ISLAMABAD – Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information andBroadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Tuesday said the federal cabinet hadgiven the go-ahead for the construction of Rs 510 billion Dasu Dam afterthe approval of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council(ECNEC) and work on it would start from next month.Addressing a press conference here to share details of the decisions takenduring the Federal Cabinet meeting, she said the construction of Dasu Damwas scheduled to be started in 2014 with projected completion in 2019. Butunfortunately, the project to be funded by the World Bank could not bestarted due to different hurdles.She said the Cabinet discussed the laws related to investment andpeople-friendly policies.It approved the reorganization of the boards of Sui Northern Gas PipelinesLimited (SNGPL), Sui Southern Gas Company Limited and Government HoldingsPrivate Limited.She said Prime Minister Imran Khan, who chaired the meeting, reiterated hisresolve that the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) land would be used forestablishing educational institutions and hospitals. The appointment ofEPTB Board was also approved, she added.Dr Firdous said the Cabinet was given a detailed presentation on the EhsaasProgramme, which was taking care of the needs of 95 percent of the poorfamilies.It was decided to grant 50,000 scholarships to the students of needyfamilies in next four years to improve educational benchmarks under theEhsaas Graduate Programme. About 120 universities would benefit from theprogramme, which could be availed by the families which were earning lessthan Rs 45,000 per month. Two percent quota would be for the disabled andminorities. The prime minister would inaugurate the programme in the firstweek of November.The prime minister wanted to provide relief to the common man, the specialassistant said.The Cabinet also approved agreements with Russia.It was decided to take measures against the spread of fake news to avoidspeculation, exaggeration and chaos. The Information Ministry would issuean e-letter every week to counter the fake news and present it before theCabinet, besides sharing it for public information.The Cabinet decided to grant permission for high rise buildings in bigcities, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan in line with theroadmap and identification of areas by the Civil Aviation Authority withoutcompromising the security of air traffic.Dr Firdous said investors wanted to make investments in the constructionsector, but according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules, highrise buildings could not be built close to airports.The CAA briefed the Cabinet about its laws, rules and the bestinternational practices adopted at airports.The Cabinet decided to continue the fund for welfare of artists afterhanding it over to a ministry. The funds now scattered in the Ministry ofInformation and the Cabinet Division would be for the artists who had giventheir best years to the arts.It also reviewed and gave approval of licensing policy for internationalairlines.The Cabinet also given assent to fill the posts in the National Savings andthe Veterinary Medical Council under the Pakistan Medical and DentalCouncil.Responding to questions, Dr Firdous said the Islamabad High Court hadapproved bail of Nawaz Sharif for two months on humanitarian and medicalgrounds in the Al-Azizia case.The special assistant said the government had given the best healthcarefacilities to Nawaz Sharif.She expressed the hope that Nawaz Sharif would focus on his medicaltreatment, adding no application had been received from him for his visitabroad for medical treatment.The government did not know his intentions and would respond when the courtwould seek its opinion, she added.”We want to see a healthy Nawaz Sharif as our political opponent. Nobody’shealth should be given a political colour.We are democratic people and willcompete in the political field.”The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and courts were independent andfree, she remarked and added that the court had the power to grant bail toNawaz Sharif and it took the decision after listening to the viewpoint ofNAB and the medical board of doctors.Dr Firdous said NAB and not the government was the plaintiff in the case ofNawaz Sharif. The government accepted the decision of the high court.To a question, she said the timing of the march of Maulana Fazlur Rehmanwas inappropriate, who was acting like a stubborn child demandingresignation of the prime minister.She said the matter of Ansarul Islam of Jamiat Ulema Islam was in court. Ifanybody would take up arms then the state would not remain a silentspectator and protect the life and property of citizens. The government wasclosely monitoring the rallies of JUI, she explained.She said when the PTI staged the long march, its leaders and workers werearrested but now Imran Khan was acting in a democratic manner.She said the people would expose those who were coming to Islamabad as theywere creating chaos in the guise of democracy.Dr Firdous said Maulana Fazlur Rehman was calling the Parliament fake inwhich his son was also a member, adding the prime minister was elected withthe vote of the people and Parliament.The people would disassociate themselves from the the march and would notlisten to Maulana Fazlur Rehman whose party had 12 members in theParliament, she added.To another question, she said Asif Ali Zardari would get medical treatmentaccording to the recommendations of a medical board.She said politicians felt alright when they were doing politics and in jailthey got sick.Courts had to decide about the matters related to health of politicians,she observed.Dr Firdous said it was responsibility of the government to ensure jobsecurity of journalists.The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was followingits code of conduct, she asserted, adding the prime minister wanted thatinstitutions should strengthen and become autonomous.The cabinet members offered Fateha for the late sister of Foreign MinisterShah Mehmood Qureshi
PTI government approved agreement with Russia, New scholarships, Dasu Dam and New airlines licences
