Pakistan extends stay of registered Afghan refugees by one year

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended the stay of 1.45 million registered Afghan refugees by one year.

The decision was taken at a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The federal cabinet approved the extension of registration cards for 1.45 million Afghan refugees whose cards expired on June 30, 2024. The stay extension will now last until June 30, 2025.

Additionally, the cabinet approved a plan recommended by the Ministry of Housing and Works to abolish the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD). The cabinet was also briefed on the progress of a committee formed under the finance minister to reduce the size of the government departments.

According to the approved plan, a Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company will be established to oversee federal development projects, while provincial development projects under federal supervision will be handed over to relevant provincial departments.

An Asset and Feasibility Management Company will be created to manage maintenance and repair tasks previously oversaw by the PWD, with staff being transferred to relevant ministries and a golden handshake scheme implemented.

The cabinet decided to computerise all records of the PWD nationwide and directed that this process be completed within two weeks.

The cabinet was told that basic data is being gathered for the closure of unnecessary subsidiaries of various ministries, and the right-sizing of essential institutions will be completed by July 12.

Also read: Pakistan urged to prioritise safe resettlement of Afghan refugees

Based on this data, the committee will formulate proposals in consultation with relevant ministries and submit them to the cabinet by the first week of August.

Additionally, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Housing and Works, the cabinet approved the transfer of the building of Federal Lodge No-2 in Peshawar to the Election Commission of Pakistan for establishing the provincial election commissioner’s office.

Furthermore, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Law and Justice, the cabinet approved to revert seven accountant members from the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue benches in different cities to the FBR and appointed 14 officers nominated by the ministry to these benches.

The cabinet approved several key decisions, including the appointment of Joint Secretary Muhammad Iqbal as the administrator of the National Council for Homeopathy.

Additionally, the cabinet sanctioned the de-accreditation of Bahawalpur Medical College from April 19, 2024, due to its failure to meet Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) standards. The affected students will be transferred to other medical colleges in the country, the cabinet was told.

The prime minister questioned why Bahawalpur Medical College was permitted to continue operations despite its substandard status and instructed the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission to investigate the matter.

A committee comprising Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Jahanzeb Khan, and Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Health Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath was formed to address PMDC matters. The committee was asked to present recommendations for a third-party audit of PMDC at the next cabinet meeting.

The cabinet also approved publishing and broadcasting 53 health related advertisements on TV, radio, and newspapers, following the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s advertisement committee’s recommendations.

The cabinet approved the appointment of Javed Qureshi as a director on the Board of Directors of K-Electric, representing the government of Pakistan.

The prime minister emphasised the need to activate and complete the boards of directors for all state institutions by appointing qualified professionals within two weeks.

Furthermore, the cabinet ratified decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee on June 27, 2024.

The cabinet also ratified the Cabinet Committee on Government-Owned Enterprises’ decisions taken on July 4, 2024.

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