ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet Tuesday gave a nod to the Reqo Diq project amid a walkout staged by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) members.
According to details, the JUI and BNP members, key allies to the coalition government, recorded their protest in the cabinet meeting and also staged a walkout. Both parties expressed reservations for not taking them in confidence over legislation regarding Reko Diq. Federal ministers tried to pacify JUI and BNP after the walkout.
The government admitted that the reservations of both parties are valid and amendments will be added soon. However, JUI and BNP decided to boycott cabinet meetings until the amendments presented by them are incorporated into the Bill and left the Prime Minister’s House.
Meanwhile, BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal chaired a meeting of the BNP senior leaders and discussed the current political situation in the country. The meeting seriously considered the option to leave the coalition government while the senior leaders gave their suggestions on the alliance to the government.
The party chief made the final decision on the alliance with the government subject to the decision of the core committee meeting, sources said. On the other hand, the sources said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made a committee to hold negotiations with the coalition partners and address their reservations.
PM has nominated Federal Law Ministers Azam Nazir Tarar and Ayaz Sadiq to hold the meetings with the disgruntled leaders of both parties and take them into the confidence. Meanwhile, the cabinet approved the multi-billion dollars Reko Diq project deal following the endorsement of the project by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and also approved the clearance of liabilities of Chilean firm Antofagasta.
According to details, the federal cabinet approved an important decision related to the Reko Diq project, allowing the authorities to clear the liabilities of Chilean firm Antofagasta. The cabinet has emergency approval through circulation. A total of more than $22.7 million of interest will be allowed to clear the liabilities.
The Finance Ministry has been directed to arrange the interest payable for Balochistan’s share. The finance ministry would arrange more than $8.5 dollars. Govt Holdings Pvt. Limited (GHPL) have already raised Rs65 billion with the government’s guarantee. The other summaries regarding the Reko Diq project are being presented before the cabinet for approval in the regular cabinet meeting.