ISLAMABAD, March 6: The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday reviewed and discussed the progress on the ongoing communication projects including Islamabad-Peshawar and Pindi Bhatian-Faisalabad motorways and Lowari Tunnel.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf chaired the Cabinet meeting which was attended by the federal ministers, federal secretaries and concerned officials of the ministries.

The president in the last Cabinet meeting had directed all the ministries to apprise the Cabinet about the progress on the decisions taken by the cabinet and its implementation.

Minister for Communications Javed Ashraf Qazi on Wednesday briefed the cabinet about the projects and the progress so far has been made in this regard.

Gen Musharraf directed to re-examine the Lowari Tunnel project with a view to arrange more funds for the project.

He said this project is not progressing well because of its high cost but it is very important for national integration and for the people of that area.

The president directed the minister for communications to re-examine the projects and if there is need for more funds, the efforts should be made for the availability of the same.

The ongoing projects reviewed by the Cabinet are, Lyari Express Way, Indus High Way, Karachi Northern Bypass, Lawari Tunnel, Islamabad-Peshawar motorway, Pindi Bhatian-Faisalabad motorway, Islamabad-Muzaffarabad highway, Makran Coastal highway, Lahore Band Road, dredging of channel at Karachi Port, Night navigation facilities at Port Qasim and erection of port tower at Karachi Port.

The Cabinet also considered and discussed in detail draft Press Council of Pakistan Ordinance 2002 and draft Press, Newspaper and News Agencies Registration Ordinance 2002.

The president directed the ministries of information and law to ensure that the discretionary powers of the authority authenticating the declarations is not left unchecked.

He directed that certain minor amendments should be made to protect the interests of the newspapers and publishers to prevent arbitrary cancellation of declaration.

Gen Musharraf ppreciated that the publishers and editors have nicely worked with ministries of information and law to develop a healthy document relating to the press in Pakistan.

In this context, the president particularly referred to the Ethical Code of Practice that has been proposed in the Press Council of Pakistan Ordinance 2002.

Gen Musharraf directed that these laws must be finalized and promulgated during the current month and asked the ministries of information and law to resubmit the draft laws in the next Cabinet meeting.

Gen Musharraf reiterated that the efforts to promote a kind of culture which is not in conformity to our cultural traditions will not be tolerated.

The president during the last Cabinet meeting had taken strong exception of the functions held in Islamabad and Lahore where reportedly in the name of fashion shows obscenity was spread.

The president said that he had received a lot of complaints about these shows and he had ordered investigation into the matter.

“We want to create a balance in the society and pursue moderation and tolerance in line with our cultural values and traditions. But I am concerned over the tendency to go to the other extreme,” he said.

The president said the government believes in the privacy of individuals but they should confine to their own precincts. “We do not want to intrude in any body’s private life but it should not be made public.”

He said, we would like that people live normal life and one should not move against our own traditions.

The president said that he had directed to investigate the incidents and also directed the provincial governments to play their role in this regard.—APP