Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said efforts are being made to revamp Pakistan Television to make it a vibrant media organization.

Responding to a question during Question Hour in the National Assembly today, he said the government is committed to make PTV a profitable media organization. 

He said the policy of minimum wages of 37,000 rupees has been implemented and a case has been moved to the Board of Directors of PTV for formal approval for the enforcement of minimum wages.         

Replying to another question regarding the fire incident in Weekly Bazar H-9, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting said the fire erupted on 10th July this year, burning 625 stalls. He said due to that incident the financial loss reached up to around 280 million rupees as per stall holders.

Attaullah Tarar further said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in light of an inquiry report into the incident, directed the authorities concerned to develop a fire safety plan.

He said the Prime Minister has further instructed to conduct a comprehensive fire safety audit of all Mercantile Bazaars in the federal capital on the first week of every month as per Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010 and international best practices.

Answering a question regarding daily-wages staff working under Chaklala Cantonment Board, Rawalpindi, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said daily wages staff are contingent paid workers and they are engaged on purely daily wages basis and there are no sanction vacant posts against such daily wages. Hence, it is not possible to regularize their services.                                   

To a question, Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the Capital Development Authority has launched three projects worth over 873 million rupees to elevate the infrastructure of services in rural areas of Islamabad to urban standards. 

She said these projects include Rehabilitation and improvement of Gokina and Mandiala road, Phulgrain Sakreela and Member road as well as Nai-Abadi and Huzaifa Town road.

Responding to a Calling Attention Notice, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has stressed the need to change the mindset of not giving inheritance rights to women.

He said the government has done legislation to facilitate women in getting inheritance rights.

Attaullah Tarar said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is ready to launch an awareness campaign to highlighting the importance of giving inheritance rights to women as per the spirit of Islam.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged the treasury and the opposition benches to play their due role for the supremacy of the Constitution and the Parliament to strengthen democracy and resolve people’s problems.

Speaking at the floor of the National Assembly, he said the elected representatives of the people and office bearers of provincial and federal governments will have to forge working relationship regardless of their political differences.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said abusive language used by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa does not serve people’s interests rather a political point scoring.

He said time has come to review performance of the government on the economic front instead of resorting to mere criticism. He said the government had set a target of bringing down inflation to 12 percent for this year, but it has successfully reduced the price hike to 9.6 percent in just eight months for which the government should be commended.

The PPP Chairman urged the chair to form a high-power committee, having representation of all the parties, to run the Parliament in an amicable manner.

Welcoming Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s proposal, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said the government fully endorses this suggestion so that a policy can be evolved to take the country forward with collective wisdom.

PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said his party has no intention to quit any assembly and will continue playing its role for the cause of democracy.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif called for protecting the interests of the common man instead of discussing political party affairs in the Parliament. He said bitterness of political rallies should not be brought to the parliament.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader Mustafa Kamal commended Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s efforts for upholding the sanctity of the Parliament.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai assured the Speaker of entire opposition’s support for the supremacy of the Constitution and strengthening of the Parliament.

The House offered fateha for the departed soul of founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah on his death anniversary, being observed today (Wednesday).

Lawmakers also prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul of former first lady late Kulsoom Nawaz on her death anniversary and commended her services for the cause of democracy.

Besides, the House offered for the departed soul of former Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri.

The House will now meet tomorrow (Thursday) at 11 a.m.