ISLAMABAD: Showing displeasure towards some federal ministers for not visiting flood-affected parts of the country, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged members of his cabinet to spare some time and visit the calamity-hit areas, stating that people would definitely make them “accountable” in future for not visiting them and preferring their air-conditioned offices in the capital.
The directives were issued by the premier during his brief televised address to the federal cabinet, which met on Tuesday to take up a number of agenda items, including the formal approval of Rs3 billion allocation for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for providing relief to the flood victims.
“I know those who are working in the field and those who are not,” PM Shehbaz said, without naming anyone.
Mr Sharif asked ministers to focus more on helping the poor flood-stricken people at this critical time, besides fulfilling their official duties, adding that he did not want the ministers to abandon their work as they could do it remotely.
Cabinet swells to 70 after eight new SAPMs
“In this digital world, you can even do your official work through Zoom. But you also have to help those [flood-affected] people as well,” he remarked.
“Come out. Bear the heat and play a more active role,” he said, adding that the people knew everything and are aware about those doing politics on the floods issue.
“But if they [people] are silent, it doesn’t mean that they are unable to express their annoyance and pain. A time will come when they will respond and make [us] accountable,” he added. The PM said despite Pakistan’s meagre contribution to global emissions, the country has faced the huge effects of climate change. He said it was a great injustice with the country and it must be compensated for it.
Cabinet expansion
Also on Tuesday, the PM expanded his cabinet with the appointment of eight more special assistants, all belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party. With these new special assistants to the PM (SAPMs), the total number of the cabinet members has now reached 70.
The cabinet now comprises 34 federal ministers, seven state ministers, four advisers and 25 SAPMs. Besides this, the prime minister has already appointed 37 MNAs of the ruling coalition as parliamentary secretaries.
Those appointed as the SAPMs are Faisal Karim Kundi, Iftikhar Babar, Raza Rabbani Khar, Mahesh Kumar Malani, Sardar Saleem Haider, Tasneem Qureshi, Mahar Irshad Ahmad and Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha.
Decisions
According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan, the prime minister tasked Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Minister for Food Security Tariq Bashir Cheema, Maritimes Affairs Minister Faisal Sabzwari, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar and Adviser on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira to work towards improving coordination among provinces regarding the price of wheat and distribution of urea.
With multiple agenda items on the table, the cabinet discussed the matters including Hajj overbooking inquiry, mutual legal assistance with other countries, energy performance standards, legislative cases and approval of the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).
On the inquiry report regarding the overbooking of Hajj pilgrims, the cabinet pointed out the problems relating to reconciliation, however, ruled out any charges of malicious intention.
The inquiry committee — that comprised representatives of finance and religious affairs ministries, and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), reported that the banks had compensated the pilgrims following the overbooking.
The cabinet also approved the summary of the interior ministry to accept applications for mutual legal assistance from other countries.
On the recommendation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the cabinet approved the extension of the minimum energy performance standards of electric fans till June 30 next year. Also, the inclusion of solar equipment, electric motors, and power transformers has been made mandatory in the list of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority.
Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2022
