'Exit from red list': Dr Faisal will take up COVID testing with UK's top medic, Fawad says

Speaking at a press conference after post-cabinet meeting, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan had spoken to PM Boris Johnson, who believed that deliberations should be held over the testing mechanism in Pakistan.

"We are making in all-out efforts to get Pakistan cleared of UK's red list, as it affects numerous Pakistani families." 

Regardig peace in Afghanistan after departure of US troops, the minister said he hoped for peace to prevail in Afghanistan where the Taliban are in charge. "The air corridor opened to provide aid to Afghanistan would remain operational."

He wished the tales of agonies Afghan people come to an end, promising Pakistan would do all it could to provide relief to them.

Fawad told reporters that as many 10,302 people belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) were brought to Pakistan and 9,032 of them have departed to their respective countries.

As many as 1,229 people who came from Afghanistan are present in Pakistan and they will leave within a day or two, the information minister said, adding that of the 1,229, 545 are Afghan nationals, while 684 are foreigners.

He said of the 155 evacuees from the United States, only 42 are still present in Pakistan.

Ten thousand people have made their way to Pakistan via the Chaman border, the information minister said, adding that "all American troops will soon leave Pakistan".

"Pakistan will [continue to] help those who wish to leave Afghanistan," he said.

The information minister said the federal cabinet wants to make the COVID-19 booster shot, which currently costs Rs1,270, free for labourers.

The cabinet has decided to start vaccinating people aged 17 and below in stages, said Chaudhry, while praising the National Command and Control Centre for Pakistan's response to the virus and its roll-out of vaccines.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain has decided to resign from his post due to personal reasons, Chaudhry said.

Slamming the Pakistan Democratc Movement (PDM) and PPP, the minister said the Opposition "will strike a deal with the devil if they have to".

About electroal reforms, the information minister reiterated that the government was ready to talk about electoral reforms with the Opposition.

"We want to speak about electoral reforms with the Opposition, but they aren't interested. Opposition just wants to criticise the government," Fawad said.

Regarding circular debt, Fawad said the government had brought down circular debt from Rs450 billion to Rs150 billion with target of zero CD by 2023.

He said the governemnt has publicised the advertisement for the privatization of the Pakistan Steel Mills, while the construction of Sialkot-Kharian Motorway is being commenced soon.