ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak told National Assembly on Monday that Pakistan Army is responding to ceasefire violations by the Indian forces along the Line of Control and Working Boundary in a befitting manner and is taking all necessary safeguards to protect life and property of Pakistani citizens.
He said the Indian High Commissioner is also summoned to Foreign Office on every incident of ceasefire violation and a strong protest is lodged.
The Minister said India committed a total of 4225 ceasefire violations along Line of Control and Working Boundary during 2017-18.
Responding to a question about gas production in Balochistan, Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said Balochistan is producing over 21 percent of total gas generation in the country.
He said Sui Southern Gas Company is conducting survey of twenty-one villages in Balochistan for provision of gas.
Answering a question, Minister of State for Communications Murad Saeed said the former government announced several projects of motorways and national highways but funds for them were not allocated.
Earlier, responding to a question about protection of women, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said the government is committed to ensure protection and promotion of women rights as envisaged under the constitution as well as international commitments by adopting all possible measures.
The Minister said National Commission for Human Rights has been established to take suo moto actions on women-related issues. She said the National Commission on Status of Women is working as a statutory body to exclusively work on women issues, and Helpline 1099 has also been set up for legal advice on human rights violations.
She said an awareness campaign to educate masses about inheritance rights of women under Islamic jurisprudence and the constitution has also been initiated. She said Radio Pakistan and PTV ran that campaign.
The Minister said the process of establishment of groups of pro Bono lawyers in every district for legal aid to women vis-a-vis inheritance issues is also in progress.
Speaking on the subject, Minister for Law Farogh Nasim said Legal Aid Authority and Justice Bill has been prepared, which will provide legal aid to women and children and also help them in payment of fine and bail amount. He said the bill will soon be tabled in the assembly.
At the outset of the proceedings, the National Assembly offered fateha for the departed soul of JUI-S Chief Maulana Sami ul Haq who was martyred in Rawalpindi by unknown assailants on Friday last. NNI
