ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary on Friday said that the government had ensured unprecedented media freedom in the country.
Taking floor in the National Assembly, he said that there was no media trial being conducted against any politician, adding that the law is equal for anyone and will take its course.
Ministry of Commerce is formulating Trade-Related Investment Policy Framework 2018-23 to channelise investment into export-oriented production and competitive import substitution.
Minister in-charge of the Prime Minister’s Office, in a written reply during the Question Hour session, said that the five-year policy aims to provide a comprehensive package of incentives to attract investment in the export-oriented production.
“It is focusing on priority sectors such as footwear and bags, textile and apparel, aluminum sheets, high technology steel making, food-related products, oil refinery and petrochemical and IT and electronic goods,” the house was told.
The minister said the Board of Investment is formulating an investment strategy in consultation with all the stakeholders.
The National Assembly was informed that an amount of Rs 7.5 billion have so far been submitted in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Prime Minister of Pakistan Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams Fund.
Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar said that out of this amount, Rs 804 million were received from the international sources.
“In Islamabad, rehabilitation work for 24 feet wide metalmetalled starting from GT Road and linking sectors I-14 to I-16 is in progress and will be completed during the current fiscal year,” he informed the house.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan told the National Assembly that ditches along the roads in Sector I-14/3 and Street 22 of Sector I-14/2 will be filled within four weeks.
On another question, the minister said no high-rise buildings were being built in Islamabad without the approval of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). He. however, added that a number of such buildings had been constructed without approval of CDA on the skirts of the sectoral areas.
“CDA has established Building Control Directorate for housing societies to check all illegal and unauthorized constructions,” he said, adding that a number of buildings have been sealed on account of construction without approval.
Khan said the utility departments, including Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), have been asked not to provide utility connections to any building without CDA’s approval.