Minister of State for Production Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood told the National Assembly that paper mulberry trees were gradually being replaced in Islamabad with fruit and flower trees.
Replying to a supplementary question, the state minister said that such tress were one of the main factors of pollen energy in the city and around 15,236 paper mulberry trees were removed during the last fives years while around 1,634 tress were still causing pollen energy which would be removed in the next three years. He also added that such trees were being replaced with amaltas, kachnar, java plum (jaman) and chirpine.
In the written answer of a question, the Cabinet Division minister told the lower house that water in blocks No 16, 20 and 21 of category III in Sector I-8/1 were not being supplied to low quantity. He also told the house that total land of Quaid-i-Azam University was 1,445.10
acres and construction of its boundary wall was responsibility of the university, not that of the federal government.
In written reply to a question raised by Malik Shakeel Awan MNA, the minister told the National Assembly that seven blind persons with domiciles of Punjab and Islamabad were posted in Khyber Pukhtunkhawa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
In another written answer to a question, the minister said that in pursuance of career structure of Health Personnel Scheme Ordinance, the government had notified increased salaries for doctors and nurses working in the government hospitals.
Regarding another question, he said slid waste was collected and disposed of by the CDA while infected waste as well as sharp, hazardous waste and needles were collected separately and properly disposed of through Cleaner Production Centre Morgha, Rawalpindi, and incinerated. He further said that polyclinic Hospital had its own waste disposal system with dual chamber incinerator of 200 litre waste. According to the minister, an incinerator had been established at National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicines (NIRM), Islamabad.
Answering a question regarding spurious medicines and control of corruption in purchasing medicines, the minister said medicines were being selected by 13-member Drug Selection and Procurement Committee from different departments and annual audit internally and externally were carried properly.
He also said that check and balance was maintained by Vigilance Committee throughout the year. He also added that medicines were purchased as per PPRA rules.
