12 February 2004	Thursday	20 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved to reduce import duties on completely knocked down (CKD) and completely built-up (CBU) cars of lower engine capacity (800 cc) and agreed to allow import of second-hand cars in due course.

The prime minister would soon constitute a committee to decide the makes and models of used cars to be imported and the terms and conditions for import. Briefing newsmen on decisions taken by the cabinet, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said reduction in the import duties on the CKD and CBU cars might become effective before the next budget, depending upon recommendations of the proposed committee.

The cabinet also entrusted the committee with the task of reviewing the import of cars under the gift scheme and asked manufacturers to share their profit with customers by reducing the unit price of cars.

Reviewing the recommendations of the Task Force on Automobile Sector constituted in July last year, the prime minister reiterated the policy of his government to honour all commitments with investors and manufacturers but emphasized that the hardships of buyers could not be ignored.

The government was equally alive to their needs and had, therefore, decided to constitute this committee to come up with recommendations within the parameters of the decisions taken by the cabinet in the prevailing situation of demand and supply, he added.

N-PROBE: The minister said investigations into the nuclear proliferation issue had been completed, and the press should now stop speculating about it.

The minister said there was no threat to Pakistan's nuclear and missile programmes and these would continue without any interruption. When asked about reports that the United States had put up codes on Pakistan's strategic assets and Pakistan would not be able to use them at its will, the minister said all these reports were false.

He said enough had been said about the nuclear proliferation controversy and the time had come to close this chapter once and for all. When his attention was drawn to the statement of the foreign office spokesman that investigations were still continuing, the minister said President Pervez Musharraf's statement that it had come to an end should be taken as final.

FLOUR SHORTAGE: The cabinet also took a serious notice of flour shortage in some parts of the country and directed the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the provincial governments to ensure the supply of atta at reasonable prices. Black marketeers and profiteers must be dealt with sternly, the cabinet directed.

Taking a serious note of the sufferings of the sugarcane growers at the hands of mill owners, the cabinet directed the ministries of finance, commerce, food and agriculture and industries to suggest suitable measures in consultation with the provincial governments to protect the interest of the growers and also eliminate the role of middleman.

The prime minister had directed finalization of recommendations within a week, the minister said.

VISA POLICY: Replying to a question, the minister said the matter of liberalizing visa policy with India also came under discussion with a view to facilitating those who wanted to visit India to meet their friends and relatives, adds APP.

He hoped that India would reciprocate the gesture by easing its visa policy. Sheikh Rashid said President Musharraf would address a national ulema and mashaikh conference in Islamabad on Feb 18. This conference would be attended by over 2000 ulema and mashaikh from all over the country, he added.

The cabinet approved a proposal of the Women Development Division to declare the year 2004 as the "Year of Child Welfare and Rights". It also decided that a committee comprising the ministries of education, health, labour and women development should formulate suitable plans to ensure position and projection of the measures proposed to be taken for the welfare of children in Pakistan and for the protection of their rights, he said.

The minister said the cabinet assured the ministry of women development of its full support, adding that financial constraints would not be allowed to come in the way of development of children.