News Detail

 A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, was convened today. After seeking comprehensive briefings from the concerned and receiving endorsement from the Law Ministry in favor of the Bill, the Committee unanimously passed “The Abandoned Properties (Management) (Amendment) Bill, 2024” introduced by Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan.

Moreover, the Committee also passed “The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2024” introduced by Senator Dr. Afnan ullah Khan after undertaking exhaustive discussions in its multiple meetings. The Committee endorsed the view of the Cabinet Division and unanimously passed the Government Bill titled “The Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) (Amendment) Bill, 2025.” The Committee also considered the Calling Attention Notice of Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri “To draw the attention of Minister-In-charge of the Prime Minister office towards the alarming statistics reported by United Nation’s fact-finding mission’s report of August, 2024 pertaining to massive destruction and displacement caused by floods in Sindh and Balochistan”, and directed the Member Operations, NDMA to address any queries raised by the Member and dispose of the matter in the next meeting.

The Committee also sought briefing from Managing Director, Public Procurement and Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and recommended that it should ensure that representation from all four provinces, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu Kashmir and Islamabad Capital Territory in addition to four parliamentarians is present in its Board to make its functioning more transparent and independent. Director, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation briefed the Committee on the work undertaken by his organization along with some operational challenges faced by them due to devolution.

The Committee was also informed that they are making efforts to brand Pakistan as an attractive tourist destination and a number of initiatives in this regard are underway. The Committee was also briefed by Chairman Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) and was informed that there are 18 STZAs in different cities of Pakistan. The Committee appreciated the public private model adopted by STZAs and recommended that more such Zones should be established along-with a plan to visit one STZA.