-Decides to introduce reforms in criminal justice system
-Fawad says IT Ministry to launch 5G technology in Pakistan next year
By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Federal Cabinet on Tuesday has rejected the proposal of 10 per cent ad hoc relief in the basic salaries of the Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, Deputy Chairman Senate, Deputy Speaker National Assembly and Members of Parliament.
Briefing the media about the decisions of the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the minister said that this decision was part of the austerity drive of the Prime Minister being implemented since day one as a result of which the Prime Minister’s House made huge savings and the National Assembly saved Rs 1.54 billion and returned to the government. He said that the Cabinet opined that it was a violation of this principle of austerity keeping in mind the present economic situation. He said that the decision was meant to show the nation that the people in corridors of power were setting an example for the other people to save national wealth.
It is to be noted that the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs had forwarded the matter related to the salary raise of lawmakers to the federal cabinet.Fawad Chaudhry further said in Tuesday’s that the Ministry of Information Technology would launch 5G technology in the country next year.
Briefing the media about decisions taken by the Federal Cabinet in Tuesday’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chaudhry said that multiple companies had already shown interest in launching 5G technology in Pakistan. Chaudhry said that PM Imran Khan directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to ensure good telecommunication services in all parts of the country so that everyone could benefit from revolution in the sector.
Moreover, the minister told the media that the federal cabinet has made a landmark decision to introduce comprehensive reforms in the obsolete and outdated criminal justice system in the country in line with the prime minister’s vision for provision of timely and inexpensive justice.
He said that Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem gave the cabinet a detailed briefing on the proposed law, adding that these reforms would entirely change the criminal justice system. Chaudhry said the reforms would fulfill PM Imran Khan’s agenda of improvement in the criminal justice system to ensure timely justice.
He said the focus of reforms would ensure inexpensive and timely provision of justice besides ending a delay in trial and hurdles in registration of first information reports (FIR). He said the matter would now be discussed in the Cabinet Committee on Law and Justice and after that it would be implemented.
He further said that the cabinet allowed the Federal Board of Revenue to hire services for making its data more secure following a cyber-attack on August 14 this year. Chaudhry said hackers attacked the FBR website, however most of its data remained safe and an operational emergency was declared to secure its data.
He said the cabinet was informed that this year about a million cyber-attacks were made on Pakistani websites which were thwarted by National Telecom Company. It was informed that a comprehensive framework of cyber security was in place which was being further strengthened. Chaudhry said that the Ministry of Science and Technology briefed the cabinet on the process of using electronic voting machines and overseas Pakistanis’ voting right.
The minister said the cabinet gave approval for the establishment of Quaid-e-Azam Foundation. Chaudhry said the prime minister expressed disappointment over a delay in procurement of wheat despite his clear instructions for early procurement. He said Punjab province was issued directives for immediate release of wheat which, he said, would help in the gradual reduction of wheat and flour prices in the market.
On the proposal of the tariff policy board, the cabinet approved reduction in additional customs duty on auto parts from seven to two percent to promote indigenous production of vehicles. He said additional customs duty on heavy commercial vehicles had also been reduced from seven to two percent. Moreover, he said that prices of cars that are 1000CC and below would fall after the abolishment of additional duty on their equipment.
