1 (35th 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 11th August, 2021 @38. *Ms. Shahida Rehmani: (Deferred during 33rd Session) Will the Minister for National Food Security and Research be pleased to state: (a) how many tonnes of cigarette butts/filters wind up as toxic trash in Pakistan every year; (b) how much wood is used annually for tobacco every year; and (c) what steps taken or being taken by the Government to reduce non-renewable trash? Minister for National Food Security and Research (Syed Fakhar Imam): (a) Around 16,000 tons of waste in shape of cigarette butts/ filters is generated in Pakistan every year. (b) Average annual consumption of firewood used for curing of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco is 215 million kg. (c) Filters/ butts are integral part of cigarettes. They cannot be eliminated from the cigarettes. However, the international cigarette industry is working on reducing size of the filter in cigarettes to minimize non-renewable trash. __________________________________________________________ @ Transferred from Climate Change Division. 2 30. *Moulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali: (Deferred on 19-07-2021) Will the Minister for Housing and Works be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the Housing Foundation awarded contracts for Infrastructure and development of the land to the firms registered with Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC); (b) if so, the details of the works, names of the firms, alongwith registration with the PEC; and (c) the category of registration, field of specialization of the projects during the last ten years of Green Enclave Bhara Kahu etc.? Deferred for answer on Next Rota Day. 42. *Mrs. Shahida Akhtar Ali: (Deferred on 19-07-2021) Will the Minister for Housing and Works be pleased to state: (a) the number of G-13 Tower Apartments which were allotted to Federal Government employees and have been cancelled due to non-payment of the dues alongwith the details of each; (b) the time by which transfer of allotment will be opened for those members who had deposited the dues in time; and (c) whether is there any proposal under consideration of the Government to provide concession to the allottees by selling the commercial area alongwith category-wise details? Deferred for answer on Next Rota Day. 3 43. *Syed Agha Rafiullah: (Deferred on 19-07-2021) Will the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the Prime Minister has approved a summary for special financial package for front line health workforce of Federal Government during the last financial year based on lists compiled by each of Federal Administrative hospital; if so, the hospital-wise list of such persons; (b) whether it is also a fact that such lists approved by the Prime Minister and in particular in case of Federal Government Polyclinic, Islamabad were allegedly altered neither they were re-approved from the Prime Minister; (c) if so, is there any discrepancy found between the lists approved by the Prime Minister and “the final lists of beneficiaries” among them, funds were distributed and in particular in case of Federal Government Polyclinic, Islamabad; if so, the details thereof; and (d) what steps have been taken or being taken by the Government against the persons responsible for such alterations in the lists approved by the Prime Minister? Reply not received. 48. *Mr. Sikandar Ali Rahoupoto: (Deferred on 19-07-2021) Will the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination be pleased to state the steps being taken by the Government to control the spread of the HIV/AIDs disease in the country, particularly in district Jamshoro and Dadu? Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination: 1. The National AIDS Control Program has established 50 HIV, Treatment Centers in which 46,912 HIV patients are registered. Out of these patients 26,093 on treatment who are taking HIV medicine. 7,264 People Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) are also on Treatment. A total number 4 of 7,538 deaths of HIV patients are recorded. Each HIV center consists of Physician, Nurse/Paramedic, Counselor, Case Manager and Data Entry Operator. which are providing the following services: • Registration of People Living with HIV. • HIV Testing of People Living with HIV. • Treatment of People Living with HIV. • Counselling of People Living with HIV. • Lost to follow up tracking. • Viral load testing. 2. The National AIDS Control Program has also established 17 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) dealing with key population. 94,978 Men having Sex with Men (MSMs) are registered with these organizations whereas 36,553 Transgenders (TGs) and 22,754 Female Sex Workers (FSWs)are registered. Each CBO consists of Site Manager, LHVs/Paramedic, Counselor, Data Entry Operator, Out Reach Workers, Logistics/Admin/Finance Officer and support staff, which are providing the following services in office and field for key populations (Men having Sex with Men, Transgenders and Female Sex Workers): • Registration • Testing • Diagnosing and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). • Counseling • Distribution of condoms & lubricants • Linkage of HIV positive patients to treatment centers 3. The National AIDS Control Program has established 16 HIV treatment centers in Sindh province. HIV treatment center at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Hyderabad treats the patients of Jamshoro. The HIV patients of Dadu are treated at HIV Treatment center established at Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences Sehwan Shareef. 4. NACP provides number of HIV interventions at Primary Health Care for Universal Health Coverage in Pakistan. 5 i. The community level interventions include the following: HIV testing, counselling and referral. Provision of syringes and condoms for high-risk groups. Health education on sexually transmitted infections and HIV. ii. The Primary Health Care Centre level intervention primarily at rural health centres include the following: HIV testing, counselling and referral for antiretroviral (ARV) therapy Partner notification and expected treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and referral for HIV also available at Community health centres Screening of HIV in all individual unit of TB Screening for TB in all newly diagnose People Living with HIV and close contacts 5. Pakistan provided uninterrupted service delivery during COVID-19 pandemic. Our HIV control efforts were modified to ensure the uninterrupted supply of services, these include the following: • Multi month dispensing to facilitate the People Living with HIV in getting sufficient stocks of antiretrovirals at the geographically nearest centre. • Development of revised protocols for services delivery with a minimum basic staffing & smart outreach and local specific delivery protocols. • Provision of personal protective equipment to all frontlines service providers in both ART centres and CBOs. • Issuance of Regular Advisories go the CBOs & field staff regarding field work and service delivery protocols in “special COVID-19 circumstances”. 6 • Establishment of Emergency Response Cell with 24/7 helpline was established for assisting key populations in need of services & providing treatment access to PLHIV (People Living with HIV). • Provision of Living/ social support to PLHIV utilising community groups and networks. 6. Establishment of National MIS for HIV/AIDS in Pakistan for Treatment Centres and Community Based Organisations: • Electronic registration of People Living with HIV & Clients. • Recording of testing & treatment. • Day to day monitoring of patients on treatment. • Integration with logistics for stock management. • Dashboards for national & provincial monitoring of disease on key indicators. 51. *Mr. Muhammad Aslam Khan: (Deferred on 19-07-2021) Will the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination be pleased to state: (a) the number of diplomas holder or courses registered by Pakistan Nursing Council during the last three years alongwith the nature of the said diplomas; (b) the procedure for registration of diplomas alongwith the registration fee thereof; (c) whether there is any proposal under consideration to establish branches of Pakistan Nursing Council in the four provinces in order to facilitate the public; and (d) whether it is a fact that the staff of Pakistan Nursing Council does not have such behaviors with the people who are facing trouble? Reply not Received. 7 53. *Moulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali: (Deferred on 19-07-2021) Will the Minister for Housing and Works be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) has not purchased the land for the Green Enclave and Thallian Inter-change under the Land Acquisition Act; if so, then the details of the procedure adopted for acquiring the land other than the prescribed rules; (b) names of the owners of the land, names of the Mozas and numbers of khasras, cost of the land per kanal of malkiati, shamlat etc.; and (c) details of the agreement signed with other irrelevant persons instead of the actual owners alongwith reasons and under whom authority had allowed please? Deferred for answer on Next Rota Day. 166. *Mr. Murtaza Javed Abbasi: Will the Minister for Housing and Works be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the rates of plots of Green Enclave Phase-I, Bhara Kahu, Islamabad