Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Hussain Chaudhry has said government had tried again to hold talks with the Opposition on electoral reforms, but the opposition is not ready to talk about electoral reforms.

Briefing the media after the cabinet's meeting, Fawad said that the cabinet has decided to proceed according to a procedure and that modern technology will be used in the census in which tablets will also be used, help of NADRA and other agencies will be sought.

He said that new constituencies would be formed on the basis of census and the elections will be held in the new constituencies after the approval of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Chaudhry said that the government has decided to celebrate Ashra Rehmatul-Lil-Alameen (PBUH) from 3rd Rabi-ul-Awwal to 13th Rabi-ul-Awwal at the official level and events will be organised in this regard.

He said that the federal cabinet has also decided to reduce the sentence of prisoners on the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH).

Talking about electoral reforms, he said that he tried to discuss electoral reforms with the opposition. The opposition is not ready to talk about electoral reforms. Our aim is to make the elections transparent.

Speaking about the extension to NAB chairman the minister said that a draft ordinance has been prepared by the government for extension of NAB chairman’s tenure but there was no discussion in the cabinet on the matter today adding that opposition should change leader of the opposition in the National Assembly for consultation on the issue.

Fawad Chaudhry said that a committee will be formed to investigate Pandora Lakes. There are names of more than 700 Pakistanis in Pandora Lakes. In one category, Pakistanis have shown companies in their assets.

The minister said that the government will give consumers a Rs7 per unit discount on the additional consumption of electricity during winters.

Talking about the doctors who are protesting against National Licensing Exam (NLE), Fawad said that we will never want our doctors to be not up to international standards.

The minister said that Dr Faisal Sultan gave a detailed briefing to the Cabinet on the entry test in Medical Colleges adding that it is not possible to arrange laptops and computers for 200,000 students during the test.

He said that 85% students passed the last examination.