ISLAMABAD: (Parliament Times) The Senate was informed on Thursday that 120 million rupees have been allocated to the Ministry of Human Rights during the last three years for different development projects.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad told the House during question hour that the funds were spent for the completion of 12 Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Human Rights Centre for women in Punjab. He said work is also underway for construction of working women hostels in G-6 and G-7 sectors of Islamabad and land has been acquired for this purpose. He said a helpline for legal advice on Human Rights Violations has also been set up in the federal capital.
To a question, Minister for Law Zahid Hamid told the House that 36388 complaints against LESCO were received in the office of Federal Ombudsman during the last three years and out of these 33478 have been decided.
To another question, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told the House that the construction work for pipeline of Nashpa Well No. 6 was completed in October last year. He said daily average production of the oil from the well is 3367 barrels and that of gas is 12 MMCFD.
Answering a question, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali informed the House that the construction work of Diamer-Bhasha Dam will start by the end of this year. He said according to the financing strategy, Dam and Pre-requisites will be implemented through PSDP grants plus WAPDA arranged financing whereas power generation facilities shall be implemented through local and foreign loans plus WAPDA arranged financing.
He said 81 billion rupees have already been incurred for acquisition of land and construction of the colony. He said most of the land required for the project has already been acquired through PSDP funds.
Replying to a question, he said 3600 MW of electricity will be added in the national grid by September this year after completion of different power projects.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Jehanzeb Jamaldini and others regarding the termination of services of twenty-five Trainee Apprentices (BPS-7) most of them possessing the domicile of Balochistan, during their probation period which were to be recruited in different trades after completing their mandatory trainings from Survey Training Institute, Islamabad, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali told the House that 21 trainees including 18 from Balochistan and three from Punjab were terminated because they could not qualify the exam conducted by Punjab Technical Board that was mandatory.
He said on the direction of the Senate the Ministry will provide one chance to them to reappear in the exam and if they qualify then they will be reinstated.
The chair referred the matter to the Standing Committee on Defence with direction for transparent conduct of the examination.
Responding to another calling attention notice moved by Agha Shahbaz Khan Durrani regarding the non-payment of salaries to the Immigration and Passport Officers posted in various Pakistani missions abroad and disparity in the benefits being provided to them and the officers of other Ministries posted in those missions, Minister of State for Interior Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman told the House that a supplementary grant of 138 million rupees have been received and all the payments will be cleared within a month.