ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interest (CCI) on Monday decided to constitute national and provincial task forces to monitor the impacts of rapid population growth that currently stands at 207.8 million with a growth rate of 2.4% per annum.
The council, that met at the Prime Minister’s Office with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair, decided that the process of establishment of task forces will be completed within 48 hours whereas it will be headed by the prime minister at the national level and by the respective chief ministers at provincial levels.
According to a press statement, the meeting was attended by Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza, Finance Minister Asad Umer, Law Minister Farogh Naseem, Minister for Privatisation Mohammad Mian Soomro and all four chief ministers besides adviser to prime minister on commerce and industry and other officials concerned.
The task forces will consider the recommendations formulated by the task force constituted earlier on the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and submit a comprehensive action plan to the CCI, taking into account the future implementation strategy of the plan, the financial aspects and other issues about garnering support of all segments of society for the success of a comprehensive population control programme.
The meeting also approved, in principle, a proposal to include two R-LNG facilities, namely 1,230 MW Haveli Bahadur Shah and 1,223 MW Balloki, owned by National Power Parks Management Company Ltd (NPPMCL) in the active list of privatisation programme for early implementation.
The CCI unanimously emphasised the need for greater focus towards renewable energy in existing energy mix.
There was a complete consensus among the participants to place greater focus on further improving ease of doing business in the country in order to attract investments and promote industry to realise the export potential of the country.