ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that 18 aircrafts have been added to the fleet of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) over a course of four years and the government plans to induct more planes on dry and wet lease.
Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Secretariat Javed Ikhlas told the house during question hour that the national flag carrier has also been rationalizing its route network under which loss making routes are being closed while additional flights are being introduced on viable routes.
He said the flights to USA have been closed by the PIA since November last year due to heavy losses on this route.
Parliamentary Secretary Nadeem Abbas told the house that the government is paying attention to the renovation of railway stations to provide better facilities to passengers.
Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said a PM grievance cell has been established to provide free of cost liver transplant to the patients at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said visa policy has been made transparent to promote tourism in the country.
Responding to a point of order raised by PTI member Shireen Mazari who expressed concerns over issuance of visa on arrival to visitors from different countries including the US, Iqbal clarified that the visas will be issued through the registered tour operators which have been given guidelines in this regard.
He said there are security checks which will not allow entry to undesirable elements, the black water or the security contractors.
The minister pointed out that Pakistan has recently been declared an emerging tourist destination and the visa policy is aimed at promoting tourism.
Responding to a calling attention notice, he said a project costing 66 billion rupees has been prepared to bring water from Indus River to Islamabad to meet the growing water requirements of the capital.
He said work on this project will start this year. He said China has been requested to provide finances for the project under the CPEC.
Iqbal said that another project costing 400 million rupees has been prepared for rehabilitation or replacement of water pipes in the capital.
The National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming support to the just and legitimate struggle of Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination as per the UN Security Council resolutions.
The resolution moved by Minister for Kashmir Affairs Barjees Tahir strongly denounced the black laws enacted in the valley. It said 800 thousand Indian troops in occupied Kashmir have martyred 100 thousand innocent Kashmiri people including freedom fighter Burhan Wani.
It noted with concern the detention of hundreds of Hurriyet leaders and workers and registration of fake cases against them.
The resolution pointed out that women and youth have been made victims of state terrorism in occupied Kashmir whilst use of pellet guns have also affected the eyesight of thousands of youth. It also highlighted the discovery of 7500 mass graves in Occupied Kashmir.
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