Kamyab Pakistan Program will be launched on August 9, 2021.
The Cabinet was informed that the current account deficit has been $1.9 billion
Briefed the Cabinet on the progress made so far on electronic voting machines
2.7 million loan will be availabale for the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority project
ISLAMABAD ( ABRAR MUSTAFA )
Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired Federal Cabinet Meeting in Islamabad. At the commencement of the meeting, the Cabinet was informed that on the request of Prime Minister another 28 Pakistani prisoners released from Saudi Arabia have returned home. The Prime Minister thanked the Saudi government.
The Minister for Science and Technology and Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs briefed the Cabinet on the progress made so far on electronic voting machines and giving voting rights to Pakistanis abroad.
Cabinet was briefed on removal of encroachments in Sector E8 and E9 of Islamabad by Chairman CDA. The Cabinet reiterated its commitment that no encroachments would be allowed in the National Park and that the enforcement of the Law without discrimination would be ensured.
Cabinet approved appointments of Administrator APO (Abandoned Properties Organization) and Deputy Administrator APO Islamabad and Deputy Administrator Karachi.
Cabinet approved appointment of Muhammad Saleem as Member National Tariff Commission.
Regarding issuance of prohibited and non prohibited arms licences, the Cabinet approved the proposal to grant the power to issue prohibited arms licences to the Interior Minister or Secretary Interior while the power to issue non prohibited arms licences to the Interior Minister, Secretary, Ministry of Interior or Additional Secretary (Admin).
Cabinet approves handing over of Mujahid Pervez, wanted in a fraud case, to the United States at the request of the U.S. government. Mujahid Pervez is accused of corruption and involvement in law breaking. The investigation by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (G) had proved that the allegations of law-breaking against the said person appear to be factual.
The Cabinet considered the issue of distribution of seats of different provinces in the National Assembly under Article 51 of the Constitution( 3) and decided that since there was no significant difference in the interim and final census data, there was no need to change the distribution of these seats. It should be noted that the 24th Amendment stipulated that seat sharing would be in accordance with the interim figures of census 2017. Later, the 25th Amendment which led to the merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had added six seats to the seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Cabinet approves appointment of Muhammad Jabbar Khan as CEO Peshawar Electric Supply Company.
The Energy Minister informed the Cabinet that the month of June and July has seen a 20% increase in the demand for electricity. The Cabinet was informed that the power demand in the country is an average of 16,000 MW, but this year the demand has also reached 26,000 MW. The Cabinet was informed that at present there has been 24,000 to 24,500 MW generation and the same amount of transmission. The cabinet was informed that forced load shedding has not been scheduled since Eid but problems in the system lead to temporary disruption at some place.
Cabinet approves changes in Board of Directors of Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited. Ms. Rabia Jaweri Agha and Amir karachiwala were notified as independent directors while a proposal to denotify a few directors was approved.
Cabinet was briefed in detail about the current economic indicators.
The Cabinet was informed that the current account deficit has been $1.9 billion, the lowest in the last ten years.
- Exports have been at the highest level.
- Foreign reserves are also at the highest level.
- 19% growth in revenue collection by FBR
- PSDP fully used.
- Cabinet was informed that fiscal balance was 7.3%
- Large scale manufacturing increased by 14.6%,
- Core Inflation (Urban) was 6.0%
Cabinet was informed that there has been a very encouraging trend in providing credit to private sector. The credit to industry grew by 550% while the credit to agriculture sector saw a 10% increase. The Cabinet was informed that the import of machinery has increased by 11%.
In view of the corona outbreak, the Cabinet has approved the extention in exemption of taxes and duties on import of 61 items on the request of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination. These items are related to the treatment of COVID19. In view of the COVID19 outbreak, the Cabinet decided that the period of this assessment would be extended till December 31, 2021.
Cabinet approves appointment of Syed Aftab Haider as CEO Pakistan Single Window. It should be noted that the Cabinet had approved the establishment of a Pakistan Single Window Company on trade for the development of electronic platforms under the Single Window programme, including the creation of various systems such as port community, integrated risk management, upgraded customs management and trade information portal.
Cabinet ratified the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee in its meeting on July 16, 2021.
The Cabinet was briefed on the Kamyab Pakistan Program. Kamyab Pakistan Program will be launched on August 9, 2021.
The Cabinet was informed that four million people were being facilitated through the programme. They would be provided with a complete package, including interest free loans, provision of shelter and and teaching of skills to a member of the household. The Cabinet was informed that the bank money in terms of loans would be passed on to the deserving and needy through microfinance companies to ensure reduction and recovery of expenditure on these loans where the money can be effectively brought to the fore.
In Kamyab Karobar Program, loans of 500,000 will be given on zero mark-up. There is no age limit. Loan will be repaid over a period of three years.
Kamyab Kissan: There would be Two types of loans for farmers having less than 12.5 acres of land. Rs 150,000 and Rs200,000
2.7 million loan will be availabale for the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority project for construction of houses while other which are not Naya Pakistan housing scheme projects will be able to get up to a loan of 2 million Rupees.
The decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee in the meeting held on July 28, 2021 were also ratified.
The Cabinet was told that the restoration of cotton was a priority of the government. The government’s actions will result in an increase of one million bails.
Decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Legislation on July 29, 2021 were also ratified by the Cabinet.
Cabinet rejects proposal to increase salaries of Ministers and Ministers of State