PM directs to ensure availability of essential items on stable prices

• Prime minister has convened a meeting of CMs and chief secretaries to activate the price control committees at grass roots level.
• Federal cabinet gave approval to new Master Plan of Islamabad on immediate basis.
• The cabinet also accorded approval to restructuring of Capital Development Authority.

(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the ministries concerned to take measures to make the prices of essential items stable as well as ensuring their availability in markets for the benefit of common man, Radio Pakistan reported.

Briefing media on cabinet decisions in Islamabad on Monday, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said Prime Minister directed that strict action will be taken against profiteers and hoarders as it is main responsibility of the government to ensure provision of goods to the people.

In this regard, the Prime Minister has convened a meeting of provincial chief ministers and chief secretaries on Friday next in which measures would be discussed to activate the price control committees at grass roots level.

Prime Minister directed that a mechanism should be developed in coordination with provincial Auqaf Departments to take steps for land retrieval and its proper use for public service purposes. A data bank on these lands should also be prepared.

The cabinet endorsed the decisions of previous meeting of Economic Coordination Committee.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the cabinet was given various proposals regarding the establishment of Real Estate Regulatory Authority.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the federal cabinet gave approval to the new Master Plan of Islamabad on immediate basis. For this purpose, professional architects and consultants of international repute will be hired to undertake the process.

She said special consideration will be made for environmental challenges while drafting the new Master Plan for the federal capital.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the meeting decided to take up Sector G-6 on pilot basis to introduce reforms and develop it into a modern housing area. The meeting decided that structural plan of high rise buildings and other infrastructure would also be revised and overlapping of work would be reduced.

She said existing master plan of Islamabad was made in 1960s and it has not been revised so far. As a result, a mushroom growth and unplanned development was witnessed in different areas of the federal capital, putting a strain on essential services. This unplanned growth also disturbed the beauty of Islamabad.

The cabinet also accorded approval to restructuring of Capital Development Authority. The Special Assistant said after restructuring, CDA will be transformed into a modern and vibrant development authority to ensure the delivery of services to the residents as well as improving the housing sector.

The cabinet also approved a policy regarding Lungar service of Ehsaas Programme. It was decided that further such facilities will be set up on public private partnership basis.