ISLAMABAD: The federal government has issued notification of two weekly offs with effect from October 15.
According
to the notification issued by the Interior Ministry it has been decided
in the federal cabinet meeting held on October, 12 that 5-day working
week shall be observed in all public,/ private offices entities under
the federal government.
It has also been said in the
notification that selected operational branches of commercial banks
shall, however, continue to work on Saturdays to facilitate the
corporate customers and businesses in their financial transactions.
Office
timings will be observed from 8:00am to 4:00p.m from Monday to Friday.
However, lunch/Friday prayer break will be observed from 12:30 to
2:00pm.
Pak committed to pursue fight against militants till its logical conclusion: President
Islamabad,
October 13 (Online): Ambassador Marc Grossman, US Special
Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan called on President Asif Ali
Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.
US Ambassador in
Islamabad Cameron P. Munter, Rear Admiral Philip Davidson, Senior
military advisor to ambassador Grossman and other senior officials of
the US embassy.
Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar , Minister for Defence, Dr.
Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Federal Minister for Finance, Ms. Hina Rabbani
Khar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator A. Rehman Malik, Federal
Minister for Interior, Mr. M. Salman Farooqui, Secretary General to the
President, Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary and Spokesperson to the
President Farhatullah Babar also attended the meeting.
Briefing
the media about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President Babar said
that matters relating to Pak-US bilateral relations, regional security
situation, emerging situation in Afghanistan and the fight against
militancy were discussed during the meeting.
The President said
that Pakistan supports all efforts for regional peace, prosperity and
connectivity, based on existing realities of the region. He said that
the relations between the two countries must not be transactional but
based on long term partnership and resting on the foundations of mutual
respect and shared interests. In this context he said any public
messaging that tended to undermine this bedrock of relationship shrank
political space for the democratic government.
He stressed on
following the clearly defined, well documented and mutually agreed terms
of engagement between the two countries, which, the President said was
necessary to avoid operational irritants that hamper the relationship.
The
Spokesperson said that the President emphasized that a long-term,
sustainable and multidimensional relationship with the United States
should be based on mutual interest, trust and mutual respect.
The
President called for exercising mutual restraints in public
pronouncements that adversely impacted the bilateral relationship. He
also emphasised the need to develop a cooperative and a joint roadmap to
overcome the trust deficit.
The President said that no country
has made greater contributions and sacrifices in fighting terrorism than
Pakistan and added that the international community owed it to Pakistan
and the region to acknowledge it and support Pakistan in its efforts.
The
President said that Pakistan was committed to pursue fight against
militants till its logical conclusion. He said that the enemies of peace
will continue to sabotage peace process but we should not let the
non-state actors hold hostage the governments in the region.
The
President also emphasised on socio-economic development and imparting
education to the youth of the militancy hit areas to permanently change
the militant mindset and sought international community’s support and
cooperation in this regard.
The President said that Pakistan,
due to its geo-strategic location was a major stakeholder and regional
player in promoting regional stability and peace. He said that Pakistan
has abiding interest in the peaceful, stable, secure and prosperous
Afghanistan and will continue to support every effort of international
community in this regard. He said that and any development in
Afghanistan was directly impacting Pakistan. Pakistan supports
Afghan-led and Afghan owned reconciliation process, he said.
The
President said that Prof Rabbani was a friend of Pakistan and an honest
and serious interlocutor and termed his assassination as an attempt to
sabotage the peace and reconciliation process. He however, was surprised
at the reaction in Kabul in the wake of Prof Rabbani’s assassination.
The
President said that despite negative propaganda against Pakistan, we
are committed to the regional peace and have decided to attend the
forthcoming trilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey in
Istanbul next month that was aimed at peace and stability in the region.
Grossman thanked the President for meeting and appreciated
Pakistan’s struggle against militancy. He also assured US governments
continued support for peace and stability in the region. Online
