Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Legislators in the Upper House of Parliament on Friday demanded early finalisation of the next National Finance Commission Award (NFC) for better distribution of resources among the provinces.

They were of the view that the population census was also imperative for constituting the NFC Award. Along with the population, standard of living should also be kept in view while distributing the resources to the provinces. They also demanded increase in resources for provinces. Those who took part in the discussion included Azam Swati, Mohsin Leghari, Saleem Mandviwala, Usman Khan Kakar, Jahanzeb Jamaldini and Taj Haider. Winding up the discussion, Minister of State for Education and Professional Training Muhammad Balighur had expressed the confidence that the next NFC Award would be announced in three to six months in consultations with the provinces.

He said for NFC Award, the population census was very important and it was being conducted this year. He pointed out that the funds from the Federal Divisible Pool were being transferred to the provinces twice in a month according to their shares. He said if consensus was created, backwardness would also be included in criteria for distribution of resources. He said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) was being given one percent additional funds as a frontline province against terrorism according to the current NFC Award.

The minister appreciated the proposals for establishing provincial NFC Award for equal development of different districts. He said as a result of measures taken by the government tax to GDP ratio had been improved and revenue collection had been increased.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Nehal Hashmi regarding the high fees being charged by private educational institutions in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), the Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CAAD) Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said that Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) regulated the private schools in Islamabad. He said PEIRA Act was being amended to resolve the increase in fees of private schools and other related matters.

He said National Curriculum Council was working in consultation with the provinces to bring uniformity in the syllabus. He pointed out that the Prime Minister’s Educational Reforms Programme was being implemented in the federal capital under which 22 educational institutions had been transformed and the other four hundred were being transformed by improving the facilities. He said initially Rs3 billion were being spent for this purpose. He said under these reforms, public sector schools in Islamabad would be brought at par with private schools.

Earlier, the House was informed that the government was giving attention to ensure quality and proper supply of medicines in the country. Minister of State for Education and Professional Training Muhammad Balighur Rehman told the House during question hour that a number of drug inspectors were being dispatched to ensure the quality of drugs. He pointed out that during the last year, a number of drug licenses had been suspended and fines imposed for manufacturing substandard medicines.

Answering a question, Minister of State informed the House that the government was especially focusing on education in backward areas, particularly Balochistan. He said Higher Education Commission arranges special courses in Balochistan so that the students could avail their quota of Ph.D scholarships. He said the prime minister’s Fee Reimbursement Programme was being implemented in socially disadvantaged areas.

Replying to a question, Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Abdul Qadir Baloch informed the House that there were more than 2.6 million Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia. He pointed out that a total number of Pakistani workers affected in the recent incidents in Saudi Arabia was 8,000. He said the matter was taken up at the highest level of the Saudi Arabian government and workers had been assisted in filing for civil suits for the recovery of outstanding dues from companies who had defaulted to ensure no Pakistanis’ rights had been withheld from them.

The Standing Committee on Law and Justice Chairman presented reports on the National Commission for International Law and Commitments Bill 2016: the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Amendment of Article 209, and Order of the Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for giving acting or current charge to various officers of NAB in violation of rules. The Chairman of the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges presented reports against officials for not attending the meeting of the Senate Committee on Communications, and Secretary Aviation and the concerned Director of PIA for not giving information on the PIA ATR aircraft crash on 7 December 2016. Chairperson, Functional Committee on Human Rights presented reports of the Hindu Marriage Bill, 2016 and the Juvenile Justice System (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The House has now been prorogued.