Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq was severely grilled by Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain for not being ready with answer to a question which has been pending for several weeks.
Taking serious note of the absence of ministers from the House during the question hour, the Speaker had expressed his displeasure on the situation, but on Wednesday, he was extremely annoyed.
As the question hour was to commence, a member on a point of order stated that despite opposition's objections at several occasions and Speaker's displeasure shown in the past, the attitude of ministers has not changed.
Over the latest incident of minister's absence, the Speaker was furious at Minister for Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr Muhammad Ijazul Haq, who was late comer and was without any answer to the question posed by lady MNA Shamshad Sattar Bachani.
The question was to state the total number of deserving persons whom financial assistance was provided from Zakat Fund during the last three years along with the amount paid year-wise and district-wise.
After serious questioning of the minister for several minutes, the Speaker instructed the minister to come back within ten minutes with the letters written to the provinces and show them to the House.
Addressing the minister, the Speaker said that the question of deserving Zakat cases and details of money distributed in the last three years is pending since July 8, then it was repeated on July 27. He further said that he postponed the question on the past two rota days and still today (Wednesday), the minister, nor any of his staff was present in the House to answer the question.
Ijazul Haq tried to clear his position by making an excuse of a meeting with the opposition leader, but the Speaker was not convinced and said, "did Prime Minister or President call you for the meeting, was it so important, is this question hour not so important".
Prior to this episode, the debate was already in the process about the attitude of ministers, on a query by MNA Sahibzada Fazal Karim in the point of order, in which, he had asked the Speaker that the ministers are not present most of the time and question hour is not taken seriously.
The Speaker duly acknowledged this concern and Sher Afgan also accepted this shortcoming.
MNA from treasury bench Riaz Hussain Pirzada speaking on a point of order said that the responsibility of keeping House lies mainly with the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, who is supposed to ensure the presence of ministers or their representatives in the House. He said, "He should intimate them before the session and ask them to be fully prepared for the replies to maintain the sanctity of the question hour." However, Sahibzada Fazal Karim said that the ministry is a 'white elephant', which is doing nothing.
Minister for Religious Affairs came back after some time with the letters and documents as proof to his earlier statement. However, the Speaker deferred the said question for the next rota day.
On a question of mobile Utility Stores in the villages with details of their names from Yasmeen Rehman, the Parliamentary Secretary from Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives said that Franchise Mobile Stores at Union Council level is under consideration by the Government. He further said that it would be launched as soon as the modalities are finalised.
Answering a supplementary question from Razia Aziz, as to why these have been delayed, the parliamentary secretary said that it will be launched in this month and is included in the Rozgar Scheme.
He further clarified that 6,312 stores would be opened, out of which, he added, 50 percent would be Mobile Utility Stores.
While answering a question from Begum Ishrat Ashraf regarding steps taken by government to promote tourism, Minister for Tourism Nilofer Bakhtiar, told the House that new marketing strategy has been approved by the Prime Minister. Clarifying, she told the House that for this purpose the Ministry has selected 10 to 12 countries for the promotion and working of tourism. Then there are target projects such as participation in exhibitions, fares, motor rally in Balochistan etc.
She further stated that government is introducing new tourist friendly visa policy for 24 countries and also declaring year 2007 as "Visit Pakistan Year", launching special discounted summer tour packages for students and families, launching of quarterly newsletter for tourism, training courses arranged for upgrading hotel management and tourism.
She spoke of multiple events held in the past few days for the promotion of tourism and claimed 23 percent increase in tourism in a written reply.
The total development funds under the current fiscal year amount to Rs 115.59 million, and US $220.492 million were earned through tourism in 2005-06, she added.
Answering a supplementary question, she said that ministry is also looking after projects on Karachi-Hyderabad Super Highway, and beaches are also being developed. Regarding parks in Karachi, she said that they are the responsibility of the local government, but any assistance or intervention if required by them would be looked into.
Answering a question from Riaz Hussain Pirzada about the style of the beach, she said that Pakistan is a Muslim country and Islamic ideology would be followed.