The Senate, on Tuesday, adopted the report of the Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on “The Right to Information Act‚ 2013”.
The report was presented by Chairman Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Kamil Ali Agha.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad introduced the 2nd Biannual Monitoring report on the Implementation of National Finance Commission Award for the period January-June‚ 2012.
Responding to a question‚ Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the government has devised a new policy to provide people with gas connections.
He said that as per the aforementioned policy 25000 rupees will be charged from those who want connections on an urgent basis.
He said this policy will be implemented after approval by the OGRA.
In a written reply‚ Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan has urged India to respect the ceasefire agreement and desist from escalating tension along the Line of Control.
He said Pakistan has conveyed its serious concerns over the continued ceasefire violations by India.
The advisor said the issue of ceasefire violations also came under discussion during the recent meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh, held on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session.
He said all possible efforts have been made at the diplomatic level to communicate to India respecting the ceasefire agreement of 2003 is in the interest of both countries.
A meeting between the DG’s military operations of the two countries has been proposed to address this particular issue.
He said nine Pakistani soldiers have been killed and eleven others injured due to unprovoked firing by Indian troops on the LoC since January this year.
The Senate was informed that a federal commission has been constituted to appoint Chief Executives of state-owned enterprises.
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told the House during the question hour session that the commission constituted on the directions of the Supreme Court is in the process of making recruitments.
He said posts of Managing Directors of Pakistan State Oil and OGDCL have also been advertised by the government.
He assured that appointments to the posts will be made transparently and on merit.
The Minister said that the Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Resources has reduced its expenditures by 30 percent as per the government’s policy.