The federal cabinet on Tuesday decided to amend relevant laws for appointments in various government departments, especially their heads, to induct best human resource in the public sector organisations.
Briefing media about decisions taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan here, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said the prime minister has constituted a committee headed by Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, which will present its recommendations in this regard within one week. The prime minister directed Minister of Law and Justice Farogh Naseem to prepare draft amendments in the relevant laws like ESTA Code, Companies Act and Corporate Governance Rules.
Shibli Faraz said the cabinet was briefed on the progress made in the electoral reforms process. Briefing about the salient features of the proposed reforms, Minister for Narcotics Control Azam Swati, formerly parliamentary affairs minister, said the recommendations made by the electoral reforms committee include timely delivery and announcement of election results, finalization of action plan by political parties four months before the election, time for delimitation of constituencies and permission to a candidate to appoint five agents. The presence of nominated representatives of respective candidates during vote counting, reforms regarding women quota, election expenses, basis of delimitation and steps to address the lacunas in the process, right of vote for expatriate Pakistanis and biometric voting are also parts of the proposals.
The prime minister, while appreciating the proposals, said all the lacunas in the election laws will be addressed so that the people’s trust in the election process is restored and nobody can raise a finger on the transparency of the election. A transparent and credible electoral process is the foundation of democracy and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is the only party which has taken serious efforts and practical steps for electoral reforms. Expressing the government’s commitment, the prime minister directed to intensify efforts so that electoral reforms process should be completed as soon as possible.
Shibli Faraz said the cabinet discussed the issue of unlawful appointments made in various ministries during the previous governments. It transpired that appointments without any cabinet approval were made in 12 ministries. Expressing his serious concern, the prime minister directed all the ministries to share details in next cabinet meeting so that action could be taken on the issue.
The minister said during the discussion on cotton crop, the prime minister directed that its support price should be fixed after thorough consultations with all the stakeholders in order to encourage the farmers to sow more cotton as its ratio had dropped during the past two decades. The prime minister was in favour of giving subsidies on cotton seed and fertilizer, so that poor growers could benefit, he added.
Senator Shibli Faraz said the cabinet also approved the names of the members of National Commission on the Status of Women, including Shaista Bukhari from Punjab, Habiba Hassan from Sindh, Rubina Naz Advocate from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Fatima Iqbal from Balochistan, Madhiha Sultana from AJK, Sosan Aziz from Gilgit Baltistan and Asia Azeem from the federal capital.
The cabinet also approved the decisions taken by the Cabinet’s Committee on Energy and Economic Coordination Committee.
The information minister said the cabinet reviewed the matters pertaining to the audit survey regarding embezzlement at the Karachi Port Trust. He said Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar gave a briefing on the steps being taken to control coronavirus in the country and presented the report on the situation after relaxation in the lockdown.
Addressing the cabinet meeting, the prime minister said lockdown is a temporary process which can limit the spread of the virus to some extent but it is necessary to take precautionary measures as much as possible to avoid the pandemic. The decision to ease lockdown is taken keeping in view the economic situation and the plight of the common man, especially the daily wagers.
