Pakistan PM Urges Vertical Construction for Housing

Fri Feb 09 2024
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad on Friday to prioritize the construction of vertical buildings to maximize housing availability, rather than allocating valuable agricultural land for plot allotments to employees.

During the Federal Cabinet meeting chaired by Kakar, he also instructed the formulation of a policy in this regard. The Cabinet reviewed the policy regarding plot allotment to CDA employees in compliance with the Islamabad High Court’s decision. The court mandated the CDA to reconcile income disparities by providing plots to employees at concessional rates.

However, the Cabinet deferred a decision on the proposed allotment policy.

At the recommendation of the Interior Ministry, the Cabinet approved open bidding for the procurement of services from Category A audit firms, as designated by the State Bank of Pakistan, for auditing the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA). This decision revised the 2019 Cabinet resolution, which limited auditing to four prominent firms.

Under the new decision, all Category A firms registered with the SBP will have equal opportunities for NADRA audits, ensuring transparency and adherence to international standards.

Additionally, the Cabinet endorsed the nomination of the “Cyber Security for Digital Pakistan” project as the “National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT),” as proposed by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.

Furthermore, amendments to Section 5(2) of the Adaptation Act were approved upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs. This amendment replaces “Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council” with “Azad Government of State of Jammu and Kashmir” to facilitate the transfer of mobile phone network spectrum license and renewal fees from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to the Azad Government of State of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Cabinet also sanctioned the appointment of Air Commodore Muhammad Atif Hashim as a technical member of the Pakistan Aeronautic Complex Board, effective from July 19, 2023, as proposed by the Ministry of Defence Production.

Moreover, the approval of decisions made in the Cabinet Committee on Privatization Commission meeting on February 7, 2024, was postponed. However, decisions taken in the Cabinet Committee on Legislation meetings held on January 31 and February 7, 2024, were ratified.

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