Daily Times

While discussing a matter of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan accused each other of looting national exchequer, and Khan challenged Abbasi to check increase in each other’s assets since 1985.

The issue was raised when, during the question hour in National Assembly, Sarwar Khan referred to Khaqan Abbasi and said he knew very well the reasons behind the PIA’s downfall and profit of Airblue. His statement irritated Abbasi, who said Ghulam Sarwar Khan remained with General (r) Pervez Musharraf and the PPP when they were in power. When a person remained affiliated with someone or a party, Abbasi said, giving such statements in the House was inappropriate. He repeated Khawaja Asif’s words, which he used for PTI members “Kuch sharam, kuch haya hoti hian”. After this statement, both Pervaiz Khattak and Ghulam Sarwar Khan stood on their seats and wanted to reply.

The speaker gave the microphone to Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who said, “I referred to Abbasi as an expert in aviation, and did not accuse him.” However, he also said that he was in politics since 1985 and same was the case with Abbasi. He said that assets of both the leaders should be checked to see whose assets increased since 1985 and through which means. He also claimed that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) could not carry out any inquiry against him (Khan), while there were several cases against Abbasi.

Abbasi again stood up and wanted to reply, but the speaker in advance adjourned the House for 20 minutes.

Responding to a calling attention notice, Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari called for strict regulations for government and private hospitals to regulate hiring of staff to avoid incidents of deaths at the hands of unqualified paramedics. It was moved by Muhammad Alamgir Khan and others on the death of an innocent child, Nashwa, due to doctors’ negligence at a private hospital in Karachi.

The minister said since health was a devolved subject under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the provincial governments should formulate rules and regulations to avert such incidents and to protect lives of the people.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Shazia Marri and others, Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Shandana Gulzar Khan said the government could not dislodge any employee of the State Life Insurance Corporation. She said that the corporation was facing an estimated loss of Rs 6 billion this year, Rs 8 billion the next year, Rs 9.5 billion in 2021 and Rs 11.5 billion in 2022. She said the government was compelled to abolish cadre of sales officers in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (SECP) requirements and to check growing losses of the corporation.

“We are offering sales officers to become sales representatives and enjoy 40 percent commission instead of 20 percent they are drawing at present.”

She said the second option being given to sales officers was to accept the post of sales manager with job security, medical coverage and additional bonuses. She said about 8,000 out of 21,000 sales officers had already opted for becoming sales managers, and the government offer was still standing for the rest.

The National Assembly also adopted a resolution moved by Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Nausheen Hamid to extend the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 2019 for a period of 120 days with effect from May 5.

The House passed “The Heavy Industries Taxila Board (Amendment) Bill, 2019” moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

Meanwhile, the House was informed during the question hour that the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation was an important organisation and an asset of the nation, and the PTI government was committed for its upgradation and development. Responding to a question, Ali Muhammad Khan said that the government would certainly do everything for its improvement.

Responding to a question, he said no cut had been made in the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) allocations. He said the government had allocated all the planned funds to the BISP and there was no proposal to rename the programme. He, however, said the BISP had been placed under the umbrella of recently launched Ehsas Programme by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Replying to another question, Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Furrukh Habib said that the Pakistan Railways earned over Rs 35 billion up to March this year, which was Rs 3 billion more than the revenue earned during the same period of last financial year.