ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that country’s policy of non-interference in the matters of other countries has contributed to improve relations with Afghanistan and India.
Speaking in National Assembly, he said that the government has taken a number of decisive steps on the internal and external fronts to meet the security challenges.
Sartaj Aziz pointed out that operation Zarb-e-Azb in the tribal areas and operation against criminals in Karachi have helped improve the overall security situation in the country.
He was winding up discussion on an adjournment motion moved by Mushahid Hussain Syed, about the US President’s remarks that instability will continue for decades in Pakistan.
On a motion, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf assured the House that the new Hajj policy will be framed keeping in view the interests of pilgrims.
He said the government has reduced the Hajj package to two hundred and fifty thousand rupees since assuming power and provided better accommodation and transport facilities to the Hujjaj.
He said the private Hajj operators have also been asked to reduce their packages to facilitate the Hujjaj. He said necessary rules and regulations will also be introduced to regulate their operations.
The Minister said a monitoring team was deputed in Saudi Arabia to oversee the performance of the private Hajj operations. On the complaint of Hujjaj, a fine of 6.14 million rupees was also imposed on them.
On a motion, Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani said the government has started record number of housing schemes in its tenure. He said under the new policy the government employees will be given plots or apartments on the basis of seniority.
