— Asks for new energy policy
— Marriyum says subsidised rates of flour, sugar to continue
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has accorded approval to the import of three million metric tonnes of wheat.
Briefing the media persons about the decisions taken by the federal cabinet, which met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair on Tuesday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said the prime minister also directed to introduce an incentivised agricultural policy that would enable the country to curtail wheat import.
She said the cabinet also approved revocation of multiple foreign passports under the Passport Act, 1974. She said the cabinet decided that such passports should not only be revoked but also a strategy should be adopted to prevent this practice in future.
Last date for the cancellation of dual foreign passports is 31 December of this year. She said till the date all procedural and administrative arrangements will be finalised to take legal action against dual foreign passport holders.
The cabinet also decided to continue the fixed rates of flour and sugar under the Ramazan package. Under the package, the price of a 20-kg bag of flour was reduced from Rs950 to Rs800, similarly the price of sugar was reduced from Rs85 per kg to Rs70 per kg. In this regard, the prime minister directed to ensure its full implementation.
The information minister said that Prime Minister Sharif has completely banned the export of sugar. She said the ban is aimed at ensuring the smooth supply of sugar in the country at an affordable price. She said sufficient stock of sugar is available in the country to meet the demand till the completion of this season.
Marryium Aurangzeb said the cabinet was briefed on the prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. She said it was the first time a government made a visit to these two brotherly countries with a complete strategic partnership plan. She said under this plan, investments will be made in different programmes through joint ventures.
The minister said the federal cabinet approved the appointment of Fawad Asadullah Khan as director general of Intelligence Bureau (IB). The cabinet also accepted the resignation of Lieutenant General (retd) Muzammil Hussain from the post of chairman WAPDA.
Speaking on the occasion, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said the cabinet expressed its reservations over the recent decisions of President Dr Arif Alvi and Governor Punjab Omer Sarfraz Cheema. He said the cabinet approved the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the removal of Omer Sarfaraz Cheema from Governor Punjab’s office.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Power, Khurrum Dastagir Khan said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif directed to formulate a new energy policy. He said the government is working vigilantly to eradicate load-shedding from the country utilizing all available resources.
He said power plants are now, producing 22634 MW and Nuclear power plants are also generating electricity. He said there was a zero Load shedding during the tenure of PML-N led government while due to incompetency of previous government many factories had been closed.
