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$5b investment lined up for exploitation of Thar coal
January 22, 2018

The Senate on Monday passed a resolution recommending the government to include "Aqeeda -e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat for Muslim students in the syllabus being taught in all educational institutions under the administrative control of the Federal Government".

In two other resolutions, the house recommended the government to take necessary steps to control the lowering of water table in the country and provide natural gas to areas adjoining gas fields in Sindh on priority basis.

The Senate has been informed that five billion dollars investment is lined up for exploitation of Thar coal.

Speaking on a motion in the House on Monday, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the total energy value of Thar coal is equivalent to the total energy reservoirs of Saudi Arabia and Iran.

He said Thar coal is sufficient to meet the energy requirements of the country for a long period.

Ahsan Iqbal pointed out that Pakistan is currently producing 0.8 per cent of energy from coal whilst the United States is producing 30 percent and India 45 to 50 percent from this sources.

He said the government has ensured energy mix by producing electricity form different sources including hydel, LNG, coal and renewables.  He said every power project is being implemented after environment impact study.

Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah told the House that latest technology is being used at the coal -fired power plants to reduce their negative impact on the environment.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmed says the road infrastructure being built under China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor project will benefit all the provinces.

Speaking on a motion in the Senate today, he said the western route of CPEC is covering the areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

He said the government is not oblivious to its responsibilities to equal development of all the areas.

The Minister pointed out that credit goes to the PML-N government for spreading the network of motorways in the country.

Earlier, the members expressed confidence that CPEC will bring prosperity to the country.

They, however, emphasized for ensuring quality in the construction of motorways and other road infrastructure projects.

Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio Ayesha Raza Farooq told the House that polio cases have significantly decreased over the last few years due to cooperation of different segments of the society, including religious scholars.

She pointed out that 306 cases were registered in 2014 which came down to eight last year. This turn around has also been appreciated by the world organizations.

The House passed "the National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill 2017" and "the Auditor-General's (Functions, Powers and Terms and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

The chair referred four bills to the standing committees concerned.

These are: "the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2017, "The Federal Investigation Commission Bill, 2017",  "The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill" , 2018 and " the National Civic Education Commission Bill, 2017".

Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani has directed for immediately constituting National Commission for the Rights of Children. 

He was speaking in the Senate today while taking notice of the rape and murder incident in Kasur.

The Chair pointed out that a law to this effect was passed in October last year but so far the commission has not been constituted, which is aimed at protecting the rights of children.

He directed the House Functional Committee on Human Rights and Standing Committee on Interior to visit Kasur and submit report about the incident by Friday.