F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution strongly condemning the molestation of a child in Nowshera.
The resolution was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.
The resolution demanded death punishment and public hanging for those involved in the despicable incident.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan has said that security situation stands improved in the country due to the collective efforts of all the relevant stakeholders.
He told the National Assembly during the question hour that the back of terrorists has been broken. He said there is no insurgency in the country today.
He said the UK has issued a travel advisory for Pakistan, allowing its citizens to visit the country including the northern areas. He expressed the confidence that other countries will also follow the suit.
The Minister of State said a number of steps have been taken for the protection of our children from different abuses.
For this purpose, a child protection center has also been established in the Federal Capital, besides enactment of laws such as Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act.
He said those involved in cases of child abuse should be given exemplary punishment.
Minister of State for States and Frontier Region Shehryar Khan Afridi told the House that the present government has given a national anti-narcotics policy to check the menace of drug abuse.
He said a “Zindagi App” has also been launched to create awareness amongst the youth about the hazards of the narcotics.
Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Zain Qureshi informed the National Assembly that former federally and provincially administered tribal areas including Malakand division were exempted from sales, income and withholding taxes on utility bills of domestic consumers for five years till 2023.
Responding to a calling attention notice of MNAs Sher Akbar and Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, he said however taxes would be levied on utility bills of industrial units in tribal areas.
He said the regional tax offices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were notified about the exemptions and if tax was collected on bills from any domestic consumer he could get it corrected.
He said tax exemptions were given after passage of the 25th amendment in the constitution.
The house also took up the issue of water shortages in Islamabad and later referred the matter to the relevant committee for further discussion.
The legislator from the capital city Ali Nawaz Awan drew attention of the House towards the severe shortage of water due to closure of supply from Khanpur Dam because of desilting.
Ali Nawaz said according to its quota, Islamabad could get 56 million gallons per day of water from Khanpur Dam against the demand of 34 million gallons.
He said Islamabad had 180 tubewells out of which 160 tubewells were in working condition, adding issue of water scarcity in Islamabad was ignored for the last 15 years.
He said now at the cost of Rs150 billion, water supply line would be laid from Ghazi Barotha dam to Islamabad. Fresh water resources of the capital were getting wasted into drains, he added.
Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri referred the matter to the relevant committee.
Suri also complained that residents of his constituency in Quetta were suffering from water and gas shortages.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf asked the government to resolve the issue of gas shortages in Gujar Khan city.
The House will now meet on Monday at 4 p.m.
