Islamabad, June 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Amendment Bill 2022 introduced by Senator Naseebullah Bazai, Civil Servants Amendment Bill 2022 introduced by Senator Afnan ullah Khan in the Senate session on May 23, 2022, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Amendment Bill 2022 introduced by Senator Shahadat Awan in the Senate session on May 23, 2022.
Questions asked by Senator Waleed Iqbal in the Senate session held on November 5, 2021, Call attention Notice dated November 16, 2021 by Senator Mohsin Aziz for PTDC Properties and Hotel Affairs, Malik Muhammad Khan Chairman MK Pakistan’s Public Petition were considered in detail.
In addition, the issues of public petitions with reference to the Federal Public Service Commission were also discussed. The meeting of the Standing Committee reviewed in detail the Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Amendment Bill 2022 introduced by Senator Naseebullah Baazi in the Senate session on May 30, 2022.
The Standing Committee reviewed the bill in detail and unanimously passed the bill. Chairman Committee Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad said that appointment of members of NEPRA should be carried out on merit.
The Standing Committee, while expressing its reservation over the unannounced load shedding in Karachi and the problems and grievances of the people due to lack of electricity, directed the Chairman NEPRA to look into the complaints and reservations of consumers against the top officials of K Electric.
“Officials of K Electric do not attend the committee meetings nor do they solve the problems of the people of Karachi. Due to the negligence of K Electric, many people died due to electrocution.” Remarked Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed. The chairman of the committee said that it is better that
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and Senator Engineer
Rukhsana Zubair visit Karachi and prepare a detailed report and submit it to the standing committee. The Standing Committee will make recommendations to the Government. The Civil Servants Amendment Bill 2022 introduced by Senator Afnan ullah Khan in the Senate session on May 23, 2022 was reviewed in detail. Senator Afnan ullah said that the main purpose of this bill is to prevent dual nationals from entering the civil service. A bill in this regard was passed by the National Assembly but there were some issues and reservations on it.
A new definition of civil service should be added. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said that a comparison report of that Bill and Senator Afnan’s new bill should be sought from Legal Department and then reviewed. Senator Shahadat Awan said that the bill could also be made effective by giving a cut motion in the joint sitting of Parliament.
The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Amendment Bill 2022 introduced by Senator Shahadat Awan in the Senate session held on May 23, 2022 was reviewed in detail. Senator Shahadat Awan briefed the committee on the details of the bill. The Standing Committee reviewed the Bill and passed it unanimously.
The questions asked by Senator Waleed Iqbal in the Senate session held on November 5, 2021 were reviewed in detail. Senator Waleed Iqbal said that the working papers provided today, had also been provided earlier but the questions raised by the chairman and members of the committee were not addressed in the written reply.
He said that the Civil Service Rule of 1954 should be removed. Times have changed. Effective legislation is needed. These rules have been challenged at various forums and have been discussed in the Legislative Committee assigned by the Upper House.
Chairman committee and members decided that the Establishment Division should prepare a comprehensive briefing in this regard at the next meeting and make suggestions for effective amendments in the Rules. The committee will review them and then make a decision.
Senator Mohsin Aziz call attention notice regarding the issues of properties, hotels of PTDC was reviewed in detail. The Standing Committee was informed that PTDC had 37 properties which have been transferred to the provinces.
Gilgit-Baltistan has 13 properties which have not been transferred.18 out of 19 properties have been transferred to KPK government. Provinces are leasing out these properties to private parties. The transfer of properties has been done through proper procedure in consultation with the provinces and with the approval of the Federal Cabinet.
On which the Chairman of the committee said that the committee should be briefed in detail as to how the affairs will be run in future, what is the vision and what strategy would be adopted. The Standing Committee was informed that the Flash man Hotel Rawalpindi has been closed for the last one year.
Chairman Committee expressed his reservations on the matter and said that it could be improved by adopting effective strategy. It is located in a very important place. The committee directed that the Hotel be made operational within a month.
Malik Mohammad Khan, Chairman MK Pakistan’s public petition was reviewed in detail. NAB officials informed the committee that the inquiry into the matter has been completed. The NAB board has to give its approval and the new NAB Chairman has not been appointed as yet.
On which Chairman Committee Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad said that the matter has already been reviewed in detail. Was the letter dated June 2015 included in the inquiry? He questioned. The approval of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Cabinet Division was also included or not?
On which NAB officials said that there is no record of approval of PM and Cabinet Division but the letter was included in the inquiry. The chairman of the committee said that extreme irresponsibility has been shown. The land was given by agreement and an Auditor should be appointed to look into the extent of the damage. PTDC should pay the compensation which is the obligation.
New rate, rules and regulations should be made in order to provide convenience. The Additional Secretary Cabinet Division said that instructions were given in the meeting of the Board of Directors. There is no record of PM and Cabinet approval. The chairman of the committee directed that the matter be resolved at the earliest by talking to both the parties.
Matters of public petitions were reviewed in detail with reference to the Federal Public Service Commission. The Secretary Federal Public Service Commission informed the committee that these four public petitions are related to the same issue.
The work is almost complete and the results are ready. Senator Rukhsana Zubairi said that a report was prepared in the previous government headed by Dr. Ishtar Hussain and it should be provided to the committee for review.
Meeting was attended by, Senators Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Engineer Rukhsana Zubairi, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Naseebullah Bazai, Afnan ullah Khan, Shahadat Awan, Waleed Iqbal besides Special Secretary Establishment Division, Additional Secretary Cabinet Division, Chairman NEPRA, Secretary Federal Public Service Commission, Company Secretary PTDC and other officials.
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