National Assembly of Pakistan – Page 4

March 5, 2023March 8, 2023

Pakistan’s progress is linked with women empowerment: NA Speaker

Islamabad, March 08, 2023 (PPI-OT): National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf addressed the “International Women’s Day Celebration Event” organized by the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus in Islamabad today. He extended heartfelt greetings to all women of Pakistan on this auspicious day.

While addressing the event, the Speaker paid tribute to the resilient women of Pakistan who played a pertinent role in the Pakistan Movement. He added that he is proud of the fact that his political upbringing was done by the first female Prime Minister, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The Speaker stressed that the progress of Pakistan is linked with women’s empowerment. He applauded the trailblazing women creating history in all walks of life. He also said, “The society in which the rights of women are protected is the society that develops.”

Speaker NA added, “It is the Pakistan People’s Party which has played the most important role in empowering women.” He also expressed that Pakistani women have made their mark with their commendable contributions in every field, as the struggle of Ms. Fatima Jinnah and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto is a torch for women around the world. He expressed, “Shaheed Benazir Bhutto bravely fought two dictators to restore democracy in the country.” The first woman prime minister, first woman speaker, and minister of information and broadcasting of the Islamic world belonged to the Pakistan People’s Party, as women in our Parliament are playing a pivotal important role.” The honor and respect of women is the honor and respect of all of us,” NA Speaker remarked. He applauded Secretary WPC Ms. Shahida Rehmani and her team for organising the event.

Secretary WPC Dr Shahida Rehmani also addressed the event. In her welcome address, she stated that Benazir Bhutto, Fatima Jinnah, and Kulsoom Nawaz are role models for all women for their struggle for democracy. She remarked that UN’s theme for 2023 “DigitAll” is pertinent for Pakistan’s progress. She added “Pakistan’s constitution provides equal rights to all.”

Federal Minister of Climate Change Ms Sherry Rehman congratulated all women on International Women’s Day and thanked allies for their support. She appreciated WPC for the role it plays in supporting women Parliamentarians irrespective of party lines. She added that women contribute the most to Pakistan’s economy in all sectors and their contributions should be acknowledged.

For more information, contact:

Secretary,

National Assembly of Pakistan

Automation Centre, National Assembly Secretariat,

Parliament House, Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-9221082-83

Fax: +92-51-9221106

Email: assembly@na.gov.pk

Website: www.na.gov.pk

March 4, 2023March 8, 2023

NA Standing Committee on Communications meets

Islamabad, March 08, 2023 (PPI-OT): 12 meeting of the Standing Committee on Communications was held at 11:00 a.m. in Parliament House under the Acting Chairmanship of Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali.

The Committee discussed the mis-procurement conducted by National Highways Authority (NHA) while awarding of Lodhran-Multan section of NHA N-5 in detail. The representatives of NHA assured the Committee that the complete details of the project should be submitted before the Committee in the next meeting.

The Committee discussed the Gharo Keti Bandargah Road Project in detail. The representatives of NHA could not satisfied the Committee. The Committee recommended that the working of the project should be completed at the earliest and submitted before the Committee in the next meeting.

The Committee discussed the Sehwan-Jamshoro Road Project in detail. The Committee questioned the quality of work of the project and recommended that the Motorways Police should be deployed on the Sehwan-Jamshoro Road at the earliest.

The Committee deferred the Matter regarding service road along-with M-9 Motorway (moved by Mr. Kesoo Mal Kheal Das, MNA), the Matter of delay and slow construction of old Bannu Road, (moved by Mr. Zahid Akram Durrani, MNA); and the Starred Question regarding whether it is in the notice of concerned authorities that different real estate companies have encroached of kanals of National Highways Authority (NHA) land at Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway and they are constructing interchanges and other road networks for their housing schemes without approval of NHA, (moved by Mr. Abdul Karim Bijar, MNA), due to non-presence of the Movers.

The Committee appointed a Sub-Committee with the following Composition and Terms of Reference:

Composition:

1) Mr. Ramesh Lal Convener

2) Dr. Darshan Member

3) Mir. Khan Muhammad Jamali Member

4) Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sherazi Member

Terms of Reference (TOR): “To visit and inspect the National Highways Authority (NHA) roads completed yet to be completed in Baluchistan and Sindh”.

Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali, Chaudhary Khalid Javed, Rana Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Dr. Darshan, Syed Abrar Ali Shah Sherazi, Mr. Ramesh Lal, Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali MNAS/Members and Mr. Sikandar Ali Rahyoupoto, MNA/Mover attended the meeting.

For more information, contact:

Secretary,

National Assembly of Pakistan

Automation Centre, National Assembly Secretariat,

Parliament House, Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-9221082-83

Fax: +92-51-9221106

Email: assembly@na.gov.pk

Website: www.na.gov.pk

March 1, 2023

Women Empowerment: Interlinked with their economic independence says NA Speaker

Islamabad, March 01, 2023 (PPI-OT): Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that women are part and parcel for socioeconomic development of the country. He said that the constitution guarantees provision of all fundamental rights to each Pakistani woman. He also said that women inclusive economic policies would ensure women empowerment in the country. He expressed these views during his meeting with UN Women Country Representative Ms. Sharmeela Rasool in Parliament House today.

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf also stressed on the need to provide education, health and economic opportunities to all women. He said that CNIC is the basic right of identity and he would meet Chairman NADRA for eliminate all hurdles for issuing CNIC for women, especially those who belong to far-flung areas.

Member National Assembly Wajiha Qamar was also present in the meeting. She said that the Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) is playing an important role in ensuring women-friendly legislation. She also said that WPC would issue a consensus-based Manifesto for ensuring the provision of basic fundamental rights to all women.

UN Women Country Representative Ms. Sharmeela Rasool appreciated National Assembly Speaker’s vision for ensuring women-inclusive policies. She also appreciated the role played by WPC in ensuring women-friendly legislation. She said that the UN in Pakistan would keep on supporting Pakistani women, especially in the domain of employment and economic independence.

For more information, contact:

Secretary,

National Assembly of Pakistan

Automation Centre, National Assembly Secretariat,

Parliament House, Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-9221082-83

Fax: +92-51-9221106

Email: assembly@na.gov.pk

Website: www.na.gov.pk

March 1, 2023

The Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Special Committee of the National Assembly for affected employees was held under the Chairmanship of Professor Dr. Qadir Khan Mandukhel

Islamabad, March 01, 2023 (PPI-OT): The Ministry of Defense Production Officers while presenting the report said that we have received a notice about Abdul Hafeez, an employee of our subsidiary Telephone Industries of Pakistan, whose case is still going on in the court. According to regulations, contract and daily wages are all project employees. 2 sec employees in TIP have been reinstated, 6 sec employees in HID have also been reinstated and all these reinstated employees.

The employees said that we are 877 employees and still we are not being regularized, 4 employees of the Ordnance Factory said that we are not being restored, the committee ordered that the Ministry of Information Technology and the Ministry Defense Production to hold a meeting within 15 days to solve the problems of 877 employees and submit a report, order to support the Ministry of Finance and Establishment Division, order to restore 4 second employees and within 15 days to the meeting on 21 December 2022 all Orders to be executed.

The officers of Ministry of Health Pharmacy Council said that Sibghatullah has been reinstated, the employee said that he has been reinstated as daily wages, the committee ordered to be regularized within 15 days, 8 doctors of PIMS were given two The contract of the year has been given, they will regularize them soon. The committee ordered to regularize all the employees from grade 1 to 15 and order to resolve the matter by holding a meeting for others. The contract of 114 employees of the School of Dentistry has been extended by one year on the order of the committee. While giving a report to said that the committee.

Rules have been approved, 100 employees have been promoted under time scale promotion on the orders of the committee, 5 contract employees have been regularized, 9 employees who have been dismissed by the committee and the balance of retired employees. The committee has directed the policy board of DRAP to make rules within three days. The Ministry of Industry and Production asked the officers of Steel Mill about the absence of Chief Executive Officer Saifuddin Junejo, the officers did not have any justification, on which the committee issued a show cause notice to the Chief Executive Officer of Steel Mill. The committee asked for a report on the implementation of the orders, the officers did not have any response, the chairman of the committee expressed his anger on the officers.

Hoya said that we are aware that more than 1200 employees are currently in court against the golden handshake and more than 2 thousand employees have accepted the golden handshake in a state of helplessness. The officers had no answer to all these questions. The Chairman Committee has issued a show cause notice to Additional Secretary Haroon Rafiq for misguiding the committee and not implementing the previous orders. 11 billion government audit report should be presented. Shahid Anwar Bajwa’s full details, appointment, full details including other cases, Ayaz Mangi’s summons issued, IG Sindh and Islamabad ordered to comply with the summons.

1200 employees with court cases should be reinstated, the employees who took the golden handshake, ordered to solve their problems, to implement the agreement made in 2012 between the union and the steel mill management for the housing scheme was ordered by the former Minister of Industries and Production. To take notice of the statements on the media in which the public was misled, the order to re-open the inquiry of the employees removed during the inquiry. Report to the committee at 2 o’clock tomorrow.

For more information, contact:

Secretary,

National Assembly of Pakistan

Automation Centre, National Assembly Secretariat,

Parliament House, Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-9221082-83

Fax: +92-51-9221106

Email: assembly@na.gov.pk

Website: www.na.gov.pk

February 28, 2023

Parliamentary diplomacy pivotal for enhancing mutual ties in this “Era of Parliaments”: NA Speaker

Islamabad, February 28, 2023 (PPI-OT):Hungary offering largest number of Higher Education Scholarships to Pakistani students says Ambassador of Hungary in Pakistan. Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that it is an era of Parliaments and people-to-people contacts. He said that enhancing parliamentary diplomacy is key to further strengthening ties among nations.

He said that both Pakistan and Hungary enjoy cordial relations which can be further strengthened by enhancing parliament-to-parliament contacts. He expressed these views while chairing a meeting of the Pak-Hungary Friendship group today at Parliament House Islamabad. Hungarian Ambassador to Pakistan H.E Mr. Béla Fazekas was also present in the meeting.

Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf stated that Pakistan deeply values its ties with Hungary both bilaterally and in the European Union. He said that Pakistan appreciates Hungary`s support to Pakistan at multilateral forums.

He said that the establishment of Parliamentary friendship group between the parliaments of both countries was an important development. He also appreciated the initiative of the Hungarian Government to provide largest number of higher education scholarships to Pakistani youth. He stressed on Pakistani youth to fully utilize this opportunity.

While welcoming participants, Convener of the PFG Mehnaz Akber Aziz, apprised about pivotal role played by the PFG to promote bilateral and parliamentary relations. She also shared that efforts were underway to create Air link and expand cooperation in socio-economic sector between both countries.

Hungarian Ambassador to Pakistan H.E Mr. Béla Fazekas said that both Hungary and Pakistan share a long history of friendly ties. He also said that the recent visit of Pakistan Foreign Minister Mr. Bilawal Bhutto to Hungary is a historic event as he has been the first Pakistani Foreign Minister who visited Hungary during the last forty years.

He also expressed his hope that Hungary would continue to support Pakistani youth for the provision of international standard education. He said that Hungary is also enriched in Islamic culture and monuments. Members National Assembly Makhdoom Syed Sami Ul Hassan Gillani, Syed Javed Hasnain, Ms. Naz Baloch, Mr. Naveed Aamir Jeeva, Ms. Javeria Zafar Aheer, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam, Ms. Shamim Ara were also present in the meeting of Pak-Hungarian PFG.

For more information, contact:
Secretary,
National Assembly of Pakistan
Automation Centre, National Assembly Secretariat,
Parliament House, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9221082-83
Fax: +92-51-9221106
Email: assembly@na.gov.pk
Website: www.na.gov.pk

February 28, 2023

National Assembly special committee for affected employees

Islamabad, February 28, 2023 (PPI-OT):The twenty-ninth meeting of the special committee of the National Assembly for affected employees was held under the chairmanship of Professor Dr. Qadir Khan Mandukhel. Member Power WAPDA Jameel Akhtar told the committee that on the order of the committee, Chairman WAPDA has rehabilitated 17 affected employees of Tarbela Dam and will not make any employee to vacate the house and has issued an advertisement as per the rules and regulations in which These 17 employees will be regularized.

The committee ordered that the employees should be regularized by completing the process within 14 days and the regular orders of these 17 employees should be submitted to the committee.

Manoor etc. 26 employees member Water Ghazi Brotha report sought, notices issued to the concerned project members on the requests of other employees as well.

Ministry of Marine Affairs.

The chairman committee asked for the implementation of the orders reverted.

The officers said that they have started work for the approval of the board of directors for the restoration of sun quota and the implementation of other orders. Orders to implement all orders and report tomorrow at 2 o’clock otherwise legal action will be taken.

Capital Development Authority (CDA)

The officers told the committee about the progress on the implementation report that according to the orders of the committee, the contracts of 136 employees have been extended. To regularize these employees, they will regularize all these employees after taking approval from the upcoming meeting of the board of directors.

The committee ordered that 136 employees should be regularized within 10 days and the problem of Jahangir Shah employee should be resolved. 4 employees of CDA told the committee that despite the order of the Supreme Court, the organization is not restoring us. On which the committee ordered the Joint Secretary Interior and Chairman CD to restore the four seceded employees including Akhtar Abbas Awan, Fida Hussain, Babar Saeed and Muhammad Saeed within a week.

Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad

The employees told the committee that we are 10 women teachers who are working on daily wages, not being regularized.

The committee ordered the Chairman CDA and Ministry of Home Affairs to regularize all these teachers within 10 days.

Ministry of Privatization Division

While presenting the report, the officers told the committee that there are no seceded employees, there were 5 on contract who have been regularized in the light of the committee’s orders, 8 employees are working on daily wages.

The chairman committee said why these daily wages were not regularized despite clear orders.

The committee ordered that all these daily wages employees be regularized within a week.

Ministry of Economic Affairs Division

Abdul Razzaq etc employees told the committee that we 8 employees who were working as daily wages since 2009 were not regularized and were fired without any notice in 2018.

The committee ordered that the problems of these employees should be resolved within 15 days.

Nadira

The officers told the committee that a meeting was held with 39 employees on the order of the committee, out of which 37 have been reinstated, apart from this, a special review committee has been formed in the organization to solve the problems of the employees so that all the employees they can solve their problems by meeting together.

The chairman committee ordered that 298 employees should be called region-wise to solve the problems and report to the committee.

Cabinet Division

The employees said that in 2019 we fired 12 employees, we were working in Pepra,

The committee asked Additional Secretary Asim Iqbal to revert within a week.

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC)

The officers told the committee that they have contacted the Establishment Division and the Ministry of Law to implement the orders of the committee, they are waiting for the response.

The committee ordered that no property should be given to the provinces and the problem of all these employees should be resolved within a week and returned to the committee.

SME Bank

The officers said that there are 86 employees, whose case is also going on in the court, these employees are not only of SME Bank, their problem has to be solved by the National Bank, and Muhammad Hanif Secd employee said that I am not being reinstated.

The committee ordered that the case of 85 and other 4 employees be reviewed and a full report be given to the committee in the next meeting to be convened by SME Bank.

Members of National Assembly MNA Asia Azim, MNA Kishore Zehra and MNA Naveed Ameer Jeeva participated in the meeting.

February 27, 2023

NA Standing Committee on Human Rights meets

Islamabad, February 27, 2023 (PPI-OT):20th meeting of the Standing Committee on Human Rights was held today under the Chairpersonship of Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, MNA, in the Committee Room No. 7 (fourth floor) Parliament House. The meeting commenced with recitation from the Holy Quran. The Hon. Chairperson welcomed the all participants and afterwards decided to proceed as per agenda items.

The matter, regarding arrest of husband of Ms. Afshan Latif, Supdt. Kashana Lahore (Moved by Ms. Shahida Rehmani, MNA), was deferred to the next meeting. The Committee deferred the Bill titled “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (moved by Mr. Qadir Khan Mandokhail, MNA)”. The Zainab Alert Response and Recovery (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (moved by Moulana Abdul Akber Chitrali, MNA) was deferred by the Committee till its next meeting.

In the meeting, the Committee discussed the report of the Ministry of Human Rights upon the matter of the physical torture of a child in the Special Education Centre for Hearing Impaired Children, H-9, Islamabad, and recommended a more detailed report upon the proceedings of the case, as well as upon the monitoring of such institutions.

The Committee expressed its displeasure upon the report presented by the Ministry of Human Rights on the matter. The Ministry apprised the Committee upon the measures undertaken upon the case till date, including the formation of a Fact-Finding Committee, filing of FIR and charging the perpetrator under section 328 of Pakistan Penal Code.

The Committee questioned whether there was a monitoring mechanism in place at the institution, to which, the Ministry responded that monitoring was being conducted by a BPS-19 officer. The Committee further questioned whether any more cases of the similar nature had emerged at the same institute and demanded a more focused and proactive approach towards monitoring the treatment of children at such centers for prevention of such crimes.

The Committee also recommended the determination of the exact age of the students boarding and/or studying at the Special Education Centre for Hearing Impaired Children, H-9, Islamabad, and at other such institutes, and establishing the mandate of NCHR (National Commission for Human Rights) or NCRC (National Commission for the Rights of Child).

The Committee also reviewed the projects for Public Sector Development Programmes (PSDP) for the Ministry of Human Rights, for the financial year 2023-2024.

The Director General Development Ministry of Human Rights, briefed the Committee regarding the budgetary proposals relating to the PSDP 2023-24. The Committee was informed that the PSDP included 15 projects with 10 on-going and 05 new projects. Total funds demanded for the PSDP amount to Rs. 749.291 million out of which Rs. 222.281 million were for completing on-going projects while Rs. 527.010 million were demanded for new projects.

The members of the Committee who were present in the meeting at that time unanimously passed the PSDP 2023-24, with the reservations for the provision of the PC1 budget details as well as province-wise details to be presented in the future.

Moreover, the Committee also showed its reservation over non-inclusion of the recommendations made by the Committee on PSDPs, during last four years. The Committee also recommended inclusion of projects related to NCRC in PSDP in the future. Honourable Members Ms. Shaza Fatima Khwaja, Ms. Maiza Hameed, Mr. Qadir Khan Mandokhail, Ms. Shamsun Nisa, Ms. Kishwer Zehra, Ms. Shahnaz Naseer Baloch, MNAs, attended the meeting.