of Pakistan, Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari was offered in Choti Zereen (Dera Ghazi Khan) on Wednesday afternoon which was attended by a large number of Political workers, Lawyers, journalists, landlords ,traders and people from different walks of life including his sons Senator Sardar Jamal Khan Leghari and former federal minister for telecommunication Sardar Owais Khan Leghari .His body will be laid to rest in his native town of Choti Zereen's graveyard.  Leghari died in the early hours of Wednesday at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi. He was 70 and a heart patient for some time.Like Ghulam Ishaq Khan before him  had the Presidency ‘thrust’ upon him by circumstance and political machinations of others; however, his use of Presidential powers while in office left a deep and lasting impact on Pakistan politics. Impacts that Pakistan is still reeling from.A one time civil servant, schooled at Aitchison College, Forman Christian College, Punjab University and Oxford University, Mr. Leghari was a Baluch Sardar and reportedly a major land owner with 10 square kilometers of land ownership.. Hospital sources said he was a heart patient and was under treatment for heart-related disorders.Farooq Laghari breathed his last at 1:45am, hospital sources confirmed.He was on ventilator due to deteriorating health conditions.Once a PPP stalwart and close confidant of Prime Minister  Benazir Bhutto, he would later turn against her and prove instrumental in her eventual fall from power. In fact, it was that closeness that elevated him to the Presidency in 1993 as he was considered loyal, dependable and reliable. In the end he proved to be anything but that for Ms. Bhutto and became a central actor in her removal from office as he removed his own party’s government under Article 58 2(b) on charges of corruption, lawlessness and extra judicial killings.Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari  (May 29, 1940 - October 20, 2010) was the eighth President of Pakistan from November 14, 1993 until December 2, 1997. He was the first Balouch President of Pakistan.He was born in Choti Zareen, a village of Dera Ghazi Khan District, Punjab on May 29, 1940 during the British Raj and died on October 20, 2010 due to cardiac arrest. He comes from a political family that has been active in politics in this part of the world since the pre-colonial days. His father Sardar Muhammad Khan Leghari and grand father Nawab Sir Muhmammad Jamal Khan Leghari had both been ministers. Leghari is the major landowner who owns about 2,500 acres of land.After his initial schooling at Aitchison College, Lahore where he was the head boy and declared the Best Leaving Student of 1957. He graduated with honours from the Forman Christian College, Lahore, Punjab where again he was amongst the best students, he went on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University.After returning to Pakistan he joined the Civil Service and served for some time in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). On the death of his father he resigned from service and came back to his roots to look after the tribal affairs of his tribe. He was the head (Sardar) of the Leghari tribe.He joined the Pakistan Peoples Party, and was made leader of the party upon the imprisonment of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He was put under house-arrest several times during the military regime of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.In 1993, with the express support of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Leghari ran for the office of President and won the election against Wasim Sajjad. In November 1996, utilizing his powers under Article 58 2(b) of the Constitution of Pakistan, he dismissed the Peoples' Party Government of Benazir Bhutto on charges of corruption, lawlessness and extra judicial killings.Following the word of the Constitution of Pakistan he held elections for the National Assembly in 1997. The elections were won by the Pakistan Muslim League and Nawaz Sharif was elected Prime Minister. A decisive majority in the lower house of parliament led the Sharif Government to remove the controversial 8th amendment from the constitution of Pakistan. Leghari saw this as a threat to his power and conspired with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sajjad Ali Shah, to sack the Sharif Government. This led to an uprising against him and Shah, forcing both to resign.Instead of retiring from politics, he went on to create his own political party, the Millat Party, which entered into a coalition of seven parties, known as National Alliance, to participate in the general elections of 2002. The National Alliance, emerged as the 3rd largest group in the parliament and won 13 seats in the National Assembly. He entered in a coalition with the majority party to form the government, and his son Awais Leghari was made a federal minister for Telecom and IT, as a consequence, and another of his deputies Yar Mohammad Rind also was inducted in the Federal cabinet. Later Mohammad Ali Durrani and his niece Sumaira Malik from his party were inducted into the Federal Cabinet.With National Alliance being merged with ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q) in May 2004 to form united Pakistan Muslim League, Farooq Leghari also became the member of the newly constituted party, with his son Awais Leghari being one of its senior vice presidents.His elder son Jamal Leghari has recently been elected to the Senate of Pakistan. His daughter Faryal Leghari is an analyst and researcher in Security & Terrorism Studies at the Gulf Research Center in Dubai.

TWO REAL BROTHER DIED IN TARGET KILLING
MULTAN,Oct 20th:Bodies of two youth of Gilaywal (Multan) reached here from Karachi on Wednesday who were killed in Tuesday's target killing .Awan(22) and Saif-ur-rehman(15) a student of 9th class were sitting at cold drink shop near Jamia Mosque Noorani in Rashidabad.Thousands of people attended their funeral rites.They were buried amid sobs and tears.Seraiki Inqilabi Council Chief Muzaffar Hussain Khan Magassi has said that More than 30 innocent people were killed in a day in the presence of Federal Interior Minister in Karachi and there was no let-up in the target killings.He said that the poor people of Southern Punjab who were serving in Karachi and other parts of the country were being targetted.We have received seven bodies from Quetta last month.He demanded protection of life of the masses.

WEBSITE LAUNCHED
MULTAN,Oct 20th:Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) has launched a website on "Naqashi" in a colourful ceremony to introduce the Naqashi, products of camel skin  and Blue Pottery internationally..Addressing the inaugural ceremony MCCI President Shahid Naseem Khokhar said that from the mysterious buildings of world, one is Taj Mahal (Agra) which was decorated by the Mutani Naqashs, who were especially called for this purpose. Their supreme work of Naqashi is still there with its full grandeur and gravity and affects the observers.He said that the distinctive art of Multan which is a living proof of our ancient ties with Turkish and Persian cultures was not being introduced internationally nor the skilled people were encouraged in past.Elaborating the history,the MCCI President said that the use of blue glaze on pottery made from multani mitti or fuller's earth is an imported technique first developed by Mongol artisans who combined Chinese glazing technique with Persian decorative art. Later mughals used this art in mimic. For kashikari( naqashi on glazed tiles) and blue pottery are two beautiful techniques for which multan is famous world over. The use of foliage branches and leaves of trees, the superb colors mainly blue are evidence of Persian influence. Over a period of time multani naqashi work has developed its own unique style. Now a days naqashi on camel skin products is also very much in demand.He added that earlier this art was used only to make tiles for decorating mosques, tombs and palaces in central Asia. The association of religion has given the art of naqashi a deeper significance and dimension. Shah rukan.e.alam shrine has one of the biggest domes in Asia,The shrine of shams.e.tabraiz is built almost entirely of sky-blue engraved and glazed bricks. Exterior of mausoleum is decorated with glazed green square tiles and lime plaster The origin of artisan's families dates back this craft to the time of successful Muslim excursions into Indus basin led by Muhammad bin qasim. Royal patronage, lucrative business and attraction of living the most beautiful of Indian cities led many artisans and craftsmen to make multan their permanent home.MCCI President said that this mausoleum has been admired by R.E.M wheeler as "one of the most splendid memorials ever erected in honor of dead" The shrine of sheikh yusuf gardez is master piece of multani style.(rectangular tomb with flat roof , fully covered with glazed tiles in geometrical pattern). A panel decorating the faced of the eastern entrance of the tomb of baha-ud-din zakria may be taken as the earliest known specimen on the soil of Pakistan for kashikari. Most of the monuments of multani style, mosques, tombs and even secular buildings are decorated with enameled tile work in various vivid and attractive designs.Regional Coordinator of "Ahan" Naveed Sheikh,Imran Cheema, Mirza Ali Ahmed, Syed Saqib Ali,Abdul Rehman Naqqash,Shahbaz Rafiq, Khurram Javed  andMs.Huma also spoke and threw light on the Multani art and said even the products of camel skin and modern Naqashi crossed the boundaries of Multan during Mughal Emperors who called the Multani artits to decorate their forts, mosques, tombs and buildings in addition to their palaces. Even today the buildings and mosques of historical importance invite to see the good work of Naqashi of that times.
PSF DEMO
MULTAN,Oct 20th:Students of Local Bahauddin Zakariya University on wednesday staged a demonstration in front of Multan Press Club under the leadership of PSF Punjab Vice President Fakhar Jehan Dreshak,Divisional President  Syed Arif Shah, Rana Javed ,Irfan Naqvi. They protested against the interference of outsiders in university affairs, institution of false cases against PSF activists.They demanded for immediate arrest of MPA's brother Tariq Naeem-ullah Khan, his sons Maaroof Khan and Abdul Ahad who had kidnapped a University Student Noman Kashmiri.Fakhar Jehan Dreshak alleged that MSF students were openly displaying arms and ammunition in the campus to harass the opponents.They had created a state of unrest among the students and spoiled the peaceful atmosphere of the University.They shouted slogans in favour of Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zadari,and Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.
PBC EMPLOYEES DEMO
MULTAN,Oct 20th: Employees of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC)Multan on wednesday tried to stage demonstration in front of Prime Minister's Multan residence but Police foiled their attempt and did not let them go there.Consequently they marched toward Press Club under the leadership of Akmal Bashir President and Rana Nadeem Akhtar General Secretary of Radio Pakistan Multan union.The demo was addressed by Abdul Shakoor Khan Khattak, Sher Khan and Rana Abdul Ghaffar.They demanded for enhancing their salaries/wages by 50 percent and fixation of minimum salary of temporary employees at Rs.7000/- Per month so that they could take two time meal.They said that employees were being crushed in the row between PBC director General Murtaza Solangi and Secretary Information.He said that PBC was passing through severe economic stress.Participants shouted slogans against the PBC management.

DISASTER
MULTAN,Oct 20th:The National Oversight Disaster Management Council has(NODMC) worked out reconstruction plan needs of $7.724 billion for 14identified sectors in the flood-hit areas, an official document of the Planning Commission revealed here on Wednesday..This multibillion reconstruction needs would be financed by donors and
the government of Pakistan, respectively through cash transfer,reconstruction and repair needs, the document revealed.The perspective of the reconstruction plan include $6.4 billion under the head of needs (replacement), while resources of $7.2 billion would be arranged by donors (Asian Development Bank, World Bank and IDB) of $3.4 billion
and government diversions of $3.8 billion, according to a presentation on “Flood 2010: Damage and needs assessment and reconstruction plan made available here.Out of this $7.2 billion, $2.2 billion would be transferred under the head of cash, $3.5 billion for reconstruction purposes and $1.5 billion for repair purposes.The Planning Commission in its summary has estimated flood damages at $10.032 billion. The details of these damages include $250 million for irrigation, $1.007 billion for housing, $5.044 billion for agriculture, $1.726 billion for transport and communication, $334 million for energy, $282 million for private sector, $275 million for education, $18 million for
health, $43 million for water and sanitation, $76 million for governance and $978 million for others.Against the damages of $10.032 billion, the document revealed that the reconstruction needs include $544 million for irrigation, $2.18 billion for housing, $918 million for agriculture, $2.14 billion for transport and communication, $131 million for energy, $64 million for livelihood support, $54 million for private sector, $444 million for education, $36 million for health, $83 million for water and sanitation, $102 million for governance, $750 million for financial, $237 million for environment and $40 million for damage risk management.The government has disbursed Rs5.099 billion in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh with a disbursement of Rs2.95 billion to Punjab, Rs2.03 billion to Sindh and Rs115 million to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the document said.The government has so far issued 594k Watan cards with the cash transfer of 20k per household amounting Rs6.5 billion disbursed, while an additional Rs80k for damaged homes
will be disbursed. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has prepared 444 schemes, costing $1.8 billion for FERP.Whereas the provincial damages were estimated at Rs277.89 billion in Punjab, Rs351.87 billion in Sindh, Rs105.63 billion in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Rs63.63 billion in Balochistan, Rs7.70 billion in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Rs6.41 billion in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Rs6.25 billion in Gilgit-Baltistan, it said.
Major damages were reported at 1.61 million housing units, two million hectares crops, substantial stock of food, seed, fodders, tube-wells, watercourses (30K) and fish farm, 12 percent roads, 16 percent railways and 80 percent district and municipal roads, 9,053 educational institutions, 496 basic health units, one district headquarter and six tehsil headquarters and 3K schemes of water and sanitation, the document revealed.

TEXTILE EXPORT SURGED
MULTAN,Oct 20th:The exports of textile products showed an improvement
of around 20.7 percent to reach up to $2.917 billion during the first
quarter of the ongoing fiscal year against $2.417 billion recorded in
the corresponding period last year, the Federal Bureau of Statistics
said on Tuesday.
The surge in export numbers can be attributed to higher global demand
and increased per unit price of Pakistani textile products.Despite
surge in the amount realised, the quantity exported of almost all the
products under the category witnessed decline.According to the data,
raw cotton exports declined to $7.202 million during July-September
against $40.458 million in the corresponding period last year,
thereby, witnessing a decline of 82.2 percent. Contrary to this,
cotton yarn exports witnessed growth. The cotton yarn exports reached
up to $353.617 million, recording 2.08 percent growth against the
previous year’s exports of $346.402 million.
During the period under review, goods such as cotton cloth, knitwear
and bedwear witnessed a surge of 22.88 percent, 15.79 percent and
14.73 percent, respectively.
The exports of cotton cloth, which stood at $432.974 million,
increased to $532.0.35 million, while that of cotton carded or combed
dropped to $141,000 from $5.37 million.
Knitwear and bedwear exports surged from $471.747 million and $420.532
million to $546.247 million and $482.461 million,
respectively.Shipments of towel swelled up by 12.12 percent and that
of tents, canvas and tarpaulin dropped by 38.67 percent.Readymade
apparels showed escalation of 38.83 percent, overseas sales of made-up
articles rose by 26.72 percent and other textile materials exports
witnessed a surge of 84.27 percent during the period under review.

TAX NET
MULTAN,Oct 20th:To broaden the tax base, there is a need to end
exemption of tax on various sectors and bring them into the tax net.
The government should also bring into the net the people and groups
who are evading taxes due to their connections in the power echelons.
These views were expressed by the participants in a discussion on ‘How
to increase revenue generation?’ held by the Jang Economic Session and
organised by Sikandar Lodhi and Intikhab Tariq.
The participants included Lahore Regional Tax Office II FBR chief
commissioner Mustafa Ashraf, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(LCCI) vice president Sheikh Arshad, Kinnaird College Social Sciences
Dean Shahida Saleem, Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry
ex-president Mirza Imtiaz Ahmed and Pakistan Hardware Association
chairman Usman Ghani. Mustafa Ashraf said that all the four provinces
were not collecting the Agriculture Income Tax, despite the imposition
of the tax. “The FBR could not be solely responsible to increase the
revenue generation, rather it is the duty of everyone to pay taxes and
contribute his shares in the growth of the country,” he said.
Almost 90 per cent Pakistanis have been paying taxes in one or the
other way. Because they do not file their return, they are not
mentioned in any data, he said. Increase in the number of taxpayers
would increase the revenue generation, he said, adding that the
documentation of economy would also help increase the tax base.
He said that transport, wholesale, retail and services sectors were
not paying taxes. He urged trade associations to cooperate with the
FBR in order to end tax evasion. He said that the FBR had started
e-filing of tax returns in 2007. Sales tax payers were also using the
facility, he added.
SVP LCCI Sheikh Arshad demanded the government set its priorities to
increase revenue generation. He said that there was no writ of
government in half of the country. How the government could collect
taxes from the people who even did not pay their utility bills, he
asked.
He said that agriculture sector was not paying its tax despite having
22 per cent share in national GDP. Similarly, services sector was also
out of tax net the share of which was 50 per cent of national GDP. He
said corporate sector contributed 70 per cent of total taxes in
Pakistan. “The existing tax payers have been paying double taxes than
their capacity, due to non-payment of tax by the sectors”, he added.
He said that the situation would go out of control if the government
did not take concrete steps. The international donors were fed up with
the situation, adding that time was not far when the local taxpayers
would also refuse to pay taxes.
Sheikh Arshad said that 50 per cent of registered National Tax Number
(NTN) holders did not file their return. If the government ensured
their tax return filing, revenue generation could register as much as
15 to 20 per cent increase.
Shahida Saleem said that economic situation of country was
deteriorating and inflation and poverty were growing rapidly. At least
80 per cent of population was now poor who could hardly meet the
expenditures of basic necessities. She said that due to lack of
education and awareness, people did not pay the taxes.
She said public was burdened with indirect taxes while the government
had not been spending money collected from indirect taxes on public.
She suggested that the government must tax the rich to increase its
revenue generation. She said that the federal government had empowered
the provinces to tax the agriculture sector but they were not taking
any step in this regard.
Mirza Imtiaz said that, after Hillary Clinton, the EU had also asked
the FDOP to broaden the tax base. He said the tax to GDP ratio in the
country was only 9 per cent while in India and China, the situation
was far better.
He said that the provinces had received extra Rs 480 billion after the
7th NFC award but they, rather than creating some surplus revenue, had
spent it on their development plans. He said that the government had
failed to develop consensus among the provinces on Reformed General
Sales Tax (RGST). It was also playing hide and seek with the IMF in
the implementation of the same. End to indirect taxes was a solution
to broadening the tax base in Pakistan, he said, adding that the
government did not have the prerequisite political will and vision for
the purpose. As many as 148 parliamentarians were suspended due to non
filing of details of their assets to the Election Commission of
Pakistan. He said no political party of country had vision to end the
economic crisis and bring economy back to the growth track.
Uman Ghani said that the tax base could not be broadened because of
the misuse of power by parliamentarians who made such laws as exempted
them from paying taxes. He said the FBR could not broaden the tax base
with its existing staff. He said that 65 per cent tax revenue was
spent on defense budget.
The government must make it clear to the US that the terror war was
not Pakistan’s war, and America should bear all its expenses. He asked
the government not to further burden the existing taxpayers to
increase its revenue generation.

Posted by Abdul Sattar Qamar on 7:53 AM. Filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0