Owais
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Cabinet decides to ground Fokkers: 10 percent quota in CSS for women
ISLAMABAD (July 13 2006): The Cabinet has decided to ground the ageing Fokkers fleet for passenger service with immediate effect, and ATR and C-130 aircraft would replace them for air services to remote areas.
Presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday, the Cabinet meeting, which continued for more than five hours, discussed different national issues, including Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) privatisation, wheat procurement, reservation of 10 percent quota for women in Central Superior Services, conversion of diesel vehicles to CNG and establishment of 'Asian Institute of Standards' (AIS).
Briefing newsmen about the decisions taken in the meeting, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said that people were horrified at the accident and felt insecure; "that's why the government has decided not to use Fokkers for commercial flights in future."
All aspects of this issue were discussed in detail in the Cabinet meeting in the presence of Minister and Secretary Ministry of Defence.
Durrani said that the lifeline of Fokker aircraft was 9,000 cycles, of which the aircraft, which crashed in Multan, had completed 7,000 cycles after its engine was overhauled. The aircraft could operate 5000 hours, of which it had completed only 1000 hours.
He said two Fokker aircraft, which have completed their life of 9000 cycles, were grounded without any delay. He said that there was no negligence in this regard, and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had fulfilled all required international standards necessary before aircraft operation, and added that the black box had been sent abroad for neutral investigation.
Durrani said that the Cabinet discussed the PSM privatisation issue in detail and decided that the next step would be taken after receiving detailed judgement of the Supreme Court.
He said that privatisation process would continue, as the apex court had not barred further privatisation. He said that the issue of stock market "has been politicised" by the opposition, as they do not have any other issue to talk about. He said that Pakistan's stock exchange was functioning in line with international standards, and all financial institutions have admitted that the policies of present government are transparent.
"The issue of stock exchange has been politicised; our financial policies are transparent and anyone can discuss them at any time," he added. He said that the opposition was highlighting the stock exchange issue after facing disappointment on other issues.
QUOTA FOR WOMEN: The Cabinet approved reservation of 10 percent quota of posts for women in CSS, in addition to their eligibility to compete on open merit. According to the Federal Government Civil Servants Census 2002, women employees were merely 4.2 percent (1.23 percent officers and 2.97 percent other staff) of total federal government civil servants.
The decision of the government was in line with government policy of providing opportunities to women to play their role in nation building, Durrani said. Wheat procurement: The Cabinet discussed wheat procurement by the provinces, Passco and the private sector, so that farmers could get reasonable price of their commodity as was proposed by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal).
When the Information Minister was told that Punjab and Passco had not procured wheat in accordance with the instructions of Prime Minister, he said that the Prime Minister has directed the concerned departments to take corrective measures in this regard.
REPLACEMENT OF DIESEL VEHICLES WITH CNG: The Cabinet approved monetary incentives to encourage replacement of diesel oil buses, minibuses and wagons with CNG. This includes exemption from customs duty and sales tax on CNG equipment and buses, which was available up to June 30, 2006. This exemption would be further extended for a period of five years.
The Petroleum Ministry had proposed that priority with regard to incentives would be given to locally manufactured CNG equipment and buses and local manufacturing of equipment would be encouraged.
LOAD SHEDDING: The Cabinet discussed current situation of electricity in the country and decided that in future not only the Cabinet would be taken into confidence before taking any decision on load shedding or load management, but would also it would be planned.
Durrani said that the Cabinet decided that village electrification programme would continue as it has been designed for the far-flung areas.
Officials of Ministry of Water and Power briefed the meeting about electricity being provided to Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) to bridge its shortfall. The Cabinet allowed the Survey of Pakistan to become a member of Global Mapping Project (GMP), which would entitle Pakistani officials to receive technical training and awareness about latest technology. The Cabinet approved ratification of agreement between Pakistan and UAE concerning co-operation in the field of defence.
The Cabinet also approved initiation of negotiations between ACD member countries on Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) of co-operation in the standardisation and quality assurance. The Cabinet approved, in principle, to start negotiations with Singapore on abolition of visa for diplomatic and official passport holders.
ISLAMABAD (July 13 2006): The Cabinet has decided to ground the ageing Fokkers fleet for passenger service with immediate effect, and ATR and C-130 aircraft would replace them for air services to remote areas.
Presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday, the Cabinet meeting, which continued for more than five hours, discussed different national issues, including Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) privatisation, wheat procurement, reservation of 10 percent quota for women in Central Superior Services, conversion of diesel vehicles to CNG and establishment of 'Asian Institute of Standards' (AIS).
Briefing newsmen about the decisions taken in the meeting, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said that people were horrified at the accident and felt insecure; "that's why the government has decided not to use Fokkers for commercial flights in future."
All aspects of this issue were discussed in detail in the Cabinet meeting in the presence of Minister and Secretary Ministry of Defence.
Durrani said that the lifeline of Fokker aircraft was 9,000 cycles, of which the aircraft, which crashed in Multan, had completed 7,000 cycles after its engine was overhauled. The aircraft could operate 5000 hours, of which it had completed only 1000 hours.
He said two Fokker aircraft, which have completed their life of 9000 cycles, were grounded without any delay. He said that there was no negligence in this regard, and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had fulfilled all required international standards necessary before aircraft operation, and added that the black box had been sent abroad for neutral investigation.
Durrani said that the Cabinet discussed the PSM privatisation issue in detail and decided that the next step would be taken after receiving detailed judgement of the Supreme Court.
He said that privatisation process would continue, as the apex court had not barred further privatisation. He said that the issue of stock market "has been politicised" by the opposition, as they do not have any other issue to talk about. He said that Pakistan's stock exchange was functioning in line with international standards, and all financial institutions have admitted that the policies of present government are transparent.
"The issue of stock exchange has been politicised; our financial policies are transparent and anyone can discuss them at any time," he added. He said that the opposition was highlighting the stock exchange issue after facing disappointment on other issues.
QUOTA FOR WOMEN: The Cabinet approved reservation of 10 percent quota of posts for women in CSS, in addition to their eligibility to compete on open merit. According to the Federal Government Civil Servants Census 2002, women employees were merely 4.2 percent (1.23 percent officers and 2.97 percent other staff) of total federal government civil servants.
The decision of the government was in line with government policy of providing opportunities to women to play their role in nation building, Durrani said. Wheat procurement: The Cabinet discussed wheat procurement by the provinces, Passco and the private sector, so that farmers could get reasonable price of their commodity as was proposed by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal).
When the Information Minister was told that Punjab and Passco had not procured wheat in accordance with the instructions of Prime Minister, he said that the Prime Minister has directed the concerned departments to take corrective measures in this regard.
REPLACEMENT OF DIESEL VEHICLES WITH CNG: The Cabinet approved monetary incentives to encourage replacement of diesel oil buses, minibuses and wagons with CNG. This includes exemption from customs duty and sales tax on CNG equipment and buses, which was available up to June 30, 2006. This exemption would be further extended for a period of five years.
The Petroleum Ministry had proposed that priority with regard to incentives would be given to locally manufactured CNG equipment and buses and local manufacturing of equipment would be encouraged.
LOAD SHEDDING: The Cabinet discussed current situation of electricity in the country and decided that in future not only the Cabinet would be taken into confidence before taking any decision on load shedding or load management, but would also it would be planned.
Durrani said that the Cabinet decided that village electrification programme would continue as it has been designed for the far-flung areas.
Officials of Ministry of Water and Power briefed the meeting about electricity being provided to Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) to bridge its shortfall. The Cabinet allowed the Survey of Pakistan to become a member of Global Mapping Project (GMP), which would entitle Pakistani officials to receive technical training and awareness about latest technology. The Cabinet approved ratification of agreement between Pakistan and UAE concerning co-operation in the field of defence.
The Cabinet also approved initiation of negotiations between ACD member countries on Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) of co-operation in the standardisation and quality assurance. The Cabinet approved, in principle, to start negotiations with Singapore on abolition of visa for diplomatic and official passport holders.
