Govt to deploy 25,000 ex-militarymen in Malakand

ISLAMABAD - Giving approval to Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, federal cabinet which met here Wednesday with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair asked the relevant departments to strike final agreement with Tehran in that regard. The federal cabinet has given go-ahead signal to do final agreement with Tehran on Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, said Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira while briefing the media about cabinet meeting. The Minister said that the cabinet had also decided to deploy around 25,000 retired army personnel in Malakand division for a period of two years to maintain law and order. Information Minister told the media that the cabinet had decided cash grant disbursement mechanism for IDPs and they would start receiving Rs 25,000 from the next Tuesday. He said that UBL would start issuing cards to registered IDPs from coming Monday and the IDPs would start drawing cash grant from the following day, Tuesday. UBL, which has latest electronic banking system, will use verified Nadra data and through its 250 in-camps and outside branches would start issuing cards to IDPs from next Monday, he added. The Minister informed the media persons that out of 128 kidnapped Razmak Cadet College students, 81 had been recovered and concerted efforts were underway with the close cooperation of tribal elders and other political leadership of the areas to recover the remaining 47 missing students and two teachers. He said that out of 411,000 registered families of IDPs, Nadra had termed 229,000 families valid. The Minister said that the rejection of families was mainly due to duplication factor. Responding a query, the Minister said the government was engaged in restoring civic amenities in Malakand division and hoped that in the coming two to three weeks, hospitals, schools and power stations would be repaired in operation-hit areas and after that the displaced people could return to their homes. The cabinet has also approved the import of 300,000 tonnes of fertiliser to meet the requirements of the coming Kharif crop. The Cabinet also accorded approval for allowing the private sector to import urea fertiliser, the Minister said. He said that the Prime Minister had directed the concerned Ministry that all necessary measures should be employed for timely and effective distribution of fertiliser with the close cooperation of the provincial government aimed at facilitating easy availability for the farmers. Presently the government is extending Rs 800 subsidy on each bag of fertiliser, he added. Kaira said that there were 12 agenda items in cabinet meeting but the discussion on how to redress internally displaced persons (IDPs) problems and rehabilitate them as early as possible remained dominant in the meeting. He said that the cabinet was briefed in-depth on IDPs issue in the beginning of the meeting. He said that the cabinet was briefed about the latest situation of IDPs in the wake of the Army operation in Swat and other areas of Malakand division. The Minister said that the cabinet was told that the registration process would be completed as quickly as possible so that disbursement of cash grant of Rs 25,000 to the affected families could be started. The Cabinet was also briefed on the status of donors assistance for IDPs, he said. The Minister said that the cabinet had approved the export of 200,000 tonnes of wheat products including the wheat flour with immediate effect. It also decided that the provinces should lift their imported stock of wheat which was imported on their demand, he said. The cabinet also decided to purchase an additional 50,000 tonnes of rain damaged paddy in Sindh and Balochistan by PASSCO, the Minister said. He said that to meet energy shortage and give a boost to countrys economy, the cabinet had approved Gas Sale Purchase Agreement already initiated, and authorised the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources for formal signing of agreement with the Iranian government. He said that to look into the affairs of Zakat, the Prime Minister had constituted a Cabinet/Minister Committee comprising Minster for Zakat, Minister for Religious Affairs, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Advisor to PM on Finance. The cabinet also approved to start negotiations for an agreement on military cooperation with the State of Qatar, he said. Kaira said that the cabinet had ratified the memorandum of agreement on the Establishment of Joint Economic Commission between Pakistan and Philippines. The cabinet has also granted permission to start negotiation with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordon for entering into an agreement on cooperation in the field of vocational training, he stated. He said that the cabinet had also ratified the decisions taken by ECC of the cabinet held on May 19, 2009. He said that in every cabinet meeting, one of the ministries used to give detailed briefing on its projects and performance and in Wednesdays meeting the Minister of Social Welfare & Special Education briefed the cabinet on its one year performance and future plans which was appreciated by the cabinet members. The Minister said that the cabinet had lauded the services rendered by Pakistan Baitul Mal for IDPs and had decided to give more funds to PBM. He said that the Prime Minister had appreciated the role of Special Support Group, provincial government and all other departments for their relief activities for IDPs.