ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday decided to constitute a committee headed by the minister for water resources for suggesting implementation mechanism over the findings of an inquiry report that pertained to the alleged corruption in Kachhi Canal project.
Last month, the National Accountability Bureau chief Justice (r) Javed Iqbal had taken notice of an increase in cost of Kachhi Canal project from Rs30billion to Rs210 billion while ordering an inquiry against the officers concerned.
In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at PM Office, Islamabad, the cabinet also allowed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to carry out immediate Hajj balloting for 50 per cent of the total quota for Hajj pilgrims in the year 2018.
The cabinet took this decision after reviewing the current state of legal proceedings and the need to communicate a maximum number of the pilgrims to the Saudi authorities before March 3, 2018, for finalising the flight schedules.
The cabinet also directed the ministry to request Islamabad High Court (IHC) for early finalisation of legal proceedings as all the pending petitions had been referred to the IHC by the Supreme Court in the last hearing.
The cabinet approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination and American Institute of Pakistan Studies, Inter-Provincial Coordination with a proviso that performance report of the Institute for last five years be presented before the Cabinet.
The cabinet approved applicability of Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance, 2001 to Zone V of Islamabad and directed Interior Ministry to review the law.
It also directed the interior ministry to place the case before the next meeting of the cabinet for applicability of law in the remaining areas of Islamabad. A committee for this purpose was also constituted under PM’s Special Assistant Barrister Zafarullah Khan with the interior secretary, CDA chairman, the chief commissioner, and other stakeholders.
Rejecting a proposal for an increase in the prices of the CNICs in specified categories, the cabinet directed the interior ministry and NADRA chairman to review the proposal for the purpose of rationalisation of the cost of the CNICs.
The appointment of Aalia Neelum as a special appellate court judge under Section 46(1) of the Prevention of Smuggling Act, 1977, was approved.
Regarding the appointment of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman in compliance with the orders of the SC, the cabinet directed the religious affairs ministry to expedite framing of relevant rules in the light of the directions of the court.
In the meantime, the cabinet approved a proposal for grant of an additional charge of ETPB to Muhammad Ashraf Lanjaar, senior joint secretary of the ministry, till regular appointment is made. The meeting also discussed the report of the committee headed by Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo on the naming of Islamabad airport and decided to name it as ‘Islamabad International Airport’.
Appointment of S A Manan as the chairman of the Board of Management of the Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSOCL) was also approved.
