Fazl sanguine about madrasa bill after meeting PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to amicably resolve the issue of madaris registration as per the Constitution and law.

The matter was discussed as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on the prime minister, and the meeting marked a positive development regarding the suggestions put forth by Maulana Fazl on madaris registration.

“The prime minister has given a very positive response to our stance and has directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to take immediate action in light of Constitution and law,” the JUIF chief said while talking to mediapersons after the meeting. He was confident that an action would be taken in spirit of the Constitution.

Fazl said that Insha’Allah, a good news would be heard in a day or so. He told a questioner that there would be no need to summon joint session of the Parliament.

“Some positive progress has been made on proposals of Maulana Fazlur Rehman on issue of registration of deeni madaris,” a statement issued by the PM media wing after the meeting said.

The prime minister said that the Ministry of Law and Justice should take steps to resolve the issue as per Constitution and law.

Besides Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the meeting with the prime minister was attended by JUIF leaders Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Kamran Murtaza; Pakistan Peoples Party leaders Raja Parvaiz Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira; National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar, Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, Adviser to PM Rana Sanaullah Khan and Attorney General Mansoor Usman.

Fazlur Rehman said that the prime minister was aware of the fact that the government should take a final decision in the wake situation arising out of consensus stance taken by Ittehad Tanzeemat-e-Madaris on issue of registration of deeni madaris and invited him for a meeting.

He said that he talked to Mufti Taqi Usmani and took him into confidence prior to the meeting. “We reiterated our view and made it clear that the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024 has time-barred and has become a law and an Act of the Parliament,” he said.

He said that after the president’s objection was removed by the Speaker in the first instance, and there was no provision in the Constitution for raising objection for the second which also did not reach the Speaker’s office.

Meanwhile, chairing a high-level meeting on the prevention of human trafficking, the prime minister directed to initiate of strict punitive action against officers involved in sluggish action against human trafficking post-2023 boat capsizing incident. He derided human trafficking as a regrettable offence bringing “disgrace to Pakistan worldwide”.

He directed the relevant agencies to enhance coordination to prevent human trafficking and ensure the identification of FIA officials involved in facilitating human traffickers and take strict action against them.

He also directed to complete the ongoing investigation into human trafficking incidents at the earliest and submit concrete recommendations to overcome the menace.

During the meeting, he was briefed on Greece boat accident and steps taken to prevent human trafficking.

The prime minister was informed that five Pakistanis who died in the said accident had been identified, while others’’ identification was underway.

Pakistan Embassy in Athens is in constant touch with Greek authorities regarding the boat accident, whereas the Pakistan Embassy there can be contacted on helpline +30-6943850188 and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Crisis Management Unit number 0519207887, for information and assistance regarding the boat accident, it added.

It was informed that the people from Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Mandi Bahauddin districts were the most vulnerable to human traffickers and that legislation should be further improved to prevent human trafficking.

The meeting was attended by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Rana Ehsan Afzal and senior government officials concerned. The Pakistan’s ambassador to Greece participated in the meeting via video link.

Separately, the prime minister was apprised that over 200 business-to-business (B2B) agreements along with a memorandum of understanding worth $70 million have been signed with several Chinese companies.

The prime minister chaired a review meeting regarding the progress of ongoing projects and various initiatives under the Board of Investment (BOI), a PM office news release said.

Shehbaz said an effective and comprehensive roadmap should be formulated for the completion of B2B agreements and the implementation of signed memorandums of understanding with international investors.

“Work on regulatory reforms should be accelerated to provide a conducive environment for business in the country. Such targets should be set for investment that can be achieved as soon as possible,” he said.

Effective marketing of investment opportunities in Pakistan is essential to attract foreign investors, he said.

The prime minister directed to complete the construction of business facilitation centres in the country as soon as possible.

He underscored that the construction of business facilitation centres, organisation of road shows and other such initiatives were critical to attract foreign investment to the country.

He was also briefed that some 35 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the country have been surveyed through Geographical Information System (GIS), whereas extensive data was available on the SEZs to accelerate the progress of ongoing projects.

The BOI officials informed the meeting that an 18-point plan was formulated to make special economic zones more effective.

Moreover, suggestions regarding the Ease of Doing Business Act 2024 were also presented during the meeting.

Under the Ease of Doing Business Act 2024, the BOI would be able to create a regulatory framework for business in the country in accordance with the modern requirements.

Federal Minister for Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan and senior officers of relevant institutions were present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, the prime minister formed National Youth Council to engage youth, increase their empowerment in policy making and give them more meaningful role in strengthening of institutions.

The prime minister is the chairman of the council and ministers of youth affairs of the provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are the members.

The council will have 113 youth members and would work for and represent young people, aged 10 to 29 years. It would act as an official representative body of youth-led civil society, both from the public and private sectors from across Pakistan.

The council would work to advance pro-youth development and empowerment agenda as outlined in the National Youth Development Framework by advising on and facilitating processes and mechanisms that include and integrate young people into policy making, implementation, monitoring and evaluation at all levels of government.

It would provide a sustainable platform for unified engagement with decision makers in public and private sector as well as international youth led development initiatives.

It would mobilise the voice of young people and advocate with all levels of government to meaningfully engage young people.

It would identify policy and institutional gaps and provide strategic advice and direction for youth development and empowerment.

The council would support federal, provincial and local government institutions in developing youth focused programmes, initiatives and institutional reforms. It would also monitor and assess impact of pro-youth schemes and initiatives at all levels of government and will strengthen the structure and institutionalisation of the National Youth Council.

The council members would broadly work around seven thematic areas, including support in areas of policy, media, institutionalisation of the National Youth Council, support to marginalised youth, employment, reproductive health, and youth engagement.