Cabinet accords approval to Anti-Terrorism Rules 2018

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has accorded approval to the rules provided for freezing and seizure of the assets of the persons involved in terror activities.

The details for the implementation of the rules would be choreographed in due course later. The Cabinet that had its meeting here Tuesday under Prime Minster Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the Prime Minister Office (PMO) has directed that the process of filling up vacant positions of the heads of organisations in various ministries be expedited.

The cabinet accorded approval, in principle, to Anti-Terrorism (Freezing and Seizure) Rules, 2018. The cabinet approved for signing of inter-governmental agreement between ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) Pakistan and Ministry of Oil and Gas, Sultanate of Oman for supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and POL products on government to government basis. The cabinet also gave approval for signing of inter government agreement and letter of intent on cooperation in the field of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) between Pakistan and Italy.

The Cabinet remained in session for more than two hours, offered Fateha for the departed souls of renowned lawyer, human rights activist and former President Supreme Court Bar Association Ms. Asma Jahangir and former federal minister and sitting senior minister of Sindh government late Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani who passed away in Karachi recently.

The cabinet has reiterated government’s commitment to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumersThe federal cabinet granted permission for allowing transit of 01x20 Feet container STC containing 08 packages of spare parts of Toyota vehicles of UNMA from Karachi to Kabul.

The cabinet accorded its approval to the notification of Wapda Hydro-Electric Tariff for the FY 2017-18 determined by Nepra and further directed that the process of tariff determination for AJK should be initiated.

The federal Cabinet ratified the decisions of cabinet committee on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) taken during its meeting held on 12-01-2018. It was further decided that Cabinet shall be briefed in detail on CPEC.

The federal cabinet expressed satisfaction over the surplus generation capacity in the power sector. It was reiterated that the government is committed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers. The federal cabinet has directed the authorities concerned to start operations from new Islamabad international airport.

In the meanwhile, Prime Minister Abbasi had meeting with Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan and his team including Ejaz Muneer, Chief Secretary Azad Kashmir and other senior functionaries at the PMO.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ch. Muhammad Barjees Tahir, Minister for Law Ch. Mahmood Bashir Virk, Secretary to Prime Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad, federal secretaries for Finance, Power divisions and Kashmir Affairs and other senior government officials.

A detailed presentation was given to the prime minister about the development projects and activities being undertaken in AJK for socio-economic uplift of the people and for promoting tourism in the area.

Discussing developmental programme, initiated under the vision of PML-N leadership, the AJK government appreciated enhancement of budget for AJK from Rs12 billion to Rs22 billion under the present federal government and initiation of various landmark projects including Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra Expressway and establishment of Mirpur Special Economic Zone under the CPEC project.

The meeting was informed that enhanced support from government of Pakistan has enabled AJK government to take up rehabilitation of all major roads for provision of better connectivity with Pakistan and inter district/tehsils level besides revival of productive sectors.

The prime minister reiterated federal government’s continued support for socio-economic uplift of the people of AJK, development of infrastructure and promotion of tourism in the area.