Federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the purchase of 6 submarines from China worth billions of dollars with the objective of meeting future security challenges. Presided over by the Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, the cabinet also approved Companies (amendment) Bill 2011, which will be introduced in the Houses of the Parliament.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, briefed the media about the decisions taken by the cabinet. The federal cabinet, she stated, expressed solidarity with the Japanese government and public at this difficult time and offered whatever service was requested from Pakistan.
She acknowledged that Japan had always extended every possible help and support to Pakistan at every difficult time besides routine economic assistance for social and education sectors. Pakistan is ready to dispatch mobile hospitals to extend medical facilities to the affectees, she added.
"We are there to help them. Two C-130 aircrafts with relief goods are ready and as they (Japanese) give the green signal, they will reach the affected areas," she added. Replying to another question on the exact worth of submarines to be acquired from China, she revealed that the cabinet had authorised the defence ministry to initiate negotiations with China.
According to official documents a protocol for joint development and co-production of conventional AIP fitted submarines by Pakistan Navy (PN) and China Shipbuilding and Offshore Corporation Limited (SCOC) will be signed. "When the feasibility is prepared for purchase of 6 submarines then I shall be able to let you know the cost," she added.
The federal cabinet also ratified Kerry Lugar Bill which envisages disbursement of $1.5 billion per annum for the next five years by the US. Awan stated that borrowing from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has declined by 79 per cent - to Rs 80 billion during the first six months of the current fiscal year as compared to Rs 375 billion in the corresponding period last fiscal year.
Secretary Finance, Dr Waqar Masood briefed the cabinet about steps being taken to bring inflation down on food and non food items. Inflation, he revealed, presently stands at 12.9 per cent against 15.6 per cent in December 2010. In reply to a question Firdous Ashiq Awan said that Prime Minister Gilani took the cabinet into confidence on his public announcement with respect to creating the Seraiki province as a party manifesto for the next elections.
Prime Minister directed all the ministers to become guests on television talks shows as 'Minister on line' and present their three year performance before the public including successes and failures, she revealed. Information Minister also mentioned the telephone call by President Asif Ali Zardari to Mian Nawaz Sharif in London and his directions to the UK High Commissioner to receive Mr Sharif at the London airport. She said that despite political differences, we have to keep national interests over political interests.
"We should avoid confrontation and we look forward to a better future for the country," she maintained. When asked if PPP will continue to disrespect Supreme Court decisions in future she said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) rendered sacrifices for the supremacy of institutions including judiciary, however, she was critical of Supreme Court decisions. "The Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken decisions that are against us," she said and added that the proceedings of the court cannot be discussed or criticised but once the court announces its verdict it can be commented on.
Answering another question on the strike call in Sindh given by the PPP in protest against the Supreme Court's decision with respect to Chairman NAB, Deedar Hussain Shah, she replied that reaction to the decisions of the court was the public right.
Provincial Assembly's reaction was appropriate as its members were the public representatives and the government had to respect the mandate of the public. When a journalist asked if the government was taking action against Interior Minister, Sindh, Zulfiqar Mirza for inciting provincial MPAs to protest against the Supreme Court decision, she said it was his legitimate right to comment on a decision which was a public document.
She also said that Ministry of Law and Justice has given a briefing to the top leadership and no further action would be taken until the detailed judgement was out. In reply to a question on the possibility of collision between institutions she stated that there was no chance of a collision between the institutions.
She revealed that Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, briefed the cabinet about his talks with top leadership of MQM. Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the government intends to take every political stakeholder on board, and insisted that the MQM has not given any indication that it would leave the Sindh cabinet as reported in the media. She, however, admitted that the MQM continues to have reservations on joining the federal government.
With regard to Punjab, she said that Prime Minister has stated in plain words that PPP would not become part of any adventurism. However, she justified the criticism heaped on the PML (Q) unification bloc. Talking about the Raymond Davis case, she said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted necessary documents to the court and the government would await the judgement of the court.
Replying to a question she clarified that President Asif Ali Zardari would address the Parliament on March 22, 2011 and that day the government would ensure that democratic traditions were not despoiled. She maintained that the PPP leadership neither intended to interfere in the affairs of other institutions nor it would allow anybody to do so.
She further stated ironically that the media and civil society should analyse the proposal floated by Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab. Other summaries which were considered by the cabinet and approved include: (i) approval for the start negotiation on MoU for promotion of trade between Pakistan and Chile; (ii) approval for signing of MoU on strengthening technical co-operation and road transport activities between Pakistan and China; (iii) approval for signing of National Electronics Complex of Pakistan (NECOP) project sub-contract phase-I between Pakistan and China; (iv) signing of project on co-operation in the field of youth between Pakistan and Turkey; (v) approval, in principle, to start negotiations on the agreement for establishment of joint commission on economic co-operation between Pakistan and Ukraine;(vi) signing of agreement between United States of America and Pakistan for the grant of assistance under Pakistan Enhanced Partnership Agreement (PEPA);(vii) agreement of co-operation in the field of arts & creative studies between National College of Arts, Lahore and University of Visual & Performing Arts, Sri Lanka; (vii) approval, in principle, to enter into negotiations on an agreement between Russia and Pakistan on readmission; (viii) safe city Islamabad project; and (ix) ex-post facto approval for signing of MoU between Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan for co-operation in the field of disaster management. The cabinet also endorsed delisting of Roosevelt Hotel New York from the privatisation list. The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP) had approved the proposal in its meeting on March 8, 2011.
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