The federal cabinet on Thursday (today) is set to withdraw a decision of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi-led cabinet regarding the dissolution of Engineering Development Board (EDB). To be presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the cabinet will approve the name of Rizwan Memon as chairman Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and appointment of CEO for Public Private Partnership Authority (PPP).
Giving the background of EDB dissolution case, sources said, the Prime Minister Office on June 3, 2017 had conveyed that Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) in its meeting held on May 29, 2017 being dissatisfied with the role and conduct of EDB had decided to disband it. Ministry of Industries Production (MoIP) was directed to move a summary proposing therein a modus operandi including the fate of the employees and if necessary, transfer of the Board''s functions to other agencies, for implementing the CCoE decision.
The Federal Cabinet on July 13, 2017 had ratified the decision of CCoE. Industries Ministry, however, on July 17, 2017 had moved a summary to the PM requesting to revisit the decision as it was taken on a forum where it was not represented and that genuine stakeholders opposed it, while revamping of EDB was also proposed.
The Prime Minister''s Office directed to place the matter before the Cabinet and it was done, but it was turned down by the Cabinet with directions to expeditiously implement the decision.
While accepting corruption charges against EDB, Ministry of Industries and Production has argued that existence of EDB, duly revamped and upgraded, is essential. It provides a single window for industrial facilitation and simultaneously serves as a regulatory arm of this ministry. The EDB is a valuable resource for engineering sector related information, standardisation and technology up-gradation as it has the capacity and capability to identify the technological gaps in small, medium and large-scale manufacturing industries in line with the international best practices.
The ministry further argues that the EDB has a significant role in tariff optimisation meant to protect the local industry as it is the lead agency for implementation of eight SROs relating to industrial facilitation. The EDB is also focal point for industrial coordination within the D-8 Group and it is the prime body for the implementation of the Automotive Development Policy (ADP) 2016-21.
The policy is aimed at expanding the auto sector through fresh investment and has spurred construction of 10 Greenfield vehicle manufacturing facilities, that are in process, while two closed down vehicle manufacturing facilities are being revived (Brownfield investment). Besides attracting a cumulative investment of Rs 746.22 million till the date, the policy aims at consumer welfare by curbing monopolistic trends; Korean, Chinese and French Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have invested in automotive manufacturing.
MoIP has reiterated that revival of EDB would facilitate strengthening the engineering sector and thus integrating it with the world market to make it the driving force for economic growth.
"The allegations of corruption will be addressed to improve transparency, efficiency and effectiveness," the sources quoted Ministry of Industries as assuring the Cabinet.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms & Austerity, Dr Ishrat Hussain has also recommended that "the decision to disband EDB should be reversed with the explicit instruction to transform EDB into a forward looking ETB [Engineering & Technology Board].
It is pertinent to mention here that on October 11, 2018 Prime Minister''s Advisor on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, had announced that EDB has been revived by the cabinet which was in fact incorrect.
The cabinet will also discuss the following agenda: (i) progress report on implementation status of Cabinet Decision taken by the present government; (ii) posting of chairman TCP; (iii) approval of the Cabinet for issuance of the charter licence class-II (domestic) to Liberty Air Limited; (iv) preventive detention'' of suspect Rasul Khan S/O M Jan, a Pakistani national under the Security of Pakistan Act, 1952; (v) preventive detention of suspect Waseem Akhtar Alias Mota S/o Akhtar Ali, a Pakistani national under the Security of Pakistan Act, 1952; (vi) preventive detention of suspect M Hafeez Alias Feeza S/o Sardar Ali, a Pakistan national under the Security of Pakistan Act, 1952; (vii) preventive detention of suspect M Mushtaq S/o Mukhtar Ahmed, a Pakistani national under the Security of Pakistan Act, 1952; (viii) preventive detention of suspect Sajjad Ali alias Mara S/o Abbas Ali, a Pakistani national under the Security of Pakistan Act, 1952; (ix) approval for signing of protocol to the agreement between government of Pakistan and government of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on transfer of prisoners; (x) MoU between Sri Lanka Coast Guard of Sri Lanka and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency of Pakistan on enhancement of Maritime cooperation and Exchange of Information; (xi) MoU for cooperation in the field of tourism, antiquities and wildlife between Pakistan and Sudan; (xi) approval of the Cabinet to sign MoU for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Talent Development Programme between Huawei Technologies Pakistan (Ltd) and Higher Education commission, Islamabad; (xii) approval of the Cabinet to sign MoU in the field of vocational Education and Technical Training for Skills Development between Hyedurank and Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan; (xiii) cabinet''s approval for signing of MoU on bilateral consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs of Pakistan and Niger;(xiv) ex-post facto approval for the acceptance of the Legion of Merit of Turkish Armed Forces medal to Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi NI(M), chief of Naval Staff by the government of Republic of Turkey; (xv) ex-post facto approval for the acceptance of "PLA Commemorative Medal" to Air Commodore Amir Shahzad (Pak/10413) by the government of People''s Republic of China; (xvi) approval for signing of MoU between State Bank of Pakistan and the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) on supervisory cooperation; (xvii) approval and authorisation for publishing directory of parliamentarians for the Tax Year 2017 and; (xviii) approval and authorisation for publishing Tax Directory for the Tax Year 2017.
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