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Thursday March 28, 2024

MP bodies to be briefed on Kartarpur Corridor, hold in-camera sessions on CPEC

By Tariq Butt
November 21, 2019

ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel will be briefed on Nov 26 on Kartarpur Corridor in the context of Pakistan’s policy and approach towards India’s Modi regime.

The corridor was inaugurated amid a lot of fanfare on Nov 9. The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs is taking it up for the first time.

Parliamentary record shows that the panel has also sought a briefing on the mediation efforts by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Iran-Saudi Arabia. It wants to know the response of the two countries and the results of the efforts made by the premier.

Imran Khan has paid visits to Saudi Arabia and Iran for the purpose and announced that progress was made to reduce the hostilities between the two states. Currently, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has also gone to Tehran to discuss different issues. The committee will get an update on the situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir after its annexation by India in August with a particular reference to government’s future strategy on supporting the Kashmir cause and specific steps planned in this connection.

Meanwhile, two-day in-camera meetings of Parliamentary Committee on China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be held on Nov 20-21 to get a briefing on CPEC including the implementation status of its previous recommendations.

The Board of Investment (BOl) secretary will brief the forum on provision of gas plan to the early harvest three special economic zones under the CPEC umbrella. The Finance Secretary will inform the committee about the Chinese grants and loans with project-wise terms and conditions as well as issues pertaining to release of funds for road infrastructure projects under the auspice of CPEC. The Planning, Development and Reform Secretary will talk about the current status of CPEC Authority Ordinance, promulgated by the President before his recent visit to China, its proposed organogram and rules. The secretaries of the ministries of Finance and Planning, Development and Reform will give a briefing on project-wise funding modality of Chinese grants and loans; and total funds spent, committed and planned for CPEC projects. Also, a presentation will be given and detailed discussion will be held on the Joint Commission Meeting, its agenda and minutes, and outcomes of agreements made regarding projects.

The committee will further get presentation and hold detailed discussion on socio-economic development projects under $1 billion grant inter-alia covering the mechanism for identification of projects at federal and provincial levels including local stakeholders, analysis and suggestions approved and submitted for approval.

The Senate Standing Committee on Communications meeting on Nov 27 will be briefed on delayed metro bus project between the New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) and Peshawar Morr, which was extension of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi project.

The development work was stopped after the previous regime went out completing its tenure. As the new present government took no interest in executing the unfinished work, there has been no progress whatsoever. The project is stuck up despite the fact that billions of rupees have already been spent and a lot of work has been done. No government department like the Capital Development Authority and National Highway Authority is ready to own the project, which was to conclude in just a few months during the tenure of the earlier government.

A sub-panel of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat will assemble on Nov 22 to formulate proposals for allocation of separate employment quota for the domicile holders of Islamabad Capital Territory in federal services.

Since long a demand is being voiced by the residents of Islamabad to get a separate share in the federal jobs. They did not want to be bunched with the Punjab as is being done because this deprives them of the due portion. Additionally, they have to face a tough competition to qualify for federal services.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistani & Human Resource Development, assembling on Nov 25 will get a briefing on Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment.