The Senate was informed today that the federal government is encouraging use of electric vehicles in order to protect the environment and reduce dependence on expensive imported fuel.

Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar told the House during Question Hour that thirty electric buses have been imported from China. These buses have been stationed at Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad where state of the art charging facilities have been made available.

The Minister for Law told the House that NADRA centers will be established at Union Council level in the next two and a half years.

He said NADRA has prepared a comprehensive phased wise plan in this regard and 1150 Union Councils will have NADRA centers in ten months.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar told the House that the government has not stopped advertisement of any television channel. 

He said the advertisements are being given in accordance with their ratings. He said newspapers received advertisements worth nine billion rupees, and television channels of six billion rupees over the last five years.

The Minister for Information also clarified that no new tax has been imposed on newspapers in the budget. 

Taking the floor, Leader of the House in the Senate Ishaq Dar assured that the privatization process will be taken forward in a transparent manner. He however emphasized there should not be any politics on this matter.

Ishaq Dar also proposed formation of a special committee to ascertain why the privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills did not occur, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of billions of rupees.

The Senate also passed The State Owned Enterprises (Governance and Operations) Amendment Bill, 2024.

It was moved by Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar.

The Law Minister said the bill is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Boards of Directors of State-Owned Enterprises.