ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that the consultation process regarding the appointment of director general Inter-Services Intelligence has already been completed and final decision to this respect will soon be announced.
While addressing a news conference outside the Parliament House, on Thursday, after a meeting of the PTI parliamentary party, he quoted the premier as saying that the “ambiguity regarding the appointment has been cleared”.
The minister said the prime minister briefed the parliamentary party that the civilian and the military leadership is on the same page and enjoys ideal relationship in the history of Pakistan.
He said the credit of ideal civil-military relations also goes to Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who has always supported the democratic government. He said that the prime minister also took the parliamentary party into confidence over the situation in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan believes that Afghanistan badly needs humanitarian assistance at this critical juncture.
He said that Pakistan has made visa requirements easy for Afghan citizens; besides, enhancing trade with Afghanistan. He said that terrorist groups could make Afghanistan their sanctuary, if the world abandons Kabul.
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He said the prime minister urged the international community to extend maximum humanitarian assistance to ensure stability in Afghanistan. The minister said that the meeting also discussed the issue of inflation in the country.
He said it was told that rise in international pricing of various commodities is the main reason behind growing inflation in Pakistan. He said the government has framed a new economic policy to mitigate the negative impact of inflation.
He said under this policy, the facility of health card has been provided to the entire population of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and now it will be extended to the residents of Punjab, through which holder of the card can get medical insurance of 750,000 rupees.
The minister said that the international price for petrol, which was earlier at $40 per litre, has now crossed $80. The minister said the deserving people can procure essential items from the Utility Stores on subsidised rates through Ehsaas Cards, whereas, direct subsidy will be provided to farmers through the Kissan Card.
He said the Punjab Government is also planning to launch Mazdoor Card to help the poor. Fawad said the prime minister also directed the PTI members to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi(SAW) in a befitting manner.
No misunderstanding between Army, govt over ISI chief's appointment: Fawad
Foreign Minster Shah Mehmood Qureshi also said, while talking to the media in the corridor of Parliament after the parliamentary party meeting, that the members of the party were taken into confidence on the Afghanistan situation.
He said that the prime minister took the members into confidence about the measures and regional and international engagements to achieve peace and instability in neighbouring country Afghanistan.
He said that the issue of inflation and its factors at domestic and international levels was also discussed in the meeting.
He said that it was decided in the meeting that the Finance Ministry would brief the members about inflation. The minister said that the members also informed about the forthcoming legislations in the Parliament.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021