Peace be upon you:
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the UAE has informed Pakistan about the rollover of two billion dollars of debt.
This was said by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his address to the Federal Cabinet meeting chaired by him. In the meeting, the cabinet reviewed the overall law and order and economic situation of the country.
Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister informed the Cabinet that the UAE has decided to postpone the payment of 2 billion US dollars by Pakistan, which was due in January this year, which is very good for our economy. Further, the UAE President has reiterated his commitment to invest in Pakistan.
Approval to declare FBR infrastructure as critical infrastructure
In the meeting, the Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Revenue Division, approved declaring the infrastructure of the Federal Board of Revenue as critical infrastructure under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. The move aims to protect the highly sensitive data of the Federal Board of Revenue from cyber-attacks such as hacking and any unauthorized access. This initiative will help in making sensitive data of FBR more secure.
Flydubai extends permission for Lahore Islamabad flights
On the recommendation of the Aviation Division, the Federal Cabinet approved the temporary permission of international airline Fly Dubai for weekly frequencies of flights from Lahore and Islamabad to Dubai and from Dubai to Lahore and Islamabad from January 4, 2025 to February 3, 2025. Extension approved.
Directing 60% of public sector imports and exports to Gwadar port
The Federal Cabinet was briefed by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on the public sector imports and exports of 11 federal ministries/divisions from Gwadar port from March 2024 till now.
The Prime Minister directed that the reports of all the concerned ministries should be made a part of the briefing and a comprehensive report should be presented. The Prime Minister directed that 60 percent of all imports and exports of the public sector should be done through Gwadar port without any kind of appropriation in imports and exports.
From January 1, the use of paper between federal institutions was abandoned
The Federal Cabinet was briefed by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications on the progress regarding the implementation of e-office in the federal ministries and divisions.
The meeting was told that for the first time e-office is being implemented on such a large scale by the government. The meeting was further informed that from January 1, 2025, the use of paper for communication between all Federal Ministries and Divisions has been abandoned and all files movement and other correspondence are being used only through e-office. The meeting was further informed that implementation of e-office in 21 Ministries/Divisions has been made 100%.
Implementation of e-office will not only save time but also benefit the national exchequer in terms of stationery and petrol. With the implementation of e-Office, the processing time of the summary in the Prime Minister’s Office has now been reduced to a maximum of only three days.
Approval to buy refurbished Google Chromebooks
The Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Cabinet Division, exempted the purchase/procurement of refurbished Google Chromebooks for schools and colleges under Section 21-A of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Ordinance. Third party audit should be made mandatory.
China Co-operative Textile Park
The Federal Cabinet has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Investment Board and Shandong Ruyi Group China regarding the establishment of textile parks.
Foreign Service Agreement between Serbia and Pakistan
On the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Cabinet approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Diplomatic Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Foreign Service Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The arrangements for Hajj 2025 will be made by the current 46 organizers
The recommendations of the Cabinet Committee on Private Hajj Operators Court Cases were submitted to the Federal Cabinet. The committee has recommended that arrangements for Hajj 2025 will be made by the existing 46 organizers. The committee has further recommended that a new Hajj policy should be made for the coming years. The Federal Cabinet approved the recommendations of the said committee. The Cabinet directed that steps should be taken to bring all the court cases to a logical conclusion regarding the private Hajj operators.
*The Federal Cabinet approved the decisions taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Affairs on December 31, 2024 and January 1, 2025-
