President Asks To Ensure Dignity Of Labour
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan : May 01 (PNS) - President General Pervez Musharraf has called on the countrymen on the occasion of 'May Day' to work hard for the progress of Pakistan and urged them to follow Islamic injunctions to ensure the dignity and welfare of the working class.
"No covenant upholds the dignity of labour as firmly as does Islam," he said in his message, adding, the best way to ensure the welfare of the working class, therefore, was to follow Islamic injunctions. The President said the 1st of May is observed every year to pay tribute to the entire working class and to reaffirm commitment to uphold and enhance the dignity of labour.
"As we celebrate May day let us pledge that we will strive in accordance with the teachings of Islam, to rid our country of all discrimination against labourers and workers," he added. President Musharraf said for the first time in the country's history, workers have been given the right to participate in the decision-making process through the introduction of devolution of power at the grass-roots level.
The purpose of the devolution plan, he added, was to ensures representation to all segments of the society. "Workers and peasants under this devolution plan are elected on seats reserved for them in the local Government elections." He expressed the confidence that with this system in place, workers would now be able to contribute to their emancipation by participating in the political decision-making, ensuring well-being of not only the working class but other sections of the society as well.
The President said there was an urgent need for the aspirations of the employees and working class to converge in order to increase productivity and promote the well-being of all. "For without economic development of the country we cannot realize the objective of a modern dynamic and moderate Islamic welfare state," he added.
He urged all Pakistanis to work hard for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan and asked the employers to ensure good working conditions to their employees. The President said workers' skill and their terms of services would have to be improved, if Pakistan was to enter the WTO regime as a prosperous and self-respecting nation. He called on the people to resolve to eliminate all forms of exploitation and oppression.
While urging the employers to have an enlightened approach in their dealing with labourers, the President also called upon the workers to contribute fully towards increasing productivity. "May Allah be with us in our endeavours. Ameen".
http://www.paknews.com/flash.php?id=15&date1=2004-05-01
Pakistanis Urged To Respect Foreign Laws
BANGKOK, Thailand : May 01 (PNS) - Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali Friday said the Pakistanis living abroad are real ambassadors of Pakistan and they must strictly abide by the laws and respect the customs of the country they live in.
Speaking here at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Pakistan new embassy building, he said, every citizen whether a ruler or a common man is equal and must keep into account their country's image before taking any step. Jamali said he has directed the parliamentarians and the senior officials going abroad to visit the Pakistan embassy and see their working.
He said the government was aware of the problems being faced by the members of the Pakistani community and has directed the embassies to extend all facilities to them. The Prime Minister, who earlier visited, Laos, China and Cambodia, said his talks with their leadership and noticed that the Asian countries were now preparing to pool their resources for the economic uplift of their people.
Asia is now rising to meet challenges of the 21st century and compete with the developed nations of the world, he added. The Prime Minister stated that he had no doubt that future belonged to Asia. Jamali said Pakistan attached great importance to enhancing its relations with countries of South East Asia where Thailand enjoyed a pivotal status.
He underlined the cordial relations that existed between Pakistan and Thailand and said Islamabad now wished to concentrate on economic cooperation between the two countries with focus on enlarging the two-day trade volume.
http://www.paknews.com/flash.php?id=13&date1=2004-05-01
Pakistan Has One Of Asia's Most Qualitative Grain-Testing Laboratories
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan : May 01 (PNS) - Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind Friday said that Pakistan has one of Asia's most qualitative grain-testing laboratories.
He said, the rejected Australian wheat was declared sub-standard and live insects were found during the examinations. Talking to ARY television channel he said, the tests confirmed that the wheat was sub-standard and unfit for human consumption and the presence of some insects and Kernal Bunt were proved in it. Required gluten level was also missing in the wheat, he added.
The Minister said the quality of consignment was not according to the agreement. If the wheat with Kernal Bunt was imported in the country, it could prove very harmful for wheat crop, he said adding "Kernal Bunt is a cancer of wheat." He said, it could destroy more than 25-30 per cent wheat crop across the country which is about 5-6 million tons.
Responding to a question, he said the rejected wheat was accepted by those countries which were not known as wheat growing countries. He added, the wheat was sold to those countries with a rate of $ 178 per ton while the same was being given to Pakistan as $224.75. He also recalled that Pakistan had also rejected the consignment of sick Australian sheep, which were even being given free of cost.
http://www.paknews.com/flash.php?id=8&date1=2004-05-01