NA okays Rs184b more in grants

All cut motions moved by opposition parties rejected

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Saturday approved 15 demands for grants to the tune of Rs183.694 billion for the Industries Division, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) secretariat and the Interior Division after rejecting all cut motions on them.

Five demands for grants worth Rs11.215 billion were given the nod for the Industries Division and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) secretariat. Similarly, 10 demands of the Interior Division for grants worth Rs172.479 billion were also approved.

The opposition moved cut motions on eight demands for the grants for the interior division moved by the Industries Minister Hammad Azhar.

Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Shaukat Ali responded to the queries raised by the opposition during their speeches on the cut motions.

The House approved the demands for the grants, including Rs93.28 billion for the civil armed forces, Rs11.31 billion for the Frontier Constabulary, Rs2.3 billion for Pakistan Coast Guards and Rs25.9 billion for Pakistan Rangers.

The lower house of parliament also approved demands for grants worth Rs320 million for the Industries and Production division, Rs952.35 million for other expenditure of the division; Rs9 billion for miscellaneous expenditure and Rs 800 million for the capital outlay of industrial development.

The House approved the demand for grant worth over Rs84 million for the FATF Secretariat. Responding to the cut motions, Hammad Azhar said the proceedings of the FATF had been suspended for six months because of the Covid-19 pandemic and efforts were under way to meet all its targets.

He said 14 of the 27 targets set by the FATF had been met, while measures were being taken to achieve the remaining ones.

The minister said maintained that the country’s ranking in ease of doing business had improved.

On Friday, the assembly had approved 96 demands for grants over Rs1.657 trillion with no cut motions after voice voting in the House.

It approved Rs222,643,000 for the Climate Change Division, Rs189,014000 for other expenditure of the same division, Rs621,953,000 for Commerce Division, Rs5,780,405,000 for other expenditure of the same division, Rs.201,23,000 Communications Division, Rs10,975,578,000 for other expenditure of the same division, Rs21,414,250,000 for Pakistan Post, Rs527,173,000 for Defence Division, Rs1,342,327,000 for Survey of Pakistan, Rs6,648,605,000 for government institutions in cantonment and garrisons, Rs1,290,000,000 for Defence Services, Rs641,537,000 for Defence Production Division, Rs590,693,000 for Economic Affairs Division, Rs2,386,851,000 for miscellaneous expenditure of the same division, Rs177,275,000 for Power Division, Rs104,785,000 for other expenditure of the same division, Rs368,719,000 for Petroleum Division, Rs213,937,000 for other expenditure of the same division, Rs10,000,000,000 for miscellaneous expenditure of the same division, Rs583,317,000 for Geological Survey of Pakistan, Rs1,635,794,000 for Foreign Affairs Division, Rs3,026,705,000 for other expenditure of the same division, Rs17,110,060,000 for Foreign Affairs, Rs187,713,000 for Housing and Works Division, Rs273,544,000 for Human Rights Division, Rs102,635,000 for miscellaneous expenditure of the same division, Rs569771000 for Information and Broadcasting Division, Rs1,284,320,000 for other expenditure of the same division, Rs6,111,128,000 for miscellaneous expenditure of the same division, Rs870,456,000 for Information Service Abroad, Rs382,137,000 for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit Baltistan Division, Rs620,000,000 for Gilgit Baltistan, Rs429,639,000 for the Law and Justice Division and Rs5,080,805,000 for the National Accountability Bureau.