The Sub-Committee of the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee was told on Tuesday that Pakistan has the fastest growing country caucus in the US Congress with 75 Congressmen as its members.
The sub committee meeting being chaired by Kanwar Khalid Younas and attended among others by MNAs Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Rai Mansab Ali Khan. While examining the audit reports of Foreign Ministry, the sub-committee took exception to the hiring of a controversial lobbyist firm in Washington D.C. in January 1989.
Foreign Office Director General (Personnel) Muhammad Sadiq told the sub-committee that Pakistan caucus in the US Congress was opened only last year and it already comprised 75 Congressmen.
He told the meeting that India had the largest caucus in the US Congress with 150 Congressmen but their caucus was launched 11 years ago. Muhammad Sadiq further said that Pakistan caucus was poised to overtake Armenian caucus, presently the second largest caucus in US Congress.
Foreign Secretary told the meeting that hiring of a lobbyist in the US capital was need of the hour. Defending the hiring of Mark Siegel's firm in 1989, he said it was the privilege of Prime Minister to appoint lobbyists and Foreign Ministry cannot overrule his / her instructions.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the PM might have the privilege to hire lobbyists but there must be some criteria for it. He said the Foreign Office should put its remarks on record against any appointment in violation to the rules. The sub-committee was told that presently Pakistan is paying dollars 40,000 to the lobbyist in Washington.
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