Zahid Hamid says recommendations on electoral reforms to be formulated soon
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad told the House on Thursday that the government had decided to hold census next month.
The minister said that if required, an exercise would be conducted for delimitation of constituencies after the census has been carried out.
The National Assembly was informed that the government was implementing various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which will benefit all the provinces.
The parliamentary affairs minister said that after completion, the western and eastern routes under CPEC will connect each other.
Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said while replying to a question that the National Highway Authority was planning to construct a road up to Tajikistan from the Pakistani border.
Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahzadi Umarzadi Tiwana told the House that a Russian company was laying pipeline in Pakistan from Karachi to Lahore for provision of LNG. She said the 1,100 km long, 500 mmcfd pipeline would be completed by the end of next year at a cost of $2 billion.
Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid expressed confidence that recommendations on electoral reforms will soon be formulated by the committee concerned, which will be implemented in the next general elections.
During question hour on Thursday, Zahid Hamid said that the sub-committee had consolidated laws regarding elections and drafted unified election rules.
He said that the sub-committee’s recommendations will be presented to the main committee headed by the finance minister and then in the parliament. He said that inputs regarding electoral reforms are being taken from all stakeholders.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Khalida Mansoor and others regarding non-issuance of allotment letters for Bhara Kahu Housing Scheme by the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation, Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Works Sajid Mehdi said the matter has been resolved with the intervention of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
He said that work on the scheme will start within a month or two. He said it is the effort of the foundation to accommodate all the applicants. The House deferred “The National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill, 2015” after it was opposed by the opposition members.
Replying to the objections raised by the opposition members on the bill, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Council of Common Interests has cleared the bill before its introduction in the House.
He said that under the bill no new infrastructure is being built but the already existing ENERCON organisation is being strengthened.
Khawaja Asif said the basic purpose of the bill is to stop electricity waste and save up to 2,500 MW of energy through conservation and improved efficiency. The minister hoped that there will be no complaints of rigging in the elections with the implementation of the electoral reforms.
The House held further debate on the president’s address to the joint session of the parliament. Taking part in the debate, Murad Saeed said the government should focus on giving relief to the people.
Muhammad Salman Baloch said action to eliminate corruption should be taken without any discrimination. MQM members staged a token walkout from the House to register their protest on the increase in the prices of medicines.
Babar Nawaz Khan said the KP government is pushing the opposition to the wall. He said no substantial development has taken place during the last three years in the province. Later, the House was adjourned till Friday at 10:30AM.
