ISLAMABAD: Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said voting rights of foreign Pakistanis in cabinet meetings has always been on the agenda of the PTI-led government.
Speaking during a post-cabinet press conference in Islamabad, the minister said matters related to electoral reforms, the issue of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and voting rights of foreign Pakistanis, among other issues, were discussed during the cabinet meeting. Returns. . The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“No cabinet meeting goes without mentioning the right to vote of foreign Pakistanis,” Fawad said. “Government will ensure that foreign Pakistanis are given the right to vote [in the next general election]”
He said that the government has also approved the facility of providing online power of attorney to foreign Pakistanis.
Fawad also spoke on the country’s economic affairs and said that Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Tarin is currently in the United States to speak to the IMF, and he will continue to perform his duties in accordance with the law and constitution of Pakistan,” he said.
Highlighting the issue of Afghanistan, the Information Minister said that the government has decided not to charge any visa fee from Afghan nationals.
“We have also decided to issue business visas to Afghan businessmen,” he said, adding that the government wants to encourage Afghan citizens to opt for legal means to enter Pakistan.
Fawad said that the government has also decided to provide online visa facility to foreign workers working on the projects of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
On the issue of Balochistan, the federal minister said that the government wants peace and stability to be maintained in the province.
“The Governor of Balochistan has briefed the Prime Minister about the current political situation there,” he said.
The minister also talked about the formation of the Rahmatul-Lil-Alameen Authority and said that apart from the local people, the government plans to have some foreign Islamic scholars as well.
He said the government has approved the formation of a PEMRA complaints council in Islamabad and thanked Pakistan’s electronic media for “seriously reporting” on the issue of national security as well as the appointment of DG ISI.
Fawad said the government has also decided to introduce new policies related to utility stores, police, transport logistics, admission issues in medical colleges and the country’s real estate sector.
civil-military relations
The federal minister said the issue of appointment of the Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) was also discussed during the meeting.
“There was a long meeting between PM Imran Khan and the army chief last night,” Fawad said. He said the government shares “an ideal relationship with the military”.
“The prime minister has a very close relationship with the army chief,” Fawad said. “The Prime Minister’s Office will never take any step that hurts the reputation of the Army.”
He said that the government would follow the legal process for the appointment of DG ISI and ensure that all constitutional requirements in this regard are fulfilled.
“It is the prime minister’s prerogative to appoint DG ISI,” he said.