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Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NA passes two education related bills
The National Assembly passed two private members' bills with a majority vote while hailing the armed forces response to the recent Indian aggression, which, some members said, was prompted by the neighbouring country's obsession with unrealistic movies. During the National Assembly session on Tuesday, the Ghurki Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) Bill, 2024 and the International Examinations Board Bill, 2024 were approved. An amendment proposed by PPP member Agha Rafiullah to include a 25% quota for free education of deserving and capable students in GIST was also passed. However, an amendment by JUI-F member Aliya Kamran — opposing the bill on the grounds that education is a provincial subject — was rejected. Lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches paid tribute to the Pakistan Armed Forces, stating that India's defeat was made possible through national unity. Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said India was misled by the false impression that Pakistan is a divided nation. But the moment India attacked, the entire Pakistani nation stood united like a wall behind its armed forces and India was defeated." Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have known that there is a difference between wars shown in Bollywood films and real wars. "When India had to engage in actual combat on land and in the air, reality hit hard," MNA Abdul Qadir Patel said when the defensive system India received from Russia was exposed, when Israeli drones and France's Rafale jets failed against Pakistani technology then US President Donald Trump stepped in fearing that US technology may also not get exposed in case of a prolonged conflict. The National Assembly on Tuesday referred as many as 13 private members' bills to the relevant standing committees for detailed consideration and consultation. The National Assembly session was adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
National Assembly passes bill for free higher education quota
Listen to article The National Assembly on Tuesday approved a bill mandating a 25% quota for free university education for deserving students across the country, Express News reported. The lower house of Parliament passed two key pieces of legislation, with the highlight being a new law requiring universities to allocate 25% of their seats for free education to financially deserving students. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Agha Rafiullah called for the inclusion of a 25% quota for free education within the Institute for Science and Technology Bill specifically for deserving and high-achieving students. The amendment was approved by the assembly. Read more: Punjab University issues revised schedule for postponed exams However, an amendment proposed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) MNA Aliya Kamran, opposing the bill on the grounds that education falls under provincial jurisdictionm, was rejected. In addition to the free education quota bill, the House approved the Institute for Science and Technology Bill 2024 and the International Examination Board Bill 2024. The House also approved the International Examination Board Bill 2024, presented by chairman of the Kashmir Committee, MNA Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, which seeks to establish an internationally recognized examination authority within Pakistan. Following the passage of the bills, the National Assembly session was adjourned until 11:00 am the following day.
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt violates minimum Rs37,000 wage policy
Listen to article In a startling disclosure at the forum of a parliamentary committee on the eve of International Labour Day, a few government departments and contractors of the Parliament cafeteria are not paying the minimum guaranteed wage of Rs37,000 per month to their employees. This disclosure was made at the forum of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance on the eve of May 1 2025, which is celebrated world-wide to promote the cause of the labour class. The evelation about the violation of the minimum wage policy prompted the Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to promise to take up the issue with Minister for Human Resources and Overseas Pakistanis Chaudury Salik Hussain. Ironically though, the Human Resource Minister's ministry is violating the minimum wage, which Aurangzeb announced in his first budget speech. Hussain's ministry is also one of those violators that are not paying the minimum wage, said Member of National Assembly (MNA) Agha Rafiullah who brought up the issue in the committee. According to a written reply submitted before the National Assembly, MNA Agha Rafiullah revealed that the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation working under the control of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, is paying Rs28,000 monthly to its employees working in various education institutions. This translated to Rs9,000 or 24% less than the minimum guaranteed wage of Rs37,000. The Finance Minister had demanded the names of the violators and upon learning the details, he promised to take up the matter with the Overseas Minister. Additional Secretary Finance Ministry Amjad Mehmood informed the standing committee that upon inquiry, the overseas ministry claimed that it was paying the minimum wage of Rs37,000. "When the government is not honouring the minimum wage commitment, then how can we expect it from the private sector?" remarked committee chairman Syed Naveed Qamar. Agha Rafiullah further disclosed that among the other government departments that were not paying minimum wage were the Ministry for Inter-Provincial Coordination, the National Counter Terrorism Authority, and the National Bank of Pakistan working under control of the Ministry of Finance and Export Processing Zones. He went on to say that even the employees working at the Parliament's cafeteria are not being paid the minimum wage of Rs37,000 by the contractors. According to a list submitted in the NA Committee by MNA Rafiullah, the Pakistan Sports Board and Federal Land Commission were not paying the minimum wage either. Additionally, the National University of Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Pakistan Television (PTV), were found not complying with minimum wage requirements. He said that the federal directorate of education has also entered into a contract with a non-governmental organisation to pay Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 per month to teachers, which is a violation of the government's policy. Likewise, the Ministry of Interior's licensed private security companies were not paying minimum Rs37,000 wage to their security guards. In his Labour Day message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has "reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering commitment to promoting safe, healthy, and dignified conditions for its workers - the real driving force behind our nation's growth and resilience." "The protection of fundamental labour right is enshrined in our Constitution and fully aligns with the International Labour Organiation's (ILO) core conventions, to which Pakistan is a responsible signatory," according to the Prime Minister. He stated that Pakistan has taken significant legislative and administrative reforms to further strengthen workers' protections. Our government has taken important steps to broaden the coverage and impact of institutions such as the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF), ensuring that the fruits of our labour protections are shared more equitably across all segments of the workforce, he added. "On this important day, I urge all stakeholders, including employers, workers, civil society, and government to join hands in building a culture that respects labour, upholds their rights, and creates opportunities of decent work for all," affirmed PM Sharif.
