Speedy completion of CPEC projects to continue: Khaqan

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Chinese envoy greets PM on assuming office

Observer Report
Islamabad
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong called on PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at PM Office today. The Ambassador congratulated the Prime Minister on assuming the office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Ambassador conveyed the congratulatory message of the Chinese Premiere to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Chinese Ambassador said that the Chinese leadership is happy to see the smooth transition in Pakistan and it will continue to support the government of Pakistan in the development and prosperity of Pakistan. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi thanked the Ambassador and conveyed his good wishesfor the Chinese leadership. The Prime Minister said that he will work to implementCPEC as it was being implemented, and he will personally supervise the speedy completion of all the projects under the CPEC. Beyond CPEC, our economiccooperation will further enhance, the Prime Minister stated. The Ambassador said that China is a close friend of Pakistan and both the countries have strategic partnership. During the last four years, the bilateralrelationship has attained new heights; under your leadership, it will further strengthen, the Ambassador stated. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan will further prosper, the Ambassador further stated.

 

[maximuswarrior]

No matter what political disagreements, CPEC must go ahead full steam.

 

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New ministries, divisions created for speedy implementation of economic policies

Mubarak Zeb KhanUpdated August 05, 2017
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President Mamnoon Hussain, front on left, administers oath to ministers in Islamabad on Friday.— PID via AP

ISLAMABAD: In a major development on Friday, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi created new ministries and divisions, as well as reconsolidated the functioning of three existing ministries to improve governance and implementation of economic policies.

An official source said the new federal ministries were created to accommodate new ministers.

The new ministries and constituent divisions were created under the provisions of Rule 3 of the Rules of Business, 1973.

An official source told Dawn that reorganisation of economic ministries to improve coordination within different divisions was long overdue. The World Bank had also recommended the reorganisation, especially in the Ministry of Water and Power, the source added.

According to the decision, the prime minister has created a new Federal Ministry of Energy, with two constituent divisions — Power Division and Petroleum Division.

Another new federal ministry has been created with the name of Ministry of Water Resources with one constituent division — Water Resource Division.

The water and power ministry has been done away with, petroleum ministry reorganised into a division

As per the decision, the existing Water and Power Ministry has been dismantled by creating a separate Power Division and transferred its businesses to be looked after by the federal energy minister.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has been converted into Petroleum Division. However, those departments of the petroleum ministry which deal with power production will be placed under the Power Division.

The water issues and subordinate departments will fall under the division of water resources.

A federal secretary is the principle accounting officer of each division.

According to the source, the new divisions were created on the model currently in practice in Turkey and India.

“This will help the government to improve coordination in power production and installation of new power projects as well,” the source said.

The move will also help accelerate the implementation of power projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he added.

A new Federal Ministry of Commerce and Textile has been created with two constituent divisions — Commerce Division and Textile Division. Accordingly, the current business of the two existing divisions of commerce and textile industry shall be placed under the new ministry.

In 2013, the two divisions were created and placed under one minister. However, in 2014 the two divisions were separated and made full-fledged ministries. There was a full-fledged commerce minister while the Ministry of Textile Industry was under the administrative control of prime minister since March 2015.

To adjust new ministers, the prime minister has also created three new ministries and their constituent divisions.

As per decision, Ministry of Statistics has been created with one constituent division — Statistics Division; Ministry of Privatisation, with one constituent division — Privatisation Division; and Ministry of Narcotics Control, with one constituent division — Narcotics Control Division.

Accordingly, the residual ministries will now be named as the Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, comprising three divisions — Finance Division, Revenue Division and Economic Affairs Division; and Ministry of Interior, comprising the Interior Division only.

Another ministry was created namely Ministry of Postal Services, with one constituent division — Postal Services Division.

The business of the existing Communications Division to the extent of postal services shall be transferred to the new division while residual business shall remain with it.

The Cabinet Division will take further action immediately to implement the prime minister’s orders.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2017