The opposition on Friday took the government to task in the National Assembly on the import of one million tonnes of wheat despite bumper crop. Earlier, Ilyas Ahmad Bilour questioned the working of the Food, Agriculture and Livestock Ministry, saying that the government has not adopted proper policy in agricultural research to enhance wheat yield. He demanded of the government to initiate a comprehensive research programme to enhance wheat crop production.
Agriculture Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan said that 1,368 million tonnes of wheat was imported during the current year.
Bosan said that the growers are directed to use herbicides and the government has given Rs 2.5 billion subsidy to the farmers in urea fertilisers and wheat support price has been increased from Rs 350 to Rs 400 per 40kg.
When asked by Senator Ibrahim that if there is sufficient wheat to meet the needs of the country, Bosan said that there is a need of 20.6 million tonnes wheat, while wheat production is 21.4 million, which is sufficient for the current requirements.
When asked by Senator Sanaullah Baloch the authenticity of the figure of 1.5 million tuberculosis patients, Health Minister Nasir Khan said that the ministry has started a seven-month antibiotic course DOTS and asked the senators and MNAs to support the government programme in their constituencies.
Another Senator from Balochistan criticised the government for providing less funds to the province, and said that the ratio of TB patients is much higher in the province.
Nasir said that Rs 1,12.6 million have been provided to the provinces in the shape of vehicles, lab supplies, chemicals and establishment of reference laboratories. He said that USAID and CIDA are the donor agencies funding National TB Control Programme.
Senator Fouzia demanded of the government to start awareness programme in rural areas of the country.
Syed Hidayat Ullah questioned the working of the Textile Ministry, saying that the government has not created healthy environment for the growth of textile industry.
Senator Liaquat Bangalzai criticised the government policy of recruitment in Textile Ministry.
Senator Ilyas Bilour inquired from the health minister of any proposal under consideration by the government to provide free-of-cost hepatitis vaccines to the provinces.
Dr Khalid Ranjha from the treasury benches said that the NGOs will provide free hepatitis vaccines to the people if the government provides assistance to them.
The minister said that under recently developed National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis, there was a proposal to provide free-of-cost vaccination to adults belonging to high-risk groups.
He said that the total support provided to the provinces during the current financial year is Rs 3,916.907 million, out of which direct cash support is Rs 2,179.937 million, while Rs 1,736.9 million is in the shape of commodity support.
Liaquat Bangalzai inquired from the industries and production minister that if there is any proposal under consideration by the government to establish a Steel Mill at Nokundi, Balochistan.
Sher Afgan said that a steel mill could be installed in the area where production was above 100 million tonnes, while the strength of Nokundi is 80-90 percent, so there is no proposal to establish steel mill in Nokundi.
Dr Kausar Firdous criticised the working of the Agriculture Ministry, as 68 samples for manufacturing and sale of substandard pesticides were collected from Sindh, while only 24 were analysed and three samples were declared substandard. She asked why the remaining 44 samples were not examined?
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