ISLAMABAD: National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that Pakistan is still unaware about the Saudi Arabia-led 34 states’ alliance to combat terrorism. Answering a question, Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told the House that Pakistan is still awaiting further details and technical consultations regarding the 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism. He said this coalition will seek participation in different areas to coordinate military efforts in the fight against terrorism. He said foreign ministers or defence ministers level meeting is expected soon for further clarification on the issue. He said Pakistan along with some other countries is participating in a military exercise in Saudi Arabia, which is part of the military cooperation with Saudi Arabia. To another question, the adviser said the short visit by the Indian prime minister to Lahore on December 25 last year provided an impetus to ongoing efforts towards the normalisation of relations between the two countries. The lower house of parliament was also informed that decline of prices of commodities in the international market is a major factor for reduction of Pakistan’s exports. Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan told the House during the question hour that Pakistan’s exports mainly based on cotton, leather and Basmati rice and their prices have declined dramatically in the international market. He pointed out that serious devaluation of currency by various countries, particularly China is another reason for decline in the country’s exports. The minister said recent announcement by the prime minister for reduction in electricity tariff for industry will also benefit the exporters. He told the House that exports of gypsum and cement to India have increased. Khurram Dastgir said the government is making efforts to enhance market access of Pakistani products. He said efforts are underway to resolve the problems of tariff and overall policy challenges to increase exports. Responding to a call attention notice moved by Asiya Naz Tanoli and others regarding fictitious advertisements on private electronic and print media, Parliamentary Secretary for Information Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha told the House that PEMRA is taking action in this regard. He said there is a monitoring system and a complaint cell in PEMRA and action is being taken on complaints. Replying to another call attention notice moved by Dr Azhar Khan Jadoon and others regarding increase made in the prices of medicines by multi-national pharmaceutical companies. Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar informed the House that Drug Regulatory Authority has not increased the prices of medicines but the Pharma industry increased the prices on the orders of the Sindh High Court. Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid told National Assembly that Pakistan International Airlines(PIA) had suffered losses of Rs 4.31 billion during the 15-day strike. Responding to a motion submitted by the opposition regarding implementation of Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 in the national flag carrier, he said the PIA had been converted into a Public Limited Company and it would maintain its responsibility of the national flag career. The minister said according to statutory guarantee, no employee of the PIA would be laid off and the employees would continue their service with the same enumerations and privileges. He said the prime minister, finance minister and chairman Privatisation Commission had given assurances that under the law, there was no privatisation of PIA and it was just converted into a public limited company, but despite all these assurances strike was started which was illegal. He said the aims and objectives of converting PIA into a public limited company were to modernise the airline, upgrade its operational and financial performance. He dispelled the opposition’s impression that the PIA bill was bulldozed by the government, adding that detailed discussions were held on it in various meetings of the Senate and National Assembly standing committees where the opposition members also gave their point of views and also wrote their dissenting note in the bill. Zahid Hamid said that 3,656 appointments were made in the PIA during 2008 to 2012 while contrary to it the present government just appointed 693 people in the national flag career. Strike of the Joint Action Committee, he said, was illegal under Section 43 of Industrial Regulation Ordinance. He said that since 1992 the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act 1952 had been evoked in PIA for 12 times. The minister expressed grief and sorrow over the death of two senior employees of PIA during the strike and said the prime minister had announced Rs 2.5 million compensation for the family of each deceased, while Rs 5 million was announced for the injured. He said the perpetrators would be brought to justice.