CNG to replace diesel use: Cabinet gives time for strategy; water, other issues taken up
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: The federal cabinet on Wednesday decided to gradually replace diesel oil with CNG in the urban areas as part of the Energy Conservation Plan and to set up a five-member cabinet committee to work out a long-term strategy within 45 days.
The committee — comprising the ministers for industries, petroleum, environment, communications and finance — will coordinate with the provincial governments, transporters and manufacturers, said an official handout.
Utilisation of LPG in transport sector was also allowed in principle by the cabinet, which directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority to ensure safety standards.
The cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, also decided in principle to establish Islamabad High Court to deal with increasing number of cases in the federal territory, and directed the ministry of law to submit draft law to the cabinet for approval.
The meeting was informed about the Technical Committee on Water Resources’ report presented to the prime minister, which is being studied by the government in the context of building water reservoirs to meet water shortage for agriculture and energy requirements in future.
The cabinet also approved a food support programme which allows an increase in the subsidy up to Rs3,000 against present Rs2,400 per annum and an increase in number of the households receiving it.
An allocation of Rs120 million was approved for a pilot project on children support programme in five districts. The programme envisages assistance to the destitute, widows, orphans and the disabled through Baitul Mal schemes.
The cabinet, while reiterating government commitment to provide clean drinking water to the people by 2,007, decided to set up a cabinet committee, headed by the prime minister, to ensure implementation of the plan.
It expressed concern over the standards and quality of bottled water and directed the ministry of science and technology to conduct test of bottled water at source on quarterly basis and publish the results in the press.
The cabinet was briefed about progress in ‘informal’ negotiations among the finance ministers of the four provinces in which certain proposals were discussed to evolve a consensus on the National Finance Commission Award. The prime minister hoped the award would be finalized soon.
Briefing the cabinet on National Trade Corridor, the deputy chairman Planning Commission said the country’s logistic network was being modernised to meet requirements of growing economy.
He said the steps entailed modernization of ports, rail and road networks to ensure goods transportation from one destination to other within 24 hours. In that regard, an estimated investment of US$ 6 billion was expected over next four to five years, he added.
Foreign Secretary Riaz Ahmed Khan briefed the cabinet on current foreign policy issues and apprised it about just concluded visit of President Musharraf to the US, which, he said, would accrue diplomatic, political and economic dividends to Pakistan.
He said Pakistan’s engagement with Israel was solely for furtherance of the Palestine cause and added Pakistan would not recognize Israel unless an independent Palestinian state was established.
He described the president’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York as productive in the perspective of ongoing composite dialogue process between the two countries.
The cabinet approved negotiations on a memorandum of understating on consular cooperation between Pakistan and the US in cases concerning parental access to children.
It also approved negotiations on scientific and technological cooperation between Pakistan and Algeria/ Saudi Arabia. An agreement between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters was also ratified by the cabinet which also approved an agreement between Pakistan and Uzbekistan on cooperation in fighting against international terrorism.
Ex-post-facto approval for the signing of an agreement between Pakistan and Netherlands on export and enforcement of social security benefits was also given approval.
The cabinet also accorded approval for the initiation of negotiations with Croatia to conclude an agreement for avoidance of double taxation.
