Getting more tech savvy, unlocking the ‘real potential’

• New strategy devised to promote science and technology
• Ban on domestic gas connections only till we get more gas: NA informed

National Assembly was informed Thursday that a comprehensive science and technology strategy has been prepared for the promotion of this sector in the country.

Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid told the House during question hour that under this strategy technology parks will be established in all the four provinces, federal capital, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

A PC-II has been prepared for the establishment of a cutting edge technology park at NUST on an area of 50 acres of land. Similarly, there are plans to set up space technology, pharmaceutical and herbal parks in the country.

To another question, Zahid Hamid said that continuous monitoring is being carried out by Pakistan Council of Research in water resources of bottled and mineral water samples. He said the authorities have been directed to take firm action against those involved in producing unsafe water.

The minister said standardised ink is now being provided to the Election Commission for the local government elections. According to the NADRA the standardised ink is suitable to verify the thumb impressions.

Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahzadi Umarzadi Tiwana told the House that no gas load-shedding is being carried out in the domestic sector. She said gas pressure at times decreases in some areas due to increase in commodity’s demand in the winter season. She clarified that load management is being done not in the domestic sector but industrial, power, fertiliser and CNG sectors.

She clarified that there is no ban on domestic gas connections. The ban has been slapped only on new industrial and commercial connections which will be lifted when ample quantity of gas will be available either by enhanced indigenous gas production or through import of gas.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Muhammad Birjees Tahir said the National Accountability Bureau would be asked to expedite hearing into NLC scandal of 4 billion rupees following submission of relevant record by the GHQ and NLC to the bureau.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad said several steps are being taken to improve the services of Pakistan Post to enable it to compete with the private sector courier services. He said Pakistan Post under its modernization plan has introduced a new service Electronic Money Order Service which is available at 83 GPOs in different parts of the country. This service has attracted a good number of business community due to its affordability and reliability.

Shaikh Aftab told the House that Lahore-Islamabad Motorway has completed its life span of ten years. He said periodic maintenance and rehabilitation schemes at different sections of M-2 amounting to 1.14 billion rupees are currently in tendering process. An amount of 810 million rupees has been allocated for functional overlay of various sections of M-2.

Parliamentary Secretary for Communications Alam Dad Laleka said the government is giving priority to complete the ongoing road related projects. He said the government has ambitious plans for improvement of the road network in the country and in this regard proper financial planning will be ensured.