The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has recommended the Aviation Division to make wrapping of luggage compulsory at the rate of Rs 50 per bag and improve the security of all airports with installation of maximum number of cameras.
The committee met with Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood in the chair here at Parliament House on Wednesday and discussed the issues related to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), PPRA Rules, and pending cases of contractual employees in the Establishment Division, etc.
While discussing the security arrangements, the committee recommended that like the airport premises, CCTV cameras should also be installed in the aircraft to ensure that no illegal activity, including theft from luggage or putting drug in luggage, takes place within the aircraft.
The committee expressed surprise that people are not getting seats despite confirmed tickets on some domestic flights while at the same time there are reports of planes flying with empty seats despite the fact that people are waiting at airports with tickets on chance.
The members told the committee that many innocent people are being involved in cases by putting drugs in their luggage.
The committee has also specified three months time for appointment of NEPRA chairman after the previous head of the regulator completes his term.
While discussing the 'Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2019' moved by Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, the committee reviewed the amendments sent to Law Division for opinion relating to the time period for appointment of the chairman, criteria and procedure of getting members from provinces among others and the minimum and maximum age limit for the slot of chairman.
Leader of the House Senator Syed Shibli Faraz recommended removing the upper age limit and leaving it open to potential candidates of any age. The chairman committee decided to discuss this amendment in next meeting in the presence of all members. The committee also asked Law Ministry to vet the bill after incorporating the amendments so that the bill can be passed in the next meeting.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Talha Mehmood here at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senators Shibli Faraz, Tahir Bizenjo, Dr Ashok Kumar, Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Najma Hameed, Rubina Khalid, Seemi Ezdi, secretary Establishment Division, secretary CAA, joint secretary energy, DG PPRA, DG ASF and officials from the concerned departments.
Regarding the regularisation of services of contractual employees of National Institute of Management, Quetta, despite approval/ratification by the BOD of National School of Public Policy, the committee members observed that regularisation policy for all federal government employees need to be made uniform and no discriminatory behaviour should be witnessed.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Sawati assured the committee that in about 45 days the regularisation matters will be sorted out within the rules and prescribed framework of NSPP.
While discussing the procedure for procurement of materials, both technical and building, involved in the construction of New Islamabad international Airport as per PPRA rules and the details of assigning contracts for construction of the airport to a foreign company, the committee observed that there have been violations of PPRA Rules in excessive numbers and the project has had many flaws which can be attributed to weakness of PPRA as well as the project administration.
The committee was told by PPRA DG that new PPRA rules are being drafted and will be shared with the committee as well as all the stakeholders in about 30 days.
The committee was given a briefing by DG ASF on the overall structure and functioning of the department and measures taken for security protocols along with the list of procurement of projects/goods/services.
It was told that the country has 24 operational and 18 non-operational airports and ASF has its presence at all operational airports. The committee was also told that process is underway of recruiting 2,300 more people.
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