Khokhrapar border crossing unable to facilitate trade with India, Senate told
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ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab informed the Senate on Friday that the Khokhrapar border was never used for trade, adding that the Wagah border was being used for the purpose.
Replying to a calling-attention notice of Senator Taj Haider, the minister said that the Khokhrapar border crossing lacked facilities needed for the business activities between the two countries like customs. Therefore, he added, it was only used for travelling purpose.
He said India was not cooperating with Pakistan regarding various border movement issues.
Minister says 9m Pakistanis live abroad
Earlier, Senator Haider drew the attention of the minister to the problems being faced at the Khokhrapar border crossing.
Overseas Pakistanis
Mr Aftab informed the house that at present about nine million Pakistanis were living abroad.
During the question-hour session, he said the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis had established 19 offices of Community Welfare Attaches (CWAs) in 16 missions operating in 14 countries to facilitate overseas Pakistanis.
These offices maintained close liaison with the Pakistani community as well as with authorities of the host country to resolve issues and problems of expatriate Pakistanis, he added.
He said that to facilitate overseas Pakistanis to send their remittances, the State Bank of Pakistan, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and the Ministry of Finance had launched a joint initiative called Pakistan Remittance Initiative in 2009.
Separate counters for special handling at international arrival and departure lounges had been established at all international airports in Pakistan, he said.
The facility of free issuance and renewal of passport on an urgent basis had been given to overseas Pakistanis, he added.
The minister said a Human Rights Cell had been set up in the Supreme Court to deal with complaints/issues of overseas Pakistanis.
A Grievance Commissioner Cell has also been established in Wafaqi Mohtasib’s Secretariat.
PhD scholarships
Mr Aftab informed the Senate that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had granted 5,581 PhD scholarships in various disciplines over the past five years.
During the question-hour session, he said the HEC also integrated its PhD scholarship programmes with development projects of the country in current scenario.
He said scholarships were being offered in the areas of agriculture sciences, arts and design, business, commerce and entrepreneurship, engineering and technology, ICT, medicine and allied health professions, natural sciences, social sciences, STEM studies and women’s education.
He said that a total of 1,047 scholarships had been awarded to faculty members associated with different Pakistani universities under the Faculty Development Programme.
The minister said that around 520 post-doctorate scholarships had been awarded to faculty members under Post-Doctoral Fellowships Programme.
In response to another question, he said laptop computers were awarded purely on merit as per criteria laid down in approved PC-I and by project’s steering committee under the Prime Minister’s Laptops Scheme.
Kissan package, safe roads
Mr Aftab informed the Senate that Rs341 billion had been disbursed among farmers under Prime Minister’s Kissan Package.
Responding to a query during question hour, he said subsidy on fertilizers had also been provided to farmers under the programme.
The minister said the National Highway Authority (NHA) was taking various steps to make country’s roads safe.
During the question hour, he said the NHA had decided to provide appropriate first aid/medical facilities through establishment of emergency response centres.
Health sector MoUs
Minister of State for Inter-Provincial Coordination Dr Darshan Laal informed the Senate that the Ministry of National Health Regulations and Coordination had signed eight emorandum of understandings (MoUs) with various countries to strengthen relations in the field of health.
During the question hour, the minister said the MoUs had been signed during the last five years with Belarus, Maldives, Seychelles, Qadar, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bahrain and Mauritius on cooperation in the field of public health and for establishment of King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences.
In reply to a question, he said that 60 per cent medicines in Pakistan were cheaper than neighboring countries.
Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2017
