Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sought support in Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) after submitting formal request for its membership and would soon become its member.

During the questions hour in National Assembly (NA), the house was informed in writing by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and house was told that Pakistan has submitted a formal request for its membership and vast diplomatic efforts are going on to seek support of NSG.

The PM has written letters to his counterparts of member countries of NSG and it is hoped that Pakistan would succeed to achieve the membership of this group.

The Minister SAFRON Lt. Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch told the house that America gives importance to India and policies in this regard are being formulated that Pakistan play its own due role.

The parliamentarian of PTI Shireen Mazari said that we cannot rely on the China and should have to formulate our own policies. She questioned what measures are being taken by the government regarding NSG?

On which, the Minister SAFRON responded that clear cut policy is already exist and we are playing our role in this regard.

The House was also informed that during the fiscal year 2013-14, items worth Rs 36.76 billion were imported from neighboring country Afghanistan while volume of export was over Rs 176 billion. The items worth Rs 853 billion were imported from China during the fiscal year 2013-14, in which the volume of export was over Rs 246 billion. The items worth over Rs 220 billion were imported from India while import volume with India was Rs 47.98 billion.

Parliamentarian Shaista Pervez questioned that what action is being taken by the government against fake companies which are allegedly involved in plundering the innocent people and sends its policy to people illegally.

Sardar Shafqat Hayat while responding this question told the house that it has been decided after the collaboration of NADRA that whether protector of said person is stamped or not. After this confirmation travelling ticket would be issued adding that no agreement has been signed so far between government to government level for boarding abroad.

Aysha Syed questioned that number of fake travel agents are increasing day by day boarding abroad innocent people along with fake travelling documents and it seems that concerned ministry did not take care of it. On which Sardar Shaukat Hayat responded that measures are being taken and it would be controlled very soon.

Sahibzada Tariq Ullah said that women parliamentarians’ questions were included in today session which has put a question mark on house performance adding that our questions are ignored.

Zahid Hamid said that Pakistan has not signed Information Technology agreement so far adding that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reservations over it which would be soon addressed. He said Ministry of Trade signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China in 2006 which came into operational in 2007.

He said that owing to implementation on FTA growth rate of both countries has been increased in which trade volume was four billion dollars however trade volume approximately increased by 2.1billion dollars in 2014-15 due to which 265 per cent growth rate was registered.

He said that under the article 30 Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Agreement (APTA) 2010 any sort of duty and tax on valuables transaction is not acceptable. He stated that women from Lahore and China have been sent abroad.

He said that women belongs four provinces would be given representations adding that after The Brexit Breakup Pakistan is trying to sign Free Trade Agreement with both countries. He added that Pakistan trade with United Kingdom earlier.

To a question Zahid Hamid said that it is attempted to give the importance the country’s industry.

Rana Muhammad Hyyat said that cotton crop is facing problems in the country and advised to handover this to Ministry of Food and Security.

Zahid Hamid said that price of cotton has been increased by 20 percent adding that measures are being take for further improvement so that country could be self sufficient.