Premier Imran Khan has instructed government employees to avoid discrimination on uniform pay scales.

Briefing media on cabinet decisions in Islamabad on Tuesday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said the Prime Minister had named Finance Advisor Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to hold talks with striking workers and to work with central and provincial governments to eradicate this disparity. Both should also submit proposals to cabinet in order to remove sense of deprivation among the workers.

She said this government has high expectations for people and every step would be taken to ensure it.

The cabinet was briefed on the Coronavirus situation in the country. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, Special Assistant on National Health Dr. Zafar Mirza heard from the cabinet about their conversations with parents of Pakistani students in China and the steps they have taken to improve their health.

They also discussed the question of testing service for jobs in different government departments. Establishment Counselor and Social Welfare Special Assistant are to establish a course of action on testing in government departments to promote applicants for grade 1 to 5 positions.

The cabinet approved resignation of Chairman BOI Zubair Gilani who submitted on the basis of personal reasons.

They were briefed on the progress on the report on flour and sugar shortages so far. After a week, it has been told that information will be received.

Secretary of the Interior briefed the meeting on the progress of the committee assigned to investigate the matter and DG FIA, the committee convener, told the cabinet that this committee needed the information available and the forensic audit.

The cabinet has approved the granting of powers to the committee under Pakistan Inquiry Commission Act 2017. The Prime Minister ordered that those responsible for the scarcity of these goods be ascertained.

The special assistant said the prime minister had been told of the different ministries’ public interest initiatives.

The cabinet had a summary of the decisions taken so far. Prime Minister said the PTI government inherited the energy crisis, and all the agreements were reached during previous government tenure. The men, however, have to face the consequences of those decisions.

It was agreed that the topic of energy will be discussed at the next cabinet meeting.

Due to its persecution of Muslims in Occupied Kashmir and India, the cabinet reiterated its decision not to trade with India.

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The cabinet followed its earlier decision not to export surgical masks taking into consideration the country’s coronavirus situation.

Advisor on Institutional Reforms presented the cabinet with a briefing on the reorganization of government departments. The cabinet approved policies involving different departments and ministries.

The cabinet debated Islamabad residents’ quota in various government employment and determined that fifty percent of the quota would be reserved for federal capital residential holders in grades 1 to 15 in various public sector jobs. That quota would apply to Islamabad-based jobs.