Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in E:\inetpub\vhosts\magtheweekly.com\httpdocs\14\lahore.php on line 68

Warning: include(http://www.magtheweekly.com/skymidpage.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in E:\inetpub\vhosts\magtheweekly.com\httpdocs\14\lahore.php on line 68

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.magtheweekly.com/skymidpage.php' for inclusion (include_path='.;./includes;./pear') in E:\inetpub\vhosts\magtheweekly.com\httpdocs\14\lahore.php on line 68
Lahore was virtually stormed by a number of VVIPs and VIPs during the last week. Quite fortunately, this had nothing to do with the gathering of the storm as such. They had come to town on official, political and personal counts and businesses.
President General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf paid a short visit to call on his close aide and National Security Council Secretary, Tariq Aziz, to offer condolences over the demise of his mother and to offer fateha for the departed soul. The President, who was received on arrival at the airport by Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Ijaz Ahmad Bakhshi and other senior officials visited the Governors’ House and afterwards returned to the Federal Capital.
This was not all. Other VVIP visitors included Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, the Chief Ministers of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan, as well as a number of Federal Ministers, Governor State Bank of Pakistan, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Federal Secretaries and other officials. They were here to attend the meetings of the Federal Cabinet and the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, both held at the Governors’ House and presided over by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. Chief Ministers Syed Qaim Ali Shah of Sindh, Amir Haider Hoti of NWFP and Nawab Aslam Raisani of Balochistan were received by host, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif cordially and warmly.
Governor Salman Taseer hosted a dinner in honour of the Prime Minister, the provincial Chief Ministers and the Federal Ministers at the Governor’s House.
The Chief Ministers and the host separately called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Governor’s House and exchanged views on matters of national and provincial importance. Such interaction at the higher level surely helps in creating a better understanding and increasing collaboration and cooperation between the federal and provincial governments.
The Chief Ministers of NWFP and Balochistan left soon afterwards whereas Sindh CM, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, stayed a bit longer, met PPP leaders and addressed a news conference at the residence of Haji Azizur Rahman Chan before flying back to Karachi.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was also the chief guest at the Annual Achievement Awards function of the Lahore Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) at a local hotel. On the occasion, the Prime Minister gave away trophies and other awards to the proud owners of the winning companies in various spheres of the national economy. Businessmen, traders and industrialists and their representative bodies’ office bearers were among those present.
A function was organized by the Honorary Consul of France, Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, to celebrate the National Day of France. Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was the chief guest while outgoing French envoy Regis de Belenet came all the way from Islamabad to participate in the colorful gathering, which was also attended by diplomats and honorary Consuls of different friendly countries besides the elite of the town. Governor Salman Taseer joined hands with French Ambassador Regis de Belenet to cut the big cake carrying the national flags of both Pakistan and France. Earlier, the outgoing French Ambassador had also made a farewell courtesy call on Punjab Governor Salman Taseer. They remained together for some time and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, with particular mention of cordial relations between France and Pakistan. The French Ambassador also called on Provincial Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif prior to his return to Islamabad. The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) organized an interaction on problems facing the media today and how the print and electronic media can work freely to discharge their professional duties without hindrances and obstructions. The participants included Munno Bhai, I.A. Rahman, Najam Sethi, Asma Jahangir, Mujibur Rahman Shami, Imtiaz Alam, Hameed Akhtar, Altaf Ahmad Qureshi among others.
The Royal Palm Golf and Country Club located along the Lahore Canal hosts a number of social and commercial functions every now and then drawing good gatherings. At one such family function, well-known singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performed for a couple of hours, entertaining the attentive and appreciative audience, consisting mainly of young music-loving girls.
The Punjab AIDS Control Programme is involving people from different segments of society to create awareness and motivate the masses as to how to prevent the killer disease by adopting preventive measures and leading a neat and clean family life. The Media Forum formed for this purpose held its meeting at the Avari Hotel to chalk out ways and means to launch an effective public awareness campaign against AIDS.