ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that total external debt of the country stands at $53.4 billion.
During the session, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan said that when the government took over, there were 48.1 billion dollars as external debts and there is an increase of 5.3 billion dollars during last three years.
Rana Muhammad Afzal said that through the prudent policies the government has succeeded in reducing the fiscal deficit from 8.4 percent to 5.5 percent and it will further be reduced to 5.1 percent this year.
Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that due to ongoing govt efforts the law and order situation in Karachi has improved and terrorism related cases have come down by 77 percent.
In a written reply to National Assembly, he said that steps and efforts of the govt to control incidents of terrorism in Karachi city have proved to be very successful and have resulted in significant reduction in incidents of terrorism.
The acts of terrorism in Karachi has been reduced to 77 percent, target killing by 69 percent, kidnapping for ransom by 90 per cent, extortion by 60 per cent, the minister told the National Assembly.
He said that the policy to cancel passports, licences and National Identity Cards of those involved in terrorist activities is in final stage.
Answering a question regarding number of security or police personnel performing protocol duties with VIPs, including judges, bureaucrats and Ministers, he said that presently, 428 officials are performing protocol duties with the VIPs.
He said that during the first two months of the year more than 27,000 Afghan nationals came to Pakistan.
“As per IBMS record, a total 27, 334 Afghan nationals entered into Pakistan from January 1, 2016 to 15-02-2016 from different airports and land routes”, Nisar told the National Assembly.
He informed that the Federal Investigation Agency is investigating 20 high profile cases at present.
Answering a question of lawmaker Sajida Begum, he said that total 251,624 Pakistani nationals have been repatriated to Pakistan from abroad from June 2013 to February 2016.
Nisar said that Safe City Islamabad Project, was negotiated and signed in 2009 at a total cost of US $124,975 million.
He said that the project infrastructure is complete, ready and under commissioning test.
Replying question of MNA, Shazia Sobia, he said that Joint Intelligence Directorate, being established under the National Action Plan, is part and parcel of NACTA.
He said that JID component of NACTA budget has been released on January 21 2016 as its premises has been located, while renovation and refurbishment will start shortly.
He said that requisition and recruitment of human resources for the directorate has also been initiated.