Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Tuesday said that the government will not bypass the due process to implement the newly promulgated National Accountability Bureau (Amendment) Ordinance 2019, saying the legislation will be subject to debate.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the federal cabinet, Awan criticized the opposition's "hypocrisy" for wanting to amend the NAB laws for 11 years and now objecting to the PTI government's introduction of the new NAB law.
She said the opposition is happy from inside but publicly they are criticizing a government's move done in good faith. The attitude adopted by it over the law is not appropriate, she added.
The year 2020 will be the year of development, prosperity and relief for the Pakistanis, she claimed while saying that the federal government has finalized provision of Rs 6 billion subsidy to the people through Utility Stories Corporation (USC) outlets and health insurance facilities through Sehat Insaf Cards.
She said edible items like flour, sugar, ghee, and pulses will be provided at subsidized rates through Utility Stores of Pakistan across the country. She further said this program will be launched next week. She added the government is going to release financial assistance cards in the last week of January 2020 as PM Khan has decided to take responsibility of weaker segments of society.
The cabinet members appreciated the PM's initiatives for establishing shelter houses for the needy, she said. The Premier has also discussed the closure of sugar mills and he will chair a meeting of price review committee today (Wednesday) to monitor rates of cotton, sugarcane and sugar, she added.
Awan said the government has approved publication of 2008's financial assessment report of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and issuance of the financial assistance card is also being made in accordance with the survey report.
A briefing was given to the cabinet members over financial matters of the current year, she added. The authorities witnessed 40 percent reduction in trade balance, besides recording 4.7 percent increase in exports, whereas 73 percent improvement was seen in current account deficit as compared to the previous year.
"Tax collection rose up to 17 percent and exports soared to $10.3 billion," she said, adding foreign investment has reached $2,006 million.
She said that it has been decided to appoint Muhammad Hashim Raza as chief executive of Small and Medium Industries.
The cabinet has sent back National Electric and Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) amended Act to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) again, said Awan, adding that a bill regarding conversion of National College of Arts into an institute was also passed in the meeting. The decision to appoint Shahid Khan as managing director of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has also received approval by the cabinet.
"PM Khan directed to expedite progress on Ehsaas and Kifalat programs. The Premier has declared 2020 as the year of a stable economy, besides holding a detailed discussion for making improvements in the economic roadmap of the country. The cabinet also discussed the National Accountability Bureau (Amendment) Ordinance that has removed troubles of business community," she said.
She also detailed about expulsion of over 800,000 people from the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). The special assistant said that the unmerited people were expelled from the BISP as many government employees were getting benefits illegally from the poverty alleviation project. She vowed that the deserving people will get relief from the government under the Ehsaas program.
Regarding precarious human rights situation in Occupied Kashmir, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the cabinet passed a unanimous resolution condemning state oppression and brutalities on the people of Kashmir by the Indian forces for last five months.
It urged the international community to take notice of the gross human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir. The cabinet also condemned Modi government's tactics against minorities through discriminatory laws like Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens.
Awan said the cabinet commended Prime Minister Imran Khan's efforts for raising plight of the people of Occupied Kashmir and the state of human rights in the valley on international forums.
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