DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Cabinet formally accepts the Kerry-Lugar Bill
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet formally accepted on Wednesday the Kerry-Lugar Bill (Enhanced Partnership Act with Pakistan Bill of 2009).
Briefing the media after a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira said there were no differences of opinions about accepting the assistance under a law which applied to the American executive.
The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani held at the Prime Ministers Secretariat.
(Reuters adds: Prime Minister Gilani assured the nation and the international community that the countrys nuclear infrastructure was safe and terrorists pose no threat to its safety.)
About the election of the prime minister in Azad Kashmir, Mr Kaira said that the process would be transparent and Islamabad would not interfere in any manner.
The cabinet also discussed the Sundays suicide attack in Iran and reiterated Pakistans resolve to support efforts to punish elements involved in the attack.
Sources said that the interior minister and his ministry came under severe criticism for alleged security lapses in the country.
Mr Kaira said the government was satisfied with the interior ministrys performance and asserted that the country was at war.
The cabinet condemned recent terrorist attacks in Peshawar, Kohat, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Islamabad and assured the nation that the cowardly acts would not go unpunished.
The cabinet was informed that during the current quarter workers remittances increased by 20 per cent to $2.2 billion from $1.8 billion in the same period last year.
It was informed that key economic indicators had improved in 2009.
Foreign exchange reserves increased to $ 14.5billion (sufficient for five months imports) in September, up from $6.5 billion a year ago.
The cabinet was informed that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would visit Pakistan from Oct 24 to 26, during which he would address a joint session of the two houses of parliament.
The cabinet approved the signing of articles of agreement for establishing an ECO reinsurance company by Pakistan, Turkey and Iran.
It also approved talks for negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Germany in defence sector and Ukraine on combating drug trafficking.
The cabinet approved a draft bill which would grant degree awarding status to Karachis Dawood College of Engineering and Technology and appointed the education minister as the universitys pro-chancellor.
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet formally accepted on Wednesday the Kerry-Lugar Bill (Enhanced Partnership Act with Pakistan Bill of 2009).
Briefing the media after a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira said there were no differences of opinions about accepting the assistance under a law which applied to the American executive.
The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani held at the Prime Ministers Secretariat.
(Reuters adds: Prime Minister Gilani assured the nation and the international community that the countrys nuclear infrastructure was safe and terrorists pose no threat to its safety.)
About the election of the prime minister in Azad Kashmir, Mr Kaira said that the process would be transparent and Islamabad would not interfere in any manner.
The cabinet also discussed the Sundays suicide attack in Iran and reiterated Pakistans resolve to support efforts to punish elements involved in the attack.
Sources said that the interior minister and his ministry came under severe criticism for alleged security lapses in the country.
Mr Kaira said the government was satisfied with the interior ministrys performance and asserted that the country was at war.
The cabinet condemned recent terrorist attacks in Peshawar, Kohat, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Islamabad and assured the nation that the cowardly acts would not go unpunished.
The cabinet was informed that during the current quarter workers remittances increased by 20 per cent to $2.2 billion from $1.8 billion in the same period last year.
It was informed that key economic indicators had improved in 2009.
Foreign exchange reserves increased to $ 14.5billion (sufficient for five months imports) in September, up from $6.5 billion a year ago.
The cabinet was informed that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would visit Pakistan from Oct 24 to 26, during which he would address a joint session of the two houses of parliament.
The cabinet approved the signing of articles of agreement for establishing an ECO reinsurance company by Pakistan, Turkey and Iran.
It also approved talks for negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Germany in defence sector and Ukraine on combating drug trafficking.
The cabinet approved a draft bill which would grant degree awarding status to Karachis Dawood College of Engineering and Technology and appointed the education minister as the universitys pro-chancellor.
