The Federal government has been accused of making China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) controversial for failing to address the concerns of smaller provinces on western route and energy projects.
Members of Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination during the committee meeting yesterday came hard on Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal for making what they said and misstatement about the western route. Chairman of the committee Mir Kabir Ahmed Muhammad Shahi stated "the committee was totally dissatisfied with Minister's clarifications regarding the western route". There is something suspicious about the route," the chairman added while other members of the committee termed "CPEC for Lahore and not for Pakistan".
This is an agreement between Lahore and China for Lahore and not for Pakistan, members further alleged and demanded of the chairman to convene an exclusive meeting on the CPEC where provincial chief secretaries are also invited to give a briefing on the project. The meeting decided to have an exclusive meeting on the CPEC; however the committee did not finalize a date for this purpose.
The meeting was informed that Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has affiliated 38 National Sports Federations which are responsible for promotion of their respective sport in the country.
The PSB is providing financial assistance to the affiliated National Sports Federations in the shape of annual grants for holding their national championships and to meet their day-to-day requirements and special grant for participation in international competitions at home and abroad. Pakistan Sports Board organises national camps for training of sports teams for participation in the mega sports events at home and abroad.
Accordingly, PSB established training camps for 20 sports disciplines participating in 12th South Asian Games being held at Guwahati, India, from 5th to 16th February 2016. PSB would also bear the participation expenses of the Pakistan contingent that participates in the international mega event.
Provincial officials of social department also briefed the meeting on the issue of compliance of quota for handicapped persons in the provinces.
Ministry of IPC stated that they have received some information from the provinces on Friday morning after senators strongly protested against late provision of the meeting brief which led to their un-preparedness. "You (Ministry of IPC) are violating rules and regulations of the committee, as per rules brief was required to be provided to the members well before the meeting," the members stated.