ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has urged the opposition to submit their suggestions for electoral reforms to hold the next general elections through electronic voting system.

He was briefing media in Islamabad this afternoon, about decisions taken by the Federal Cabinet, which met in in the federal capital today (Tuesday) with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair. 

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said Prime Minister’s Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan briefed the cabinet about electoral reforms and electronic voting machine. He said we want to move forward on electoral reforms with political consensus. Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said Prime Minister Imran Khan has written a letter to the Speaker National Assembly to engage the opposition on the subject matter. He said the Speaker has, too, written letters to the opposition leaders for their input on electoral voting system.

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said, unfortunately, the opposition has yet not come up with its suggestions for the electoral reforms. He said the government cannot wait for opposition’s response indefinitely as it wants to hold next general elections through Electronic Voting Machines and grant overseas Pakistanis right to franchise.

About latest COVID-19  situation in the country, the Information Minister said around 5,000 patients suffering from Coronavirus pandemic are in a critical condition, which is the highest number of COVID-19  affectees as compared to the last two peaks of the contagion. He said currently we are producing 792 metric tons of oxygen to meet the requirement of COVID-19 patients. He said Pakistan’s situation would have not been different, had it not increased 7,000 ventilator beds and doubled the production of oxygen in the country in last one year. Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said government is also considering import of oxygen from China and Iran if need arises.  He said it has been decided that the oxygen meant for industrial sector will be diverted to the health sector if situation worsens.

The Information Minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to ensure supply of essential items during the pandemic. He said the government is trying hard to avoid complete lockdown and that is why it is considering announcing five days Eid Holidays this time.

Regarding anti-COVID vaccination, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said so far two million people have been vaccinated. He said the vaccine is fully safe for human health and urged the people to get themselves vaccinated against the virus as around one billion people, across the world, have so far been immunized against the disease. He said 3.7 million doses of Covid vaccine are available in the country and now 40 and above people are eligible for vaccination.

To control the circular debt in the power sector, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said previous governments produced electricity more than 50 percent of country’s needs. He said the government is compelled to pay capacity charges which have reached to around 900 billion rupees even if it does not buy electricity from the power plants. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to resolve this issue without increasing electricity tariff. He said government owned insufficient power plants can be closed to avoid these charges.

Talking about meeting of some PTI lawmakers with Prime Minister on their concerns regarding cases against Jahangir Khan Tareen, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said Imran Khan categorically told the parliamentarians that his party came to power on the slogan of justice and accountability and he will not influence independent inquiries of any agency to benefit his close aides. He said the Prime Minister asked Senator Ali Zafar to prepare a report to assess concerns of the lawmakers.