Federal Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmed Sherpao informed the Senate on Thursday that Rs 1,815.931 million were incurred on the construction of Parliament House and lodges.
He stated this while answering a question raised by Muhammad Ismail Buledi and added that Rs 696.022 million were spent on the construction of Supreme Court building besides expending Rs 1,052.867 million on the construction of Prime Minister Secretariat.Senator Afia Zia asked the Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani to inform the House about the development budget allocated for the information and broadcasting ministry for 2005-06 and the amount spent during the first half of current financial year.
Muhammad Ali Durrani negated that any development budget has been allocated to the ministry. However, he said, an amount of Rs 504 million was allocated for development projects of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and Directorate of Films and Publications.
Durrani said that during the first half of the current financial year, an amount of Rs 91.821 million was released and utilised by these organisations for their development projects, in accordance with the approved cash work plan. The remaining amount of Rs 412.414 million will be utilised in the second half as outlined in the approved cash work plans, he informed the House.
Senator Liaquat Bangalzai asked the defence minister to state the number of persons retired from PIA during the last two years. The Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal stated that 1,743 PIA employees were retired during the last two years.
Responding to a question of Senator Muhammad Enver Baig, the defence minister informed that the Airport Security Force (ASF) had so far issued 5,693 airport entry passes. The passes are issued to the private companies and other individuals including the government organisations in accordance with the Airport Entry Policy formulated in consultation with the respective ministries and divisions from time to time, he said.
Senator Rehmat Ullah Kakar asked the interior minister to inform the House regarding the number of persons working in Islamabad Capital Territory Police. He also asked the number of posts lying vacant in the ICT police department.
Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao informed that 9,569 officials are working in the ICT police whereas 768 posts are vacant in the department. A case for grant of NOC for filling up these vacant posts is under process. After receipt of the NOC, the posts will be filled after completing formalities, he said.