ISLAMABAD: Secretary to Prime Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad informed a Senate panel on Wednesday that the cabinet would soon decide on setting up a secretariat of the Council of Common Interest (CCI).

He was briefing Senate Standing Committee on InterProvincial Coordination (IPC) on Wednesday. He said there was no delay on the part of PM Office in establishment of CCI secretariat, saying the matter was pending with the Cabinet Division.

Mr Fawad, however, said the government had in principle decided to set up the secretariat and in the coming `one or two` meetings, the matter will be decided.

Senator Mir Kabeer said only a building was required for the secretariat.

Briefing the same committee recently, IPC MinsterRiaz Hussain Pirzada had said despite Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani`s ruling and a court order, he did not know why the government was reluctant to set up a permanent secretariat of the CCI.

Mr Pirzada had blamed the Prime Minister`s Office for delaying the finalisation of the summary, suggesting that Fawad Hasan Fawad be summoned in the committee meeting to get his point of view.

The government is bound, by Article 154(3) of the Constitution, to establish a permanent secretariat of the CCI with equal representation from all provinces.

According to the IPC working paper presented to the committee, the cabinet decided in principle to establish a permanent CCI secretariat on Dec 15, 2016. A Reporter