Communications Minister Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan told the National Assembly on Friday that the overloaded vehicles carrying NATO supplies to Afghanistan had considerably deteriorated the country’s road network, and Rs 122.95 billion were required for repairs and reconstruction. During the question-answer hour, the minister said that Pakistan’s road network maintained by the National Highway Authority (NHA) connects with Afghanistan via three routes having a total length of 4,046 kilometres. He said the Annual Conditions Survey, 2011 had observed that various sections, comprising about 26 percent of the roads, were in a dilapidated state. He said the issue had already been highlighted at various forums with the proposal to claim these damages from NATO forces.
In a written reply, Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said the government believed in the freedom of expression, as enshrined in Article 19 of the constitution. She said her ministry had always welcomed positive criticism in line with its policy of promoting media’s freedom. She said the country had witnessed an unprecedented growth of print and electronic media, and the government had simplified the procedures for opening new TV channels. She said the government had planned to establish a media university in Islamabad, and in this regard a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese government was under process, she added.
Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani told the House that the Pakistan Hockey Federation had been providing financial assistance and administrative support to provincial- and district-level women’s hockey associations to promote the sport among women in the country. Answering another question, he said the Pakistan Cricket Board was holding talks with the Interior Ministry and the Bangladesh Cricket Board for hosting a cricket series in April and May this year.
