ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet has accorded approval to the import of three million metric tons wheat.
Briefing media about the decisions taken by the Federal Cabinet which met in Islamabad on Tuesday with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in the chair, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Prime Minister also directed to introduce an incentivized agricultural policy that would enable the country to curtail wheat import.
Maryam Aurangzeb said the Cabinet also approved revocation of multiple foreign passports under 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 it in future.
Last date for the cancellation of dual foreign passport is 31 December of this year. She said till the date all procedural and administrative arrangements will be finalized to take legal action against dual foreign passport holders.
The cabinet also decided to continue the fixed rates of flour and sugar under the Ramadan package. Under that package, a 20 kg bag of flour was reduced from 950 rupees to 800 rupees, similarly sugar was reduced from 85 rupees per kg to 70 rupees per kg.
In this regard, the Prime Minister directed to ensure its full implementation.
The Minister said Prime Minister Shahbaz 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 affordable price. She said sufficient stock of sugar is available in the country to meet the demand till the completion of this season.
Maryam Aurangzeb said the cabinet was briefed on Prime Minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. She said it was informed that first time a government made visit to these two brotherly countries with a complete strategic partnership plan. She said under this plan, through joint ventures, investments will be made in different programs.
The Minister said the Federal Cabinet approved the appointment of Fawad Asadullah Khan as DG IB. The Cabinet also accepted the resignation of Lieutenant General Retired Muzammil Hussain from the post of Chairman WAPDA.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Law and Justice Chauhdry 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 Shahbaz Sharif for the removal of Omer Sarfaraz Cheema from Governor Punjab’s office.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Power, Engineer 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 22,634 megawatt and Nuclear power plants are also generating electricity. Khurram Dastagir said that the load shedding from 1st to 10th May remained zero in whole country.
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.
Meanwhile Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has termed PTI Chief Imran Khan’s statement as unconstitutional and bullying.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, she said what a hypocrisy it is that on the one hand, Imran Khan talks of respecting the constitution while on the other hand, he violates it and encourages hooliganism. She questions as to whom he is deceiving through his duplicity.
The Minister said that Imran Khan staged a shameful act in the National Assembly which was repeated in Punjab. She said the violation of constitution committed in the National Assembly was repeated in Punjab.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said it is Imran Khan and his puppets’ attitude due to which courts were opened at midnight.