NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT ————— “QUESTIONS for ORAL ANSWERS and THEIR REPLIES” to Be Asked
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1 (49th Session) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT ————— “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the National Assembly to be held on Wednesday, the 30th January, 2013 (Originally Starred Question Nos. 54, 67 and 164 were set down for answer during the 48th Session) 54. *Malik Shakir Bashir Awan: Will the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources be pleased to state whether it is a fact that Government has to bear additional expenses of one million US dollars in connection with CNG consumption on daily basis as compared to imported fuel; if so, the reasons thereof? Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources: Yes. The details are as under:- PRESENT SCENARIO (a) Current average monthly consumption = 265,000 MT of MS. (b) Current average daily consumption of MS. = 8,800 MT In Absence of CNG (a) Additional monthly demand of MS. = 215,000 MT (b) Additional daily demand of MS. = 7,100 MT Present cost of MS. = US $ 1000/MT Additional cost per day for additional demand = US $ 7,100,000/- of MS. 2 67. *Dr. Nahid Shahid Ali: Will the Minister for Human Resource Development be pleased to state: (a) the progress made in respect of the implementation on Child Labour Law during the year 2011-12; and (b) the action taken against the violations of said law during the said period? Minister for Human Resource Development (Ch. Wajahat Hussain): (a) After the 18th Constitutional Amendment, labour laws, including Employment of Children Act, 1991, have been transferred to the provinces. They are also responsible for implementation of laws relating to child labour. The provinces were asked to intimate progress in respect of implementation of Child Labour Law during 2011-12. So far, we have received information from the province of Punjab. As the information is received from the other three provinces, the same will be presented before this Honorable House. (b) Implementation of labour laws relating to Child Labour during the year 2011-12 till October, 2012 in Punjab is as under:— Implementation of Labour Laws relating to Child Labour During the Year 2011 —————————————————————————————— Enactment Inspections Prosecutions Fine —————————————————————————————— Employment of Children 70308 875 Rs.217,850 Act, 1991 Shops Establishments 21768 328 Rs.38,350 Ordinance, 1969 —————————————————————————————— Total: 92076 1203 Rs.256,200 —————————————————————————————— 3 Implementation of Labour Laws relating to Child Labour During the Year 2012 (Till October, 2012) —————————————————————————————— Enactment Inspections Prosecutions Fine —————————————————————————————— Employment of Children 68740 570 Rs.200,400 Act, 1991 Shops & Establishments 28947 287 Rs.29,150 Ordinance, 1969 —————————————————————————————— Total: 97687 857 Rs.229,550 —————————————————————————————— 164. *Mrs. Nisar Tanveer: Will the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) has been imposed on POL products by the present Government; if so, the per litter rate thereof; (b) the total number of times rates of PDL have been enhanced since its imposition alongwith details thereof; (c) whether it is also a fact that maximum rates of PDL are being charged on POL products at present; if so, the Justification thereof; (d) the steps being taken to rationalize the said rates of PDL; and (e) the mechanism to conduct third party audit thereof? Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources: (a) Petroleum Levy (PL) on POL products being charged historically, however the current rates of PL were fixed by the present Government (Finance Division) through Finance bill for the years 2009-10 onwards are as under:— 4 Rs./litre —————————————————————————————— MS HOBC SKO HSD LDO (Petrol) (Diesel) —————————————————————————————— 10.00 14.00 6.00 8.00 3.00 —————————————————————————————— (b) The above rates of PL have not been enhanced, instead reduced several times to adjust the hike in prices, in the favour of consumers. (c) Currently above maximum rates of PL are being charged on POL products, which were fixed through Finance bill on the recommendation of the Finance Division. (d) PL rates are being fixed by Finance Division, therefore they may clarify the position in the matter. (e) The PL is being collected from the Oil industry by the respective Custom and Excise Authorities of the country, while Office of the Auditor General of Pakistan, conduct its Audit to verify the PL collection. 71. *Ms. Shaheen Ishfaq: Will the Minister for Defence be pleased to state: (a) whether there is any proposal under consideration of PIA to charge less fare from pilgrims to perform Hajj and Umrah as compared to other passengers; (b) if so, when it will be implemented alongwith the details thereof? Minister for Defence (Syed Naveed Qamar): (a) & (b) There is no such proposal under consideration to change the current pilgrim fares as the Umrah fares are already less than the normal fare on same sector. 72. *Ms. Shaheen Ishfaq: Will the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources be pleased to state: 5 (a) the reasons of gas pilferage in the country at present; (b) the region in which gas is being pilfered more than other regions in the country at present; and (c) whether it is a fact that employees of the Ministry are also involved in said pilferage? Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources: (a) Gas utility companies have informed that multiple factors are resulting in gas pilferage. These factors are given below:— SNGPL 1. Existing gap between gas supply and demand, which is tempting consumers to get gas through unfair means to meet their energy demands. 2. Provision of limited number of new gas connections on yearly basis, due to shortage of gas supplies. Presently approximately 1 Million applications for new gas connections are pending. 3. Inflating gas prices, all during consumers towards gas pilferage. 4. Expansion of gas network in new towns and villages, whereas provision of gas connection on turn-merit, resulting in increase in waiting period for new gas connections. Presently waiting period for gas connection varies from 1 year to 1.5 years in different regions. This has also resulted in installation of fake gas connections by laying illegal networks by culprits.. 5. General tendency among gas users to secure unregistered gas to make their business more profitable. SSGCL 1. Theft of Gas has increased in areas comprising lower income group. Due to drastic increase in tariff and gas price, the monthly Gas bill is beyond the means of poor people especially during winter season when usage of space heating / gas heater increases. 6 2. Moratorium imposed by Federal Government on new gas connections has also played significant role in the increase of Gas pilferage. 3. The adverse law and order conditions in certain areas is also one of the reasons of pilferage because the departments responsible to control theft of gas are reluctant to go to the effected areas and initiate action against persons involved in gas pilferage. (b) SNGPL has informed that as per the available data of Fiscal Year 2011-12, percentage gas losses in Peshawar Region are the highest. SSGCL has informed the gas theft culture has grown drastically, particularly in province of Balochistan, and in Goths / Villages, unauthorized Katchi Abadies of rural areas of Sindh. (c) SNGPL has informed that certain complaints are received against Company employees from time to time regarding their involvement/ connivance in gas pilferage. In case, where the complaint appears true in the initial investigation, departmental enquiry is immediately initiated against the concerned and where proved guilty, strict punishment is awarded to the employee in view of the magnitude of offence established on his part. SSGCL has informed enquiries are being held against the staff of SSGC suspected to be involved in gas theft. However uptill now no employee of SSGC has being found guilty / involved in gas theft. 73. *Mr. Abdul Rashid Godil: Will the Minister for Human Rights be pleased to state the steps being taken by the Government to protect the human rights in the country? Minister for Human Rights: The basic function of the Ministry of Human Rights is to monitor the overall human rights condition/violation in the country. Ministry of Human Rights, as per its mandate, forwards all the complaints received by the individuals as well as through print/electronic media to the concerned quarters for redressal of grievances of victims. The Government has taken the following steps to protect the Human Rights in the country:— 7 • There are four Regional Directorates of Human Rights functioning at Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. These Regional Directorates meet regularly with the Home/Police and Prison Departments of Provinces to minimize the incidents of Human Rights Violations at Provincial, District and Tehsil levels. Frequent visits are paid to Police Stations and Jails to collect information about human rights victims. These Directorates take a serious note of human rights violations that appear in print and electronic media. They maintain record of the press clippings. They pursue the cases and correspond with relevant quarters for redressal. A follow up of these cases is a continuous process till the grievance is redressed. • On the direction of the Ministry of Human Rights, the Inspector Generals of Police have issued directions to DIGs/RPOs, DPOs, SSPs and SHOs to take action promptly on receipt of information regarding violation of human rights from Regional Directorates of Human Rights. • The IGPs have also directed the officers to apprehend the accused involved in these cases on priority basis and follow-up the matter in the Courts regularly till their finalization and to initiate departmental action and register case under police Order 2002 against the Police Officials who fail to curb violation of human rights in the area of their responsibility. • Human Rights and Violence Against Women Cells have been established in all police headquarters which function round the clock to deal With the cases of human rights violations.