ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday appointed Muhammad Javed Ghani as regular chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The summary for the approval of the regular appointment of Ghani to the post of the FBR chief was approved by the federal cabinet headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The regular position of the FBR chairman has remained vacant since the former chairperson, Nausheen Amjad, was transferred and posted as federal secretary during the first week of July.
Since then, Javed Ghani was given an additional charge of the chairperson of the FBR.
Speaking at a news conference after the cabinet meeting, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said that cabinet agenda was brief in which the Interior Ministry and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) gave a briefing regarding an anti-encroachment plan.
According to Faraz, Interior Ministry and CDA officials briefed the Cabinet on the time required to remove encroachments from the Margalla Road, Islamabad. The Cabinet was informed that the Ministry of Defense has formally applied to the CDA for approval of a building plan. The contract for a wedding hall in Sector E-9 has been cancelled.
The protective wall on Margalla Road will be moved within its approved limits within a period of six months. Wetland will be constructed in three months to clean the drain passing through the same sector.
The cabinet was also told that the CDA, the Pakistan Air Force and the Navy will collaborate together to construct an underpass to minimise the flow of traffic in these areas.
The cabinet was told that an anti-encroachment drive in the federal capital was continuing and all illegal structures would be removed from 30 days to maximum six months.
The minister said the meeting was also updated about the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the country.
He said the decision regarding corona vaccine would be taken soon.
The Cabinet authorised the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
He said the passengers coming from the UK were taken care of and the SOPs would be followed.
He said during the first wave of the pandemic, Pakistan was not self sufficient and due to which Pakistan had to import products from abroad but with the blessing of Almighty Allah, Pakistan had become self-sufficient in manufacturing corona-related equipments.
The minister said the cabinet also discussed disinformation network, recently unearthed by the European Union, against Pakistan to hit our economy, institutions, and to spread chaos in the country.
He said unfortunately, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was carrying forward Indian agenda of creating disinformation about Pakistan.
He said the government was seriously taking notice of all those matters.
He said whatever the opposition says, Indian channels carry their perspective on their channels, and they start propagating it against Pakistan.
He said since the PTI came to power, propaganda had started against the government that it had failed and would be toppled soon.
"Be it Maryam Nawaz, or Maulana Kifayatullah, the propaganda is intentionally or unintentionally carry forward in the form of an organised campaign to malign institutions, and create chaos in the country," he said and added that whatever Mufti Kifayatullah said is an utter shame and disappointment, since such stance facilitates India to unleash its propaganda against Pakistan.
The minister said "disintegration" has started among the opposition parties, which is evident from the fact that a group led by Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani has parted ways with the JUI-F.
Similarly, sane elements of the Pakistan People's Party have opposed the proposed move of tendering resignations from the parliament, he said and added "PDM was just taking its last breaths."
He said since the time Covid-19 started, Sindh played a "negative" role starting off with a total lockdown which caused damage to businesses, economy and people's lives and livelihood, adding that the province stopped the release of wheat, "which was a political stunt, so that the PTI government could not succeed."
According to Faraz, the Sndh government's strategy caused wheat shortages and increased prices.
"Prices were increased to Rs1,400-1,600 in Sindh, and in Punjab the prices were Rs960-980, and consequently, the wheat was being taken to the Sindh that led to supply disruption and wheat shortage,: he said.
"They are hiding behind Article 158 as if they have been hurt," he said, adding that with 18th Constitution Amendment provinces became were required to support the federation to take the country ahead together. But Sindh deliberately did these things to weaken the government," he said.
He said the cabinet had approved establishment of Special Technology Zone on 120 acres of land in Islamabad.
The minister said that the cabinet also approved deployment of Frontier Constabulary (FC) in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) for three years.
He said the FC would be deployed in the forest, wildlife and environment departments of the G-B to ensure protection of natural beauty.
Faraz said the cabinet granted approval to the release of 219.30 million rupees to the Ministry of Health to make recently-constructed Isolation Hospital and Infections Treatment Center in Islamabad functional.
Responding to a question, Faraz said Prime Minister Imran Khan had clearly said that offering an 'NRO' to the corrupt leaders would tantamount to treason.
He said the government was ready for hold talks with the opposition in the parliament but "there would be no compromise on our commitment on accountability." Giving answer to a question, Special Assistant Nadeem Babar said uninterrupted gas supply was being provided to the export sector as per decision of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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