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Cabinet inks defence cooperation agreement with Ukraine and Indonesia
ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (APP): The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday approved ratification of Protocol of Accession of Afghanistan to South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) by Pakistan, besides signing two on defence cooperation with Ukraine and Indonesia. The cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
The Agreement was signed by ministers of foreign and external affairs of seven SAARC member states during the 15th SAARC Summit at Colombo in August.
Upon completion of ratification by all SAARC members and subsequent notification by SAARC Secretariat, Afghanistan shall have same concessions and obligations as are available to other Least Developed Contracting States (LDCS) of the SAFTA.
Afghanistan joined as 8th member of SAARC and became a contracting party to the SAFTA with the consensus of leaders of SAARC.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) shall also notify tariff reduction in favour of Afghanistan on receipt of SAARC Secretariats notification in this regard.
The cabinet also approved the ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on military and defence production between Ukraine and Pakistan.
The MoU will enhance cooperation between the armed forces and promote collaboration between defence industries of the two countries.
The scope of cooperation extends from military training of armed forces personnel, joint military exercises, exchange of defence equipment and services, in conformity with national legislation and regulations of both countries.
The MoU also envisages promotion of scientific and technological research in production of defence equipment and materials besides exchange of information on Research & Development (R&D) in defence science and technology.
The cabinet also approved the signing of the agreement between Pakistan and Indonesia on cooperative activities in defence.
The agreement will provide an opportunity for the Pakistan armed forces to enhance military and defence relations with Indonesia. It will also be helpful in promoting bilateral relations in other fields.
Under this agreement a Pakistan - Indonesia defence co-operation committee will be established, and will hold its meeting at least once a year at a place mutually agreed by both the signatories.
The scope of cooperation covers regular bilateral dialogue and consultation on strategic and security issues of common concern, exchange of information on defence establishments and matters.
It will also seek co-operation in science and technology in defence; promoting human resources development of defence institutions and armed forces of both the countries through education, training, exchange of visits, joint exercises, exchange of military observers for witnessing exercises and other related activities.
The Cabinet also approved ratification of charter of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF). The SDF Charter was signed by the foreign minister of Pakistan in August during the 15th SAARC Summit held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The Charter shall enter into force on completion of formalities including ratification by all member States and upon issue of notification by the SAARC Secretariat.
The funds for the SDF will be raised from assessed contribution by the Member States, voluntary contribution by the SAARC member States, contribution from non-regional contributors, contributions from private and public institutions from SAARC member states and individual philanthropists.
The resources and facilities of the SDF will be utilized for funding poverty alleviation, social development focusing an education; health; human resources developments.
It will also extend support to vulnerable and disadvantaged segments of society; funding needs of communities, micro-enterprises and rural infrastructure development.
These will be also dealt with non-infrastructural projects related to trade and industrial development, agriculture, service sectors, Science and Technology Besides it will also take up projects in energy, power, transportation, telecommunications, environment, tourism and other infrastructure areas.
Preference will be given to projects involving all SAARC member states; more than two but not all SAARC member states projects having significant economic interest for three or more SAARC member states.
These have to be located in one or more SAARC member states and projects with significant focus on poverty alleviation in any SAARC member states as part of a sub-regional project.
The Cabinet also approved ratification of protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V) of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), by Pakistan.
The Protocol recognizes the serious post-conflict humanitarian problems caused by explosive remnants of war and addresses post-conflict remedial measures of a generic nature to minimize the occurrence, effects and the risk of such remnants of war.
It intends to eradicate the daily threat that such legacies of war pose to population in need for development and to humanitarian aid workers operating in the field to help them.
Pakistan joined the convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in April 1985 and it has already ratified four protocols of the CCW.
The fifth Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War was adopted on November 28, 2003, entered into force on November 12, 2006 and it was yet to be ratified by Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (APP): The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday approved ratification of Protocol of Accession of Afghanistan to South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) by Pakistan, besides signing two on defence cooperation with Ukraine and Indonesia. The cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
The Agreement was signed by ministers of foreign and external affairs of seven SAARC member states during the 15th SAARC Summit at Colombo in August.
Upon completion of ratification by all SAARC members and subsequent notification by SAARC Secretariat, Afghanistan shall have same concessions and obligations as are available to other Least Developed Contracting States (LDCS) of the SAFTA.
Afghanistan joined as 8th member of SAARC and became a contracting party to the SAFTA with the consensus of leaders of SAARC.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) shall also notify tariff reduction in favour of Afghanistan on receipt of SAARC Secretariats notification in this regard.
The cabinet also approved the ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on military and defence production between Ukraine and Pakistan.
The MoU will enhance cooperation between the armed forces and promote collaboration between defence industries of the two countries.
The scope of cooperation extends from military training of armed forces personnel, joint military exercises, exchange of defence equipment and services, in conformity with national legislation and regulations of both countries.
The MoU also envisages promotion of scientific and technological research in production of defence equipment and materials besides exchange of information on Research & Development (R&D) in defence science and technology.
The cabinet also approved the signing of the agreement between Pakistan and Indonesia on cooperative activities in defence.
The agreement will provide an opportunity for the Pakistan armed forces to enhance military and defence relations with Indonesia. It will also be helpful in promoting bilateral relations in other fields.
Under this agreement a Pakistan - Indonesia defence co-operation committee will be established, and will hold its meeting at least once a year at a place mutually agreed by both the signatories.
The scope of cooperation covers regular bilateral dialogue and consultation on strategic and security issues of common concern, exchange of information on defence establishments and matters.
It will also seek co-operation in science and technology in defence; promoting human resources development of defence institutions and armed forces of both the countries through education, training, exchange of visits, joint exercises, exchange of military observers for witnessing exercises and other related activities.
The Cabinet also approved ratification of charter of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF). The SDF Charter was signed by the foreign minister of Pakistan in August during the 15th SAARC Summit held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The Charter shall enter into force on completion of formalities including ratification by all member States and upon issue of notification by the SAARC Secretariat.
The funds for the SDF will be raised from assessed contribution by the Member States, voluntary contribution by the SAARC member States, contribution from non-regional contributors, contributions from private and public institutions from SAARC member states and individual philanthropists.
The resources and facilities of the SDF will be utilized for funding poverty alleviation, social development focusing an education; health; human resources developments.
It will also extend support to vulnerable and disadvantaged segments of society; funding needs of communities, micro-enterprises and rural infrastructure development.
These will be also dealt with non-infrastructural projects related to trade and industrial development, agriculture, service sectors, Science and Technology Besides it will also take up projects in energy, power, transportation, telecommunications, environment, tourism and other infrastructure areas.
Preference will be given to projects involving all SAARC member states; more than two but not all SAARC member states projects having significant economic interest for three or more SAARC member states.
These have to be located in one or more SAARC member states and projects with significant focus on poverty alleviation in any SAARC member states as part of a sub-regional project.
The Cabinet also approved ratification of protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V) of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), by Pakistan.
The Protocol recognizes the serious post-conflict humanitarian problems caused by explosive remnants of war and addresses post-conflict remedial measures of a generic nature to minimize the occurrence, effects and the risk of such remnants of war.
It intends to eradicate the daily threat that such legacies of war pose to population in need for development and to humanitarian aid workers operating in the field to help them.
Pakistan joined the convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in April 1985 and it has already ratified four protocols of the CCW.
The fifth Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War was adopted on November 28, 2003, entered into force on November 12, 2006 and it was yet to be ratified by Pakistan.
