The Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatisation in its meeting at the Parliament House deliberated upon and finalised recommendations for Finance bill 2016-17.
According to a press release, the meeting of the committee was presided over by Chairman Senator Saleem Mandviwala.
Senators Usman Khan Kakar, Sardar Azam Musakhel and Gul Bashra of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party gave a number of recommendations primarily dealing with different projects in Balochistan.
The committee gave six months deadline to Higher Education Commission to establish sub campuses of Balochistan University in Zhob and Chaman to facilitate the students of the area.
The committee also considered a proposal to establish a Forestry University in Ziarat. Senator Usman Khan Kakar underscored the need for establishing a livestock university in District Musa Khel.
Recommendations concerning 1,000MW solar, wind, gas and coal power projects on the CPEC western route were discussed and postponed until today (Thursday) to be discussed in the presence of officials from the Water and Power Ministry. Kuchlak to Zhob motorway, Zhob to D. I. Khan motorway and Bostan-Kohat railway lines were decided to be discussed today in the presence of NHA officials.
The committee accepted the recommendation to hold a mineral survey in Quetta and Zhob divisions. In this regard, the Geological Survey of Pakistan will brief the committee.
The committee approved Senator Usman Kakar’s recommendations regarding gas projects in Balochistan, circular railway projects, cancer hospital in Loralai, allergy centres in provincial capitals and clinical laboratories in Balochistan.
Senator Kalsoom Parveen withdrew her recommendation regarding food security. Her recommendation regarding construction of mother and childcare hospitals in Quetta was approved. Balance amount of Rs 333 million for infrastructure of Lasbela university and fund allocation for solar tube wells in Balochistan were also accepted.
The committee during its deliberations also passed three bills. The bills include ‘Corporate Restructuring companies Bill, 2016’, ‘Deposit Protection Corporations Bill, 2016’ and ‘Financial Institutions (Secured Transactions ) Bill, 2016’. The committee also discussed in detail the recommendations moved by Senator Sirajul Haq.
The meeting was attended among others by Senators Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, Saud Majeed, Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari, Ayesha RazaFarooq, Kamil Ali Agha, Sardar Fateh Muhammad Muhammad Hassani, Mohsin Aziz, Mushahidullah Khan, Usman Khan Kakar, Kalsoom Parveen and Sirajul Haq. The Finance secretary, FBR chairman and senior officials of other departments concerned were also present during the meeting.