Transfer of prisoners: Pakistan signs agreement with Thailand, UK and Sri Lanka

Khar says agreement is being negotiated with 32 other countries, so far 38 prisoners transferred to Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Friday informed the National Assembly that the government of Pakistan has signed an agreement for the transfer of criminal offenders with Thailand, UK and Sri Lanka.

She said the agreement is being negotiated with 32 other countries and so far 38 prisoners had been transferred to Pakistan.

Khar informed the House that 121 Pakistani prisoners were in United States captivity, 41 in Iraq while 867 were in the United Kingdom in different cases.

Answering a question, Khar said that at present there were no Pakistani fishermen imprisoned in Iran. She said four Pakistani fishermen lost their lives, two were injured and fifteen were apprehended when Iranian forces opened fire on them.

AJK development projects

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Affairs Minister Mian Manzoor said that work on 23 mega projects had been initiated in different areas of AJK.

Manzoor said that two projects which were under way including the Rathowa-Haryam Bridge worth above Rs40 million and Mirpur Water Supply Scheme worth Rs50 million.

The minister said that the government of Pakistan had taken a number of steps for the development and betterment of the people of AJK.

He said that Mangla Dam Raising Project was completed and will accelerate development activities in Pakistan and AJK.

The National Assembly was informed today that Pakistan will continue to extend its moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris.

Public private partnership for management of trains

The government has decided to invite bids to enter into public and private partnership for commercial management and passenger facilitation of four trains including Shaheen Express, Subak Raftar Subak Khram, Farid Express and Super Express.

Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour told the House that no train was privatised by Pakistan Railways.

He said that commercial management and passengers facilitation of two trains including Business Express and Shalimar Express has been outsourced to private parties to generate maximum revenue from these trains.