ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police should honour those policemen who were on duty at the Parliament House, Islamabad during Budget Sessions 2016-17 and 2017-18. The recommendation was given during the meeting of the Standing Committee on Government Assurances. The committee was informed that the then Finance Minister announced honours for the employees of different departments, who performed their duties at the Parliament House, during Budget Sessions 2016-17 and 2017-18. All departments have paid honours to its employees except the ICT police. The committee showed its concern about the non-payment of honours to the employees of ICT police, and directed that this be done within 15 days. However, an interim progress report may be furnished within seven days. The committee directed that if the honours would not be paid, then the finance secretary and interior secretary would be held responsible. The committee was informed that the employees of PTVC have been paid their honours. The committee appreciated the action taken by PTVC authorities. However, the committee recommended that PTVC chairman may pay honours to the employees, if any, who performed the duty and could not be paid. Any payment in this regard should be strictly made in accordance with the rules. In another agenda item, the committee directed power division to address the issue of load shedding in Buner within four weeks and submit weekly reports to the National Assembly. The committee recommended that the Ministry of Housing & Works might give equal status to the employees of NA Secretariat and Senate Secretariat, equal to the other civil servants with respect to the allotment of houses and plots. The committee directed the Ministry of Commerce to give briefing to Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh about the steps taken to enhance exports and submit report within seven days to the NA. The Standing Committee on Government Assurances constituted a sub-committee under the convenership of MNA Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana to monitor all pending assurances and get them implemented. Other members of the sub-committee would be MNA Dr Fouzia Hameed, MNA Malik Ibrar Ahmed and MNA Abdul Majeed Khan Khanankhail. The honourable Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana presented two reports of two sub-committees to the Standing Committee and informed the delayed Project of Bridge over river Ravi at Syedwala Patan. However, the National Highway Authority could not make the payment for land compensation to the affected people of the bridge. The meeting was presided over by Standing Committee of National Assembly on Government Assurances Chairman Muhammad Afzal Khokhar and was attended by MNAs Abdul Majeed Khan Khanankhail, Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana, Chaudhry Muhammad Munir Azhar, Syed Sajid Mehdi, Malik Ibrar Ahmed, Rajab Ali Khan Baloch, Abdul Hakeem Baloch, Shafqat Mahmood, Dr Fouzia Hameed and Sher Akbar Khan. In addition, the minister of state for commerce, secretary housing & works, secretary parliamentary affairs and additional secretary information, broadcasting & national heritage and others senior civil officers were also present in the meeting. Published in Daily Times, April 4th 2018.