Daily Times

The National Assembly on Friday was informed that the government introduced economic diplomacy to attract foreign investment and promote trade relations with other countries.

During the question hour, Parliamentary Secretary on Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbas said that the commercial attaché had been given the message that their responsibilities were to earn revenue for the country. “Our mission in Saudi Arabia is actively engaged with Saudi authorities for the release of 2,107 Pakistani prisoners as announced during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to Pakistan. She also said that 48 percent of the prisoners in Saudi Arabia were involved in drug peddling, and according to Saudi laws the crime invited severe punishments.

She said both the countries were currently compiling lists of prisoners, and added that the prisoners also include those involved in serious crimes. She expressed the hope that most of the Pakistani prisoners would be released during the holy month of Ramazan because the Saudi government showed leniency.

Parliamentary Commerce Secretary Shandana Gulzar Khan told the House that Pakistan was promoting the culture of Halal food certification, and from July this year Halal certification would be required for importers and local producers.

“Our Halal food trade has witnessed an increase with the OIC countries,” she said, and added that three slaughterhouses in Pakistan had recently been registered by the UAE. She said the government was bringing a new trade policy in which due focus would be given to value addition of products.

Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza told the House that a task force on sports had given its guidelines for promotion of sports in the country. She said the provinces would have to play their role for promotion of different sports at the union council level.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Shahida Akhter Ali, Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood said that all federal government schools would be upgraded and transformed into modern schools to provide better education facilities to the students. Responding to another calling attention notice moved by Sabir Hussain Kaim Khani, Minister for National Food Security Mehboob Sultan said that the wheat crop was stored in modern silos to protect the crop from any damage. The wheat storage at Passco storages in Sindh was totally safe, he said, but added that he could not respond over mixing of mud with wheat in Sindh wheat stock because it was the domain of the provincial government. At the same time, he demanded of the NA speaker to establish a committee to probe the matter. The House will now meet again on Monday at 3pm.