NA question hour: 2,334 policemen guard VIPs nationwide says Malik

Indians made $200,000 investment in Pakistan between 2009 and 2011.

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday told the National Assembly that some 2,334 police officials were deployed for the security of the VIPs in the country.

In a written reply to another question during the NA Question Hour, Malik informed the lower chamber of parliament that 59,743 dual national identity cards had been cancelled by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) since 2010.

The minister, however, was not present in the House for further questions which irked a few members. Riaz Pirzada challenged Rehman Malik’s reply that car thefts had decreased in Islamabad, calling it a lie.

Malik was not only not present in the House but also failed to answer many questions posed by the members.

Tahira Aurengzeb, a PML-N MNA, also raised questions regarding whether Indian investors were allowed to make investments in Pakistan.

To this the minister in-charge of the prime minister’s secretariat informed the House that the Indian government has recently allowed Indian investors to make investments in Pakistan only under the approval regime requiring prior permission from their government, adding that between 2009 and 2011 the Indian investors in Pakistan had made a registered investment of US $200,000.

Meanwhile, Pakistan pursues an open investment policy which allows inward investment without any restriction except for the agricultural and services sectors where there is a monetary restriction in terms of investment equity.

However, the minister welcomed Indian government’s decision and was hopeful that this would encourage further investment.  “It would allow Indian investors to see Pakistan as an attractive destination while opening window for Pakistani businessmen to look at India for joint ventures,” he said.

The minister told the house that the Indian government policy allows its investors under two regimes, Approval and Automatic. Under the latter policy, the investors do not require permission to make investments anywhere in the world.

Other ministers were also not present to take questions in the House. Though the Deputy Speaker convening the House suspended the session for an hour the ministers still failed to appear.