From the News, Nation, Dawn, Pakistan Observer, Daily Times, Frontier Post, Nawa-i-Waqt (Urdu) and Jang (Urdu) newspapers                                                                                                                                                                                      

14 February, 2009

LOCAL NEWS  

ECONOMIC 

-     Islamabad (APP) Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Farrukh Qayyum, Secretary Economic Affairs Division signing the documents in connection with grant aid of $ 27 million to Pakistan. (The Frontier Post, p-5; The Nation, p-16; Pakistan Observer, p-10 & p 14; The News, p-18; Business Recorder, p-20; The Post, p-B1; Daily Ausaf, p-2; Daily Jang, p-7; Nawa-i-Waqt, p-8)  

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

POLITICAL

-          Tokyo (APP / AFP) Japan’s cabinet rushed Friday to defend beleaguered Prime Minister Taro Aso after rare, biting criticism by popular former leader Junichiro Koizumi underscored growing unrest in the ruling party. (Pakistan Observer, p-3; the News, p-11)  

ECONOMIC 

-     Rome (AFP) Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank chiefs were to begin meeting in Rome late on Friday to discuss the global financial crisis amid stern warnings against protectionism. (Pakistan Observer, p-12)