Cabinet approves Rs5 billion Ministry-Akhuwat accord for low-income housing: Firdous

• The prime minister said the federal government with the assistance of provinces was making a comprehensive plan for end of adulteration in food.
• She said the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan approved solar power projects to meet electricity needs of army on build-operate-transfer basis.
• The cabinet was also given a detailed briefing on the alternative sources of energy.

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Tuesday said the federal cabinet had approved an agreement between the Ministry of Housing and Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance in an effort to build five million housing units for low-income people.

Flanked by Minister for Law Farogh Naseem here at a press conference to share the cabinet's decisions, she said under the accord, a fund of Rs. 5 billion would be utilized to give interest-free loans of Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 1 million to the poor people.

Priority would be given to those homeless people who were registered under the 'poverty score card survey', she added.

Dr Firdous said the cabinet also approved an internship programme under which the Ministry of Communications would give technical training and employment to some 35,000 students every year.

She said the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan approved solar power projects to meet electricity needs of army on build-operate-transfer basis.

The cabinet was told that a large share of the army resources was spent on supply of uninterrupted supply to houses, offices, parks and hospitals in garrisons and cantonments.

In order to bring down the expenditure, solar plants would be set up to reduce dependence on expensive power and replace it with cheap electricity.

The cabinet was also given a detailed briefing on the alternative sources of energy.

It was informed that a pilot project had been started to connect farmers and markets for sale of everyday items and to end the role of middlemen.

A mobile application had been prepared to provide information to the people about the rates of items of essential use, including fruits and vegetables.

In the first phase, the app was launched for different sectors of Islamabad and later on the project would be expanded to other big cities.

The prime minister said the federal government with the assistance of provinces was making a comprehensive plan for end of adulteration in food.

In order to bring transparency in governance, the cabinet also decided to provide all information about its decisions to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on its request.

The cabinet approved the appointment of honorary members for the Trust for Voluntary Organization.

The prime minister said the Supreme Court would be asked to review its decision about the condition of advertisement for appointment on honorary posts in policy boards.

The cabinet also approved the board of directors for Inter State Gas Company and appointment of Asjad Imtiaz Ali as member of Indus River System Authority.

It also gave go ahead for amendment in The Drugs (Licensing, Registering and Advertising Rules, 1976).

The cabinet gave its assent for an agreement between Pakistan and India for implementation of Kartarpur Corridor project.

The prime minister directed the officers of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others to provide all possible facilities to the Sikh yatrees (pilgrims), who would visit Kartarpur.

The provision of facilities would be continuously monitored so that the Sikh yatrees should not face any inconvenience.

The project would be inaugurated on November 9.

At the start of the meeting, different ministries presented their suggestions for welfare of the people.

The Establishment Division told the meeting that it was made mandatory for the Grade 17 and 18 officers serving on administrative posts in different districts and tehsils to initiate self sustaining projects of public welfare.

These projects would be considered while judging the performance of officers for career progression.