Lawmakers express dissatisfaction over government's tackling of coronavirus

Parliam-entarians on Friday expressed dissatisfaction over the measures taken by the government for tackling novel coronavirus and asked for effective steps across the country in this regard.

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior, which met with Senator Rehman Malik in the chair, asked the government to appoint a full-time minister and convene joint sitting of the parliament to chalk out a comprehensive roadmap to control spread, and to combat the deadly epidemic.

Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi said that the world had taken spread of coronavirus very seriously, while we have no full-time health minister to inform the parliament about measures taken by the government. Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh said that Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza except for addressing press conferences was doing nothing.

Senator Kalsoom Parveen said that a huge number of people were coming from Iran, while no efforts had been made for bringing our children stuck in Wuhan, China.

At this, Malik said that the health ministry had made commitment that they had prepare a plan for bringing Pakistani students stuck in Wuhan within 15 days.

Malik said that that was a major issue and taskforce under the chairmanship of the prime minister should be constituted to curb of spread of coronavirus. He also said that a joint sitting should be convened to discus the situation in detail.

The committee deferred the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860) (Ordinance No. VI) moved by Senator Azam Swati on behalf of minister for interior due to the absence of the minister for interior.

The committee directed the Ministry of Interior to convey the message of the committee that the Minister for Interior should be present in the next meeting.

The committee also discussed "Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (XXVII of 1997)" and directed the Ministry of Interior to define terrorism afresh and submit report before the committee. The parliamentary body also directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to implement the recommendation of the committee, which have already been sent to the Ministry of Interior.

The chairman said that the disputes were affecting efficiency and performance of the CDA and the MCI and because of which the residents of Islamabad have become ultimate sufferers.

He directed that the recommendation of committee should be followed in letter and spirit, and a report should be submitted within 40 days positively. The committee also discussed Islamabad Prevention of Beggary Act, 2019 and Islamabad Consumers Protection Act, 1995 (III of 1995) moved by Senator Atteeq Shaikh.

The committee asked the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Interior to review the bills, and compare it with the existing bills and submit report before the committee in the next meeting.

The meeting was also attended by Senator Muhammad Tahir Bizenjo and Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi as special invitee. The meeting was also attended by senior officers from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Ministry of Interior, the National Institute of Health, the FIA, and the CDA along with all concerned.