ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday approved the demand for grants worth Rs 14.039 billion for Foreign Affairs Division to meet the expenditures during the financial year 2014-15.
Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar moved four demands for grants, which were approved by the house with majority vote. A total of 129 cut motions of opposition were rejected by the house.
A sum of Rs1.09 billion has been approved for Foreign Affairs Division to meet expenditures during 2014-15while Rs10.87 billion has been approved for Foreign Affairs to meet expenditures during the year ending June 30, 2015. Also grants worth Rs1.805 billion were approved for Foreign Affairs Division to meet other expenditures.
The lower house of the Parliament accorded approval to grants worth Rs255 million for Capital Outlay on Works of Foreign Affairs Division.
Participating in the discussion, Dr Azra Fazl Pechchu said Pakistan was lucky that it has been granted GSP Plus Status.
Dr Shireen Mazari of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) criticised foreign ministry, saying that corruption is rampant in the ministry. She urged that a culture of merit should be promoted in the ministry.
“Foreign office is losing its professionalism and no statement was issued on Iraq, Syria and other issues in the world.”
Mazari urged the government to rationalise foreign postings and expenditures of the foreign office.
Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that the country's was passing through crisis due to ineffective foreign policy.
“The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government should appoint a full time foreign affairs minister from within the party, he said.
Ali Raza Abidi called for reconsideration of the country's foreign policy and good relations with neighbouring countries including India, Afghanistan and Iran.
Shahida Rehmani was of the view that Pakistan neither has a foreign minister nor a foreign policy. She proposed to overcome energy crisis, the government should expedite work on Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline.
Col Amirullah Marvat of PTI urged to make relations with Islamic countries proactive.
In response, Minister for Commerce Engineer Khurram Dastgir said democracy in Pakistan gaining strength and the peaceful transfer of power conveyed a better image abroad.
He said the government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has focused on safeguarding the national interest.