ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif informed the federal cabinet on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia had extended an oil supply agreement for Pakistan worth $100 million per month on deferred payment for an additional year under the Saudi Development Fund.
Shehbaz, who chaired the meeting, also discussed his discussions with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a World Bank team, who praised Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability due to the government’s reform strategy.
The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave him a letter, which the prime minister shared with the cabinet meeting. “Deeply grateful to the Saudi leadership,” he continued, for supporting Pakistan “in every difficult time.”
According to Shehbaz, the Saudi crown prince wrote to him to let him know that the Saudi Development Fund will be renewing the $100 million monthly supply for another year on the basis of deferred payment for Pakistani petroleum products.
“We are deeply grateful to Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi leadership,” said the prime minister. “Saudi Arabia has always stood with Pakistan in difficult times,” he stated.
Shehbaz stated in his introductory remarks that his government’s goal was to eradicate terrorism completely, emphasizing the connection between it and Pakistan’s growth and prosperity. In this context, he praised the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s military in the war on terrorism.
In view of the determination demonstrated during the recently finished visit of Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Pakistan, he instructed the commerce ministry and other relevant departments to use every effort to increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and Turkiye to $5 billion.
The prime minister gave the order for all federal ministries and departments to finish implementing e-Office by March 20. In order to help Pakistanis living overseas, he also ordered that the whole service delivery system in Pakistani missions overseas be digitalized.
The cabinet was informed that e-Office was being used in 98% of federal government divisions, with 39 divisions having 100% adoption. Furthermore, the system had been effectively implemented by 176 institutions.
On the advice of the minister of climate change, the cabinet authorized the signature of an international agreement for the conservation and use of a variety of marine resources in international waters under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The fisherman of Pakistan would gain from this endeavor.
The signing of Addendum 2 with Somalia addressing the national identity system was also accepted by the cabinet. Somalia is now receiving assistance with its national identification system from Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
The meeting sent a review petition for Watim Medical College, Rawalpindi’s registration to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) for additional legal procedures based on the Islamabad High Court’s orders and the health ministry’s recommendation.
The cabinet forwarded six candidates to the prime minister and the head of the opposition in parliament for the post of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) member on the National Commission for Human Rights based on the human rights ministry’s proposal.
As suggested by the ministry of science and technology, the cabinet authorized the creation of a commission of investigation to look into anomalies in the elections of the Pakistan Engineering Council’s (PEC) governing body.
The changes to the Inland Revenue Appellate Tribunal (Appointment, Terms, and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2024 were approved at the meeting. It supported the decisions made in earlier this month’s meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases and the Economic Coordination Committee.
The appointment of Dr. Shahid Aslam Mirza as managing director of the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority and Kamran Jahangir as managing director of the National Book Foundation were both confirmed by the cabinet.
The PM opens the Erdogan Interchange
The Recep Tayyip Erdogan Interchange near the F-8 and F-9 sectors was officially opened by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday. Sharif praised Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his team for finishing the project in a record 84 days.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the prime minister stated that he had counseled the interior minister to create plans for upcoming initiatives that would further enhance the beauty of the nation’s capital and the quality of life for those who reside there and in the surrounding areas.
Shehbaz has dedicated the recently constructed F8 and F9 Interchange after the Turkish president during Erdogan’s recent visit to Pakistan. “I will send the pictures and detail of inauguration ceremony to the Turkish president to make him realise that he is our close friend and brother,” he stated.
Speaking at the event, Naqvi stated that the project was completed in 84 days as opposed to the six months that were originally planned. In an effort to tackle air pollution and reduce smog, he declared that a massive planting push would begin next month on Margalla Hills and throughout the city.
Residents heading toward Sector G-8, G-9, Kashmir Highway, and Centaurus Mall will benefit from the Interchange project. The project’s 1.3-kilometer-long underpass was finished in 42 days, and a 1.1-kilometer-long flyover has also been built.
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