25-member MPs panel on corona constituted

ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar Thursday approved the constitution of a 25-member parliamentary committee on coronavirus.

The committee has been constituted in consultation with Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani in pursuance of a decision made by the parliamentary leaders in the National Assembly and the Senate on March 25.

The National Assembly Secretariat issued a notification to give effect to the decision.

Asad Qaisar will head the committee with 12 parliamentary leaders from the National Assembly and 13 from the Senate.

The committee will comprise federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Khalid Maqbool Siddique, Ch. Tariq Bashir Cheema, MNAs Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Raja Pervez Ashraf (nominee of PPP parliamentary leader), Maulana Asad Mehmood, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Nawabzada Shah Zain Bugti, Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Muhammad Akthar Mengal and Ghaus Bux Khan Mehar, while the parliamentary leaders from the Senate include Leader of the House in the Senate Syed Shibli Faraz, Mushahidullah Khan, Sherry Rehman, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Aurangzeb Khan, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, Sirajul Haq, Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Sitara Ayaz, Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah and Anwaar ul Haq Kakar.

Federal ministers Pervez Khattak, Asad Umar and Senator Azam Khan Swati and Prime Minister’s Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza respectively will be ex-officio members of the committee.

As per the Terms of Reference (ToRs), the committee would periodically review, monitor and oversee issues related to coronavirus and its impact on economy.

The committee will also periodically review, monitor and oversee the implementation of the National Plan of Action in connection with the coronavirus with a view to ensuring its expeditious implementation. The periodical report of the committee will be presented to both the houses of the Parliament.