Feb 19 , 2016
News
Government to hold census next month, NA told
Online
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that the government was implementing different projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that would benefit all the provinces.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad told the house that western and eastern routes of the CPEC would connect with each other. The minister said the government had decided to take census next month. He said that exercise for delimitation of constituencies would begin after the census, if required. Replying to a question, Ahmad said the National Highway Authority was planning to construct a road from the Pakistan border up to Tajikistan.
Shahzadi Umarzadi Tiwana, parliamentary secretary for petroleum and natural resources, told the house that a Russian company was laying a pipeline from Karachi to Lahore for LNG supply. She said the 1100-kilometre long pipeline would be completed by end of next year at a cost of $2 billion.
Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid said the electoral reforms committees would soon finalise recommendations on electoral reforms and these recommendations would be implemented in the next general election. During the Question Hour, the minister said that a sub-committee had consolidated the election laws and drafted unified election rules. He said that sub-committee’s recommendations would be presented to the main committee headed by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and then to the Parliament. He said that input from all stakeholders was being taken on electoral reforms.
Responding to a Call Attention Notice moved by Khalida Mansoor and others about non-issuance of allotment letters to people who submitted applications for plots at the Bhara Kahu Housing Scheme, Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Works Sajid Mehdi said the matter had been resolved with the intervention of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He said that work on the housing scheme would begin within a month or two. He said the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation was trying to accommodate all applicants. The house deferred the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill 2015 after opposition members opposed it.
Replying to the objections raised by the opposition members to the bill, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the Council of Common Interests had cleared the bill before it was tabled in the house. Under the bill, he said, no new infrastructure was being built and ENERCON was being strengthened. The minister said the basic purpose of the bill was to stop wastage of electricity and save up to 2,500MW electricity through conservation and efficient use. The minister expressed the hope that there would be no complaints of rigging in the next election after implementation of the electoral reforms. The house debated the president’s address to the joint sitting of the Parliament. Taking part in the debate, Murad Saeed of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said the government should focus on relief to the people. Salman Baloch of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that action to eliminate corruption should be taken without any discrimination. MQM members staged a token walkout from the house to register their protest against an increase in the prices of medicines. Babar Nawaz Khan said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was pushing the opposition to the wall. He said that no substantial development had taken place in the province during the last three years. Later, the house was adjourned to meet again at 10:30am on Friday.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk