ISLAMABAD -UNS: The Pakistan Environment Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2023 introduced by Senator Seemee Ezdi was passed unanimously by members in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change that was held on Tuesday at Parliament House Islamabad. Senator Seemi Ezdi chaired the meeting; that was attended by Senator Khalida Ateeb, Senator Keshoo Bai, Senator Abida Muhammad Azeem, Senator Taj Haider, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Kamran Michael and senior officers of the Ministry of Climate Change along with its attached departments and agencies.
Issues taken up entailed the leopard roaming in a residential area in Islamabad; Budgetary proposals relating Public Sector Development Fund (PSDP) and the Pakistan Environment Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
While discussing budgetary proposals relating to the Public Sector Development Fund (PSDP), the Committee was informed of the various projects that were being funded and its proposed allocation. Proposed budget FY 2023-24 was PKR 19,787.875 million. The Committee was informed that a total of 8 projects are part of PSDP including three on-going projects namely climate resilient urban settlements unit, ten billion trees tsunami programme phase-I up scaling of Green Pakistan Programme and Capacity Building on Water Quality Monitoring and SDG 6 Reporting whereas 5 new projects are establishment of Margallah Wildlife Center, Islamabad, establishment of National Specialized Directorate for Chemical & Hazardous Waste Management, Strengthening of National Capacities through piloting of REDD+ for Accessing Result Based Payments, Zoological Survey of Pakistan and Compilation of Red Data Book and establishment of Botanical Garden at Banigala, Islamabad. The Committee recommended at the consideration stage if there are any budgetary constraints then the Ministry should prioritize the on-going projects.
The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) briefed the Committee about the incident. The Committee was informed that after the rescue the Leopard is in good health and the matter is currently under investigation whether the leopard was kept domestically by someone or whether it moved from an adjacent wildlife habitat. The delays in rescue operation were due to lack of adequate and appropriate equipment. The Committee was informed that officials and a volunteer of IWMB took part in the operation. The committee lauded the efforts IWMB. The Committee while discussing the matter of closure of the Islamabad Zoo stressed the need for it to be reopened for the pleasure of the people of Islamabad. It was asserted that core issues must be addressed instead shutting down recreational places in the city.
The Senate Committee was briefed about Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the financial year 2023-24. Abdul Malik ,DG Planning Railways, apprised the committee that 36 projects were enlisted in PSDP 2022-23 which includes 22 Infrastructure Projects, 6 Rolling Stocks Projects, 7 Governance Projects and one project related to Business development and estimated cost of these projects were around 1261 Billion Rupees, and out of which seven projects will be completed by the June of this year. He added that the ministry has only included five new projects for PSDP 2023-24 and intends to allocate 90 p.c. of expected funds to ongoing projects and merely 10 p.c. to new projects.
Moreover, the committee was informed about the specifications of new coaches imported from China. Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, Secretary Railways, stated that the speed limit of new coaches is around 160 km/h, however, due to destitute condition of ML-1 these coaches are allowed to operate at the speed of 120 km/h. Chairman Committee directed that the rehabilitation work of ML-1 track, which comprises of 1733 km, should be completed at earliest owing to its importance to country and also suggested that the young graduate engineers should also be made part of this project.
While discussing the regional connectivity of Pakistan to neighbouring countries. Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Deputy Chairman Senate, reiterated that Gwadar should be connected with Pakistan Railways because it will play a pivotal role in connecting Pakistan with Central Asian Countries. He also directed the ministry to briefed the committee in this regard.
Furthermore, the Senate Body also taken up the matter relating to scrape material which is lying pending for auction in Railways Department. Secretary Railways informed that around 18867 metric ton scrape is pending for auction and whose estimated value is around 2358.375 Million Rupees at cost of Rs. 125 per kg without taxes. However, a total of 3705 metric ton scrape has been sold and around 11836 metric ton has been reserved for Rail use. The Committee directed the ministry to speed up the sale auction process of pending scrape.
The meeting was attended by Senator Dost Muhammad,Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee,State Minister for Law and Justice Senator Shahadat Awan, Secretary for Ministry of Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, CEO Pakistan Railways Salman Sadiq Shaikh,DG Planning Railways Abdul Malik and other senior officers of relevant departments were also in attendance.
