Federal Cabinet to discuss COVID-19 response, rising PDM pressure

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will be chairing Federal Cabinet meeting – expected to discuss matters related to economic situation amid COVID-19 crisis and the response of PTI to the rising political pressure of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

According to the details, the Federal Cabinet will consider summaries submitted by different ministries. Moreover cabinet is likely to discuss the possible corollaries of the meeting between Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, and Secretary General Muslim League (Functional), a government ally, Muhammad Ali Durrani, and reportedly an emissary, of the Establishment. And discuss the emergence of dissenting voices of other government allies like, MQM, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Pakistan Muslim League (Q).

Prime Minister Special Assistant on National Health Services and Regulations will brief Cabinet on COVID-19 situation across the country. The Cabinet will also discuss, economic situation of the country, pricing trends and availability of essential commodities. Recently, the Prime Minister had expressed dismay at the economic team for not sharing economic achievements with the media effectively.

Ministry of Economic Affairs will give a presentation on details of foreign funds, other than loans and their utilization. The Petroleum Division, which is under fire for gas crisis in the country, will share gas mitigation plan with the country. In addition to this, the reconstitution of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Council of Complaints, Islamabad is also on the agenda of the Cabinet.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has proposed the following principal names for the Council; (i) Akhtar Abbas, senior lawyer (Chairperson); (ii) Shah Zaman Khan, bureaucrat (member); (iii) Zulfiqar Ahmad, senior lawyer/bureaucrat (member); (iv) Muhammad Saleem, academician( member); (v) Sadia Saeed, academician, (woman member and; (vi) Dr Salma Malik, academician ( women member).

The Cabinet is also expected to approve the name of Dr. Saeed Khan Jadoon as Director General of Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP).

Coronavirus Situation in Pakistan

Pakistan has recorded 63 fresh death due to the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours taking the national death tally to 9922.

As per NCOC statistics, 1776 new infections were reported during the last 24 hours. 1,602 patients have recovered from the virus in a day and 2,259 patients are in critical condition. Whereas with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 475,085.