ISLAMBAD (Daily Point) — In a cabinet meeting chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in Islamabad, the federal cabinet has decided to extend the deadline for the deportation of Afghan nationals, who are to be sent to a country other than Afghanistan, to February 29, 2024.
The initial deadline of December 31 was prolonged to facilitate the process, as reported by The News on Thursday.
Caretaker Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi briefed the media on the decisions taken during the meeting, accompanied by Caretaker Minister of Information Technology Dr Umar Saif and Caretaker Minister for National Health Services Dr Nadeem Jan. The interim government has also reduced the processing fee for Afghan nationals from $800 to $400.
Solangi explained that Afghan nationals staying beyond the deadline would incur a $100 fine per month for a maximum of eight months. The government’s preference is for them to either relocate to another country promptly or obtain the necessary legal documentation to stay in Pakistan.
Additionally, the federal cabinet deferred a decision to increase the prices of 262 medicines. PM Kakar emphasized the importance of progress in the pharmaceutical industry while safeguarding public interest and ensuring drug quality. The cabinet ordered a review of the mechanism for setting medicine prices to find a lasting solution to the issue.
Minister for Health Dr Nadeem Jan highlighted that, in line with the ECC decision, the prices of the mentioned 262 medicines would not be increased. He emphasized the need for a people-centric drug pricing policy rather than one focused solely on profit and manufacturers.
Furthermore, the cabinet approved Pakistan’s first-ever National Space Policy, allowing international companies to provide communication and coordination services through low-orbit communication satellites. This policy aims to attract foreign investment, save foreign exchange, and establish a space regulatory regime in line with international standards.
The cabinet also consented to refer several medical colleges for review and preliminary approval, approved an MoU between the Foreign Office and Gambia under Pakistan’s Engage Africa policy, and rejected the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict on Kashmir. The cabinet asserted that the Kashmir issue should be resolved according to UN Security Council resolutions, and international condemnation of India’s actions in Kashmir was urged.
Additionally, the cabinet approved decisions regarding the establishment of a Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency and Telecom Tribunal. Minister for Information Technology Dr Umar Saif announced the approval of three policies for the IT sector and the imminent introduction of 5G technology in Pakistan.
