Sharif added that projects worth $1.6 billion will be completed in Balochistan in order to expedite the development of the province. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Advocating judicious and efficient use of the scare public funds, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday stressed that the Gwadar port extension project should be given priority in order to boost economic activity in the country, Radio Pakistan reported.
The premier was chairing a federal cabinet meeting during which he also announced that projects worth $1.6 billion would be undertaken in Balochistan, adding that Gawadar is being developed as a model city, and the Gawadar airport and port are being developed on modern lines.
Along with these development projects, he also emphasised the need to improve health and education services in the province. The socio-economic package includes provision for training of human resource in different sectors.
Establishing peace in Balochistan is a priority of the government, he said, noting that security concerns can impede economic activity and socio-economic development.
LNG tarrif
According to a government press release, the cabinet approved $0.66/MMBTU tariff for LNG services project secured through competitive bidding process by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources. The cabinet also decided that the policy guidelines of the tariff shall be conveyed to OGRA.
Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while briefing the cabinet informed that the price of LNG is competitive with the international market, and that the 15-year contract will provide 200 MMBTU of LNG in the first year, which would be increased to 400 MMBTU from the second year onwards.
Amendments
The Cabinet considered and approved the Proposed Amendments in the Patent Ordinance 2000 Regarding Electronic Publication of Patent Journal.
The Cabinet granted approval in principle for draft Bill for Creation of Joint Maritime Information Organization (JMIO).
The Cabinet also approved Amendment in Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (FERA, 1947).
The Cabinet deferred Right to Information Bill, 2014 and PM directed for further consultations with opposition and stakeholders.
The Cabinet considered the Constitution (Twenty-First Amendment) Bill 2013 and referred it to the relevant committee for further consideration.
Two amendments were proposed in Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973.
The Cabinet approved one amendment in the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, while deferring the second amendment for further deliberations.
The Cabinet considered a bill titled, The Islamabad Subordinate Judiciary Service Tribunal Act, 2014 and referred it to the Law Division for further review.
International agreements
Approval in principle was granted to start negotiations with the Republic of Turkey on MoU in the field of environment.
Approval was given to start negotiations and for the signing of Memorandum of Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. Formal approval of the Cabinet was accorded for the signing of MoU between Pakistan and People’s Republic of China on the Raikot-Islamabad Section of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).
Meeting aslo gave approval in principle for negotiations of the draft agreement between the Ministry of Defence and the UAE Ministry of Interior for secondment of qualified technical military personnel to the UAE.
The Cabinet approved the signing of the MoU between Pakistan and the United Republic of Tanzania on defence cooperation.
They approved the signing of Revised Draft Agreement between the Ministry of Defence and the Russian Ministry of Defence on military cooperation. The Cabinet approved in principle negotiations for the draft MoU between Pakistan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on defence cooperation.
The meeting considered granting approval in principle for initiation of negotiations for the signing of an agreement between Pakistan and South Africa on defence industrial corporation, but deferred the matter.
While discussing the agenda item, the Prime Minister directed that the matter of production in defence sector is of immense importance and that the cabinet should be briefed on the matter in detail. The Cabinet gave approval in principle to start negotiations on the agreement on economic cooperation between Pakistan and Czech Republic.
The Cabinet approved initiation of negotiations for the signing of Reciprocal Agreement and MoU between the Pakistan and Qatar. The Cabinet gave approval in principle for negotiations for MoU between Supreme Audit Institutions of Pakistan and Vietnam on cooperation in auditing in public sector.
Initiation of negotiations between State Bank of Pakistan and Central Bank of Philippines on signing of MoU on cooperation in the field of banking supervision and exchange of information was also approved.
The Cabinet approved initiation of negotiations between State Bank of Pakistan and Central bank of France on signing of MoU on Cooperation in the field of banking supervision and exchange of information.
Negotiation between State Bank of Pakistan and Central Bank of Kenya on cooperation in supervision of supervised institutions was also approved. The Cabinet formally approved the framework agreement in the field of housing development signed during the visit of the Prime Minister to Turkey in September 2013.
Cabinet approval was granted in principle to begin negotiations regarding the bilateral MoU between the United States of America and Pakistan concerning the imposition of import restriction on archaeological material.
Ratification of an agreement on transfer of offenders signed between Pakistan and Yemen was also approved.
The Cabinet gave approval for the signing of an agreement between Pakistan and Lao People’s Democratic Republic visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
The Cabinet approved cooperation in the field of higher education and scientific research between the Ministry of Interprovincial Coordination of Pakistan and the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The Cabinet approved the signing of the MoU between Pakistan and the Republic of South Africa for cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals.
The Cabinet gave permission in principle for entering an agreement concerning the export of manpower from Pakistan with Italy, while the signing of a MoU between Pakistan and Republic of Turkey on Sister Sea port Relation and Cooperation was also approved.
The Cabinet approved starting negotiations and signing MoU on cooperation in preventing and combating pollution from ships between Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Cabinet approved signing the MoU in the fields of standardization, metrology, certification, accreditation and other related fields between Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and Jordan Institution of Standards and Metrology (JISM).
The cabinet granted Approval of the MoU signed between Iran Powers Generation, Transmission and Distribution Management Company (TAVANIR) and National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) in the field of electricity transmission.
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