Development in Balochistan is priority areas for government: Prime Minister

Islamabad, April 18, 2014 (PPI-OT): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, while addressing the Cabinet Meeting today stated that the public money is sacred and we should ensure its judicious and efficient spending. Prime Minister said that the economy is our top priority and we are providing equivalent attention to all parts of Pakistan.

Prime Minister stated that development in Balochistan is priority areas for the government and development plans to put Balochistan on road to progress are being implemented expeditiously. The socio economic package includes provision of skilled manpower through training of human resource in different sectors including health and education, while development of health and Education infrastructure to cater for the people of Baluchistan have also been planned.

Prime Minister further said that Gwadar is being developed as a model city and socio-economic package has been planned for it. Gwadar Airport and Port are being developed on modern lines. He told that US$ 1.6 billion will be spent on these projects. He added that he will himself monitor these projects.

The cabinet approved the tariff of US $ 0.66 /MMBTU for LNG services project secured through competitive bidding process by Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry. The cabinet also decided that the policy guidelines of the tariff shall be conveyed to OGRA.

The cabinet further decided that the other aspects of the commercial agreement will be settled between the two parties, SSGC and EPTL. Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while briefing the cabinet informed that the price of LNG is competitive with the international market. Petroleum Minister told that the contract will be for 15 years and will provide 200 MMBTU of LNG in 1st year and would be increased to 400 MMBTU from the 2nd year.

The Cabinet deferred Amendment in CDA Ordinance, 1960. The Cabinet considered and approved the Proposed Amendments in the Patent Ordinance 2000 Regarding Electronic Publication of patent journal. The Cabinet granted approval in Principle, for draft Bill for Creation of joint Maritime Information Organization (JMIO)” The Cabinet also approved Amendment in foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (FERA, 1947)

The Cabinet also approved SBP (Amendment) Bill 2010 and the SBP Banking Services Corporation Ordinance (Repeal) Bill 2010 The Cabinet approved Equity Participation Fund Repeal Bill-2014. The Cabinet approved Reconsideration of the Decision of the Cabinet Regarding Repealing of Section 27B of the banking Companies Ordinance, 1962. The Cabinet deferred Right to Information Bill, 2014 and PM directed for further consultations with opposition and stakeholders.

The Cabinet considered the Constitution (Twenty-First Amendment) Bill 2013 and referred it to the relevant committee for further consideration. Two amendments were proposed in Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973. The Cabinet approved one Amendment in the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, however deferred the 2nd Amendment for further deliberations.

The Cabinet considered a Bill Titled, the Islamabad subordinate Judiciary Service Tribunal Act, 2014” and referred it to Law Division for further review. Approval in Principle was granted of the Cabinet to start Negotiations with the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Environment.

Approval was given to start Negotiations and for Signing of Memorandum of Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. Formal Approval of the Cabinet was accorded for Signing of MoU between Government of Pakistan and People’s Republic of China on Raikot Islamabad Section of China- Pak Economic Corridor by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC)

The Cabinet gave Approval for Signing of Protocol for the Period from Nov 2004 to Nov 2012 and Approval for Revision of Protocol between the Government of Pakistan and People’s Republic of China for Scientific and technical cooperation in Surveying and Mapping.

The Cabinet gave Approval in Principle for Negotiations of the Draft agreement between Ministry of Defence Pakistan and Ministry of Interior, UAE for Secondment of qualified technical military personnel (Drum majors) to UAE. The Cabinet gave Approval for Signing the Memorandum of undersigning (MoU) between Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Government of the United Republic of Tanzania on Defence Cooperation.

The Cabinet gave Approval for Signing of Revised Draft Agreement between the Ministry if Defence of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Military Cooperation.

The Cabinet gave Approval in Principle for Negotiations of the Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Defence cooperation.

The Cabinet considered to grant approval in Principle for initiation of negotiations to the signing of Agreement between Pakistan and South Africa on Defence Industrial Corporation but deferred the matter.

While discussing this agenda item, PM directed that the matter of production in defence sector is of immense importance and the cabinet should be briefed on the matter in detail. The Cabinet gave Approval in principle to start negotiations on the Agreement on Economic Cooperation between Pakistan and Czech Republic.

The Cabinet approved initiation of Negotiations for Signing of Reciprocal Agreement and Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) between the Government of Pakistan and Government of Qatar. The Cabinet gave in Principle Approval of the Cabinet for Negotiations of memorandum of understanding between Supreme Audit Institutions of Pakistan and Vietnam on Co-Operation on Auditing in Public Sector.

The Cabinet gave Approval of Initiation of Negotiations between State Bank of Pakistan and Central bank of Philippines signing out MoU on cooperation in the field of banking supervision and exchange of information. The Cabinet gave Approval of Initiation of Negotiations between State Bank of Pakistan and Central bank of France on Signing of MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Banking Supervision and Exchange of Information.

The Cabinet gave Approval of Initiation of Negotiation between State Bank of Pakistan and Central bank of Kenya (CBK) on cooperation in Supervision of Supervised Institutions. The Cabinet gave Formal Approval of Cabinet for Framework Agreement in the Field of Housing Development Signed during the visit of Prime Minister to Turkey on 16-18 September, 2013. The Cabinet gave Approval in Principle to Start Negotiations between National Productivity Centre of Turkey and National Product.

The Cabinet Approval was granted in Principle for Starting Negotiations regarding the bilateral memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States of America and the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan concerning the Imposition of Import Restriction on Archaeological Material. The Cabinet Approved, in principle, to start Negotiations with the Government of the Djibouti for the Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports.

The Cabinet gave Approval for Ratification of an Agreement on transfer of offenders signed between Pakistan and Yemen. The Cabinet gave Approval for Signing of Agreement between the Governments of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports.

The Cabinet gave approval for Cooperation in the field of Higher Education and Scientific Research between the Ministry of Inter Provisional Coordination of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates.

The Cabinet gave Approval for Signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Republic of South Africa for Cooperation in Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals.

The Cabinet gave Ex-Post Facto approval, in principle, to Start negotiations and signing of protocol on Compliance of Phytosanitary Requirements between Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Russian Federation) and Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of National food of Plant Protection and research , Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on mutual supplies of productions of high phytosanitary risk.

The Cabinet gave permission in Principle for Entering into an Agreement Concerning the Export of Manpower from Pakistan with the Government of the Italian republic. The Cabinet gave approval for Signing of MoU between governments of the Republic of Turkey and the Islamic of Republic of Pakistan on Sister Sea port Relation and Cooperation.

The Cabinet gave Approval for Starting Negotiations and for signing of Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in preventing and combating pollution from ships between the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

At this occasion the issue of pollution in Pakistan Sea waters also came under discussion. Prime Minister was told that the Pakistani Sea has become a dumping ground for ship waste. PM directed Minister Ports and shipping to take concrete steps to make our seas pollution free.

The Cabinet gave Approval, for signing the MoU in the fields of standardization, Metrology, Certification, Accreditation and the other related activities between Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and Jordan institution of standards and Metrology (JISM).

The cabinet granted Approval of the cabinet regarding the MoU signed between Iran powers Generation, Transmission and Distribution management Company (TAVANIR) and National Transmission and Des-patch Company (NTDC) in the field of Electricity Transmission.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
Fax: +9251 925 2325 and +9251 925 2326
Email: piopid@gmail.com