ISLAMABAD: Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Friday categorically ruled out possibility of handing over RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadav to India.
Sartaj Aziz informed the Senate during question hour that the process has been started to prosecute Kulbhushan Yadav in Pakistani courts. A list of questions has also been handed over to India to seek more information from them in the light of the statements of Kulbhushan Yadav.
Sartaj Aziz said the purpose of sharing dossiers with the United Nations was aimed at proving the direct and indirect Indian intervention in Pakistan. He said our stance in this regard is also being acknowledged at the international level.
Kulbhushan Yadav was arrested last year in Balochistan on charges of spying and stoking terrorism and sectarianism in the country. It is also worth mentioning here that Pakistan has also submitted dossiers with the UN on the basis of the confessional statement of Kulbhushan Yadav.
Minister for National Food Security Sikandar Hayat Bosan told the House that the government is providing cash subsidy to farmers on fertilizers in order to bolster agriculture growth.
He said an amount of 27.96 billion rupees was allocated in the current budget for the purpose of subsidy. He said despite the exhaustion of these funds, the scheme is continuing on the direction of Prime Minister. He said the subsidy scheme is being implemented in cooperation with the provincial governments.
The Minister said that the government has reduced sales tax to seven percent from seventeen percent on supply of imported machinery and equipment to the agriculture sector. He said that custom duty on import of agri-related machinery has also been reduced from five percent to two percent to promote use of machinery in agriculture sector.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad told the House that road infrastructure projects including motorways are being constructed as per the international standards. He said that Islamabad-Lahore Motorway has also been repaired after 15 years.
On behalf of Minister of State for National Health Services, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab told the House that Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has established different testing laboratories to ensure the quality of medicines. He said a new Federal Drugs Surveillance Laboratory has also been set up in the federal capital for the testing of medicines. He this laboratory will also serve as a centre for research and development in the field of medicines.
Shaikh Aftab Ahmad told the House that the government has approved a reform agenda for Pakistan Post to cater to present day requirements. He said that the work is in progress to launch Pakistan Post Logistics Company and Mobile Money Transfer.
Shaikh Aftab said that work on Lowari Tunnel has been accelerated and it is expected to be opened for traffic during the current year.
Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Bizenjo told the House that the approved cost of the Gwadar Eastbay Expressway project is 14061 million rupees inclusive of 129 million rupees for the land acquisition. The project is expected to be completed by 2019.
