The Senate was informed on Wednesday that the government was ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to 94 percent area of the country during Sehr and Iftar timings. Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Mian Atique of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that all out efforts were being made to facilitate masses during Ramazan.
He said that no forced load shedding was being carried out except in areas where percentage of losses was more than 60 percent, and "we are trying our level best to facilitate people during the holy month as much as we can." To another calling attention notice moved by Abdul Qayyum, Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lieutenant General Abdul Qadir Baloch (Retd) said that the committee headed by advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz was finalising recommendations for reforms in the Federally-administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
He said the recommendations would soon be presented to the prime minister as well as the parliament for approval, adding that a grand jirga (committee) may also be convened to get final approval of the reforms package from the tribal elders. Taking part in discussion on Finance Bill 2016-17, Senator Abdul Qayyum of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that agriculture research centres should be strengthened to enhance agriculture yield. He said that apart from giving subsidy to farmers, there was also a need to bring better and latest farming practices. He appreciated the government efforts to facilitate the agriculture sector, adding that no government in the past took such step to promote agriculture sector, which is the backbone of the country's economy.
Senator Usman Saifullah Khan of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said that the government should ensure equal development of all the areas to reduce poverty and create job opportunities for the youth. He said that the government should take special measures for the poor as eradication of poverty was the prerequisite towards a prosperous Pakistan.
Sardar Azam Khan Musakhel of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) said that the people of tribal areas have rendered numerous sacrifices in the ongoing war against terrorism but only a meager amount was allocated for their development.
"Those who sacrificed their everything for ending the menace of terrorism," he added, have once again been neglected in the budget, which according to the lawmaker from Balochistan, will create a sense of deprivation among the people of the tribal areas. "The government should help the people of the tribal areas and the smaller provinces especially Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Balochistan, as these two provinces rendered sacrifices more than any other provinces, so they must not be given step motherly treatment," he maintained. Senator Rehman Malik of PPP pointed out that Balochistan was the most deprived province and steps should be taken to remove their sense of deprivation. He said that the mineral rich Balochistan province can be brought at par with other provinces if special attention was paid by the government.