Govt forms fact-finding panel to probe ex-minister Sarwar’s ‘irresponsible statement’

The federal government constituted a fact-finding committee to determine the objectives behind former minister Ghulam Sarwar’s “irresponsible and speculative” statement.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over the cabinet meeting in Islamabad  where members discussed various agenda items, including Sarwar’s statement which turned out to be a disaster for the country’s aviation industry.

In 2020, Sarwar, during the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, had revealed that about a third of the licences issued to pilots were fake.

He also claimed that the qualifications of 262 pilots in the country were “dubious”.

The cabinet was informed that the former federal minister’s statement was “irresponsible and speculative” which damaged the country and national carrier’s reputation besides bringing serious consequences to the exchequer.

The cabinet formed a fact-finding committee to determine the motives behind Sarwar’s speculative statement.

The body will also estimate financial losses to the airline and exchequer following the minister’s statement.

Meanwhile, the cabinet members also okayed the Middle East Green Initiative to restore 200 million hectares of land and plantation of 50 billion trees.