ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed serious reservations on the process for acquiring land of poor people in Islamabad to distribute plots among bureaucrats, journalists, and judges.
This was stated by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, while briefing media about the decisions taken in the meeting of the federal cabinet held in Islamabad on Tuesday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that the Prime Minister constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Planning Minister Asad Umar that will evolve a comprehensive policy to check exploitation of the poor people.
He said the policy will formulate a system so that lands of common people cannot be acquired to appease bureaucrats, journalists and judges.
The Minister said that the government is pursuing a policy to turn SOEs into profitable organizations.
He said as a result of prudent policies of the government, all State Owned Enterprises, except National Highway Authority, have become profitable. He said SOEs earned 31 billion rupees so far.
The Minister said that the cabinet also approved a security plan for New Zealand’s cricket team during upcoming tour to Pakistan. He said extra ordinary security will be provided to the visiting cricketers.
He said enforcement of Essential Services Act in Radio Pakistan was also approved. He said the government is also working on reviving the cinema industry for which import of foreign movies, except Indian films, will be allowed.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said port charges on exports have been reduced by 50 percent. He said voluntary retirement and golden handshake scheme for the employees of Pakistan Medical Council also got cabinet’s nod. It was approved to establish a joint security commission between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
The cabinet approved funds for the payment of outstanding expenditure of Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that the cabinet held detailed discussion on the electoral reforms to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in the country. He said it is the first government, which is itself calling for electoral reforms, but it is unfortunate that opposition has no interest in this regard.
He said opposition’s leading parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan People’s Party do not have any interest in making the electoral system transparent as they have never come to power without rigging.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, however, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government is committed to go ahead with the electoral reforms, including introduction of Electronic Voting Machines.