ISLAMABAD – The Government has decided to devise an inclusive strategy for provision of funds to cater financial and equipment requirements of the law enforcement agencies for their capacity building and to introduce Value Added Tax (VAT) to get the country out of the economic crunch.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira gave these remarks while addressing a joint press conference along with Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday. He was briefing the journalists after CabinetÂ’s specially called meeting to discuss the current law and order situation in the country.
The meeting was held at the Prime MinisterÂ’s Secretariat under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. Information Minister apprised the media persons that all the Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries as well as IGs of Police of the four provinces, Federal Ministers, Ministers of State, Advisors to the Prime Minister, Prime Minister of AJ&K, Governor Gilgit-Baltistan and Chief of General Staff GHQ attended the meeting.
About the VAT, he said that it was a justified as well as progressive tax and the Government had decided to introduce it in order to get the country out of its current economic crunch. “It is imperative to increase the resource base and VAT Law will be an important element of this effort,” he maintained.
He further said that it was agreed in the meeting that all the four provinces would introduce the Provincial VAT Bill 2010 in their respective Provincial Assemblies immediately, so as to enable their respective Finance Committees to deliberate the proposed law for its final disposal by June 2010.
Information Minister said that the meeting discussed the counterterrorism measures with special focus on inter-provincial efforts. He said that all the law enforcement agencies needed equipments as well as logistic facilities to fight the war against terrorism. He further informed that in this regard, PM had directed the Federal Interior Minister to devise a comprehensive strategy to assess equipment and logistic requirements of the laws enforcement agencies after deliberations with provincial governments as well as Ministry of Finance. After this, Interior Ministry would make recommendations to the Prime Minister for provision of funds to enhance the capability of law enforcement agencies, he added.
He further said the Government had to cut down its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) up to Rs 300 billion to spend more money on the war against terrorism and the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). He said that PM had reiterated to protect the lives and property of the citizens and a national plan with precise strategy was being developed for making the cities and the towns safe for citizens. “Federal Government is providing every kind of support to the provinces to fight the war against terrorism as PM has categorically said that terrorists have no religion, ideology and country”, he maintained. He said that Government since its inception had adopted 3Ds policy and it had not stepped back of the process of dialogue.
The Minister for Interior while addressing the joint press conference said that the meeting had discussed the challenges they were facing on the war against terrorism, adding that the Government was trying its best to enhance the capacity of the law enforcement agencies, as they could not perform well without their capacity building.
He said that PM had appreciated the efforts of all the political parties, the civil society, the law enforcement agencies and media for their role to unite the nation on the war against terrorism.
To a question, he said that 90 percent terrorist attacks in the major cities of the country were carried out by banned out fits Lashker-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Sahaba and he had directed the provinces to take strict action against these elements.
About the recovery of kidnapped child Sahil Naqash, he said that heavy ransom had been paid to recover the abducted child. To another question, he said that scanners were procured in transparent manner from China and a 13-member committee had reviewed the whole process of the purchase of scanners.
Our monitoring desk adds: Interior Minister Rehman Malik Wednesday warned the militant elements against their heinous acts in the country, saying a decisive operation would be conducted to wipe out the menace, reported a private TV channel on Wednesday.
He was addressing a news briefing accompanied by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcast Qamar Zaman Kaira after a special meeting held in Islamabad to review law and order situation prevailing in the country.
Pointing out to the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangwi and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, Rehman warned the extremist organisations to restrain from carrying out terror activities and said in case of their failure, a decisive operation would be carried out against them. “This is an ideological war; we must fight together,” said Malik.
“The Taliban are toeing foreign agenda in the country. 90 per cent of the terrorists have been flushed out from Punjab including Islamabad and soon our security forces will take them on.
Earlier, Rehman Malik briefed the cabinet about the law and order situation and the fight against terror and said Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was getting strength from Punjabi Taliban. According to the sources, the minister said the Al-Qaeda and the TTP were weakening Pakistan.
Sources say Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif informed the Cabinet about the progress made so far in investigation of recent suicide attacks in Lahore. The cabinet also discussed ways and means to formulate a joint strategy and improve intelligence sharing between the law enforcement agencies to cope with the current wave of terrorism in the country.
Agencies add: The Federal Cabinet, which met Wednesday with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in chair, reiterated the commitment to fight terrorism with full force to ensure peace and stability in the country.
The cabinet discussed ways and means to enhance capacity of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to combat terror.
Later briefing the newsmen at the Press Information Department,
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said all available resources would be utilised to enhance the capability of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to uproot extremism and terrorism from the country.
He said Prime Minister Gilani had issued directives to the Interior Ministry to work out a comprehensive plan in consultation with all four provinces for enhancing the capability of law enforcers.
Malik said the federal government would provide sufficient funds to the provincial governments for imparting advanced training to the LEAs personnel to improve their efficiency, adding that educated personnel were being appointed in the police with handsome salaries and facilities.
He said the government was determined to flush out terrorists from the society and would not allow the anti-state elements to succeed in their nefarious designs to de-stabilise the country.
He paid tributes to Pakistan Army for timely and effective action against terrorists in Swat and FATA, adding that the government writ had been established in the areas due to the sacrifices rendered by Army.
Malik informed that the terroristsÂ’ network had been dismantled in Swat and FATA areas.
To a question he said 90 per cent terrorists involved in subversive activities belong to different banned organisations.
He declared the prevailing law and order situation much better than the la3t two years.
Replying to a question, Malik said the government had evolved an effective strategy against the factories, involved in misuse and illegal purchase of explosive material.
He thanked religious leaders for issuing edict against suicide attacks after which, according to him, many would-be suicide bombers had changed their minds and ran away from the troubled areas.
He urged the media to report banned organisationsÂ’ activities if they notice anywhere in the country.
Kaira said terrorism was a problem for the whole nation and consensus was a prerequisite for a success against the extremists.
He said the prime minister made it clear that the terrorists had no religion, without any geographical boundaries, and they were the enemies of Pakistan and the humanity.