The Senate on Monday passed a resolution recommending the government to utilize maximum funds for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 pandemic and for the assistance of and rehabilitation of the poor affected by the lockdown.

In another resolution, moved by Mushtaq Ahmad, the house asked the government to take necessary measures to make Bacha Khan international airport operational and increase the number of flights to facilitate the return of laborers and workers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the Gulf countries.

The resolution stressed that these stranded workers should be fully supported by the Pakistani missions in the gulf.

The house also passed the Dyslexia Special Measures Bill, 2020.

The house offered fateha for the martyrs of Kashmir, four soldiers martyred in North Waziristan on Sunday, former Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Syed Munawwar Hassan and those who died of COVID-19 across the country.

Several bills were laid before the house today.

These included:  The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2020; Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry (Amendment) Bill, Islamabad Capital Territory Law Officers Bill, 2020; Press Council of Pakistan (Amendment) bill, 2020; Islamabad Capital Territory Criminal Prosecution Service bill, The Constitution (Amendment) bill (Amendment of Article 73); The Constitution (Amendment) bill (Amendment of Article 140) and Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Amendment Bill.

The chair referred the bills to the standing committees concerned for further deliberations.

Responding to the points of the opposition members, Leader of House Shahzad Waseem called for discussion on the 18th amendment and the National Finance Commission. He said ten years have passed since the 18th amendment was adopted and given the current challenges, the opposition should show open heartedness and not escape discussion on the amendment. He said both the federation and the provinces will have to move along to take forward the country.

Speaking on a motion, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said as per vision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan, PTI government will ensure the development of less-developed areas of the country including tribal districts and Balochistan.

He said we are fully aware of the challenges faced by the tribal districts and efforts are being made to resolve their issues.

The Minister said erstwhile FATA faced severe Health, Education and infrastructure during last seventy years, however, the previous governments remained silent over resolving its problems.

He urged the Sindh government to fulfill its promise of granting 3 percent budgets for the development of Tribal districts.

Talking about the development of Balochistan, he said funds were misused by political elites during political previous governments.

Speaking on a motion, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur said PTI government plans to grant provisional provincial status to GB.

He said we are committed to the development of GB and its budget has been increased by 42 percent during last two years.

The Minister said work on various projects, including Diamer Bhasha Dam, two national parks and two hydel power projects has been started in GB.

He said the government is focused to explore more tourist sites and develop the existing ones. He said we are also planning to construct a medical college and an engineering university in GB.

The Minister said constitutional and administrative reforms will also be made in GB to ensure basic rights of people.

He said under Ehsaas program, health cards will also be provided to the people of GB.

Speaking on a motion, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said as per vision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan, PTI government will ensure the development of less-developed areas of the country including tribal districts and Balochistan.

He said we are fully aware of the challenges faced by the tribal districts and efforts are being made to resolve their issues.

The Minister said erstwhile FATA faced severe Health, Education and infrastructure during last seventy years; however, the previous governments remained silent over resolving its problems.

He urged the Sindh government to fulfill its promise of granting 3 percent budgets for the development of Tribal districts.

Talking about the development of Balochistan, he said funds were misused by political elites during political previous governments.  

Speaking on a motion, Minister for National Food and Security Syed Fakhar Imam said coordinated steps are being taken at the federal and provincial levels to eradicate locust.

He said locust attack was an international threat and the government is taking all-out steps to eradicate it in coordination with all the stakeholders.

The Minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan had declared locust challenge as a national emergency and called for comprehensive efforts to eliminate its swarms.

The minister informed the house that National Disaster Management Authority was making coordinated efforts to control the swarm and managing to meet the needs of anti-locust operation.

He assured to compensate the losses of farmers that have been caused by Locust.

The House will meet again on Wednesday at 4pm.