-Committee recalls PM’s recent visit to Afghanistan to strengthen ties
ISLAMABAD: National Security Committee (NSC) on Wednesday condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and observed that the people of Pakistan shared the pain of their Afghan brethren and stood by them in complete solidarity during the hour of grief.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired the 21st meeting of the NSC at PM House. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Director General of ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, National Security Adviser Lt Gen (r) Nasser Khan Janjua and other senior civil and military officials.
The deputy chairman of planning commission briefed the meeting regarding the water policy approved by the Council of Common Interests on April 24, 2018, along with a water charter, which was signed by the PM and the four chief ministers. The Committee observed that it was a very significant achievement and could prove instrumental in averting the water crisis that was threatening Pakistan. The committee also directed the Water Resources Division to forcefully pursue the violations of the Indus Water Treaty by India with the World Bank.
Miftah Ismail briefed the committee on the economic performance of Pakistan over the last five years and the ‘growth strategy’ underlying the budget for FY 2018-19. The committee was of the view that while the sustained five years’ growth was a matter of much satisfaction, potentially destabilising factors needed to be addressed simultaneously. The committee also reviewed the status of FATF compliance and appreciated the substantial progress made by Pakistan in this regard.
Moreover, several initiatives towards a more facilitative visa regime, especially with respect to tourists, students and people traveling to Pakistan for medical care, were discussed. The committee reviewed the proposed administrative reforms package for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and directed that while finalising the recommendations it shall be ensured that the new arrangements are in complete harmony with the aspirations of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
