PLANE
A day of mourning is being observed throughout the country today in memory of those killed in yesterday's plane crash in Islamabad.
The national flag is hoisted at half mast at all public and private buildings.
The passenger plane of Airblue was enroot from Karachi to Islamabad when it crashed into the Margalla hills of Islamabad, killing all the one hundred and fifty passengers on board including six crew members.
A special crisis management centre has been set up at Aabpara Community centre Islamabad to facilitate the relatives of the victims to identify dead bodies.
DNA
DNA of twelve more bodies have been completed at the PIMS hospital in Islamabad. Now the total number of DNA tested bodies has reached to seventy eight. Sixtysix bodies have already been handed over to heirs.
The bodies are being sent to their areas on the government expenses.
PM-PRESIDENT
Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani called on President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad today and discussed tragic incident of air crash atop Margalla hills and Current situation in the country.
The Prime Minister briefed the President about the constitution of an inquiry committee to probe into the incident of Air crash and the search and rescue measures being undertaken by various organizations of the government.
The President while expressing his deep grief and sorrow over the awful incident of air crash said that the incident had saddened the entire nation. The President urged for early completion of the probe to ascertain the real causes of the incident that resulted in heavy loss of precious human lives.
BRIEFING
President Asif Ali Zardari is to pay a three day visit to France from Sunday next for wide ranging talks with French leadership on bilateral, regional and global issues.
The President will exchange views with them on expanding relations in economic, trade and industry, science and technology and cultural fields.
Briefing newsmen in Islamabad this afternoon, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said the two sides have been cooperating on counter-terrorism.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said programme of the President's visit to the United Kingdom is being finalized and the dates would be announced later.
The spokesman said Pakistan is saddened by British Prime Minister David Cameron's remarks made in Banglor in India accusing Pakistan of exporting terror. He said these remarks are contrary to the facts on the ground and they have been prompted by reports of the Wikileaks website.
The spokesman said Afghan President Hamid Karzai's remarks about operation of NATO forces in Pakistan is incomprehensible. He said Pakistan has asked its ambassador in Kabul to seek clarifications from the Afghan Government.
SENATE
The Senate was informed today that the industrial growth, which went down to minus eight point two percent in 2008-09, has picked up to four point seven one percent.
Replying to a question Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani said the industrial sector has been hit hard because of international economic down turn, energy crisis, high bank markup and law and order situation.
He said steps are being taken to address the problem.
Agriculture Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal said that federal and provincial governments are working on plans to enhance storage capacity for wheat and results would be visible in few months.
ZARDARI
The outgoing Ambassador of Denmark in Pakistan Anders Hougaard paid a farewell call on President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad today.
Talking to him the President said that Pakistan values its cordial and friendly relations with Denmark and desires to further enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields especially in the economic, commercial and trade and investment.
ZARDARI-UK
British High Commissioner Adam Thomson also called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr today.
OATH
Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir at a ceremony in Muzaffarabad today.
AJK President Raja Zulqarnain Khan administered the oath.
Earlier, Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan was elected a new leader of the House at a special session of the AJK Legislative Assembly.
KASHMIR
In Occupied Kashmir, restrictions by the authorities continued, today, to scuttle protests and demonstrations, aimed at pressurizing India to give up its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.
The call of the demonstrations was given by the forum patronized by Syed Ali Gilani.
Despite restrictions pro-liberation demonstrations were held in Bandipore, Hajin, Naidkhai, Sumbal, Handwara and Samboora. Indian troops fired bullets and teargas shells to disperse the protesters.
RAIN EMERGENCY
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emergency has been declared following torrential rains and flash floods which killed sixty people.
Addressing a news conference in Peshawar today, Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that four hundred thousand people are stranded in different parts of the province.
He said that in district Kohistan, infrastructure of two Chinese companies engaged in hydel power generation have been washed away. Two hundred Chinese are still trapped in their colony in district Kohistan while nine are missing.
Similarly, about three hundred students of Malakand University are trapped.
Twelve thousand four hundred people are stranded in Peshawar while eight hundred in Charsadda district.
The Provincial Information Minister said that efforts are underway to shift these people to safer places.
Speaking on the occasion, DG PDMA said that twenty-six million rupees have been released to all the districts to tackle emergency relief while one hundred million rupees are being released for relief work.
PRESIDENT PM CONDOLENCE
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in monsoon rains and flash floods.
The President directed the concerned authorities for immediate rescue relief and rehabilitation measures.
The Prime Minister telephoned Chief Minister of Khyber Pakthunkhawa Amir Haider Khan Hoti and expressed sorrow and grief over the devastation caused by the floods.
They directed Chairman National Disaster Management Authority to ensure relief to the affected population in coordination with the provincial government.
NDMA
Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Nadeem Ahmed has said that over two hundred and fifty thousand cusecs water is flowing in the river Kabul which has badly affected Malakand, Peshawar, Charsaddah and Nohsherah districts.
In an interview in Islamabad he said it is an unprecedented situation where it is very difficult to operate the boats.
He appealed to the nearby people living on the banks of the rivers to shift immediately to the safer places.
US-BISP
The United States has transferred seventy-five million dollars to Pakistan for the Benazir Income Support Program to help meet the immediate needs of six hundred thousand impoverished families.
This was announced in a press release of the US Embassy in Islamabad today.
PAK-US
The United States says Pakistan in the last one year has made a significant strategic shift in the war against terrorism.
The State Department Spokesman said in Washington today that Pakistan had taken considerable aggressive steps in the ongoing war against extremists.
The Spokesman said that the US acknowledges that Pakistani people are suffering much from terrorism.
He said it is in the interest of US and Pakistan to eliminate the safe havens of extremists in the region and to prevent the emergence of new safe havens.
IRAQ
In Iraq, four soldiers were killed and twentytwo others wounded in different bomb attacks today.
S-KOREA
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Un-Chan has offered his resignation to take responsibility for the government's failure to win parliamentary approval for a key project.
The parliament had rejected a multi-billion dollar government plan to develop a new city as a science, business and education hub.
INDIA
In India, several opposition parties today joined the Left front when they staged a sit-in at the main gate of the parliament this morning.
They were protesting against price hike of essential commodities and petroleum products.
TEST
On the fourth day of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo, India in their first innings were 669 for 9 at the close of play today.
Earlier, Sri Lanka in their first innings were 642 for 4 declared.
CRICKET
On the opening day of the first cricket Test against Pakistan at Nottingham, England in their first innings were 113 for 3 a short while ago.
Earlier, England won the toss and opted to bat.
WEATHER!
AND FINALLY THE WEATHER:
There are reports of Widespread Rain and thundershower across the country during the last twenty four hours.
Twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is receiving heavy rain since morning.
Meanwhile, thundershower with isolated heavy falls is expected in Punjab, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, and Kashmir, while thundershower at scattered places also likely in Eastern Balochistan and Sindh during the next twenty four hours.
