ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi endorsed the stance of the National Security Committee (NSC) on the recent statement by United States President Donald Trump.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif briefed the cabinet regarding the background of the recent statements of the American leadership and the discussion held during the NSC meeting yesterday.
The federal cabinet unanimously endorsed the stance of National Security Committee which had expressed deep disappointment over recent statements of US leadership.
The cabinet viewed that these statements are detrimental to the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and USA, a relationship that has developed over generations.
Pakistan has rendered huge sacrifices, both in terms of loss of precious human lives and substantial damage to the economy. The achievements made by Pakistan in curbing the menace of terrorism have been acknowledged throughout the world, reiterated the cabinet.
Registration of Afghan refugees extended
The cabinet considered a proposal for granting extension in the Proof of Registration (POR) cards and Tripartite Agreement (Pakistan – Afghanistan – UNHCR) for Afghan Refugees beyond 31 December, 2017.
After detailed discussion, the cabinet agreed to grant only thirty days extension for POR and also decided that the issue of early repatriation of Afghan refugees shall be raised with UNHCR and the international community.
It emphasised that Pakistan’s economy has carried the burden of hosting Afghan refugees since long and in the present circumstances cannot sustain it further.
The federal cabinet accorded approval for publication of block-level provisional results of census 2017.
The following approvals were also accorded by the cabinet:
. The placement of Institute for Arts and Culture Bill 2017 before parliament.
. Permission to allow transit of spare parts for vehicles of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) from Karachi to Kabul.
. Signing of of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Portugal.
. Signing of Memorandum of Intent (MOI) between Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) and Confindustria Marmomacchine of Italy for Cooperation in stone sector.
. Signing of MoU between Ministry of Defence of Egypt and Pakistan in the field of defence.
. Ratification of agreement on military, technical, science and education cooperation between Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina
. Execution of gas development schemes during the present government.
. Ratification of recommendations of Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) in respect of Gas Infrastructure Development (Amendment) Bill 2017.
