Summary Information minister has said that details of new Hajj policy would be announced on Thursday.
ISLAMABAD (Agencies):-The Federal Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in Islamabad approved new Haj Policy and in principle agreed for issuance of licenses for drilling of shell gas through competitive open bidding.
Later‚ briefing newsmen about decisions of the Cabinet‚ Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said the details of the Haj Policy would be announced by the Minister for Religious Affairs tomorrow. He‚ however‚ said the Prime Minister asked Ministries of Religious Affairs and Defence to sort out the issue of Hajj fares through consultations.
The Information Minister expressed the confidence that exploration of shell gas would help meet the country s growing gas needs.
The Cabinet asked the Ministerial Committee‚ already working under the chairmanship of Law Minister Farooq H. Naek‚ to consult OGRA‚ gas companies and other stakeholders tomorrow to sort out problems facing the companies and consumers. The Prime Minister directed the Committee to resolve the issues without further burdening the consumer.
The Cabinet also approved the report presented by the Water Sector Task Force.
The Cabinet approved conversion of Karachi-Hyderabad Super Highway into six-lane Motorway. Its contract is being given to FWO on single tender basis‚ as it has the capacity to undertake such big projects.
The Prime Minister gave instructions for allocation of initial funds to ensure immediate beginning of the work on the project. Minister for Communication told the meeting that NHA would spare one billion rupees and one and a half would be sought from the Federal Government to initiate work by next month. The construction work would be completed in two years.
