ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet on Tuesday accorded approval for signing of an inter-governmental agreement between the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) and the Ministry of Oil and Gas, Sultanate of Oman for supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petroleum products on government to government basis. The Federal Cabinet, which met at the PM’s Office with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair, also approved the signing of inter-government agreement and letter of intent on cooperation in the field of LNG between the government of Pakistan and government of the Italian Republic. The cabinet gave permission to allow transit of 01×20 feet container STC containing eight packages of spare parts of Toyota vehicles of UNMA from Karachi to Kabul. It accorded approval, in principle, to Anti-Terrorism (Freezing and Seizure) Rules, 2018. The meeting accorded its approval to the notification of WAPDA Hydro-Electric Tariff for the FY 2017-18 determined by NEPRA and further directed that the process of tariff determination for AJK should be initiated. The cabinet ratified the decisions of Cabinet Committee on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) taken during its meeting held on 12-01-2018. It was further decided that cabinet would be briefed in detail on CPEC. The cabinet directed that the process of filling up vacant positions of the heads of organisations in various ministries be expedited. It expressed satisfaction over the surplus generation capacity in the power sector. It was reiterated that the government was committed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers. The cabinet also directed for early operationalisation of the new Islamabad International Airport. Earlier, the cabinet offered Fateha for the departed souls of renowned lawyer, human rights activist and former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir and late Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Tuesday reiterated federal government’s continued support for socio-economic uplift of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), development of infrastructure and promotion of tourism in the area. He was talking to AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, chief secretary and other senior functionaries that met him at the Prime Minister’s Office. A detailed presentation was given to the Prime Minister Abbasi about the development projects and activities being undertaken in AJK for socio-economic uplift of the people and for promotion of tourism, a press release said. Discussing the development programmes initiated under the vision of PML-N leadership, the AJK government appreciated enhancement of the budget for AJK from Rs 12 billion to Rs 22 billion under the federal government and initiation of various landmark projects including Mirpur-Muzzaffrabad-Mansehra Expressway and establishment of Mirpur Special Economic Zone under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project. The meeting was informed that enhanced support from the government of Pakistan enabled the AJK government to take up rehabilitation of all major roads for provision of better connectivity with Pakistan and inter district/tehsils level, besides revival of productive sectors. The meeting was attended by minister for Kashmir Affairs Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir, Minister for Law Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, the secretary to prime minister, the federal secretaries for finance, power division and Kashmir affairs and other senior government officials. Published in Daily Times, February 14th 2018.