Islamabad: Federal Cabinet has unanimously passed a resolution commending the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their visionary leadership, promoting Pakistan's global standing, and effectively defending national interests.
According to Radio Pakistan, the resolution was passed during a cabinet meeting held in Islamabad on Monday with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. The Cabinet members termed the historic Joint Defence Agreement signed among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Trkiye as a major diplomatic and defense milestone. The resolution termed this agreement an important step toward further strengthening unity and harmony among the Muslim Ummah.
During the meeting, the Cabinet also approved the National Housing Policy 2026 and its implementation action plan. The Cabinet was informed that the National Housing Policy has been prepared by a working group of national and international experts in consultation with federal ministries, provincial governments, and development partners. The Cabinet was informed that the primary objective of the policy is to provide sustainable, safe, and quality housing for all citizens.
The Cabinet directed that strict compliance with zoning laws be ensured in housing projects and that vertical housing be prioritized for efficient land use. Furthermore, the Cabinet instructed that energy efficiency codes be made a mandatory part of the National Housing Policy to ensure new developments align with energy-efficient and eco-friendly standards.
The Cabinet was also briefed on the progress under the Prime Minister's Apna Ghar Scheme. The Cabinet was informed that loans worth 220 billion rupees have been approved by various banks for applicants desiring their own home, while over 32 billion rupees has already been disbursed to successful applicants.
On a summary presented by the Board of Investment, the Cabinet approved the withdrawal of the notice to terminate the bilateral investment treaty signed between Pakistan and Sweden in 1981. Approving the Pakistan Information Security Framework 2026, the Cabinet declared it a key guiding document for cybersecurity and directed that its effective implementation be ensured within the specified timeframe.
The Federal Cabinet also ratified the decision taken during the Cabinet Committee on Energy meeting held on the 28th of last month. Under this decision, proposed amendments to the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy 2023 were endorsed, according to which oil refineries will be upgraded to better meet the country's energy requirements. The Cabinet ratified the decisions taken in the meetings of the Economic Coordination Committee held on the 27th of last month and on the 4th of this month.