ISLAMABAD // Pakistan's federal cabinet resigned yesterday to allow the prime minister to set up a new, smaller cabinet and reduce government expenditure, officials said.
Opposition parties have long demanded that Yusuf Raza Gilani trim the size of his cabinet, one of the largest in the world, at a time when Pakistan is struggling to pay down its bills and is dependent on an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme.
Pakistan's economy was battered by floods last year that inflicted $10 billion (Dh36.7bn) in damage. Foreign aid has been slow in coming, in part because of concern about the government's ability and willingness to implement financial reform.
The government plans to reduce the number of ministers in the 54-member cabinet by more than a third. Key portfolios such as finance and foreign affairs are likely to be retained by their current holders, indicating the government's desire for continuity in its dealings with the United States and the IMF.
Analysts say the revamp will do little to address the structural problems the economy faces. "This move may be good for politics or to make headlines but not really for the economy as the government has to make a more concerted effort in order to build up its credibility," said Asif Qureshi, the director at Invisor Securities.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially