07/0800 HOURS OF 30-7-1998

In occupied Kashmir,12 people have been killed in renewed clashes between freedom fighters and Indian occupation troops.

These clashes took place in Budgam, Islamabad Anantnag, Ladakh, Rajouri and other areas.

In a clash between freedom fighters and occupation troops in Budgam district a junior officer of Border Security Force was killed and several others injured.

Freedom Fighters attacked military targets at 2 places in Islamabad Anantnag causing extensive damages to bunkers and camps. Three Indian informers were killed in the area. One Indian solder was killed in Kargil area of Ladakh and three more were shot dead in Rajouri area. Freedom fighters also attacked a military camp at Budhal in the same area killing at least one and injuring 3 soldiers.

Meanwhile, in continued atrocities Indian troops blasted a house in Budgam area where a body of youngman was recovered from the debris. An innocent person was shot dead during military siege at Sodal in Handwara area.

Forceful demonstrations were held in Ganderbel against Indian repression.

DAR: The Commerce Minister, Mr. Muhammad Ishaq Dar, has said that the government is moving toward the right direction to improve the national economy.

Addressing the office bearers and members of Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Karachi Wednesday, he said efforts were underway to cut down trade deficit to zero percent during the current fiscal year against 1.2 billion rupees of last fiscal year.

He said that government will change the list of essential items announced earlier for releasing dollars to import such items on official rates. He said he has directed the fiscal anamoly committee to finalize its findings within a week so that government may issue SRO.

About the GST, the Commerce Minister said that if there is any anomaly in this system, traders should suggest to make it more effective. He said the government is ready to help traders to sought out their genuine problems. He, however, appealed them not to pay heed on the rumours and baseless propaganda of vested interest.

MUSHAHID: Federal Information Minister, Mr. Mushahid Hussain Syed, has said that Pakistan has achieved expartise in nuclear technology indigenously and the talent available in the country has helped in our achievement in the field.

He was speaking at a reception hosted by Old Students Association of Karachi University in honour of Dr. Abdul Qadir Khan Wednesday night. He said that we have reversed the military imbalance in the region and now there is parity between India and Pakistan.

Mr. Mushahid Hussain Syed also praised the personal qualities and determination and hard work of Dr. Qadir Khan who he said is the father of Pakistan's nuclear programme.

Dr. Abdul Qadir Khan on this occasion said that there was no assistance or guidance from outside the country's nuclear and missile programme. He said that Pakistani scientists have achieved the success through hard work and dedication.

The Sindh Governor, Retired Lt. General Moinuddin Haider in his speech said that Dr. Qadir's achievements were not confind to the nuclear field only and that he has also enabled Pakistan to stand on its own feet in other thing as well.

Dr. Abdul Qadir Khan on this occasion said that there was no assistance or guidance from outside the country's nuclear and missile programme. He said that Pakistani scientists have achieved through hard work and dedication.

21/2200 HOURS OF 29-7-1998

COMMITTEES: Four hundred and twenty-eight Khidmat Committees have been set-up throughout the country to provide relief to the people against corruption, injustice and high handedness of government functionaries and local influentials.

This was stated by the Chairman Monitoring Cell of the Prime Minister's Secretariat Retired Maj.General Sikandar Hayat Khan in an interview with Radio Pakistan in Islamabad.

As a result of efforts of these committees, Haris at the tail-end of canals in Sindh have started receiving irrigation and drinking water after a lapse of many years.

CBR: The Central Board of Revenue has decided to wind up chain of diplomatic Bonded Ware-houses to plug a major conduit of smuggling, causing huge revenue losses to the national exchequer.

In an interview with APP, Chairman CBR, Moinuddin Khan said the CBR is looking into three different proposals as an alternative arrangement to these warehouses to cater to the requirements of the diplomats.

He said severe actions have also been initiated against Customs officials involved in tempering of the record relating to Bonded Warehouses transanctions.

KASHMIR: In occupied Kashmir, normal life was paralysed Wednesday due to a crippling strike to attract SAARC leaders attention towards the urgency of the settlement of Kashmir dispute.

The call for the strike was given by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

All business centres, offices, educational institutions, banks and courts remained closed and transport was off the road.

A spokesman of the Hurriyet Conference said in Srinagar that the strike was aimed at emphasising the imperative need of concrete measures by the world community to resolve Kashmir issue and urgency of associating true Kashmiri representatives with the talks on Kashmir.

Meanwhile, curfew has been imposed in Bhadrva and Kishtwar following killing of seventeen persons by unknown attackers in Kishwon area. Military patrolling has also been increased in curfew-bound areas.

Tension also prevailed in rural areas of Doda district due to extremist Hindu victimisation of Muslims with active Indian military support.

ISHAQ: Commerce Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, has said that the country's economy has shown remarkable signs of improvement.

He was briefing Editors and senior journalists in Karachi Wednesday.

He said that the growth rate of almost six percent has been attained after a long time.

Last year there has been a remarkable recovery from a dismal growth rate of 1.3 peercent in 1996-97 to 5.9 percent in 1997-98.

The services sector registered a growth rate of 4.8 percent. Agriculture sector grew by six percent this year.

Exports in dollar terms have grown by 2.6 percent and imports declined by 15.3 percent.

The Minsiter said that the goal in the next twelve months will be to achieve zero budget deficit by June next.

Private sector has seen tremendous growth.

The Minister said that Pakistan's credibility has been restored and through austerity measures there has been reduction of twenty five percent in expenditure.

He said that through austerity measures, there has been reduction of 25 percent in expenditure.

He said that money should be recovered from the defaulters without any distinction.

Mr.Ishaq Dar said that in the post nuclear test period, we in Pakistan have done much better and that we see bettere results and that the positive signals are emerging and the situation is not gloomy.

The Federal Information Minister, Mushahid Hussain Syed was also present.