Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani. PHOTO: EXPRESS
During the session, Sanjrani asked why the ministers do not attend assembly session and sent the minister for parliamentary affairs to call them to attend the session. "Today I am going to write a letter to the prime minister to tell to him about absence of ministers," he noted.
Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan informed the Senate that losses of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have surged to Rs416 billion and that efforts are being made to acquire aircrafts on dry leases to enhance flight operations.
Responding to various questions during the question hour, the minister said only non-commercially viable routes are closed while viable ones are being opened. He said domestic and international flights are reduced due to shortage of aircrafts.
"Currently, the PIA is operating its flights on 18 international routes including UK, Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Iraq, Qatar, China, Malaysia, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Thailand and Canada," he said.
To a supplementary question, the minister said construction of airport in Mansehra was mere a political announcement and no funds were allocated for it. He said more flights would be operated for Quetta after acquiring aircrafts besides resuming air-traffic to Saidu Sharif.
The house was told that the Chinese government has agreed to provide 100 per cent grant (Rs35,270 million) for the construction of new Gwadar International Airport. The constructed work is expected to begin by June, 2019 by a Chinese contractor and the project is scheduled to be completed in 36 months.
Sarwar said state of the art baggage handling system has been installed at the Islamabad International Airport. The number of reclaimed baggage belts is six which is quite sufficient in number.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Khan Swati apprised the Senate that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has neither signed any contract for monitoring of internet traffic with any vendor nor is spending public money on the project.
The minister said in compliance to statutory and policy obligations, the PTA directed telecom industry to deploy a suitable technical solution capable of monitoring, analysing and curbing grey traffic.
"The said monitoring system would be termed as 'Web Monitoring System (WMS)'. The contract is signed between relevant telecom operators and the vendor without involvement of public money.
"All LDIs (Long Distance and International), CMOs (Cellular Mobile Operators) and Submarine Cable Landing Station licensees are sharing the cost of the system under their regulatory obligations," he said.
The minister said for addressing security concerns, the PTA has obtained undertaking from the vendor (Inbox Business Technologies) and manufacturer company Sandvine Inc., USA for any possible involvement of hostile element.
The vendor was also obligated to get the system certified as per ISO 27001 international standards. Moreover, a security agency has been involved to conduct security audit of the system to find out any loopholes and vulnerabilities in the system.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said Pakistan has constructed Quaid-Azam Hospital in Kabul with estimated cost of $24 million and another hospital is being constructed in home town of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at Logar.
He said Pakistan has also set up a Kidney Centre in Afghanistan adding that the hospital in Logar would cost $ 19 million. He said country's export and import witnessed slight increase during this years and it remained at $1,305 million and $450 million respectively.
In year 2016-17, the country's exports and imports were recorded as $1,299 million and $335 million, he said.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP
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