Govt will reimburse Rs2.5bn to consumers for gas overbilling: Fawad
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the cabinet meeting approved to reimburse Rs2.5 billion to gas consumers who received inflated bills.
Briefing the media after federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan – in which approved several points of 30-point meeting agenda – the minister said the cabinet took into view the issue of inflated gas bills and discussed measures to rectify the situation. He said inflated gas bills were being sent to consumers from 2016-17.
He said 3.2 million gas consumers have been affected by exaggerated gas bills. He mentioned that the cabinet decided that an amount of 2.5 billion rupees will be returned to gas consumers for inflated bills.
Tareen gives detailed briefing to cabinet on agriculture
Fawad Chaudhry also said that PTI leader Jahangir Tareen gave a detailed briefing to the cabinet on agriculture. He said during last 8 years, agricultural spending reduced by 60 per cent negatively impacting this crucial sector of economy.
Govt decides to spend 290 billion rupees on agriculture
The government has decided to spend 290 billion rupees on agriculture, with 18 big schemes to be launched in the next five years. “Our agricultural imports have reached to 4 billion dollars, which include 2 billion dollars of edible oil bill,” the info minister said.
He said the cabinet decided to raise awareness among people to reduce the consumption of Vanaspati oil at households to save precious foreign exchange on import of edible oil.
Livestock, fisheries sector to be given special attention
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said in the new agri schemes, focus will be made on increasing per capita production, judicious use of water, and increased access to farming credits. He said as direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan Livestock and fisheries sector will be given special attention as they have a huge export potential.
Cabinet expresses grief over attack on New Zealand mosques
The cabinet expressed sorrow and grief over the tragic incident of terrorist attack on two mosques in New Zealand in which fifty persons were martyred. “We need dialogue among civilizations to counter the hatred spread in West against Islam and Muslims,” he said.
He said survival of human beings is only possible if they live in peaceful co-existence.
Mahathir's visit to Pakistan is a great honor
Fawad Chaudhry said cabinet decided to make necessary arrangements for the upcoming visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad will visit Pakistan on the occasion of 23rd Mach, Pakistan Day. He said it is a continuation of visits of important world leaders to Pakistan after PTI came to power. He said Mahathir's visit to Pakistan is a great honor for us.
Heads of regulatory bodies to be selected on merit
The minister said that the cabinet decided that heads of regulatory bodies, corporations, and attached departments of ministries will be selected on merit. “A preliminary committee headed by the respective Minister will oversee the process. They will shortlist the names to be sent to government for approval.”
Cabinet gave approval to grant NITB
The cabinet gave approval to grant National Information Technology Board an independent status, separating it from Ministry of Information Technology in order to improve its functioning.
Decided to shift Accountability Court No 2 Rawalpindi to Islamabad
Fawad Ch said that it has also been decided to shift Accountability Court No 2 Rawalpindi to Islamabad and it will be now called Accountability Court No 3.
Task force for Evacuee Trust complex approved
He said the Task force for Evacuee Trust complex has been approved while the decision about its chairman deferred for a week.
