ISLAMABAD: While reviewing the recent global and regional developments to Pakistan’s interest, the National Security Committee (NSC) of the federal cabinet on Tuesday decided to maintain momentum of furthering ties with Afghanistan in the wake of recent talks with the neighbouring country last week in Islamabad.
Pakistan will keep watching contradictory statements emanating from India conveying confusion in New Delhi’s thinking towards Pakistan. The NSC had its significant meeting here at the Prime Minister’s House, and probably the last during the incumbent government, during which it reviewed in detail the recent global and regional developments and their implications for Pakistan.
Well-placed sources told The News after the meeting that standoff between Iran and the United States, summit between North Korea and the US and Middle East situation, especially vast destruction in Syria, are topics of interest to Pakistan. The NSC discussed important developments including the aforementioned, the sources said. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired the meeting. Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, who visited Beijing to attend the top officials meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Afghanistan two days ago, briefed the committee about her interactions with the high ups of the SCO in the Chinese capital. India was also represented in the meeting, the sources said.
The NSC observed that while the geopolitical situation was rapidly evolving, Pakistan would continue to make diplomatic and political efforts for peace and stability. For this purpose, the committee emphasised the need for a much more proactive diplomacy.
The 24th meeting of the NSC was attended by the Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs Khurram Dastgir Khan, Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Dr Miftah Ismail, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Director General ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, National Security Adviser Lt Gen (R) Nasser Khan Janjua, DGMO Major General Shamshad Sahir Mirza and senior civil and military officials.
The NSC condemned the reign of terror unleashed by Indian occupation forces on innocent Kashmiris and resolved that Pakistan would continue to play its role in realising the right of the people of Kashmir to self-determination. The Committee also condemned the brutal repression of the Palestinians by the Israeli state and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the people of Palestine in their just cause.
The committee expressed satisfaction over the transformational reforms introduced by the government with regard to Fata and Gilgit-Baltistan, and observed that the mainstreaming of Fata and its merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the grant of the same rights under the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 to the people of GB as are available to the people in the rest of the country have gone a long way in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of these regions with far-reaching outcomes for national life.
Secretary Ministry of Interior Arshad Mirza briefed the committee on the basic features of the new visa policy aimed at making Pakistan a tourist and business friendly country. While appreciating the efforts of the Ministry of Interior, the committee observed that it must also be ensured that all supportive systems, databases and verification networks are in place and fully operational, in view of which it was agreed that the ‘visa on arrival’ facility should be initiated as a pilot project in the first instance.
The prime minister in his last 72 hours in office spend hectic day on Tuesday as he visited NHA project in Havelian and later chaired three meetings including the NSC, federal cabinet and Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). The federal cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister House ratified the decisions taken by the ECC of the cabinet in its meetings held on May 17 and 24. Decisions of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE) taken during its meetings held on 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 14 May were ratified. The meeting also ratified the decisions of the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) in its meetings held on 23 and 24 May.
The cabinet approved agreement between the Ministry of Commerce and the Department of Trade and Industry, Government of the Republic of Philippines on rice trade. The meeting approved the name of Mujeeb Ahmed Khan for appointment as the Chairman Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan. Re-Constitution of IPO Policy Board was approved. The Federal Cabinet also approved appointment of Raja Qamaruz Zaman, D&SJ, as Judge, Banking Court-II Multan, appointment of Muhammad Tanveer Akbar, D&SJ, as Judge, Banking Court-I Lahore, appointment of Muzzamil Shah Khattak, D&SJ, as Judge, Banking Court-II, Peshawar, appointment of Aamer Nazir Bhatti, D&SJ, as Judge, Banking Court, Abbottabad, appointment of Arshad Hussain Bhutta as Judge Special Court (Customs, Taxation and Anti-Smuggling) Rawalpindi, appointment of Judicial Member (BS-21) Customs Appellate Tribunal, Bench-II and Bench-III, Karachi, and appointment of four members on the Board of Governors of Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan. The meeting approved expansion and appointments to the Board of Governors of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF). The federal cabinet approved issuance of Charter License, Class-II (Domestic) to K-2 Airways (Pvt) Ltd. Following policies were also approved during the meeting; National Internal Security Policy 2018-2023, National Transport Policy of Pakistan, 2018, National Films Policy and National Culture Policy.
Discussing the issue of Cane Purchase Receipt (CPR), the meeting emphasised the need for streamlining the payment mechanism to the farmers and suggested that the provincial governments may ensure that instead of being issued CPRs or blank paper receipts, bank cheques should be issued to the farmers by the sugar mills. The meeting approved a proposal for transfer of the subjects of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Youth Activities and Movements and Scholarship Schemes from Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination to the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. Appointment of MD Nespak and the Board of Directors of National Security Printing Corporation of Pakistan (NSPC) was approved by the Cabinet. Appointment of DG Civil Aviation Authority, on acting charge basis, was also approved. The Cabinet approved reconstitution of the 8th Wage Board for Newspapers Employees by appointing two additional members on the Board. A proposal for reconstitution of the Board for Board of Investment was also approved. Amendment in the rules of Acceding States (Abolition of Privy Purses and Privileges) Order, 1972 (President’s Order No. 15 of 1972)- Enhancement of Maintenance Allowance was approved. The federal cabinet also approved Cancer Control Programme formulated by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination.