Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said on Tuesday that the proposal for enhancing Pakistan Television Corporation fee was deferred by the federal cabinet till next week.
Briefing media persons after the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said the proposal was discussed in the cabinet in wake of financial difficulties being faced by PTV. He said that the state-run TV is facing problems in payment of pension to its 3,000 pensioners. He said that the previous governments had brought the PTV to the verge of collapse, which had a glorious past and the present government wants to revive its past glory.
The minister said the PTV, like other national institutions including Pakistan Steel and Pakistan International Airlines were left in dire straits by the previous governments by appointment of cronies in utter disregard of merit and mismanagement. He said restructuring of PTV has been approved but funds are needed to replace its obsolete equipment as the process of production has been almost halted.
He said the cabinet also appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision making it mandatory for public office holders to declare their assets to ensure transparency and to increase people’s confidence in their representatives. He said it was a historic step as no such tradition existed in Pakistan in the past. The minister said that the cabinet assured the prime minister that they will move forward the PM’s philosophy of transparency.
He said that in the past, the governments focused on costly power projects and credit for start of work Diamir-Bhasha dam went to the PTI regime which was the first big dam since the Ayub Khan era. He said it was a project which would benefit the coming generations of the country by meeting needs of power and water storage.
Regarding availability of wheat and wheat flour in the market, Shibli Faraz said the government has allowed the public and private sector to import the commodity to avoid any shortage. He said that the cabinet gave directives to the relevant ministries to take all steps to stabilize its prices. The cabinet directed that there should not be any hindrance in transportation of wheat and flour within the country and for meeting the gap between wheat produce and demand, import of the commodity had been allowed to both the public and private sector. He said Sindh government would be requested to waive off excise duty on import of wheat.
Shibli said that the cabinet also gave approval to the Treasury Single Account Rules 2020 which was introduced to streamline the utilization of the government funds as in the past every ministry and division had their own accounts and funds were not utilized properly.
The cabinet, he said, also approved amendments in Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2020 and amendments in Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 to control money laundering and terror financing to the satisfaction of FATF.
Replying to the questions of the media persons, he said the situation of pandemic in Pakistan is far better as compared to many countries as it has sunk many economies across the globe. He said the unprecedented package for the construction industry and incentives to weak segments of the society to push for their own homes would prove a big leap in moving the economy forward, besides providing jobs to tens of thousands of people.
Shibli Faraz said that Khawaja brothers had become ‘angels’ (innocents) as the nation fully knew about their misdeeds. “Actually these people destroyed the state institutions. Media should not give coverage to such people,” he said.
He said that the opposition had wished the Covid-19 would have played havoc in the country and wanted the economy to collapse so that they could get rid of the government, which is holding them accountable. The minister alleged that all the state institutions had been ruined by the past governments, including Pakistan Steel Mills, PIA and PTV by stuffing them with political appointees and in total disregard to merit and the PTI government was trying to revive them.
Answering a question, he said these people had their vested interests everywhere and at the investigation level, things were made to ensure they could not be held responsible, whereas a judge had to base his judgement on proofs and evidence.
The minister pointed out that even in pilots’ case and now declaration of assets by advisers and special assistants, the agents of opposition turned against the government and tried to paint a highly positive thing as negative. He said that they had realized that their future was bleak that was why they issued statements and held APCs.
