ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the ministries concerned to take measures to make the prices of essential items stable as well as ensuring their availability in markets for the benefit of the common man.
Briefing media on cabinet decisions, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the prime minister has directed that strict action will be taken against profiteers and hoarders as it is main responsibility of the government to ensure provision of goods to the people.
In this regard, the prime minister has convened a meeting of provincial chief ministers and chief secretaries on Friday in which measures would be discussed to activate price control committees at grassroots level.
The prime minister directed to develop a mechanism in coordination with provincial Auqaf Departments to take steps for land retrieval and its proper use for public service purposes. A data bank on these lands should also be prepared, he instructed.
Dr Awan said the cabinet was given various proposals regarding the establishment of Real Estate Regulatory Authority. The cabinet endorsed the decisions of the previous meeting of Economic Coordination Committee.
Islamabad’s new master plan approved
She said the federal cabinet approved the new master plan of Islamabad on an immediate basis. For this purpose, professional architects and consultants of international repute will be hired to undertake the process.
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said special consideration will be made for environmental challenges while drafting the new Master Plan for the federal capital.
She said the meeting decided to take up Sector G-6 on pilot basis to introduce reforms and develop it into a modern housing area. The meeting decided that structural plan of high rise buildings and other infrastructure would also be revised and overlapping of work would be reduced.
She said existing master plan of Islamabad was made in the 1960s and it has not been revised so far. As a result, a mushroom growth and unplanned development were witnessed in different areas of the federal capital, putting a strain on essential services. This unplanned growth also disturbed the beauty of Islamabad.
The cabinet also accorded approval to restructuring of Capital Development Authority. The Special Assistant said after restructuring, CDA will be transformed into a modern and vibrant development authority to ensure the delivery of services to the residents as well as improving the housing sector.
The cabinet also approved a policy regarding Langar service of Ehsaas Programme. It was decided that further langar facilities will be set up on public-private partnership basis.
Middle East crisis, PM’s China visit discussed
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the prime minister took the cabinet into confidence regarding his recent visits to China and Iran. In China, he discussed economic, defense, social and business ties between Pakistan and China with the Chinese leadership to enhance bilateral relations and further improve cooperation between the two countries.
In addition, China accepted Occupied Kashmir as a controversial issue in the joint press release issued at the conclusion of the visit. The prime minister thanked China for taking this principled stand. The cabinet expressed satisfaction on developments in relations with China.
The prime minister also took the cabinet into confidence regarding his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia in a bid to mend differences between the brotherly Islamic countries. She said Pakistan’s economic and strategic power can increase to manifold when the brotherly Muslim countries are united.
