Chitral Times Report
Islamabad: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi today chaired meeting of the Federal Cabinet.
Following agenda items were approved by the Federal Cabinet:
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Promotion of Tourism between the Government of the Republic of Pakistan and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius.
• Approval of the Cabinet to the Signing of Agreement of Cooperation between International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan and Belarusian State Technological University (BSTU), Belarus.
• Summary for the Cabinet to Accord Approval to the Signing of Agreement of Cooperation between Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, International Islamic University, Islamabad and Belarusian States University of Informatics and Radio Electronics.
• Summary for the Cabinet to Accord Approval to the Signing of Cooperation Agreement between Educational Establishment (Belarusian State Technological University of Physical Culture) MINSK, Republic of Belarus and International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan.
• Summary for the Cabinet Accord Approval to the Signing of Cooperation Agreement of Academic and Research Cooperation between Sulaiman Bin Abdullah ABA Al-Khail – Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences (SA-CIRBS), International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan and Belarusian State University (BSU), Belarus.
• Summary for the Cabinet to Accord Approval to the signing of Memorandum to Understanding (MoU)?between Universities Australia and Pakistan Higher Education Commission to Encourage Cooperation in the Fields of Higher Education and Academic Research of HEC.
• Summary for the Cabinet to Accord Approval to the Signing of Agreement for Academic Cooperation and Exchange between International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan & the Belarusian State University (BSU), (MINSK, Belarus).
• NOC for the Award of “Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit” to H.E. Mr. Khalid Memon, the Former Ambassador of Pakistan to Poland by the Government of Republic of Poland.
• Ex-Post Facto Approval for the Acceptance of the Turkish Military Award “The Legion of Merit” to Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman NI(M), CAS by the Government of Republic of Turkey.
• Ex-Post Facto Approval for the Acceptance of “The Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander)” Medal to Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah NI(M), former Chief of the Naval Staff by the Government of United States of America.
• Ex-Post Facto Approval in Principle to Start Negotiations and Signing of Agreement on Cooperation between Associated Press of Pakistan Cooperation (APPC) and National Company Kazakh Information Agency (Kazinform).
A detailed briefing was given to the federal Cabinet on future business plan and strategy to turn-around Pakistan International Airlines.
The Prime Minister directed that a committee be constituted to undertake detailed study of the proposed plan and to fine-tune the proposed strategy in order to make PIA a profitable business venture.
Besides scheduled agenda, the Law Minister briefed the Cabinet about the meetings of Speaker National Assembly with Parliamentary leaders of various political parties to discuss and resolve issues related to constitutional amendment bill 2017 (reallocation of National Assembly seats in the light of Census 2017)
That MOS for information appreciated the efforts and role of Speaker National Assembly in getting together all the political parties and allies in the parliament and leading the entire consultation. Furthermore MOS also appreciated the hard work put in by the law minister in this regard.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi today directed Ministry of Interior to bring the issue of regulation of arms licenses for the automatic weapons before the next meeting of the Federal Cabinet.
The decision was taken during a briefing held at Prime Minister Office on automatic arms licenses with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in chair. Secretary Interior briefed the Prime Minister about the overall situation regarding the number of arms licenses issued by the federal as well as the provincial governments. He also briefed the meeting on policy framework governing the issuance of arms licenses.
The meeting was informed that 19143 prohibited bore arms licenses were issued during the period 2010-2012. During the interim period of 2013, a total of 25789 licenses were issued for the prohibited bore weapons. It was informed that only 410 PB Arms licenses have been issued so far during the tenure of the present government. Out of these 410 licenses, 400 were issued to WAPDA while only 10 licenses were issued to the individuals.
The meeting was informed that a deadline of 30 Dec 2017 has been set for re-validation of all licenses after which all non-computerized licenses issued by the Interior Ministry are liable to be cancelled. The Prime Minister directed the Interior Ministry to work out a comprehensive policy on issuance of arms licenses so as to make the process more convenient and applicant friendly.
The Prime Minister directed that the arms licenses should be linked with CNIC database of NADRA.
