Madagascar Newswire

Islamabad, December 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Power was held on Thursday i.e. 9th December, 2021. Chairman Committee, Senator Saifullah Abro chaired the meeting; and attended by Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Senator Sana Jamali and senior officers of the Ministry of Energy (Power Division), NEPRA along with all concerned.

The Committee deliberated over rehabilitation of de-licensed Public Sector power generation plants and improvements of all GENCOs and recommendations regarding operating GENCO-I on LNG instead of furnace oil. The ELR expenditures made by HESCO and SEPCO under development, maintenance and procurement of material heads from June 2008 to-date were also discussed.

The Committee was provided details of rehabilitation plans of TPS Jamshoro, Kotri, and Guddu. An estimation of costs for the project was shared with the Committee. The Chairman Committee showed grave concern regarding delays and said that in order to benefit fully, it was imperative that the power sector be revamped.

Regarding the use of alternative energy sources in the country and the plan to assimilate generated power into the system; the Committee was informed that alternative energy sources entailed 4 to 5 percent of total generated power which has not yet been introduced into the system.

The Committee directed the Power Division to ensure that all obstacles are removed and alternative energy sources are utilised to the fullest in the country. It was asserted that this was the way in which the energy crisis in the country could be curtailed.

Discussing the menace of Circular Debt, the Committee enquired about payments that were to be made by K-Electric, since it owed an amount of PKR 53 billion to Government of Pakistan. It was asserted by the Members of the Committee that the Power Division must ensure that these payments are made at the earliest.

K-Electric, in previous meetings had admitted that in 2005 it had no liability on the government and hence it would pay back the said amount. It was unanimously decided by the Committee that action must be taken within two weeks by the Power Division.

Taking up the case of illegal appointments the Committee discussed the case of CFO, HESCO, who within a period of 5 months spent a magnanimous amount of PKR 24 million as expenditure in the Board meetings of HESCO. The Committee stressed the need for strict measures and directed that the case must be forwarded to FIA for further investigation. Discussing ELR expenditures made by HESCO and SEPCO, the Committee dissatisfied with the submitted data and directed that all relevant data must be submitted to the Committee within a week.

For more information, contact:
Senate of Pakistan
H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9204564534
Fax: +92-51-9205703
E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk
Website: www.senate.gov.pk

Islamabad, December 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Interior was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Mohsin Aziz here at Parliament House on Thursday. At the outset Committee unanimously adopted the resolution condemning barbaric and brutal lynching of a Sri Lankan national in Sialkot on the alleged charges of blasphemy. Committee members also expressed their grief and sorrow on the incident, offered condolences and solidarity to family of the victim.

Committee also recognized and appreciated the moral courage and bravery of Mr. Malik Adnan who tried to shelter and save the victim from violent mob endangering his own life. Committee considered “Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021” moved by Senator Saadia Abbasi in the Senate. Officials from Ministry of Law and justice informed the committee members that there is another Special Bill from the government’s side which is being currently considered in National Assembly’s Standing Committee on interior.

Ministry of Interior Additional Secretary was of the view that Bill introduced by Senator Saadia Abbasi seeks amendments in General Law, while the government’s Bill is a special Bill which is more holistic in nature and covers almost every amendment proposed in the Bill submitted by Senator Saadia Abbasi.

He further briefed the committee that Special law always prevails over of the general law. Chairman Committee deferred the consideration of the Bill presented by Senator Saadia Abbasi till the Special Bill is approved by National Assembly and sent to Senate for approval.

Committee than moved onto consideration of “The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2021” introduced by Senator Mohsin Aziz in the Senate. Committee approved the Bill after due deliberations.

Senator Saifullah Abro expressed his serious reservations regarding law in order situation in the province of Sindh. He referred to multiple cases of murder in the districts of Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Larkana.

Senator Abro briefed the committee about a specific incident in which a minority Hindu community leader of Jacobabad was arrested by Sindh Police SSP named Shumyle Riaz Malik. Leader of the community was allegedly taken to police station, tortured and stripped naked by SSP Shumyle Riaz Malik for contesting local Hindu community representative elections.

Chairman Committee lamented the absence of accused officer in the Meeting. “Why has accused officer not appeared before the committee? This absence amounts to disrespecting the august forum of the Senate. We will not let that happen.”

Chairman Committee while listening to various other similar cases of atrocities committed by Police directed that IG police and other officers from these districts should present themselves before this committee in the next meeting.

“If the concerned officers do not appear before the committee, we will recommend that they be suspended from their service until the proper inquiry is done in the cases” said Chairman Committee Senator Mohsin Aziz. Consideration of the matter was deferred to be taken up again in the next meeting of the committee.

Meeting was attended by Senators, Mola Bux Chandio, Saadia Abbasi, Saifullah Abro, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Shahadat Awan, Fawzia Arshad, Syed Faisal Ali Sabzwari, Officials from Ministry of Interior, Sindh Police and Ministry of Law and Justice.

For more information, contact:
Senate of Pakistan
H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9204564534
Fax: +92-51-9205703
E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk
Website: www.senate.gov.pk

Islamabad, December 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):Meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change was presided by Senator Seeme Ezdi, Chairperson Committee at Environmental Protection Agency’s Conference Room. The Committee discussed in detail the alarming situation of smog, air quality monitoring mechanism and preventive measures taken by the ministry of Climate Change in this regard.

The Climate Change Committee was briefed about the overall environmental situation of the country. Secretary Climate Change and DG EPA informed the Committee that the main causes of the air pollution are industrial units, vehicles and brick kilns emissions. For the eradication of air pollution difference measures have been taken. The committee was informed that in Federal Capital out of 63 brick kilns, 20 have installed pollution control technology.

The Committee was informed that 43 percent of air pollution was caused by vehicular emission and in Islamabad daily around 4 lakh vehicles move on Islamabad Expressway. These issues have prompted the Government to take strict action which includes its commitment of conversion of 30 percent of all transport to cleaner and greener electric vehicles.

The standing committee also stressed on the need for developing enabling environment for switching to EV by incentivizing users and also unanimously recommended that public vehicles of the educational institutions should be converted to electric vehicles.

Senator Taj Haider informed the committee that currently Karachi is facing worst pollution problems. He said that focus should be developed on how to recycle the pollutants. He also stressed that there should be a mechanism for plastic recycling which is being used worldwide.

Senator Faisal Javed said that Prime Minister of Pakistan took the challenge of the environmental issue of Pakistan and did a tremendous job which is being appreciated by international community. He added that in this regard lot of projects have been started which include billion tree, 10 Dams in 10 years, Urban Forest in Lahore.

These projects will help the country in curbing the climate related issues. He said that in Pakistan 3.3 million Metric Tons garbage’s being produced annually. He said that according to the World Bank report Pakistan is the only country which spends 44% of its funds on environment friendly projects.

He told the committee that 1.5 billion trees have been planted in the country and one of the world biggest urban forest has been planted during this government regime. Senator Abida Muhammad Azeem said that people in Balochistan are forced to burn Pine Trees due to non-availability of natural gas in the region.

Senator Keshoo Bai raised the issue of the smog especially in the Lahore and other parts of the country. She said that in Lahore situation has become worse than the neighbouring country by every passing day. It has become necessary to take appropriate measures to curb this hazardous situation.

Senator Dr. Muhammad Humayoun Mohmand said that environmental issues have become the issue of the whole country and there is need to enhance cooperation between the Federal Government and the Provinces. He also stressed on the need for having data driven and evidence based policy-making.

The committee meeting was attended by senators Taj Haider, Faisal Javed, Muhammad Humayoun Mohmand, Keshoo Bai, Khalida Ateeb, Abida Muhammad Azeem Secretary, Climate Change Sikander Qayyum, DG (EPA) Farzana Altaf Shah and other senior officers of EPA.

The standing committee also visited the Air Quality Monitoring System, Microbiological Lab, Water Lab, data surveillance room at EPA office to understand the data collection process. Moreover, the Committee appreciated the work performed by EPA despite acute shortage of staff and recommended that the Ministry of Climate Change should work on addressing this issue at an urgent basis.

Chairperson Committee Senator Seeme Ezdi said that it is our duty to provide safe environment to the people of Pakistan. Measures are being taken and all relevant institutions must play active part in this challenging time. She also stressed that there should be a proper mechanism to provide awareness to the common people about the environmental issues so that every individual can take part in combating the multidimensional challenges posed by climate change.

For more information, contact:
Senate of Pakistan
H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9204564534
Fax: +92-51-9205703
E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk
Website: www.senate.gov.pk

Islamabad, December 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, who is currently visiting Turkey along with a Parliamentary delegation to participate 16th session of the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PUIC) in Istanbul, Turkey called on the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Mustafa Santop today.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, praised Prime Minister Imran Khan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts to stop the rise of Islamophobia in Western societies. The issues facing the Muslim Ummah were discussed during the meeting. The two delegations also condemned Indian and Israeli atrocities on Muslims in Kashmir and Palestine.

During the meeting, the delegations also discussed bilateral relations and the security situation in the region. The meeting also agreed to further enhance trade between the two brotherly countries. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri invited the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Santop to visit Pakistan. The Pakistani delegation includes Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey and Muhammad Sajjad Qazi.

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

Islamabad, December 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a Pakistan-Philippines sponsored resolution on promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue that underscores the need for respecting sacred religious symbols. The resolution urges States to disseminate values of religious tolerance and inter-religious dialogue through educational programmes.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk