ISLAMABAD - Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told the National Assembly on Friday that around 1,029 Pakistanis were in foreign jails due to various offences.
“About 121 Pakistanis are jailed in the US, 41 in Iraq and 867 in the UK due to various offences, including overstay of visa duration, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, arm/drug possession, illegal entry, minor felony, human trafficking, links with Qaeda, money-laundering and fraud,” she said.
To a supplementary question, the minister said that the government signed an agreement with almost 33 countries for exchange of prisoners and the government brought back 38 Pakistanis during last two years.
To another question, she said that there was no Pakistani fisherman arrested in Iran.
In a written reply, the minister informed the House that the total number of Pakistani missions abroad at the level of ambassadors/high commissioners is 87, out of which, 13 missions are currently headed by non-career ambassadors/high commissioners.
She stated that the Prime Minister was the competent authority to appoint ambassadors/high commissioners at the missions abroad. The appointments are made keeping in view their services for Pakistan, qualification and experience.
The National Assembly was informed that nine non-career ambassadors in BS-22 are: Sherry Rehman (Washington), Wajid Shamsul Hasan (London), Abdullah Hussain Haroon (New York, UN), Jamil Ahmed Khan (Abu Dhabi), Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Masood Aslam (Maxico), Shahid Malik (New Delhi), Shafkat Saeed (Paris), Masood Khan (Beijing), Fauzia Abbas (Copenhagen), Nawabzada Aminullah Khan Raisani (Muscat), Maj Gen (r) Muhammad Siddique (Port Louis), Maj Gen ( r) Ahmad Nawaz Saleem Mela (Kyiv) and Maj Gen ( r) Khalid Amir Jaffery (Sarajevo).
Responding to a question, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Minister Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo told the House that the federal government spent Rs4.5 billion on 23 ongoing mega projects in AJK. To another question, he said Rs5 billion was being spent on water supply scheme for Mirpur.
Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani told the National Assembly that there was no proposal under consideration to import cars of specified engine capacities form either China or India.
Replying to various supplementary questions in Question Hour, he said the government had allowed import of used cars.
Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour informed the House that no train was privatised by the Pakistan Railways and that only commercial management and passengers’ facilitation of two trains Business Express and Shalimar Express had been outsourced to private parties to generate maximum revenue. Replying to a question, he said according to the agreement, the private parties would pay money of 88 per cent tickets to the PR.
To a supplementary question the minister said the Pakistan Railways would receive Rs6.5 billion by in the end of current month from the government to better the Pakistan Railways. He added that around 300 locomotives need repair.