Cabinet decides about revised office timings during Ramzan

Lahore : The Federal Cabinet on Tuesday decided to observe the office timings during holy month of Ramzan from 10 am to 4 pm to ensure maximum relief to the faithfuls, observing fast without compromising their productivity and a special Ramazan package would also be announced in next few days.

Addressing a press conference along with Minister of Water Resources Faisal Vawda, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and
Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said a special committee has been
assigned the task to prepare a special Ramazan package to provide maximum relief to the masses during the holy month.

She said the committee will also make sure that no load-shedding was carried out during the holy month. About proposed summary for increase in petroleum prices, she said that the Cabinet has delayed the decision to hike the prices of petroleum products.

The Prime Minister directed to send this recommendation from Oil and
Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to Economic Coordination Council (ECC)
to review the same in order to pass minimum burden to the people, she added.

She said OGRA had recommended  to increase the prices of petroleum products by Rs 14 per litre but the Prime Minster directed that it should be discussed in the ECC again and efforts be made to give maximum relief to the masses. She said that when the PTI came to power, prices of crude oil per barrel were about 47 to 53 Dollar but now it has crossed $ 77 per barrel. She said that from May 1, no change would be done in petroleum prices and its decision would be made after ECC recommendations.

Dr Firdous said the Federal Cabinet discussed in detail five legislative bills that will help resolve people’s problems as part of people-friendly agenda of PTI government.

Highlighting main features, she said Enforcement of Women Property Rights bill will ensure that women get their due share in inheritance.
Amendments in Code of Civil Procedure will help decide the civil cases swiftly whereas the Succession Certificates will now be issued by NADRA and heirs would get these certificates within a fortnight, saving their time and ensuring hassle-free procedure, she added.

Firdous Ashiq Awan said Whistle Blower Protection bill will also be introduced shortly to provide protection to whistleblowers regarding corruption in specific public institutions. She said that it would provide 20 per cent incentive to the persons who would inform about corruption, abuse of authority and misuse of power.

She said an Anti-Corporal Punishment bill will also be tabled soon in the parliament to discourage the physical punishment and abuse at schools while Zainab Alert bill will also be introduced to stop any child abuse.

To a question, she said that these were public welfare bills and expressed the optimism that opposition would support the government in their passage from National Assembly as well as Senate. However, if the Opposition decided to oppose them, they would be exposed before the general public, she added.