ISLAMABAD: A question-answer session in the Senate on Friday revealed that the government is not aware of how much the war against terror has cost the country.
This was revealed when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Chaudhry Tanveer asked the Finance Ministry about the cost of the war. Responding to the query, the Interior Ministry replied that the Finance Ministry is yet to ascertain the cost of the war.
Owing to the absence of the relevant minister during the session, former state interior minister and Federal Education Minister Baleeghur Rehman informed members that the government does not have details of the breakdown of the costs pertaining to the matter.
Irked by the minister’s response, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani criticised the government for not having maintained records for the cost incurred as a result of war on terror. “The government will [at some point] have to answer this question,” he remarked.
Earlier as the session went underway, Rabbani criticised the absence of relevant ministers from the session.
Responding to the matter, Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Atiq Shiekh stated that when there is no governance in the entire country, the parliament cannot be any different.
Later, Education Minister Rehman arrived at the session, clarifying that he thought the proceedings would start later than they did.
Taking a jibe at the missing state ministers for energy and statistics who are reported to be travelling abroad, Rabbani remarked, “Is the country being run from abroad?”
