RAWALPINDI: The Presidential Cabinet today [June 22] finally approved switching over to the metric system of weights and measures. To legalise the metric system a legislative Bill is expected to be introduced in the National Assembly during the current session. The Bill will, however, be taken up for consideration at the Dacca session in November.

The metric system would be enforced from December next through a gradual process spread over four to five years to enable the people to get acquainted with it.

On the introduction of the new system feet, yards and miles will be converted into metres and kilometres, and maunds, seers will be measured in terms of grams and kilogrammes and gallons will be converted into litre. This will bring the weights and measures system of Pakistan in line with the international pattern.

[Meanwhile, as reported by Our Special Correspondent from Rawalpindi,] Pakistani rupee is likely to be renamed. Financial experts are believed to be giving serious thought to a proposal on the subject which in any case is still at the consideration stage.

The motive behind giving a new name to the rupee is to make distinction between Pakistani and Indian rupee. The word rupee for both Indian and Pakistani currency, it is learnt, has been causing confusion in international monetary circles.

Since devaluation of Indian rupee need for renaming the Pakistani rupee has been considered all the more imperative. While Indian rupee is fast losing its exchange value in international market, Pakistani rupee has not only maintained its intrinsic character but its exchange value has been moving upward.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2016