ISLAMABAD: Terming the “blockage of trillions of rupees of recoveries due to long stay orders” a national crisis, the government has decided to sit down with the higher judiciary to ensure early disposal of pending litigation.

The government also decided to set up special courts for overseas Pakistanis where their cases will be tried swiftly on a day-to-day basis.

The decisions were taken by the federal cabinet at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The cabinet expressed anger over “fake news” suggesting that First Lady Bushra Bibi had parted ways with the prime minister and decided to give a robust response to the malicious campaign.

Cabinet approves setting up of special courts for overseas Pakistanis

When contacted, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said it was a national crisis that cases involving Rs300 trillion of the Federal Board of Revenue and Rs250 billion of the regulatory authorities were pending in various courts.

The federal cabinet, he said, decided to form a forum for consultation between the federal government and the higher judiciary on national issues, which would help end unnecessary delays in important administrative matters.

“The prime minister has asked the attorney general and law minister to sit down with the judiciary to find ways for disposal of pending cases on a war footing,” he said, adding that the pending cases related to tax collection and investment and stay orders on administrative appointments caused an irreparable loss to the country.

The cabinet approved setting up of special courts to facilitate overseas Pakistanis who, according to Fawad Chaudhry, were a major support base of the ruling PTI. The law ministry was directed to devise laws in this regard.

These courts would ensure speedy trial of the cases pertaining to the expats’ properties, the minister said, adding that they would have the powers of summary trials like those of banking courts.

Fawad Chaudhry said the cabinet had expressed grave concern over allegations levelled against important personalities, especially women, and campaigns launched against them on social media and some television channels, calling for effective legislation to prevent such abusive culture.

Responding to a question about fake news regarding the first lady, the minister said the government would soon to give a vigorous response to those involved in the campaign.

Mr Chaudhry also accused PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz of patronising a malicious campaign against the prime minister and the first lady.

He said the cabinet approved reconstitution of the Board of Directors of State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) on the recommendation of the Ministry of Commerce. Besides SLIC officials, representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance with economic experts Humayun Bashir, Poro Sadwa, Moin Foda and Anwar Mansoor Khan as independent members, would be part of the board.

He said the cabinet allowed an international company, Peugeot, to import its vehicles for testing to start car business in Pakistan. The cabinet approved export of 34,500 tonnes of moong pulse to Afghanistan on humanitarian ground under the World Food Programme.

The minister said the meeting endorsed the $821.80 million debt deferred payment agreement with Saudi Arabia. Payments of some $4 billion would be deferred by 2027, which would be used in carrying out development activities.

Mr Chaudhry said the cabinet approved an extension in the time frame of international bonds issued for economic stability of the country, directing the ministries of finance and law to hold consultations to give administrative and institutional protection to the bonds.

The cabinet approved the appointment of Dr Naveed Hamid as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee for another three years.

The information minister said the cabinet approved a draft of the Per­sonal Data Protection Bill 2022, which was aimed at preventing unauthorised access to personal information and its misuse.

On the recommendation of the Ministry of Law and Justice, the cabinet approved the appointments retired Justice Mian Muhammad Ajmal, retired Justice Faisal Arab, retired Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Advocate Syed Ayaz Zahoor in the Law and Justice Commission.

The minister said the cabinet approved transfer of 33.5 per cent share of China Zenhua Oil’s operation and working interest to Pakistan Petroleum Limited in the Baska Block.

The cabinet approved 15pc disparity reduction allowance for federal government employees and civil armed forces personnel in grades one to 19.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2022