Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday vowed to enforce strict monitoring of essential commodity prices during Ramazan, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed ministers to enhance their performance and meet public expectations.
Chairing the first formal cabinet meeting following its recent expansion, the prime minister welcomed new members and emphasized the need for proactive governance.
According to the PM Office, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal briefed the cabinet on price control measures during Ramazan. The prime minister commended the Islamabad Price Control Committee’s effectiveness and urged similar vigilance nationwide.
Key Approvals and Agreements
The cabinet approved several key measures, including:
Directorate of Religious Education: The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training’s proposal to affiliate the Directorate of Religious Education with the ministry.
Pakistan-China Cybersecurity MoU: An agreement between Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team and China’s National Computer Emergency Response Technical Team to enhance cybersecurity cooperation, including intelligence sharing, capacity building, and cyber threat response.
ITU Accelerator Centre: The Ministry of IT’s agreement with the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to establish an ITU Accelerator Centre at the National Incubation Centre in Islamabad.
Economic and Legislative Endorsements: The meeting ratified decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee on Feb 20 and the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases on March 4.
Performance & Security Concerns
PM Shehbaz Sharif directed ministers to focus on economic revival by enhancing performance in key sectors like agriculture, commerce, finance, IT, and minerals. He announced quarterly performance reviews of ministries.
Highlighting the resurgence of terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the prime minister lauded law enforcement agencies for their sacrifices, stressing that national development hinges on peace and stability.
Daanish University Initiative
In a landmark announcement, PM Shehbaz revealed plans to establish Daanish University of Applied and Emerging Sciences using £190 million recovered from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). The university will focus on artificial intelligence, technology, and modern sciences.
The recovered funds, originally transferred to Pakistan through the Supreme Court, were controversially redirected under former PM Imran Khan to adjust a Rs450 billion penalty imposed on real estate tycoon Malik Riaz in the Bahria Town Karachi case.
Instead of funding the Al-Qadir Trust/University—allegedly linked to Imran Khan—the government will now use the money for the new university project. The National Accountability Bureau has already filed a reference against Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, for their alleged involvement in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
During a steering committee meeting, PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice for ensuring the funds’ smooth transfer to the federal account, emphasizing their rightful use for public welfare.
With price control measures, economic performance scrutiny, and a major higher education initiative, the government aims to balance economic reforms with social welfare ahead of Ramazan.
