Prime
Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a meeting of the Federal Cabinet today at
PM Office Islamabad.
At the
outset, Foreign Minister briefed the Cabinet regarding the background of the
recent statements of the American leadership and the discussion held during the
17th meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) of the Cabinet held
yesterday.
The Federal
Cabinet unanimously endorsed the stance of National Security Committee of the
Cabinet, which in its 17th meeting on 2nd January, 2018 expressed deep disappointment
over recent statements of the American leadership. The Cabinet viewed that the
American statements are detrimental to the bilateral relationship between
Pakistan and USA, a relationship that has developed over generations. 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, reiterated the
Cabinet.
The Cabinet
considered a proposal for granting extension in the Proof of Registration (POR)
Cards and Tripartite Agreement (Pakistan – Afghanistan – UNHCR) for Afghan
Refugees beyond 31st December, 2017. After detailed discussion, the Cabinet
agreed to grant only 30 Days extension for POR and also decided that the issue
of early repatriation of Afghan Refugees shall be raised with UNHCR and with
the international community. Pakistan’s economy has carried the burden of
hosting Afghan Refugees since long and in the present circumstances cannot
sustain it further, emphasized the Cabinet.
The Federal
Cabinet accorded approval for publication of Block Level Provisional results of
Census 2017.
The agenda
item of approval of Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) of Additional Pack Sizes of already
registered Drugs, approval of increase in Maximum Retail Prices of Drugs under
Para 8 of the Drug Pricing Policy-2015 and Threshold Limits of Lower Priced
Drugs under para 11 of the Drug Pricing Policy-2015 were discussed at length
and the Cabinet accorded approval as per Drug Pricing Policy 2015.
Following
approvals were also accorded by the Cabinet :-
. Placement of “Institute
for Arts and Culture Bill, 2017” before the Parliament.
. Permission to allow
transit of 01x40 Feet Container STC containing 51 Package of Spare Parts for
Vehicles of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) from
Karachi to Kabul.
. Signing of MoU on
Bilateral Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Portuguese Republic.
. Signing of Memorandum
of Intent (MOI) between Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) Pakistan
and Confindustria Marmomacchine of Italy for Cooperation in Stone Sector.
. Signing of MoU between
Ministry of Defence of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Ministry of Defence of
the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the field of Defence.
. Ratification of
‘Agreement on Military, Technical, Science and Education Cooperation between
the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Government of Bosnia
& Herzegovina’.
. Execution of Gas
Development Schemes during the Present Government.
. Ratification of
Recommendations of Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases
(CCLC) in respect of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (Amendment) Bill,
2017.
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