ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet which is scheduled to meet on Tuesday (Oct 6) with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair will discuss country's political situation, especially with reference to expected political activities of newly formed Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
There is a clear division in the cabinet members on allowing public meetings/gatherings to the political parties under the umbrella of PDM headed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The impact of recent speeches of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the institutions and a ban on airing his speeches in future will also come under discussion. In addition sedition cases against PML-N leaders will also come under discussion.
Some members of the cabinet including Minister for Interior, Ijaz Shah argue that the opposition should not be allowed to hold public meetings/protest demonstrations. However, another group of Ministers does not want any ban on political activities which is a constitutional right of every citizen.
The country's economic situation, inflation, which has hit the common man badly, and other economic indicators will also come under discussion. The concerned Ministries will brief the Cabinet about import of wheat and sugar.
Ministry of Planning and Development will update the cabinet on key economic indicators. In the previous meeting Finance Ministry gave a presentation on the economic situation of the country.
Other items on the cabinet agenda are as follows: (i) extension in additional charge arrangement of the Post of Director General, CAA; (ii) nomination of non-official members in Islamabad Wild Life Management Board (WMB), Ministry of Climate Change; (iii) approval for nomination of the members Board of Governors of National School of Public Policy (NSPP), Lahore; (iv) appointment of Secretary (BPS-20) Inter Board Committee of Chairman (IBCC); (v) appointment of date for commencement of the legal aid and Justice Authority Act, 20202 (XVI of 2020); (vi) revision in pay structure of Electronic Certification Accreditation Council (ECAC); (vii) ratification of the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting (MLI); and (ix) ratification of ECC decisions held on September 30, 2020 and CCLC held on September 28, 2020.
The Cabinet will also ratify Minamata Convention on Mercury. Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted in October 2013 at Kumamoto, Japan under the auspices of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The objective of this Convention is to protect human health and environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. Currently, there are 128 signatories and 123 parties to the Minamata Convention. Government of Pakistan has signed Minamata Convention and the instant matter relates to ratification of the Minamata Convention.
Mercury and its compounds are toxic and cause harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems. These also affect lungs and kidneys. The Minamata Convention sets control measures on mercury-added products and the manufacturing processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used as well as controls on artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The main sources of mercury releases are mining, coal fired power plants, dental fillings, compact fluorescent lamps, skin whitening creams, batteries, some electrical equipment, some hospital and industrial equipment (thermometers, manometers).
Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) developed an inventory of mercury releases in the country under a project "Development of Minamata Initial Assessment in Pakistan" implemented by UNEP and funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF). The main outputs were assessments of national, institutional and regulatory capacity for the management of mercury, mercury release & emissions inventories and the identification of challenges, needs and opportunities to implement the Convention on Mercury. Pakistan's main mercury based industries like chlor-alkali and lights manufacturers have already phased out mercury from their processes and adopted mercury free technologies.
Ratification of Minamata Convention is next step after signing of the Convention by the Government of Pakistan. Accordingly, internal consultative process with the line stakeholders/Ministries/Departments has been completed. As such, no stakeholder has opposed the proposed Ratification of Minamata Convention on Mercury. Cabinet Division moved a summary for approval of the Prime Minister on September 10, 2020, being the Minister-in-Charge of the Cabinet, for proposals before submission to the Federal Cabinet. The Cabinet will review ECC decision about increase in electricity and gas tariffs. The ECC in its meeting held on September 30, 2020 has approved increase in prices of gas and electricity for Discos.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020