ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Tuesday asked the federal government to expedite the process to make Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at Polyclinic Hospital operational.

The committee directed that recommendations be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urge the Japanese authorities to promptly send the technical team so the MRI machine can become operational and benefit patients without further delay.

The ministry officials informed the meeting that the MRI machine had been donated by Japan, which will operate the machine initially and will provide training to the local staff, after which the hospital will be able to run the machine independently.

It was further stated that the machine has been installed and all related procedures have been completed. However, the commencement of operations is pending, as the department is waiting for a technical team from Japan. The department added that several attempts had been made to contact the technical team from Japan, most recently in March, but the technical team responded that they would be arriving soon.

Meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Government Assurances was held at Old PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges under the chairmanship of Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan.

Furthermore, the committee discussed the assurance given by the minister for federal education and professional training during the Senate sitting held on June 3, 2022, in response to a question raised by Senator Kamran Murtaza regarding the time scale promotion of female teachers working under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

An FDE official comprehensively briefed the committee that those teachers who had completed the required service for the higher time scale have been promoted.

Moreover, the committee also discussed dilapidated condition of the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway (M-1) at various locations. The Committee was informed that during 2022 the condition of the road was indeed poor for want of funds. Since then, rehabilitation work has been carried out, and approximately 135.5 kilometers of the motorway have been rehabilitated.

The committee also discussed the frequent congestion at toll plazas. The relevant department attributed this issue to public behaviour, stating that despite conducting three separate campaigns making the M-Tag mandatory, running advertisements in newspapers, and launching public awareness initiatives people still prefer to pay in cash, which causes delays.

The committee recommended that, in the interest of the country, the use of the M-Tag should be made mandatory.

The meeting was attended by Senator Dost Mohammad Khan, Senator Gurdeep Singh and senior officers of the ministries and relevant departments.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2025