Daily Times

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday directed for immediate implementation of an order of Supreme Court regarding release of under-trial and convicted women prisoners, fulfilling the criteria of the verdict.

The Prime Minister in a tweet, referring to Supreme Court’s Order 299/2020, said he gave the directive after a meeting with officials of Ministry of Human Rights, the Attorney General of Pakistan and legal expert Barrister Ali Zafar. “I have also asked for immediate reports on foreign women prisoners and women on death row for humanitarian consideration,” he said.

The Ministry of Human Rights had presented its committee’s report on ‘Plight of Women in Pakistan’s Prisons’ to the Prime Minister on August 26.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the government was specially focusing on the establishment of quality standard laboratories to promote Pakistani products at international level.

Chairing a meeting with prominent businessmen from various sectors, he said the government was paying special attention on introduction of technology and innovations in agriculture and other fields.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz, Industries Minister Hammad Azhar, Commerce Advisor Abdul Razzak Dawood, Finance Advisor Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, SAPM Dr Shahbaz Gill and Chairman Board of Investment Atif Bukhari attended the meeting.

The successful and young entrepreneurs, who attended the meeting, hailed from information technology, sports goods, fashion and textiles, beauty industry, Pak wheels and other business sectors.

The members of the delegation shared their experiences, highlighted impact of government’s business friendly policies and put forward their proposals to further improve business environment in the country.

The prime minister told the delegation that it was among government’s priorities to promote business activities, incentivize the businesses, and create conducive environment by removing the hurdles.

While mentioning the government’s measures like ease of doing business, online approval system and provision of easy loans, the prime minister said the young entrepreneurs excelling in their respective fields were the assets for the country.

The government is resolved to take all out measures for facilitation of such entrepreneurs, he added.

Separately, Prime Minister Imran Khan said with billions of rupees being spent annually on subsidies in various sectors, the government’s foremost priority was to make the system of subsidies organized and effective, so that subsidy from the public exchequer not only reached the deserving but desired results were also achieved.

He was chairing a meeting here about making the government’s subsidies system organized and effective.

Minister for Information Senator Shibli Faraz, Minister for Industries Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Advisor on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, special assistants Dr Shehbaz Gill and Dr Sania Nishtar, Secretary Finance Naveed Kamran, former Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Masood and other senior officers were present.

Former Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen, Chairman Habib Bank Sultan Ali Allana, Arif Habib and Dr Ejaz Nabi also attended the meeting through video link.

During the meeting, the prime minister was given a detailed briefing on direct or indirect government subsidies in various sectors, expenditures on the subsidies, flaws in the current system of subsidies and the progress made so far by the think-tank to further organize the subsidies’ system.

The prime minister said with regard to the subsidies’ system, the government had clear priorities including help of the poor, socio-economic development, bringing the backward areas at par with the country’s other areas, providing support to exports, and small and medium enterprises and the promotion of construction and agricultural sectors.

He directed to make all possible efforts to improve the system of subsidies so that decisions of public-interest could be taken and implemented.

Senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Wednesday.

During the meeting, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Advisor to the PM on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan apprised the prime minister of the matters pertaining to the parliamentary proceedings as well as legislation, a PM Office press release said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Law Minister Farogh Nasim and Advisor to the PM on Accountability Barrister Shahzad Akbar also attended the meeting.