Implementation of 10-point agenda: Govt, PML-N agree to finalise plan on 26th
By Sajid Chaudhry
ISLAMABAD: The government and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz agreed to take concrete decisions for the implementation of the 10-point agenda proposed by the PML-N to overcome economic crises in their next meeting on January 26, Federal Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Senator Ishaq Dar announced after the conclusion of second round of talks at the Finance Ministry on Thursday.
Dr Hafeez told reporters that the State Bank of Pakistan governor would brief the government and PML-N team on the issue of loans written off on political grounds on January 22 and suggest means for their recovery.
He said both sides have agreed to review the POL pricing formula. A committee comprising PML-N’s Sardar Mehtab Khan and Engineer Khurram Dastgir and Petroleum Minister Syed Naveed Qamar would review the formula and recommend measures during the January 26 meeting to avoid burdening consumers unduly.
Regarding gas and power load shedding, he said a committee headed by Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has been constituted which would present its recommendations for improvement in the situation in next meeting.
It has been decided that the federal and provincial governments would collectively put in place a mechanism for having effective control on prices and to curb unjustified price hike. In this regard, a meeting would be held on January 24 for developing a mechanism on price control, he added.
He said the Cabinet Committee on Restructuring of Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) on Thursday finalised recommendations for the reconstitution of board of directors of eight power distribution companies and NTDC as well as Pakistan Steel Mills. These recommendations would be presented before the prime minister for formal approval before the January 26 meeting and decision would be communicated to the PML-N in the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Ishaq Dar said 45-day deadline for the implementation of 10-point agenda was intact and the prime minister has also endorsed it. He clarified that the issues, which would be resolved earlier, would be implemented even before the deadline.
He said the meeting discussed the issue of RGST, appointment of chief election commissioner, accountability bill and 30 percent cut in expenditures of federal and all provincial governments. Deliberations on these issues would continue in next meeting to evolve consensus on them, he added. Regarding election commissioner’s appointment, he said it would take time as the speaker would form a parliamentary committee, which would hold discussions and give its recommendation on the issue.
Source: Daily Times
Date:1/21/2011
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