Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that all cellular phones smuggled into the country after December 31 will be blocked.
Chaudhry was addressing the press after a meeting of the federal cabinet. He said used mobile phones worth around Rs2.5 billion are illegally brought to Pakistan every year.
The minister stressed the need for encouraging local mobile phone manufacturer, adding the government could also impose a ban on the import of used phones.
Speaking about opening of Kartarpur border crossing between India and Pakistan, he said the decision was not made on political ground, rather it was taken on humanitarian grounds.
“Opening of Kartarpur border is a positive step by Pakistan,” Chaudhry said. “If India takes one step, we take two in response.”
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit the Kartarpur border on November 28, adding that a ceremony would be held regarding opening of the border crossing between Pakistan and India.
The federal cabinet also approved appointment of Arif Usmani as the president of National Bank, the minister said.
Commenting on regularisation of the premier’s Bani Gala residence, he said Khan began construction of his house in Bani Gala 30 years ago and back then it used to be a jungle and secluded place.
Khan constructed the residence according to rules and regulations in place at that time, Chaudhry added.
On the other hand, cabinet gave the go-ahead to the appointment of Arif Usmani as new CEO and President of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), ARY News reported.
The approval came during a meeting of the cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad today.
The post of NBP president was lying vacant after the government suspended former president Saeed Ahmad on a request by the National Accountability Bureau over his alleged involvement in a money laundering case. The PTI government suspended Saeed Ahmad on August 28, 2018.
The finance ministry had earlier moved a summary for the appointment of NBP president after short listing potential candidates, including Arif Usmani, Javed Kureshi, Nadeem Lodhi and Wajahat Hussain.
The cabinet, however, approved the name of Arif Usmani for the post of the NBP chief.
During the meeting, the prime minister was also briefed on the law and order situation in the country as the cabinet condemned the recent acts of terrorism in the country.
It also discussed the matter related to the chairman of Export Procession Zones Authority (EPZA) and approved a policy with regard to the usage of smuggled mobile phones.
