07-15-2010, 11:43 AM
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet Wednesday approved to decrease the Hajj airfairs by Rs 9000, a relief package of Rs 2.27 billion to reduce the prices of essential commodities during the holy month of Ramadan and National Anti Narcotics Policy 2010. The members of the federal cabinet met here the Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in chair and decided to reduce the airfare for Hajj 2010 by Rs 9000/- as against Rs 15000/- earlier approved by the Cabinet. This has been possible due to negotiations with PIA to charge minimum Hajj fare as compared to last year. During the sitting the members considered and granted approval to the National Anti Narcotics Policy 2010. The policy aims to eliminate poppy cultivation to maintain Pakistan’s poppy free status; prevent the trafficking and production of narcotics drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals; strengthen law enforcement agencies and streamline their activities; enhance demand prevention efforts through education and community mobilization campaigns and projects; develop effective and accessible drug treatment and rehabilitation system; conduct a drug abuse survey to determine the prevalence of drug addiction; promote and actively participate in bilateral, regional and international efforts to combat drugs; emphasize on control of problem at source in poppy growing areas. Over reviewing implementation of decisions of the Cabinet, Premier Gilani directed the Ministers to personally hold meetings within their respective Ministries to ensure immediate implementation of the decisions taken by the Cabinet concerning their Ministries. The Ministers should come back to the Cabinet if there is any issue beyond the responsibility of the Ministry concerned, Gilani added. Informed Sources told The Frontier Post that, Cabinet members expressed serious concern over the all-time high sugar price in the country and observed that the matter needed to be taken seriously in the wake of increasing sugar demand during Ramazan. It was pointed out that the delay in the import of sugar was a reflection of TCP's inability to import sugar to fill the demand-supply gap. Following the issue, The Prime Minister directed the Cabinet Committee to consider appropriate utilization of the surplus wheat stock with TCP and others and maintain demand and supply position of sugar in the country so that no shortage of these essential items takes place during Ramadan. The Prime Minister also directed the Committee to ensure that the benefit of relief package reaches the common man. The Prime Minister said that during the forthcoming Ramadan, all Cabinet Members and Parliamentarians should regularly visit the markets to ensure that the general public does not suffer at the hands of the hoarders and profiteers. He also directed the ministries of Water and Power and the Petroleum and Natural Resources to ensure supply of electricity and gas to the consumers particularly at the Sehr and Iftar timings in the country. Premier directed the Minister for Interior to organize Ramadan Bazars in the Federal Capital Territory on the pattern of last year. Gilani maintained that the Utility Stores Corporation with its 5700 outlets in the country should play proactive role to provide essential food items to the poor at affordable prices particularly essential items like Atta, Ghee, Sugar, Daal Chana and Rice Tota during Ramadan. Our leadership has taken bold decisions he said, and we would not hesitate to take all the provincial governments on board to provide relief to the common man. The Prime Minister also directed that all ministries should have a proper media mechanism to disseminate timely information to the media and respond to their queries. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will continue to provide professional support to all ministries but each Principal Accounting Officer/Secretary of the Ministry shall be personally responsible to reach out and respond to the media, the Prime Minister said. Over the recent target killing of the Baloch leader Habib Jalib Baloch from Balochistan National Party, Syed yusuf Raza Gilani unveiled, he has ordered a judicial inquiry to investigate this sad incident.