The Senate was informed on Friday that government has increased import duties to cut imports.

Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razzaq Dawood told the house during question hour that import substitution policy has also been launched in order to increase domestic production and exports. 

Razzaq said duties on raw material will be reduced in order to support and strengthen the manufacturing sector.

Adviser further added oil import substitution is a long term policy. He said refining capacity of the country has reduced over the years, due to which value added petroleum products are also being imported. He said once the refining capacity improves, the situation could be changed.

Minister of State for Climate Change, Zartaj Gul told the House that government has embarked on a plan to replicate successful model of Billion Tree Tsunami project all over the country.

She said government has a target of planting ten billion saplings in its campaign. The Minister said provinces have been asked to prepare PC-1s to set their targets and records of planting the trees.

Zartaj Gul said Karachi, Faisalabad, Lahore and some other major cities have high rate of air pollution. She said Environmental Protection Agency is assessing the rate of pollution in these cities and taking measures to overcome it.

Minister also added Juniper trees in Balochistan are a great asset for the province and these will be planted more under Green Pakistan program.

Meanwhile, responding to a call attention notice, Zartaj Gul said government is taking comprehensive steps to tackle the issue of smog.

Minister for Climate said traditional brick kilns are being closed as they use rubber tyres and other such material to burn the fire. The focus will be on setting up new brick kilns that are environment friendly and emit less smoke.

Speaking on a point of order, Senator Raza Rabbani said accountability should be across the board and not one sided.  

He suggested setting up a Federal Accountability Commission, in which all stakeholders including politicians, bureaucrats and judiciary be members and it carry out accountability for all.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said the government gives the Senate high esteem and will always ensure sanctity of the House.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan is very clear that he will not tolerate any corrupt person in his cabinet. 

The House passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2018 with consensus.

The bill further amends the Election Act, 2017.

The bill was moved by Senator Azam Swati on behalf of Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

Two reports of Standing Committees were laid in the house today.

Periodic report of Standing Committee on Petroleum regarding its performance from May to October, 2018 was laid in the House.

The second report was by Standing Committee on Climate Change on a point of public importance regarding Juniper forest issues at District Ziarat, Balochistan.

The House has now been prorogued.