ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the cabinet members thatausterity measures be implemented in letter and spirit.
Giving a briefing on cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, SpecialAssistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr. FirdousAshiq Awan said Prime Minister Imran Khan explained to the cabinet of allthose initiatives that he personally took for austerity keeping in view thecurrent economic challenges faced by the country.
He said cabinet members should set an example for others by adopting simplelifestyle.
Firdous Ashiq Awan said the media did not accurately report the amountallocated for Prime Minister House in the new budget. She said the previousbudget allocated to Prime Minister House was 1.10 billion rupees.
The incumbent government spent 750 million rupees out of it and saved 32%amount.
The Special Assistant said in budget 2019-20 there is already a cut of 13%for the PM House expenses.
She said the incumbent government is even paying a sum of 280 millionrupees in terms of outstanding bills of electricity left by previousgovernment.
Criticizing the role of opposition in the National Assembly,
she said the undue criticism by opposition on budget is illogical.
She also criticized the besieging of NA Speaker at his chamber.
Glorification of crime will not be allowed and Chief Ministers have beendirected to discourage giving of protocols to criminals in their courthearings.
She said prerogative of issuing production order lies with the Speaker ofNational Assembly and he should see the merit of it.
Special Assistant said no production order was issued for Railways MinisterSheikh Rasheed Ahmad during the tenure of previous government, despite thefact that he had no criminal case against him.
Prime Minister informed the cabinet that he along with Foreign MinisterShah Mehmood Qureshi will attend the UN General Assembly session in NewYork in September as part of austerity drive of the government.
The cabinet was informed that 157 Rest Houses of various governmentdepartments in addition to PTDC motels and NHA rest houses will also beopened for public.
Cabinet was informed that 88 per cent of its previous decisions have beenimplemented while work on rest is ongoing.
It was decided that Ministry of Agriculture would devise a course of actionin cooperation with provincial authorities regarding the situation ofsugarcane crops in the country.
Minister for Food Security was directed to work on National AgriculturalPlan, presented in the budget, with provincial governments to disseminatethe information at the level of farmers.
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In order to stop mobile phone smuggling of 150 billion rupees, the cabinetdirected the concerned ministry to take steps to check this trend.
It was informed that Ministry of Finance has devised a mechanism underwhich rules will be amended regarding passenger baggage at airports, sothat people do not misuse the facility of bringing mobile phones in thecountry without paying taxes.
The cabinet was also updated on new visa regime in order to attract moretourists to the country.
Cabinet approved license renewal of Serene Air and Air Falcon.
MoU between a Chinese University and Pakistan Industrial TechnicalAssistance Centre was accorded approval by cabinet.
Issue of regularization of contract workers in various governmentdepartments also came under discussion of the cabinet.
It was informed that a database of these employees is being prepared tofurther work with individual departments on the issue.
The Prime Minister took the cabinet into confidence regarding upcomingvisit of Emir Qatar to Pakistan.
Cabinet was also informed on Amnesty and Asset Declaration Ordinance thatis going to expire on 30th of this month.
It was apprised that NADRA is setting up E-Facilitation Centers from 21stof this month at its various counters with the information of all thefinancial records and assets of individuals.
Any person can check his records in order to avail the asset declarationscheme.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant on Accountability, MirzaShahzad Akbar said the high-powered enquiry commission, probing theplundered wealth of nation, will complete its entire process within aperiod of six months.
He said the commission will also provide periodic reports to thegovernment at the end of every month.
He said the commission will estimate as to how the debt of twenty-fourthousand billion rupees increased during the last ten years.
The Special Assistant said the commission will also fix responsibilitiesand it will refer the cases to the concerned departments for further action.
He said all out assistance will be extended to these departments by thecommission.
