Friday, 29 March 2024, 06:16:43 am

Govt taking concrete steps to enhance exports: Senate informed
January 22, 2019

The Senate was informed today that government is taking concrete steps to enhance exports of the country.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan informed the House during the questions hour that federal government is making all out efforts to increase Pakistan’s exports to China which had declined in the previous governments.

The Minister of State said that the export of chromite has increased during the last two years as compared to 2015-16.

To a question, Minister for Aviation Division Muhammad Mian Soomro informed the House that there is no proposal under consideration to purchase new aircraft for PIA.

The Minister said that several profitable new routes like Sialkot-Sharjah, Lahore-Muscat, Islamabad-Doha and Lahore-Bankok-Kualalampur have been added. He said these routes are going very strong and are economically viable. He said that more routes have been planned which will commence shortly.

The Minister said that government is paying special focus on Umrah and Ziarats business introducing attractive fares and increasing capacity.

Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul told the House during question hour that, Pakistan is one of the effected countries of climate change and it has faced many heatwaves and floods during the last fifteen years. She said Ministry of Climate Change is also working on the issue of glaciers outburst.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan has said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government will end the legal vacuum in erstwhile FATA within six months.

He was responding to a calling attention notice moved by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed regarding decision of Peshawar High Court in which the FATA Interim Governance Regulation has been declared against the Constitution.

The Minister of State said the KP government will devise judicial structure in tribal districts. He said 100 billion rupees will soon be provided to erstwhile FATA for the development of the area.

Responding to another Calling Attention Notice, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid said Pakistan Railways is providing travel facilities to the commuters at the cheapest rates.

He said Bolan Express is offering its services from Quetta to Karachi in just 800 rupees per person. He said Bolan Express and Akbar Express are being plied to facilitate the people of Balochistan, despite financial loss.

The Minister said twenty freight trains will be started this year, which will enhance Railways revenue. He said two of them will be run under private sector.

The Minister said Sibbi-Harna and Shahrag Khost railway track will be completed within two months which is delayed due to security reasons.

Earlier, Senate session started at parliament house in Islamabad this afternoon with Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in the chair.