Islamabad - Minister for Communication yesterday admitted that due to lack of medical facilities at motorways and highways, condition of many people become critical after accidents.

In a written reply to the question of lawmaker Akhtar Shaikh whether it is a fact that condition of a number of people become critical when any accident occurs on the highways, the minister said the observation was true. The observation is correct and cannot be denied. Appropriate emergency and first aid medical services available on highway and motorways are essential. In this respect, the NHA has initiated a study on setting up of emergency response centres on suitable locations. This study is expected to conclude in three months time, the minister said.

Answering another question, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said a total of 82 oil and gas discoveries have been made during last three fiscal years. The production from 45 out of 82 discoveries has already been started, whereas necessary work over 37 discoveries is being carried out by E&P companies to bring them on production. He said the government initiated the process for construction of LNG Terminal in 2013 and it was commissioned in March, 2015.

The minister said so far 44 LNG Cargoes have been received and handled at the terminal. In addition to this, a contract for 2nd LNG Terminal has also been awarded on July 4, 2016 by Pakistan LNG Terminal Limited (a company formed for establishment of LNG Terminal). The 2nd LNG Terminal is expected to be completed by mid 2017.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad said no proposal is under consideration in the ECP to give right to the non-Muslims to elect their representatives for National and provincial assemblies in the country. He said under Article 51(4) of the Constitution, 10 seats are reserved for non-Muslims in the National Assembly. Similarly under Article 106 of the Constitution, 23 seats are reserved for non-Muslims in the four provincial assemblies. Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid said Bills relating to crimes of honour killing and rape will be considered during Joint Sitting of Parliament. Under the proposed Bills quantum of sentence has been enhanced. It is proposed to include offences in the name of pretext of the honor in “fasad-fil-arz”.

“Such offences, shall be punishable by imprisonment for life,” the minister said, adding the offence of false information with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person is punishable upto six months imprisonment.

The sentence upto three years has for the first time been proposed for police officials who are found guilty of submitting incomplete or defective investigation/challans, he added.