Prime Minister Imran Khan Today Chaired Meeting of the federal cabinet at pm office The Cabinet ratified the decisions taken by Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in its meeting held on 13-11-2019 However, the decision on the price of wheat was deferred and will be made in the light of recommendations made by a special committee comprising of the parliamentarians under Speaker National Assembly.
Second Monthly Progress Report by the Implementation Committee on Re-Organizing the Federal Government was presented before the Cabinet. The Cabinet was informed that the second report of the Committee recommends making 31 departments of various ministries as executive departments and 33 organizations as autonomous bodies. Nineteen (19) organizational entities belonging to 07ministries/division have been recommended by the committee for merger. Besides, merger of Textile Division with Commerce Division and Postal Division with Ministry Communications has also been recommended b the Committee. Similarly, 09 organizational entities belonging to 05 ministries/division, provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan & ICT. Moreover five (05) Organizational entities belonging to three ministries/ Divisions have been recommended for winding up/liquidation. Discussing agenda items of import of insecticides and finger markers to be used during Polio campaign, the Cabinet directed SAPM on Health to prefer import of these items from China. The Cabinet permitted transit of shipment of spare parts of vehicles (banned items) of United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) from karachi to Kabul. The cabinet approved expansion of relief package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ex-FATA and PATA.
The Cabinet approved terms and conditions of appointment of Mr, Aamer Manzoor as Managing Director, Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC). The Cabinet approved appointment of Mr. Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry as Chief Executive Officer, National Productivity Organization for a period of 03 years. The Cabinet also approved reconstitution of Boras of Directors of National Productivity Organization (NPO).Nomination of Members of the Board of Authority under Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Act). The Cabinet approved, in principle, draft Islamabad Healthcare facilities Management Act 2019.
The Cabinet granted permission to Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to formulate one-year Hajj policy for the coming years i.e. 2020 by the Hajj policy formulation Committee. The Cabinet granted permission to formulate three-years Hajj policy for the coming years i.e. 2020-2022 by the Hajj policy formulation committee. Recommendations of the Jail Reforms Committee, constituted by the Prime Minister for Prison Reforms, were presented before the Federal Cabinet. The Cabinet was informed that the Committee, notified on 01 August 2019, was mandated to review prison / payroll/ probation reforms; to examine the process of legal aid to the prisoners and to examine existing rehabilitation center and frame proposals for new structure of rehabilitation centers.
Short and long term steps in following areas were presented
1. Rerelease of deserving prisoners
2. Improvement of living conditions for prisoners
3. Improvement in the service, terms and conditions and facilities for prison staff.
4. Making Prison safe.
5. Improving Medical Facilities.
6. Provision of Mental Health Services.
7. Digitizing prison data and developing a National Prison Management System.
8. Implementing a prison Industry Plan.
9. Access to greater vocational Training.
10. Improving prison Education.
11. Improving Measures for Children Residing in Prison Including their Education.
12. Special treatment for Drug Users.
13. Introducing Cadres of Prison paralegals for providing basic legal information to prisoners as part of facilitating access to justice.
14. Institutionalizing and prioritizing Legal Aid for Under Trail Prisoners.
15. Establishing of Special Funds for Prisoners.
16. Mechanism of probation and parole.
17. Remissions.
18. Ensuring Family Ties of Prisoners.
19. Making Prison More Accountable and Transparent
20. Suggesting ways and means for whole system reform for police, bar, courts and prosecution.
The Cabinet approved the recommendations of the Jail Reforms Committee. The Prime Minister Said that an implementations cell will be constituted and a point person will be appointed in PM office to coordinate with provinces and oversee implementation of the reforms. The Cabinet Approved appointment of Mr. Muhammad Saleem as 5th member of National Tariff Commission.
*****
