Pakistan Railways' revenue has increased from Rs 18 billion to Rs 35.181 billion as a result of initiatives taken by the government to put the state-owned company back on track. Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique informed this to the National Assembly on Wednesday during the question-hour.
He said the department is meeting its fiscal target every month while 11 railway stations across the country are being upgraded to improve facilities for passengers.
Eight railway stations which were part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor including Karachi Cantt and Havelian will also be upgraded in the next phase, he said.
To another question, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rahman informed the house that Foreign Direct Investment has increased from $160.8 million in 2012-13 to $908 million in 2014-15 in telecom sector registering 60 percent increase.
She said realising the full potential of Information and Communication Technologies in socio-economic development, Ministry of IT's special focus is on the ICT skills development, capacity building and entrepreneurship initiatives for youth.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad informed the house that Pakistan Airways is being launched to create an atmosphere of competition while the government has no plans to sell Roosevelt hotel in New York.
"The hotel is a national asset and the government has no intention to sell it," he said.
To another question, he said that 5,634 tourists visited Pakistan during the last year. Prevailing law and order situation of the country reduced tourists' flow thus reducing Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation's revenue during 2015, he said.
The government is trying to woo more tourists in the country as law and order has significantly improved, he said, adding the provincial governments should also create conducive environment for local and foreign tourists.
He said that all international airports in Pakistan are satisfied in accordance with international civil aviation organisation standards.
Efforts are underway to make the new International Islamabad Airport operational during this year, he said.
The government deferred voting on motion of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (convention) Bill 2016 to refer it to joint sitting of the Parliament for consideration and passage for another two days.
The bill has earlier been passed by the National Assembly while rejected by the Senate. Opposition parties in the National Assembly have urged the government to create consensus on the bill before tabling it in the joint sitting for approval.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Jamaat-e-Islami member Sher Akbar Khan and others regarding charging of fine in dollars from Malaysian families of Pakistan origin in case of their overstay in Pakistan, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Maryam Aurangzeb informed the house that Malaysia has no dual nationality agreement with Pakistan. The house also offered Fateha for those martyred in the Peshawar bus blast.
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