Senators seek extension in PM’s plan for Balochistan students

ISLAMABAD: The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution recommending that the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Programme for the students of Balochistan be extended for five more years.

Presenting the resolution, Senator Mir Kabeer Muhammad Shahi of the National Party, said the programme was started in 2011 for the students of Balochistan and this was part of Aghaz e Haqooq e Balochistan Package. He explained that four students from each district of the province were inducted in various academic institutions.

He pointed out that the programme ended in 2015 and the students were to complete their academic activity by 2020 and he called for its extension, keeping in view the backwardness of the province and education sector there.

Leader of the House Syed Shibli Faraz rose to inform the House that it was an important programme and the Prime Minister intended to continue it.

Shibli Faraz introduced the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) bill 2019, which referred to the House standing committee concerned. He explained that the proposed piece of legislation envisaged qualification in the relevant field for chairmen and members of regulatory bodies, like Nepra and also lowered the age for the slot of chairman from over 60 years of age.

He continued the age limit was being lowered in view of a limited market of required experts. Joint opposition chose not to oppose the government bill.

The House also passed The Pakistan Courier and Logistics Regulatory Authority Bill, 2018. It was moved by Senator Khushbakht Shujaat of MQM several weeks back and approved after detailed discussion among the committee members.

However, the proceedings, related to the bill were bumpy, as she sought leave of the House to put the bill for adoption, Leader of Opposition Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, PPP’s Sherry Rehman and some other senators including even MQM’s Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh, were of the view that since they had not gone through the bill, it might be deferred for

some time.

To this, apparently unexpected situation, Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, maintained that the bill was circulated among the members on May 3 and they had enough time to go through it.

Senator Mushtaq contended that it would not leave a good impression, if the House showed division at this stage, after having the standing committee discussed it threadbare and also the fact that courier companies had issued statements about being strangulated. He insisted it should be accorded priority by the House.

PTI Senators Nauman Wazir Khattak and Mehr Taj Roghani opposed its deferment and said that this would set a precedent and every member would stand up in future seeking time despite the fact a bill would pass through the paid down due procedure.

Senator Khushbakhat insisted that the House should decide about the fate of the bill, which would be highly useful with regards to courier and logistic services in Pakistan. The chair instead of putting aside the bill for days, deferred it for an hour, asking members, who had not studied, it to go through it and then decided about supporting it or otherwise.

Though, the MQM senator is chairman of the committee, she chose not to chair the committee meetings on the bill, being its mover and these were chaired alternatively by JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmad, PPP Senator Behramand Tangi and independent Senator Mirza Afridi.

Ministry of Postal Services, Law Division and Post Office had supported the bill, terming it a much needed legislation. After this bill becomes an act all private courier and logistic companies as well as Pakistan Post will come under a regulatory setup.

The bill after passage from the Senate will be referred to the National Assembly and, if also adopted by that House, it will need assent of the President to become a law.