LAHORE
The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline in pursuance of a policy to get the country out its energy crisis.
Briefing reporters at the Governor’s House after the cabinet meeting, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said, “The project would be unaffected even if India backs out.”
Kaira said Pakistan took Iran into confidence at a time when the world had reservations about it. However, he added that all the decisions made by the government were based on national interest.
The information minister said Pakistan was fighting its own war and “everybody thinking that it was America’s war should stop thinking that”. “I want to make one thing clear that we will do all that goes in the best interest of the country,” Kaira said.
He told reporters that the foreign minister briefed the cabinet on the recently-concluded third round of the strategic dialogue with the US, adding that the cabinet expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the talks. Kaira said the Pak-US relations have been expanded into an enduring partnership.
He told the reporters that President Barack Obama met the Pakistani delegation, adding that he is a strong supporter of democracy in Pakistan and has committed to visiting Pakistan next year. He said the coalition support fund would be expedited, adding that the $750 million would be received by the end of November.
The US would also help to modernise and upgrade the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, and would supply necessary equipment, Kaira said, adding that $125 million had been allocated for this purpose. He said Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism was acknowledged and appreciated.
He said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani congratulated the Pakistani team which took part in the strategic dialogue. The prime minister directed the minister of foreign affairs to also brief parliament on the outcome.
Asked why had the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ministers not attended the meeting, the information minister said they could not attend the meeting for security reasons. To another question, he said all those outside the tax net should be included in it.
MQM, ANP, Shahbaz stay away
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National party (ANP) on Wednesday boycotted the cabinet meeting held at the Governor’s House Lahore. None of the ministers from the two parties attended the meeting, which made several important decisions.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif did not attend the meeting as well. Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters after the meeting that the federal cabinet’s meetings were held in provincial capitals to enhance working relationship.
Kaira said most of the absent ministers were either out of the country on private visits or had restricted their movement due to security concerns. He said there was nothing unusual in the ministers’ absence and dispelled the impression that the MQM and ANP were at odds with the PPP.
