Press Release Title: Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control presiding over a meeting of The Committee at Parliament House Islamabad

Press Release Date: 24th April, 2025

The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, was held today in Islamabad. Senators Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui, Naseema Ehsan, Saifullah Abro, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Umer Farooq, Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, Jam Saifullah Khan, and the Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control attended the committee meeting. The committee was briefed on ongoing CDA projects, fund allocations, new development projects, and the misuse of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). The committee was informed about the non-issuance of the notification appointing Senator Ahmed Khan as a member of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority. It was revealed that the concerned summary had already been submitted to the Prime Minister, and orders were still awaited. The Chairman of the committee sought a deadline for the notification. In response, the Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control assured the committee that the matter would be resolved before the next committee meeting. The committee also discussed reforms regarding the expiry of CNICs. The Chief Operating Officer, NADRA explained that, according to NADRA rules, every CNIC must be renewed every ten years. He informed the committee that this requirement exists due to factors such as the lifespan of card material, biometric verification, and demographic changes like address changes and marriages. During the meeting, the Chairman raised the issue of the inclusion of unrelated individuals in the family trees of genuine CNIC holders. A concerned NADRA official stated that a mobile application for family tree verification would be introduced in the near future. To counter such fraud, NADRA has now adopted a policy requiring physical verification of the applicant’s blood relatives, along with biometric capture of the family member. The committee was also informed that the Saudi government reported a total of 1,296 individuals holding bogus Pakistani passports, who were later identified as Afghan nationals. The Chairman directed NADRA to update the committee in the next meeting about the actions taken against corrupt employees involved in bogus registrations and tampering with the database. While briefing on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects for the financial year 2025–26, a CDA representative presented an overview of 2024–25, stating that a total of 22 projects were underway, with a revised allocation of Rs. 9,780 million under the PSDP 2024–25. The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control has so far released Rs. 5,232 million during 2024–25. The CDA representative added that Rs. 20,769 million is needed for 17 ongoing projects, while Rs. 63,953 million is required for 99 new projects. Senator Saifullah Abro expressed concern over the delays in the completion of ICT projects and the rising costs due to inflation. He emphasized that timely and adequate fund allocation is essential to avoid cost escalations and ensure timely delivery. The committee, while taking notice of delays in the construction of 10th Avenue in Islamabad, recommended prioritizing the utilization of available funds and blocking unused allocations to prevent future cost increases. Senator Abro suggested that departments must utilize the full allocated funds within the appropriate time frame to ensure new funding for the next financial year. The Ministry of Interior also briefed the committee on the ban on tinted vehicle glasses. It was revealed that in 2018, the Ministry issued a notification canceling all previously issued permits for tinted glasses, and no new permits have been issued since then. In response to the Chairman’s query about policies prior to 2013, the Ministry stated that it had never officially formulated such policy. However, some permits were issued to individuals with skin cancer and other fatal skin conditions, following medical verification. The Chairman recommended formulating a policy for issuing tinted glass permits for taxpayers and industrialists. The committee was also briefed on the establishment of restaurants and guest houses in residential areas. The Director General of Building Control stated that CDA neither permits nor encourages such establishments in residential zones. He reported that 275 guest houses are currently operating in Islamabad’s residential areas and that all have received multiple notices from the CDA. However, these establishments continue to operate under court stay orders issued since 2004. The Chairman took serious notice of sheesha cafés in the city and the growing trend of drug use among college and university students. He directed the authorities to take stern action against those promoting such illegal activities and to conduct random inspections across Islamabad.   In anticipation of the upcoming summer season, the Deputy Director General of Environment at CDA briefed the committee on precautionary measures taken to prevent fire incidents at Margalla Hills. He stated that the forest spans over 31,142 acres, divided into five ranges and 37 pickets to manage fire risks. The committee recommended that concrete steps be taken and local community must be involved in fire prevention efforts before the summer season.