Pakistan, India sign three trade agreements

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India Wednesday signed three trade agreements with pledges to adhere to all the accords in letter and spirit and build bridges of understanding to lead the two countries towards prosperity and stability.

The two sides signed agreements including Customs Cooperation Agreement, Mutual Recognition Agreement and Redressal of Trade Grievances Agreement to build confidence of the business community on both the sides.

The agreements were signed at the conclusion of bilateral trade talks between the Commerce Ministers of Pakistan andIndia.

Through the implementation of these agreements, the two countries will systematically address the issues related to non- tariff barriers.

Addressing a press conference Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim flanked by his visiting Indian Counterpart Anand Sharma said that Pakistan and India after their deliberations have agreed to continue the process of the normalization of trade relations between the two countries.

Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said that India offers Pakistan a market of 1.2 billion people and both the countries can take benefit from each others' opportunities.

"We are here to build bridges between Pakistan and to India generate more resources", Sharma remarked.

Both the sides also reiterated to adhere to the roadmap drawn up by the Commerce Secretaries for full normalization of trade relations.

It has also been agreed that Pakistan will move from a Positive List to a small Negative List by February 2012 while the negative list is to be phased out and the timing for this will be announced in February at the time the list is notified.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012

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Four names for new DG ISI under consideration

PM Gilani, COAS Gen. Kayani and ISI Chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha during a meeting at Prime Minister House in Islamabad.—AP/File photo

ISLAMABAD: The government mulls over assigning a new director general of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as its current chief Lt-Gen Shuja Pasha’s tenure ends on March 18, DawnNews reported on Wednesday.

According to sources, the four names under consideration for the post are Maj-Gen Mohammad Asif, Maj-Gen Naushad Kiyani, Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam and Lt-Gen Javed Iqbal.

Extending Pasha’s tenure is also on the cards, it added.

It is important to note that the tenure of the current DG ISI has been extended twice by the government.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will decide about the new intelligence chief after consultating military leadership.

Earlier, US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter had shown his concern over the retirement of Pasha.

Munter had said appointment of the new ISI chief can affect bilateral ties of the war allies.

On the other hand, the US embassy in a statement hoped to maintain good relations with the next ISI chief.

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Pakistan Wins International Cyber Drill between 28 countries

Pakistan Wins International Cyber Drill

Pakistan has marked victory in International Cyber Drill Competition, the competition was based on tricks and techniques regarding “Cyber Security and how to secure systems from hackers and hack attacks”. Pakistan took part in the drill for the first time and beaten experts from 28 other countries.
Ammar Jaffri, President at Pakistan Information Security Association ” Pakistan took part in this cyber drill for the first time and won”.
President at Pakistan Information Security Association was founded in 2005 to educate people on immediate response on hacking attacks. Four members from Pakistan Information Security Association and four students from National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) took part in the drill and successfully blocked hacking attacks from different hackers.

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