PC board strength increased to 11

PM says affordable electricity, economic stability key priorities

ISLAMABAD:

The federal cabinet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair, on Tuesday, approved increase in the strength of members of the Privatization Commission Board from the existing 8 to 11 on the recommendations of Privatisation Division.

On the International Women's Day, the prime minister had directed for representation of women in the country's significant boards and under his vision, women members would be appointed on the new seats, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The cabinet also directed for taking of all measures to keep prices of urea fertilizer under control and directed for provision of uninterrupted gas supply to urea manufacturing factories even after September 2024 instead of urea import in light of a decision taken by Economic Coordination Committee on August 2.

"Agriculture has been the backbone of the country's economy and the cabinet directed for ensuring reduction in the prices of agriculture inputs to mitigate farmers' per acre expenses," a press release in Urdu language said.

It also ratified decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Privatization during its meeting on August 2, however, the prime minister further directed for submission of a comprehensive plan over those State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) whose privatisation had already been approved.

On the recommendation of Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the cabinet approved implementation of court's order regarding regularization of daily-wage teachers of Federal Directorate of Education (FED).

It also approved the signing of an MoU between ministries of foreign affairs of Pakistan and Democratic Guatemala, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for initiation of political consultations, besides, according approval to the signing of an MoU between Pakistan and Ecuador for holding of bilateral political consultations.

The cabinet ratified the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on State Owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs) taken on August 5, besides giving nod to decisions taken by Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases on July 31.

Discos

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the government and all of its relevant departments were purely focused on providing low-cost electricity to domestic and other consumers besides bringing in reforms to achieve economic stability.

"Our sole focus is to reduce power prices to provide relief to domestic consumers, agriculture, industry, exports and business sectors. This is inevitable to steer the economy of prevailing issues. The competitiveness of exports is linked with the cheap electricity," the prime minister said addressing the newly appointed chairmen and board members of the power distribution companies.