Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi Saturday said that government is ready to conduct debate in the National Assembly on foreign policy with a purpose to evolve a consensus on various affairs.
Speaking in National Assembly on a point raised by Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, the foreign minister said, “We are ready to listen the viewpoint of the opposition and to respond to their queries. The government has no issue to discuss foreign policy but there should be bi-partisan approach and both sides should listen to viewpoint of each other with patience.”
The minister appreciated the speaker who ensured comprehensive debate on budget which was never witnessed in the past. He said that the speaker has demonstrated tolerance during the budget session and every member was given equal opportunity to expresses views on budget. However, he lamented over the attitude of a party head who alleged to bulldoze the budgetary process. “It was uncalled for and there was no need of it as his party had agreed in speaker’s chamber on smoothly running the business of the House,” he maintained.
NA approves 170 supplementary demands for grants relating to different ministries and departments for outgoing fiscal year
Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif demanded to summon a session for general debate on foreign policy. Speaker Asad Qaisar agreed over it and said that debate should be made on economy, water, foreign affairs and agriculture in this House.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly approved charged expenditure of Rs 20,203,784,000 for the financial year 2018-19, including expenses of Rs 20,173,135,000 made on holding of election.
The charged expenditure is included in demands for grants and appropriations for the financial year ending on June 30, 2019. The expenditure will be charged from the federal consolidated fund.
According to the constitution, all revenues received by the federal government, all loans raised by the government and all moneys received by it in repayment of any loan, shall form part of a federal consolidated fund.
During the session, the House approved 170 supplementary demands for grants relating to different ministries and departments for the outgoing fiscal year. Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Hammad Azhar said the government has substantially brought down the supplementary demands for grants. Last year, these stood at Rs 599.4 billion whilst this year they stand at about Rs 200 billion, he said, adding that the opposition parties should appreciate the reduction in the supplementary budget.
