Govt mulling freeing non-combatant Taliban

ISLAMABAD - The government is considering releasing non-combatant Taliban prisoners, but it would not accommodate any unconstitutional demand from the militants.
This transpired Thursday during a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and a 10-member delegation of Pakistan Ulema Council led by Allama Tahir Ashrafi.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the government does not want any bloodshed in the country and is serious in resolving issues through dialogue and reconciliation.
In addition to the dialogue with Taliban, matters relating to the Karachi operation and the overall law and order situation were also discussed in the meeting.
Both sides agreed that the entire nation is facing challenges and an agreement was made to continue working for peace.
On the occasion, the prime minister said all matters should be settled amicably without the use of force. The prime minister reiterated that the government is serious in talks with Taliban with a clear objective of restoring peace to the country.
He said demands of Taliban for peace are under consideration which will be discussed by the new government committee. However‚ no demand against constitution or law will be met, he added.
The prime minister urged the ulema (religious scholars) to play a positive role in improving Pakistan's credibility.
The prime minister told ulema that he was devoted to overcoming the challenges faced by Pakistan. Nawaz said the government was playing its role for peace and harmony and ulema from all sects should do the same.
Talking to media after meeting with the prime minister, Maulana Ashrafi said the Ulema Council lauded the PM's initiative for peace and elimination of terrorism. “We have demanded the government release non militant prisoners as this would give a positive message.”
Ashrafi quoted the PM as saying that the government is considering releasing non-combatant Taliban prisoners.
During the meeting, the PM pointed out that extremism could be eradicated from society by following the true spirit of Islam.
Nawaz assured the government's all-out support to the Ulema who are playing their role to advance the cause of peace and harmony in the country.
Allama Tahir Ashrafi said that the process of negotiations with Taliban made a headway with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s personal interest. He assured the PM of full support by the Pakistan Ulema Council and added that the PM's desire for peace and his political acumen was reflective of his sincerity for the country.
The Ulema Council chairman also expressed support for the government's foreign policy and its efforts to eradicating polio from the country.

Pakistan best limited overs side: Afridi

LAHORE - Shahid Afridi has rated Pakistan as the best limited-overs outfit in the world, but wanted his side to improve their fielding.
Afridi is currently undergoing a week-long rehabilitation after suffering a strain during the Asia Cup, but was confident of recovering in time for the World T20 starting next week. "I can't see a better [limited-overs] combination in the world than Pakistan because our bowling is good, batting is good but the only mistake we are doing that's in fielding and fielding is the most essential thing in limited-overs cricket," Afridi said here at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Pakistan's team is set to leave for the World T20 in Bangladesh on Thursday, but Afridi is expected to join them early next week. "I am recovering well. I am sure I will play at least one warm-up match." Pakistan's warm-up matches are on next Monday and Wednesday, after which they open their campaign in a high-profile match against India.  "We will do our best, all will join in that effort in the India match. We won the last match against India and I think that will give us benefit." Afridi was at his explosive best in the Asia Cup, starring in victories over India and Bangladesh, and was looking at a floating position in the batting order at the World T20. "I think one should be flexible, if there are five-six overs left then I can go up the order but it will depend on situation and overs.

Saudi Prince Buys Off A Fully Customized Airbus A380 For $500 Million And It Will Blow You Away

We all have seen how Saudis go about spending the loads of money that they have got. However, what we will show you today is a bit too superfluous even for a Saudi prince.

The basic concept behind being rich is simple; fly first class, own your own private jet or maybe have your name painted on it. But Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal has taken it to the next level by pulling of this new feat. The Prince has recently acquired an Airbus A380 which costs $300 million and is spending another $200 million to customize it into something that will look more than just spectacular!

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal has a net worth of $18 billion but still this feat seems a bit too overboard, don’t you think? Prince employed his investment firm, Kingdom Holding, to acquire shares of some companies and it has really paid off. The companies include; News Corp, Apple, Citigroup and Twitter and is also the proud owner of The Savoy (London), the Fairmont (San Francisco), the Plaza (New York) and the Four Seasons. Prince also owns a number of yachts and his car collection currently contains 200 automobiles and has three palaces at his disposal with a total area of 5 million square feet. Once the Airbus is ready and is delivered to the Prince, he will be the owner of four gigantic private jets; the last addition being the world’s largest and most costly private plane. A typical Airbus A380 is capable of handling 800 passengers.

The remodeled Airbus A380 for the Prince shall have the following list of features and well, if these are just the highlights, we are sure that it is going to be one heck of an Airbus to own indeed. The Airbus shall come with a parking space for his Majesty’s Rolls Royce while supporting a concert hall which will be able to hold 10 persons and shall even have a stage for private entertainment sessions.

The plane will also come with spa treatments and rooms dedicated as steam rooms with tiles made of marble. There are plans of incorporating a room which will have flat screen TVs on walls and floors. These TV’s shall be telecasting to passengers what the Airbus is flying over and they call it the “Magic Carpet” room.

There shall be a room with holographic monitors and a prayer room with mats that shall automatically adjust themselves to face Mecca. There are many other features in the Airbus as well, such as an elevator that can be used to access different levels.

Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure can buy stuff that can make you feel amazing!
Check out the video below for more details:

Legitimate concerns: Pakistan engaged with WHO over polio campaign, says FO

“I don’t agree that there is an impression in Iran that Pakistan is not serious. Pakistan is serious and Iranian government is aware of that." PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: A day after prime minister Nawaz Sharif termed the violence riddled polio campaign in Pakistan part of the collateral damage in the war on terror, the foreign office insisted on Thursday that the government was focused on the issue, and expressed determination to carry forward the campaign.

During the weekly briefing, the foreign office responded to questions about concerns over the polio campaign in Pakistan including possible travel sanctions by different countries and the World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO labeled Peshawar as the reservoir of polio this year.

“About Polio, more than anyone else, it is our concern. It is about the future and health of our children,” the spokesperson said.

Pakistan already faces restrictions from India. Passengers from Pakistan are required to produce a certificate proving vaccination. However, the spokesperson said she was unaware of similar plans by any other country over impending restrictions.

“Unlike the perception, the reality is that most of the children in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and FATA have been inoculated,” the spokesperson said, adding that “We have remained engaged with WHO in Geneva as well and while they understand the problem, the security threats, they are keen to help Pakistan overcome this problem and provide vaccination to all children.”

Saying there was “no need for concern,” she noted that the inoculation campaign was an “ongoing issue and we will remain engaged with WHO and other governments.”

Pakistan serious about I-P pipeline

Asked about the growing clamor from Tehran over the stalled Iran-Pakistan pipeline, the spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to the project.

“I don’t agree that there is an impression in Iran that Pakistan is not serious. Pakistan is serious and Iranian government is aware of that,” she said, adding that Pakistan’s commitment to the project has been oft repeated.

She referred to the statement by Advisor to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in the parliament where he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the project.

“We have had discussions and a number of options are under consideration by the two sides. We are considering a number of proposals together.”

Afghanistan elections

The spokesperson expressed lack of knowledge on why no arrangements had been made to extend franchise to Afghan refugees living in Pakistan ahead of the upcoming polls in Afghanistan.

“It is most probably because of some administrative arrangements they are not able to make for conducting elections for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.“

However, the spokesperson said that Pakistan was willing to extend all possible facilitation to Afghanistan for the upcoming elections. “We will extend whatever help the Afghan government requests us for and we are able to give.”

Repatriating Pakistanis

Asked about Pakistanis who face deportation for the UK and some Pakistanis held in the US administered Guantanamo Bay prison, the spokesperson said that the relevant departments were engaged over the repatriation of citizens.

“You know that Pakistan and the European Union signed a re-admission agreement and under that those persons whose Pakistani nationality is determined and who are living in the United Kingdom or any other European country illegally, we accept them back.”

She ruled out mass deportations, but acknowledged that some illegal Pakistanis are being repatriated. “Our Ministry of Interior is coordinating.”

About Pakistanis in Guantanamo Bay, the spokesperson said that they had been in touch with US authorities.

“I don’t know the exact number but yes, we have been in contact with the US authorities.”

The spokesperson highlighted visits by officials of interior ministry to meet the detainees and determine their nationality. “Many Pakistanis were released as a result of those efforts.”

She declined immediate knowledge of a specific pact with US over Pakistanis held in Guantanamo bay.

NDMA

The spokesperson said that the delay in according the NDMA to India was dependent on India fulfilling its actions.

“As the name indicates, NDMA means non-discriminatory market access. There are a number of things in that respect that India is expected to do.”

She explained that the timelines were agreed on the sidelines of the SAARC Business Conclave in New Delhi.

“Once India completes those actions, NDMA would be given by both countries to each other.”

Rejecting the notion that the Foreign Office was opposing the NDMA, she said that the government will decide after due consultation with all the stakeholders.

Steve Case: 25 Years Is Great, But What's Next for the Web?

IMAGE: AP PHOTO/ASSOCIATED PRESS

BY STEVE CASE22 hours ago

When we started AOL in 1985, to learn about “the Internet” you needed to read science fiction or the predictions of futurists. I remember reading Alvin Toffler’s The Third Wave — describing the evolution from the agriculture age to the industrial revolution and predicting the emergence of a third “electronic” revolution — like it was yesterday. At the time we launched, only 3% of U.S. households were online, and those early adopters averaged just one hour of weekly use.

Communication modems were viewed as "peripheral" devices — a non-core, optional, niche add-on for a small subset of hobbyists. Connectivity was expensive, as most users were charged for every minute of network usage. And the Internet was limited to non-commercial uses (mostly educational institutions and the government). In fact, back then it was illegal for companies or the general public to be connected to the Internet.

SEE ALSO: The World Wide Web Is Having a Quarter-Life Crisis

It took more than a decade to move from a niche technology that few understood to the mass medium it is today. A number of factors contributed to the eventual success of the Internet. But perhaps none was as pivotal as the creation of the World Wide Web, on this day 25 years ago.

The invention of the web, led by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN, was a spark that lit the Internet flame and helped propel its adoption. And now our world is arguably more peaceful, more prosperous and better connected as a result of this global medium that breaks down walls and builds connections.

But where do we go from here?

Borrowing from Toffler’s “third wave” perspective, 

I b

I believe we are now seeing the emergence of the third wave of Internet companies.

The first wave, in the 1980s and 90s, was building the Internet infrastructure and getting people connected. AOL was a leader in that first wave — at our peak, we carried more than 50% of the consumer Internet traffic in the U.S. — but many other companies built the foundational technologies and platforms, including Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, Netscape, among others. And of course the role of the World Wide Web cannot be underestimated, as it as one of the pivotal innovations.

The second wave of companies built services on those platforms. This led to the emergence of a new generation of second wave companies, including Google and Amazon — and the reemergence of some, particularly Apple. This, in turn, powered the social media revolution, enabling Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and others to grow rapidly. And it unleashed the app economy, a phenomenon that has powered a range of recent successes including Whatsappand Instagram.

And now we’re poised for the third wave. While new “Internet companies” will continue to emerge and innovative “apps” will continue to flourish, the momentum will start to shift. Instead of building the Internet, as we saw in the first wave, or building on the Internet, which characterized the second wave, the third wave will be about integrating the Internet throughout. Not to mention, it will shake up major industries, such as education and health care, in the process.

The 

The Internet will shift from being the main event to being increasingly invisible, as it becomes more integrated into our devices in subtle, but powerful ways.

This third wave will create enormous opportunities. After all, health care alone represents one-sixth of our economy, and if you add in the other the sectors that are now ripe for disruption — education, transportation, energy and government services, among others — they in total represent more than half of our economy.

But this will be hard to do. Disruption won’t happen overnight. It will be more of an evolution. These are complex problems that will require not just technologies, but a web of partnerships. Collaboration and alliances will become as important in this third wave as viral apps were in the second. This change will require an enterprise mentality. And, like it or not, entrepreneurs will need to learn to respect and work with governments. And governments will weigh in on sensitive policy issues like security and privacy.

It has been an interesting ride over the past 25 years, since the web came into being. Nobody knows for sure what the future holds in the next 25 years, but one thing seems pretty clear: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

CDWP provisionally approves Munda dam, Pothohar irrigation among 12 projects

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal. PHOTO: PID/FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday considered 16 projects costing Rs66 billion, including foreign aid of Rs5.6 billion.

Of the 16 projects, 12 projects costing a total of Rs60 billion were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval, a release of the meeting said.

“Public money should be spent prudently through a transparent mechanism as we are answerable for every rupee to the people of Pakistan,” remarked Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, who chaired the meeting.

The projects

Eight projects for the power sector were recommended to ECNEC for approval, costing a total of Rs22.7 billion, which would be funded with a Rs4.5 billion assistance from the Asian Development Bank. These “Augmentation and Extension” projects for DISCOs is aimed at providing facilities for reliable and stable supply of electric power and to meet the growing demand of residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers.

A Rs23.6 billion project, part of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service, was also approved in principle, subject to rationalisation of cost and scope by a committee which will look into the feasibility, environmental impact and economic viability of the project.

A component of the Munda dam project, which aims to generate 740 MW of power, was approved. The Rs990 million component pertains to the detailed engineering design of the dam and associated tender documents was provisionally approved, subject to further rationalisation of cost.

A residential colony project at Chashma costing Rs466 million and a Rs586 million for the provision of drinking water along the Balochistan coast were also considered. The water projects will be executed by the government of Balochistan and financed by the federal government.

A higher education scholarship project for students from Afghanistan under the Prime Minister’s directive costing Rs6.2 billion was recommended to ECNEC for approval. The project aims to provide Afghan students with all expenses covered scholarships in the disciplines of medicine, dental health, and engineering in both public and private universities.

A Rs4.4 billion project to establish and operate Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) and a Rs6 billion focused on improving human development indicators in Pakistan and millennium development goals (MDGs) were considered. The project aims to establish 20,000 BECS and 25,00literacy and skill development centers, and is expected increase enrollment of children in primary schools and improve literacy rate.

The CDWP also conceptually cleared the Rs42 billion Pothohar climate smart irrigated agriculture programme.

A Rs3.4 billion programme for digitising PTV’s terrestrial network was also conceptually cleared.

Govt to maintain 30% price parity for LNG with petrol: Khaqan Abbasi

Abbasi explained that international sanctions constitute the major hurdle for the I-P pileline. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

Promising to keep a 30 per cent price parity with petrol, minister for petroleum and natural resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi instructed the CNG station owners on Thursday to convert their stations to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), reported Radio Pakistan.

As gas stations across Punjab restart after a three month long closure, Abbasi said the government will keep maintain a price parity of 30 per cent below oil prices for LNG.

Talking to a delegation of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday‚ the minister said CNG station owners have already been asked to convert their stations onto LNG.

I-P gas line

As the foreign office spokesperson told reporters that Pakistan remains committed to the stalled multi-billion dollar gas pipeline with Iran, Abbasi explained that international sanctions constitute the major hurdle.

He informed that a project to import gas from Turkmenistan will take up to four years to complete.