Cabinet heaps praise on armed forces

ISLAMABAD: Reaffirming Pakistan’s firm commitment to peace and stability, the federal cabinet Thursday heaped praise on the armed forces for their measured response to Indian aggression, designed to give a message (to New Delhi) of having no intention to harm innocent civilians or cause undue damage.

Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired meeting of the cabinet here at the Prime Minister’s Office prior to the joint sitting of Parliament’s two chambers on the latest security situation with particular reference to Indian aggression.

The cabinet reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to peace and stability while fully protecting its sovereignty, preserving its territorial integrity and responding with full force in case of any external aggression. The prime minister informed the cabinet about the state of preparedness in case the tensions with India escalated, it was learnt.

The top forum praised prime minister’s speech, as of a statesman and expressed the hope that sanity would prevail on Indian government and leadership so that regional peace was not jeopardised.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi gave briefing to the cabinet about his engagements with foreign minister of China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and other world leaders on the current situation. The cabinet appreciated the efforts of the foreign minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards highlighting Pakistan’s principled stance and its efforts to deescalate the situation with India.

The cabinet ratified the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) and the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCoP) in their meetings held on February 13, 2019.

Similarly, decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) during its meeting held on February 19, and the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) in its meeting February 26 were also ratified.

The cabinet granted exception to FIA from the provision of PPRA Rules 2004 for the expenditure of JIT, formed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to probe fake/benami accounts, for facilitating its day to day working including hiring of foreign/local experts and for timely completion of the probe.

The meeting accorded approval to the signing of Framework Arrangement amounting to $500 million with the Republic of Korea. Likewise, approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Committee on Financial Monitoring of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan (FIU of Kazakhstan) and Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) of government of Pakistan concerning cooperation in the exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering and terrorist financing was granted.

Besides, the cabinet approved appointment of chairman and directors of the Board of Directors of National Bank of Pakistan. Zubyr Soomro has been appointed as chairman of the National Bank of Pakistan. Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Law & Justice of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was approved by the cabinet.

The cabinet reviewed the progress on disposal of state properties owned by various ministries/departments. It was decided to expedite the process so as to ensure optimum utilisation of dead properties and also to raise much needed finances for projects of public welfare.

The prime minister also apprised the cabinet of the decision to permit construction of high rise building in the federal capital. The prime minister said that emphasis on vertical structure was need of the hour in view of increased population and fast depleting green belts especially in major cities of the country and the cabinet ratified the same.