ISLAMABAD, April 19: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said that if required Pakistan would gladly participate in the reconstruction of war-battered Iraq under the auspices of the United Nations.
The PM declared that Pakistan would not be found wanting in any way in providing relief and comfort to the people of Iraq in these difficult times, according to a press release issued here on Saturday.
Addressing the cabinet, he expressed sympathy and solidarity with the people of Iraq and reaffirmed government’s policy in relation to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq.
The cabinet discussed the situation in post-war Iraq and decided to speed up the dispatch of relief goods to Iraq. Arrangements for the transportation of relief goods were already in hand for which concerned organizations were are in touch with the UN, the release added. The cabinet regretted the opposition’s conduct in the two houses, and decided that despite the impasse, the government would go all out to serve the people of Pakistan. The need to adopt a proactive approach to sustain the recently-restored democratic order in the country and strengthening of parliament was also stressed.
In this regard it was decided to initiate the process of dialogue with all political parties represented in the National Assembly rather than with any one political party or alliance.
Prime Minister Jamali termed the revival of democracy “river of no return”. Pakistan was sailing on this river of no return and would keep going as that was the only national option, he observed.
The cabinet approved the signing of an MoU between the Pakistan Meteorological Department and the Institute of Atmosphere Physics of China for cooperation in the fields of research, education, and training in weather and climate prediction.
It also gave a nod to the revision of the convention signed between Pakistan and Japan for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes and income.
Approval was accorded to the signing of a similar convention between Pakistan and Jordan.
The cabinet also approved a ratification of an MoU between Pakistan and Iran for cooperation in science and technology.
The cabinet approved a draft bill for introduction in parliament seeking to amend section 102 (b) of the Code of Civil procedure, 1908 empowering the provincial governments to notify the amount or value of the subject matter of original suit for the purpose of second appeal under section 102 (B) in view of the prevalent circumstances.
