DINA for the issue of June 02, 2012

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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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June 02, 2012 Saturday Rajab 11, 1433
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
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DAWN.

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(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2012

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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An attempt to temper populism with realism
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, June 1: The PPP government unveiled its fifth budget, which tried to balance the economic mess the government faces with the demands of the upcoming election.

As a result in one stroke it reduced subsidies and increased taxes — measures that are worth about Rs330 billion in total. But at the same time, it added Rs45 billion to its salary and pensions bill...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/an-attempt-to-temper-populism-with-realism-%e2%80%a2-rs873bn-for-development-%e2%80%a2-rs31bn-fiscal-stimulus-%e2%80%a2-turnover-tax-halved-%e2%80%a2-maximum-customs-duty-cut-to-30pc/


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Taxation measures, incentives and relief
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By Mubarak Zeb Khan
ISLAMABAD, June 1: Taxation proposals in the budget, lowering the rate for some and raising for others, have obviously been dictated by political consideration.

In an election year, the ruling PPP would like to be seen providing relief to the low-income people but not being harsh to the rich...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/taxation-measures-incentives-and-relief/


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A landmark amid noise and scuffles
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By Raja Asghar
ISLAMABAD, June 1: It was amid a noisy opposition protest and scuffles, called "shameful" by the National Assembly speaker, that an embattled Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani reached a milestone on Friday of presenting all the five budgets of his office's unfinished tenure.

But, as expected, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, the largest opposition party in parliament, was isolated in the protest that it said it would continue throughout the budget session, though not supported by smaller opposition parties...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/a-landmark-amid-noise-and-scuffles/


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20pc ad hoc relief for govt employees, pensioners
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By Iftikhar A Khan
ISLAMABAD, June 1: A 20 per cent ad hoc relief allowance for government employees and pensioners was announced in the budget on Friday.

According to Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, it is the fifth consecutive relief given by the present government to employees and pensioners, resulting in more than 100 per cent increase in salary and pensions over the past four years...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/20pc-ad-hoc-relief-for-govt-employees-pensioners/


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Defence allocation goes up by 10pc
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, June 1: Country's defence budget has been increased by about 10 per cent to around Rs545 billion for the next fiscal year, according to the budget documents placed before the parliament on Friday.

When seen in the context of 11 per cent inflation, the defence budget remains almost stagnant, but is still close to seven per cent higher than the federal development outlay (Public Sector Development Program) for 2012-13, which is Rs360 billion...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/defence-allocation-goes-up-by-10pc/


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Petitions challenging speaker's ruling to be heard next week
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ISLAMABAD, June 1: The Supreme Court will formally commence on Wednesday hearing on a number of identical petitions challenging the May 24 ruling of National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza which had saved Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from being disqualified after his conviction in the contempt case.

According to a case schedule issued by the SC for the next week, a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain will take up the petitions filed by PTI chief Imran Khan, PML-N leaders Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Senator Zafar Ali Shah, Advocate Mohammad Azhar Siddiqui and Syed Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi, a citizen...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/petitions-challenging-speakers-ruling-to-be-heard-next-week/


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Court takes FC to task over disappearances
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, June 1: The Supreme Court assailed the Frontier Corps (FC) on Friday for its perceived role in the growing cases of disappearances in Balochistan and described the recent killing of three people whose whereabouts were being sought by the court as a chilling reminder to it, the federal government and the state.

The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry that had taken up the law and order situation in the province on a petition filed by Hadi Shakeel, a former president of the Balochistan High Court Bar Association, however, resolved to continue to pursue the matter regardless of the problems faced by it...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/court-takes-fc-to-task-over-disappearances/


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Non-imposition of tax on farm income irks MQM minister
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By Khawar Ghumman
ISLAMABAD, June 1: At a special meeting of the federal cabinet held here on Friday to approve proposals for next financial year's budget, a minister belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement expressed his party's displeasure over what he termed the government's handling of the agriculture sector.

The minister called for comprehensive land reforms and adequate taxes on agricultural income, a participant of the meeting told Dawn...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/non-imposition-of-tax-on-farm-income-irks-mqm-minister/


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Former minister's son gunned down
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By Saleem Shahid
QUETTA, June 1: A son of a former provincial minister was killed in Spiny road area of the city on Friday, police sources said.

Maulana Ataullah Lango along with his son Imdadullah was going to his village by car when armed men opened fire. Imdadullah was injured and taken to the civil hospital where he died...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/former-ministers-son-gunned-down/


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Govt plans nine power projects
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By Our Reporter
ISLAMABAD, June 1: The government will initiate work on nine power projects during fiscal year 2012-13 as part of the implementation of power sector reforms and the plan to increase electricity generation capacity to 24,822MW by June 2013, according to budget documents.

The projects to be initiated include 121MW Allai Khwar hydel power project, eight units of Jinnah power plant of composite generation capacity of 96MW; 132KV Pringhabad, 132KV Pasinzai, 132KV Karakh and 132KV Kan Mehtherzal grid stations; and 1200MW imported coal-based integrated jetty and power plant...

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/govt-plans-nine-power-projects/


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Plane escapes disaster
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KARACHI, June 1: A PIA aircraft flying over Punjab on Friday evening with 49 passengers on board had a close call when one of its two engines caught fire and shut down. However, the aircraft managed to land in Multan safely.

A PIA spokesman denied that the engine had caught fire but a Civil Aviation Authority spokesman confirmed the incident. He said that one of the engines of PK 655 (ATR aircraft) caught fire during its flight from Lahore to Multan.—Staff Reporter

http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/plane-escapes-disaster/


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Karachi Stocks Up 90.35 Points:
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KARACHI, June 01: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 13876.97, up 90.35 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, June 01: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 94.5 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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