1 (4th Session) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT ————— “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the National Assembly to be held on Monday, the 26th August, 2013 139. *Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho: Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to establish Pakistani consulate in Mumbai, if so, when it will be implemented? Minister for Foreign Affairs: Presently, Consulate General of Pakistan in Mumbai is non-operational. Pakistan and India had agreed to open their respective Consulates General in Mumbai and Karachi in 2005 during the then President’s visit to New Delhi. Premises for the Consulate General were rented in the Mittal Chambers building in Mumbai alongwith payment of an advance rent for one year. However, under pressure from the other owners of the Mittal Chambers Cooperative, who did not want our Consulate General to be opened there, the owner of property cancelled the contract and returned the advance. Our High Commission in New Delhi is now in the process of finding appropriate alternate premises for the Consulate General. We have also approached the Indian Government and Government of the State of Maharashtra to provide a piece of land where we could construct our own building. 140. *Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho: Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state: (a) the mission-wise total number of foreigners presently working in Pakistan’s Missions abroad; and (b) whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to replace the said staff/foreigners with Pakistani nationals; if so, when it will be implemented?
Transcript
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(4th Session)
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT
—————
“QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES”
to be asked at a sitting of the National Assembly to be held on
Monday, the 26th August, 2013
139. *Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho:
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state whether thereis any proposal under consideration of the Government to establishPakistani consulate in Mumbai, if so, when it will be implemented?
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Presently, Consulate General of Pakistanin Mumbai is non-operational. Pakistan and India had agreed to open theirrespective Consulates General in Mumbai and Karachi in 2005 during the thenPresident’s visit to New Delhi. Premises for the Consulate General were rented inthe Mittal Chambers building in Mumbai alongwith payment of an advance rentfor one year. However, under pressure from the other owners of the MittalChambers Cooperative, who did not want our Consulate General to be openedthere, the owner of property cancelled the contract and returned the advance.Our High Commission in New Delhi is now in the process of finding appropriatealternate premises for the Consulate General. We have also approached the IndianGovernment and Government of the State of Maharashtra to provide a piece ofland where we could construct our own building.
140. *Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho:
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) the mission-wise total number of foreigners presently workingin Pakistan’s Missions abroad; and
(b) whether there is any proposal under consideration of theGovernment to replace the said staff/foreigners with Pakistaninationals; if so, when it will be implemented?
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Minister for Foreign Affairs: (a) The list of foreigners employed in theMissions abroad is enclosed.
(b) In the wake of austerity measures, we are considering variousproposals including replacement of the local staff with Pakistani based staff in suchMissions where expenditure on foreign-based staff is more than Pakistani basedstaff.
Annexure
List of foreigner employees working in Pakistan Missions abroad——————————————————————————————S. No. Name of the Mission Total No. of Foreigners
working in the Missions——————————————————————————————119. Pahic Wellington 2120. Parep Seoul 8121. Parep Pyongyang 4122. Parep Sydney 0123. Pahic Bangkok 10124. Parep Shanghai 3125. Parep Astana 5126. Parep Prague 5127. Parep Kathmandu 7128. Parep Riyadh 1129. Parep Istanbul 4130. Parep Sofia 2131. Pahic Colombo 6132. Parep Copenhagen 1 + 1 Danish national of
of Pakistan origin137. Parep Bucharest 3138. Parep Washington 3139. Parep Beirut 2——————————————————————————————
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——————————————————————————————S. No. Name of the Mission Total No. of Foreigners
working in the Missions——————————————————————————————140. Parep Beijing 32141. Parep Chengdu 7142. Parep Guangzhou 3143. Parep Hong Kong 5144. Parep Shanghai 3145. Parep Stockholm 6146. Parep Ottawa 3 + 2 Canadian nationals
Pakistan origin 147. Parep Los Angeles 1148. Parep Istanbul 3149. Parep New York (CG) 0150. Parep Singapore 3151. Parep Tokyo 16152. Pahic Brunei 3 .153. Parep Bradford 3 British nationals of
Pakistan origin154. Pahic London 0155. Parep Budapest 2156. Parep Brussels 3 + 6 Belgium nationals of
Pakistani origin163. Parep Buenos Aires 5164. Parep Havana 3
165. Parep Glasgow 1 + 2 British nationals ofPakistan origin
166. Parep Ankara 10167. Parep Barcelona 1168. Parep Montreal 1——————————————————————————————
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——————————————————————————————S. No. Name of the Mission Total No. of Foreigners
working in the Missions——————————————————————————————169. Parep Belgrade 3170. Parep Mexico 7171. Parep Dublin 1172. Parepun New York 1173. Pahic Nairobi 10174. Parep Zahidan 1175. Parep Tehran 3176. Parep Kabul 0177. Parep Jalalabad 2178. Pahic Male (Maldives) 3179. Pahic Kuala Lumpur 6 180. Parep Sana’a 1181. Parep Mashhad 1182. Parep Kuwait 2183. Parep Tripoli 3184. Parep Muscat 1185. Parep Bahrain 1186. Parep Abu Dhabi 1187. Parep Damascus 3188. Parep Jeddah 1189. Parep Amman 4190. Parep Algiers 4191. Parep Cairo 5192. Parep Baku 6193. Parep Manchester 3 British nationals of
Pakistan origin194. Pahic Dhaka 10195. Parep Berlin 7196. Parep Athens 4197. Parep Toronto 7198. Parep Moscow 14199. Parep Jakarta 12200. Parep Santiago 4201. Parep Heart 1202. Parep Sarajevo 4——————————————————————————————
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——————————————————————————————S. No. Name of the Mission Total No. of Foreigners
working in the Missions——————————————————————————————203. Parep Addis Ababa 1204. Parep Dar-es-Salam 2205. Parep Tashkent 4206. Parep Yangon 4207. Parep Kandhar 2208. Parep Mazar-e-Sharif 2209. Pahic New Delhi 4210. Parep Tunis 4211. Parep Doha 0212. Parep Lisbon 5213. Parep Dubai 1214. Pahic Canberra 2215. Parep Rabat 6216. Parep Baghdad 4217. Parep Bishkek 5218. Parep Phnom Penh 5219. Parep Paris 3220. Parep Rome 4221. Parep Milan 1222. Parep Port Louis 5223. Parep Warsaw 5224. Parep Dakar 6225. Parep Madrid 6226. Parep Khartoum 5227. Parep Berne 0228. Parep Kyiv 3229. Parep Birmingham 3230. Parep Manila 5231. Parep Houston 7232. Parep Chicago 0233. Pahic Abuja 4234. Parep Vancouver 2235. Parep. Hanoi 6236. Parep Niamey 3——————————————————————————————
Total:- 489——————————————————————————————
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141. *Shaista Pervaiz:
Will the Minister for States and Frontier Regions be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken by the Government for improving and reformingthe FCR during the last five years; and
(b) the steps taken by the Government for mainstreaming anddeclaring the FATA and PATA areas as settled Districts duringthe said period?
Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Lt. Gen. (Retd.) AbdulQadir Baloch): (a) Amendments in FCR were needed to make it compatiblewith requirements of Human & Fundamental Rights and ensure a transparent &accountable judicial administration in FATA. Prime Minister of Islamic Republicof Pakistan initially constituted a Cabinet Committee on 24.4.2008, headed byMr. Farooq H. Naek.After detailed deliberations, the committee submitted itsreport. The following reforms have been carried out in FCR, 1901 to make itmore humane and ensure protection of human Rights, which were notified in August,2011 with the approval of the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan:—
i. Section 8 FCR- containing civil reference to the council of elders,constitution of council of elders within 15 days and submission offinding by the council of elders in 90 days.
ii. 11 FCR- containing criminal reference to the council of elders,production of accused within 24 hours before the APA/ADM.
iii. Bail under 11 FCR Any person accused of non bailable offence isarrested or detained or is produced before the Political Agent orDeputy Commissioner as the case may be, he may be released onbail. However, he shall not be released if there appear reasonablegrounds for believing that he has been guilty of an offence punishablewith the imprisonment of 10 years.
iv. Any person under the age of 16 years or any woman or sick orinfirm person accused for such an offence be released on bail.
v. 11 B FCR- reference by quomi jirga in exceptional cases, cognizanceif so recommended by the quomi jirga.
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vi. 12 FCR- punishment of conviction on findings of council, the sentenceshall not exceed 14 years.
vii. 21 FCR- blockade of hostile unfriendly tribe, the arrest of hostilemembers of such tribe, attachment of property etc. provided thatactions shall be taken against the PLAREENA (male descendants ofthe paternal grandfather of the accused) in the first instance, providedalso that women, children less than 16 years of age, person over 65years shall not be arrested.
viii. 55A FCR- a Revision shall lie to the FATA Tribunal within 90 daysagainst any decision given, judgement decree or sentence passed oroder made by the appellate authority.
ix. A committee under Section 58(2) & 62 FCR has been constitutedto frame rules under FCR.
(b) i. Extension of Political Parties Act to FATA.
ii. Development initiatives to bring FATA at par with other parts of thecountry.
iii. Guarantee of fundamental rights of tribes.
iv. Declaring any part of FATA as settled districts is the domain of thePresident under proviso at clause-6 of Article 247 of the Constitutionof Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
142. *Syed Asif Hasnain:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate:
(a) the steps taken by the Government to export mangoes duringthe current year;
(b) whether it is a fact that the target fixed for the export of mangoeswill be achieved; and
(c) the foreign exchange to be earned by the said export during thesaid period?
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Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: (a) The Governmenthas taken following steps to export mangoes during the current year:—
i. By virtue of concerted efforts of Ministry of Commerce, the UnitedStates of America (USA), the largest importer of mangoes has allowedimport of mangoes from Pakistan subject to irradiation treatment.An irradiation facility has been established in the name of PARASFOOD in Lahore to treat fruits & vegetables including mangoes.
ii. In order to meet the standards of Lebanon, Jordan, Mauritius, China& South Korea, the Ministry of Commerce has developed a CommonFacility Centre (CFC) for Hot Water Dip Treatment (HWDT) asper international standards on Public Private Partnership at Karachi.This technology adopted at the centre also increases the shelf life ofmangoes for up to 30 days.
iii. Japan, the highest paying market for mangoes in the world has allowedimports of mangoes from Pakistan in the wake of setting up of VaporHeat Treatment before the start of next mango season. The VHTplant has been imported by TDAP and is now at Karachi Port. Theplant would be commissioned before the next mango season.
iv. TDAP sponsored the visit of Australian Bio-Security Auditors forinspection of our Hot Water Dip Treatment facilities. The Auditorshave shown their satisfaction regarding the compliance of Australianprotocols by the orchard owners, processors and pack houseowners.
v. Two delegations of the growers and exporters of mangoes weresent to Germany, Netherlands and Japan in order to explore newmarkets.
vi. Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) conducted threeseminars/workshops in Sindh (Mirpurkhas), Punjab (Multan), andIslamabad to create awareness among relevant stakeholders to boostexport of mangoes.
(b) Ministry of Commerce & Textile Industry holds the view that theexport of mangoes will increase during the current year on the strength of stringent
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measures adopted by the Government. The total quantity of mangoes exportedduring last three years is as under:———————————————————————————————
Year Quantity(MT)
——————————————————————————————
2010-11 89551.7
2011-12 85119.4
2012-13 70833.6
(July-April)——————————————————————————————
Source: FBS
(c) Calculation of foreign exchange at this stage is not possible as itdepends upon the international market prices of mangoes, which fluctuate fromtime to time, however, the value of mangoes exported during last three years is asunder (latest available data):———————————————————————————————
Year Value(Million Rs.)
——————————————————————————————
2010-11 2889.0
2011-12 3271.9
2012-13 2963.1(July-April)
——————————————————————————————Source: FBS
143. *Syed Asif Hasnain:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate:
(a) the total amount of foreign exchange earned by exporting meatto various countries during the last five years; and
(b) the increase expected to be made therein in the next five years?
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Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: (a) A total amount ofUS$ 707.4 million earned by exporting meat to various countries during last fiveyears. Break-up is as under :—
Value in million US$——————————————————————————————
S.# Year Foreign Exchange Earned——————————————————————————————
(b) Keeping in view the increasing trend in export of meat during lastfive years, manifold increase in the export of meat is expected in the next fiveyears. Following steps have been taken by Ministry of Commerce/TradeDevelopment Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to boost the exports of meat fromPakistan:—
i. Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet has imposed banon the export of live animals w.e.f 1st October, 2013.
ii. Twenty five state-of-art abattoirs, equipped with latest equipment inthe country, established by the private sector have been got approvedby the Saudi Arab, United Arab Emirates and Iranian authorities onthe initiative of Ministry of Commerce and TDAP.
144. *Naeema Kishwar Khan:
Will the Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human ResourceDevelopment be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that large number of Overseas Pakistanisremit major portion of their income to Pakistan;
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(b) the province-wise total amount of foreign exchange remitted bythose Pakistanis during the year 2012-13; and
(c) whether there is any proposal under consideration of theGovernment to make a plan for the welfare of those Pakistanisfrom the said income; if so, when it will be implemented?
Reply not received.
145. *Sher Akbar Khan:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate:
(a) whether there is any proposal under consideration of theGovernment to provide interest free loans to the Tobacco growersin the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: (a) Yes, PakistanTobacco Board has sent a proposal regarding provision of interest free loans tothe tobacco growers to Ministry of Commerce which is under process.
(b) Modalities of provision of interest free loans will be worked out inconsultation with Finance Division.
146. *Shaikh Rohale Asghar:
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) whether any agreements have been signed with the United Statesof America regarding the drone attacks; if so, since when; and
(b) whether further agreements are also expected in this regard?
Minister for Foreign Affairs: (a) & (b) On the issue of drone strikes,the Government’s policy is very clear. The Prime Minister in his first speech in theNational Assembly on 5 June 2013 reaffirmed his government’s stance that droneattacks must come to an end. On the Prime Minister’s instructions the Foreign
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Office had lodged a strong protest with the US Government against the recentdrone strike. The government emphasized that drone strikes violate Pakistan’ssovereignty, territorial integrity and are also in contravention of International Lawand UN Charter.
We have repeatedly made it clear that there is no agreement with the USon the issue of drone strikes. Any ambiguity cannot continue anymore.
Pakistan regards the use of drone strikes as counterproductive in achievingthe shared goal of countering extremism and terrorism in the region. These strikesalso create anti American sentiment in Pakistan.
Deaths of innocent civilians due to such strikes have human rights andhumanitarian implications. Moreover, there is a growing international concern oncivilian impact of drone strikes.
Pakistan has expressed and conveyed its serious concern and reservationsover the drone strikes to the government of the United States. Pakistan governmentwould continue to pursue this matter with the US government at every level.
Pakistan is working with like-minded countries, organizations, andinternational forums, including the United Nations, to discuss the legality andlegitimacy of the drone strikes as well as their human rights and humanitarianimplications.
Pakistan’s stance was endorsed UN Counter Terrorism Special RapporteurBen Emmerson on his visit to Pakistan on 11-13 March 2013, when he stated thatthe drone attacks violate Pakistan’s sovereignty and have resulted in the killing ofaround 400 civilians. At an interaction at the New America Foundation, (Washingtonbased Think Tank) Mr. Emmerson stated that it was unlawful for the US to targetindividuals in a non-belligerent state.
The McClatchy Newspapers have also published a report compiled byits Washington Bureau which maintains that contrary to official US claims of usingdrones against Al-Qaida, the majority of targets have been persons who are notmembers of Al-Qaida.
Some experts have also warned that the US may be setting a new standardof international conduct that other countries may use to justify their own targetedkillings and to evade accountability.
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On 19 August 2013, Navi Pillay told a U.N. Security Council meeting onprotection of civilians that “the current lack of transparency surrounding their (drone)use creates an accountability vacuum and affects the ability of victims to seekredress.” Pillay said she is “seriously concerned about human rights implicationsfor the protection of civilians of armed drone strikes carried out in the context ofcounter-terrorism and military operations including in Pakistan, Yemen and Gaza”and urged relevant states to clarify the legal basis for such strikes as well as thesafeguards in place to ensure compliance with applicable international law.
147. *Dr. Nisar Ahmad Jatt:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate the steps taken by the Government for revival of textile units inthe country whose production capacity has been decreased up to 30%during the last three years?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: 1. Government hasbeen attending to the issue of sick mills from time to time. The companies Ordinance1984 provides both liquidation and rehabilitation of bankrupt companies i.e.Corporate & Industrial Restructuring Corporation (CIRC) under Corporation &Industrial Restructuring Ordinance 2000. This corporation has been attending allthe cases of sick mills since its inception (copy of SRO is Annexed-I) and workingunder Ministry of Finance.
2. However, Ministry of Textile has been taken following steps to supportthe Textile Industry.
i. Providing trained skilled labour force
ii. Up-gradation of the old infrastructure by replacing old machinerywith new machinery.
iii. Policies to cut down the over head costs.
3. In particular reference of mills whose production decrease upto 30%,it is stated that decrease of production to 30% of any unit generally is not causedby the Financial or Technical problems, it can only happen if power/gas shut downis increased to this threshold. Moreover at 30% efficiency no mill can survive evenfor one week. Ministry of Textile Industry has held various meetings with Ministryof Water & Power for continue supply of power specially at the locations where
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SME are located, However due to compelling reason power & gas supply werenot sufficiently supplied to the Textile Industry causing various mills to shut downand lay off the unit.
Annex-I
CHAPTER III.—POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CORPORATION
18. Business which the Corporation can transact.
Without prejudice to the provisions of any other law for the time being inforce and subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, the Corporation may exercisepowers and functions as under:—
(a) to acquire, purchase, hold, manage, restructure, rehabilitate, sell anddispose of non-performing assets ;
(b) to acquire, purchase, manage, restructure, rehabilitate, sell anddispose of any obligor being a corporation or a company;
(c) to purchase, take over, own, hold, sell, lease, arrange finance for,manage, dispose of, re-organize, restructure, rehabilitate andotherwise, enter into any settlement or contract, realize, mortgage,hypothecate, control, manage any loan, finance, advance,commitment, lease installment, sale contract or other activity relatingto a non-performing asset ;
(d) to purchase, take over, own, hold, sell, lease, and otherwise disposeof, re-organize, restructure, rehabilitate and otherwise enter into anysettlement or contract, realize, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate,control, manage, and arrange finance for any asset, property,undertaking, collateral or security underlying or relating to or securingany financial asset or instrument, including any intellectual property,trade mark, equity, financial interest, legal and contractual right, asset,guarantee and other undertaking ;
(e) to initiate, take, continue, resist, implement and perform any and allactivities for the recovery of non-performing assets including filingsuits and appeals and to enter into settlements, through the courts oroutside, in respect thereof ;
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(f) to engage and enter into agreements with financial and otherinstitutions, and financial, legal, accounting, valuation and otherspecialists, for the purposes of the business of the Corporation ;
(g) to purchase, amalgamate, enter into partnerships, form joint ventures,make profit sharing arrangements or co-operate or participate withany company or other entity for the business purposes of theCorporation ;
(h) to borrow money and secure or discharge any debt or obligationbinding on the Corporation in such manner as may be thought fit,and in particular by mortgages of or charges upon all or any of thereal and personal property, present and future, of the Corporationor by the creation and issue, on such terms as may be deemedexpedient, of debentures, term finance certificates, participation termcertificates, or other redeemable capital as defined in the CompaniesOrdinance, 1984 (Ordinance XLVII of 1984) or other securities ofany description ;
(i) to sell, improve, manage, develop, exchange, mortgage, let or rent(for profit or royalty or otherwise), grant licences, casements, options,servitude’s and other rights over and in any other manner deal withor dispose the real and personal property, assets, rights and effectsof the Corporation ;
(j) to open and maintain the Corporation’s accounts with banks andfinancial institutions and to draw, make, endorse, accept, discount,execute and issue promissory notes, bills of exchange, bills of lading,warrants, participation term certificates and other negotiable ortransferable instruments ;
(k) to establish or promote, or concur or participate in establishing anycorporation or other entity whose objects shall include the acquisitionof all or any of the property or liabilities of the Corporation or thepromotion of which may seem, directly or indirectly, calculated orbenefit the Corporation ;
(l) to enter into any agreement with any authorities, Federal, Provincial,autonomous, semi-autonomous, municipal, local or otherwise thatmay seem conducive to the Corporations’ objects or any of them,
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and to obtain from any such authority, rights, privileges andconcessions which the Corporation may deem desirable to obtainand to carry out, exercise and comply with any such arrangements,rights, privileges and concessions ; and
(m) all powers enumerated in sub-section (3) of section 8 entrusted tothe Chief Executive.
148. *Dr. Nisar Ahmad Jatt:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate:
(a) the details of vehicle imported under the used vehicles schemeslaunched since 2008;
(b) whether such schemes still continue; if so, the details; if not thereasons thereof?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: (a) The detail of vehiclesimported under the used vehicles schemes since 2008, as provided by the FBR, isat Annex-I.
(b) Yes, the used vehicles are allowed under the following three schemes:
i. Personal baggage.
ii. Gift Scheme.
iii. Transfer of residence.
The procedure for import of used vehicles schemes is placed at Annex-II.
(Annexures have been placed in the National Assembly Library)
149. *Sheikh Rashid Ahmed:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate:
(a) the total amount of imports and exports of the country in dollarsat present;
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(b) the quantity of textile exported alongwith its value in dollarsduring the year 2012-13 till date and the amount of rebate giventhereon; and
(c) the total number of textile units set up during the said period;and
(d) the total number of closed aforesaid units at present?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: (a) Total Amount ofExport is US$24.515 (billion) and Import US$ 44.950 (billion) during the yearJuly-June (2012-2013). Total amount of Export at present (July-2013) US$ 2.09(billion) and import US$ 3.814 (billion).
(b) Total amount of Textile Exported alongwith its value in dollars termsis US$ 13.180 (billion) during the year 2012-2013 the table showing quantity andvalue of textile export, Annex-I. No rebate on export is provided to by TID duringthe period under question.
(c) The Textile Commissioner’s Organization registered spinning &composite units and as per record 148820 Spindle and 2000 Rotor have increased.
(d) No unit is reported closed during the period under question.
Annex-I
T.C.O.Jul-13
Textile Commissioner’s OrganizationMinistry of Textile Industry
Textile Industry - Export Performance——————————————————————————————
———————————————————————————————————————— Total Export (All) 24515.405 23624.256 3.77
————————————————————————————————————————
Textiles as % age of Total Exports 53.76 52.68
——————————————————————————————
150 *Dr. Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari:
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state the stepsbeing taken by the Government on diplomatic level to prevent Indiafrom constructing dams on Chenab River in violation of Indus WaterTreaty?
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Under the Indus Waters Treaty (1960),restrictions have been placed on the design and the operation of hydroelectricplants, storage works and other river works to be constructed by India on theWestern Rivers. The Treaty provides a procedure for the settlement of differencesand disputes.
Any question, which arises between the parties, is to be first examined bythe Indus Water Commission. If the Commission fails to resolve the issue, diplomaticchannels are used to resolve that issue and the matter can be referred to NeutralExpert/ Court of Arbitration. Questions of technical nature are to be dealt with bya Neutral Expert whereas other questions are to be settled through a Court ofArbitration.
Pakistan has raised this particular issue with India at all levels. The proteston the reduction of water flow in River Chenab was lodged with India by thePermanent Indus Water Commission and the Foreign Office. India has recentlystarted construction of two major Power projects named Ratle Power Project(850 MW) and Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Plant (1000MW) over River Chenab in
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which Pakal Dul Hydroelectric plant is located on Marusadar River, a major rightbank tributary of the Chenab Main both in Doda district in Indian Occupied Kashmir.The other Hydro electric power projects on river Chenab include Miyar and LowerKalnai. The information of these projects was received by Pakistan in 2012 andsubsequently Pakistan raised objections on the designs of above projects. Theprojects are under construction and the office of the Pakistan Commissioner forIndus Waters is currently taking up the matter with the Indian Commissioner.
The Indian Commissioner for Indus waters has been asked to provide thecomplete information about these projects as under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.It is pertinent to mention here that India is bound to provide information about newHydro electric Projects six months in advance for large plants and three months inadvance for small plants.
Pakistan has been diligently voicing its concerns on the violations of IndusWaters Treaty committed by India. All possible efforts have been made at alldiplomatic levels to impress upon India that it is in the interest of both the nationsthat the Indus Waters Treaty be respected and all outstanding issues be solved inthe light of the provisions of the Treaty.
151. *Dr. Arif Alvi:
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state the stepsbeing taken by the Government effectively to address the allegationsleveled by an Indian Government official against Government ofIndia for launching self styled attacks on Indian Parliament House,Dehli in 2001 and in Mumbai in 2008?
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Mr. RVS Mani Under secretary in HomeMinistry accused a senior Indian Police Service officer Mr. Verma serving in theCentral Bureau of Investigations (CBI) of telling him that the attacks on Indiaparliament in 2001 and Mumbai attacks in 2008 were orchestrated by incumbentIndian government with the objective of strengthening the counter terror legislationsnamely Prevention of Terrorist Activities (POTA) which followed the attack onIndian Parliament 2001 and the subsequent amendment to the Unlawful ActivitiesPrevention Act (UAPA) which followed the Mumbai attacks of 2008. Mr. SatishVerma of CBI who made these alleged allegations against Indian Government hasso far said nothing publicly.
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It is however pertinent to underscore that Mr. Verma had led in recentpast a CBI driven investigation which concluded that the Intelligence Bureau (IB)and Gujrat Police were involved in fake encounter which resulted in the killing bysecurity authorities of three Muslim men and a teenage Muslim woman in the saidstate in 2004.
According to our Mission in Delhi there is a turf tussle going on betweenIB-CBI the two premiere Intelligence agencies of India in which Mr. Mani ofHome Ministry has been used by IB to discredit CBI investigation of Gujrat ‘fakeencounters’ of 2004.
The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has however approachedthe Indian government to ascertain the veracity of these reports and according totheir response; the Indian government says that Mr. Verma has denied thesestatements.
However, the process of getting full information on that matter is still goingon as these could have possible legal ramifications for Mumbai trial case.
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate whether it is a fact that the shrimps are being exported by theGovernment; if so, the monthly export thereof at present?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: No export of shrimpsis being made by the Government. However, it is pertinent to mention that theexport of shrimps is allowed under the Export Policy Order, 2013, and accordinglyprivate sector is exporting shrimps. The monthly export data of shrimps is atAnnex-I.
Annex-I.
Month wise Exports of Shrimps during 2012-13 (July-April)
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147. Sheikh Salahuddin:
Will the Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human ResourcesDevelopment be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that a number of complaints lodged by thePakistanis are pending in Pakistan Mission at Riyadh, SaudiArabia for the last several months; if so, the reasons thereof;and
(b) the time by which those complaints will be resolved?
Reply not received.
148. Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate:
(a) the names of items imported by Pakistan whose volumecontinuously increased during the last five years; and
(b) the sources of imports of those items alongwith the names ofcountries thereof?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: (a) The names of itemsimported by Pakistan whose volume continuously increased during last five yearsare placed at Annex-A.
(b) The sources of imports of the items whose volume increase duringthe last five years are placed at Annex-B.
(Annexures have been placed in the National Assembly Library)
149. Seema Mohiuddin Jameeli:
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state the totalnumber and types of vehicles hired on rent by each Pakistani Embassyduring the last five years alongwith the utilization thereof?
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Minister for Foreign Affairs: The detail of the total number of vehicleshired by Pakistan Missions abroad during the last five years is enclosed.
(Annexure has been placed in the National Assembly Library)
150. Sher Akbar Khan:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate:
(a) whether there is any proposal under consideration of theGovernment to establish Tobacco Research Station/Sub-Stationat District Buner (NA-28);
(b) if so, when it will be implemented; if not, the reasons thereof?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: (a) Tobacco ModelFarm at Ambela, Buner, has already been established by Pakistan Tobacco Boardduring the year 2008. No further proposal for establishment of tobacco researchfarm is under consideration.
(b) As Above.
151. Sher Akbar Khan:
Will the Minister for States and Frontier Regions be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken by the Government for promotion andencouragement of higher education in the FATA; and
(b) the details of budget allocated for the said purpose during theyear 2013-14?
Reply not received.
152. Shaikh Rohale Asghar:
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) the year and country-wise total foreign fishermen arrested fromPakistani Maritime Boundry during the last five years; and
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(b) whether those fishermen were released; if so, the total numberalongwith the details thereof?
Minister for Foreign Affairs: (a) According to Agreement on Consularaccess signed between Pakistan & India on 21 May, 2008, each Governmentmaintains a list of Prisoners of each other’s country and exchanges the list on 1stJanuary and 1st July each year.
Details of Indian Fishermen arrested during the last five Years from 2008-2013 are as follows:——————————————————————————————S. No. Year Fishermen
(b) Pakistan has released 1619 Indian Fishermen during the period from2008-2013 as per detail tabulated below:——————————————————————————————S. No. Year Fishermen
——————————————————————————————53 Indian fishermen prisoners were released on 25-5-2013
“340 Indian fishermen prisoners will be released on 24-8-2013
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153. Shaikh Rohale Asghar:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate the expected impacts of Free Trade Agreement amongst SAARCcountries on Pakistani imports/exports alongwith the details thereof?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: In Fiscal Year 2003-04, Pakistan’s total export to the SAARC region was US$ 886 million whichincreased to US$ 1,564 million in FY 2006-07 the year SAFTA wasoperationalized. Subsequently, FY 2007-08 witnessed considerable increase ofPakistan’s export to the region valuing US$ 1,960 million. During the last two FY2010-11 & 2011-12, Pakistan’s exports were US$ 3,953 million and US$ 3,533million respectively. There was an increase of 125% in Pakistan’s exports to theregion from 2006-07 to 2011-12.
In Fiscal Year 2003-04, Pakistan’s total imports from the SAARC regionwas US$ 527 million which increased to US$ 1,437 million in FY 2006-07 theyear SAFTA was operationalized. Subsequently, FY 2007-08 witnessed increasein Pakistan’s imports from the region around US$ 1,927 million. During the lasttwo FY 2010-11 & 2011-12, Pakistan’s imports were US$ 2,054 million andUS$ 1,842 million respectively. There was an increase 34% in Pakistan’s importsfrom the region from 2006-07 to 2011-12. Following table shows latest bilateraltrade between Pakistan and SAARC region for the year 2011-12 and 2012-13(July-April);
——————————————————————————————Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
Pakistan’s major exports to SAARC region include dairy products, rice,cereals, vegetable & fruit, animal & vegetable fats, fish & fish preparations, rawcotton, woven cotton fabrics, cotton yarn, synthetic fabrics including silk andwoolen, knitted or crocheted fabrics, raw sugar, cement, pharmaceuticals products,chemicals, machinery & its parts and iron & steel etc.
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Pakistan’s main items of imports from the SAARC region includevegetables & fruits, oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, raw cotton, raw jute, tea &mate, yarn & thread of synthetic fibers, crude rubber, raw materials (minerals,organic and inorganic chemicals, plastics, iron and steel), machinery & parts(agricultural tools, textile machinery, foundry machinery etc.) and pharmaceuticalsetc. (Commodity-wise trade figures are at Annex-I).
(Annexure has been placed in the National Assembly Library)
154. Dr. Nisar Ahmad Jatt:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that the export of a number of items hasbeen decreased during the last five years;
(b) if so, the names of items alongwith the reasons thereof,separately?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: (a) The following exportdata of the last five years shows that exports of petroleum group & coal, molassesand handicrafts have decreased considerably since the year 2008-09:
value in US million————————————————————————————————————————
The export of Petroleum & Coal has beer decreased during the last twoyears due to volatile situation at Pak-Afghan border and embargo imposed onNATO supplies by Pakistan in the wake of Salalah incident in year 2011-12
(ii) Molasses
Export of molasses has been decreased due to imposition of 15% regulatoryduty since the year 2008-09, which has resulted into increase in value addedexport of ethanol from Rs. 13157 million to Rs 24161 million during thecorresponding year.
(iii) Handicraft
The decrease in export of handicrafts is mainly due to energy crises,worsening law & order situatioi which have resulted into loss of confidence offoreign buyers.
(Annexure has been placed in the National Assembly Library)
155. Dr. Nisar Ahmad Jatt:
Will the Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination be pleased to state:
(a) the prescribed procedure for formation of Interim NationalOlympic Committee; and
(b) whether said procedure is being implemented in letter and spiritunder the existing Sports Policy?
Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (Mr. Riaz HussainPirzada): (a) The National Sports Policy 2005 is silent about the formation ofInterim National Olympic Committee.
The Government has no role in constitution/ formation of National OlympicCommittee (NOC) or Interim NOC. Infact the office bearers of NOC are beingelected by the members/ constituent units i.e. the National Sports Federation’s ofPakistan Olympic Association (POA/NOC), under the POA constitution.
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(b) As submitted above, the POA is working under its own constitution.
156. Malik Shakir Bashir Awan:
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state the totalnumber of Pakistanis who were arrested or imprisoned in variouscountries during the year 2012-13 till date alongwith the causes oftheir arrest and confinement?
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Details of total number of Pakistani whoare arrested/imprisoned in various countries during 2012-2013 till dated alongwith their nature of offence is as under:—
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157. Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industries be pleased tostate:
(a) the names of items being exported to India at present; and
(b) the names of items being imported from India at present?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industries: (a) Pakistan’s MajorExports to India
Pakistan’s major export to India include vegetables, fruit, raw sugar, oilseed, raw cotton, wool, minerals, ores, petroleum products, chemicals, leather,cotton fabric, bag & sack, construction material, metals, machinery, surgical etc.
(b) Pakistan’s Major Imports from India
Pakistan major imports from India include vegetable, sugar, tea & mate,feeding stuff for animals, spices, oil seeds, raw cotton & cotton yarn, syntheticfiber, minerals, coke, petroleum product, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron & steel,machinery etc.
(Commodity-wise trade figures are at Annex-I).
(Annexure has been placed in the National Assembly Library)
158. Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate:
(a) the steps taken by the Government for promotion developmentof the textile industry during the period from 01-01-2008 to 31-12-2012; and
(b) the achievements gained therefrom so far?
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Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: (a) Ministry of Textilehas taken following steps to support the Textile Industry:-
i. After rigorous process of consultation, seminars and meetings formore than a year, first time in the history of Pakistan comprehensive and investmentfriendly textile policy 2009-14 was announced by MinTex and TCO providedinputs and coordinated in the formulation process.
ii. MINTEX/TCO provide trained skilled labour force, 8500 workershas been trained through SMOT Scheme (on job training), 9vocational training institute is producing train worker for TextileIndustry.
iii. As an initiative of Textile Policy, to offset the cost of taxes on valueadded textile exports by various Government agencies and disruptionscaused by law and order problems MINTEX issued notification forDuty Draw Back of local taxes and Levels on 01-09-2009, TCOprovided inputs after consultation. For R&D, over 3 billion rupeeshas disbursed to the Exporters in DLTL Scheme, 14.47 billion rupeeshas been disbursed to Textile Industry, in order to offset the effect oflocal taxes at par with the competitor countries in the world market.
iv. For encouragement of women and Handicapped employment inTextile Industry, notification of reimbursement of EOBI contributionfor women and handicapped employees was issued by MINTEX,TCO coordinated in drafting and consultation with all stake holders.In the policy initiative, Rs. 34.982 million has been reimbursed to theTextile Industry for women & handicapped workforce, 2000 workerhas been benefited from the scheme.
v. MINTEX also issued notification for Export Refinance, which wasavailable at 5% markup points during the period in question.
vi. Technology up-gradation support order-2010 has been notified.
vii. On request of MINTEX, FBR issued an SRO for zero rating ofTextile Machinery through SRO No. 809(1)/2009 dated 19th Sep,2009, in order to attract investment and technology transfer.
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viii. In order to supply adequate raw material to local value added industry,MINTEX capped the export of yarn first @ 50 million kg per monthand then revised at @ 35 million kg per month. The yarn fetchingvalue @ $3.5/kg was exempted from this cap. This helped in servingvalue added industry.
ix. MINTEX has initiated a nationwide mapping prioritize futureinterventions to give a comprehensive policy on environmentalcompliance of the industry. -
x. Ministry of Textile Industry issued SRO 10445(1)/2008 on 7thOctober, 2008 in which the compensatory support @ 7.5% dutywas provided to the existing consumers of PTA. This action helpssynthetic textile industry during sever world crisis.
xi. As a Textile Policy Initiative MINTEX has formulated, draft TextileIndustry (Standardization and Development) Act 2009. The TCOprovided input for the same and coordinated in formulation process.As there was no legal framework in the past for the textile industry,hence textile industry faced severe hurdles in its development. Theact will now provide a single platform to resolve all the problemsfaced by textile industry.
(b) The export of textile has shown a growth of 22.29% during 2008-13 (Annex-III). Although the pace of growth is slow but it suffered a bit due tovarious textile crisis including Euro crisis in the world market. This shows if theindustry was not supported, the result would have been quite bleak. The investmenthas been slow, mostly because of law & order situation and energy crisis but theexisting industry invested in BMR. (Annex-I) depicted investment figure duringthe period in question.
(Annexures have been placed in the National Assembly Library)
159. Sahibzada Tariq Ullah:
Will the Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human ResourceDevelopment be pleased to state:
(a) the country-wise agreements signed by the Government to sendlabourers abroad since March, 2008 till date except Korea,Malaysia and Gulf countries; and
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(b) the number of labourers sent abroad under the said agreementsalongwith the details of jobs thereof?
Reply not received.
160. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed:
Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry be pleased tostate the value in $ of export of textile made during the year 2012-13till date?
Minister for Commerce and Textile Industry: The value in US$ ofExport of Textile made during the year 2012-13 till date is given below:—
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161 Choudhry Muhammad Shahbaz Babar:
Will the Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource
Development be pleased to state the post-wise total number of persons
recruited in EOBI during the period from January, 2011 to March
2013 alongwith the procedure adopted therefor?
Reply not received.
162 Choudhry Muhammad Shahbaz Babar:
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) the names of countries visited by the Honorable Ex-Prime
Minister’s and President of Pakistan during the period from
March 2008 to March 2013 alongwith object of each visit;
(b) the detail of entourage and expenditure incurred on each visit
separately; and
(c) the number of days of official and private visits separately made
by the Honorable Prime Minister and President during the said
period indicating also the head under which the expenditures of
private visits were met?
Minister for Foreign Affairs: (a) The names of countries the Honorable
Ex-Prime Minister and President of Pakistan visited from March 2008 to March
2013 along with object of each visit are enclosed.
(b) The detail of entourage is also enclosed. The expenditure incurred
on each visit separately is being worked out, and provided shortly.
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(c) The number of days of ‘official and private visits separately undertakenby the Honorable Prime Minister and President are also enclosed.
(Annexures have been placed in the National Assembly Library)
