ISLAMABAD: Federal cabinet while endorsing Sindh government
decisions has accorded approval to conduct targeted operation in 9
areas of Karachi.
A meeting of the Federal Cabinet was held
here at Prime Minister’s Secretariat Wednesday . The meeting was
presided over by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
Cabinet
announced to observe “Youm-e-Dua” on Jumma tul Wida for Karachi.. The
Prime Minister took the Cabinet into confidence over Karachi situation
and the steps being taken to alleviate the situation.
The Prime
Minister said that government was aware of the Karachi situation and
stated that all political forces should support the Government on this
issue.
The Prime Minister said that we had no option except to
take action to eliminate gangsters and target killers in Karachi. He
said that action will be across the board as we are only concerned with
the well being of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said that nine
(09) areas have been identified where action will be taken against the
target killers. He said that a handful of people cannot be allowed to
take the country into hostage.
The Cabinet appealed Ulema and
religious scholars for offering special prayers for peace and stability
in Karachi and for the whole country.
The Prime Minister also
took the Cabinet into confidence on the steps being taken by the
Government to end load shedding in the country. He also mentioned the
formation of a Committee under the Chairmanship of Minister for Finance
which has been meeting regularly.
The Prime Minister directed
the Finance Minister to hammer out some out of box solution to end the
load shedding at the earliest so that people should heave a sigh of
relief. He hoped that Committee would come up with solid
recommendations after Eid-ul Fitr.
Information Minister Firdous
Ashiq Awan said handing over Karachi to army directly was not in the
ambit of federal government. Bringing army in the affairs of the city
is not need of hour.
She told media men cabinet discussed
12-point agenda and Karachi situation figured atop the agenda. Karachi
issue was not a new issue. Situation in Karachi had remained worst in
the past as well, she held.
She said Karachi was economic
jugular vein of the country and miscreants and anti state elements were
making efforts to fulfill their nefarious designs of cutting this vein
so that national economy could be destabilized.
She went on to
say that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has informed cabinet
about his reservations on handing over city of Quaid to army. Involving
army in every matter was not correct. Giving irresponsible statements
on Karachi issue should be avoided, she stressed.
She told that MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain statement about Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was presented out of context.
Minority has hijacked majority in Karachi while government will restore peace in city of Quaid at every cost, she vowed.
The
Cabinet also gave approval to the Financial Document for 425 Megawatt
power project at Checho Ki Malian (525 MW) and Nandi Pur, should be
completed in time as nation needs each Megawatt to off-set the effects
of load-shedding.
Secretary Finance apprised the Cabinet of the
latest tends/prices of the commodities of essential use. He also
informed the cabinet that further 200,000 tons of fertilizers are being
imported for Khareef crops. 150,000 tons of fertilizers have already
been imported. A subsidy of Rs. 5 billion have been given on
fertilizers.
The cabinet considered and directed the Ministry
of religious Affairs to revisit the draft bill for Regulating Hajj,
Umrah and Ziarat Business in Pakistan and also incorporate the points
in the bill raised by the Cabinet Members.
The cabinet
considered and gave its approval for the confirmation of the decisions
taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its meeting held
on 16th August, 2011. The cabinet decided to form a committee
consisting of Ministers of Petroleum, Financer and Industry to thrash
out matter with regard to OGRA.
The cabinet considered and
accorded approval to enter into formal negotiations on Air Services
Agreement between Pakistan and Latvia.
The cabinet considered and accorded approval to Pak-French Joint Declaration on Economic and Commercial Partnership.
The
cabinet considered and accorded approval for signing the agreement
between the Governments of Pakistan and Senegal on Cooperation in
combating the Illicit Trafficking of Narcotics Drugs, Psychotropic
substances and Precursor chemicals.
The cabinet considered and
accorded approval to start negotiations, signing and Ratification of
the Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters
between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The cabinet considered and gave
its approval regarding amendment and signing of protocol to the
agreement between Governments of Pakistan and Brunei Darussalam for the
Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of the Fiscal Evasion
with respect to Taxes on Income.
The cabinet considered and
accorded approval for initiation of the negotiations on MoU on
Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Governments of
Pakistan and Russian Federation.
The cabinet meeting reviewed
the implementation status of cabinet decisions pertaining to Overseas
Pakistani, Railways, Religious Affairs and Revenue Divisions.
The
Federal Cabinet expressed satisfaction over the issuance of a
notification by FBR amending second schedule of the income tax
ordinance 2001: “that the provisions of the concerned sections related
to withholding income tax, will not apply to the agriculture produce
purchased directly from the grower of such produce if the growers
provides a certificate to the withholding agent and that he is not
liable to any withholding income tax." Online
