Govt planning to have citizens' DNA database: Malik

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Wednesday informed the Upper House of the Parliament that Government was planning to develop national database containing DNA details of all the citizens of the country. Turk President Abdullah Gul, who recently visited Pakistan, has also pledged to provide US $90 million for establishment of a forensic laboratory for the purpose, the Minister added while responding to a question during the Question Hour. The Pakistan Police Bureau is undergoing a pilot project in connection with development of the said database, Malik further informed. He also said that DNA tests are carried out only for only those terrorists who are not identified through conventional methods. During questions regarding flight operations of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on far-flung routes, Deputy Chairman Senate Jan Muhammad Jamali remarked that PIA had established monopoly over domestic routes and was also earning bad name for the Government. He said Government should also allow airlines operating in private sectors to fly on domestic routes in the country. The House unanimously passed the Institute of Space Technology Bill, 2010. Speaking on the occasion, Leader of the Opposition in Senate Wasim Sajjad said the Bill did not reflect the kind of attention on the part of the Government required for establishment of such important institute. He said Western countries had established monopoly over sophisticated technology and would never want to transfer the same to developing countries, especially Muslim states. Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, on a point of order, regretted that the prices of sugar were coming down in the international market but Government was not passing the benefit to the poor. State Minister for Industries and Production Ayatullah Durrani, however, responded that prices of the commodity were becoming stable in the country. He, however, feared developing countries might face another sugar crisis, as, he said, American traders were purchasing huge quantities of sugar from international market. Durrani said that Government had sufficient stocks of sugar and had no need to import the same. Senator Ghafar Qureshi drew attention of the Government to Fatima Jinnah College of Home Economics, Karachi, which, he said, had no water and electricity facilities for the last three months. Senators Raja Zafrul Haq, Prof Khurshid and Dr Ismail Buledi stressed the Government to accept Irans offer of provision of electricity at cheaper rates. Senator Jamal Leghari alleged that land mafia was grabbing Government-owned land in DG Khan with connivance of the Punjab Government and DCO DG Khan. Senator Rehana Yahya Baloch protested over striking down of an Islamic channel by PEMRA. Senator Raja Zafrul Haq said India was striving to get membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) with the help of those Muslim countries, which, he said, once strongly supported Pakistans cause. He said Government was doing nothing to prevent India from getting the OIC membership. The House was adjourned till Friday, 10:00 a.m.

The writer is a member of staff and can be reached at khalidaziz100@gmail.com

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