- House learns PSM losses exceeded Rs 68 billion over past three years
ISLAMABAD: Massive irregularities in the national flag carrier and former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani’s “confession” through his article carried in Washington Post dominated Thursday’s proceedings of the upper house’s 260th session.
The senators, while debating a special committee report the House was presented on March 9 regarding the overall performance of the Pakistan International Airlines, rued the performance of the national flag carrier.
“Mismanagement, non-observance of merit and corruption have marred the PIA’s performance under the nose of those enjoying hefty salaries and privileges at top positions,” Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said, recalling that “our national flag carrier had launched the Qatar Airways and Emirates airlines”.
The House also clubbed two adjournment motions – tabled by Senator Lt-Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum and Senator Mohsin Aziz – calling for discussion on the “confession” of former ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, through his article published in Washington Post on March 10 with regards to the facilitation of CIA agents’ discreet induction into Pakistan with the approval of the leadership of the then ruling party.
The House will discuss Haqqani’s confession now on Tuesday.
During the question-hour, Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi, to a question related to the expenditures on the Pakistan Steel Mills, told the House that more than Rs 22 billion had been paid to employees of the steel mill under the head of salary and allowances, while Rs 6.52 billion had been given under the head of electricity bills, Rs 386 million under the head of fuel charges of transport vehicles, and Rs 110 million under the head of maintenance charges of vehicles.
The minister put the losses incurred by the PSM over the past three years at around Rs 68.185 billion.
Meanwhile, Senator Farhatullah Babar, chairman of the Committee on Right to Information Bill, 2016, presented a report before the House, informing the senators that the bill had been unanimously passed by the committee.
The House also unanimously adopted the report presented by a special committee on 24 demands by the government. The report was presented by the convener, Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah.