The senate Tuesday adopted a report on the issue of payment of increase in pension of the retired employees of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) payable by the Pakistan Telecommunication Employees Trust (PTET).

The report was put before the house by Senator Rukhsana Bangash on behalf on Chairperson Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication Senator Rubina Khalid.

The house was told that hundreds of petitions were filed in the courts including the Supreme Court by PTCL employees for payments of their pensions and they won cases but they were still denied the pensions.

Senator Rukhsana and Senator Abdul Rehman Malik stressed that the report should be implemented as the pensioners desperately needed the money.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Swati said pension was the right of employees and denying pension to them was violation of the basic human rights.

The minister supported the motion for implementation of the report.

Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwala who was chairing the house asked the government to take up the issue of pensioners with PTCL and resolve it.

Convener Senate Implementation Committee Senator Dilawar Khan presented report of his committee on a point of public importance raised by Senator Sajjad Hussain Turi, regarding resolution of issue of expatriates staying in European countries in getting Pakistani Origin Cards (POCs).

He also presented report of the committee on a point of public importance raised by Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi regarding status of implementation of the report of Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum adopted by the house on November 8, 2017.

Senator Bahramand Tangi on behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Communications Senator Hidayat Ullah presented report of the committee on the matter raised by Senator Ateeq Shaikh regarding revenue collected from toll plazas on National Highways and Motorways during the years 2013-19 and the amount utilized on the maintenance and rehabilitation of G.T. Road from Lahore to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The house extended time by 60 days for presentation of the report of the Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination by its chairperson Senator Khushbakht Shujat regarding construction of Shifa International Hospital on public land with an aim to function as a charity hospital.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan