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PR. No. 119. The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges deplored the continuous delay and lack of any tangible progress in probe into the murder of four family members of Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri including his son and brother who were murdered in broad day light near Jamrud by certain outlaws more than two months ago. The Senate Committee which met at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, has expressed its complete dissatisfaction over the progress made so far in this regard and observed that the delay is only adding to the misery and anguish of the Senator’s family, which is living under constant threat to its safety and security. The Chairman of the Committee regretted the fact that the political administration of FATA including the Political Agent (PA) and Assistant Political Agents (APAs) Jamrud not only failed to apprehend the culprits so far but they have also been unable to contact the family members of the honourable Senator and to take them on board, apprise them of the progress made so far. ‘If respected members of the Parliament are being treated in this manner, what to become of an ordinary citizen of this country?’ he asked. The Chairman and members of the Committee were also critical of the fact that the PA Jamrud and his staff members were aware of the fact that the over all political and law and order situation was unstable in the area yet they failed to take appropriate measures for ensuring security of his family. ‘It is a case of sheer negligence and traditional bureaucratic lethargy, not only the administration failed to provide security before the incident, it is still not doing anything concrete to ensure safety and security afterwards’, observed the Committee. The Chairman said gross inefficiency and totally unprofessional approach was witnessed in this matter on part of the FATA administration. The Committee expressed its deep concern over the said incident taking place in broad day light on a road which is being considered as an international one as supply to ISAF troops based in Afghanistan also goes through this route. Most of the people inhabiting the area constitute followers and disciples of the honourable Senator, whose younger brother is an MNA and they commanded great respect and reverence being their spiritual leaders. He was held in great esteem by the people of the area, therefore, it was unlikely anyone of them could commit such a heinous act against this family. They were highly enraged by the incident. Earlier, the Political Agent Jamrud submitted before the Committee that the administration is working hard to trace and apprehend the culprits. He disclosed that after the Advisor Interior’s statement made on the floor of the house that one person was apprehended, his sponsors disappeared. As a result we are facing a lot of difficulties to achieve the objective. He, however, stressed confidentiality of source to bring the investigative process to its logical end. He apologized for the past slackness and promised to move fast for the purpose. The Leader of the House Senator Raza Rabbani, who is also the member of the Committee, took exception to the report compiled by SAFRON in this regard. He said that the matter is undoubtedly sensitive but why the honourable Senator’s family was not taken on board. He fully endorsed the views of the Chairman of the Committee adding that this is a norm everywhere but it was not given due consideration in case of Senator Qadri. The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Senator Kamil Ali Agha said the House was deliberately misled by informing that the real culprits have been arrested and this constituted another breach of privilege of the House. The bureaucracy, he said, must learn to respect the elected representatives of the people. The Chairman of the Committee directed the FATA administration to remain in touch with Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri and his family and to apprise them of the progress achieved so far in this regard. He also directed to give them a reasonable time frame comprising weeks, not months to apprehend the criminals and to award them exemplary punishment according to the law. Apart from the Chairman Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, the meeting was attended among others by Senators Mian Raza Rabbani, Kamil Ali Agha, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Ms. Saadia Abbasi, Abdul Razak A. Thahim besides the mover Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri. Senator Abdul Raziq, Senator Muhammad Saleh Shah, Senator Abdul Rashid, Senator Nasar Khan and Senator Hafiz Rashid Ahmed attended the meeting as co-opted members, besides the Minister for States and Frontier Regions Mr.Najmuddin Khan, Secretary SAFRON and senior government officials. SM/AR.
PR. No. 120. The Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development and Population Welfare met at the Parliament House under the Chairmanship of Senator Saeed Ahmed Hashmi and discussed in detail the working and performance of the Ministry of Population Welfare. The Committee took serious note of the lack of coordination between the Federal and Provincial population welfare departments adding that it has seriously hampered its working and negatively impacted provision of family planning services at the door step of the people. ‘The outreached has to be expanded and quality of services be improved for achieving better results’, it maintained. The Committee further observed that things were moving at a snail pace and there was a need to gear up efforts to check the rapid growth of population with a view to striking a balance between population and resources. It further observed that unchecked growth of population is creating many socio-economic problems like poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, environmental degradation besides increase in crimes. Some members of the Committee suggested that the monitoring mechanism should be improved to get the desired results. They pointed out that importance of small family-norm is not being highlighted properly. According to them the actual figures of the population growth are much higher than the one being projected by the ministry. They urged the government to galvanize into action in view of the gravity of the situation since the population-bomb is ticking and it has to be defused before it is too late. The committee underlined the need to associate Ulemas and religious leaders besides the electronic media to enhance awareness among the people about the hazards of unchecked population growth. It suggested that more attention should be paid on increasing female literacy rate through out the country and population welfare funds be utilized properly. It was stated that poor human development and social indicators reflect a dismal situation and desperate efforts are needed to reverse the tide. Earlier, Secretary Ministry of Population welfare informed the Committee about the steps being taken to check the rising trend in population. He said that rapid population growth contributes to the environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources. He said that funds have been approved for 20 projects in the PSDP 2008-9 and nine new schemes would be launched to increase the outreach of the population welfare services at the grass root level. Public- Private partnership is being encouraged and civil society organizations were being involved to provide quality services to the poor and un-served population in rural areas and urban slums. Mr. Humayun Kurd, Minister for Population Welfare committed before the Committee to launch and streamline efforts for activating and mobilizing population welfare centers. The meeting was attended by Senators Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, Nasar Khan, Lt. Gen. ® Javed Ashraf , Mrs. Kalsoom Perveen, Mrs Gulshan Saeed , Hafiz Abdur Rashid and Abdur Rahim Khan Mandokhail. Senior representatives of the ministry and the provincial population welfare departments were also present. SM/AR.
PR. No. 121. Finance Minister, Syed Naveed Qamar chaired First National Steering Committee Meeting to review the strategy and implementation mechanism for immediate relief to needy household families under Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in Finance Division here today. Earlier the ECC of the Cabinet in its meeting held on 6th May, 2008 decided to constitute a Ministerial Committee headed by Finance Minister to finalize a comprehensive plan over the subject taking into account the end result of immediate relief to the needy household families and also finalize scheme for the grant of targeted subsidy on essential food items to them. The National Steering Committee held its first meeting to review the structure of the programme, determine policy respecting efficient targeting and disbursement criteria mechanism, financing of the programme and the overall policy framework for its execution. The government has launched BISP with an initial allocation of Rs.34 billion to be disbursed amongst the target households. The programme envisages cash grant of Rs.1,000/- per month aiming to provide relief to the economically stressed segments of the society in face of the spiraling prices of the essential commodities. The selection will be made through computerized NADRA database under the preset criteria. Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) will be used as primary database. Those not having CNIC will be encouraged to apply for a card free of cost and data will be continuously updated to include eligible households. The committee noted that BISP in terms of vision is focused to compensate the most economically stressed and vulnerable sections of the population on account of high inflation particularly food inflation and reduce existing inequalities. The broad areas identified for improvement relate to ensuring government’s role in ameliorating the conditions of the poor by directly accessing them to supplement their income sources, screen profiles of the poor to assess their eligibility and determine coverage, targeting efficiency and adequacy of the programme. It further aims to identify benchmarking of the target groups.
PR. No. 122. Mr. Regis d Belenet, Ambassador of France met Finance Minister, Syed Naveed Qamar here today. Both the sides discussed matters of mutual interest, exchanging views on the history of Pak-France relationship spread over a period of decades. It was agreed that Pakistan and France share concerns on changing global eco-political scene, and would like to join hands to address the economic and political issues of the region. The Finance Minister stressed the need for enhanced economic and trade relationship with France to the mutual benefit of both the countries. The French Ambassador to Pakistan has completed his tenure in Pakistan and is leaving back for his home country shortly. The Ambassador stated that he is taking back with him a comprehensive framework of his assessment about Pak economy, foreign investment opportunities and overall national priorities of the GOP. This would provide necessary input to the Government of France in promoting the bilateral relationship in its forthcoming policy priorities. Finance Minister said that the current democratic government in Pakistan is taking measures to tide over existing economic problems, focusing enhancement in food production, agri yield, and finally trade and investment. Moreover, GOP is committed to facilitate the French Companies operating in Pakistan on a variety of development projects. The Government would like to welcome French support in manufacturing and industrial sectors, Finance Minister said. French Ambassador added that French Development Agencies currently are interacting with GOP and its Provincial Setups on the subject of livestock, agriculture, food processing and other economy related sectors like cement, energy and infrastructure development. Both the countries may work out implementation modalities of French Government’s soft loan offer targeting civic development projects like water treatment and desalination in the Provinces of Punjab and Sindh, it was concluded. SS/AR.
PR. No. 123. The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Lahore Chamber of Commerce have decided to call off their strike after their meeting with the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. This was decided in a meeting of a delegation of the office bearers of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce along with President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman which called on the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here this morning.
Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Federal Minister
for Commerce and Mr. Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Finance were also
present in the meeting.
PR. No. 124. Federal Minister for Commerce Chudhry Ahemd Mukhtar has presented the trade policy 2008-09 to the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here today. The new trade policy will be presented in the Cabinet meeting tomorrow for approval. Federal Ministers, Syed Khurshid Shah, Sheri Rehman and Mr. Naveed Qamar and federal Secretaries also attended the meeting. DSG/ank
PR. No. 125. Twelve local and foreign investors have submitted their bids for establishing power projects of 1,500 MW in the country. This was stated by the Secretary Ministry of Water and Power Muhammed Ismail Qureshi, at a bidding ceremony held today at Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB). Following the directions of the Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, the bids were opened in public, in presence of the bidders and the media to ensure transparency. Managing Director PPIB Fayyaz Elahi, among other high government officials were present on the occasion. A total of 9 bids (3,060 MW) were received for Package A (new power projects), whereas for Package-B (rental projects), three (3) Bids (779 MW) have been received. A Bid Evaluation Committee, comprising the representatives of Ministry of Finance, NEPRA, WAPDA/PEPCO and PPIB will process these Bids. On the occasion the Managing Director PPIB said that in order to address the power shortages in the country on urgent basis, the government had decided to invite fast track project proposals from private sector for 1,500 MW, to be processed under International Competitive Bidding, which consists of two packages namely Package-A consisting of fast track IPP Projects of 1000 MW cumulative power generation capacity within the jurisdiction of PEPCO and Package-B consisting of fast track rental power projects (upto 500 MW cumulative capacity) including Barge mounted power plants near Karachi. The Request for Proposal (RFP) document for these projects were prepared by PPIB after thorough discussions and feedback from all relevant stakeholders including leading power plant equipment manufacturers, IPPs and WAPDA/PEPCO etc. The Secretary Water and Power conveyed that these measures are being taken to meet the short term power requirements of the country, while measures are also being taken to cater for the medium to long term power needs. He said the response received to our initiative has been very positive, and not only local investors but foreign investors from USA , Canada , UAE, Turkey and Mauritius have submitted bids to put their money in the power sector in Pakistan . The Bid Evaluation Committee has been mandated to process these bids in a timely manner so as to award Letter(s) of Support (LOS) to the IPPs and Letters of Award to the Rental projects by 15th August 2008. The IPPs will start their operation by August 2009 and whereas the rental projects are expected to start their commercial operation by February 2009. He added that after commissioning of these projects the country will be able to bridge the gap between demand and supply for ending load shedding in the country from next year. AJM/ank
PR. No. 126.
Ms Sherry Rehman, Minister for Information
and Broadcasting has expressed her deep sorrow over the sad demise of the
father of Mr Waheed Rasab of PPP,UK.
PR. No. 127. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the sacrifices made by famous peot Habib Jalib for democracy will be remembered for ever. The Prime Minister said this while talking to the wife of Habib Jalib who is undertreatment in the Meo hospital. The Prime Minister announced that a road will also be named after the great poet. The Prime Minister also announced provision of jobs for the two children of the poet and promised Hajj to the widow in near future. The Prime Minister directed the hospital authorities for the provision of best available medical facilities to the widow. The Prime Minister prayed for the quick recovery and health of the widow. The Prime Minister assured the widow that the government will do all for the welfare of the family of the late poet.
PR. No. 128. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that workers like Javed Hafeez Pappi have kept the PPP alive and his death is a great loss for the party. The Prime Minister said this while talking to the family of Javed Hafeez Pappi , PPP worker who was shot dead a few days ago in Lahore. The Prime Minister assured all possible assistance for the welfare of the family of the deceased PPP worker.
PR. No. 129 Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani inquired the welfare of Mr. Muhammad Saleem, Guard of the Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed today, who was also admitted in the Meo hospital. The Prime Minister announced Rs. 2 Lacks for Mr. Muhammad Saleem and directed the hospital authorities that best medical facilities must be provided to Mr. Saleem. Mr. Muhammad Saleem has been guard of the Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed since 1986.
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