ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday adopted four motions authorising the speaker to constitute parliamentary committees on finance, national security, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and a special committee on Kashmir.
NA Speaker Asad Qaiser has now been empowered to finalise and approve the new committees in consultation with the Senate chairman and parliamentary leaders.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan, who presented the motions, said the 21-member CPEC committee will oversee all related projects and ensure their timely completion.
The group would also present recommendations for potential improvements, while another important task would be coordination between the Centre and provinces. The committee would present periodic reports to both houses of parliament.
As for the committee on national security, Khan said its responsibilities primarily focus on urgent matters of national security. It will also periodically review, monitor and oversee implementation of the National Action Plan.
Another key task of the committee will be to monitor the transition process from military to civil courts and work on reforms in Pakistan’s criminal justice system. The committee, which will be headed by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, will also present periodic reports to both houses of Parliament.
The special committee on Kashmir, according to the minister, will monitor human rights violations and atrocities of Indian forces in occupied Kashmir.
It will work to increase global awareness about the Kashmir dispute and mobilise opinion in support of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly also passed a resolution recommending a demerger within the Ministry of Energy.
It advises the government to take steps to make the power division and petroleum division two separate ministries.
