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ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday decided to reduce electricity tariff in all sectors, besides increasing the support price of wheat.

The cabinet that met with Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali in the chair decided to reduce power tariffs for domestic consumers by 4.42 paisa per unit. For commercial consumers by 11.04 paisa per unit; for agriculture users by 4.42 paisa per unit and for industrial consumers by 11.04 paisa per unit. The relief will be effective from November 1.

The consumers will be billed for November on reduced tariff rates. The Ministry of Water and Power would notify the reductions later.

Food Stamp Scheme

The cabinet decided to enhance allocations for Food Stamp Scheme to Rs 1 billion thus totalling the amount to Rs 3.5 billion for the current fiscal year. It also decided to form a three-member cabinet committee to review distribution of Zakat in an effective manner.

The decision taken by the cabinet was based on the recommendations and determination made by National Electricity and Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and it was announced just a day after the government appointed new Water and Power Development Authority boss Tariq Hameed, who was drawn from private sector.

Zakat

The cabinet also discussed the system of Zakat distribution by the existing Zakat committees. The three-member cabinet committee will review the functioning of National Zakat Council and the system for distribution of Zakat and to suggest measures to streamline the system.

The cabinet approved increase in the support price of wheat for the year 2003-2004. The new support price has been fixed at Rs 350 per 40 kg. The decision would encourage farmers to increase the sowing area of wheat besides help alleviating their grievances due to increase in the input sector.

The cabinet directed the provincial governments to be vigilant and have strict control on prices of flour, so that consumers could get flour at the approved price.

Trade with Turkey

The cabinet approved dialogue with Turkey on a preferential trade agreement with a view to negotiating and concluding preferential trade agreement in a mutually beneficial manner.

During the visits of the Turkish prime minister and foreign trade minister to Pakistan this year, both sides expressed their desire to conclude a preferential trade agreement with a view to enhancing trade cooperation and maximising economic gains. The cabinet granted ex-post facto approval for signing of agreement on cooperation in the fields of science and technology between Pakistan and Morocco.

The cabinet was also informed that agreement on cooperation in the fields of science and technology between Pakistan and Morocco provides for exchange of scientists, research workers, specialists and scholars, exchange of scientific and technical information and documentation, organisation of joint scientific and technical seminar and courses in areas of mutual interest, joint identification of scientific and technical programmes.

Convention on International Interest in Mobile Equipment

The cabinet approved accession to the Convention on International Interest in Mobile Equipment (Cape Town Convention) and the protocol on matters specific to aircraft equipment. The accession to these two instruments will enable the aviation industry in Pakistan to draw full advantage of international financing which may be on attractive terms due to safeguards provided for the creditors in the convention as well as the protocol.

In order to promote mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey in the field of agriculture, the cabinet approved signing of a protocol on scientific, technical and economic cooperation between the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Pakistan’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.

The protocol is aimed at promoting mutual cooperation in the fields of agriculture, livestock, fisheries, on-farm water management, farm mechanisation, rain-fed or arid agriculture, agricultural marketing, plant and animal quarantine services and macroeconomic restructuring of agriculture sector between the two countries.

Directive on S&T

The prime minister directed the Minister for Science and Technology Dr Attaur Rehman to prepare a national development strategy for Pakistan, particularly, focusing on how science and technology can serve as a vehicle for industrial and agricultural development so that a medium- and long-term national plan can be formulated leading to socio-economic development and poverty alleviation.

Yellow Cab Scheme

The cabinet decided to withdraw SRO of Oct 14, 1991 thus allowing owners of vehicles of Yellow Cab Scheme to get the registration transferred in their names without NOC from the Ministry of Communications. The cabinet was informed that since the vehicles imported under the Yellow Cab Scheme eleven years ago have outlived their utility have also become un economical for use as public transport. Therefore, it decided that the SRO dated 14-10-1991 be withdrawn and vehicles imported under the Yellow Cab Scheme be made transferable in the name of their present owners without involving NOC from the Ministry of Communications.

The cabinet approved to initiate negotiations with Iran for a free-trade agreement without any pre-conditions. This would enable the two countries to negotiate and conclude a Free Trade Agreement in a beneficial manner. It would be in Pakistan’s interest to initiate negotiations with Iran at this time to conclude free-trade agreement.