Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that a development and security package worth one hundred and sixty billion rupees has been finalized for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Chairing a meeting of the Federal Cabinet in Islamabad today (Wednesday), he said peace and security in the province remain the foremost priority.
The Prime Minister reiterated his unwavering commitment to eliminating the menace of terrorism from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through mutual cooperation among the armed forces, the new provincial setup, and the Federal Government.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is continuing its efforts to promote peace in the region. He highlighted that a Pakistani delegation visited Tehran twice over the past two to three weeks. He said the discussions focused not only on reducing regional tensions but also on promoting regional cooperation.
Referring to the impact of regional tensions on fuel prices, the Prime Minister said the burden of fifteen rupees per litre on petrol has not been passed on to consumers due to engagement with refineries, which were asked to share their windfall profits. In this regard, he appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Petroleum.
He said the fuel subsidy scheme is also being implemented in a transparent and successful manner. He said fifteen million people have benefited from the scheme, with twenty-eight billion rupees spent on it. He said the scheme would continue at least until the end of next month.
The Prime Minister said the era of the LPG mafia has come to an end with the introduction of a mechanism to ensure greater transparency in supply and distribution.
He assured that despite challenges to shipping routes, all-out efforts would be made to ensure the supply of LNG, LPG, and other energy sources during the winter season. He said that efforts would also be made to contain the impact of higher energy prices.
During the meeting, the Federal Cabinet approved the transfer of powers delegated to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the Governor for day-to-day administrative affairs during the period of emergency in the province.
The Governor will submit a monthly review report to the Federal Cabinet regarding the exercise of these powers.
The Cabinet expressed hope that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advisory Council, under the leadership of the Governor, will make all-out efforts for the welfare and prosperity of the people and the restoration of law and order in the province.
The Federal Cabinet also ratified the Defence Cooperation Agreement between Pakistan and Kuwait, signed on June 11, 2023, to promote cooperation in the defence sector between the two brotherly countries. The Kuwaiti government had ratified the agreement on July 19, 2023.
The Cabinet also approved new designs for currency notes on the recommendation of the Ministry of Finance.
It was informed that proposals for the new currency note designs were invited from artists and designers across the country, while a Cabinet Committee constituted by the Prime Minister held detailed consultations with all stakeholders.
The new currency notes will have enhanced security features and modern materials to prevent counterfeiting and increase their durability.
The Cabinet also approved the introduction of a ten-rupee coin to replace the existing ten-rupee banknote.
