Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has pledged rigorous monitoring of essential commodity prices during Ramazan, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged ministers to enhance governance and service delivery.
Chairing the first formal cabinet meeting after its recent expansion, the prime minister welcomed new members and emphasized proactive governance to address economic and public concerns.
Strict Price Monitoring for Ramazan
Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal briefed the cabinet on efforts to control prices of essential commodities during the holy month. The prime minister praised the efficiency of Islamabad’s Price Control Committee and called for similar vigilance nationwide to curb inflation and profiteering.
Major Approvals & Agreements
The cabinet approved several significant measures, including:
Directorate of Religious Education: The Ministry of Federal Education’s proposal to affiliate the Directorate of Religious Education with the ministry.
Pakistan-China Cybersecurity MoU: An agreement between Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team and China’s National Computer Emergency Response Team to enhance cybersecurity collaboration, including intelligence sharing and cyber threat response.
ITU Accelerator Centre: An agreement with the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to establish an ITU Accelerator Centre at the National Incubation Centre in Islamabad to boost Pakistan’s IT ecosystem.
Economic and Legislative Endorsements: The cabinet ratified decisions made by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Feb 20 and the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases on March 4.
Economic Performance & Security Challenges
PM Shehbaz directed ministers to focus on economic revival, emphasizing improvements in agriculture, commerce, finance, IT, and minerals. He announced a quarterly performance review of ministries to ensure accountability and efficiency.
Addressing security concerns, the premier highlighted the resurgence of terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and lauded law enforcement agencies for their sacrifices. He stressed that sustainable economic progress depends on national peace and stability.
Daanish University: A £190m Higher Education Initiative
In a landmark announcement, the government unveiled plans to establish Daanish University of Applied and Emerging Sciences using £190 million recovered from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). The institution will focus on artificial intelligence, technology, and modern sciences to equip students with advanced skills.
The recovered funds, originally transferred to Pakistan through the Supreme Court, were controversially redirected under former PM Imran Khan to adjust a Rs450 billion penalty imposed on real estate tycoon Malik Riaz in the Bahria Town Karachi case.
Instead of funding the Al-Qadir Trust/University—allegedly linked to Imran Khan—the government will now use the money for the new university project. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has already filed a reference against Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, for their alleged involvement in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
During a steering committee meeting, PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice for facilitating the funds’ transfer to the federal account, ensuring their rightful use for public welfare.
With stricter price control measures, economic performance scrutiny, and a major education initiative, the government aims to balance economic reforms with social welfare ahead of Ramazan.
