Rs27.160m spent on beautifying Islamabad for SCO moot, NA told

ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry informed the National Assembly on Wednesday that Rs27.160 million was spent on beautifying Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference.

In a written reply to Samina Khalid Ghurki’s question, the interior minister detailed that the expenditure included Rs8 million allocated to M/s Hitcon and Rs19.160 million to M/s Razzaq Brothers. The beautification initiatives involved planting seasonal flowers, flowering trees, shrubs, and installing various sculptures. Grass carpeting was also carried out along VVIP routes, centre medians, and greenbelts to enhance the city’s aesthetics. The ministry added that all tasks were completed before the SCO summit.

In response to another query, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain revealed that Rs80.310 billion were spent by the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) over the last five years (2019-20 to 2023-24). Providing a breakdown, he said Rs8.937 billion were spent on administrative and office expenses; Rs22.06 billion on scholarships, marriage, and death grants; Rs41.782 billion on schools providing free education to industrial workers’ children; and Rs7.355 billion were spent on development projects. The minister further disclosed that approximately 1.3 million people secured employment abroad over the last three years. “We are focusing on skills development for the youth,” he added.

Parliamentary Secretary Dr Darshan also informed the house about a proposed sewage treatment plant for Islamabad. He said that unplanned development along the Korang River banks significantly contributed to the Rawal Dam pollution. Measures, including the construction of wetlands, have been implemented to reduce contamination. Additionally, water supplied to Rawalpindi undergoes filtration at a plant managed by the Small Dams Organisation under the Irrigation Department, he added.

Meanwhile, amid continuing protests of the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council legislators, the question hour continued in the National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday. As the question hour started in the house, the opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan said he wanted to speak on a point of order. However, NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq did not allow it, saying it had already been decided in the business advisory meeting that no point of order would be taken during the question hour and he would not allow that. At this, the PTI members started protesting, banging their desks and tearing up copies of the agenda. They raised slogans, but the question hour continued. PTI MNA Abdul Latif Khan pointed out the quorum following his party’s walkout, but the house was found in order after the count.

NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed his annoyance over unanswered queries from the interior ministry to the questions. “Which officer from the Ministry of Interior has come to reply questions,” he asked. He expressed his anger at the absence of interior ministry officers in the gallery and also expressed surprise at the presence of the Capital Development Authority director general.

PPP MNA Nabil Gabol had complained to the speaker about the continuous absence of the interior minister from the house and CDA officials. Ayaz Sadiq also expressed annoyance over a mistake in the written reply of the interior ministry. However, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Dr Darshan said it was a clerical mistake. “I apologise for it,” he said.