Construction of high-rises: Cabinet to take up proposal for discussion today

A meeting of the federal cabinet would take up proposal of construction of high-rises in Karachi, Lahore and Multan as well as receive presentation on situational analysis of ministries and attached departments by the Prime Minister Office.

A meeting of the federal cabinet has been convened on Tuesday (today) by Prime Minister Imran Khan with 16 agenda items, and Ministry of National Food, Research and Security may contest its case of proposed 5 percent sale tax exemption on cotton seed oil cake, which was not considered by the ECC. Although it is not on the agenda, yet sources on condition of anonymity stated as the ECC decision would be placed before the cabinet for ratification, the ministry would have an opportunity to give its viewpoint regarding the ECC decision.

The proposal of Ministry of National Food, Research and Security was opposed on the basis that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants removal of distortions in the sales tax law. An official on condition of anonymity said that the ministry will fight the case of 5 percent exemption on cotton oil seed cake at the level of the federal cabinet.

There is also possibility that NEPRA may also give its viewpoint with regard to recently approved NEPRA Ordinance during the cabinet meeting.

Other agenda items of the cabinet meeting included; (i) briefing by the Cabinet Division on implementation status of the cabinet decisions taken so far; (ii) Prime Minister Office would give presentation on situational analysis of ministries and attached departments; (iii) ratification of decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) on 30-12- 2019 and 09-01-2020 and ratification of decision taken by Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) dated 30-12-2019.

Other agenda items of the meeting are; the Aviation Division's proposal for signing of air services agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Defense Division's proposal for deputation of flag officer as director general Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMDA) and appointment of member production control MPC in Heavy Industries Taxila Board.

The meeting would also consider the Establishment Division's proposal for posting of member in-charge Wafaqi Mohtasib at Ombudsman's Secretariat, regional office, Karachi.

The Establishment Division would submit report to the Cabinet on Bill on bifurcation of 4 percent combined quota of FATA/Gilgit-Baltistan, and Aviation Division's proposal for construction of high-rise in Karachi, Lahore and Multan and approval of the cabinet (or relaxation in policy for not forfeiting the security deposit of Air Sial, Climate Change Division's item for Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act, 20,

Law and Justice Division's proposal for appointment of judge, naming court-VI, Lahore, and Ministry of National Health Service, Regulation and coordination agenda for reforms in the Ministry of Health and complaint against homeopathic colleges through Pakistan Citizen Portal. The meeting of the federal cabinet will now be held on today (Tuesday) at 1130 hours in the Prime Minister's House, Islamabad.