The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday accorded approval to the country’s first-ever Space Policy aimed at attracting foreign investment and saving the precious foreign exchange.
Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi announced the decision after the cabinet meeting which was presided over by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar.
Under the new policy, the international companies would be allowed to provide services to customers through Low Orbit Communication Satellite in Pakistan.
He said the policy would not only attract foreign investment but also save valuable foreign exchange.
Under the policy, not only a “Space Regulatory Regime” was being implemented in Pakistan in line with modern international requirements, but funds for research and development had also been arranged in SPARCO, the minister added.
Solangi said that the prime minister appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, SPARCO, Ministry of Defence and related institutions to formulate Pakistan’s first space policy.
At the outset, the cabinet strongly condemned the D I Khan terrorist attack and prayed Allah Almighty to rest the souls of martyrs in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear the loss with fortitude.
The forum had rejected the “unilateral verdict” of the Indian Supreme Court regarding the illegal annexation of Jammu and Kashmir by India as an illegal decision.
“Jammu and Kashmir is not an internal issue of India rather an international dispute that has been an unresolved agenda at the UN Security Council for over seven decades,” the minister said, adding the so-called decision of the Indian SC would not have any impact on the Kashmir issue.
Solangi said the Federal Cabinet called upon on the international community to strongly condemn the illegal Indian move that usurped the rights of Kashmiris.
While giving details of the cabinet decisions, he said that it gave approval to the Memorandum of Understanding on mutual political exchanges between the Republic of Gambia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan in the context of Pakistan’s “Engage Africa” policy.
The minister said that the cabinet approved the immediate termination of contract of the managing director of the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) for misuse of the authority and directed for disciplinary action against him.
It also gave its consent that Mian Mohammad Shafiq, Chief Executive Engineer, would assume the charge as NTC’s acting managing director till the appointment of new managing director, he added.
The cabinet, he said, also approved changes in the rules and regulations to facilitate the Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan, who neither have any legal proof of entry nor processing fee, and want to leave for a third country.
According to the new rules and regulations, Solangi said, the Afghan nationals, who have to evacuate to a third country and do not have any legal documents or processing fees, would be fined $400 for overstaying in Pakistan instead of $ 800.
The deadline for stay of such Afghan nationals in Pakistan had also been extended from December 31, 2023 to February 29, 2024, he said, adding the fine, after the due date, would be imposed at the rate of $100 per month with a maximum limit of $800.
He said the measures were aimed at encouraging the Afghans residing illegally in Pakistan to obtain legal documents or finalize evacuation agreements as soon as possible in a third country.
He said on the recommendation of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the cabinet approved the immediate return of the Managing Director of the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority to his parent institution and also ordered an investigation into the mismanagement in the institution.
It also gave its approval that Director General Operations Port Qasim Authority, Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed, should look after the affairs of the above Authority till the appointment of new managing director.
On the recommendation of the Ministry of Health, Solangi said, the cabinet approved the decision to forward the cases of Dow Dental College Karachi, Narowal Medical College, Liaquat Institute of Medical Health Sciences Thatta and Khairpur Meris Medical College to the Pakistan Medical and Dental College for initial approval.
The minister said the cabinet approved the decisions made in the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on November 23, except the one regarding the increase in the prices of medicines.
The cabinet also issued directives to review the entire system of drugs pricing and regulations to find a comprehensive solution to the problem in the future.
