Updated on
Summary Ministry of Defence appraised Senate that nine planes will be hired from abroad for Hajj-flights.
During the question-and-answer session of Senate, it was told that these planes would be returned after completion of Hajj-mission.The session of Senate was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chairman Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari.State Minister for Defence, Sardar Saleem Haider apprised the session that the staff of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will hire its own human resource for flying the nine planes borrowed under the dry-lease agreement.In reply to a question, Sardar Saleem Haider said that Board of Directors, PIA, takes the decision for the purchase of new planes, however, no new plane has been bought till now.The session was told that the Board of Directors of PIA has approved the Fleet Plan 2010 under which it has been decided that new plans will be included in the fleet.PIA has signed a contract with Messrs Boing on February 14, 2012 to purchase fifty Boing ER777-300, and these planes will be delivered till 2015, the State Minister for Defence, Sardar Saleem Haider maintained.There is requirement for human resource in PIA but restrictions have been imposed on hiring additional personnel, the State Minister of Defence said adding that presently PIA is spending 18 percent of its total budget on account of payment of salaries.A question about drone attacks and the resultant killings of citizens and terrorists was raised however it was said that information about the number of killings are being sought from JS Headquarter and General Headquarter which will be presented in the House subsequently.To a question, State Minister for Interior said about 75 check posts have been established in Islamabad due to security threats, out of which 23 check posts are in urban area, six in rural area while 21 have been established near courts.Answering a supplementary question, State Minister for Interior said the traffic jam outside Marriott Hotel and Serena Hotel occurs due to check posts for countering threats to security.Senator Begum Nuzhat Sadiq, while raising a supplementary question, said there are 50 producers working for Pakistan Television then why PTV has bought a private drama for Rs 70 million.No one related to the ministry of information was present in the House so the question was delayed.In addition, all the questions about ministry of railway were delayed, at which Opposition Leader in the Senate Senator Ishaq Dar expressed annoyance stating the behaviour of the representatives of the ministry of information and ministry of railway as non-serious
