Federal cabinet reviews economic situation, approves Rs278bn national emergency agriculture program

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a five-hour long meeting of the federal cabinet met in Islamabad on Tuesday to review the overall political, security, and economic situation of the country.

According to sources, the cabinet took several key decisions including the approval of a Rs278bn National Agriculture Emergency Programme. The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had promised it would declare an agriculture emergency under its first 35 initiatives after coming into power in a bid to boost the profitability of farmers in the country. Approving the Rs278bn programme, the cabinet recommended that steps be taken across Pakistan, including Balochistan province, for the improvement of the agricultural sector.

Among other decisions, the cabinet approved a bill to slash the "Entertainment and Gift budget" of ministers and senior officials, calling for further recommendations on the matter in the next meeting.

The cabinet also approved the formation of a taskforce on the Evacuee Trust Property Board, a government department that administers evacuee properties, including educational, charitable or religious trusts left behind by Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India after partition. The cabinet has sought recommendations from all concerned departments on the matter and called for members of minority groups to be made part of the task force, sources added.

The meeting was also briefed on the reforms process in the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR).

Christchurch attack condemned

The cabinet members condemned the heinous terror attack in Christchurch and saluted the bravery of Pakistani national Naeem Rasheed who gave his life while saving fellow worshipers.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan condemns all form of terrorism and its an eternal truth that terrorists belong to no religion.