Minister raises issue of UK bar on Pakistanis visiting Scotland

September 16th, 2009 DALLAS - Newly crowned Miss Asia Chinmayi Ghatraza feels that Indians and Pakistanis are same and has said that she hardly finds any difference between the people of the two countries. "I love Pakistanis as we are the same people," Ghatraza said after winning the Miss Asia contest held in the city of Dallas, Texas.

September 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who recently visited Saudi Arabia, has categorically denied meeting former President Pervez Musharraf. There were reports that Musharraf was in Saudi Arabia and Malik had met him there.

August 27th, 2009 LONDON - Pakistan and Britain have agreed to facilitate the return of thousands of Pakistanis who are detained or living illegally in the United Kingdom. Interacting with media persons after a meeting with British Home Secretary Allan Johnson here, Pakistan Interior Advisor Rehman Malik said both countries have reached an accord to facilitate the return of the illegal migrants.

August 21st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A bill reserving four seats in the lower house of parliament and one seat in each of the four provincial assemblies for overseas Pakistanis will be introduced in the National Assembly once the law ministry vets it. "The bill is under consideration of the ministry of law and the Election Commission, Online news agency quoted Overseas Pakistanis Minister Farooq Sattar as saying.

August 14th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Most Pakistanis hate the Taliban as much as they consider United States as their enemy, a recent opinion poll has reveled. According to Pew Global Attitudes poll about 70 percent of Pakistanis are now against the Taliban's violent policies.

August 14th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's refusal to meet British diplomat Mark Lyall Grant has cast doubts over his real purpose in visiting Islamabad. While Grant has stated that his visit to Pakistan is aimed at promoting Prime Minister Gordon Brown's commitment to a strategic dialogue between both countries, observers believe there is more than meets the eye in Gilani refusing to meet the envoy.

June 21st, 2009 LONDON - Massive irregularities have been unearthed in Britain's immigration system with a shocking disclosure that more than one in every three successful visa applications from Pakistani citizens "lacked credibility". According to a secret internal report, which has been now leaked to The Sunday Times, travel permits were given to thousands of Pakistanis to visit Britain without even the most basic checks and investigations.

June 20th, 2009 PESHAWAR - The displaced Pakistanis will start returning to their homes from June 25 onwards, the Online news agency said Saturday. The process will continue in phases till July 2 and the returning civilians will be provided food and transportation, the report said citing Fazal Kareem Khatak, commissioner in Malakand Division in northwest Pakistan.

June 20th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani government has raised the salaries and pensions of its employees by 20 percent, a senior minister has said. The salary hike will be effective for employees in grades one to 16.

June 5th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday called on the US to write off Pakistan's debt to help Islamabad overcome the current economic crisis aggravated by the war on terror, a media report said. Gilani told visiting US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, during a meeting at his house that the debt waver would help Pakistan to mobilise resources for the displaced people in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Geo TV reported.

May 12th, 2009 NEW YORK - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari may have 'impressed' the United States by announcing an all out war against the Taliban and other extremists in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), but he does not seem to have much support back home, as only 19 percent of Pakistanis approve of his move. According to an opinion poll released by the Washington based International Republican Institute, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has emerged stronger than Zardari, in the current volatile situation, as 75 percent of Pakistanis support him.

May 12th, 2009 NEW YORK - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's recent claim that he does not consider India as a threat to his country, is not at all supported by a majority of Pakistanis, an opinion poll has shown. According Washington based International Republican Institute poll, there is an intriguing split in attitude towards India, with 45 percent favourable towards India, and 52 percent unfavourable.

May 11th, 2009 Norway, Denmark, Scotland win extra Europa spotsGENEVA — Norway, Denmark and Scotland have earned extra places in the qualifying round for next season's Europa League. Norway leads UEFA's Fair Play rankings, followed by teams from Denmark and Scotland, Europe's soccer governing body said Monday.

April 29th, 2009 EDINBURGH - Marine archaeologists have said that the discovery of ancient boat remains off the west coast of Scotland may point to the site of a boatbuilder's yard dating back many centuries. "There have been some reported finds of materials associated with terrestrial settlement.

March 12th, 2009 EDINBURGH - Scotland's new environment minister has said that people should learn to stitch their torn socks, among learning other traditional activities from their elders, in order to lead greener lifestyles and save the planet. According to a report in The Scotsman, the advice by Roseanna Cunningham, the new environment minister, came as a survey revealed that people in Scotland saw the environment as a global issue rather than a local one.