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07/0800 HOURS OF 2-6-1998

(TUESDAY) PAK-SAUDI: King Fahd of Saudi Arabia says, his country fully understands Pakistan's point of view over its nuclear tests. He told the weekly Saudi Cabinet meeting that Pakistan is concerned with preserving its security. He, however, urged India and Pakistan to show restraint and being negotiations to establish stability and security in the region. King Fahd also denounced the policy of double standard adopted by the international community which excludes Israel from international inspection, encouraging the race for nuclear weapons. SARTAJ: The Finance Minister Mr. Sartaj Aziz has said restrictions on foreign currency accounts were temporary and measurers were being taken to restore confidence of depositors. In an interview in Islamabad he said the foreign exchange accounts holders would continue to have interest on their foreign currency deposits during this period. The people could withdraw their account after converting it into Pak rupees at the rate of 46 rupees per dollar. BRIEFING: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif attended a briefing at National Defence College in Islamabad. Participants of war course and senior members of the Faculty also took part in the briefing and discussion. View were exchanged in the discussion on the expected situation after sanctions which may be imposed as a result of Pakistan's nuclear tests. Prime Minister reiterated the determination to take all possible steps for the defence of the country. MUSHAHID: The Minister for Information and Media Development Mr. Mushahid Hussain Sayed has directed the Pakistan Television and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation to reduce their administrative expenditure up to 50 percent as part of government's drive. The Minister visited PTV and PBC Headquarters and directed the officials of both the organizations to strictly implement the government's decision. PAK-IRAN: Pakistan and Iran have discussed ways to increase bilateral collaboration in all fields particularly economic cooperation. The Foreign Minister Mr. Gohar Ayub Khan and his Iranian counterpart Mr. Kamal Kherazi during a meeting in Islamabad also discussed the prevailing regional situation and focused on latest developments in Afghanistan. They emphasised the need for promoting the Afghan peace process. GREETINGS: President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have expressed the hope that the cordial relations between Pakistan and Italy will be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of the peoples of two countries. In their separate messages the two leaders greeted President Oscar Luigi Scaifaro and Prime Minister Romano Prodi of Italy on the occasion of the National Day of that country Tuesday. KASHMIR: In occupied Jammu and Kashmir, 15 Indian soldiers have been injured in a land mine explosion in Poonch area. After the incident Indian troops in retaliation killed 6 innocent people. Indian troops also let loose a reign of terror through their agents inn different parts of the held valley, killing 4 persons. 21/2200 HOURS OF 1-6-1998(MONDAY) PM ADDRESS: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said he will soon announce a revolutionary national agenda and hoped the nation would extend its cooperation to implement it. He was addressing a gathering at Qilla Didar Singh in Gujranwala District Monday. He assured that the national agenda will change the fate of the nation and put the country on the path of prosperity and progress. Speaking about Pakistan's nuclear tests, he said Pakistan proved its capability in the aftermath of Indian blasts and threatening statements of Indian leaders. PRIME MINISTER: The Prime Minister Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said Pakistan is ready to hold talks with India to ease tension. He said Islamabad had not abandoned hopes to improve bilateral relations with New Delhi. He said Pakistan is ready to sit down and resolve all differences with India. In an interview with the Japanese Daily "Asahi Shimbun", he said he was disappointed with the Indian government which carried out the nuclear tests in the second week of last month. The whole balance of power had tilted towards India in this region. Pointing to various steps to solve out-standing issues between Pakistan and India through bilateral negotiations, he said, in reply to Pakistan's good intentions, India responded by carrying out nuclear tests. PAK-IRAN: Iran says Muslim countries are happy over Pakistan's acquisition of nuclear technology. The Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Kamal Kharazi told newsmen on arrival in Islamabad Monday afternoon that his country hoped Pakistan's nuclear capability would be a source of strength for the entire Muslim Ummah. He said Pakistan's nuclear tests are understandable in view of the threat to its security, following atomic blasts by India. He hoped there will be restraint now and tension would be lowered. In this regard he expressed Iran's readiness to play its role for lowering tension in the region. He opposed sanctions against Pakistan and said his country will not endorse and support such sanctions. PAK-FRANCE: The Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Mian Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said France has great appreciation of Pakistan's genuine security concerns. Talking to newsmen in Paris, he said they understand Pakistan's compulsions for conducting nuclear tests in the wake of the Indian government's threats. ECONOMY: The country is to achieve gross domestic product growth of 5.9 percent this year because of increased production in agriculture sector and revival of large scale manufacturing sector. The inflation is expected to be 8.2 percent at the end of the year. This was stated by the Economic Advisor to the Finance Ministry, Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed Khan at a news briefing in Islamabad Monday afternoon. Giving a review of the economic situation, he said, agriculture sector will grow by 5.9 percent because of higher production of wheat, rice sugarcane, barley, gram, rape seed, mustard and tobacco. The large scale manufacturing sector registered a growth of 7.2 percent in the first 9 months of the current financial year. Turning to fiscal and monetary situation, he said, upto April over 225 billion rupees of taxes have been collected and the revised target of 304 billion rupees will be achieved. He said borrowing for budgetary support amounted to 45.7 billion rupees as against the target of 58 billion rupees this year. The tight fiscal management resulted in less recourse to borrowing for budgetary support and helped contain inflation pressure on the economy.

KASHMIR: In occupied Kashmir, Rashtria Rifles, personnel have unleashed a reign of terror in Kupwara and demonstrations have been held against military repression. Troops arrested the wife of a village head and detained her in a military camp. Relatives of a freedom fighter were severely persecuted in the town. Four Indian agents were arrested on charge of disgracing a minor girl in Kupwara district. Three young men, described as liberation activists, were arrested by police in Srinagar. Reports from Islamabad Anantnag said, brother-in-law of a former Indian Internal Affairs Minister, Maqbool Dar, was shot dead at Shangas and 6 people were injured. KASHMIR BLAST: In occupied Kashmir 4 persons including 2 soldiers were seriously injured when a bomb exploded at a military base in Jammu Monday. The blast damaged a building housing the army's intelligence wing. SPOKESMAN: A foreign office spokesman has expressed surprise over summoning of Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi by India. When asked to comment on the incident involving an Attaché of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad Sunday, the spokesman expressed surprise that the Pakistan High Commissioner had been summoned by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and widespread publicity was given to the incident. Basically it was a minor scuffle between the Indian Attaché and a local Security Guard in the neighbourhood. Such incidents, the spokesman said, do occur now and then and in both India and Pakistan. A Pakistan government representative had visited the Attaché in hospital and investigation was in hand. The spokesman said in the charged environment, through which the region was passing at present, there was need to show understanding and restraint.