The volume of illegal trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan stands over $8 billion a year while the legal trade is hardly $2 billion per annum due to insufficient security measures at the porous border. PTI member Murad Saeed said this on Tuesday while moving a resolution in the National Assembly that urged the government to "take effective steps to strengthen Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Security."
The treasury benches first opposed the resolution but changed their mind after listening to viewpoint of the PTI members on the issue. Later, the resolution was adopted unanimously.
Saeed, however, said that around 40,000 people cross the Pak-Afghan border daily; therefore it is almost impossible to screen them for miscreants and terrorists.
"The insufficient security measures at the border are not only hurting Pakistan's economy but also helping a number of terrorists and miscreants to cross into Pakistan for their activities," he said.
Another PTI member Dr Shireen Mazari also criticised the government for opposing the resolution, saying the government should take cognisant of the porous border and take effective measures to protect its economic and security interests.
Speaking on the resolution, members from other parties also urged the government to strengthen Pak-Afghan border security to stop terrorist attacks, illegal border crossings and illegal trade.
Responding to all these points, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Maryam Aurangzeb informed the house that permit system for border crossing is being integrated with the NADRA database.
She pointed out that a summary has been sent to the president for approval under which Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) rules will be applicable on border movement. She said blockage of the CNICs issued to foreigners is also a step towards border security.
The National Assembly also adopted a resolution calling upon the government to take steps to declare Holi, Dewali and Easter as closed holidays for religious minorities. The resolution was moved by Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.
Speaking on the resolution, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said the public holidays are higher in Pakistan when compared with any other country of world, therefore, there is need to revisit the number of holidays.
He said he has no objections to the holidays on the religious festivals of the minorities.
He said no discrimination is being meted out to the followers of different faiths and added that the people share their grief and happiness regardless of the religion they are practising.
Another resolution moved by Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi was also passed. It urged the government to take steps to formulate Umrah Policy to facilitate people, especially in the month of Ramazan and control exploitation by private operators.
Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf informed the house that the government is already working to formulate the Umrah policy to facilitate the people.
Through yet another resolution, the House expressed the opinion that the government should take steps to provide accommodation to all female students on their admission in the hostels in the precincts of universities throughout the country. It was moved by Sahibzada Tariqullah and others.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by JUI-F member Naeema Kishwar Khan and others regarding postponement of census and non-inclusion of column of disabled persons in the census form, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan informed the house that population and house census has been delayed with consent of the provinces due to non-availability of armed forces personnel.
Six bills were also introduced in the National Assembly. These are "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016" (Amendment) of Article 224A), "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016" (Amendment of Article 77), "The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2016", "The Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016" "The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2016" and The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016" (Amendment of Article 106).
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