Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry Thursday said Police Act similar to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be introduced in Punjab after necessary amendments in order to avoid occurrence of Sahiwal-type incidents.
Briefing media outside the Parliament House following a meeting of the federal cabinet, the minister said as many as 100 model police stations will be set up across Punjab so that better policing services could be provided to the citizens. He said reforms in Punjab will be initiated for capacity building of police as well as changing police culture in the province. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the authorities concerned that those responsible for Sahiwal tragedy should be brought to justice.
The minister said for the first time, significant changes will be made in the visa regime. The details will be shared in the next two days, he said, adding that the new visa regime will be beneficial for businessmen, journalists and expatriate Pakistanis and will have an impact on the tourism industry in the country.
During the meeting, the cabinet gave go-ahead for establishment of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA), for which consultation will be held with all stakeholders including the journalist bodies to make the authority acceptable for everyone. He said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has started preparatory work accordingly. He said new members of complaint councils of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority in Punjab and Balochistan have been appointed.
The minister said the finance bill introduced in the National Assembly will have a positive impact on the business activities. He said the speaker will coordinate with the opposition on appointment of new members of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The cabinet approved an increase of 10% in the pension given by the Employees Old Age Benefit Institution while the grant of $58 million for Pakistan Mortgage Finance Company was also approved.
The minister said Rs 5 billion revolving fund for grant of easy loans has been set up through the finance bill so that low income groups can build their own houses. He said the government wanted to provide low-cost housing units to the shelter-less people.
The minister said the prime minister, while expressing his dissatisfaction, has directed to expedite the process of merging the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority in the National Disaster Management Authority.
To a question, he said the Senate Committee on Interior has not given recommendations about the names on the exit control list.
Published in Daily Times, January 25th 2019.
