ISLAMABAD – Federal Cabinet has decided to constitute a committee headed byDefence Minister Pervez Khattak to develop a proper system forstabilization of prices of essential commodities.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad onThursday.
Briefing the media persons about the decisions taken by the cabinet,Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary said a mobile application will also bedeveloped which will provide an opportunity to the consumers to check theprices of essential commodities in the country in order to discourageovercharging.
The Information Minister said that the statistics division gave apresentation to the cabinet on the trend in the prices of essentialcommodities. He pointed out that the inflation increased by five pointeight percent in the first six months of PML (N) government whilst it grewby only one point four percent in the first six months of PTI government.
The Information Minister said that prices of green pepper, Channa, garlic,onion, pulses, eggs, cabbage and petrol have witnessed a decline.
The federal cabinet also decided to carry out external audit of the gasbills of last two months.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary said the decision has been taken afterPrime Minister Imran Khan took notice of the inflated gas bills.
The federal cabinet has also decided to revise the slab system for gasprices. He pointed out that we are importing an expensive gas and providingit to the consumers on subsidized rates. He said we raised the gas priceskeeping in view that it does not affect the seventy percent population ofthe country.
Fawad Chaudhary said the Ministry of Law will prepare a short list ofdepartments where holders of dual nationalities will not be appointed. Hehowever stressed that the overseas Pakistanis are an asset and contributingto the economy by sending remittances worth billions of dollars. He saidthe government will encourage the overseas Pakistanis to come to Pakistanand serve the country and its masses.
The Information Minister said a committee headed by Punjab GovernorChaudhary Muhammad Sarwar has been constituted to oversee the developmentof infrastructure related to Kartarpur corridor. He said the Sikhcommunity across the world are expressing great interest to makeinvestments in Kartarpur corridor related projects such as construction ofhotels and other facilities. He said we want to streamline the wholeprocess and the Governor Punjab will look into it.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also gave directions to get vacated thegovernment residences and hostels vacated from the occupants which are notentitled to it. He regretted that PPP leader Mian Raza Rabbani and PML (N)leader Mushahid Ullah Khan are illegally occupying the Ministers enclave.
Read Top Stories
Fawad Chaudhary said the cabinet also expressed concerns over the conductof Public Accounts Committee Chairman Shahbaz Sharif. The cabinet notedwith concerns that the PAC chairman is trying to save certain electedrepresentatives involved in billions of rupees corruption from NABinvestigations. He said the PAC chairman should resign from his seat onmoral grounds.
The Prime Minister also sought report from the Capital DevelopmentAuthority as to what steps has been taken to make buildings in the federalcapital such as hospitals, schools and commercial buildings accessible tothe handicapped persons.
The cabinet was informed that the ministry of human rights is bringing alaw for protection of rights of senior citizens. He said we plan to bringa full-fledged program to extend all possible facilities to the seniorcitizens.
Referring to the recently launched Sehat card scheme, Fawad Chaudhary saidthat in the next phase these cards will also be given to the artists andthe journalists. He said the salaried class will also be included in thescheme.
Fawad Chaudhary said the government has prepared a poverty alleviationprogram under which all institutions such as Baitul Mul Maal will bebrought under one umbrella. He said a comprehensive data is also beingprepared under the poverty alleviation program to reach out to thedeserving families.
Fawad Chaudhary said the Prime Minister has directed to speed up theprocess of development in the tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Thecabinet recognized that the chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will overseethe whole development process.
Fawad Chaudhary said that the world capitals including the Europeancountries are changing their travel advisories towards Pakistan. Heexpressed the confidence that this will help promote tourism in thecountry.
Responding to a question, the Information Minister said NAB should workeffectively and transparently and we want to make it more powerful andstrengthen it.
Fawad Chaudhary said the issue of Aleem Khan was not discussed duringtoday’s Cabinet meeting. He rejected any deal with the PML-N. He said allthe three important institutions including judiciary, Army and Governmentare working independently with a remarkable relationship, which will alsocontinue in future.
