The federal cabinet on Tuesday decided to conduct a forensic audit of the relaxation in Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) given to different industries. Speaking to the media along with Minister for Power Omar Ayub and PM's Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, the PM's Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the federal cabinet has instructed the Law Ministry to conduct a forensic audit of relaxation in the GIDC that resulted in over Rs 208 billion waiver to industries.
Speaking about the Kashmir issue, she said that statements issued by Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the European Parliament's (EP) Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) on Kashmir curfew are the outcome of Prime Minister Imran Khan's tireless diplomacy. Dr Awan noted that the federal cabinet, again, strongly condemned the cruel steps of the fascist, racist and extremist government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Kashmiris.
The federal cabinet further reaffirmed its commitment to knock the doors of all relevant international forums to force India to lift the month-long curfew in Indian-occupied Kashmir, she added. She said the Prime Minister took the cabinet into confidence regarding measures being taken by the government to internationalize the Kashmir issue and to expose the atrocities on innocent Kashmiris.
The Prime Minister apprised the cabinet of fascist, extremist mindset of the Modi government which was condemned by the cabinet members. She said due to effective diplomacy of Pakistan, some effective voices at OIC and the European Union have emerged. Referring to other issues that came up during the cabinet meeting, Dr Awan said the Prime Minister directed to bring hospital waste management policy in the next cabinet meeting after holding thorough consultation with provinces.
The Prime Minister expressed displeasure over the dumping of waste by government and private hospitals. Imran Khan said all government hospitals in the federal capital should brief the cabinet about the measures taken by them. She said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has put forth the suggestion to the cabinet to set up learning centers in big cities for the facilitation of journalists as well as general public. The youth and common people can avail the internet facility as well as information.
The cabinet was briefed in detail about the steps being taken for Madrassa (seminary) reforms and to make the curriculum uniform across various educational institutions in the country. The curricula will be streamlined under a unified policy and the minister of education will give details to the media in this regard. Awan said the cabinet deferred the issue of the regularisation of services of contract and daily-wage employees working under various ministries. She said a high-powered committee will collect data from each ministry to make the process transparent for regularisation of services of employees.
She said the cabinet deferred the discussion on the real estate regulatory authority as the Senate was in session. This issue will be discussed in next cabinet meeting in order to streamline various housing development schemes in the country. Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the cabinet decided to waive off visa condition for Malta for holders of diplomatic and official passports.