In partnership with
Profit
‘GIRD UP LOINS’: PM WARNS AGAINST LAXITY IN DOWNSIZING AGENDA OF MINISTRIES Thursday, 11 July, 2024 I 4 Muharram, 1446
g
Says will not listen against closure of PWD as govt has found an alternative solution based on Punjab's model
P g
g
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 11 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Informs Finance Ministry working out plan for solarisation of a million tube-wells in country to save a burden of $3.5b
Cabinet grants one-year extension in expiry of POR Cards of 1.45m Afghan refugees ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, warning against any laxity in the implementation of the government’s downsizing agenda, asked the ministries to work hard for making a difference and meeting the nation’s expectations. “I will not allow my time to be wasted and I am sure you will not allow your time to be wasted. The only thing that will make a difference is action and implementation. Gird up your loins as this is a matter of country, its resources and resolution of its issues,” the prime minister said in his remarks while chairing the meeting of the federal cabinet. The prime minister categorically said that he would not listen against the closure of PWD as the government had also found an alternative solution on the pattern of Punjab. He said the two-week time he had given for PWD’s closure was already over. “I will not tolerate if any ministry used delaying tactics. Please make no mistake about it. It is okay if there is any valid reason for any subsidiary but protecting any entity for the sake of perks and privileges is a thing of the past, not today. It will not happen and it must not happen,” he remarked. Apprising the members of his visits to Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, he referred to his interactions with world leaders, particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin, and said he had formed a committee under Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal for follow-ups. Similarly, he said he had chaired a
meeting a couple of days ago to review the progress on the follow-up of “very productive” discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during his China visit and would hold another meeting on July 20. The prime minister said the government had launched solarisation of 28,000 tube-wells in Balochistan to save bleeding of annual Rs80 billion. He also appreciated the Balochistan Chief Minister and other relevant ministries and departments for taking the project to the implementation stage. He told the meeting that the finance ministry had been tasked with working out a business plan for solarisation of a million tube-wells in the country, currently running on imported fuel, putting a burden of $3.5 billion in form of foreign exchange. The prime minister highlighted that Pakistan had immense solar energy potential which must be exploited to save energy costs and provide low-cost electricity to the farmers. “Time is running fast and we are racing against time. You have to accept the challenge and deliver. You will become the nation’s heroes if you bring about a revolution of development in your ministries. For this, we will have to work day and night,” he remarked. He also highlighted that Pakistan spends $5 billion on freight of exports and imports but Pakistan National Shipping Corporation was running a fleet of just 12 ships while getting Rs5 billion for salaries. This is in contrast to around 600 ships run by Bangladesh and around 1500 ships by India.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Two army jawans, as police cops embrace martyrdom in Hassan Khel IBO RAWALPINDI
Staff RepoRt
Cabinet thumbs up to plan for Pak-PWD abolition, PIDC, AFMC formation ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the action plan for abolition of the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) and decided the formation of a Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company (PIDC) to oversee federal development projects and Asset and Facility Management Company (AFMC) for repair and maintenance works. The cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also decided to hand over the federal government projects in the provinces to the relevant provincial departments. Similarly, the AFMC would be established to carry out the repair and maintenance work currently being done by the Pak-PWD. After their classification, the PWD employees would be
transferred to relevant ministries and a golden handshake scheme would also be introduced for them. Moreover, the cabinet also decided to computerise the record of all PWD properties and called for completing the transition process within two weeks. The federal cabinet was also briefed about the performance of the committee formed to reduce the government’s volume. It was told that the committee would complete the information gathering about the unnecessary departments of the ministries of IT, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, States and Frontier Regions, Industries and Production, and National Health Services by July 12 and present proposals before the cabinet by first week of August, after consultation with the relevant ministries.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Two Pakistan Army soldiers and as many police officers were martyred on Wednesday in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Hassan Khel area of Peshawar, reported the military’s media wing. A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that a joint IBO was conducted by security forces and the police based on the reported presence of a “high-profile terrorist”. It added that “high-value target” terrorist commander Abdul Raheem, and two other militants “were sent to hell” after an intense exchange of fire. “Raheem was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies and the government had fixed head money of Rs6 million on him, as he remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities, and was also responsible for martyrdom of Captain Hussain Jehangir and Havildar Shafiq Ullah on May 26, 2024,” the ISPR said. “Today’s operation has avenged the heinous act and has brought the main perpetrator to justice”, it added. However, during intense exchange of fire, four brave sons of soil: Sepoy Muhammad Idrees, 34 years, a resident of Swabi District, Sepoy Badam Gul, 34 years, a resident of Kohat District of Pakistan Army and Sub-Inspector Tajmir Shah, 38 years, a resident of Peshawar District and Assistant Sub Inspector Muhammad Akram, 34 years, a resident of Mansehra District, of CTD KPK, having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat, the ISPR said. It said that Pakistan’s Security Forces stand shoulder to shoulder with other law enforcement agencies to ensure peace and stability across the country and such sacrifices of brave men only further strengthen our resolve.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03