ISLAMABAD: Short attendance of MNAs in the National Assembly once again affected its proceedings on Friday as the house was adjourned till Monday evening without completing its 21-point agenda.
The lower house of the parliament was adjourned after JUI-F MNA Aliya Kamran pointed out the quorum, less than 88 members — the required number of MNAs — were found in the house.
It was a second consecutive day when soon after conclusion of the question hour, quorum was pointed out from opposition benches and proceedings of the house was suspended by MNA Abdul Qadir Patel, who was presiding over the NA session.
Insulin from Germany ‘down to a third’ of import needs, NA told
Insulin shortage
Earlier, in a calling attention notice, the issue of shortage of insulin in the country was highlighted and how it was affecting diabetic patients in the country.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Nelson Azeem said that insulin was imported and several countries around the world were facing its shortages too.
He said imports from Germany had declined, with Pakistan previously receiving 3,000 vials but now receiving only 1,000.
The parliamentary secretary, however, claimed that alternative medicines for diabetes were available.
SIFC performance
In a written question, raised by MNA Shahida Rehmani whether the goals the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) were achieved, the minister in-charge said SIFC achieved institutional objectives for which it was established, while its broader mandate of investment promotion and economic facilitation remained ongoing.
The written reply of the minister in-charge said the SIFC has brought federal ministries, provincial governments and relevant public-sector entities onto a single platform for coordinated decision-making and provided a single-window investment facilitation platform.
It said investment proposals in priority sectors are processed through a coordinated institutional mechanism. For example, prospective investors are facilitated through designated sectoral channels instead of being required to independently approach multiple ministries and provincial departments.
The SIFC also facilitated resolution of issues relating to approvals, taxation, utilities, land, security and inter-agency coordination. For example, investors’ cases requiring simultaneous input from the Federal Board of Revenue, State Bank of Pakistan, provincial governments and sectoral regulators have been placed before relevant SIFC forums for coordinated resolution.
He said bankable opportunities in mining, agriculture, energy, infrastructure and industrial development have been presented during bilateral investment engagements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Azerbaijan, China and Turkiye.
In a separate question of MNA Syeda Shehla Raza, the minister in-charge said that Beijing conference held on Sept 4, 2025 facilitated 2,500-3,000 B2B meetings across nine sectors and 40 sub-sectors, resulting in 21 joint ventures valued at approximately $1.5 billion and over 100 MoUs of more than $7 billion.
The Hangzhou conference on May 24, 2026 guaranteed cooperation agreements worth $1.22 billion.
Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2026
