- Senator Babar asks govt to construct CPEC’s western route on lines with eastern route
The Senate’s Standing Committee on Planning and Development recommended that the salaries and pension of the government employees should be increased at 20%, observing that the current decision about 10% raise is insufficient and there is need to review the decision.
The committee met at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhaddi to discuss the recommendations about the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) which has been forwarded by senators belonging to different political parties for consideration in the Finance Bill 2017-18.
It was recommended that water supply schemes of one billion rupees and a circular railway system for Karachi at the cost of two billion rupees should be given. Senator Farhatullah Babar pointed out that western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should be constructed along the lines of eastern route, and as per commitment of the prime minister during the all parties conference (APC).
The committee decided to forward this suggestion to the parliamentary committee on CPEC. The committee approved recommendations of Senator Saifullah Magsi relating to the allocation of four billion rupees for projects related to climate change and suggestions of Senator Usman Kakar and Senator Sardar Azam Musakhel pertaining to allocation of funds for the survey of minerals and natural resources in Balochistan.
It also approved the allocation of funds for the establishment of the Arid Zone Research Institute at the Muslim Bagh in Balochistan. Senator Aurangzeb Khan presented proposals before the committee pertaining to increase in financial assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs). He proposed that three percent of the NFC should be allocated to FATA for accelerating the pace of development in the area.
He proposed that the financial assistance for completely damaged houses should be three million rupees. The committee after detailed consideration of the recommendations forwarded by Senator Mufti Abdul Sattar on the reconstruction of Allah Yar Dam approved the immediate release of the funds.
The committee while deliberating on the recommendations of Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhaddi said that the PSDP allocation for Karachi should be increased as a meagre amount has been allocated to Karachi despite the fact that it contributes 65-70% of revenues to the national exchequer. It also recommended the abolition of sales tax on gas, electricity and petrol to provide relief to the masses.
The committee also approved recommendations that no reduction or reallocation be made in the approved development budget without prior approval of the parliament. They also discussed other recommendations pertaining to ministries of communication, water and power, civil aviation, national food security and other sectors during the discussion.