The Senate was informed that the government will have to pay the subsidy on the Islamabad-Rawalpindi Metro Bus project to provide affordable travelling facilities to the people.
The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed on Wednesday said during question hour that the project is purely for the poor and 153,000 people are expected to travel on Metro Buses on daily basis. He said that the expected internal rate of return for the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project will be 17 to 24 four per cent.
Answering a question, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed informed the House that twenty bullet proof vehicles of different categories are being used by the cabinet division. He said these vehicles are not being misused. He said a bullet proof vehicle has been provided to the ex-Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on the orders of the Islamabad High Court.
Minister for Commerce, Khurram Dastgir told the House that the government will directly purchase cotton from the farmers to facilitate them and bring stability in the prices. He said there is no restriction in import or export of the commodity.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed told the House that work on different coal based power projects is going on rapidly. He said new projects will be completed in Tharparkar, Port Qasim and Jamshoro. He said as a result of reduction in oil prices at international level, the government reduced the electricity prices by 5.82 rupees per unit to give relief to the masses.
Minister of state for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Anusha Rehman informed the House that a Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2015 is lying with the National Assembly Standing Committee for final consideration. She confessed that the rate of Cyber Crimes is increasing in the country. The main reason is the very nature of the crimes that enables commission of crime while remaining obscured behind technology. Other reasons include absence of appropriate legislation on the subject and lack of public awareness.
Anusha Rehman said the government has established National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes under the control of FIA with expertise and capabilities for investigation of Hi-tech crimes including those committed through the use of computer, Internet, Mobile Phones, VoIP and electronic mediums in general. She said You-tube was blocked on the orders of the Supreme Court because there is no mechanism or technical solution to remove the objectionable material from the site.
Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Pervez Rashid laid before the House the reports of the Council of Islamic Ideology for the years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Replying to a call attention notice moved by Farhatullah Babar regarding recent target killing of human rights activist, Sabeen Mahmood in Karachi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said that the government is determined to weed out terrorism from the country. He said armed forces are rendering matchless sacrifices in the fight against the terrorism.
The Minister of State said the federal government and the Sindh government together is taking steps to improve the situation in Karachi. He said as a result of Karachi operation, the law and order situation has considerably improved.
The House also unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning the target killing of human right activist Sabeen Mahmood in Karachi.
The resolution moved by Nasreen Jalil saluted the courage exhibited by Sabeen Mahmood against all odds and threats. Through resolution, the House resolved to stand steadfast with the marginalised.