Surplus commodity export: Sindh's, Punjab's pleas forwarded to ECC

The government on Thursday informed the Senate that a request from Punjab and Sindh provinces has been forwarded to Economic Co-ordination Council (ECC) for approval as they want to export surplus commodity, lying in their godowns, whereas its rate in world market has come down significantly. Senators Chaudhry Tanvir Khan and Mir Kabeer Shahi who were stunned over import of 6,81,210 metric tons wheat in 2014-215 and another 13, 912 metric tons in 2013-14 while 0.91 metric tons in 2015-16.
They questioned why so much wheat was imported when Pakistan already had surplus and yearly production was also quite good. To this, Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Khan Bossan said that flour mill owners in Karachi had exported the commodity on finding its tumbling prices in the global market, forcing the federal government to impose 10 per cent duty in 2013-2014 and in 2014-2015 and 25 per cent in 2015-2016, which had now been increased to 60 per cent after Sindh approached the federal government in this context, as it also had wheat in surplus.
He clarified that the federal government had not imported wheat at all and had in a way banned now its import even by the private sector, adding the national demand of wheat was 25 million tons against the production of 25.63 million tons during 2015-2016. The House welcomed a delegation of the Council of Oman, present in the galleries, as announced by Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani.
Minister for Inter-Provincial Co-ordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada said he had no objection if the chair referred the matters, relating to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to the House standing committee concerned after JUI-F Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood questioned why so many projects were still under process and not executed. The minister explained that decision on Irsa Act could not be made and Pat Feeder issue could not be taken up because Sindh chief minister could not attend the council meeting.
PPPP Senator Sassui Palijo pointed out that it was a matter of deep concern that the council had held just eight meetings since 2013 and she also requested for referral of the matter to the House committee. However, the chair did not do so.
Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo cautioned against issuance of licences to foreign fishing vessels and said, "If this tend is resumed, our children will see fish only in aquarium, as no fish will be left in the sea." He added that in his opinion, keeping in view the condition of the sea, it would be not prudent to issue such licences in future.
MQM's Mian Muhammad Attique had asked about whether there was any proposal under consideration to issue 100 licences to various fishing vessels for fishing in Pakistani territorial waters and the minister said no such proposal was under consideration. However, Senator Attique insisted that licences were issued and he would share documents, alleging the ministry obliged certain persons.
The minister said that 10-15 years back, licences used to be issued to foreign vessels but this practice was stopped. However, Prime Minister had asked Minister Sikandar Bossan to draft a fishing policy. "Billions of rupees are coming and billions are going. I need details of income and expenditure of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has not been provided in the written answer. Therefore, please referred it to the House committee concerned, where PCB officials must also be summoned," asserted Senator Chaudhry Tanvir.
Riaz Pirzada said he had no objection to it but said details had been shared with the House in the written answer. But for further details, the chair might refer it to the House panel.
Chaudhry Tanvir had sought details of income and expenditures of the board during the last five years with year-wise and head-wise break-up. The minister said the board earned its revenue on its own and spent it through its proper mechanism and the government provided no funds to it and the minister also did not interfere in its affairs.
To a question by Senator Ahmad Hassan of PPPP, Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar told the Houses that a proposal is under consideration to establish a cancer hospital in Islamabad and the PC-I of the hospital has been approved by the Department Development Working Party on November 28, 2016 at a cost of Rs 20.4 billion.
She said it would be a state-of-the-art hospital, which would provide comprehensive treatment for all forms of cancer: it would be 500-bedded hospital and would provide treatment to patients of Islamabad Capital Territory as well as other areas of Pakistan.