Food & energy security: Commonwealth states urged to cut defence expenditure

The Commonwealth countries of Asia should reduce the expenditure on defence and armaments and use the resources thus saved for the uplift of the poor who are the worst affected by the rise in prices of food and energy, the civil society organisations of Commonwealth states have stressed, urging the G-8 to fulfil on an urgent basis the financial commitment made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. “With the surging prices of food and energy and alarming increase in the number of people below the poverty line, it seems that a sense of realisation and responsibility has fled Asia,” observed the participations of a consultative meeting of civil society organisations (CSOs) of the Commonwealth countries of Asia in Islamabad on September 28-29.

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Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that government has fixed wheat support price at Rs950 per 40 kilograms. Addressing the press conference after chairing a meeting of federal cabinet, the prime minister appealed to farmers to increase wheat production. Premier Gilani announced several projects to uplift agriculture sector in the country. He urged on the farmers to try to increase wheat production per acre. The prime minister said rising inflation caused price hike.

Prime Minister said government would overcome power load-shedding issue by next year. He announced that Benazir Agricultural Card would be launched soon.