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President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Saturday launched three major projects for Karachi which will be completed within two years at a cost of over Rs443 million.

Pakistan's privatization programme Has been very transparent and effective. This was stated by the Federal Minister for investment and Privatization, Senator Dr. Hafeez Shaikh, while talking to Reporters at a local hotel on Monday.He said that the transaction of Habib Bank has been Excellent which has earned a good name for Pakistan the world over. The Minister said that the entire international community understands that Pakistan's privatization programme has been very transparent and effective.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here Saturday called upon students in particular and people in general to realize that 21st century focusses on a global society and knowledge based economies where education is to play a key role.

Speaking at Aga Khan University Convocation of 2005 batch, comprising graduates of medical college, school of nursing and institute for educational development, Mr. Aziz said it will be educational quality of the work force that will determine the country's economic performance.

A committee of cabinet ministers is working out a strategy for the privatization of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and will finalize its recommendations before June this year.The committee comprising ministers and senior officials have been asked to recommend the best possible strategy for the privatization of PTCL. Well-placed sources say the committee is confronted with a pressing issue, that is, if PTCL is offered to a single group of strategic investor it will create a giant monopoly.

The Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan (AKPBS, P) the other day organized a daylong workshop on 'Improving the Living Conditions of Rural Communities in Sindh' at Ali Mohammed Ismail village, Khyber, Hyderabad District.
The Nazim and Naib Nazim of the district and other members of the local government, directors of the AKPBS, P and representatives of various other NGOs were among the 200 people who attended the programme, says a Press release here on Friday.

Civil society organizations have an impressive history of substantial contribution to the socio-economic and political development in the country and there are new opportunities evolving gradually for NGOs.
Pakistan has also an excellent record of civil society organizations' contributions to the country's social, economic and political development.
These observations were made by the Consul General of the United States in Karachi, Douglas C. Rohn, while speaking at a launching workshop of the NGO Institutional Management and Certification Programme (IMCP) held here on Wednesday.

Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Saturday said that the present government has convincingly showed that it is committed to upgrading and reforming the education sector.
'New education initiatives are being implemented that will enhance primary school enrolment, increase training opportunities for teachers and school administrators, spread literacy and encourage public-private partnership for education. Within these programmes many opportunities exist for cooperation between the government and the Aga Khan University'.

The European Union's ambassador to Pakistan, Ilkka Uustialo, has laid emphasis on quality education at the Aga Khan centres for education all over the country .Mr Uustialo was visiting Karimabad education centre, which had been declared the best college of the year.The Aga Khan Education Service (AKES) has been awarded a grant of 20 million euros for the implementation of the Northern Pakistan Education Programme, over the next five years, says a press release on Thursday.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Saturday reiterating his commitment towards quality health care for all in Pakistan, with major emphasis on prevention and control of diseases, said the government vision for health sector was based on 'health for all'.Change in education system is need of the hour, he said at Aga Khan University Convocation of 2005 batch, comprising graduates of medical college, school of nursing and institute for educational development.
'We recognize that as a nation we have to continue work towards universal, affordable, quality healthcare for every single Pakistani.'

Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) in cooperation with USAID, is implementing 'Releasing Confidence and Creativity (RCC): An Early Childhood Development Programme'. This programme is being implemented in 50 communities of Balochistan and another 50 in Sindh.RCC seeks to support practices and structures in communities, schools, NGOs, and the government that effectively promote early childhood development.

Prince Karim Aga Khan, who recently visited the subcontinent, was instrumental in 'breaking the ice' that has led to the recent thaw between India and Pakistan, a Pakistani newspaper reported on Sunday.'It seems the Aga Khan devoted much of his time behind the glare of publicity in April in breaking the ice between New Delhi and Islamabad,' The News quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

At least two knowledgeable ruling politicians and a few senior Pakistani officials are crediting intense background efforts of spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, Prince Karim Aga Khan, for diplomatic breakthrough between Islamabad and New Delhi that in the past few days again ignited hope of a durable peace.Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee surprised the world in the past two weeks when he suddenly reversed the belligerent Indian stance of equating Pakistan with Saddam Hussain's Iraq by offering 'decisive' peace talks and restoration of full diplomatic relations with Pakistan.

His Highness the Aga Khan, Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and Chancellor of Aga Khan University (AKU), today emphasised the importance of civil society institutions such as AKU, in providing the rapid and effective response to those affected by the 8 October earthquake disaster.

New Jubilee Insurance (NJI) Company Limited announced on Wednesday that it had acquired the general insurance business of Commercial Union in Pakistan effective Jan 1, 2003.A company press release quoted Masood Noorani, MD NJI as saying: 'This is the first time that the business of a prominent foreign insurer has been acquired by a Pakistani insurance company and is a proud achievement for the company as it celebrates its 50 years of successful operation in 2003'. The company stated that it was the pioneer and market leader in Health Insurance business in the country.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Wednesday signed a $4.5 million cooperative agreement with Aga Khan University (AKU).The agreement will help AKU establish an alternative examination board in the private sector for secondary and higher secondary education.
The signing ceremony at AKU was attended by Federal Minister for Education, Zobaida Jalal, US Ambassador to Pakistan, Nancy Powell USAID Country Director, Mark Ward, Chairman, AKU Board of Trustees, Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi and AKU President, Shamsh Kassim- Lakha.

The Aga Khan University (AKU) and USAID on Wednesday signed an agreement for a grant of $4.5 million to AKU for establishing the country's first private examination board.The agreement signed by President AKU Shamsh Kassim-Lakha and US Ambassador Nancy Powell on behalf of AKU and USAID respectively was also attended by Federal Education Minister Zubaida Jalal and Sindh Education Minister Irfanullah Marwat, held at Aga Khan University and others.
While, Dr Thomas Christie, former dean, Faculty of Education, University of Manchester was appointed as the first Director of AKU-EB.

Your ExcellencyPrime Minister Shaukat Aziz
Your Excellency Governor Ishrat-ul-Ebad Honourable
Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim
Honourable Ministers
Excellencies
Chairman Dehlavi and the Members of the Board of Trustees
President Kassim-Lakha
Graduates and Parents
Generous donors and well wishers of the University,
from Pakistan and around the world
Distinguished guests

The buyers of Habib Bank Ltd have decided to retain its senior officials including President Zakir Mahmood. They will take over the bank management after paying for 26 per cent of the bank shares in the middle of next month.HBL sources told Dawn the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development Fund (AKFED) that bought 51 per cent HBL shares last month had asked Mr Mahmood to continue as its president with his present team. They said the Fund had apprised the State Bank of its decision to retain Mr Mahmood, and the central bank had approved it.

Presiding over the 18th Convocation of Aga Khan University, the Chancellor of the University, His Highness the Aga Khan announced the retirement of the first president of the University, Shamsh Kassim-Lakha. The Chancellor also introduced to the Convocation, Mr Kassim-Lakha's successor, Firoz Rasul, who will assume the presidency on May 1, 2006.