—Info minister says task forces will present plan for implementing PTI’s promises within 90 days
–Says govt will hold talks with PPP and PML-N for creation of South Punjab province
—Govt to hold Plant for Pakistan Day on Sept 2
ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the federal cabinet on Tuesday deliberated upon creation of task forces to fulfill the promises made to the public of creating 10 million jobs and construction of 5 million houses.
The meeting of the federal cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told a press conference after the cabinet meeting that the task forces will complete their working on the matters and present their plan in 90 days. He added that the performance of these task forces will be reviewed by PM Khan after every 15 days.
Chaudhry said that the government will focus on creating job opportunities where eligible people can apply. He also said that the government will not employ unnecessary help in its own departments.
REFORMS IN GOVT:
The minister said that the civil service reforms take priority among reforms in the federal government for which PM’s adviser on austerity [Dr Ishrat Hussain] has been asked to present a plan within 90 days.
The adviser will also oversee reforms in the planning department, he said, adding that a large amount of money goes into Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for which the austerity adviser will be bringing in reforms.
The minister also said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws will be amended to make the body more effective and that Law Minister Farogh Nasim will work on this matter.
“Necessary amendments will also be introduced in civil laws to address women inheritance issues and delay in the decision of cases,” he added.
CREATION OF SOUTH PUNJAB PROVINCE, FATA-KP MERGER:
The cabinet also discussed the creation of South Punjab province, Fawad said. He added that the PTI government will hold talks with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties as a two-thirds majority are required for the creation of the new province.
He also said that Arbab Shehzad has been assigned the task of early materialisation of the FATA merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
TREE PLANTATION DRIVE:
The information minister said that the government will hold a ‘Plant for Pakistan Day’ on September 2, where 1.5 million saplings will be planted all over the country in a single day.
On the occasion, Climate Change Adviser Aslam briefed the media about the initiative and said that the drive was an important step to save Pakistan from becoming a desert.
“The prime minister will initiate this project here in Islamabad while the chief ministers will lead it in their respective provinces,” Aslam said, adding that all provincial governments have been called in to discuss their targets and hopefully all those targets will be achieved on the day of the drive.
The adviser briefed that the government was creating 190 points all over the country where the forest department will work with the municipal administration.
“There will be pick-up points, which will be identified through a Facebook page that is being created. This page will tell people that from where they can collect plants and who will provide them,” the adviser said while expressing hopes that all Pakistanis will take part in the campaign.
