Islamabad (Agencies): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed that 60% of all public sector imports and exports must be routed through Gwadar Port, as part of efforts to boost port utilization and national trade infrastructure. This directive was issued during a Federal Cabinet meeting held in Islamabad, where the PM emphasized the importance of Gwadar in Pakistan’s trade future.
The Cabinet also took steps to safeguard the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) sensitive data by declaring its infrastructure critical under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act 2016. This move aims to enhance cybersecurity, protecting the FBR from hacking and illegal intrusions.
Additionally, the Cabinet extended Fly Dubai’s operating permit, allowing weekly flights from Lahore and Islamabad to Dubai until next month.
In a bid to modernize governance, the Cabinet was briefed on the enforcement of e-office systems across 21 ministries and divisions, with all paper-based communication discontinued as of January 1. This transition is expected to save time and reduce costs, cutting file processing times to a maximum of three days at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Further decisions included approving the signing of MoUs between Pakistan and China’s Shandong Ruyi Group for textile parks, and with Serbia’s Diplomatic Academy to enhance bilateral cooperation.
The Cabinet also approved 46 private Hajj operators for the upcoming Hajj season and mandated resolving court cases involving Hajj operators swiftly. Additionally, the procurement of refurbished Chromebooks was exempted from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s regulations, contingent on a third-party audit.