Mounting pressure: Cabinet meeting today after seven months

Undeterred by opposition, PM focuses on development plans

ISLAMABAD:

Amid  mounting pressure on the government over the Panama Papers revelations, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a meeting of his federal cabinet today (Wednesday) after a gap of more than seven months.

The cabinet is likely to discuss the government’s strategy to deal with the opposition’s growing criticism.

Almost all major parties have rejected the terms of reference set by the government for the proposed commission to investigate offshore assets of Pakistanis named in Panama leaks.

Officials said the strategy paper for next fiscal year’s budget would be presented before the cabinet. The paper approves main benchmarks for the next budget, including growth rate.

To garner public support, PM Nawaz will also perform the groundbreaking of Havelian-Thakot, Multan-Sukkur, DI Khan-Hakla, Lahore-Multan and Sialkot-Lahore motorways in the coming three weeks.

The premier was briefed that utmost transparency has been ensured while initiating these projects.

Mission to serve

In separate meetings with his party’s lawmakers at the PM House, the premier said the government believed in serving the masses and the elected representatives should focus on solving the problems of the people. He said the projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would change the destiny of the people of Pakistan and would usher in an era of economic revolution.

Cancelled trip

The prime minister’s planned visit to Neelum and Danna in Azad Kashmir was postponed due to bad weather. He was scheduled to review work progress at the Neelum-Jhelum hydel project and distribute compensation cheques in Danna among the people affected by rains and landslides. A PM Office statement said he had to return midway due to sudden change in weather.

Condolence

The prime minister also expressed sorrow over the death of Amanullah Khan – the founder of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front who passed away on Tuesday.

In a condolence message, PM Nawaz said the sacrifice of Amanullah for the cause of Kashmir would be long remembered

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th,  2016.