Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad informed the senate on Monday that the launch of Prime Minister’s Health Programme is a step towards ameliorating the poor lot.
He was winding up a debate on a motion moved by Nehal Hashmi to discuss the programme and its impact on the common man. The minister of state said the focus of the programme is under privileged segment of the society.
Earlier, the mover and other speakers appreciated this initiative of the PM and said it would enable the poor to get quality medical treatment.
Meanwhile, a bill “The prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill, 2016” introduced by Saleem Mandviwalla was sent to the standing committee concerned with the report.
The senate also passed a resolution condoling death of former Senator Nisar Muhammad Khan. The house paid tribute to the services rendered by him for the cause of the country as parliamentarian, member of the federal cabinet and politician.
Minister for Climate Change, Zahid Hamid has said that the government is pursuing Etisalat and UAE government to pay the balance out of sale proceeds of PTCL.
On a motion moved by Syed Shibli Faraz, he discussed the privatization of PTCL with particular reference to delay in payment of 800 million dollars to the government by its buyer. The minister said 26 percent shares of PTCL were sold against 2.6 billion dollars, out of which 1.4 billion dollars were paid and the balance were contingent upon transfer of all proprieties to the company.
Earlier, members in their speeches urged the government to take steps for early realization of the amount. Those who spoke included Saeed Ghani, Ch Tanvir, Tahir Mashhadi, Shibli Faraz, Ghaus Niazi, Nehal Hashmi, Mushahidullah Khan and Muhammad Ali Saif.
The house also held discussions regarding the role and responsibility of the government with regard to religious tolerance, unity and harmony in the country.
It was moved by Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Nighat Mirza and Khushbakht Shujaat. Minister of state for parliamentary affairs said Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance and the successive governments in Pakistan too have been making efforts to achieve this objective. Those who spoke on the motion included, Sassui Palijo, Sehar Kamran, Tanvir-ul-Haq Thanvi and Usman Kakar.
The senate today passed a resolution recommending that the government should announce a special package for economic and educational development in FATA. It was jointly moved by Usman Khan Kakar, Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel and Gul Bashra. The chair referred a resolution moved by Sassui Palijo to the Standing Committee for Finance to report in one month.
It pertained to ensuring representation of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA in the board of functional members and governing council of Pakistan bureau of statistics in order to hold an equitable and transparent population census 2016.
Minister for Climate Change, Zahid Hamid said though there was no constitutional or legal obligation but still the government has appointed members from all the provinces on the governing council of PBS. The house will now meet tomorrow at 3 p.m.