The federal cabinet Tuesday gave the go-ahead to appoint Deputy Chairman National Account-ability Bureau (NAB) Hussain Asghar as chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Mirza Shehzad Akbar confirmed.
Asghar will be mandated to include members of his choice in the high-powered commission constituted by Prime Minister Imran Khan to investigate the massive rise in foreign debts in 10 years.
Akbar said that the notification for Asghar's appointment will be released by today (Wednesday). "No mega project or dam was built from foreign loans. The commission will investigate whether or not the loans were utilised in accordance with the requirements and needs," he added.
He said that the commission which includes officials of Intelligence Bureau (IB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) will present its report within six months and it will work under an act of the Parliament.
Asghar has, earlier, served as a director of Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a session of the federal cabinet on Tuesday to discuss the establishment of an inquiry commission, budget session, recent wave of arrests and his visit to Bishkek to attend the Council of Heads of State (CHS) of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
According to the 15-point agenda for the federal cabinet meeting, the cabinet was briefed about the Ehsaas Programme and the Visa NOC Liberalisation Policy.
While briefing the media, Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that Prime Minister Imran Khan started the austerity measures from himself and cut down the budget of the PM House by up to 32 per cent. Previously, even budget was allocated through PSDP to the PM House, she added.
She said that an amount of Rs 1.10 billion was allocated for PM House in 2018-19 budget out of which Rs 750 million was spent which means 32 per cent amount was saved.
Awan said the media did not accurately report the amount allocated for Prime Minister House in the next budget. She said that a section of media carried the news about increase in PM House budget in coming budget which was not correct and a contradiction was issued.
She said that an amount of Rs 290 million earmarked for National Disaster Management Authority was linked with the PM House which was incorrect and misleading. She said that for next fiscal year 13 per cent less allocation has been done for the PM House expenses, which shows that the PM is leading the austerity drive from the front. She also said that no family member of the Prime Minister is using the funds of the Prime Minster House.
She lamented that in the past entire Sharif family was involved in wastage of the funds allocated for PM House. She said that in 2014-15, Rs 860 million was allocated for PM House, in 2015-16 Rs 1 billion, in 2016-17 Rs 1.40 billion and in 2017-18 Rs 1.13 billion. Moreover the utility bills of the PM House were paid by various other departments and maintenance of the PM House was done by Pak PWD. She also revealed that the present government had to pay leftover utility bills of the previous government.
She said the PM informed the cabinet, that he along with the foreign minister would go to New York, USA, to attend United Nations General Assembly session and instead of staying in a luxury hotel, they would stay in the house of Pakistan Ambassador to save precious foreign exchange. She said in the past entire Sharif family used to accompany the former Prime Minister during his official foreign trips.
She said the cabinet was informed that 157 rest houses of various government departments in addition to PTDC motels and NHA rest houses will also be opened for public. She said that detailed briefing would be given on commercialisation of PTDC, NHA and other departments.
Dr Firdous said the cabinet directed that glorification of crime should not be allowed and chief ministers have been asked to discourage the giving of protocols to criminals in their court hearings as there was difference between political prisoners and criminals.
She said that the opposition teaches the government lessons of morality, but the Speaker Sindh Assembly who had been arrested in a corruption case has not tendered resignation.
She informed the media that the cabinet formed the committee for formulation of a comprehensive sugar policy so that in future no subsidy should be given to sugar export. She said that soon farmers of sugarcane would be provided facilities so that they can produce Gur near their farms.
She said that for the first time agriculture has been included in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and a monitoring cell has been established in the PM Office to remove hurdles in implementation of these projects.
She said that on the issue of regularisation of contract employees, the Prime Minister asked the ministries to prepare a databank so that the decision about their regulations could be made after consolations.
The Prime Minister took the cabinet into confidence regarding upcoming visit of Emir Qatar to Pakistan, she added.
Dr Firdous said that the cabinet was also informed on Amnesty and Asset Declaration Ordinance that is going to expire on 30th of this month. It was apprised that NADRA is setting up E-Facilitation Centres from 21st of this month at its various counters with the information of all the financial records and assets of individuals and any person can check his records in order to avail the asset declaration scheme.
The cabinet was also be briefed about the progress of the asset scheme and Pak-Iran Maritime Search and Rescue Agreement.
The cabinet approved the signing of agreements between the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and the University of New Mexico, and Pakistan Industrial Technical Assistance Centre and the Chinese University Jiangsu.
The cabinet session also approved delayed contracts with various countries along with the implementation of decisions of cabinet meetings.
Separately, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan asked the opposition parties to show political maturity in the Parliament and refrain from undue criticism on PM Imran Khan's government.
In a statement on Twitter on Tuesday, she said the PTI government has allocated over Rs 800 billion for Sindh under National Finance Commission award; whereas in the outgoing fiscal year, the amount was over Rs 600 billion. Awan said special importance has been given to the tribal districts merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan province in the budget. She said those who are trying to create hindrances in adoption of the budget are not serious in development of the country.
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