News Detail
Event Title: Senator Rana Mahmood Ul Hassan, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament Lodges, Islamabad
Event Date: 2025-01-20
A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, was convened today to receive a comprehensive briefing on the performance of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The COO, PCB informed that the PCB Board comprises of 13 members and is mandated to develop and nurture cricket across the country. With the successful completion of the Pakistan and England series, Pakistan is currently hosting West Indies and PCB is also engaging private partners in order to foster local talent at school level. Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan inquired about the alleged rumors of an ICC fine on PCB for delaying the restructuring of grounds. CEO, PCB denied the rumors and called them a propaganda against Pakistan. The Committee was informed that after 28 years, Pakistan will be hosting an international championship of such scale. For the ICC Champions trophy all the foreign cricket teams apart from India will be visiting Pakistan, and the matches of the event will be played in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. The Committee strongly recommended that the Quetta cricket stadium be upgraded on international standards and skilled/technical members be added to the board of governors of PCB.
Furthermore, the committee was briefed on the performance of Federal Public Service Commission. Secretary FPSC informed that the structure of the FPSC comprises of a Chairman and eleven members of the Board and Secretariat. FPSC is mandated to conduct general recruitment in BS-16 and above upon the request of Ministries and Divisions, besides the conduction of CSS examination. Members raised the issue of interview marks for the CSS exams and recommended that it should be revisited as it is subjective in nature. The Committee reiterated that the panel conducting interview should be randomly selected instead of following the current practice of having the Chairman and three senior members of the Board.
Chairman Committee, Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, maintained that some mechanism should be devised to ensure adequate representation of people from South Punjab and directed the Secretary FPSC along-with concerned officers to share data of successful candidates who appeared for CSS for the last ten years belonging to South Punjab.
Moreover, the Committee deliberated on the Bill titled “The Abandoned Properties (Management) (Amendment) Bill, 2024”. Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, the mover, informed the Committee that following the passage of Public Financial Management Act, 2019, all such organizations are required to deposit surplus funds in the Federal Consolidated Fund, however, an amendment was made through the Finance Bill, 2024 which is in violation of the Public Financial Management Act, 2019. She also raised the issue that the Abandoned Properties Organization is being run by deputationists who draw salary from their parent departments so like other Government organizations, why is this organization not getting its budget from the Finance Division. The mover also inquired if the APO does not intend to reinvest surplus then why was this amendment through the Finance Act 2024 made. The Committee decided to invite Finance ministry in the next meeting for their input to have an in-depth discussion on the matter.
Senator Shahadat Awan withdrew the “The Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, 2024” stating that this bill was a consequential bill and earlier he had withdrawn the main bill as well.
Additionally, the Committee was briefed on the damages and displacement caused by floods in Sindh and Balochistan on the Calling Attention Notice of Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri. The Committee recommended that NDMA should provide details of last two years budgetary allocations especially for flood affected areas.
The Committee discussed the illegal smuggling of LPG and the action taken by the authorities to protect the precious lives. The smuggling which originates from Iran and Balochistan to Sukkur, Pano Aqil and other parts of the Sindh was addressed. Chairman OGRA, stated that the demand of LPG is increasing on daily basis. As of now, the daily demand of LPG stands at 5,000 Tons. The rising demand and cost of LPG have encouraged locals to mix LPG with CO2 as CO2 is cost effective but poses a huge health and safety hazard. However, on the complaint of Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, OGRA has taken action against the racket operating in Sukkur, and with the help of local administration, OGRA has also setup an office in Sukkur. Moreover, the OGRA informed the Committee that it has proposed an increase in penalty for the offense to 10 years imprisonment with 1 crore fine from 6 months imprisonment. The proposed increase will severe the crime’s and enable OGRA in curbing this menace.
In attendance were Senators Saadia Abbasi, Amir Waliuddin Chisti, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee Anusha Rahman Khan, Shahadat Awan, Jam Saifullah Khan,Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Special Secretary Establishment Division Sarah Saeed,Secretary FPSC, IG Sindh Police, Chairman OGRA,COO PCB and other senior officials from relevant Departments.