The National Assembly was informed on Friday that the government is taking steps to address the issue of circular debt.

Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Aliya Hamza Malik told the house during question hour that we are entering into inexpensive agreements with the IPPs.  She said the government has reduced line losses and significantly enhanced the recoveries. She said a relief of 50.69 billion rupees was provided on account of payment of electricity bills of small and medium enterprises after the breakout of COVID-19.

Responding to a calling attention notice, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Shaukat Ali said thirty nine officials of NADRA have been suspended for their involvement in issuance of fake CNICs. He said an FIR has also been registered against ten officials whilst five officials have been arrested. He said the action against the NADRA officials was taken following a report by the FIA.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Abdul Akbar Chitrali and others regarding obscenity on TV channels, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said the PEMRA has been directed to issue advisory to the television channels on this matter. He said the PEMRA in accordance with its code of conduct takes action against indecent and objectionable content. He said 335 show cause notices have also been issued and fine imposed on the television channel.

The National Assembly on Friday passed two bills. These include Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Bill, 2021 and the Special Technology Zones Authority Bill, 2021).

The house passed three resolutions extending the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Ordinance, the Higher Education Commission Amendment Ordinance (IX of 2021) and Higher Education Commission Second Amendment Ordinance (X of 2021) for a further period of one hundred and twenty days.

The House has now been adjourned to meet again on Monday at 10 am.