ISLAMABAD: Prime Minis­ter Shehbaz Sharif has ordered restoration of the Wikipedia website with immediate effect, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aur­a­ng­zeb said in a tweet on Monday.

“The prime minister has also constituted a cabinet committee on the matters related to Wikipedia and other online content,” she said.

She said the five-member com­­­mittee, spearheaded by Minister for Information Technology and Communication Syed Aminul Haque, included Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aura­ng­zeb, Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Trade Syed Naveed Qamar, and Minister for Communication Asad Mehmood.

“PM Sharif has constituted the committee as well as issued the directives for the restoration of the Wikipedia website in the light of the recommendations of a ministerial committee, which conducted the preliminary examination of the matter (ban on Wikipedia),” she said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered revival and capacity building of National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (Neeca).

He also formed an inter-ministerial committee under the leadership of senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for important reforms in the authority.

The draft of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy would soon be presented for approval at the federal cabinet meeting.

The PM made these decisions while presiding over a review meeting for promoting energy conservation in the country.

According to the Prime Min­ister Office (PMO), Mr Sharif expressed his displeasure at the shortcomings in the performance and capacity of Neeca.

He directed the inter-ministerial committee to take steps for immediate revival of the authority.

The PM voiced concern over wastage of resources and closure of different institutions in the country.

The number of personnel in the authority should be increa­sed and transparency ensured in the institution, he stressed.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2023