Prime Minister Imran Khan tasks law ministry with preparing draft of the law. PHOTO: PPI/FILE
In the cabinet meeting on Thursday, chaired by Premier Imran, Minister for National Food Security and Research Fakhar Imam – while discussing the sugar inquiry report – suggested that ministers should not run their businesses while holding public offices. “There must be a 'conflict of interest law' in place to avoid this practice.”
A few cabinet members supported the suggestion of the minister in better interest of the government as well as the public.
The said law does not exist at federal level, which is why the prime minister has tasked the law ministry with preparing a draft.
The cabinet members voiced their concern over ministers running their private businesses while holding public offices, saying they should not be allowed to do so.
Imam called for implementing the law – as soon as it is prepared – on the cabinet members first.
The meeting also took cognisance of the political involvement in the sugar inquiry report.
After a briefing on the sugar inquiry report, the cabinet members asked the prime minister questions and gave suggestions.
They asked some serious questions regarding allowing sugar export and granting subsidy.
Sugar barons’ web of deceit unravelled
Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, “There is no obvious reason behind the Punjab government granting Rs3 billion subsidy. The Punjab chief minister should answer why he granted the subsidy.”
The aviation minister said that one of the reasons behind the shortage of the commodity in the country was its export.
Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said, “Who will ask the people who gave permission to export sugar?”
The cabinet members hailed the Federal Investigation Agency Director General Wajid Zia and Special Assistant Shehzad Akbar on preparing the investigation report on the sugar crisis.
The cabinet members lauded the prime minister for forming a commission to make the sugar inquiry report public, saying they were with Premier Imran against the mafia, which is fleecing the public of their hard-earned money.
The cabinet members again raised the issue of non-elected members inducted into the cabinet.
The aviation minister said, “We should at least know about the details of the assets of the non-elected members. Details of their assets should be sought.”
Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said that transparency and accountability is the motto of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. “There should be some rules in place for the non-elected cabinet members.”
On the demand of the cabinet members, the prime minister sought details of the assets owned by advisers and special assistants.
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