The Senate, which met on Tuesday, criticised the government on its discriminatory attitude towards the Balochistan province. The senators from Balochistan dragged the government for not giving equal opportunities to Baloch bureaucrats of grade 19 and above. A few senators in the government benches equally supported their stance.
The senators of the opposition also resorted to a token walkout to register their grievance and make the government realise this fact. The move was initiated by Kamran Murtaza, which was supported by all the opposition members.
A question was raised by a Baloch senator, Dr Muhammad Ismail Buledi that how many federal secretaries belonged to Balochistan at federal/provincial level. Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi the concerned minister for Establishment Division revealed that there were 14 officers of Balochistan who were promoted from grade 19 to 20 in the last five years out of total of 262, and there were only one promoted in the year 2001, and two in the year 2005, from grade 20 to 21 out of 154.
In a supplementary question, senator Pari Gul Agha accused the government that all the officers belonging to Balochistan, when reach the 21 grade are sent back to Balochistan as OSD, without offering them any post in the Federal Government.
They challenged that, was there no deserving officer from Balochistan fit for serving the Federal Government and whether the promotions were on merit.
Sher Afgan tried to satisfy them by telling that his own parliamentary secretary belonged to Balochistan province. But they questioned him is there any other reference also. They said that this was a useless post and added that could he give any other example out of 52 federal secretaries in the existing set up. None of the replies from Sher Afgan could satisfy the Baloch senators, who were firm on their stand.
They said that Pakistan is a federation and should have equal representation of all the provinces. Deputy Chairman Senate Jan Muhammad Jamali as presiding officer tried to pacify the atmosphere with his witty remarks, but in vain.
However, he said that if the government wants to run the country, it must give importance to all the provinces.
However, in the written reply Punjab as per quota system had 158 officers promoted from grade 19 to 20 in last five years, 35 from Sindh, 42 NWFP and 14 from Balochistan. Similarly seven from Fata, four from Northern Areas and two from AJK.
Officers promoted from grade 20 to 21 during the last five years: Punjab 100, Sindh 22; NWFP 20; Balochistan 3; Fata 2; Northern Areas 1; and AJK 6.
On a question from Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood about the rate at which customs duty, sales tax and income tax was charged on automobile batteries imported since July, 2005, and the amount collected from importers regarding the same, the Minister for Finance and Revenue Omar Ayub Khan said that customs duty was charged at 35pc, sales tax 15pc and income tax six percent and also produced a list of 40 importers with a break-up list in the three categories.
However, on a question of ampere-/battery-wise import of the batteries, he said, there is no database of this with the customs department and no information with the CBR department is available, but proposed to call for a Standing Committee meeting with the CBR in which members of Senate would be invited to formulate a strategy to implement duty on batteries ampere-wise. The members agreed to his proposal and appreciated it. It was decided that Senator Ahmad Ali would convene the meeting on February 7, at 10:30am.
The main importers of automobile batteries since July 2005, is China with 54,708; Korea 39,882; Thailand 22,900 and Japan 9,753.
The minister for Population Welfare on a question from Senator Ismail Buledi dispensed the province-wise five years details of funds released on account of population welfare, which amounted to Rs 14.17 billions under allocation head for all five years. Released amount was Rs 12.6 billions, and expenditure was Rs 10.6 billions it was stated that 90pc funds were utilised from the revised allocation of Rs 11.8 billions.
Year-wise expenses were: 2001-02 Rs 1.45b, which was 94pc of Rs 1.54b revised allocated amount, 2002-03, Rs 1.8b, 93% utilisation of Rs 1.94b, 2003-04, Rs 2.17b, 92pc utilisation of Rs 2.35b, 2004-05, Rs 2.14b, 88pc utilisation of Rs 2.43b, and 2005-06, Rs 3.05b, 85pc utilisation of Rs 3.58b.
Senator Rukhsana Zuberi objected on the too much of abbreviations used in the minister's written reply, which are not understandable. The minister said that this would not be repeated.
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