NA approves 170 demands: Grants of charged expenditure
By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD, June 16: The National Assembly on Thursday approved 170 demands for grants pertaining to other than charged expenditure in the next fiscal budget 2005-2006, following a two-day marathon sitting that started on Wednesday morning and continued till late Thursday evening.
This will pave the way for the passage of the Finance Bill, which was presented in the house on Thursday after the process of demands for grants was completed.
The house also discussed under clause (1) of Article 82 of the Constitution the charged expenditure included in the demands for grants and appropriations for the financial year ending June 30,2005,totalling Rs2,506.723 billion.
The government rejected all the cut motions submitted by the opposition during a voice vote on various demands for grants.
Earlier, the house disposed off two attention-calling notices — one about non-increase in the salaries of CDA daily wage workers and the other about the refusal to issue domicile certificates to the minorities living in Khyber Agency in the last 50 years.
The minister for Frontier regions, Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, told the house that there were complications in the clearance of Christian community members, but there was no difficulty as far as Hindu and Sikhs were concerned.
Taking part in brief remarks on the cut motions, opposition members criticised the government’s faulty policies in agriculture, mineral and natural resources, information and broadcasting.
They criticised the performance of the information department, particularly Pakistan Television, in providing true and prompt information and giving direction to the people about their social life. They complained about over-use of advertisements and noted that the objective of good discussion programmes was defeated that way.
The opposition was critical of the government’s indifference towards the exploration of mineral resources and its crucial resource of petroleum and gas which, they claimed, was in abundance in all the four provinces.
When a PML(Nawaz) lawmaker read out a revolutionary couplet of Habib Jalib to emphasise the need for change in the system, Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain said, “I do not find the verses recited by the member in good taste and thus I expunge them from the record”.
The Pemra rules were described as harsh by the members, who also noted that it may discourage the free flow of information whereas the media persons’ working conditions were also not given attention.
Some members also criticised the role of the official electronic media as a mere projector of the government and high functionaries.
A member said there was no need for an information department because it had done nothing to build the country’s image abroad. The provision of 34.5 million rupees as a secret fund was also questioned.
During debate on petroleum division, a member said the world was witnessing major wars on the basis of oil and gas, whether these were in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia or Venezuela and it was right time for the government to take notice of growing fuel needs and receding local resources.
A national oil and gas policy was stressed under which targets should be fixed for seeking maximum exploration of oil and gas fields which were in abundance all over the country. Proper spending of the income from the oil and gas on local areas was also emphasised.
The Geological Survey of Pakistan which has sought Rs.170 million has not been able to show any progress in finding new petroleum and gas fields. The lawmakers from both opposition and treasury benches showed signs of fatigue as they continued to roam about in the hall to talk to each other while the majority left the house leaving a thin attendance at most times.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who was present throughout the day, continued to receive a flow of ministers and MPs who sought discussion and help for their constituencies. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who has just arrived from Germany after medical check-up, also ensured his presence to help maintain the quorum.
Premier Aziz after attending the personal requests of various coalition members took a full round of the house during which he sat with various sets of the coalition MNAs to exchange views and pleasantries.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who sits next to prime minister, was seen in continuous conversation with Mr Aziz throughout the debate on cut motions.
Premier Aziz enthusiastically joined his voice with the coalition lawmakers when a voice vote was called for rejection of cut motions or passing the demands for grants.
Under an understanding in the House Business Advisory Committee, the opposition did not point out lack of quorum to allow the proceedings to be completed. The opposition side’s attitude was so casual that at a number of times its members challenged the voice vote on demands for grants, but when the speaker repeated calling voice vote no ‘no’ voice came against the motion.
