The Senate was informed that irregularities were observed in issuance of passports at the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir said the government has taken very strict notice, an inquiry will be conducted into the matter, and the results will be shared with the House.
Answering questions in the Senate, he said the government is working to provide maximum facilities at Pakistan’s missions abroad to overseas Pakistanis.
The minister for commerce informed the House that out of 115 Pakistani missions abroad, 61 have the facility to issue passports to expatriates.
He said such facilities are being also extended to thirty more missions shortly.
To a question, Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Saira Afzal Tarar told the House that the government has taken a number of steps to improve the performance of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and expressed the confidence that there will be a visible progress in the next six months. She said Labs are also being improved to international standards.
Saira Afzal Tarar to a question told the House that because of government’s efforts, the death rate caused by TB has been reduced to a great extent. She said national TB Control Programme is being funded through government and global funds.
She urged the provincial governments to allocate their funds for this programme.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed told the House that out of 12,000 post offices in the country, 38 have been computerised in major cities. He said the remaining post offices would also be computerised in phases. He said that presently all the general post offices are providing online computerised services especially military pension payments, provincial taxes, child support programme and Benazir Income Support programme.
Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael told the House that the initial concession agreement was signed between Gwadar Port Authority and Port Singapore Authority International in February 2007 for forty year. Later, in May 2013, the concessional rights were transferred by Singapore Company to M/s. China Overseas Ports Holding Company with the permission of Pakistan’s government. He said Gwadar Port Authority draws nine per cent of gross revenue each from Gwadar Port International Terminal and Gwadar Port Marine Service and 15 per cent of gross revenue from Free Zone Company, when operational.
In a written reply to a question, Advisor on Foreign Affairs informed the House that 87 civilians embraced Shahadat and 407 others were injured as a result of Indian ceasefire violations at LoC and at the Working boundary from January 1, 2010 to October 22, 2015.
