Cabinet approves panel to probe ex-minister’s statement on PIA pilots

Committee will determine losses to national airline and treasury as result of statement by former minister

By Our Correspondent

January 31, 2025

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting of the federal cabinet on January 30, 2025. — PID

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet approved formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate motives behind the exaggerated and irresponsible statement by a former minister regarding PIA’s pilots. The cabinet meeting was briefed on the statement given in the parliament in 2020 regarding the Pakistan International Airlines pilots.

“The statement caused significant financial loss to the national treasury,” the briefing to the cabinet members said. The proposed committee would also determine the losses to the national airline and treasury as a result of the irresponsible statement by the former minister.

The cabinet also approved reduction of provincial quota in the federal government-administered medical and dental colleges by 25 per cent. The decision was taken due to extremely low quota for students, having a domicile of the Islamabad Capital Territory, in provincial medical and dental colleges.

The cabinet approved Off the Grid Captive Power Plants Levy Ordinance 2025. The Middle East Green Initiative Charter was also endorsed by the cabinet. Approval was granted to the agreement on the allocation of tariff rate quotas between the Government of Pakistan and the European Union.

On recommendation of the Islamabad High Court and as proposed by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the federal cabinet allowed conversion of Accountability Court-III into Special Court-III.

On recommendation of the Ministry for Maritime Affairs, the cabinet meeting also permitted giving additional charge of chairman of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to General Manager Engineering for a maximum period of two months. It was ordered to complete process for appointment of regular KPT chairman.

As recommended by the right-sizing committee, the federal cabinet also approved changes in the Rules of Business, 1973 for merger of Ministry of State and Frontier Regions and Ministry of Kashmir Affairs.

APP adds: The federal cabinet also ratified the charter of the Middle East Green Initiative that would enable restoration of 200 million hectares of land and plantation of 50 billion trees.

The officials of the Ministry of Climate Change informed the forum that Pakistan was among the founding members of the Charter and therefore the Ministry had recommended the forum to accord its approval.

The federal cabinet ratified the decisions taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises held on January 17, 2025.

The federal cabinet also ratified the decisions taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases held on December 17, 2024 regarding amendments to the Citizenship Act, 1952.

Separately, a delegation of the Pakistan Business Council, led by Chairman Shabbir Diwan, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday and hailed the Faceless Customs Assessment System at Karachi Port creating convenience and bringing transparency to the clearance system.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office news release, the prime minister informed the Business Council delegation that automated systems would soon be established in all sectors of the economy on the model of the Faceless Customs Assessment System established in Karachi.

The prime minister said bringing transparency in the service delivery process was one of the top priorities of the government of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Minister for Interior and Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Mohsin Raza Naqvi Thursday called on PM Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him about his recent US visit and interactions with key US officials, businessmen and investors.

He also apprised the prime minister of the preparations for hosting the Champions Trophy in Pakistan for which PM Shehbaz appreciated him and his team, according to a PM Office press release. Interior Minister Naqvi also updated the prime minister on the operation against the human smugglers and the country’s overall law and order situation.

PM Shehbaz Sharif Thursday also chaired a review meeting regarding the anti-polio campaign. He said the government was determined to eradicate polio and appreciated the administration of all provinces for the timely identification of the polio cases and for the recent decrease in their incidence.

PM Shehbaz Sharif also felicitated Member of National Assembly (MNA) Shaista Pervaiz Malik on her appointment as the country ambassador for Pakistan by Women Political Leaders (WPL), a global network of women politicians.