The federal cabinet on Thursday reviewed economic and social reform agenda of the government and noted that increase in revenue collection and broadening of the tax base are important for implementation of social sector''s reforms.
Prime Minister Imran Khan while chairing the meeting of the cabinet expressed satisfaction over the steady progress being made in critical areas such as legal reforms, introduction of a new local government system to empower people at grassroots level, promotion of Green Growth, implementation of selected water initiatives, FATA reforms, Balochistan reconciliation, poverty alleviation, Sarmaya-i-Pakistan and National Agriculture Emergency Programme etc. Progress on police reforms, southern Punjab and Karachi transformation was also discussed. On the economic front, progress on revival of manufacturing and SME sector, financial inclusion, Prime Minister''s housing project, tourism, tax reforms, ease of doing business and energy sector were also discussed in detail. Reforms in social sector, i.e., education, health and waste-management system, etc, were also reviewed.
During the meeting, Adviser on Climate Change briefed the cabinet about the progress made so far in promoting Green Growth Programme including the progress over plantation of 150 million saplings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab during the current spring season. The cabinet was also briefed about Karachi Green Metro project and Recharge Pakistan Programme.
Prime Minister Imran Khan underscored the need for highlighting the importance of Green Growth Programme so as to ensure involvement of all sections of society towards combating environmental challenges faced by the country. The Prime Minister directed that local government bills in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab be tabled at the earliest.
The cabinet approved the renewal of Regular Public Transport (RPT) Licence of M/s Airblue Limited with effect from 20th November 2018 to 19th November 2019.
The meeting ratified the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet in its meeting held on February 26, 2019. The cabinet approved appointment of Muhammad Arshad Khan as Member Production Coordination (MPC) in Heavy Industries Taxila. Appointment of Brig Nadeem Iqbal as Member Production Control (MPC) in Heavy Industries Taxila Board was approved. Brig Muhammad Shafi''s appointment as Member Ministerial Coordination in POF Board and HIT Board was also approved.
The cabinet also accorded ex post facto approval to regularisation of excess expenditure for financial year 2017-18 and supplementary grants for FY 2018-19. The Finance Division also submitted before the cabinet annual report and audited financial statement of Audit Oversight Board (AOB) for the year 2018. The cabinet approved appointment of directors on the board of directors of National Bank of Pakistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The cabinet approved signing of an MoU on bilateral political consultation between ministries of foreign affairs of Pakistan and Lithuania. The cabinet approved signing/ratification of the OIC Charter Agreements and Treaties concluded during the 46th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from March 01-02, 2019. The cabinet approved signing of visa abolition agreement between Pakistan and Cuba for diplomatic, official and service passport holders.
The cabinet was also briefed on the progress about identification of state-owned assets by all ministries/divisions. The cabinet approved the proposal regarding reconstitution of Board of Directors of Pakistan Revenue Automation (Private) Limited.
Re-appointment of Dr Muhammad Iqbal and Dr Syed Muhammad Arif as Members Governing Council of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics under Section-7 of the General Statistics (Re-Organization) Act, 2011 was approved by the federal cabinet. The cabinet ratified the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Energy in its meeting held on February 27, 2019.
The cabinet also approved heads of the terms of the host government agreement between Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) of Pakistan and TAPI Pipeline Company Limited on implementing TAPI Gas Pipeline project. Briefing media on cabinet decisions, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the direction by Prime Minister indicates that the PTI government has no personal enmity with any person.
He said that the prime Minister has directed the Punjab government to provide best available medical care facilities to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The information minister further said corruption cases against Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari were filed during the tenures of previous governments and incumbent government has nothing to do with these.
He said even the appointments in NAB were made during the previous government. However, the government will not pervert the course of justice or obstruct the work of NAB to benefit any influential personality.
The minister said that the government has decided to devise a strategy to work against the proscribed organisations and assured that the opposition will be taken into confidence too.
Chaudhry said that a consensus had been seen in the country in recent days with regards to India, adding that the government wants this consensus to stay. "It''s a matter of national interest and the government wants to move forward with the opposition," he added.
Chaudhry said matters regarding proscribed organisations had been decided in 2014 when the National Action Plan (NAP) was made and all political parties had signed on.
He noted that one of the fundamental points of the plan was to take steps to ensure that Pakistan''s soil is not used against any other country.
Chaudhry clarified that the militant organisations facing the crackdown were already banned, but some additional steps had to be taken, such as those needed to comply with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) demands, or else the country would face international sanctions. He said as a result of a blacklisting by the FATF, the country would face "rising gas and electricity bills." "Keeping that in mind, the government has to keep the economy as well as the country''s well being as supreme," he said.
Chaudhry while referring to the issue of renewing the licence of Airblue, which came under consideration in Thursday''s meeting, said it was approved without any hesitation. This shows that the government does not believe in personal victimisation.
He said Ministry of Law is working on various bills relating to human rights and these will be tabled soon in the Parliament. He said the cabinet approved the decisions of ECC taken in its meeting. He said Asim Saeed has been appointed Managing Director of Pakistan Software Export Board. The minister said Prime Minister Khan emphasised to devise policies to save the poor segments of society from inflation. In this regard, a poverty alleviation programme is being finalised that will be announced soon.