ISLAMABAD: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday informed the National Assembly that the government would use all available resources to control locusts on war-footing as we need a comprehensive strategy to cope with the challenge.
Responding to a point of order raised by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) MNA Naveed Qamar, he reiterated that all available resources are being utilised to overcome the threat posed by locusts. He said a comprehensive plan in this regard has also been prepared, adding a coordinated effort is required to deal with the issue. He was all praise for the military for its cooperation in fight against locusts.
He said resources have been allocated in Budget 2020-2021 for the water reservoirs to meet the issue of water scarcity in the country. The Minister for National Food Security and Research Fakhar Imam said that efforts are underway to develop agriculture sector on scientific lines to enhance yield of major crops including wheat, cotton and rice. He said that China has agreed to transfer technology in the agriculture sector under the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding human resource development would also be undertaken under this cooperation.
Imam said that the government also plans to establish a research centre to promote organic farming.
He said that Pakistan would not be in need of any loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Asian Development Bank, if the cotton production is doubled in the country. Participating in the budget debate, Amir Dogar said a balanced budget has been presented for the next fiscal year in face of the challenge posed by COVID-19. He expressed optimism that the government would deliver on its promises as per the expectations of the masses.
He said it is the first time that the health budget has been doubled to Rs115 billion.
Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari challenged Prime Minister Khan for a debate, saying the lowest growth rate was due to the present government, and the growth rate ws negative even before outbreak of coronavirus.
He said that the prime minister claims to have the most successful policy is foreign policy then how did India become a non-permanent member of United Nations. He went on to say that PM Khan ran election campaign for Indian PM Narendra Modi and 'boasted' Kashmir issue would be resolved if Modi is elected again, but with election of Modi what happened to Kashmir, is quite shameful for all of us.
Regarding coronavirus situation, he said that if their had been a 'democratically elected' prime minister, he would have cared about his people, but our 'prime minister-slect' is portraying the pandemic like Kargil war when our 'state was not ready to accept the Kargil war at that time'.
""How can you [PM] say that we are ready for the pandemic, when our doctors and nurses are suffering, and all this is happening due to inflated ego of the prime minister. Go and ask Kashmiris how successful our foreign policy has been during PTI regime," he asked.
Ahsan Iqbal of the PML-N said that a national effort is required to revive the economy as no single party can tackle the current challenges. He said the economic targets set for the next year are unrealistic. He said the growth cannot be achieved by cutting the development outlay.
He said we need to invest in science and technology to take forward the country.
Jai Parkash was appreciative of Rs1,200 billion stimulus package given by government to support different segments of the society amid Covid-19.
He condemned the atrocities unleashed by the Modi government against Muslims in India and occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Rao Muhammad Ajmal said the agriculture sector should be supported to ensure food security in these difficult times. He said aircraft and other equipment should immediately be procured to fight locusts.
He said apart from reducing input costs of the farmers, support price should be announced for the major crops. Dr Nausheen Hamid, a PTI MNA against seat reserved for women, lauded the government for giving importance to the health sector in the budget.
She said there are currently 129 laboratories across the country where the testing capacity for coronavirus has significantly been enhanced.
Shandana Gulzar Khan, a PTI MNA against seats reserved for women, said it is a pro-poor, pro-business and pro-agriculture budget.
She said the government launched Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme to save the people from starvation.
Begum Tahira Bukhari regretted that no increase has been given to the employees in the budget. Muhammad Iqbal Khan said special focus should be given to the development of tribal districts. He said local government elections should be held in tribal districts to ensure immediate re-dressal of problems faced by the local people.
Maleeka Bokhari, a PTI MNA against seats reserved for women, said the government's policies are aimed at protecting the poor segments of the society.
She said the world institutions are hailing the government's Ehsaas program.
Malik Umar Aslam stressed for doubling exports and remittances to steer the country out of current economic challenges. He said technical education should be imparted to the youth, so that they could exploit job opportunities both at home and abroad.
Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi said Port Qasim Authority has registered the highest revenues over the last two years. He said Port Qasim remained operational regardless of the breakout of Covid-19. He said the industrial infrastructure plan of Port Qasim has been finalised. He said Afghan Transit Trade has been started from Gwadar Port. He said a shipping policy has been introduced to take advantage of the blue economy. The House also started discussions on the recommendations made by Senate on the Finance Bill, 2020.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
Comments
Comments are closed.