ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly resumed its session in Islamabad on Tuesday with Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi in the chair.
\nResponding to a calling attention notice moved by Shaista Pervaiz and others, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Darshan told the House that several initiatives have been taken to check the use of Tobacco. He said that a federal tobacco cell is functioning since 2008 and efforts are afoot to establish tobacco cells at the provincial level to save the young generation from smoking.
\nHe said that tobacco ads have been banned and excise duty has been increased on the tobacco products which have helped reduce the ratio of smoking amongst the youth and children. He said we have declared Islamabad smoke-free city. However, more steps are required to create awareness amongst the masses about the ill effects of smoking.
\nMinister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah told the House that the government has prepared a comprehensive bill to eliminate printing and recording errors in the publication of Holy Quran. He said the bill will be presented before the Cabinet for approval. He said that the provincial governments will also be taken on board on the matter in order to ensure effective implementation of the legislation.
\nTwo bills were introduced before the House. These are “The General Statistics (Reorganization) (Amendment) Bill, 2016” and “The Medical Consultancy and Other Services (Rationalization of Fees) Bill, 2016”. The chair referred these bills to the standing committees concerned.
\nInterior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan has said that perpetrators of Quetta tragedy will be nabbed at all costs. Responding to the points raised by different members in the National Assembly on Tuesday, he said that significant progress in investigation has been made due to the intelligence in puts.
\nCh Nisar said that the committee constituted on National Action Plan is administrative in nature and will report to the top leadership headed by the Prime Minister. He said a high level meeting with the Chief Ministers will be held in the next few days on the implementation of NAP.
\nHe pointed out that out of 20 points of NAP nine belong to provinces and eight belong to different federal ministries. Therefore, the implementation of the NAP is a shared responsibility.
\nAbout the issuance of visa to blacklisted US national Mathew Barret, Ch Nisar said the Ministry has taken serious notice of it and a departmental inquiry is also underway at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
\nResponding to another calling attention notice moved by Shaikh Salahuddin and others, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad told the House that Pakistan International Airline has been put on the path of revival.
\nHe said that the national flag carrier has currently a fleet of 38 aircraft and more planes are being taken on dry lease in order to increase its operation. He said that the Prime Minister has recently launched the Premier Service of PIA to provide better travelling services to the commuters. DNA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly resumed its session in Islamabad on Tuesday with Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi in the chair. Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Shaista Pervaiz and others, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Darshan told the House that several initiatives have been taken to check the use of Tobacco. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n