Govt approves Rs5b for fresh census

ISLAMABAD:

The federal cabinet on Tuesday endorsed the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) decision to utilise Rs5 billion to carry out a fresh census in the current year.

“The whole census process is likely to be completed by December,” Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said while briefing the media about the decision taken by the cabinet.

He added the result of its pilot project would be finalised by April or May and then the Election Commission of Pakistan would be able to start working on a new delimitation in January next year.

He expressed the confidence that the general election 2023 would be held under fresh delimitation, as the process for holding the census was expedited for the purpose.

The minister said the cabinet was informed that despite the increase in the cases of new coronavirus variant - Omicron, the hospitalisation rate in the country had risen by only one-and-a-half times. “There is no pressure on the health system.”

The government, he said, had decided not to close businesses. "All activities will continue and with the help of the Almighty, we will be able to defeat the current wave as well.”

He said the workers going abroad for earning livelihood would be given subsidy in corona tests and a summary in that regard would be presented in the ECC.

Fawad said the cabinet accorded approval to the draft comprehensive legal reforms, which would be presented to parliament.

Read CCI green-lights 7th population census

Under the reforms, it would be mandatory for courts to dispose of criminal cases within nine months and in case of delay, presiding judges and prosecutors would be bound to give reasons to chief justices of high courts concerned.

The police's power of bail under suo motu would be strengthened, while a plea bargain clause had been suggested for the accused in criminal cases, he added.

The minister said under the new law, a station house officer would have to be a graduate and an officer of the rank of sub-inspector.

He said an independent prosecution service would be launched, forensic laboratories upgraded, and the latest equipment and devices introduced for investigation of cases.

It was proposed for police to file challan in the court within 45 days instead of 14, which often compromised the investigation process, he added.

The cabinet, he said, gave approval of additional charge of the chief executive officer at Diamer-Bhasha Dam to Muhammad Yousuf for three months.

It endorsed the ECC's decisions, including the removal of 45 per cent regulatory duty on the import of pine nuts from Afghanistan. The government abolished the duty to provide relief to the people of war-torn neighbour, he noted.

He said the government would pay $11.6 million compensation to the Chinese nationals, the victims of the Dasu Hydropower Project terror attack.

Read more ECC likely to approve Rs500b for census

The cabinet, the minister said, approved a list of some items exported by Afghanistan to trade in rupees.

He said it gave its consent for the formulation of a special advisory committee regarding matters related to 5G licences.

The cabinet also endorsed the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases. It included the Elections (Second Amendment) Bill 2021, aimed at preventing corrupt practices in Senate elections.

The minister said the cabinet also approved the composition of the PBS Governing Council, and the Hajj and Umrah Act. He said Faisal Sherjan was appointed as Executive Director of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.

The cabinet was given a briefing on awarding bonuses to federal ministries and divisions for showing good performance to improve the affairs of government, the minister added.