Senate holds debate on Panama Leaks
Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said on Friday that negotiations have been started with the Swiss authorities to get access to the money stashed by Pakistanis in the Swiss Banks.
Speaking in the Senate, the finance minister said the FBR is authorised to hold negotiations after getting approval from the Cabinet.
The Senate continued to debate the Panama Leaks revelations which have implicated over 200 important personalities as having offshore holdings and accounts.
Dar said two meetings led by the FBR chairman have already been held with the Swiss authorities.
PANAMA LEAKS:
Talking about Panama Leaks, Mushahid Hussain Syed said that political point scoring and attempts to destabilise the government on the matter should be avoided. He said a joint parliamentary commission should be constituted for across-the-board investigation of the people mentioned in the Panama Leaks.
Chaudhry Tanvir Hussain said in his remarks that it is the first time in the country’s history that the prime minister has presented his family for accountability by constituting the commission.
He said the present government has started mega development projects but certain elements are bent upon creating hurdles in their way. He said that investment is pouring into the country due to the prudent economic policies of the government.
CPEC RAILWAY LINE:
Earlier during Question Hour, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid said that a railway line of 682 km will be laid between Pakistan and China from Havelian to Khunjerab under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
He said the actual cost of the project would be worked out after detailed feasibility study of the project.
Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch told the House that a number of steps have been taken to improve security and check infiltration of terrorists on the Pak-Afghan border. He said coordination between the militaries of the two countries has been enhanced to ensure better management of the border.
He said Pakistan is also facilitating Afghan reconciliation process for peace and stability in the neighbouring country.
POLICE OPERATION:
Responding to a question, Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman said that overall law and order situation has improved in the country as a result of the successful implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on terrorism. He said Punjab Police and Rangers are jointly conducting an operation against gangsters in Rajanpur.
Balighur Rehman said the government has revisited its policy towards inclusion of names in Exit Control List. He said that names of 4,982 people have been removed from the ECL since September 2015.
The House will now meet on Monday afternoon at 3:30 pm.
