DINA for the issue of June 20, 2013

	Wednesday 20th June 2013 | Sha"ban 10, 1434
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
Neelum-Jhelum power project: Plant must be ready before schedule: PM By Tariq Naqash MUZAFFARABAD, June 19: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered on Wednesday that work on the 969 megawatts Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) be expedited and the plant be made operational at least one year ahead of schedule.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995 Karachi Stocks Down 325.18 Points: KARACHI, June 17: At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 22216.46, down 325.18 points. Forex Update : KARACHI, June 17: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 99.8 to the US Dollar in the open market.
GST hike not to affect basic items, SC told: Govt seeks to allay concerns over price rise By Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD, June 19: The Supreme Court appeared to be unconvinced by an assurance given by the federal government on Wednesday that one per cent increase in general sales tax (GST) rate would not apply to essential food items and medicines. “I have contacted the finance secretary and he talked to the finance minister who has agreed in principle to issue a directive to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR),” Attorney General Muneer A. Malik informed a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry which had taken notice of the recent increase in petroleum prices.
Consultations on security after budget, NA told By Raja Asghar ISLAMABAD, June 19: Amid some excitement over the arrival of a convalescing Imran Khan, chairman of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the National Assembly on Wednesday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would hold a national consultation on security issues soon after the house passed the new government’s first budget next week. The minister said the planned consultative meeting with leaders of all political parties and chiefs of the army and other security agencies would have a two-point agenda: safeguarding Pakistan’s independence and sovereignty in the context of US drone attacks on tribal areas, and terrorism.
Six troops die in ambush near Peshawar Bureau Report PESHAWAR, June 19: Six soldiers were killed and two injured when a military patrol came under attack from militants in an area south of here on Wednesday night. According to a security official, the soldiers patrolling the area in Sra Kawra, Mattani, were on their way to Speena Thana in the Peshawar Frontier Region when they were ambushed.
Power tariff raised By Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, June 19: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) increased on Wednesday electricity tariff for distribution companies (Discos) of Wapda by Rs1.12 per unit for May on account of monthly fuel adjustment. The increase was approved at a brief public hearing presided over by Nepra Vice Chairman Khawaja Mohammad Naeem.
Pakistan played key role in US-Taliban breakthrough By Baqir Sajjad Syed ISLAMABAD, June 19: The biggest breakthrough in moves for reconciliation in Afghanistan in the shape of opening of a Taliban office in Doha and agreement between the insurgent group and the US on formal talks happened because of help from Pakistan which had long been looked upon sceptically for its role in the war-torn country. The Foreign Office was first to claim credit for the development, but shortly afterwards the US too acknowledged Pakistan’s contribution.
Girl killed by Indian firing By Our Staff Correspondent MUZAFFARABAD, June 19: Unprovoked firing by Indian forces from across the Line of Control on Wednesday killed a nine-year-old girl in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and injured her mother and two other civilians, officials said. “They (Indians) started firing…at about 9:15am…without any provocation, trapping the civilians who were busy in routine household work,” Deputy Commissioner Sohail Azam told Dawn by telephone of the incident that took place at Batal sector in the southern Poonch district.
SC suggests major role for provinces to end power crisis By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, June 19: With the new government looking into various options to cope with the energy crisis, the Supreme Court came up with a suggestion on Wednesday. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry asked Attorney General Muneer A. Malik to seek instructions from federal and provincial governments on the possibility of supplying electricity in bulk directly to the provinces according to their requirements and then deducting the cost at source from their share in the NFC award.
Balochistan budget today QUETTA, June 19: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch will present his government’s first budget for the next financial year in the provincial assembly on Thursday. Sources told Dawn that the size of the budget would be around Rs180 billion, including Rs40bn for Annual Development Programme.
Senators want Pakistan role in Afghan peace talks By Amir Wasim ISLAMABAD, June 19: Members of the Senate on Wednesday welcomed the planned peace talks between the US and Afghan Taliban in Qatar but wondered whether Pakistan, which is deeply affected by the Afghan conflict, would have any role in it. Describing the opening of a Taliban office in Doha as a significant development, the members belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) asked the PML-N government to tell the parliament whether Pakistan was consulted before initiation of the peace process.
IHC annuls vehicle amnesty scheme By Malik Asad ISLAMABAD, June 19: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) nullified on Wednesday an amnesty scheme introduced by the former government in its last days, giving duty and tax concessions on illegally imported and smuggled vehicles. The scheme for the regularisation of smuggled vehicles was launched through SRO issued on March 5 and continued till April 6.
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