Day: January 11, 2022

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Leader of the Opposition opens debate on supplementary finance bill in NA 

Islamabad, January 11, 2022 (PPI-OT):The National Assembly opened debate on the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 with speech of the Leader of the Opposition on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the second sitting of 40th session:

Members’ Participation

The National Assembly met for four hours and 50 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 22 minutes due to prayer break.

The sitting started at 04:30 pm against the scheduled time of 04:00 pm.

The speaker chaired the sitting for an hour 43 minutes while the remaining sitting was presided over by a member of panel of chairpersons.

The leader of the house (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.

The opposition leader was present for an hour and 54 minutes.

The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, ANP, BAP and MQMP attended the sitting.

As many as 67 (20 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and six (two percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

Seven minority lawmakers were present.

Output

The House witnessed introduction of five government bills which were the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Bill, 2021; the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Ruet-e-Hilal Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fuana and Flora (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Pakistan Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority Bill, 2021.

Four ordinances were also laid in the House which included the Pakistan Nursing Council (Emergency Management) Ordinance, 2021; the National Rahmatul-Lil-Aalameen Authority Ordinance, 2021; the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oath and Fees) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Trust (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs presented a copy of the Paigham-e-Pakistan adopted and recommended for laying in the Parliament by the Council of Islamic Ideology.

Five statutory reports were also presented in the House.

The House witnessed presentation of nine reports of standing committees on as many legislative proposals which were the Protection of Parents Bill, 2021; the Whistle-blower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2021; the National Metrology Institute of Pakistan Bill, 2021; the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021] (Section-8); the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021] (Section-2, 8, 9 and 43B); the Islamabad Healthcare Facilities Management Authority Bill, 2021; the Allied Health Professionals Council Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Pakistan Global Institute Bill, 2020.

The House did not consider six other government bills appearing on the agenda.

Representation and Responsiveness

The Leader of the Opposition opened the debate on the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 and spoke for 51 minutes. Minister for planning, development and special initiatives responded to the speech of the Opposition Leader and spoke for 29 minutes.

Eleven lawmakers also participated in debate on the finance bill and spoke for an hour and 50 minutes.

The House neither took up two calling attention notices nor considered a motion of thanks to the President for his address to both Houses and a motion under Rule 259.

Order and Institutionalization

The House was adjourned to meet again on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 11:00 am.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ was available to legislators, observers and public.

Attendance of lawmakers was available to media and observers.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org

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Pakistan used to sell urea all over the world in the PPP era, and today the entire country is looking for urea: Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari 

Islamabad, January 11, 2022 (PPI-OT):Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asked Imran Khan to come to his senses and stop troubling the farmers. In a statement, he said that urea is being sold at Rs. 3500 per bag in the black market instead of the official price of Rs. 1768. One bag of urea in Punjab, on one identity card is being sold at Rs. 2700 after recommendation by the deputy commissioner.

Pakistan used to sell urea all over the world in PPP era and today the entire country is looking for urea. If urea had been made available to farmers before the rains across the country, there would have been an increase in crop production.

Chairman Bilawal said that the PPP will hold rallies from January 21 against oppression of farmers across the country. The farmers belonging to the PPP will come out in solidarity with the farmer community. Imran Khan has committed economic terrorism by destroying the agricultural sector of an agricultural country which will not be forgiven at any cost. DAP fertilizer is being sold at Rs. 10000 per bag instead of Rs. 4600. The DAP fertiliser was Rs. 3500 per bag during the PPP government, he said.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that there is no water for growers in Punjab and it costs Rs, 600 per hour to operate a tube well. It will not be possible for a grower to produce wheat at government price. The Sindh government has set the wheat price at Rs. 2200 per mound whereas Punjab has set the price at Rs. 1950/mound.

The cost of production per acre has increased after increase in prices of power, diesel, and pesticides so the support price in Punjab should be increased. Imran Khan had joined Germany and Japan geographically and one of his ministers has now joined Sindh’s border with Afghanistan and has accused the Sindh government of smuggling Afghanistan from that border. Maize cultivation will start in 20 days, if urea, nitrophosphate and DAP fertilizer are not available then a food crisis will emerge in the country, Chairman Bilawal warn.

For more information, contact:
PPP Media Cell (Sindh)
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
Peoples Secretariat Shikarpur Colony,
Behind Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi, Pakistan
Cell: +92-305-3370383
Email: contact@ppp-tu.com
Website: https://www.ppp.org.pk

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KP Assembly takes up entire agenda, adopts seven resolutions 

Islamabad, January 11, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) transacted entire agenda on Tuesday and adopted seven supplementary resolutions, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 31st sitting of 20th session:

Members’ Participation

The House met for two hours and 13 minutes.

The sitting started at 02:47 pm against the scheduled time of 02:00 pm.

The speaker presided over the entire proceedings.

The deputy speaker was also present.

The leaders of the House (chief minister) and the opposition were not present.

As many as 49 MPAs (34 percent) were present at the outset and 43 (30 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

Parliamentary leaders of PML and ANP were present.

Three out of four minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

The House adopted seven supplementary resolutions which were sponsored by PML-N, JUI-F, ANP and PML lawmakers. Through these resolutions, the House recommended the federal government to take strict action against owners of hotels in Murree who exploited tourists after heavy snowfall, improve infrastructure at tourists’ places to tackle any emergent situation, construct bridges from Swat to Kalam, end gas load-shedding in the province, construct funeral home in Tehsil Charbagh of Swat and compensate shopkeepers of a cloth market in Rawalpindi whose shops were gutted due to fire. Another resolution adopted by the House termed Tablighi Jamaat as non-political and peaceful set-up.

Representation and Responsiveness

The House took up four out of seven starred questions while a question was lapsed due to absence of relevant lawmaker.

Minister for law responded to two calling attention notices regarding promotion in telecommunication wing of KP Police and non-payment of salaries to employees of Khasadar force whose services were merged into KP Police.

Six lawmakers including Minister for higher education debated an adjournment motion for an hour which was regarding missing record of Rs. 43 billion announced during last three fiscal years for merged tribal districts.

Order and Institutionalization

Four lawmakers spoke on points of order for ten minutes.

The House was adjourned to meet again on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 10:00 am.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ was available for the legislators, observers and the media.

Attendance of the lawmakers was not available for the observers and the media.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org

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Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari appoints office bearers of District Naushehro Feroze 

Karachi, January 11, 2022 (PPI-OT):Chairman, Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has appointed following office bearers with immediate effect.

District Naushehro Feroze

Sohail Ahmed Abbasi (General Secretary)

District Tando Allah Yar

1. Moula Bux Thebo (Senior Vice President)

2. Zaheer Pitafi (General Secretary)

3. Juman Laghari (Information Secretary)

Notification in this regard was issued from the Chairman’s Secretariat by his Political Secretary Jameel Soomro here today.

For more information, contact:
PPP Media Cell (Sindh)
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
Peoples Secretariat Shikarpur Colony,
Behind Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi, Pakistan
Cell: +92-305-3370383
Email: contact@ppp-tu.com
Website: https://www.ppp.org.pk

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All the provinces have to take special measures to get the country out of the problems it is facing: Ch Parvez Elahi 

Lahore, January 11, 2022 (PPI-OT):Chairman Public Accounts Committee Balochistan Akhtar Hussain Lango along with a delegation called on Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in the Assembly Chamber. Chairman Public Accounts Committee of Punjab Assembly Sajid Ahmad Khan Bhatti was also present in the meeting.

The delegation included members of Public Accounts Committee Balochistan Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Provincial Minister for Planning and Development, Zamrak Khan, Provincial Minister for Food and members of Balochistan Assembly Haji Muhammad Nawaz Kakar, Nasrullah Khan Ziray and Malik Naseer Ahmad Shahwani among others.

The political situation in the country including Balochistan, issues of mutual interest and promotion of inter-provincial harmony and strengthening of ties between the provinces were discussed during the meeting. During the talks, it was agreed between Punjab and Balochistan for maximum contacts and exchange of delegations.

Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi said that the solution of the people’s problems lies in the strength of the parliament, the journey of development of the people should continue, the provision of basic rights to the people is our first priority. He further said that all the provinces would have to take special measures to get the country out of the problems it was facing.

Chairman Public Accounts Committee Balochistan Akhtar Hussain Lango paid homage to the Speaker Punjab Assembly on the historic legislation and congratulated Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on the new building of the Punjab Assembly and the functioning of the House. The delegation also visited the new building and house of the Punjab Assembly. DG Parliamentary Affairs Inayatullah Luk was also present in the meeting.

For more information, contact:
Mediacell, Pakistan Muslim League
30-C, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Road,
Gulberg-II, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35878428
Fax: +92-42-35877329
Website: www.pmlmediacell.com

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We are working so hard for 1 billion dollars of IMF, our own real IMF are overseas Pakistanis: Ch Shujat Hussain

Lahore, January 11, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pakistan Muslim League President and former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujat Hussain while addressing a function in honour of Overseas Pakistanis said that Overseas Pakistanis are the pride of Pakistan abroad; they have sent a record 33 billion dollars to Pakistan in 2021. We are working so hard for 1 billion dollars of IMF while in my opinion our own real IMF are overseas Pakistanis who are selflessly serving Pakistan.

He said that Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Shaheed founded the Overseas Pakistan Foundation OPF in 1978 as the Minister of Manpower and Labour and removed the barriers for Pakistanis to go abroad, he wanted this foundation to work in the style of a Fauji Foundation, OPF is still at your service today.

He said that today around 9 million Pakistanis around the world are the most important pillars of our economy who serve Pakistan like they serve their mothers and stand by Pakistan in every difficulty. He further said that I can’t forget the generosity you showed when the nation needed you in the 2005 earthquake. At my request, in fund raising in Pakistan and Dubai, you sent Rs. 36 crore in one night. With this help 4500 earthquake affected families have been getting stipend every month for 3 years. I am indebted to you for this love.

Ch Shujat Hussain said that as Interior Minister he founded NADRA in which the first card was made by Ghulam Ishaq Khan and the second card was mine. Under NADRA, NICOP card was introduced for Overseas Pakistanis which is the identity of every Overseas Pakistani.

He said that as the Prime Minister, I had tried my best to serve the overseas Pakistanis as much as possible in this short span of time. I issued an order first week of my period that PIA would repatriate the bodies of Pakistanis who had died abroad without any compensation. Earlier it used to cost more than 2000 pounds to send a corpse back which not everyone could afford. Most people used to send corpses back by borrowing or collecting donations. With my orders I put an end to their anxiety. My suggestion was that OPF would pay Rs. 50,000 on its own for rent besides preparation of coffin and shroud.

Ch Shujat Hussain said that when I met Prime Minister Imran Khan, I told him that I had tried to start an insurance policy for overseas Pakistanis but the private insurance companies did not want to be involved. On this Imran Khan said that this was a very good policy. If private insurance companies do not do this then the government has its own insurance company which can do it. I hope Imran Khan still remembers what I told him.

Ch Shujat Hussain said that the role played by Overseas Pakistanis for the sake of Muslims all over the world, especially they protested against the blasphemy and sketches of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in European countries. This spirit was highly appreciated in Pakistan. Ch Shujat Hussain further said that wherever you are, maintain your Islamic identity and do not allow any conspiracy against Pakistan to succeed, play your role in taking action against whoever is involved in it.

Ch Wajahat Hussain said that when I became the Minister of Overseas Pakistanis, Ch Shujat Hussain ordered that all these facilities for Overseas Pakistanis should continue in all circumstances and besides, insurance policy should be started for all Overseas Pakistanis. He said that Overseas Pakistanis are our precious asset, like Ch Zahoor Elahi Shaheed, our family is still serving overseas Pakistanis.

Former Federal Minister Ch Wajahat Hussain, Hussain Elahi MNA and Shafay Hussain were also present on the occasion while delegations from USA, Canada, Australia, Spain, Norway, South Africa, Italy, France, England, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, UAE and Saudi Arabia as well as PML officials.

For more information, contact:
Mediacell, Pakistan Muslim League
30-C, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Road,
Gulberg-II, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35878428
Fax: +92-42-35877329
Website: www.pmlmediacell.com