The opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly on Thursday strongly protested over absence of ministers from the house and deferment of 41 questions.

Interestingly, half-a-dozen ministries skipped replies to 41 questions and requested deferment for next rota day, which shows the incompetence of the ruling government.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has a track record of criticizing previous governments for delay in replying to questions, but after coming into power, the party itself has broken all records of 'inefficiency,' said the lawmakers.

Soon after the start of the question hour, the mover of the question noted that answers of various questions were deferred by the ministries for the next rota day.

The former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf demanded Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri to tighten the noose around 'incompetent' government officers of different ministries for not taking the questions asked by the MNAs seriously.

He said that ministers should be grilled for not ensuring their presence in the house to respond to the questions pertaining to their ministries. Ashraf said that MNAs asked the questions to get updated information and when the relevant ministries do not reply, the process loses its importance.

"It would be much better if the chair issues ruling and warning to the ministries failing to answer questions," he added. At this point, Junaid Akbar of ruling PTI pointed out the quorum and the deputy speaker had to suspend the proceeding of the house till required number of members came to the house.

On this, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said that he was glad to see the opposition is discussing the house business for the first time after one-and-a-half-year, as they never paid any heed to house proceedings except seeking production orders for the jailed leaders.

Suri said that all the government officials are answerable to the Parliament and all ministers, state ministers, parliamentary secretaries and federal secretaries must ensure their presence in the Parliament during question hour.

Federal Minister for Defense Pervaiz Khan Khattak assured the opposition that presence of ministers would be ensured in the Parliament during question hour, adding federal secretaries must also ensure their presence in the Parliament.

"I'll ensure presence of ministers in the Parliament and the Speaker should also guarantee the presence of ministers," he added. In a written reply, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the National Assembly that Prime Minister Imran Khan wants resolution of differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran through political and diplomatic means.

To a question about the details of efforts made by the Prime Minister to minimize the tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, he said that Prime Minister Imran Khan visited both Saudi Arabia and Iran and met with their leadership and conveyed readiness to facilitate mutual contact, removal of misunderstandings, and resolution of disputes.

Last year in October, the Prime Minister had undertaken visits to Iran and Saudi Arabia to help facilitate talks between the two countries. In a written reply, the foreign minister said that a total of 3,240 Pakistani nationals are languishing in Saudi prisons.

He said that Pakistan's diplomatic mission in the Saudi Arabia has been making efforts to secure the release of the inmates. Qureshi said a total of 2,080 Pakistani prisoners were set free by Saudi authorities in wake of an announcement by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Pakistan last year.

The house was informed that the policy to enhance fine fee for over-speeding on motorways and highways has been put on hold in view of concerns raised by transporters. Responding to a point of order, Minister for Communication Murad Saeed made it clear that the proposal to enhance traffic fines does not aim at increasing revenue but to protect lives of innocent people on roads.

He said this policy will be implemented after taking all stakeholders into confidence and thorough briefing on media. Saeed said that PM Khan is vociferously pleading the case of Kashmiris at international forums, besides striving hard for unity of the Muslim Ummah and ending hate speech against Muslims.

He said that the Prime Minister has voluntarily declared himself as ambassador of Kashmiris and raised their voice at the United Nations. He also apprised the house that instructions have been issued to ministries of industries and food to protect rights of the sugarcane growers.

Saeed also told the house that compensation to traders of Miranshah Bazaar has been paid. He said the people of erstwhile FATA have rendered great sacrifices for Pakistan, but they were kept deprived and now the PTI government is taking every possible step to facilitate them.

He said the quota of merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in medical colleges has been enhanced as promised at the time of their merger into the province. Parliamentary Secretary National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Ameer Sultan said that a national action plan has been devised to meet the locust attack in Sindh and other parts of the country.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Syed Naveed Qamar and others regarding locust attacks in various districts of Sindh, he said Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved Rs 460 million to meet the challenge of locust.

He said there are three aircraft and another one will be acquired by 15th of this month for aerial spray against the locusts. He said that a stock of 14,000 liters of insecticide is available in Sindh, while a tender to acquire 100,000 liters of the pesticide has already been floated to meet the challenge.

Parliamentary Secretary on Interior Shaukat Ali informed the National Assembly that the old Lake View Park would be opened within 30 days for the visitors.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by MNA Ali Nawaz Awan and Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak regarding closure of old Lake View Park for visitors, he said the park was closed due to poor law and order situation in 2013, but it would be opened as the situation has improved. He said the park was under the control of Punjab, while it is located in the jurisdiction of the federal capital.

He said the inspector general of police, deputy commissioner Islamabad, deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi, and secretary irrigation Punjab had been asked to visit the area and hold further consultation. He said after 30 days the House would be informed about the update on the opening of the park.

Metro Bus project from Peshawar Morr to new Islamabad International Airport was expected to be completed within current financial year, he said. In a written reply to the National Assembly by the Ministry of Communication, it was told that almost 90 percent work of metro project from Peshawar Morr to airport has been completed so far.

"The project is expected to be completed within current financial year subject to timely release of funds," the written reply said. The total cost of the project was Rs 14,444 million and the project cost has not escalated despite delay; rather, it would be completed with savings. The house was adjourned to meet again on Friday (today) at 11:00am.