Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign three agreements
The minister says government is set to launch major operation against 100 big defaulters
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has signed three agreements of grants, Federal minister for Information and Broadcasting said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that the accords were continuation of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia, adding that under these agreements, Riyadh will invest in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and formation and development of Pakistan’s basic infrastructure.
An important Saudi delegation will arrive in Pakistan on Sunday (September 30) in this regard, he added.
The minister said that the federal cabinet has also decided to devise a strategy pertaining to Afghan refugees as more than two million registered, while five million illegal Afghan refugees have been living in Pakistan.
Further informing the media about government’s decisio, Fawad Ch said that the government was going to launch an operation against 100 big defaulters from next week.
He went on to say that the lands comprising thousands of kanals have been retrieved in Islamabad, adding that the operation to retrieve lands in Karachi has also started and so far 7000 kanals have been recovered from encroachers.
The minister said that the cabinet also decided to further strengthen the Right to Information Act in order to bring transparency in governance and citizens right to know.
He said: “Cabinet decided that tax exemptions for FATA and PATA will be retained for five years.”
“Prime Minister Imran Khan directed all ministers to promote meritocracy and not give recommendations or receive recommendations for favor,” he said and added the PM also directed to increase the use of information technology to save precious resources and move towards paperless economy.”
Federal govt to table right to information bill in NA
Earlier, Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, the minister stated that govt was mulling over introducing ‘right to information’ bill while terming it govt’s liability to uplift cognizance of the contemporary society.
Accusing past governments of annihilating state-institutions, Fawad added that Imran Khan-led federal govt utterly believes in self-accountability.
“It is govt’s duty to create employment opportunities and bring transparency in every walk of life”, stated Fawad while adding at the same time that previous regimes had awarded contracts of mega-projects clandestinely and secretly.
Fawad made it overtly clear that aforementioned precedent wouldn’t be followed from now onwards.
