ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the Ramazan package to be implemented through the Utility Stores outlets in the country.

Chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the meeting was informed that the presidential elections will be held between September 15 and October 15 and the Election Commission, which had already appointed returning officers for the purpose, will soon be announcing the schedule for the election.

The cabinet was told that the Ramazan package, which includes a wide range of items, would be offering essential food and non-food items at subsidised rates.

There will be no condition to buy one item with other and on purchase of Rs1,000 the consumer would be saving Rs320 as compared to the market rates.

The interior minister briefed the cabinet about the Joint Pakistan-Afghanistan Jirga held in Kabul, which it was observed, had led to improve perceptions in Afghanistan about Pakistan.

The intention of the Afghan leadership to engage the Taliban in negotiations for a stable and durable peace in that country was welcomed. It is hoped that the next Jirga will be held in Pakistan.

The cabinet was informed that the nuclear assets of Pakistan were essential for peace in the region and Pakistan will never compromise on these assets at any cost.

The interior secretary made a presentation on law and order situation in the country and informed that as per cabinet decisions in July, arrangements have been put in place to equip the law-enforcement agencies to deal with the scourge of terrorism. He informed the cabinet that five terrorists were arrested.

Madressah reforms strategy came up for discussion and the cabinet approved the proposal to set up Dar-ul-Ilms in the backward areas of the country with the cooperation of the private sector. These Dar-ul-Ilms would provide religious and general education as well as vocational skills training free of cost.

The cabinet ratified the protocol on the preferential tariff scheme for trade preference system among the participating member states of the Organisation of Islamic Conference. It also approved agreement between Pakistan and Uzbekistan on cooperation in the field of transport and transit of goods.

Approval was accorded in principle to the ministry of interior to start negotiations on the visa abolition agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports between Pakistan and Brunei Darussalam.

The cabinet allowed the ministry of defence to sign a memorandum of understanding with Egypt to enable the Pakistan Navy to participate in multinational biennial military exercises to be conducted jointly by the Centcom and Egyptian armed forces in November 2007 in the Mediterranean Sea.

The cabinet approved that in order to facilitate foreign investors, China Mobile Pakistan may be allotted a piece of land in Zone IV of ICT with the condition that it should start construction work within one year and complete it in another two years.

The cabinet considered and approved final draft of the prevention of the Electronic Crime Bill 2007 as revised by the ministerial committee. This will prevent any action directed against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic system, network and data by providing for the punishment of such actions and to provide mechanism for investigation, prosecution and trial of offences and/or matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto.

The minister for information technology will brief the press about the salient features of the draft bill on Thursday.