July 4, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 22,1423

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ISLAMABAD, July 3: The federal cabinet here on Wednesday approved the Haj policy for 2003 under which approximately 1,40,000 people will be able to perform Haj this year.

The cabinet which was presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf rejected the demand of PIA to increase air fares with a view to not burden the intending pilgrims.

According to the details, unfolded later by Minister for Information Nisar Memon at a news conference, 50,000 pilgrims will be sent under the regular scheme, and 60,000 will reach Saudi Arabia under sponsorship scheme. Also another 15,000 will go under the open Haj scheme.

The total number was 8,500 more than the previous year. “But our estimates are that about 1,40,000 people will be performing Haj this year as against of 131,000 of last year”, Mr Memon said.

APPLICATIONS: He said that applications from the intending Hajis will be invited from July 15 and the last date for the receipt of applications under the regular scheme would be Aug 15, under the sponsorship scheme Aug 22, and under the open Haj scheme Sept 21. Applications can be submitted with late fee of Rs5,000 up to Sept 21 and Dec 31 under the sponsorship scheme and the open Haj scheme respectively.

Mr Memon pointed out that the cabinet did not approve increase in Haj fares as proposed by the PIA and decided to keep at the level of last year. Haj flights will operate from the federal and provincial capitals.

The cabinet directed the PIA that it should make travelling arrangements of Haj pilgrims in such a way so as to reduce the stay from 40 days to 35 days in Saudi Arabia.

Delegation of doctors, homeopath doctors and paramedics including 25 private sector volunteer doctors will go to Saudi Arabia to provide medical care to the pilgrims. The intending pilgrims will be imparted comprehensive Manasik-i-Haj training at the provincial and the Tehsil levels.

The information minister said that the cabinet decided that in future, Haj Policy need not to be referred to the cabinet but to be decided by the ministry of religious affairs in consultation with the concerned organizations.

Mr Memon said that president told the meeting that consultative process will be adopted to achieve consensus on the proposed constitutional amendments prepared by the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB).

POPULATION POLICY: The cabinet also approved the first population policy of the country which strives for achieving sustainable development by reducing the population growth rate to 1.9 per cent by 2004 and to 1.3 per cent by 2020. The overall vision of the population policy is to achieve population stabilization by 2020 through the expeditious completion of the demographic transition that entails declines both in fertility and mortality rates. The policy is designed to achieve social and economic development by controlling population growth.

The cabinet observed that the family planning is getting acceptance and appreciation at the grassroots levels and expressed confidence that Pakistan will achieve the target of population control as stipulated in the policy.

The government, Mr Memon said, will institutionalize incentives to encourage the small family size in the country.

SATELLITE: The cabinet also approved acquisition of PAKSAT Satellite on lease for five years with an initial cost of roughly $4.5 million with $4.6m annual recurring expenditure for the next five years.

The satellite will be positioned at 38 degree E. This option has been necessitated to preserve Pakistan’s slot for satellite expiring on April 19, 2003.

The cabinet decided to privatize the under construction kidney centres at Islamabad and Karachi and the similar centres being raised at Peshawar and Quetta will be managed jointly by Provincial Workers Welfares Board and Health Departments.

The 200-bed National Institute of Kidney Diseases, Lahore, will be handed over to Sheikh Zayed Hospital Trust after the completion of the civil works. These kidney centres are being funded from the Workers Welfare Fund. The workers and their dependents suffering from renal diseases would be provided free treatment at kidney centres at Peshawar, Quetta and Lahore.

PORT QASIM: With a view to update the law, certain existing provisions of Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Act were approved for revision.

Additionally to compete with surrounding ports, it was approved to covert and mange Port Qasim as Landlord Port. Under the arrangement, while primary functions and responsibilities, including ownership are retained by the Port authorities, operations and business will be leased, assigned or transferred and outsourced.

The proposed amendments will improve the efficiency of the port and will be first step towards corporatization.

As recommended by the Pakistan Law Commission, the cabinet approved amendment in code of civil procedure, 1908, the purpose of which is to provide speedy and inexpensive justice. The amendment also provides the right to court to persuade the parties to reach an amicable settlement of their disputes through conciliation, mediation, arbitration or any such other appropriate mode of alternative dispute resolution.

The cabinet also accorded its approval for the constitution of Postal Service Management Board to manage, maintain and operate the Post Office Department aimed at further improving the postal facilities and other services.