Senate. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD: Former Senate opposition leader Sherry Rehman on Tuesday criticised the federal government for increasing the prices of natural gas without the input of parliamentary committees.
Speaking on a point of public importance, she said an increase in the gas price would accelerate the prices of basic items used on a daily basis.
In response to the points of public importance raised by senators, Leader of the House in Senate Shibli Faraz said the increase in natural gas prices was imperative to put the economy back on track. He said that the gas prices should have been increased by the previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He added that the increase in the natural gas price would not affect the line consumers.
He added that the economy is in a shambles due to the mismanagement of the previous government.
Moreover, Senator Javed Abbassi said that the increase in the gas price would affect the poor segments of society.
The Finance Supplementary (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was presented by the government in the Senate, following its presentation in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Finance Minister Asad Umar presented the copy of the bill. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani referred the bill to the relevant standing committee. The standing committee on finance would submit its report regarding the improvements in the money bill to the Senate within the prescribed time.
Govt raises gas prices by up to 143%
Meanwhile, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif demanded the constitution of a committee of the Senate to brief the house about the importance of building water reservoirs and conservation of water.
Speaking on another point of order, Senator Javed Abbasi said the report of deposited donations in the Diamer-Bhasha, Mohmand dams fund should be presented in the Senate after every fortnight.
He appreciated the initiative of Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and Prime Minister Imran Khan for the construction of the dams. Moreover, Senator Faisal Javed said the water storage capacity of Pakistan is only for a month. He added that experts foresee Pakistan going dry by the year 2025.
He said that Pakistan has 185 dams out of which only two mega dams have been constructed. The senator asked the countrymen to contribute to the dam fund.
Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that Rs150 billion have already been spent on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. He said that a new dam should be constructed since Diamer-Basha Dam is a product of the previous government.
Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar sought clarification from the government regarding rumours of a new alleged package deal of $9 billion loan “being negotiated with IMF”.
With regard to the foreign policy, Senator Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qayyum demanded an end to the confusion in foreign policy. He also sought clarification from the government, regarding the provision of alleged transit trade facilities to India.
Senator Syed Sabir Shah stressed on repatriation of Afghan refugees to their native country. Criticizing nationality being given to Afghan refugees, he said repatriation of Afghan refugees should be ensured within a period of one year.
Meanwhile, Senator Abdur Rehman Malik demanded representation of senators in the proposed parliamentary committee to probe election rigging.
The Senate unanimously passed the 'The West Pakistan Juvenile Smoking (Repeal) Bill, 2018', arguing that an identical new law covers all the relevant provisions of juvenile smoking. The Bill was moved by the Minister for National Health Services, Aamir Mehmood Kiani.
According to the Bill, the enactment of the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance, 2002, the said law had lost its importance and now all relevant provisions were already covered in the said Ordinance.
The upper house of parliament also offered Fateha for the former first lady Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of former premier Nawaz Sharif. Senator Sirajul Haq led the Fateha. The senate chairman asked the Chief of Jamat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq to also offer Fateha for the departed souls of two Levies soldiers, who were martyred in Balochistan last day and the Kashmiris martyred by the Indian Occupied Forces.
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