Pakistan’s federal cabinet gave its approval on Wednesday to a defence pact with Kuwait intended to deepen cooperation between the two nations’ defence sectors. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over the session in Islamabad.
The cabinet also took decisions on provincial administration, the design of new currency notes and a series of committee meetings.
Terms of the Pakistan-Kuwait defence agreement
Pakistan and Kuwait signed the agreement on June 11, 2023. It covers military manufacturing, electronic communications systems, scientific research, military media, and cultural and sports activities.
A joint military committee will oversee implementation, including joint military exercises, official visits and other cooperative programmes. The pact runs for five years and renews automatically unless either side decides to end it. Both countries have also committed to protecting confidential military information and to settling disputes through diplomatic channels. The Kuwaiti government had already ratified the agreement on July 19.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor takes over day-to-day affairs
The cabinet approved transferring powers previously delegated to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister to the provincial governor. The governor will handle day-to-day affairs while the province is under emergency, according to a press statement.
The government said the change should make administrative work run more smoothly and improve governance. Under the arrangement, the governor must send the federal government a monthly review report on how the transferred powers are used. The cabinet expressed hope that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advisory Council, led by the governor, would work to secure the welfare and prosperity of residents and to establish peace and security.
New currency note designs and Rs10 coin approved
On the recommendation of the Ministry of Finance, the cabinet approved designs for new currency notes after a detailed briefing. Artists and designers from across the country had been invited to submit proposals, and a cabinet committee set up by the prime minister consulted relevant stakeholders in depth.
The new notes will include stronger security features to prevent counterfeiting and use modern materials to extend their lifespan. The cabinet also approved introducing a Rs10 coin in place of the existing banknote.
The cabinet additionally ratified decisions taken at the October 26 meeting of the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises. It also endorsed decisions from Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases meetings held on January 22, February 26, August 5, 18 and 27, and September 11 and 22.
