Illegal immigrants in country: Ministry directed to give briefing on 'plan of action'

Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Senator Talha Mahmood, here on Tuesday, directed the interior ministry to arrange a comprehensive briefing on a plan of action against illegal immigrants living in the country. The committee expressed grief over the terrorist attack at PNS Mehran base in Karachi and directed the interior ministry to take action against the people living illegally in the country.
Member of the committee Senator Gulshan Saeed directed the ministry to submit a report about the number of people who are residing without legal documents. "The Interior Ministry should take action against the people living illegally as they are threat to the country's security".
Senator Sardar Mohammad Jamal Khan Leghari urged the interior ministry to take action against the people living in Pakistan illegally as soon as possible. A separate meeting of the standing Committee on Interior would be held soon on the issue. The committee directed Federal Investigation Authority to initiate inquiry against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) corruption cases.
The chairman also directed PIA to fully co-operate with FIA in conducting inquiry and provide all documents required by the Agency in taking the process forward. Senator Talha Mahmood expressed serious concern that PIA had losses of Rs 88 billion and also they have taken Rs 150 billion as loan.
Members of the committee showed serious concern on the quality of service being provided by PIA to its passengers. The chairman noted that PIA is a prestigious corporation of the country and recalled that Emirates Airline has emulated PIA in past but now Emirates is far ahead the national airline. He feared that the airline is near financial collapse and urged Managing Director PIA to take measures for its revival.
The standing committee chairman also showed serious concern on the hiring of Deputy Managing Director on $24,000 per month package. He also directed FIA to investigate the issue of handbags and watches purchased by PIA for the intending Hujjaj. It noted that the bags and watches were purchased on higher rates and yet not been handed over to Hujjaj and lying in the storerooms of the airline. Senator Mahmood also questioned why PIA is establishing academy in Nawabshah.
MD PIA responded that the academy is being set up to overcome shortage of pilots. Senator Mahmood directed FIA to initiate cases against the persons involved in SNGPL corruption. The committee asked SNGPL to submit reports regarding the embezzlement being done by CNG stations.
Deputy Managing Director SNGPL informed the committee that the situation will be worst in next summer season as not a single additional supply has been added in the system. On the occasion, Director General, Gilgit Baltistan also gave comprehensive briefing to the committee members regarding the purchase of items, made during the last three years along-with standard procedure adopted for these.