Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to pass on the effects of reduction in the petrol prices to the people immediately, asking the Ministry of Interior and the district administrations across the country to ensure implementation in this regard, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
PM Shehbaz communicated these instructions during a meeting of the federal cabinet presided over by him in Islamabad on Friday.
He ordered strict action against profiteers.
According to a press release issued after the federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister said since the prices of petrol and diesel have been reduced by 11%, the administration must ensure that transport fare and rates of commodities will also be brought down in conjunction with the POL price reduction.
According to the press release, the cabinet endorsed the decisions of the National Security Committee made in its meeting on May 16, and Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases made on May 11, 2023.
The NSC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed solidarity with the armed forces and vowed to take strict action against those involved in the May 9 violent protests. The NSC announced to observe countrywide Black Day on May 9 every year.
The meeting reiterated adopting Zero Tolerance while absolutely unaccepting violence and chaos in the country.
The forum condemned in strongest words the incidents of ransacking, arson and attacks on military installations for political and personal gains. The participants of the NSC meeting reiterated that the disgrace of military installations and public property would not be accepted at all and those involved in May 9, Black Day incidents will be brought to justice.
The forum supported the decision to register cases against miscreants, plotters, inciters, and facilitators under concerned laws, including trials under Army Act and Official Secret Act.
The NSC also directed the strict implementation of rules and regulations regarding social media in order to counter the propaganda carried out under external patronage and internal facilitation.
During today’s cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz also briefed the ministers on the Iran visit. He said that Pakistan wants to enhance ties with Iran in various fields. He said both countries agreed to further improve the security on the 900-km long Pak-Iran border.
Both sides had emphasised the joint efforts to counter cross-border terrorism, he added.
The prime minister said that the import of low-cost electricity from Iran would bring development and prosperity to the remote areas of Balochistan.
He told the cabinet members that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi took a personal interest to ensure the completion of the 100MW Gabd-Polan power transmission line within record time as the much-delayed project.
The project would ensure the power supply to Southern Balochistan, particularly Gwadar, he remarked.
Similarly, he said Mand-Pishin border marketplace would create employment opportunities for the people on both sides of the border and usher in a new era of development.
Prime Minister Shehbaz told the participants that the Iranian president had expressed special interest in enhancing bilateral trade, besides discussing cooperation in the fields of agriculture, science and technology and solar energy.
A high-level delegation led by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto would visit Iran for further deliberations on the said projects.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also extended an invitation to President Raisi to visit Pakistan which he accepted.
Briefing the members regarding the Road to Makkah project signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the prime minister said it would provide the best facilities to Pakistani Hajj pilgrims.
Under the project, around 26,143 Hajj pilgrims would undergo the immigration process at Islamabad International Airport and would be exempted from the lengthy process at Saudi airports. The implementation of the project has been initiated from Thursday, the prime minister said and expressed the hope that the facility would be extended to Lahore and Karachi airports by next year.
PM Shehbaz approved the establishment of the Insurance Tribunal in Rawalpindi. It would incur no additional expenses as existing Accountability Court No. 4 would be converted into the Insurance Tribunal.
Reporter Usman Khan