Reko Diq mining contract case: Nation to hear good news soon, minister tells NA

Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed on Thursday informed the National Assembly that nation will shortly get good news regarding $5.9 billion penalty on Pakistan in the terminated Reko Diq mining contract case.

Responding to points raised by opposition MPs, he said that

good news is expected like Prime Minister Imran Khan, with the help of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, amicably resolved the Karkey dispute and saved Pakistan from paying the $1.2 billion penalty imposed by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

"I would want the opposition to talk on these good things which your Prime Minister has done with the help of Turkish president and soon we'll also give you good news about Reko Diq," he added.

Saeed, who is minister for postal services and has successfully managed to revamp Pakistan Post, ending the monopoly of private courier services, said it is because of Imran Khan's efforts that Pakistan is changing.

He said the economy is achieving stability and record positive sentiments are being witnessed in the stock market as exports have risen and imports have been decreased.

He said that 4,687 prisoners were released from foreign prisons over the last one year which, according to him, is a record compared to "hollow" claims of previous governments.

The National Assembly was informed that a deep sea fishing policy has been prepared in consultation with the stakeholders to uplift the fishing sector.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Maritime Affairs Jamil Ahmad Khan told the house during question hour that the policy will soon be furnished before the cabinet for approval. He said efforts are afoot to transform the fisheries sector as per the modern standards.

He said the country's fisheries exports currently stand at four hundred million dollars, adding our target is to exploit its true potential and increase its exports to three billion dollars.

He said that Pakistani fish is being smuggled in hundreds of tons to the neighboring countries. He regretted that previous government did not pay any heed to the issue. However, the present government is developing a mechanism to check the smuggling.

Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Farrukh Habib said investigation has been ordered into the tragic Tezgam express train incident in Rahim Yar Khan. He said details of the investigation will also be shared with the Parliament. He said that ML-1 will be upgraded under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project after which the speed of passenger trains on the main line will increase to 160 kilometer per hour. He said that Pakistan Railways has started twenty two new passenger trains over the last one year, adding the revenue of Pakistan Railways has increased and deficit has also been curtailed. Parliamentary Secretary for Textile Aliya Hamza Malik told the house that the present government has expedited work on the establishment of industrial zones in the country.

She said the government is giving special emphasis to bolstering exports. She said the exports have already witnessed an increase as a result of which the trade deficit has also come down.

Minister for Housing Tariq Bashir Cheema informed the house that work on a number of housing projects is underway under Naya Pakistan Housing program.

He said an allocation of five billion rupees as interest free loan has been made which will be utilized for low-cost housing. He said the federal government employees will be accommodated in these housing schemes.

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said Pakistan Railways has earned profit of four billion rupees on passenger trains. He said Pakistan Railways plans to induct new passenger coaches. He said there is also plan to indigenously build the coaches through a joint venture.

Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri told the house that Saudi Arabia has waived 2,000 riyals fee on Pakistanis performing more than one Umrah within two years.

Parliamentary Secretary for Food Muhammad Ameer Sultan said that aerial sprays have been carried in Karachi to control the locusts. The chair also directed the federal government to fully assist the Sindh government in controlling the locusts in Karachi.

Two bills - Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2019 and the Control of Narcotics Substances Amendment Bill, 2019 - were laid before the house.

The house was adjourned to meet again on Friday at 10:30am.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019