ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday directed all the ministries to prepare plans within five days for commissioning of development projects with a potential to attract foreign investment.

While presiding over a meeting to review progress on execution of investment deals with GCC states, the premier directed officials of different ministries to present their respective strategies on doable projects to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) without delay.

At the meeting, according to the PM Office, Mr Kakar was apprised of the progress on international deals in energy, finance, logistics, food security, water and other sectors.

On the recommendation of the interior ministry, the cabinet approved open bidding for procuring services of an audit firm of Category-A as required by the State Bank of Pakistan for the audit of Nadra.

Meanwhile, the cabinet agreed on the nomination of the project of “Cyber Security for Digital Pakistan” as “National Computer Emergency Response Team”.

The meeting was informed that the project of Cyber Security for Digital Pakistan was part of the national development budget and work on it had already been initiated. On the recommendation of Ministry of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs, the cabinet approved amendment to Section 5(2) of the Adaptation Act.

According to the amendment, instead of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council, the words Azad Government of State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be used to transfer the licence fee and renewal fee of mobile phone network spectrum from PTA to Azad Government of State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ties with Afghanistan

Meanwhile, PM Kakar during an exclusive interview with Tolo News said all countries in the region, including Russia and China, want peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.

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According to a press release issued by the PM Office, Mr Kakar in reply to a question said the recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan needed “regional consensus”.

Until all countries of the region and the world recognised the current government of Afghanistan, Pakistan would not take any step forward in this regard, he said.

“I personally believe that all countries in the region want the Afghan government to be recognised, although I cannot talk about the exact time. I believe that the issue of recognition will be resolved as the time passes,” the prime minister said.

In reply to a question about Durand Line, the prime minister said it was an internationally-recognised border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He said members and activists of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had taken shelter in some provinces of Afghanistan and that issue had caused insecurity in Pakistan.

“When my people go to your country, use its soil, get training there and then come back to harm my people, then I will definitely be telling you that my unpleasant brother is on your soil, no matter if by your permission or not, but he must be expelled from your soil,” the prime minister said.

“This is Pakistan’s stance and we have not accused the Afghan government of intentionally sheltering these people,” he said.

He asserted that no country would be permitted to use Pakistan’s airspace against Afghanistan.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2024