Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan - Aug 21, 2013

[r_subramanian]

^
More on this from The News:
"
Three military officials including two senior officers of the Pakistan army were killed in a blast near Pak-Afghan border, said the Inter-Services Public Relations, media wing of the army on Sunday.

Major General Sanaullah (pictured above), Lt Colonel Tauseef and Lance Nayak Irfan Sattar were killed in Upper Dir area when a roadside bomb went off in Bin Shahi area.

Asim Bajwa, a spokesman for the ISPR, said that two soldiers were also injured.

The ISPR said that Major General Sanaullah was General Commanding Officer (GCO) Swat Division while Tauseef was Commanding Officer 33 Baloch Regiment.

They officers were on visit to the front positions of the army along the Pak-Afghan border and were returning from the area when the incident took place.

The killings of the Pakistan Army’s senior officers come when the country is mulling over offering peace deal to the militants to put an end to the surging violence, which has so far killed over 40,000 people including 5,000 security officials.
"

[Joseph]

^^^

Is this the same Major General? If so, it is interesting that the more Pure took him out.



http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news- ... ld-in-swat

[sum]

^^ Will know in a few months as to which TSPA Ghazi tipped off the faithful and set up the impurer TSPA higher-ups into a ambush!

[arun]

3 Pak army officers including a Major General killed in an IED blast

Three army officers were killed, while two sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Upper Dir on Sunday, Express News reported.
According to the ISPR, Major General Sanaullah, Lieutenant Colonel Tauseef and Sepoy Imran were killed when the device planted on a road exploded.
...

link: http://tribune.com.pk/story/604596/3-ar ... ied-blast/

Hmmm ……………. Green on Green Intra Mohammadden violence sees un-uniformed Jihadi’s kill the uniformed Jihadi’s of the Pakistan Army in a demonstration of the IEDology of Pakistan.

Does this accord with the “Jihad in the way of Allah” part of the motto of the Pakistan Army of “Faith, Piety, Jihad in the path of Allah” or in Urdu “ Iman, Taqwa, Jihad fi Sabilillah”.

Meanwhile article from the Government of Pakistan’s mouth piece, APP:

IED blast kills Major General, Lt.Col in Dir Upper District

[anupmisra]

^^ Will know in a few months as to which TSPA Ghazi tipped off the faithful and set up the impurer TSPA higher-ups into a ambush!

Here's more. TTP claims responsibility for killing of a Major General in KP

They were returning after visiting troops posts on Pak Afghan Border

While returning from the border, eh? If its TTP, then there's a dotted line connection to the khoofia agencies and who knows what else.

[anupmisra]

Meanwhile, how could we have missed this gem? Army withdrawal from Malakand approved by KP govt

civil administration would take over control of the area

troops would be pulled out from Buner and Shangla districts

The division comprises Swat, Buner, Shangla, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Chitral and Malakand districts

Isnt Dir the place where the good general was visiting his soon-to-be-relocated troops?

[ManuT]

r_subramanian ji
Thanks

[r_subramanian]

r_subramanian ji

A small request, I would strike out the word 'martyred' and change it killed. It is more a case of the dog biting its master.
TIA

ManuT ji

Correction done. Thanks for the suggestion.

r_subramanian

[CRamS]

Guys,

Watch this round table where Brahma Chellaney takes on Uneven. Brahma Chellaney brilliants debunks what a hawk is in US and in India. In US, a hawk is someone is preemptively blood thirsty, in India someone who says India must not turn the other cheek is a hawk . But nobody touched upon the key point that TSP thrives in a state of dispute with India, Brahma Chellaney sort of come close

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/the-nd ... ict/290745

[ramana]

Guess the purefools were saying IED Mubarrak to the honorable Maj Gen.

A Maj Gen presiding over a Quran reciting competition!!!

No wonder he got IED mubarraked.

[abhijitm]

Pak's T20 champs forced out of Chandigarh hotel over visa

The team, Faisalabad Wolves led by Misbah ul Haq, was asked to leave the hotel because its members were issued visas that allowed them to stay only in Mohali, where the match venue is located, and not in adjoining Chandigarh

How much uneducated you must be to unable to differentiate between Mohali and Chandigarh??

[sum]

^^ They knew that PMO will personally intervene and get them to stay wherever they want.

They might even get free South India tour, paid by PMO!

[partha]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/604779/hate ... f-ahmadis/

LAHORE:

Speakers at an anti-Ahmadi conference on Saturday vowed to expel all members of the Ahmadi community from the city.

The Radd-i-Qadianiyat Conference was held at Jamia Naeemia. The participants were told they had a duty to wage a holy war against Ahmadis. The audience which included a large number of students of the Jamia, vowed to wage ‘jihad’ against Ahmadis through their writings, speech, charity funds and corporal strength.

Maulana Ghulam Hussain Kiani, one of the speakers, said they would force Ahmadis to leave the city. “Their presence has polluted the city… their so-called places of worship are in fact centres of conspiracies against Muslims,” he said.

Kiani said that he had the ‘honour’ of ensuring the removal of Kalma Tayyeba from Darul Zikr, an Ahmadi worship place, at Garhi Shahu.

Advocate Badiuz Zaman, another speaker, told the participants not to befriend any Ahmadis. “Sharing utensils with Ahmadis is sinful,” he said, “Being friends with them is worse… the Holy Prophet (pbuh) disapproved of that.”

Zaman asked the participants to promise that they would do everything in their power to oppose Ahmadis in every way.

Stage Secretary Maulvi Muhammad Asghar urged the participants to take practical measures against the ‘blasphemers’. “How can you eat your meals in peace while there are Ahmadis living peacefully in your city?” he said. Asghar accused former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jehangir of committing blasphemy, “That must be stopped at all cost,” he said.

Asghar also told the participants to stop consuming foods and beverages produced by Shezan. “They are made by Ahmadis. Buying these helps their movement against Muslims,” he said.

“There are 1,200 Ahmadis currently fighting for the Israel Defence Forces,” Asghar said, “They torture innocent Muslim Palestinians… Muslims shouldn’t even shake hands with Ahmadis.”

Sahibzada Syed Ibrarul Hasan Shah was also critical of the Ahle Hadith.

He said, “I don’t know why they think they are the ‘thekedars’ (guardians) of Khatam-i-Nabuwat … they don’t even have the proper respect for the Holy Prophet (pbuh).”

The head of Jamia Naeemia said that according to the law, Ahmadis could not call themselves Muslims or preach their faith. They could also not call their places of worship mosques, but did.

The state should take action against them for violating the law, he said. “All schools of Islamic thought agree that Ahmadis are not Muslims,” he said.

Several people recited poems insulting Ahmadis and their religious leaders.

Mufti Haseeb Qadri, another speaker, regretted the language and criticised the conference organisers. “There should be some difference between the language used in the streets and a conference in a religious seminary,” he said, “The speakers should not have used indecent language. They should have focused on the subject.”

I agree with this Mufti. Speakers at this anti Ahmediya hate conference should have used decent language of love

Munawar Ali Shahid, a member of the Ahmadiya community told The Express Tribune that the Anti-Ahmadi campaign was making their lives difficult.

He said the community in Lahore feared for their lives. “Many Ahmadi businessmen have left the city… instead of curbing such hateful speech the government provides these people security,” Shahid said.

[Anujan]

Apparently both PML and PTI aren't making a big deal of TFTA jernail given his 72 so as to not spoil the "atmospherics" for talks with Taliban.

[RCase]

Stage Secretary Maulvi Muhammad Asghar urged the participants to take practical measures against the ‘blasphemers’. “How can you eat your meals in peace while there are Ahmadis living peacefully in your city?” he said. Asghar accused former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jehangir of committing blasphemy, “That must be stopped at all cost,” he said.

Pakistani demonstration of following the religion of Peace! Violence is justified to counter people living peacefully! AoA!

[Lilo]

Several people recited poems (on stage) insulting Ahmadis and their religious leaders.

Now Paki's are having public Poetry recitals abusing Ahmedis and other Kuffar hain ji ?

Shortly these gaali baazi poetry recitals will become an ubiquitous part of Paki "high culture" like Mujra , petting goats , petting each other in a public circle etc.

[anupmisra]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/604779/hate ... f-ahmadis/

“Sharing utensils with Ahmadis is sinful,” he said, “Being friends with them is worse… the Holy Prophet (pbuh) disapproved of that.”

That's right. He also disapproved of ipads and iphones. He was ahead of his times. It says so in al kitab.

[Skanda]

That's right. He also disapproved of ipads and iphones. He was ahead of his times. It says so in al kitab.

You mean ikitab?

[Peregrine]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/604779/hate ... f-ahmadis/

partha Ji :

Plans should be made to ensure that the Indian Government does not give the Pakistani or any other Non-Indian Ahmadis Refuge in India.

Cheers

[Cosmo_R]

That's right. He also disapproved of ipads and iphones. He was ahead of his times. It says so in al kitab.

You mean al-kindle...

[anupmisra]

Dangerous ground
Creeping islamization in pakiland.

Recent media reports, though unverified, have linked Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba, the student wing of the Jamaat-i-Islami, to militant groups. Although the IJT does not have a history of perpetrating terrorist activity, its extremist views and vigilante role at university campuses are well known. The group’s members are known to have harassed or attacked students, including women, for taking photographs, dressing in an ‘un-Islamic’ fashion, and mingling with members of the opposite sex.

Surveys confirm that extremist discourse resonates with young Pakistanis. According to a British Council report released in April this year, 64pc of young males and 75pc of young females described themselves as conservative/religious; 38pc of youngsters surveyed favoured Sharia law; and 75pc expressed concerns about being exposed to foreign media, films, music and ideas.

That's right. Exposure to ideas is the root cause of creeping islamization in "paki educational institutions" (an oxymoron term in itself). After all, all useful ideas that needed to be "evolved" have been neatly packaged in al-kitab and the hadiths since the 7th century. What is the point of watching katrina kaif now for new ideas then? Hain?

[anupmisra]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/604779/hate ... f-ahmadis/

partha Ji :

Plans should be made to ensure that the Indian Government does not give the Pakistani or any other Non-Indian Ahmadis Refuge in India..

Cheers

Ahmedis were in the forefront of creating al-bakistan. They should be thanked.

[Prem]

Did not Djinnah declare that Ahmadis are free to go their Temples, Church and Gurudwaras and their safety is guaranteed by the good will of majority Poaqroachunity? IMHO, Ahmadis are tasting the dish they prepared for others.
But , you know what, GOI have let many of these rats in Punjab itself.

[Lilo]

....75pc expressed concerns about being exposed to foreign media, films, music and ideas[/u].

At an abstract level Pakiness is emptiness , Pakiness is lost if something "substantial" fills up the emptyness.
This is abstract concept is however not a contradiction in anyway to physical concept of inner Pakistaniyat.

[jamwal]

From Reddit
In Karachi,
In Karachi, we are fighting,
With guns, and swords,
And bombs, and jihaadi.
In Karachi,
In Karachi we are cryin',
In Karachi,
Abdul and me.
We're in Karachi, in Karachi,
Abdul and me.

But I m in so deep,
I'm such a fool for Abdul,
Do I have to kill a human?
Do I have to, do I have to kill a human?
Oh, I thought the world of Karim Hatela.
I thought nothing could go wrong.
But they were bigots, but they were racist.

We're in Karachi,
Abdul and me.
Fighting for peace.

[Peregrine]

Did not Djinnah declare that Ahmadis are free to go their Temples, Church and Gurudwaras and their safety is guaranteed by the good will of majority Poaqroachunity? IMHO, Ahmadis are tasting the dish they prepared for others.
But , you know what, GOI have let many of these rats in Punjab itself.

Jhujar Ji :

Indeed Mr. Jinnah did say all about Temles, Churches, Gurdwaras etc. etc.

However, he never mentioned the Ahmadi "Baituns" (I believe ) - and Shia-ite Imambaras!

RE : GOI have let many of these rats in Punjab itself : Please give some details and if this is by the GOI or Govt. of Indian Punjab..

Cheers

[Karan M]

From Reddit

ROTFL, whoever that durachari is, he is an epic troll.

[Anujan]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/605294/mull ... rtaj-aziz/

So Mullah Baradar is going to be released by Pakistan but not handed over to Kabul because apparently talibs would start hating pakistan.

However Aziz, a senior diplomat, said Baradar would not be handed over to Kabul.
“It is at his (Baradar’s) discretion, whether he chooses to live here or anywhere of his own choice,” Aziz said.
“Handing him over to Kabul would affect the reconciliation process with the Taliban,” he added.
Aziz did not say if Baradar had expressed where he would want to go. “We have to follow the Taliban’s desires and we would carry out (his release) in accordance with what they want,” he said.
Aziz had announced last week that Pakistan would set Baradar free this month.

[Peregrine]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/605294/mull ... rtaj-aziz/

So Mullah Baradar is going to be released by Pakistan but not handed over to Kabul because apparently talibs would start hating pakistan.

However Aziz, a senior diplomat, said Baradar would not be handed over to Kabul.
“It is at his (Baradar’s) discretion, whether he chooses to live here or anywhere of his own choice,” Aziz said.
“Handing him over to Kabul would affect the reconciliation process with the Taliban,” he added.
Aziz did not say if Baradar had expressed where he would want to go. “We have to follow the Taliban’s desires and we would carry out (his release) in accordance with what they want,” he said.
Aziz had announced last week that Pakistan would set Baradar free this month.

Anujan Ji :

That is what the Pakistan Armed Forces in General and Army in Particular along with the Government, Bureaucracy, Leaderships of Every Ilk indeed all of Pakistan have been doing for at least Thirty Years possibly even since 1947 with the Terrorist Tribals who invaded the State of Jammu and Kashmir along with the Pakistani Army!

Cheers

[Peregrine]

del.

this kind of stuff is for BENIS, not this thread.

[arun]

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan devolves. Pakistan Steel Mills, the only integrated steel plant in that country capable of manufacturing steel from ore, is on its last legs. All the other steel manufacturers in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan are re-melters who are dependent on steel scrap:

Pakistan Steel production cycle comes to a halt

[anupmisra]

del. this kind of stuff is for BENIS, not this thread.

Sometimes, it's hard to differentiate between paki news meant for TIRP and Benis. Could go in either. Anyway...

[Prem]

Pakistan’s intellectual deficit
Paki Islamist superiority
( Bibi dont know ,its all in the Qitab)

Pakistan’s academic curriculum tends to belittle creativity and hamper intellectual growth thus producing students who are unable to think beyond conventional means and unmotivated to take initiative. Those who do, become the exception rather than the norm. The social sciences impart critical analytical skills and encourage rigorous research; skills that are essential for nation-building.The problem with Pakistan is two-fold. The first is production. Ranking 113 out of 120 in the Global Literacy Rate, Pakistan’s youth literacy rate stands at 70.7 per cent, which also includes those who can solely sign their name. The country fails to produce young people (in significant numbers) who are motivated to enter non-traditional fields and build careers in media, technology, development, foreign service and politics, amongst others. Exacerbating this particular problem is the lack of independence, stability and respect associated with such fields. Pakistan needs, for example, more security analysts, tech-entrepreneurs, responsible and trained journalists, creative thinkers, agricultural experts but none of this will be possible unless the state allocates a level of responsibility and independence, the collective mindset encourages pursuing such disciplines and most importantly, if education is given its due importance.The second problem is that of retention. As a country, Pakistan is unable to retain, accommodate and value those who hold unconventional degrees in human rights law, women’s studies, international development, political science or agricultural planning (amongst others) because expertise in such areas essentially threatens the status quo that in effect threatens the moulded seats of old power. Those who return with the much-needed expertise are promptly disenchanted by the system, betrayed by the bureaucracy and wary of their futures. Those who graduate with such degrees from Pakistan are cognisant of the absence of merit-based professional growth and choose to pursue careers outside the country.Few would choose to pursue a career in development and aspire to become the next Parveen Rehman, focus on global health and strive to end the polio crisis, or choose to work in the media with a desire to inject professionalism and responsibility … and manage to succeed.It is then not the collective failure of aspiring individuals but rather the characterisation of a system that rigidly holds on to the status quo, regardless of how archaic, immoral and harmful it may be. Few with such expertise (that remain lacking in and critical for Pakistan) would choose to build careers in a country that fails to acknowledge the crisis it is currently entangled in and where bureaucratic shortcuts are the norm. Pakistan can no longer afford to ignore its ‘intellectual deficit’ problem, which itself will take years to balance unless it desires a future with more number crunchers and less social scientists.

[SBajwa]

and "Faisalbarbad" wolves go down to NZ Otago

http://www.espncricinfo.com/champions-l ... 72339.html

A menacing opening burst from Otago Volts' fast bowlers and a well-measured mauling from Brendon McCullum delivered them an eight-wicket victory over Faisalabad Wolves, who failed to compete in any discipline. All four Otago's quicks bowled out, but none conceded more than 6.5 an over and shared seven wickets between them.

Misbah-ul-Haq the batsman might have his reputation embellished, after hitting a 34-ball 46 that ensured that there was a contest, but as a captain he will perhaps attract yet more scrutiny for misreading the Mohali pitch, and handing the opposition a clear advantage by batting first. McCullum's thoughtfully-constructed 83 not out from 65 made light work of Faisalabad's 139, and Otago reached their target with 13 balls to spare.

James McMillan might not even have played this match, had Jacob Duffy been fit, but his impact on the match was immediate and far reaching. Ammar Mahmood struck the first ball of the match powerfully for four, but could not get McMillan's first ball further than point, who knelt to take a straightforward catch.

That over cost one run and had reaped one wicket, and were it not for an inside edge off the last ball, McMillan's second over would have been no less impressive. Otago's seam collective wasted little of that early momentum, as they rarely veered far from the stumps in the early overs, and had Faisalabad hobbling at 34 for 3 in the eighth over.

With that dismally familiar scoreline beckoning Misbah to the crease, he rolled up his sleeves to launch another dutiful recovery, as he has done for Pakistan so many times in the last year. He found a like-minded partner in Khurram Shehzad, and the pair began reclaiming ground in steady shovelfuls at first, before Misbah felt he had the measure of the pace-friendly Mohali dirt.

A legside six off Nathan McCullum in the 12th over foreshadowed the aggression to follow, which would yield Faisalabad their most profitable over of the innings. In the 14th, Misbah walloped two more sixes and a four in the same cow-corner region, off the same bowler, hauling his side's run rate beyond six for the first time since the first over.

Though Khurram had clung on in Misbah's company to help forge a 61-run stand, he could not match his captain's attacking competence, and departed for 27 off 36, just as the innings might have moved into a phase of dominance, had he stayed around. Misbah's progress slowed, as Otago's disciplined pace bowlers returned in full force, and he was bowled making room to hit through the offside, off the last ball of the 17th over.

McCullum did not allow poor balls to go unpunished early in his innings, but atypically, he did not go looking for trouble either. Neil Broom had departed in the first over, and with a modest score to chase, a return of 16 from his first 20 balls did not seem to irk him. Three Hamish Rutherford sixes saw Otago eclipse the required rate in the Powerplay overs, and McCullum sought nothing more than to maintain that steady momentum for the majority of his innings.

Eventually he grew bold, after he and Derek de Boorder had put on more than 50 for the third wicket, and Faisalabad's efforts sagged as the game slipped from them. Having progressed to 50 at just under run-a-ball, McCullum took them home with a flurry of thumping hits, and secured a fine net-run-rate, should it be required further down the line.

[Prem]

http://www.dawn.com/news/1043521/proud-to-be-meeraasi
Proud to be Meeraasi

( off course , Its Arrrrabic Herritage)

The name Meeraasi comes from the Arabic word Meeraas, which means ‘heritage’. In medieval times, the bards who were the keepers of the histories, stories, genealogies, poetry and music of Northern India were known as Meeraasis. Many of them became students of Hazrat Amir Khusrau, the 12th Century scholar/mystic/poet/musician of the court of Delhi and disciple of Hazrat Nizamudin Awliya of the Sufi Chishtiya order.As historians of heritage, they were given the honorable title of Nasab Khwan which later just became Khwan Sahab.
Today in Pakistan the word Meeraasi is often used in a derogatory way to denote someone who is involved in some lowly immoral activities. That the original meaning of the word has shifted by 180 degrees – from when it used to denote a person who was the ‘inheritor’ of culture till today when it is used for someone of ‘inferior’ rank and quality – speaks volumes about the devolution of our own cultural values.In the face of opposition from an increasingly conservative society, many people of Meeraasi families were forced to give up their heritage and many opted to marry outside of their communities and change their names. But there are still many left who doggedly continue to pursue their true vocation – music and the transference of oral knowledge.At one time, the Meeraasis were patronised by kings and aristocrats of the courts and by Sheikhs of Sufi Khanqahs. Many received titles by their patrons and founded Gharanas or Households of their individual styles of music such as the Pattiala, Shaam Chauraasi and the Gwaliar Gharana. After partition their livelihood suffered because the state of Pakistan never accepted its responsibility as Patron of the Arts. Initially, they found refuge in the orchestras of the country’s new film industry. But when the government of Ziaul Haq clamped down upon all cultural activity that was perceived as ‘immoral’, the Meeraasis found themselves on the road.Over the years people from the Meeraasi community have formed their own slang and expression, which people from ‘educated’ backgrounds find difficult to relate to. Many Meeraasis of Punjab call themselves Dharhis, which was originally a name for the bards of ancient Punjab who used to recount heroic ballads on the Dhad or Dugdudi instrument. The Dharhis take pride in their knowledge of music, and fondness for food and jokes, often laughing at their own expense.!” There’s another story of how a Meeraasi was asked why he wasn’t fasting during Ramazan. He answered: “Because life is a journey; and it is not mandatory to fast during a journey!"The Meeraasis are single handedly responsible for preserving the great music and poetry of this land composed in the last thousand years. They are also amongst the best musicians on the planet and start teaching their children music before they’ve learnt how to speak. The rigorous music training they make their children go through is unparalleled in any music school of the world. A Meeraasi friend and colleague once told me: “Do you know why we are such accomplished musicians? It’s because we have been vulcanised in an atmosphere of critisism!

[partha]

http://dawn.com/news/1043451/india-retu ... across-loc

MUZAFFARABAD: The intra-Kashmir trade through the two crossing points on the Line of Control (LoC) may meet a tragic fate as Indian officials have refused to accept items which they allege are not from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

On Aug 29, Indian authorities at their trade facilitation centre in Salamabad, on the other side of Chakothi, returned two trucks from AJK carrying mangoes, saying that the produce belonged to Pakistan, and not Azad Kashmir.

Aila..good to see officials paying attention to details.

[ramana]

So all those Nusrat Fatheullah etc are meerasi by profession if not by birth?

[Nandu]

^^ "tragic fate". lol

[Brad Goodman]

Pakistan battles growing alcohol addiction

Late one night, the beat of dance music drifts down from an upper storey of an apartment block on the edge of a Pakistani city.

Inside the flat, the music is pulsating around a dance floor. There is a bar where a range of liquor is being served and cocktails shaken. Under flashing stroboscopic lights, dozens of people laugh, dance and enjoy the drink.

This is one of the parties that are now commonplace in the cities but are highly discreet.

abduls wanna be meerasis?

And he says that if a Pakistani drinks, it is usually in large quantities because it is, he believes, a response to the massive social pressures here, including the threat of political violence and high unemployment.

"Unfortunately drinking in Pakistan is not recreational," he said. "It's much more escapist and much more relief-seeking. That means drink till the bottle is emptied."

[Brad Goodman]

Rupee depreciates by 5.5% to Rs 104.80 against dollar

ISLAMABAD: In the interbank market the rupee depreciated against the dollar by 4.5 percent in the financial year 2012-13, while it fell 1.0 percent till September 10 in the financial year 2013-14, reflecting a total depreciation of 5.5 percent to reach Rs 104.8 per dollar.

The rupee depreciated in the interbank market against the euro, pound and Japanese yen by 6.9 percent, 4.7 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively in July 1 to September 10, 2013 in FY14.

According to a written summary of Ministry of Finance submitted to the National Assembly, it has been informed that the State Bank of Pakistan follows a flexible exchange rate regime where the value of the rupee vis-à-vis other currencies is determined in the foreign exchange market through the forces of supply and demand in both domestic and international markets. Devaluation is a term used for fixed exchange regimes where the central bank or government decides the value of exchange rate from time to time. Thus the concept of devaluation does not arise. However, the rupee depreciated in the interbank market against the euro, pound and yen.

It has also been informed that in the budget for FY14, the government has planned substantial official foreign exchange inflows including 3G licence fee, PTCL privatisation proceeds, and loans from multilateral and bilateral sources. The timely and full realisation of planned official financial inflows will help the buildup of foreign exchange reserves and in turn the stability in exchange rate.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme has already been started. The first tranche of $550 million has already been received.

The programme will not only result in buildup of foreign exchange reserves directly but will also facilitate in revival of other financial inflows from other financial institutions like World Bank and ADB.

To another question, it has been further informed that the quantum of domestic loans is increasing to finance the budget deficit. However, the quantum of foreign loans has actually decreased owing to less inflows against outflows, mainly due to repayments of IMF loan.

The domestic loans are mainly obtained to finance budget deficit, therefore, sector-wise breakup is not applicable. However, foreign loans were utilised against agriculture, education and training, energy and power, floods, fuel, governance research and statistics, health and nutrition, industry and commerce, physical planning and housing, rural development and poverty reduction, science and technology, social welfare, transport and communication, and water from July 2012 to July 2013.

It was submitted that there is no such credible study or research that quantifies corruption in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The figures of Rs 500 billion quoted as yearly corruption in FBR or other such estimates are just conjectures and speculations, having no nexus with reality. Moreover, the quantification of corruption in value terms is extremely difficult and would involve huge funds to carryout study in this regard. However, corruption is a phenomenon the extent of which varies in different organisations depending on levels of discretionary powers, loopholes in the system and nature of governance.

As far as FBR is concerned, various policy and administrative measures have been taken from time to time to ensure transparency, minimum contact between 25 taxpayers and tax collectors, strict internal audit, efficient use of information technology and action against delinquent officials. It is pertinent to mention that during last 10 years, the performance of FBR has been generally satisfactory despite various economic and political challenges.

During last 10 years (2003-04 to 2012-13) the FBR revenues have jumped from Rs 520 billion to Rs 1,939 billion with an increase of Rs 1.4 trillion in absolute term. Average growth during this period has been about 16 percent. However, tax-to-gross domestic product ratio did not increase for various reasons and this government is committed to enhance this ratio through broadening of the tax base and better administrative practices in FBR. Effective controls and zero tolerance policy in FBR will result in minimisation of corrupt practices.

Surveys on corruption conducted by the Transparency International and other agencies have shown decline in the level of corruption in FBR.

The total value of GDP of the country recorded or reported during financial year 2012-13 is Rs 22,909 billion. Total amount spent on current development expenditure by the federal government during financial year 2012-13 is detailed as under current expenditures of the federal government costing Rs 2,625.014 billion, which is 11.5 percent of the GDP.

The development expenses were Rs 816.002 billion which were 3.6 percent of the GDP.

During the last five years (July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2013) only one transaction was carried out - Hazara Phosphate Fertilizers Limited of 100 percent shares at a gross sale proceeds of Rs 1,340 million and the net proceeds of Rs 1,290 million were transferred to the federal government account (State Bank of Pakistan), Islamabad for debt retirement and poverty alleviation, in accordance with Clause 16 of PC Ordinance 2000. The remaining amount of Rs 50 million was utilised on account of Golden Hand Shake (GHS), Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS), valuation and other transaction related costs.

The main objective of privatisation is to put national resources and assets to optimal use, particularly to unleash the productive potential inherent in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The privatisation policy specifically aims at enhancing the value of government’s shareholding, maximisation of profits, modernisation and upgradation of SOEs, exploration and creation of new assets, management and technological transfer benefits and generation of employment. However, it may be noted that privatisation cannot be carried out in isolation and is dependent on both domestic and international regulatory, financial, economic and political environment. The global financial crisis emerging in 2007-08 coupled with the weak domestic environment, which was suffering from political instability and war on terrorism stalled the privatisation programme in the last five years. Despite these challenges, the government has reinvigorated the privatisation programme by preparing a comprehensive privatisation roadmap to be implemented in the near future.

There is no proposal under consideration at the moment for any incentive to the small companies. However, as part of drive to encourage corporate business, the rates of income tax for all companies have been reduced from 35 percent to 34 percent in the budget of 2013.

The Ministry of Finance does not provide any separate allocation for clearance of circular debt under normal budgetary process. Hence, presently, there is no such proposal under consideration. However, the Ministry of Finance provides tariff differential subsidy to the DISCOs to meet the gap between the tariff determined by NEPRA and the tariff notified by Ministry of Water and Power. For this purpose an amount of Rs 220 billion has been allocated for the current financial year.

The government expects that as a result of combination of measures that include tariff rationalisation, recovery maximisation, reduction in losses and theft, revenues of power sector companies will significantly increase and reemergence of circular debt will be greatly contained.