DINA for the issue of November 05, 2011

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D A W N I n t e r n e t N e w s A l e r t
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November 05, 2011 Saturday Zilhaj 08, 1432
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
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(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2011

The link at the end of each extract can be used to access the
complete story on DAWN - the Internet Edition.


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Sindh Local Govt Ordinance lapses
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By Our Reporter
KARACHI: Nov 4: The local government ordinance which had reversed the promulgation of Commissioner System lapsed at midnight on Friday, thereby reviving a notification about the system, Land Revenue Act and other related matters.

According to sources in the Sindh government, a notification in this regard was being issued separately...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/04/foreign-office-clears-confusion-mfn-status-decision-to-come-later.html


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Civilians, military consulted on India trade
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed and Nasir Jamal
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE, Nov 4: Key civilian and military functionaries met on Friday to discuss the process of easing trade with India in the run-up to grant it the MFN (most favoured nation) status.

"As part of regular consultations, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar today consulted all stakeholders on foreign policy issues, including the resumed dialogue process with India, at the Foreign Ministry," said a cautiously-worded press statement issued by the FO spokesperson's office...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/civilians-military-consulted-on-india-trade.html


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South Punjab to have separate PPP wing
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By Shamim-ur-Rahman
KARACHI, Nov 4: In his capacity as Co-Chairman of the PPP, President Asif Ali Zardari bifurcated the party structure in Punjab on Friday apparently to meet the challenge posed by the opposition PML-N which has launched a campaign to dislodge the federal government ahead of Senate elections in March next year.

PPP leaders said the creation of the central and southern Punjab wings would enable the party to efficiently manage its organisational matters and deal with people's issues...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/south-punjab-to-have-separate-ppp-wing.html


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Pakistan's interest must be taken into account: PM
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LAHORE, Nov 4: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said no reconciliation effort in Afghanistan will be acceptable unless it takes into account Pakistan's interests and concerns (about its own stability).

"We want a sovereign, stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan because it is in the interest of Pakistan. But we will not accept any reconciliation effort (for the settlement of problems in Afghanistan) in which Pakistan is not a party (to the solution)," he told reporters at his residence here on Friday...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/pakistans-interest-must-be-taken-into-account-pm.html


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Much more than just trade
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By S Akbar Zaidi
DESPITE the confusion created by different actors, over whether India has been granted the MFN status by Pakistan, 'actually' or simply 'in principle', the general response and reaction has been extremely favourable and positive. This sentiment, with so much ambiguity surrounding the decision, itself says a great deal. Those who understand the complexities of the India-Pakistan relationship, and the political economy of Pakistan, know that this is much more than just about trade.

On the trade front, the impact will favour Pakistan much more than India. Research has shown that if trade between the two countries grows, since Pakistan's is the much smaller economy, the gains which accrue to Pakistan will be far greater. There are numerous aspects to the MFN decision which will have a profound impact on relations between India and Pakistan. In the most obvious of outcomes, it is expected that Pakistan will now treat India like all the other 100 countries with which Pakistan trades. This small move might look a little mundane and matter-of-fact, but given the history of India-Pakistan relations, is a huge departure from the recent past. Trade between India and Pakistan, of around $2.5 billion at the moment, is expected to double over the next three years on account of this change. While not such a big deal for India, this will mean a huge change for Pakistan...
http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/much-more-than-just-trade.html


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Pakistan aid should continue: Clinton
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Nov 4: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a message released on Friday, has urged the US Congress to continue providing financial assistance to Pakistan and warned that disengaging at this stage would undermine America's national security interests.

Secretary Clinton's message to Congress accompanies a status report on Pakistan and Afghanistan from the State Department, which also strongly endorses America's continued engagement with both countries...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/pakistan-aid-should-continue-clinton.html


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Govt takes over circular debt
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: The federal government on Friday took over from the banking industry the Rs391 billion circular debt on account of loans to power sector and brought commodity operations into the public debt to qualify for $2 billion fast disbursing loans from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

The debt swap will, however, result in an additional fiscal deficit of 1.8 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) during the current financial year, over and above the targeted normal budget deficit of 4 per cent of GDP...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/govt-takes-over-circular-debt.html


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2.5m Haj pilgrims converge on Mina
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By Syed Rashid Husain
RIYADH, Nov 4: Over 2.5 million pilgrims converged on the Valley of Mina as Haj 2011 began on Friday.

Early Saturday morning, they will move to the Plains of Arafat, to fulfil the major Haj obligation — gathering on Arafat...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/25m-haj-pilgrims-converge-on-mina.html


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'CIA to curtail drone attacks'
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By Masood Haider
NEW YORK, Nov 4: In a dramatic shift in its policy, the CIA has agreed to curtail drone strikes without consent of Pakistan, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The newspaper said the Central Intelligence Agency had made a series of secret concessions in its drone campaign after military and diplomatic officials complained that large-level strikes were damaging the fragile US relationship with Pakistan...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/cia-to-curtail-drone-attacks.html


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Indian army wants harsh law to stay
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SRINAGAR, Nov 4: A top Indian army official says harsh emergency laws in Kashmir should not be revoked until Pakistan ends its alleged interference in the disputed region.

India has long accused Pakistan of fuelling the violence in the valley, a charge Islamabad denies...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/indian-army-wants-harsh-law-to-stay.html


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Judicial commission to visit India
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NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Pakistan informed India on Friday that a Pakistani judicial commission would visit India soon to interview some key people in connection with the investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks, The Hindu newspaper reported.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik during a meeting with Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram conveyed to him that Islamabad would be sending the judicial commission soon to carry forward the process of bringing the conspirators of the 26/11 attacks to justice...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/05/judicial-commission-to-visit-india.html


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Karachi Stocks Up 135.46 Points:
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KARACHI, Nov 04: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11942.92, up 135.46 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Nov 04: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 87 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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