ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday unanimously endorsed the stance of National Security Committee (NSC), which had expressed deep disappointment over recent statement of the American leadership.
Chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the cabinet was of the view that the Trump statement was detrimental to the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“Pakistan has rendered huge sacrifices, both in terms of loss of precious human lives and substantial damage to the economy. Achievements made by Pakistan in curbing the menace of terrorism have been acknowledged throughout the world,” it added.
At the outset of the meeting, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif briefed the cabinet about the background of the recent statements by the American leadership and the discussion held during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) of the cabinet the other day.
The cabinet also considered other agenda items as well. It considered a proposal for granting extension to the proof of registration (POR) Cards and Tripartite Agreement (Pakistan – Afghanistan – UNHCR) for Afghan Refugees beyond December31, 2017.
After detailed discussion, the cabinet agreed to grant only 30 days extension to POR and also decided that the issue of early repatriation of Afghan refugees should be raised with the UNHCR and with the international community.
“Pakistan’s economy had been carrying the burden of hosting Afghan refugees since long and in the present circumstances could not sustain it further, the cabinet emphasised. The cabinet accorded approval to publication of block level provisional results of recent population census.
The agenda item of approval of maximum retail prices of additional pack sizes of already registered drugs, approval of increase in maximum retail prices of drugs and threshold limit of lower priced drugs were also discussed at length.
It also accorded approval to placement of Institute for Arts and Culture Bill, 2017 before parliament.
The cabinet granted permission to allow transit of a container containing 51 packages of spare parts for vehicles of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) from Karachi to Kabul.
Signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoUs) on bilateral consultations between the ministries of Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Portuguese Republic was also approved by the cabinet. Similarly, the cabinet okayed signing of a memorandum of intent (MOI) between Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) and Confindustria Marmomacchine of Italy for cooperation.
It also gave approval for ratification of an agreement on military, technical, science and education cooperation between Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Execution of gas development schemes during the present government was also approved.
Published in Daily Times, January 4th 2018.
