The
Federal Cabinet was informed on Wednesday that Rs 11 billion bail out
package was being released to the Pakistan Railways to overcome its
current problems.Addressing a post Cabinet meeting press conference
here,Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan
said that the Prime Minister hoped that after the bail out package the
Pakistan Railways would come on track soon.
The Information Minister said that
the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Railways that special trains
would continue to operate on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr. The Federal
Cabinet met held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf
Raza Gilani here.
She said that the Finance Secretary briefed the Cabinet on consumer price index and the trends of prices of essential commodities in the country and also gave a comparison of their prices with those in other countries of the region.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the provincial governments should gear up their enforcement mechanism to control prices of essential commodities and the Federal Government would extend every possible help in this regard, she said.
The Information Minister also said that the Prime Minister directed the Cabinet members to ensure availability of good quality essential food items at reasonable rates to the people during the holy Month of Ramadan. He expressed his satisfaction over the stability of prices of the essential commodities during Ramadan, she said.
The Prime Minister further directed the Minister for Industries to ensure adequate supply of essential food items to be distributed across the country through the Utility Stores Corporation, Dr Firdous said.
Minister for Information said that Minister for Industries informed the Cabinet about the measures taken by Utility Stores Corporation on provision of essential items to the people at cheaper rates. The Prime Minister, she added, also directed that Utility Stores network be expanded throughout Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
The Prime Minister emphasized that no complaint of shortage or deficiency of any item should come from the people. He declared that the ending loadshedding and energy shortage was number one priority of the government. He said that appropriate steps were being taken by the government to resolve the situation at the earliest.
The Prime Minister said that steps should be taken to stop smuggling of livestock and meat to other countries so that it should be made available to the common man at affordable prices.The Information Minister said that the Cabinet approved proposed amendments in the Airport Security Force Act 1975 regarding redesignation of its present rank and structure on the lines followed by other Civil Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies etc.
She said that as Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar could not attend the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister formed a Committee of the Cabinet comprising Minister of Defence and Minister of Railways to decide the matter of renaming of Peshawar International Airport.
The Cabinet discussed and approved the proposed Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between Pakistan and China. China had indicated to provide to Pakistan a grant of RMB 70 million for the projects to be agreed by the both sides.
The Minister said that the Cabinet also granted approval for the signing of Agreement on the Usage and Replacement of Driving Licences between Pakistan and Tunisia. The agreement will allow citizens of both the countries to use their international driving licences while visiting that country.
The Federal Cabinet accorded approval for Tax Exemptions for Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) Exchange Bond (EB). As per precedent, international investors of GoP (Government of Pakistan) sovereign bonds are exempted from taxation on interest derived from such bonds and are also exempted from any tax emerging from capital gains on the trading of the bonds.
The Cabinet also agreed to give permission to start negotiations, in principle, with Mexico for a short term Bilateral Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters. The aim is to strengthen the information exchange and closer cooperation between the two governments and their customs authorities in order to facilitate exports and to ensure safety and security of maritime trade.
Dr Firdous said that the Cabinet accorded its approval to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Pak UK cooperation for counter terrorism outreach and communication.
The Cabinet also reviewed implementation status of its decisions pertaining to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ports and Shipping and Privatization Division.
The Cabinet also confirmed the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Privatization in its meeting of Aug 5, she said.
She said that the Finance Secretary briefed the Cabinet on consumer price index and the trends of prices of essential commodities in the country and also gave a comparison of their prices with those in other countries of the region.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the provincial governments should gear up their enforcement mechanism to control prices of essential commodities and the Federal Government would extend every possible help in this regard, she said.
The Information Minister also said that the Prime Minister directed the Cabinet members to ensure availability of good quality essential food items at reasonable rates to the people during the holy Month of Ramadan. He expressed his satisfaction over the stability of prices of the essential commodities during Ramadan, she said.
The Prime Minister further directed the Minister for Industries to ensure adequate supply of essential food items to be distributed across the country through the Utility Stores Corporation, Dr Firdous said.
Minister for Information said that Minister for Industries informed the Cabinet about the measures taken by Utility Stores Corporation on provision of essential items to the people at cheaper rates. The Prime Minister, she added, also directed that Utility Stores network be expanded throughout Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
The Prime Minister emphasized that no complaint of shortage or deficiency of any item should come from the people. He declared that the ending loadshedding and energy shortage was number one priority of the government. He said that appropriate steps were being taken by the government to resolve the situation at the earliest.
The Prime Minister said that steps should be taken to stop smuggling of livestock and meat to other countries so that it should be made available to the common man at affordable prices.The Information Minister said that the Cabinet approved proposed amendments in the Airport Security Force Act 1975 regarding redesignation of its present rank and structure on the lines followed by other Civil Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies etc.
She said that as Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar could not attend the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister formed a Committee of the Cabinet comprising Minister of Defence and Minister of Railways to decide the matter of renaming of Peshawar International Airport.
The Cabinet discussed and approved the proposed Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between Pakistan and China. China had indicated to provide to Pakistan a grant of RMB 70 million for the projects to be agreed by the both sides.
The Minister said that the Cabinet also granted approval for the signing of Agreement on the Usage and Replacement of Driving Licences between Pakistan and Tunisia. The agreement will allow citizens of both the countries to use their international driving licences while visiting that country.
The Federal Cabinet accorded approval for Tax Exemptions for Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) Exchange Bond (EB). As per precedent, international investors of GoP (Government of Pakistan) sovereign bonds are exempted from taxation on interest derived from such bonds and are also exempted from any tax emerging from capital gains on the trading of the bonds.
The Cabinet also agreed to give permission to start negotiations, in principle, with Mexico for a short term Bilateral Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters. The aim is to strengthen the information exchange and closer cooperation between the two governments and their customs authorities in order to facilitate exports and to ensure safety and security of maritime trade.
Dr Firdous said that the Cabinet accorded its approval to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Pak UK cooperation for counter terrorism outreach and communication.
The Cabinet also reviewed implementation status of its decisions pertaining to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ports and Shipping and Privatization Division.
The Cabinet also confirmed the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Privatization in its meeting of Aug 5, she said.
He said that indiscriminate action should be taken against the unscrupulous elements responsible for vitiating the peaceful atmosphere of Karachi.
Mehboobullah Jan said that Karachi was the economic hub of country and the whole nation suffered due to violate situation in the city.
He suggested that immediate action and operation should be launched to maintain law and order situation in the port city.
He also suggested that special trial courts should be set up for speedy justice and exemplary punishment be given to the culprits involved in heinous crimes in Karachi.
Mehmood Bashir Virk said that the country was facing a host of problems, including poverty, unemployment, inflation, law and order and people were being kidnapped for ransom.
He said that no one was paying heed to address the issues causing distress among the masses.
He said plans were being conceived to divide the country into more parts adding that anti state elements were also hatching conspiracies against the motherland.
He stressed the need to uphold the supremacy of law of the land for strengthening the country.
PPP’s Jamshid Dasti said the politicians could bring normalcy in Karachi by joining hands.
He said the people speaking various languages like Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Balochi were living jointly in Karachi for the last many years.
He alleged the PML N was openly opposing creation of Saraiki province and said that hurdles should not be created in this regard. APP