While responding to an attention notice by Dr Nafisa Shah and others, Ikhlas assured the house that the government had prepared an effective plan in collaboration with provinces and the army to check spread of Ebola virus in the country.
The secretary added that a taskforce headed by DG Health with representation from provinces, Azad Kashmir, FATA and Pakistan Army has been setup for the purpose.
He informed that special counters were established at international airports to screen incoming passengers, especially from countries affected by Ebola virus.
Training is also being imparted to doctors and paramedical staff to deal with the virus, added Ikhlas.
Strategy to make PIA profitable
The National Assembly was informed that the government is set to introduce a strategy to make Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) profitable.
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said the PIA Board of Directors has decided to retire seven of its old aircrafts.
Replying to different queries during question hour, Ahmed said a revival plan was prepared for PIA, which will help improve conditions of the ailing national carrier.
It will ensure cost cutting measures, increase revenue, airworthiness of aircrafts and meet customers' expectations, he added.
Impartial investigation of Kot Radha Kishan
Rising on a point of order, Federal Minister Kamran Michael and Asia Nasir condemned Kot Radha Kishan incident, in which a Christian couple was burnt alive.
The minister said that under the instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, transparent investigation was being ensured, and it would be made a test case to bring the culprits to book.
Jahangir Tareen damaging forests
In his point of order, Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar pointed out that a company owned by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Jehangir Tareen and Ikramullah Niazi is mining granite from his constituency at the cost of damages to forests.
He said huge quantities of granite were being extracted from government land and exported, without paying any taxes.
Government to purchase one million cotton bales
Responding to a point of order, Federal Minister for Commerce and Industry Khurram Dastgir said as per decision of the federal government to purchase one million cotton bales, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan had signed contracts, and payments would be made to ginners and bales would be lifted within next two weeks.
The government has decided to intervene in view of steep fall in prices of cotton in the international market, he added.
Wheat procurement price increased to Rs1,300 per 40kg
The commerce minister said procurement price of wheat was increased to Rs1,300 per 40kg after consultations with four provinces.
The house has now been adjourned to meet again Thursday morning at 11.00 a.m.
Damage from floods
The House was also informed that the estimated financial impact of damages caused by floods this year was over Rs44.5. These include over Rs41 billion in Punjab, over Rs2.8 billion in Azad Kashmir and Rs508 million in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Strategy to promote literacy
Responding to a query, Minister of State for Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman said different strategies were being adopted to promote literacy in the country.
The plans he listed include focus on enrolment of out-of-school children in existing primary schools; additional classrooms and teachers will be provided in the existing public formal schools to accommodate new students.
He said the strategy also envisages incentives to retain students, particularly girls and those from disadvantaged groups who drop out before completing primary school due to financial constraints.
Advertisements released for electronic media
Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha told the House that government advertisements worth over Rs505 million were released to the electronic media since July 1 last year.
He argued that said in the past there was no criteria for releasing ads to electronic media but the incumbent government was trying to change that.
Ranjha informed the house that the government was considering to provide insurance cover to the working journalists.
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PMLN Govt is full of hot air about economic plans including PIA. They don't have any plan for it except to layoff 4,000 employees next year, reduce fleet which means reduced flights especially on overseas routes. They don't have professional expertise to restructure the airline without hurting its network. Classic case is that when one shuts down a going concern, first it becomes profitable for a while as expenses are reduced quickly. Then collapse or bankruptcy sets in.
Thats a pretty low damage impact i can donate twice the ammount for rehabilitation i.e. 96 rupees...