Revised Fata-KP merger bill to be tabled soon

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved placement of draft constitutional amendment before Parliament for the merger of Fata with KP province. The cabinet has also given its nod to an earlier decision for retaining Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Council as advisory body to run functions of the federal government.

The people of GB will also get all rights as enjoyed by all Pakistanis after devolution of greater administrative and financial powers to the government of GB. The Cabinet had its meeting at the Prime Minister Office (PMO) on Tuesday under Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

It ratified the agreement between Pakistan and Bosnia & Herzegovina on cooperation in defence industry. The cabinet approved signing of MoU between the Board of Investment (BOI) and France. It approved signing of MoU between Educational Scientific Productive Complex “International of Kyrgyzstan” and Allama Iqbal Open University, in the field of distance education. The Cabinet approved appointment of Ashtar Abbas as district and sessions judge, Banking Court-IV, Lahore.

It approved repatriation of Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, judge of Banking Court-IV Karachi to High Court of Sindh. Ijlal Hyder Memon, district sessions judge of Tando Muhammad Khan, has been appointed in his place. The Cabinet approved extension in tenure of Obaid Ahmed Khan, district and sessions judge, as Special Court (Control of Narcotics Substance-II) Karachi for a further period of two years starting from 07-05-2018. Appointment of Justice (R) Ch Shahid Saeed as Chairman Copyright Board in IPO-Pakistan was approved. The meeting approved re-constitution of the Board of Directors of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and also granted ex-post facto approval for appointment of PNSC Chairman, Karachi. Maximum Retail Prices of Drugs were also approved during the meeting. A proposal for inclusion of various items in the Compulsory Certification Mark Scheme of PSQCA was also approved.

The Cabinet approved OGRA Gas (Third Party Access) Rules, 2018. It approved National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy and Digital Pakistan Policy. It was steered by Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rehman Ahmad Khan. The Cabinet approved signing of agreement for provision of Grant Facility for USD 14 million to Somalia.

It approved a proposal for creation of Jinnah Visiting Professorship at London School of Economics. Reconstitution of Board of Directors, Pakistan Expo Centres (Pvt) Limited was also approved.

The Cabinet approved nomination of private sector members for the Board of Directors of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. The cabinet assented signing of agreement for provision of Grant Facility of 14 million dollars to Somalia.

The 55th meeting of Azad Kashmir Council was also held here under Prime Minister Shahid Abbasi. It offered Fateha for the Shuhadas of Indian unprovoked firing across LoC and for the victims of Indian brutalities in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK). The Prime Minister said that Indian security forces are indiscriminately killing innocent and unarmed civilians in IHK. “We express complete solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters who are fighting for their right to self determination,” Abbasi said.

The Prime Minister apprised the Council of his participation in Extraordinary OIC Summit last week where he highlighted the plight of the people of IHK along with the Palestine issue. He said that whatever is happening in IHK is unprecedented as unarmed civilians are being targeted.

He informed the Council about his meeting with the United Nations Secretary General during the BOAO Forum wherein he told the Secretary General that Indian security forces are perpetrating worst form of terrorism in the IHK.

He said that in the wake of recent killings in the IHK, he visited AJK and addressed the AJ&K Legislative Assembly to express solidarity with Kashmiri brethren. The Prime Minister reaffirmed moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmir cause and settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UNSC Resolutions.