Inadequate representation of Balochistan in national institutions prompted senators from the province to point out discrimination while demanding justice and probe into provincial quotas through a special committee of the upper house here on Friday.
Senate Chairman Farooq H. Naek Friday referred the concern raised by Senator Shahid Hassan Bugti that his province was not duly represented in national institutions, to a committee set-up to address provincial concerns regarding quota in jobs.
Dr Muhammad Ismail Buledi was the first one who pointed out this discrimination and later was joined by Senator Shahid Hassan Bugti and others from Balochistan to demand the chairman for a probe through the committee. The issue had emerged when a written reply from Ms Samina Khalid Ghurki Minister for Environment revealed the number of person working in the Ministry and its attached departments. According to the data out of 251 officials, there were only 2 from Balochistan serving in main Ministry.
The details about attached departments of the ministry reveal that Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Zoological Survey Department (ZSD), Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI), National Council for Conservation of Wildlife (NCCW) and Pakistan Environmental Planning & Architectural Consultation (PEPAC) Limited had 'zero' representation from Balochistan.
Meanwhile, Senator Zahid Khan of Awami National Party (ANP) made an announcement that his party would not participate in the Senate session since the party members were not given time to express their views by the Chairman. Information Secretary of ANP Senator Zahid Khan said that none of his party's member in Senate including parliamentary leader was given sufficient time to speak on issues and express their views.
He announced that the ANP senators would not participate in proceedings of the Houses including debate on Presidential address. Earlier, Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo told the house that the government was planning to introduce 8000 CNG buses in major cities of the country to meet the transportation demands and to reduce environmental pollution.
He said that "Pakistan Clean Air Programme" had been prepared and would be implemented soon while a road map was given to adopt emission standards for vehicles. "In this regard, 41,000 vehicles have been tested under Vehicle Emission Testing System in the federal capital. Regular campaign for mass awareness against noise in collaboration with city traffic police have been launched while hundreds of pressure horns have been removed from vehicles," he added.
He said customs duty on import of anti-pollution devices and treatment plants had been reduced from 35 per cent to 5 per cent. He said a number of industrial units were monitored and 150 cases including 12 cases of brick kilns have been referred to the Environmental Protection Tribunal.