PM constitutes panel to deregulate sugar sector

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday constituted a high-level committee to deregulate the sugar sector. The committee will work out practicable proposals for reforms and privatization in the sugar sector, reports Online.

The energy minister will head the committee, while finance minister, minster for national food security and minister for economic affairs will be committee members. Sectary industries and production will be the committee convener.

According to the TORs, the committee will review the existing rules and regulations at the federal and provincial level relating to the production of sugar, import and export, determination of prices and subsidy and hoarding.

The committee will consult with respective stakeholders, including industrialists, farming community and regulatory authority, to make the privatization process transparent and coherent, and furnish its report with the prime minister within 30 days.

APP reports: Meanwhile, chairing a review meeting on planning for the agriculture development and agri-financing, Shehbaz Thursday directed the authorities concerned to present a policy framework for provision of easy loans to farmers for medium and small scale agricultural activities. “Priority should be given to providing modern agricultural facilities to farmers owning less than 12 acres of land,” he said.

Shehbaz directed that a comprehensive plan be prepared by the end of the current month for providing farmers with easy loans and introducing a system in the agri-financing sector aligned with the modern requirements.

Chairing a review meeting on the current fiscal year development projects, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed third-party validation to ensure transparency in the public welfare projects, especially those related to clean water, electricity communications and education. He emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards in completed and near-completion projects through independent validation.

Chairing a review meeting on development projects of the current fiscal year, the prime minister instructed that delayed projects must be completed as soon as possible. He said construction of high-quality educational centres like Danish Schools in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and all provinces was a top priority of the government.

Chairing a review meeting on clean water supply system in Islamabad and surrounding areas here, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Thursday formed a task force to provide clean water to the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, prevent contamination of the existing water reservoirs, supply of water to Islamabad from various dams, and establish an integrated water supply system from these dams.

The task force will be headed by Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and will include members from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Punjab Irrigation Department, and other relevant institutions.