Cabinet extends Afghans stay to Feb 29 next year

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday extended the stay of Afghan nationals in Pakistan, who were to be deported to a third country, from December 31 to February 29 next year.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar chaired the cabinet meeting here.

Briefing newsmen on the cabinet’s decisions, Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi said the processing fee had also been reduced from 800 dollars to 400 dollars for the Afghan nationals.

Minister of Information Technology Dr. Umar Saif and Minister for National Health Services Dr Nadeem Jan accompanied him.

Solangi said after the due date, damages would be applied at the rate of 100 dollars per month with a maximum limit of 800 dollars. He said the measures were aimed at encouraging the Afghans residing illegally in Pakistan to obtain legal documents or to finalize their evacuation agreements to any other country at the earliest.

He further said the federal cabinet had postponed a decision on increasing the prices of 262 medicines.

Solangi said the cabinet had directed a review of the entire mechanism for price fixation and regulations so that a comprehensive and durable solution to this issue could be found.

The prime minister, on the occasion, said the government wanted progress and development of the pharmaceutical industry, but there would be no compromise on safeguarding people’s interest and ensuring quality of drugs.

He said the prime minister also sought a briefing from the Ministry of Health in the presence of DRAP officials for discussion and review on the existing drug pricing policy.

Minister for Health Dr. Nadeem Jan said in light of the ECC decision, the prices of 262 medicines were not being increased. “A lot of pressure is building up but the prices are not being increased,” he said.

He said there were observations that the review was not complete after discussion of stakeholders. The drug pricing policy should be reviewed which, he said, was not people-centric but profit- and manufacturer-centric.

“We should give a new drug policy that should be balanced to resolve the issue,” he said.

The minister said Pakistan’s first-ever National Space Policy was approved under which international companies will be allowed to provide communication and coordination services to consumers. Solangi further said the international companies would provide their services through low-orbit communication satellites.

“The policy will not only attract foreign investment but also save foreign exchange being spent on the cost of these services,” he said.

The minister said the policy would also help establish a space regulatory regime in Pakistan as per the international standards adding that funds had also been arranged for research and development in Suparco.

He further said it was consented to refer Dow Dental College Karachi, Narowal Medical College, Liaquat Institute of Medical Health Sciences, Thatta, and Khairpur Mir Medical College to the Pakistan Medical and Dental College for review and preliminary approval.

Solangi said the cabinet allowed an MoU between the Foreign Office and Gambia in the context of Pakistan’s Engage Africa policy.

Talking about the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict on Kashmir, Murtaza Solangi said the cabinet had rejected the unlawful verdict.

He said Jammu and Kashmir was an international dispute pending with the UN Security Council for the last seven decades. The Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the UN Security Council resolutions as per the will of people of Kashmir.

The minister said the so-called decision of the Indian Supreme Court will have no effect on the Kashmir dispute. He urged the international community to condemn the illegal acts of India to suppress the freedom of the people of Kashmir.

Solangi said the cabinet had also approved the decisions of the Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases on establishment of Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency and Telecom Tribunal.

Minister for Information Technology Dr. Umar Saif said the federal cabinet had approved three policies for the IT sector. He said 5G technology would also be introduced shortly.

The minister said Pakistan’s first-ever National Space Policy under which private companies would be allowed to provide communication internet and coordination services to consumers was also approved.