ISLAMABAD,28 NOV (DNA) -Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir during question hour told the House that the policy of hunting permits to the Arab dignitaries is reviewed every year by the Government.
He said hunting permits are issued on receipt of request respective embassies and after approval of the Prime Minister. He said most of these dignitaries have taken keen interest in the development of the areas allocated to them for hunting.
The Minister said it is purely a matter of goodwill and Pakistan is not compromising its sovereignty.
Answering a question, the Khurram Dastagir told the House that Pakistan has shown restraint in responding to India’s acts of aggression, resulting in the loss of fourteen innocent lives.
He said Director General Military Operations contacted his Indian counterpart to devise ways and means for de-escalation but his efforts were cold shouldered. He said our leadership has reached out to the global community in an effort to highlight Indian intransigence and belligerence.
Pakistani envoys in different capitals around the world raised the issue of ceasefire violations by India with their interlocutors and expressed Pakistan’s desire for a peaceful and stable neighbourhood. Foreign Office has also taken different steps at diplomatic level to highlight this issue.
Parliamentary Secretary for States and Frontier Regions Raja Javed Ikhlas informed the House that the Government has taken steps to provide medical and education facilities to the Temporary Displaced Persons of North Waziristan.
He said Capital Administration and Development Division established a field hospital at DHQ Bannu with fifty-five doctors and paramedical staff to provide medical treatment to the TDPs. He said a Basic Health Unit has been established at Bakka Khel Camp and five mobile Health Units provided for TDPs at Bannu. He said free medical services being extended to the TDPs residing with the host families.
He said to provide education facilities in camps two High Schools one each for male and female have been established in the TDPs Camp Bakka Khel FR Bannu where about three thousand students are getting education.
Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir told the House that according to decision taken by the previous Government on 29th February 2012, all other items except 1209 items can be traded with India. He said the present Government has not added or withdrew any item from the Negative List of 1209 items.
He said the Ministry of Commerce is in the process of consulting the stakeholders both from public and private sectors for elimination of Negative List. He said the Ministry will submit the case to the Cabinet for elimination of Negative List after completion of the said consultation process.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad told the House that audit teams have already been formed to look into the overbilling of electricity. He said the facts will be put before the nation as soon as the report of audit teams received.
He was responding to a calling attention notice of Kishwer Zehra and others regarding discriminatory directives of NEPRA whereby reduction of electric tariff is not applicable to Karachi Electric consumers.
He said Karachi Electricity is a private company and has its own pricing formula that is why the recent reduction of 47 paisas per unit has not been provided to the Karachi Electric consumers. However, he hoped that Karachi Electric will also reduce the prices for their consumers.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Shahida Akhtar Ali and others regarding sale, purchase of prohibited (Haram) edible items in the country, Raja Javed Ikhlas told the House that after the 18th constitutional amendment the monitoring and checking of these items are the provincial subject. He said provincial Governments have to establish Food Authorities and develop a mechanism to check edible items. He said Punjab has already set up the Authority.
He said a bill has also been prepared by the Government for prohibition of sale and purchase of Haram edible items. The House has now been adjourned to meet again on Monday at three p.m. DNA