— Minister says water situation to improve by June-end
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sajid Hussain Turi on Thursday informed the National Assembly that as many as $22 billion remittances have been received so far and they are likely to cross the $30 billion mark during the current financial year 2021-22.
Replying to a question during the question hour, the minister said the country received around $29 billion remittances during the last fiscal year.
He said there were around 8.9 million overseas Pakistanis across the world and most of them are in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
On the other hand, more than 11.85 million Pakistani workers have been registered for overseas employment from 1971 to March 2022, he said. He said these overseas Pakistanis are contributing to the economy and all-out steps would be taken to address their problems.
The house unanimously passed a resolution denouncing the latest Indian attempt of demographic engineering in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir through a so-called delimitation commission. The resolution moved by Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said this is aimed at artificially altering the electoral strength of the Muslim majority in IIOJK.
The resolution categorically rejected the report of the so-called delimitation commission that seeks to convert the Muslim majority of IIOJK into minority and further marginalize, disenfranchise and disempower the Kashmiri population and advance the political and electoral objectives of the BJP.
The resolution noted that through the delimitation exercise, India is making attempts to further its illegal actions of 5th August 2019 and subsequent measures. The resolution recalled that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute and a long standing item on the agenda of the UN Security Council.
It declared that no façade of elections based on sham delimitation exercise can substitute the legitimacy and indispensability of a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.
The resolution demanded that India should honour and fulfil the obligations under the international law, UN Security Council resolutions and the fourth Geneva Convention and refrain from bringing about any illegal demographic changes in the occupied territory.
It urged the Indian government to forthwith end its oppression and widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in IIOJK and enable the Kashmiri people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN Security Council resolutions.
The resolution called upon the international community to ensure accountability of India’s grave and persistent violations of human rights and war crimes in IIOJK.
The resolution reiterated Pakistan’s unflinching commitment and solidarity with Kashmiri brothers and sisters, reaffirming that Pakistan will continue to extend all possible support in their just struggle for freedom and self-determination.
It also asked the government to continue to expose and counter the Indian moves before the international community and to highlight and forcefully project the Kashmir cause at all bilateral and multilateral forums including the UN and the OIC.
Taking the floor, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that he has also addressed a letter to the President of the UN Security Council and the Secretary General of the UN in which he has highlighted the unlawful steps taken by India to change the demographic structure of IIOJK.
He said Pakistan will continue to reach out to the world to raise international awareness about Indian illegal steps in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar categorically stated that Pakistan cannot engage with a belligerent India. She made it clear that there is no change in Pakistan’s policy with regards to India.
She said Pakistan cannot antagonise any country. “We are not against any country,” she further said. She added that Pakistan wants to improve the level of engagement with the European Union as the GSP Plus status has helped in improving the country’s exports.
Responding to the concerns of members regarding water shortage in the country, Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Shah expressed the confidence that the water situation will improve by 30th of next month. He said the water situation is improving in Tarbela.
The minister assured that all the provinces will be given water as per their share. He said shortage in water will also be shared with the provinces accordingly.
Speaking in the National Assembly on political issues, Bilawal said his party believes in the much-needed electoral reforms before announcing the schedule of next general elections by the coalition government. He said there is a need to sit together for electoral reforms involving all stakeholders including civil society and political parties to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
The house will now meet at 10:30am on Friday (today).
