The caretaker cabinet will quiz Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chairman Zafar Ahmad Khan on January 22 to know the reasons of huge losses despite the fact that seats were not available on most of the international and domestic flights, informed sources told Business Recorder.
PIA was projecting above Rs 12 billion losses in 2008 as compared to Rs 15 billion for 2007, which was a cause of concern to the government, the sources added. Presided over by Prime Minister Muhammedmian Soomro, the cabinet would ask the PIA chief to prepare a plan for bringing the national flag carrier from this state of affairs.
The PIA chief would give a presentation to the cabinet, stating what was the role of his predecessors in destroying PIA image at the international level and his own efforts to restore flights to Europe.
Sources said the cabinet would allow the ministries concerned to start negotiations with Iran, Afghanistan, and United Nations office to take collective measures against illicit drug-trade in the region. They said the Election Commission would brief the cabinet on the arrangements it has made for the free, fair and transparent general elections, adding that provision of voter lists and other material in interior Sindh would also come under discussion.
The interior ministry would give a presentation on pre, during and post-elections law and order situation in the country, especially parts of NWFP, where a war-like situation was being witnessed for the last several months.
Sources said that Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) would brief the cabinet on wheat crisis, supply of flour in the cities where the people wait in queues for hours and even go back their homes without getting one bag.
The cabinet for the first time would also discuss the prices and supply position of ghee, sugar, and other essential items. Former prime minister Shaukat Aziz had directed Minfal that the federal cabinet should be briefed regularly on prices and supply situation, but the decision was not implemented in letter and spirit by the ministry concerned.
Now, Minfal would give a detailed presentation to the cabinet as ministers, who were not the ECC members, also eager to be updated on the supply position. Sources said, the cabinet would be briefed on the damages to private and government properties after the assassination of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto on December 27.
The cabinet would allow the foreign ministry to sign international covenants on economic, civil, cultural, political, and social rights, said the sources. They said the cabinet would also give ex-post factor approval of Sikh Marriage Ordinance, 2008, which has already been promulgated by President Pervez Musharraf.
Comments
Comments are closed.