assembly debates - About the National Assembly

Transcription

ASSEMBLY
DEBATES
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PAKISTAN
Friday, the 11th March, 1966.
The National Assembly of Pakistan met in the Provincial Assembly
Chamber, Dacca, at nine of the clock, in the morning, Mr. Speaker
(Mr. Justice Abdul Jabbar Khan) in the Chair.
(Recitation from the Holy Quran)
STARRED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
U~1BRELLA
CLOTH
133. *Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman Khan: Will the Minister for Commerce
be pleased to: state:
(a) whether the import of umbrella cloth from abroad has been put
under bonus vouchers; if so whether Government are aware that the
selling price of an umbrella ~vill get increased by about rupees five;
(b) whether
Government
consider that the use of umbrella is a
necessity for common man and that the increase in its price will hit the
common man ; and
(c) whether Government propose to revise the decision of putting
the import of umbrella cloth under Bonus Voucher?
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: (a) the answer to the first part is
in the affirmative. As regards the second part, there is no likelihood of
any price rise because cash licences are being issued for grey umbrella
cloth which will be processed locally and supplied to the umbrella manufacturers at a reasonable price.
(b) Government have always given high priority to meet. the need
of umbrellas.
(c) No. The intention is to encourage the local production of umbrclla cloth so as to make the country self-sufficient in this item. Import
of umbrella cloth on Bonus has been permitted to ensure that the quality
and price of local umbrella cloth are maintained at a reasonable level by
the indigenous manufacturers.
Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman Khan:
Will the honourable Parliamentary
Secretary be pleased to refer again to the answer (b) in relation to the
question I put in (b)? My question is whether the Government are
aware that increase in price of umbrella will hit the commen man but
the answer that he has given is that the Government is always alive
to the needs of umbrella. Will he kindly explain what he meant by what
I have asked and what he has said about it ?
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: I have already repJied in part I that
there is no likelihood of any rise in price.
Mr. Mnkhlesuzzaman Khan:
He has not followed my question.
265
266
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
[Ll ra
OF PAKISTAN
1966
MARCH)
1U1'.Nural Hauqe Choudhury:
I have said that there is no likelihood
of any price rise because cash licences are being issued for grey umbrella
cloth which will be processed locally and supplied to the umbrella manufacturers.
Moreover, steps are being taken in consultation
with the Director of Industries,
East Pakistan,
to ensure that the umbrella
cloth is processed and is made available
to the local umbrella
manufacturers
at
reasonable
price.
Mr. Aminul Islam Chowdhury:
jA supplementary
question was put
to you as to whether
import of umbrella
cloth under Bonus Vouchers
would raise the price of umbrella cloth or not. In reply you have stated
that in view of the licences you have been issuing the price of umbrella
cloth would not rise.
Can you tell us the price of umbrellas made of indigenous cloth and of those made of imported cloth?
NL-. Nural Haque Choudhury:
step has been taken in consultation
[That
with
I have already told you.
the Director of Industries.
This
Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman
Khan:
Is the
honourable
Parliamentary
Secretary
aware that the price of umbrella
has
already
gone up by
Rs. 4 tc Rs. 5?
Is he aware of that or has he bought umbrella in recent
days?
lUr. Nural
Haque
Choudhury:
I am not actually
aware
of the price.
Dr. Aleem-al-Razee
: +Supplementary
question,
Sir. Since the
liamentary
Secretary
has put on the umbrella
of Basic Democracy
he be pleased to state the price of umbrella
in the market?
:fIr. Nurul Haque Choudhury:
the market and see it for himself.
tThe
honourable
Member
may
Parwill
go to
IVk Mizanur P~lhman Chowdhury:
-i' Can you deny that the price
umbrella
colth has gone up for its import under Bonus Vouchers ?
of
Mr. Nural
the honourable
of
Haque Choudhury:
Member.
+It is a matter
of personal
opinion
rvEr. Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury : Is the Parliamentary
Secretary
prepared
to contradict
this if he claims that the price of umbrella has
alreadv risen due to the import of umbrella cloth under Bonus Voucher?
It is a -pure and simple question.
:\11'. Nurul
Haque
Mr. Mizanur
Choudhury:
Rahman
The reply
Chowdhury:
is already
It is not
there
Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman
Khan:
Will the Parliamentary
pleased to state whether
they have got any processing
Pakistan
at present fO'r the umbrella
cloth?
there
in (c).
at all.
Secretary
be
factory in East
(No reply)
Mr. Hasan
on thc floor.
A. Shaikh:
He says that
the reply
is in (c)-we
'want it
]''1-'11'_ Mukhlesuzzaman
Khan:
I have said whether
there are processing factories for umbrella cloth or not?
--------- --- ---- - ---------- --- - - ------------- - ------------~-
tEnglish translation
of sentences in Bengali.
267
STARREDQUESTIO)!S AND ANSWERS
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: As regards
the supplementary
question raised by the honourable
Member,
I say there are some processing
industries
in East Pakistan
but as the industry
concerns
the Ministry
of
Industries,
questions
may be put to the Industries
Department.
Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman Khan: How many
Mr. Nural
Haque
Choudhury:
I want
and
where?
notice.
Mr. Aminuh Islam Chowdhury: tWill the Parliamentary
Secretary
be pleased
to stat::: what he means by processing
factory?
We know
manufacturing
factories,
in which umbrella
cloth is produced.
But. what
is produced
in D. processing
factory?
Is that for dyeing
imported
umbrella cloth black, with which they are shown black flags?
(No Teply)
NATIONAL SHIPPING COHPORATION
134. *Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman
Khan:
Will the Minister
for Communications be pleased to state:
(a) the names of the Directors
of the National
Shipping
Corporation
and the basis of their selection;
(b) the total share capital of the Corporation
and the policy adopted
for allocating the shares between
East and 'Vest Pakistan;
(c) whether
the decision taken for the allocation
of the share capital between
East and West Pakistan
has been strictly
adhered
to; and
(0) whether
the underwriting
provisions
have been fulfilled
by the
Government
of East Pakistan
in so far as the share of East Pakistan
is
concerned
: if not, the reasons
therefor?
ML:m Mu}mmll1:u!
i1afique
'Saig al : (a)
1. M1'. Masarr at Husain Zuberi.
2. Vice-Admiral
A. R. Khan.
3. Commodore
Rashid
Ahmed.
4. Mr. M. Mati ur Rahman.
5. Mr.
6. Mr.
Ahmad
Dawood.
Gul Mohammed.,
': Mr. K. G. Ahmed.
8. M1'. Abdul Aziz.
9. Mr. S. A. Shukur.
Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 have been appointed
by the Central
Government
under
section 9 (1) (a) of the NSC Ordinance,
1963. The remaining
4
have been elect2d by the shareholders
in accordance
with section 9 (1)
(b) of the Ordinance.
(b) Rs. 1.60' crores, out of which 40 lakhs have been subscribed
bv
the CEntral Government
and the remaining
1,20 crcres floated in East and
West Pakistan
in equal shares.
(c) Yes.
(d) The shares were fully subscribed
and, therefore,
underwriting
of shares did not arise.
In any case, the
[Bnglish translation
the question
Government
of
of
268
East Pakistan
was not required
under the NSC Ordinance.
to underwrite
[11TH
MARCH)
the un-subscribed
1966
shares
Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman
Khan:
Secretary
be
pleased to state the number of East Pakistanis in this Board of Directors?
Mian
Muhammad
Rafique
Saigol:
Out of 9, 5 are East
Pakistanis.
Mr. Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury:
It appears that Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and
9 totalling 5 have been appointed by the Central Government
itself.
May
I know how manv of them are from East Pakistan
and how many of
them from West Pakistan?
Mian
Pakistan.
Muhammad
Rafique
Saigol:
disparity
in all departments
that they
from East Pakistan?
istan
Two
of
them
are
from
East
Are they doing away with the
took 3 from West Pakistan
and 2
Mian Muhammad
Rafique Saigol: The disparity is against
because there are 5 East Pakistanis
out of 9.
West Pak-
This is a specific question with
regard to the appointment
directly made, by the Central Governmentwhether
they are cent per cent responsible?
Do they maintain parity?
Mian Muhammad
Rafique Saigol:
tained-that
is more important.
The parity
in the Board
is main-
Mr. Aminul Islam Chowdhurv : Will the Parliamentary
Secretary
be
pleased to state as to whether
any of the Managinr- Directors
is East
Pakistani?
Mian Muhammad
Rafique
Saigol : They
are Pakistanis.
Dr. Aleem-al-Razee
: Will the Parliamentary
Secretary
please look to
answer (b) : Rs, 1.60 crores, out of which 40 lakhs have been subscribed
bv the Centre; 1 Government
811.d the remaining
1 _20 crores floated in ERst
and West Pakistan
in equal shares.
Will he please tell the House the
names of those persons to whom the share, have been floated?
Mian Muhammad
Rafique Saignl : Sir, this information
for and so I require fresh notice for it.
was not asked
In view of the fact that Covernment is pleased to give names ('f the Directors, will the Parliamentary
Secretary
give U~ names of the Directors from East and West Pakistan,
spelling them out separately?
Mr. Hasan A. Shaikh: Will it be possible for you, instead of allowing
the Minister to advise the Parliamentary
Secretary,
to' ask the Minister
to answer the question direct?
1\-11'. Speaker:
He is answering.
Mian Muhammad
Rafiquo Saigol : Mr. Mutiur Rahman, Mr. K. G.
Ahmad, Mr. Abdul Aziz and Mr. Shako or ; I believe, Sir, four only.
STARRED QUESTIONS
269
AND ANSWERS
(Interruptions)
Mr. Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury: The honourable Parliamentary
Secretary will also withdraw the number that he gave-East Pakistanis
are 5 and West Pakistanis are 4.
Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman Khan: Let him say it is not 4 : 5. The number
of East Pakistanis is 4 and not 5.
(Interruptions)
Mr. MukhlesllZzaman Khan: But he should say that he has given an
untrue statement, absolutely untrue statement.
A Member:
Incorrect statement.
Mr. Mukhlesuzzarnan Khan:
given.
CONSTRUCTION
Affairs be pleased to state:
Incorrect and untrue statement he has
OF
FARAKKA
Khan:
BARRAGE
Will the Minister
for
Foreign
(a) whether
Government
consider the construction by India of
Farakka Barrage in West Bengal detrimental to the interests of East
Pakistan; and
(b) the steps Government have taken so far to resist the construction
of Farakka Barrage?
Mr. Afazuddin Faqir : Sir, on a point of order. Sir, previously it has
been found that some incorrect statements have been given by the Parliamentary Secretary of Commerce Ministry and here also we find that
some incorrect statement has been made by the Parliamentary Secretary
of Communications Ministry. Sir, how long will these incorrect statements be allowed to continue?
That is what we want to know.
A Member: Is that a point of order.
Another Member: This is no point of order.
Major Zulfiqa- AU Khan Qizilhash:
Mr. Speaker:
Point of order, Sir.
Please resume your seat.
Mr. Hasan A. Shaikh:
The time has passed.
Mr. MLzanur Rahman Chowdhury : Do not show
there is no vacancy.
so much
ability;
Mr. ABdul Awal Bhuiya: (a) Yes. The Government of Pakistan are
fully aware of the detriment to the interest of East Pakistan directly
following from the construction by India of the Farakka Barrage.
(b) Following press reports o:f Indian intention to construct a Barrage
at Farakka the Pakistan Government as early as 1951 had expressed its
strong concern to the Government of India in a note of protest. Thereafter negotiations and exchange of correspondence
have taken place
between the two Governments. In 1961 the President of Pakistan exchanged letters with the late Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Nehru, making
several proposals on the question. The Indian Prime Minister reaffirmed
the earlier agreement to adopt a co-operative approach in the matter of
270
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
the eastern rivers. It was also proposed to hold a- Ministerial
level
Conference and exchange technical data between the experts of the two
countries.
The question of reaching a satisfactory agreement with regard to
whole question of the utilization of Eastern rivers, including the problems
created by the proposed barrage at Farakka is receiving Government's
urgent consideration.
Mr, Mukhlesuzzaman Khan:
Will the honourable
Parliamentary
Secretary be pleased to state whether the Government cf U.S.S.R. has
given a very big loan and aid interest-free to India for the transformation
of this barrage into a multi-purpose project. If so, what the Government of Pakistan have done about it ?
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya : The Government of U.S.S.R. has not given
any direct assistance to construct this barrage but India has received
several aids, including technical aid and some of the instruments they
are utilizing for this project; but there is no specific allotment for this
barrage itself.
Mr. A. H. M. Kamaruzzaman : Whether the issue cf Farakka Barrage
was taken up at Tashkent?
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya : The issue of Farakka barrage was not taken
up as a specific issue but indirectly it was discussed. In this resp-ect I
am giving a quotation. At Tashkent, the specific issue of Farakka was
not discussed but the following passage from the late Mr. Lal Bahadur
Shastri's public statement at the opening session is significant:
"Our aim should be to improve the totality of the relationship
between the two countries. Our trade .. ."
Members:
What has this to do with Farakka ?
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya : Just have patience
to hear.
"Our aim should be to improve the totality
of the relationship
between the two countries. Our trade has been shrinking. It
should grow instead. (Now this is connected with Farakka).
Many rivers flow between India and Pakistan. Instead of being
a source of controversy, they could, through co-operative endeavour, enrich both our countries."
This is very significant.
Mr. Mizanur Rahman
that have been mentioned.
Chowdhury:
Will he please name the rivers
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar : I want to know whether the Government
of the U.8.S.R. has been informed of the damaging effects that this project
is likely to produce On Pakistan and whether they have been told that
the Russians are being befooled by the Indians as they have already
befooled the Americans in various projects?
Mr Abdul Awal Bhuiya : It has not been stated that they have been
befooled by India but the question has been taken up with U.S.S.R. and
they have been informed about the consequences of Farakka barrage.
STARRED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
271
Begum Razia Faiz: Will the Parliamentary Secretary be pleased to
say what is the outcome of the exchange of letters and meetings between
the two countries?
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya : As an outcome of letters there had been
some Ministerial and other conferences and this question was taken up
there. Another date was also fixed for Ministerial level meeting on 18th
September.
Mr. Hasan, A. Shaikh: Would I call this as terminological inexactitude-I do not say falsehood or lie-it is terminological inexactitude to
say that there was a Ministerial Conference when according to your answer it was proposed to have a Ministerial Conference though it has not
yet taken place.
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya: It was Experts Meeting which has taken
place. There was a proposal to hold a Ministerial level conference and
the answer to this proposed conference is yes.
Mr. Abdus Sobuj- Khan:
Actually the meeting has not been held.
Mr. Mohammad Abdul Matin: (Pabna) : Will the Parliamentary Secretary be pleased to state whether the problem of Farakka barrage was
discussed in the; last Ministerial meeting which was held according to
the Tashkent Declaration.
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya : It was not discussed in the last Ministerial
Conference.
Mr. Mohammad Abdul Matin (Pabna) : Will the Parliamentary Secretary state whether the Government will make it a point that it is :gut
On the agenda for the next Ministerial level meeting and discussed ?
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya : I am taking note of it.
w.n
Mr. A. H. M. Kamaruzzaman:
the Parliamentary
Secretary
assure the House that if this project is not abandoned by India, then
Tashkent Declaration will not be given effect to by Pakistan.
(Pause)
Mr. A. H. M. Kamaruzzaman : It is a vital question for the people of
East Pakistan.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury:
A Member:
Supplementary
question.
You obey the Speaker.
Another Member: Let the question be answered.
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya : Please repeat your question.
Mr. A. H. M. Kamaruzzaman: tSupplementary question, Sir. Will
you kindly give us an assurance that if the Government of India tries to
execute, or actually executes the Farakka Barrage you will not implement the Tashkent Declaration?
Mr. Aodul Awal Bhuiya: tThe implementation
of the Tashkent
Declaration will solve all the disputes between India and Pakistan and
if that is not achieved the Tashkent Declaration is not going to serve
any purpose.
t
English translation
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
MARCH)
1966
Supplementary, Sir.
Mr. Speaker: Yes.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury: Will the honourable Minister consider making a statement on this particular issue, namely, the
construction of Farakka Barrage?
To what extent it affects the interest
of East Pakistan. In view of the reply of the Parliamentary Secretary
that no aid came from U.S.S.R. to India for the contruction of the
Farakka Barrage and the subsequent clarification by the Parliamentary
Secretary that Pakistan wrote to the U.S.S.R. Government regarding
their aid for Farakka Barrage which would adverselyaffect the economy
of Pakistan, would the Government of Pakistan consider to make a. formal protest to the Government of India and to the Government of
U.S.S.R. ?
Major Zulfiqar Ali Khan Qizilibash: Point of order, Sir. Sir, I am
afraid under the rules this question cannot be admitted because the rule
says:
"it shall not raise questions of policy too large to be dealt with
within the limits of an answer to a question."
Therefore, in view of this Rule, I would request that this question should
not be admitted.
Mr. A. K. M. FazIul Quader Chowdhury: Sir, whether it is a point of
order or a point of disorder, is a matter for the Speaker to decide. But
it is a vital matter for this country. It may come under discussion during questionlanswer hour. You will consider some latitude to be given
to this august House so that this may be clarified. It is not a party issue.
It is a national issue and the Rules of Procedure would not help a party
or a faction. I wish the honourable Minister for Industries could make
a statement clarifying this point so that the supplementaries may not be
called for after a comprehensive statement.
Mr. Hasan A. Shaikh: Sir, if I may be jallowed to answer the point
of order. Sir, this is not a question which elicits any reply with regard
to the policy. The question only elicits a reply as to whether the
Government proposes to make a statement on the floor of the House.
That is not a matter of policy; therefore, this question is not affected by
the Rule that was quoted by Major Qizilbash. So, I think, the question
s'hould be ;a Ilowed.
Mr. Speaker: Major Qizilbash, your point of order does not arise
here.
So, this is no point of order.
Mian Md. Mansur Ali: Sir, Mr. Mizan is mentioning him as 'minor'
Qizilbash; but according to the Constitution no minor is allowed to seek
election and to be elected as a Member of the House.
Mr. A. K. M. FazIul Quader Chowdhury:
from the honourable Minister for Industries?
I would invite an answer
Dr. Aleem-al-Razee: Sir, the Chair has already ordered the Parliamentary Secretary to reply, but he is sitting like a duck in his chair.
Mr. Speaker:
Please reply.
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya ; Sir, it is the honourable Minister who is to
make a statement. I am not requested to make a statement on this.
STARRED QUESTIONS
Al,{D ANSWERS
273
Mr. Altaf Hussain: Sir, are we on question No. t35 or 136?
Mr. Speaker: 135.
Mr. Altaf Hussain: My suggestion is that let us go to 136 where the
same problem can also be discussed.
A Member: It is a life and death question for East Pakistan.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury: Again I put the question
to the honourable Minister. Will the Pakistan Government protest to
the aid-giving country who proposes to aid the construction of the
Farakka Barrage?
Whether East Pakistan's interest will be vitally
affected by the construction of that Barrage and whether at the Ministerial level or at Summit level this Far.akka Barrage construction was
taken up? Sir, this is the question I put and I hope the honourable Minister for Industries or anybody on his behalf might reply.
Mr. Altaf Hussain: Sir, as the Leader of the House interjected
between the exchange of questions and answers in the last session of the
Assembly, I made a very exhaustive statement on the floor of the House
stating precisely the various stages through which negotiations with
India have passed over the question of Farakka. I had also informed the
House in considerable detail about the damage to East Pakistan which
the construction of Farakka Barrage at present envisages. There is only
this much to add that the Government remains of the same opinion that
the construction of Far.akka Barrage is a threat of considerable magnitude to the future of East Pakistan and, therefore, to the economy of the
whole of Pakistan. The Government will continue to press for a resumption of the discussions between the two countries on the subject, whether
it is to be in the context of Tashkent or in some other context, as was
planned before and it is for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to answer.
But I can say this that even at the last Ministerial Conference a complete
brief on the subject of the Farakka Barrage and also on the subject of
the utilization of the Eastern Rivers between the two countries was
prepared and the delegation including the Communications Minister as
well .as the Minister for Commerce was headed by the Foreign Minister.
If and when the Conference will be held, I am quite sure, this question
will be raised. We are in complete agreement with the honourable
Members of this House that this is a menac., to the future of East
Pakistan and we shall continue to press that this matter is settled without detriment to the interest of Pakistan.
Mr. Hasan A. Shaikh: I have a point of order.
Mr. Speaker : It has been duly answered.
Mr. Speaker, Sir.
Mr. Speaker: Will you bear me out please.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury: I am not making a case. I
am not arguing against you. I am arguing before you.
Mr. Speaker: Resume your seat.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury: Point of order, Sir. Sir,
my point is that the question I put to the Minister was that whether the
GovGrnment protested to the country which aided towards the construction of Farakka Barrage. My question has not been answered.
274
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
[Ll rn
MARCH,
1965
Mr. Speaker: This is not a point of order.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury: A simple 'No point
order' is not enough. What is the harm in giving a reply to it?
Mr. Speaker:
He has already replied.
of
Resume your seat.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury: Thank you, Sir.
Mr. Hasan A. Shaikh : In reply the Minister for Industries has
omitted vital pardons of his reply saying that this matter will be replied
to by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Now, my point cf order is
whether it is not incumbent upon a Minister whose day is fixed for answering the questions to remain present in the House. Sometimes the
questions are beyond the scope of a Parliamentary Secretary or other
Minister sitting here. So, my point is that the Speaker should express
his displeasure at the absence of the Ministers on the days questions are
fixed for answers.
Mr. Speaker: The Rules are that the Parliamentary
present to answer the questions.
FARAKKA
Secretary will be
BARRAGE
136. ';'Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman Khan: Will the Minister for Foreign
Affairs be pleased to state whether Government have taken stock of the
damage which might be done to East Pakistan by the construction by
India of the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal?
If so, what would be
the nature of the damage and the estimated loss resulting therefrom?
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya: The Government of Pakistan are fully
aware of the implications for the economy of East Pakistan of the construction by India of the Farakka Barrage. This has been a matter of
constant technical study by the appropriate organs of Government, both
provincial and central. The Barrage, if constructed, will directly affect
seven districts of East Pakistan.
The G:mges-Kobadak Scheme will be
seriously affected on account of lack of water during the dry season.
The effects on the course of the Ganges River will be felt through the
silting up of the bed. The saline limit of the river will move further
inland, thereby affecting industrial as well as agricultural conditions. in
Khulna. Loss of water will mean that the moisture in the soil will
gradually dry up with harmful effects for agriculture.
Mr. Mukhlesuzzaman Khan: Will the Parliamentary Secretary please
confirm fa deny that from the answer it can be taken for granted that
the construction of Farakka Barrage which is almost in the final stage
will turn the whole of north Bengal into semi-desert?
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya: One part of your question is not correct
because they have not yet finalised the Farakka Barrage construction.
Some Members: We know it.
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya : We also know it. What in your knowledge
is correct may not be correct to us.
Mr. Ajmal AIi Choudhury: Is it the procedure that the two honourable Members should continue to talk in this manner or whether they
are to address the honourable Chair?
Shah Azizur Rahman: May I put a supplementary
question?
STARRED
QUESTIONS
275
AND ANS\VERS
Rana Ghulam Sabir Khan:
tWill the Parliamentary
Secretary
be
pleased to state whether Government
are prepared
to consider the problem of Farakka
Barrage
keeping in view the fact that !:1oian Government would certainly
construct
the
barrage?
Will
the
Government
achieve any substantial
result only through correspondence
and talks on
Ministerial
level ?
Mr. Speaker:
reply?
Mr. Abdul
tPlease
Awal
repeat
Bhuiya
:
your
question
(after
a pause)
Can you
H could not get him.
Rana Ghulam Sabir Khan: tAre the
the problem
of Farraka Barrage
keeping
Government
are bent upon construc.ing
hope to achieve any substantial
result
change of notes, talks on Ministerial
and
Government
re2cV tc consider
in view the fact that Indian
the Barrage?
De Government
through
correspondence,
exsummit level?
I do not only think but I believe that India will certainly
construct
the Barrage.
Therefore,
we have to take alternative
measures.
What
are the measures
which Government
are contemplating
to take in this
regard?
Mr. Abdul Awal
will answer this.
Bhuiya
: The
honourable
l'/IinisLer
fer
Industries
Mr. Altaf Hussain:
If I understand
aright, the question
is whether
the Government
is going to consider
that whatever
may l-e the
negotiation with India, as they have done before, in this case also, they may
not come to an agreement,
and if they have come to an agreement
they
will not implement
it, and whether
the Government
is considering
any
counter-measure
to prevent the damage done to the province by the construction of Farakka Barrage.
My answer is that every eft'crt will be made
to settle the question and we do not hope that the settlement
will not be
arrived at, but if the settlement
is not arrived at, some ether steps will
be considered.
Shah
graph ...
Azizur
Rahman:
The Ministerial
conference
held
under
para-
(Paus€)
Shah Azizur Rahman:
Out of respect for the Foreign Minister, I am
not proceeding.
He may take his seat.
I hope my supplementary
question will now be replied to by the honourable
Foreign Minister.
Sir,
the Ministerial
conference
was held under paragraph
9 of the Tashkent
Declaration
and when the Ministerial
conference
was held, an agenda
was prepared
by Pakistan.
Whether
that agenda included
a discussion
on this subject?
If not, why not?
If it was not included in the agenda
for discussion
in the Ministerial
level conference,
how OC you propose
to include this in future agenda also?
Mr. Speaker:
Affairs debate.
I think
this point
may be discussed
during
the Foreign
Mr. Abdus Sobur Khan (Minister
for Communications)
: Sir, mav I
give this answer because I happened
to be a member of the delegation
of the Ministerial
level conference.
A supplementary
question has been
put by the honourable
Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
WeJl, this much
--------_._._---_
-_._._ .. ---_._-_ .._._---
t
English translation
of sentences in Urdu.
276
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
[11TH 11ARCH, 1966
OF PAKISTAN
can be said that the Ministerial
level
conference covered quite a wide
range of subjects and those subjects definitely included the construction
of Farakka Barrage and its consequential
effect on the river
courses,
particularly,
the Ganges River courses and its tributaries in East Pakistan.
Mr. Zulfikar
strategy ...
Ali Bhutto:
I cannot
disclose
here 'to
Hie
House
the
Mr. A. K. M. FazIul Quader Chowdhury:
Point
of order.
Can a
Minister supersede another Minister when he is replying?
Is it not disorder?
How can the Leader of the House be superseded by another
Minister?
Mr. Abul Quasem: May I know whether 11r. Bhutto was the Leader
of the Delegation?
If so, I move a privilege motion because Government
has no right to appoint another Minister as leader of the delegation because the Leader of the House is a member.
Nobody can do it.
Mr. Speaker:
Mr. Quasem,
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader
of the House.
you lose your
Chowdhury:
Mr. Abul Quasem: Any Member
leader of the Delegation ...
sitting
temper!
We want to hea-r the Leader
in
the
House
cannot
be
(Interruptions)
l\'JIr. A. K. M. Faz ltrl Quader
kindly be disposed of.
Mr. Speaker
session.
Chowdhury:
: No point of order arises.
My point
of
order
It is not a question
may
of super-
I want to hear
how you
have disposed of my point of order.
When the Minister for Communications was on his legs, another Minister asked him to sit down.
Is it not
supersession?
You are the master of the House.
How can a Minister
ask another Minister to sit down?
Mr. Abdtts Sobur Khan: Any shouting does not clarify the position.
It only adds to be clouded
all the more.
What I told was that as the
leader of the delegation Mr. Bhutto could give a better reply.
The two
delegations
at the Ministerial
Conference
were headed by the Foreign
Ministers of India and Pakistan.
The question of the
Leader
of the
House leading the delegation, as has been referred to, dces not arise.
As the Leader of the Delegation, Mr. Bhutto, as I said earlier, is in a
much better position to throw much light on the agenda which was discussed or which was supposed to be discussed
extensively
with India,
and I also felt that as the Leader of the Delegation he was much more
posted with the facts and figures.
For that reason, I resumed my seat
with
the expectation
that
the House will be better benefited by his
throwing much light on the particular
agenda.
I was also briefed, but
the Leader of the Delegation was thoroughly
briefed not only about the
Farakka problem but various other problems.
For that reason, it is not
a question of ovtrlapping
or superseding
of one Minister by another.
I,
therefore,
feel that as the Leader
of the
Delegation,
the
Foreign
STARRED QUESTIONS
277
AND ANSWERS
l,lillister who is physically present in the House will be in a better posicion to give more convinclng answer. I think 1 have clarified my
position.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazllul Quader Chowdhury: I rise on a point of order,
Mr. Abdus Sobur Khan has asked Mr. Bhutto, our President's Foreign
Minister, to reply to the supplementary question raised. Now it is
quite in order. But my point of order is quite different. l think whatever right is conceded to the Members of the House, I am entitled to
that right. I want to get clarification on one point, if you kindly allow.
If Mr. Altaf Hussain replies to my question completely, I have nothing
to say. I put one question: whether we have protested to the Russian
Government for giving aid to India for the construction of the Farakka
Barrage. If he answers my question, I would be satisfied. My grievance is that he has not answered that. You can verify it from the taperecord. 1 have no grievance against your ruling.
Mr. Speaker:
That point is overruled.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury: I submit before your ruling,
Sir; but you kindly check up with the tape-record, and let Mr. Altaf
Hussain, or the House, say whether my question was answered. I will
accept anybody's vsrdict.
l':lr. Speaker:
Major Zulfiqar AIi Khan Qizilbash:
point that ...
Mr. Speaker:
been answered.
Mr. Speaker:
Sir, I am sorry about one
Sir, my question has not
Nhatever you order, I will cbey.
I am in your hands, Sir.
Mr. Speake)": Please resume your seat.
clarify this point.
Mr. Speaker:
Only I say,
'Mr. A. K M. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury: All right, Sir.
tainly resume my seat because you are in that Chair.
Mr. Speaker:
~"~ir, please
I will cer-
Mr. A. K. M, Fazlul Quader Chowdhury: I have no alternative,
but I would request you that yen kindly get it verified.
Mr. Speaker:
Sir,
Mr. A. K. lYL Fazluh QuadeI' Chowdhury: Nothing against your ruling ; nothing against your Chair, Sir : you are there.
Mr. Speaker:
Please resume your sea 1.
278
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
MARCH)
1966
Sir, the fate of the country has decreed that we must observe discipline in this House, and obey
the ruling of the Speaker.
I submit before your ruling.
I really say,
Sir, you are wonderful;
we are proud of you, Sir.
Mr. Speaker: Mr. Chowdhury,
the House knows, that you are bemoaning your lot, and you want to remind the world that you are an
ex-Speaker,
lest the world might forget it.
Yes, Mr. Bhutto
l Mr. Bhutto
will reply.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul
Quader
Chowdhury:
Mr. Speaker:
resume
your
Please
Sir, I didn't
follow
seat.
l\-fl". A. h. [;1. FazluI Qtrader Chowdhury : I am resuming,
you, Sir. But, Sir, I have not heard what you said. I want
fited by your advice.
Mr. Speaker:
mg.
I think
lUr. A. fL [VI.Fazlul
Mr. Zulfikar
you are not hard
Quader
AU Bhutto
IvIr. SpNk'81':
I think
Chowdhury
: Sir, I am not hard
: Mr. Speaker,
you
these
Sir. Thank
to be bene-
of hearing.
Sir!
of hear-
As I was ..
i?I:. A. K. IVI. Fazlu] Quader Chowdhury:
Sir, I have
you, if you kindly tell me. I missed you, Sir.
request you not to repeat
you.
should not obstruct
the
things again and again.
all respect
for
proceedings.
I
]t!~·.A.E. Ill. Fazhrl Quader Chowdhury:
Sir, nothing is intelligible
uniess you :;;;e3.k a bit more clearly.
The mike is' disturbing.
Mr. Speaker:
You just sit.
You. did net cheese to sit there,
of hearing.
I gave you a seat in the front bench.
so that you might hear, if you are hard
Mr. A ...K. M. Fazlul
much full of hearing.
Chowdhury
Quader
Mr. Speaker : Yes, and full-throated,
: I am not, Sir.
too.
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader Choudhury:
... Yiu know,
tull of hearing, and my voice is also not very low, and
hear me. My grievance is.
Mr. Speaker
with
Sir, I am very
everybody can
: Yes, Mr. Bhutto!
Mr. A. K. M. Fazlul Quader
the tape-recording.
Chowdhury:
Mr. Speaker:
your seat.
Mr.
Sir. and
Minister.
someone
Mr.
want to
I am very
Pleas.e resume
...
if you kindly check up
Mohd. N. A. Lashkar:
We want to hear the Foreign
Minister,
let other things he stopped now. We want to hear the Foreign
Let us not be disturbed
like this. There is no monopoly for
to speak and speak and shout here.
A. K. M. Fazl,ul Quader Chowdhury:
What does that gentleman
say?
Mr. Speaker
: Please
behave
yourself
properly.
STARRED QUESTIONS
lUx. A. K. M. Fazlul
Quader
279
AND ANSWERS
Chowdhury:
Mr. Speaker,
Sir, you will
have to protect the Members from such sort of a thing. I ebey it.
Sir. It will be a disgrace if I do not obey you. Then what is the
trouble
about
it?
+Sir, you have said something,
which I have not
heard.
And as
such I have requested
you to speak a bit, clearly 5'0 that it becomes
audible.
Have the heavens fallen for it? I have not said anything
against anybody.
I do not disturb anybody's mind.
Me Speaker : The House
feels disturbed
by you.
Please
take your
seat.
Yes, Mr. Bhutto!
Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Minister for Foreign Affairs) : Mr. Speaker,
Sir. 1. am very much encouraged
and elated by the grave concern that
the House has shown for the Farakka
Barrage by the slight interlude
that we witnessed just now. I would like to assure Shah Azizur Rahman
and the House, that the question of Farakka Barrage, and all other matters
pertaining
to East Pakistan,
such as transit facilities and various other
questions, were uppermost
in our minds, because they are of vital interest to the nation.
I can assure them, Sir, that not only in this Ministerial Conference, but in the Conference that preceded
the Ministerial
Conference
in the Soviet Union, all these questions were of primordial
importance
to Pakistan, because these are the vital national issues which
COLCCln. us, and over which we have disputes
with India.
I would like
to reiterate
here Government's
resolve, not only to take into account
those matters, but to legitimately
protect all our national interest,
ineluding these fundamental
and basic problems that affect East Pakistan,
But I an, sure, Sir, that the House will realize that it would not be in
the higher interest of the promotion of these interests if we were to go
into the details. or even into a brief revelation
of the strategy and objectives that we pursued in this Ministerial
Conference.
All I would
like to say is that these problems were uppermost
in our minds as they
are of fundamental
importance,
and they shall continue to remain so till
they are legitimately
resolved.
Shah Aaizur R.ahman: Sir, I have a very precise question.
I only
want to know whether
the question of Farakka
Barrage was at all included in the agenda or not. That would satisfy me.
I want to know
whether this question was included in the ag.enda of the meeting of the
IVlin:i.,i:'?ri8l Conference
which was held recently
under paragraph
9 of
the Tashkent
Declaration.
I only want to know this much.
Mr. Zulfikar
AIi Bhutto:
Naturally
it was
included
in the
agenda.
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar : In view of the hostile attitude and most
criminal
intention
of the Government
of India, does our Government
propose to appoint a Standing Committee of East Pakistani
officials and
non-cfficials
to keep vigilanc.e on the question
of construction
of the
Farakka Barrage?
Mr. Zulflkar Ali Bhutto:
There will
assure you of that.
-_._---------- ---t English rr.inslarion of sentences in Bengali.
be continued
vigilance,
I can
----_._--
280
NATIONAL
Mr. A. H. M.
Barrage is of vital
agree to place the
before the House
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
MARCH,
1966,
Kamaruzzaman
: In view of the fact that Farakka
importance
to East Pakistan, will the Minister kindly
.agenda of the meeting of the Ministerial
Conference
and taking the House into confidence?
Mr. Zulfikar Alii Bhutto : I have already stated that the question of
Farakka
Barrage
is' important,
not only to .East Pakistan.
but to' the
whole of Pakistan.
Mr. Mizanur Rahman
Chowdhury:
Wilf the honourable
Minister
please tell us that when Pakistan
could take the risk of war for the
right of self-determination
of the 40 lakh Muslims in Kashmir. whether
the Government
is prepared
to go all out for the survival of two crore
poor Pakistanis
living in East Pakistan
unfortunately?
Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto:
Pakistan
was a victim cf aggression.
and
Pakistan defended its territory
against aggression, predatory
and blatant
aggression;
and if Pakistan
is a victim of aggression in any part of the
country, it will again heroically
face that aggressor,
whoever
that ag~
gressor be. And, as far as'...
Mr. Abll'1 Quasem:
The question
tion of India's aggression,
Sir.
NIr. Speaker:
Mr. Abul
Mr. Abul
Quasem:
Sir,
was not that.
It is net
Quasem,
please
resume
I wanted
to put
a supplementary
Mr. Speaker:
No more
question, No. 137.
supplernentaries
TRANSFER
OF BERUBARI
your
on that
the
ques-
seat.
question.
question.
Next
UNION
Khan:
Will the Minister
for
Foreign
Affairs be pleased to state whether
the transfer
of Ber ubar i Union in
West Bengal to Pakistan
has since been completed?
If so, what is the
total area so transferred
and the total population
of that area?
l'!-ft-. Abdul Awal Bhuiya : The House is aware that the Government
of India have failed so far to implement
the Noon-Nehru
Agreement
of
1358 relating
to the
transfer
of Berubari
on various administrative,
technical and legal grounds.
In 1959, the Government
of India agreed
to take whatever
measures may be necessary, including the amendment
of the Indian
Constitution,
to enable it to implement
the Agreement.
Notwithstanding,
since 1963, the question has been the subject of writ
petitions filed by private individuals,
with the object of preventing
the
implementation
of the Agreement.
M~. Amimrl
Islam
Chowdhury
: Sir, we can't
follow
him if he reads
so rapidly.
Ml·. Speakcr
: He will
read
do vly,
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiva : 2. Pakistan
made it clear that the
implementation
of an international
agreement,
cannot be made subject to
indefinite
delay on account of the judicial
or administrative
processes
of one of the parties.
STARRED QUESTIONS
281
AND Al'l"SWERS
3. The present position is that on lOth August, 1965, the Indian
Supreme Court dismissed the appeal filed by the petitioners and ruled
that the Government of India was free to proceed with implementation
of Agreement on Berubari.
Under the Tashkent Declaration, the parties
have undertaken
to implement existing agreements.
Pakistan
expects
that the 1953 agreement will now he carried out and 4.36 square miles
being half the total area of Berubari Union measuring 8.72 square miles
will be transferred to Pakistan without L"irther delay.
Major Zuihllru' Ai:i Khan Q.iz~ibash: Question time is over.
Mr. Speaker : It is not over.
~hll'.
pleclseJ
Mvl<ihiesu'lziill1au
to state whether
Gt the transfer
of the E 2l"ubz .._"'i
have r.een driven
·l~llrdAbdul
Khan : Will the Parliamentary
Secretary
be
it i.s a ract that in view of uncerra n pcsiuon
O··.,tt
~C:1
to Paki :·~'U1. 1Lo,:,:~ of the j\,IuslilDS
?
L\"\val ]Hhl~.:yc : I 31TI not fully aware,
opinion that your contention
Mhm Md. Wlan:'iUl'
Ali:
has said that the Government
Berubari
l}1110Yl
of t~~at Un
is not
but it IS
l11Y
personal
CO~'TI2Ct.
tThe honourable
Parliamentary
Secretary
of India has not yet been able to transfer
in acco~.\~:?i1~ewith the Noon-Nehru
Pact signed in. 1958.
110Vi -•.q;ll it be possible to SOl'.l2 t118 Kashmir
p::001er~1 ?
In
t.his context
fit:r. "lhduJ JA.-wal Hhui.ya;: '!"It is difficult to say how that will be
done. Butene
Tashkent Declaration will have to be ziven its d W respoet so CElt all disputes may be solved.
~
l~~i". Aminul Islam Chowdhury : rwil1 the Parliamentary
Secretary
be ple~',f.ed to state whether the questions of oppression on the Lluslims
in 'I'ripura and of accession of Tr ipura to Pakistan will be included in
ttL'
azenda of the ministerial
Declarution ?
level conference
tc be held under
the
Tasllk'-ent
(No
:'2,[;1'y)
;,Ir. l'iI(lh::l~;.!l!ncl AhihI1 Mati.'! (P<:.b:r:.<',) In the reply the Parliamentarv Secretary in para 3 stated that on 10th August, 186;5, the Indian
Supr,e:ne Court dismi'l.s~~ t~e appeal filed by the _petitioners and. rl:_~ed
thcd, the C~o'Ver1._m2TIt 01 mcua was free to proceed with imnlementaticn
of agl'(~emerrt on Berubari.
Will the ParIiamentary
Secretary be' pleased
to state whether any definite date was given for the transfer of the
Berubari Union in the last IndcPakistan
Ministerial meeting held. 21;
Rawalpindi ?
Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto : The difficultv here is that
there is an
international
agreement.
This international
agreement
commits the
sovereign State of India to implement that agreement and India is honour
bound to implement that agreement if India respects international
law
and its sovereignty.
It must honour the Berubari agreement.
Mr. Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury: Like Kashmir.
Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto : Like Kashmir or any other problem whether
in East Pakistan or in West Pakistan.
Mr. Speaker: Next question.
[En glis h (ran .lr ti: n of sentences in Bengali.
----------------
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
EXPORTERS
OF.-PA~ISTAN
[11TH
MARCH)
1966
OF PAN
138. *Dr. Aleem-al-Razee : Will the Minister
for Commerce be
pleased to slate the number of exporters of "Pan" from East Pakistan
to West Pakistan, and of those who are from East Pakistan '!
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: There are 953 parties who have been
allocated space by the PIA for transportation of Pan from East to West
Pakistan. Of these, 723 are established in East Pakistan and 230 are
based in "Vest Pakistan.
D1·. Aleern-al-Razee : Will the Parliamentary
Secretary be pleased
answer. My question was the domicile of persons participating in the Pan trade. In his answer he states:
There are 953 parties
who have been allocated space by the PIA for transportation of Pan
from East to West Pakistan. Of these, 723 are established in East Pakistan and 23':; are based in West Pakistan. May I know the meaning of
ths words 'based' and 'established'
in relation to the persons from
East Pakistan or from West Pakistan; please explain.
10 notei;he
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: Parties means persons who applied tc
the Pan trade between the two wings.
Dr. Aleom-al-Razee : Is it a fact that out of 723 persons whom he
had established in East Pakistan, all of them are from West Pakistan "?
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: They are all from East Pakistan.
Mr. IHohd. N. A. Lashkar : Will the Parliamentary
Secretary
be
pleased to give a complete list of those 723 parties at some future date?
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: PIA allocates space for transportation of Pan to different parties on the recommendation.
run
(Interruptions)
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar: We want to see the list in the House.
Mr. Speaker: You hear him first; please don't jump on him.
Mr. Ajmal Ali Choudhury : I cannot hear him; will he use the
microphone properly.
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: PIA makes the allocation to different
parties on the recommendation of the Pan Allocation Committee set up
in 1959 and the parties are being given the allocated quota for transportation of Pan from East to West Pakistan.
Mr. Mohammad Abdul Matin (Pabna):
Sccretarv be pleased to give the names of persons of that Allocation
Committee and whether they are from East Pakistan or from West
Pakistan?
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: I require notice.
Mr. Speaker: Question time is over.
IMPORT
';'139. ':'Dr. Alecm-al-Razee:
OF WILLY'S
to state:
(a) the name and address of
Pakistan;
--.-
----
-'-
-.-
__
---_ ..
---··;Qu~sti.Jn hour beilJe?, -ver, starre
l ri! -n the 1'a1:'c.
._.
JEEP
Will the Minister for Industries be pleased
the
firm
importing
Willy's jeep in
----------_._----
1 q ies i rns (Nos. 139 to 163) a nd the:r r nswers
were
283
STARRED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(b) if the firm is' a public or a private limited concern, the names
of the members on its Board of Directors; and
(c) the present show-room price of the said jeep?
Mr. Altaf Hussain: (a) M]s, Kandawalla Industries
walla Building, M. A. Jinnah Road, Karachi.'
Limited, Kanda-
(b) The firm is a private
Board of Directors are:
members on its
limited
concern.
The
(1) Mr. G. M. Kandawalla, Managing Director,
(2) Mrs. Shireen Kandawalla, Director,
(3) Mr. Feroz Dalal, Director.
(c) The latest price of Willy's Jeep, Model CJ-5, as fixed and notified on 11th December, 1965, is Rs. 22,495.00 ex-show rooms at Karachi
and Chittagong.
TEA
J40. *Dr. Aleem-al-Razee: Will the Minister for Industries be pleased
to state the wing-wise break-up of consumption of tea in Pakistan since
195'1 to-date?
lVb. Altai Hussain: A statement showing estimated
figures of consumption of tea in East Pakistan and West Pakistan is put up on the
table of the House.
Statement
---
showinq
wing-wise consumption
and East Pakistan
of
fea in West Pakistan
----_.--_._-------I
Consumption
West Pakistan
East Pakistan
(In Million Pounds)
1956-57
26'29
1957-5&
32'60
7'98
1958-59
37·63
8'36
1959-60
32'35
7'31
1960-61
34'39
7'53
1961-62
41' 25
5'38
1962-63
41'27
6'59
1963·64
46·26
10·25
1964-65
49'57
7'32
Will be supplied later on.
284
.NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
PERMANENT
REPRESENTATIVE
OF PAKISTAN
OF PAKISTAN
141. *Dr. Aleem-al-Razee : Will the Minister
pleased to state:
[11TH
MARCH)
1966
UNO
IN
for Foreign Affairs be
(a) the number of Class I, Class II and Class III Officers in the office
Representative of Pakistan in the UNO, and of those'
from East Pakistan; and
of the Permanent
(b) whether any East Pakistani has ever held the post of the Permanent Representative of Pakistan in the said organisation during the
last eighteen years?
JVh,·.Zuliilkar
AU BhuHo:
Ij/
rr
(a)
_
,;. ,
£ {!: .•
Iota
1
Class I PCTJ11,menL Representative
Deputy Per nanent Representn.ive
First Secretaries
Second Secreta ry
1
1
2
1
4
1
5
1
1
2
1
1
4
Class II Gazetted & non-Gazetted.
Cypher Assistant
2
1
Stenographers
Accountant
3
I·~ij.
Class HI
(b) The reply 13 in the ::c[,c:i.i.'i8.
IMPORT
OF MATCH
BOXES
142. :"Mi".A, H. M. Kamaruzzaman . "Will the Minister for Commerce
be pleased to state whether Government have any trade agreement with
Poland for the import of match boxes into Pakistan"?
If not, is he aware
that' Black Cat' match boxes of Polish origin are being freely bought
and sold all over West Pakistan?
If so, why, and how have they been
imported in the country?
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury:
The import of this item is banned.
Smuggling of some matches into West Pakistan has come to the notice of
Government.
Steps are being taken to curb the smuggling.
DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS
'WITH
AFRICAN
STATES
143. *Mr. Mahmud Ali: Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be
pleased to state the names of the African States which have expressed
their desire to establish diplomatic relations with Pakistan?
Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto : On the African continent, Pakistan
has
Resident Missions in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunis,
Egypt and Sudan. The heads of our missions in some of these countries
STARRED QUESTIONS
285
AND ANSWERS
are simultaneously accredited to Mali, Cameroons, Ivory Coast, Upper
Volta and Libya. Diplomatic relations are shortly to be established with
Tanzania and Senegal. Somalia has expressed a desire to establish diplomatic relations with Pakistan.
In time, as financial and administrative considerations permit, diplomatic relations will be established with other African States.
VALUE
OF IMPORT
14,1-. *Mr. Mahmud AIi:
to state:
AND EXPORT
Will the Minister for Commerce he pleased
(a) the value of imports from and exports to U. S. A., U. K., France,
West Germany and Japan in and from East and West Pakistan from
1948 to' the 30th June, 1965, wing and year-wise ;
(b) the balance of trade wing-wise for the period in (a) above; and
(c) the main items of imports and exports from the countries
in
(a} above during the said period, country and wing-wise?
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: (a) and (b) A statement giving the
required information for the years 1951-52 to 1964-65 is placed on the
table of the House. The data prior to 1951-52 is not available.
(c) Two statements
giving the required information for the years
1851-52 to 1964-65 are placed on the table of the House. The data prior
to 1951-52 is not available. The Province-wise' break up of main items
of imports and exports is not readily available.
Statement showing total imports and exports and balance on Province
basi» relating to U. S. A., U. K.,Japan,
Germomi; and Frtuice fa?' the
years 1951-·52to 1964-65.
('000' Rupees)
----East Pakistan
West Pakistan
--------------Year-Country
Imports
Exports
Balance
---.--~----------.-----2
----------------~---
3
4
Imports
5
Exports
6
Balance
7
U.S. A.
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
1955-56
1956-57
1957-58
1'958-59
3959-60
1960-61
1961-62
1962-63
1963-64
'1964-65
103,442
71,355
46,972
76,410
108,559
341,256
348,058
257,904
473,329
561,645
777,739
1,241,924
1,328,551
1,556,734
---85,334
18,108
---30,740
40,615
30,181
-16,791
43,355
-33,055
68,417
-40,142
100,614
--240,642
65,824
--282,234
63,545
-194,359
86,697
--386,632
84,311
--477,334
82,704
-695,035
103,921 --1,138,003
107,932 -1,220,619
96,560 -1,460,174
------------
..
--~~---
14,417
10,232
5,172
3,439
20,654
132,062
193,287
99,376
]07,090
201,000
181,017
316,677
548,402
516,429
34,450
60,026
44,764
45,669
81,165
71,105
99,541
75,269
78,528
80,343
92,468
98,194
107,111
93,940
-;20,033
+49,794
! 39,592
-' 37,230
-~60,51 1
- £0,957
-93,746
-24,107
-28,562
-120,657
--88,549
-218,483
-461,291
-422,489
286
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
--~ ----~---~-.---.-----.----------------...
2
3
4
[11 TH
MARCH)
1966
------
5
-----------------------------~ ..-----.------
6
7
--------
U.K.
J951-52
279,693
9.1,901
-187,792
/19,813
167,873
'-48,060
1952-53
186,840
90,493
-96,347
83,444
136,678
: 53,234
J953-54
153,556
90,129
--63,427
80,382
134,511
-; 54,129
J954-55
227,559
74,765
-152,794
69,106
175,192
+ 106,086
1955-56
188,407
80,791
-107,616
74,222
172,010
; 97,78B"
1956-57
253,3l1
77,967
-175,344
99,687
186,202
- 86,515
1957-58
268,937
53,439
-215,498
108,071
204,795
96,724
1958-59
188,474
57,351
-13.1,123
83,840
185,972
+102,132
1959-60
327,874
121,980
-205,894
102,036
201,400
+99,36
1960-61
444,726
75,613
-369,113
150,371
205,140
-I
1961.-62
447,491
93,211
-354,280
186,587
201,266
+ 14,679
1962-63
408,628
143,901
-264,727
181,901
191,619
+9,718
1963-64
427,855
158,994
-268,861
208,817
172,722
--36,095
J64-65
54.769
-92,SJ.2
482,643
147,064
--335,579
1951-52
51,164
22,153
--29,011
11,995
84,918
+ 72,92J
1952-53
35,636
53,002
';-17,366
10,243
53,378
+4J,1J5
1953-54
43,504
24,387
--19,117
7,822
69,620
+ 61,798
1954-55
68,752
18,676
-50,076
12,689
73,734
+61,045
1955-56
77,344
26,724
-50,620
18,908
88,252
+69,344
1956-57
110,429
27,446
---82,983
23,376
83,776
+ 60,400
1957-58
131,029
10,919
--120,110
35,607
127,178
+91,57~
1958-59
119,339
5,903
-113,436
45,405
69,196
+24,51 [
1959-60
176,554
15,991
---160,563
68,413
84,325
+15,912
1960-61
208,7'72
9,959
-198,813
65,494
81,177 _
+ 15,683
1961-62
231,438
19,630
-211,808
61,4[9
73,838
+12,419
1962-63
325,055
25,640
-299,415
72,1.18
67,366
-4,752
1963-64
352,879
26,081
-326,798
124,482
40,455
-84,021
1964-65
533,176
24,552
-508,624
177,912
46,584
-131,328
252,380
159,859
Germany Federal
Republic.
--.. -----
STARRED
QUESTIONS
-~-.-------~
----------2
287
AND ANSWERS
3
4
-+ 35,539
-
------------
-.~--------
5
7
6
-.- - -_ .... ----------..•
France
6,118
J 17,635
-+ 111,517
2,869
37,376
-i-34,407
+ 16,968
4,119
55,009
+ 50,890
25,175
+4,152
4,198
53,506
+49,308
31,380
53,348
" 21,968
7,561
71,046
+63,485
1956-57
31,624
60,760
+29,136
8,352
61,435
.i;
1957-58
4J,481
55,072
:. 13,654
10,636
80,512
+ 69,876
1958-59
27,595
4,319
--23,276
10,065
65,909
T
1959-60
89,351
9,554
-79,797
10,736
68,233
,57,497
1960-61 .
65,528
7,947
--57,581
11,932
62,711
+50,779
1961-62
33,579
7,903
-25,676
10,546
76.604
+66,058
1962-63
58,917
20,232
-38,685
6,322
70,381
.; 64,059
1963-64
36,607
23,926
-12,681
8,981
70,150
+61.169
1964-65
49,969
22,492
--27,477
22,937
54,569
-'31,632
1951-52
327,678
96,616
-231,062
139,556
122,823
-J6,733
1952-53
100,656
256,373
+155,717
42,964
23,137
-19,827
1953-54
50,825
156,188
1-105,363
13,004
21,613
+ 8,609
.1954-55
117,151
\13,264
--3,887
32,533
25,462
-7,071
1955-56
98,807
151,968
-i 53,161
43,564
34,545
-9,019
1956-57
45,150
190,728
+ 145,578
18,944
32,613
+ 13,669
1957-58
62,059
103,756
-!-41,697
42,732
37,868
--4,864
1958-59
49,054
107,118
+58,064
29,322
32,245
-"-2,923
1959-60
75,424
90,745
-[ 15,321
1960-61
139,266
68,561
-70,705
1961-62
135,709
61,039
1962-63
166,589
1963-64
1964-65
1951-52
19,221
54,760
1952-53
13,413
41,238
1953-54
23,373
40,341
1954-55
21,023
1955-56
! 27,825
53,083
55,844
Japan
-------
46,471
-76,111
112,406
54,463
-57,943
-74,670
111,365
47,605
-63,760
157,511
-9,078
91,165
48,202
-42,963
168,759
78,314
-87,445
123,009
52,1I0
-70,899
229,631
89,084
-140,547
254,265
42,379
-211,886
J22,582
-~-----
I
Statement showing Imports of Principal Commodities into Pakistan from U. S. A., U. K., France, West Germany and
Japan.
tv
00
00
-------------------------------------Country/Commodities
1951-52 1952-53 1953-54 1954-55 1955-56 1956-57 1957-58
1958-59 1959-60
1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64
-------2
- ------------
3
4
5
6
7
1964-65
-----_._-------------8
9
------'--------------------.-~-----.--.----------.-----
..
10
..
11
12
13
14
15
---~--.-----------.-------------------
U.S.A.
Z
>
~
Iron & Steel manufacture
..
5,416
2,215
1.238
1.357
16,375
14,311
17,627
15,425
16,944
21,001
172,230 314,369 460,942
584,699
Machinery
..
28,255
17,713
10,991
29,260
16,540
57,460
58,924
52,530 115,142
86.555
154,698 337,838 245,493
194,154
Oils and Vegetables
..
3,299
873
5,750
60,973
59,688 512,503 103,839
179,192
158,628 214,321 [79,762 231,659 313,267 262,979 309,324 502,930
570,782
Ul
Ul
109,325 112,437 195,573
141,029
~
ttJ
92,327 133,754 204,878 199,654 302,130 360,176
403,307
Wheat
Vehicles
..
All other articles
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
29,605
10,826
54,583 124,239
7,544
13,835
83,304 122,660
19,069
33,763
51,423
73,930 208,208 193,310
484
16,753
40,836
40,086
75,151
0
Z
>
t"'
>
l'l
~
0
TOTAL
..
117,859154,993
102,077 167,612 129,213 473,243 541,355 357,581 578,421 761,825958,5741,888,6011,858,5392,073,163
Chemicals
Machinery ..
9,686
6,735
9,560
33,560
24,568
21,852
92,820
72,288
88,010 132,796
73,071 106,442 106,860
87,322 106,117 161,689 213,720 227,020
23,127
14,927
25,953
35,359
8,172
9,101
14,503
15,320
17,915
14,979
30,957
61,289
9,551
22,423
25,203
17,082
7,575
24,457
32,042
..
..
..
Woollen
tures
yarn and rnanufac-
36,110
..
TOTAL
23,377
38,195
63,510
32,988 39,962
61,677
55,410
99,911
50,431
40,263
40,761
56,924
232,717 261,485
129,555 104,801 128,156 144,657
,-,
'""''""'-
5!
~
8,860
..
Ul
~
Z
manufactures
Vehicles
All other articles
'"C
>
Q
United Kingdom
Iron & Steel
thereof
"l
5,672
124
..
218,470 137,882
98,476
..
399,506 270,284 233,938 296,665 262,629 352,998 377,008 272,314 429,794 595,098 634,078 590,529 636,672 735,023
705
1,751
1,881
549
180
193
686
110,669 137,774 162,020 129,480 106,914 199,416231,304
138
1,021
222,701 296,780 123,996
151,260
516
813
>
:>:I
J~
'""'-
(0
0)
0)
France
Chemicals
1,324
1,376
1,855
2,211
5,385
3,310
3,086
4,190
4,230
6,90i
3,266
3,096
4,358
4,955
9,282
7,310
13,622
8,075
14,004
16,923
10,995
12,062
14,516
20,879
6,391
5,464
2,504
14,328
1,131
626
444
1,909
1,001
3,327
2,382
7,730
62,836
24,000
8,202
25,538
13,300
22,301
I3,6n
5,053
9,326
11,110
14,232
14,032
32,898
13,490
14,394
18,929
18,542
18,881
15,610
17,785
25)39
16,282
17,492
25,221
38,941
39,976
52,054
37,660 100,087
77,460
44,125
62,239
45,855
72,906
6,995
1,819
4,650
4,333
5,980
10,612
10,354
9,861
14,520
15,418
16,082
11,421
15,155
40,049
15,951
4,495
4,524
6,167
9,987
24,100
28,713
28,790
39,309
55,509
37,226
12,214
16,963
40,856
Machinery
9,781
15,872
27,193
49,914
47,221
42,325
68,743
65,103
76,774
76,926
10,939 172,259 224,586
324,109
Cotton piece-goods
2,426
584
400
2,996
1,852
49
5
33
12
12
13
33
30
fh0-3
Vehicles
4,136
1,998
1,412
2,030
3,438
6,576
7,497
19,148
2,279
26,800
40,070
76,407
83,711
134,030
~
Ul
16,507
15,855
10,997
15,007
19,317
41,510
43,943
33,551
72,581
64,433
62,233
82,903
82,472
102,420
63,159
45,879
51,326
81,441
96,252 133,805 166,636 164,744 244,967 274,277 292,857 397,173 477,361
731,088
Iron
& steel manufactures
thereat'
Machinery
All other articles
TOTAL
West Germany
Dyes and Colours
Iron and
thereof
steel manufactures
Ul
S;
=a
=a
~
~
H
All other articles
TOTAL
..
~
;.!Z
Japan
Building
and
material
Ul
Engineering
624
Electrical goods
Iron & steel
thereof
manufactures
..
Machinery
Woollen yarn & manufactures
All other articles
TOTAL
1I8
2
11l
180
441
339
3,605
2,257
10,912
6,485
32,699
13,588
1,260
1,426
2,110
103
299
697
2,972
1,247
9,127
10,427
4,975
13,640
28,655
29,078
64,738
20,363
8,890
17,711
21,526
8,572
24,082
27,882
33,583
81,040
45,854
19,296
31,400
79,644
31,190
17,328
27,913
75,047
27,546
14,576
20,278
21,179
88,847
56,352
80,124 117,307
78,729
158,018
406
669
468
2,148
231
337
13
248
6
1,314
1,613
581
4,365
92,289
22,195
51,339
81,390
33,194
31,728
18,690
52,003
77,702
78,335
54,777
80,133
119,296
..
..
315,565
..
467,234 143,620
61,829 149,684 142,371
64,094 104)791 78,376 198,006 251,672 247,074 257,754 288,768 483,896
~
~
Ul
tv
00
\0
--
----
--------.-U.S.A.
Jute manu!'.
Raw jute
Raw wool
All other
.,
articles
United Kingdom
Jute rnanuf,
Oil Cakes
Raw skins
Raw cotton
Raw jute
Rawwocil
Tea
All other articles
France
Raw Cotton
Raw Jute ..
All other articles
TOTAL
"
·.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
TOTAL
..
..
..
·.
TOTAL
186
32,863
9,922
5,387
52,558
473
58,1 7.1
27,167
9,7.\3
100,61·,
• __
•____
1,900
41,390
13,872
12,165
74,945
------------
6
5
4
______
·.
tv
'D
~
2
..--
w
____
••
__
••• _.
8
7
9
11
10
12
_______________________
13
14
15
• _____________
1,461
42,692
26,638
12,789
14,380
64,673
40,548
21.028
21,744
48,153
68,095
23,833
16,300
82,121
40,564
13,443
28,368
44,035
43,363
170,444
28,030
47,658
35,640
23,214
46,744
31,030
42,937
18,100
41,022
48,711
565
21,080
54,380
40,514
38,776
16,444
65,113
45,801
31,909
12,235
54,956
32,215
20,757
82,380
89,024
149,582
171,719
165,368
135,814
165,225
164,707
175,172
202,115
215,043
190,500
----.----- -------.,-------.--------~--~-~-----.----.-------------
3,570
3,700
60,389
125,128
12,131
38,390
16,366
8
3,934
3,406
49,607
102,680
21,506
28,827
17,303
446
4,885
5,185
43,302
96,886
29,091
29,555
15,308
1,922
8,16.1
4,653
33,790
117,133
19,597
51,542
13,154
5,702
11,038
6,214
35,687
118,710
23.35R
11.32R
20,764-
2,155
8,630
6,702
7,5\5
128,198
26,990
47,308
35,671
2,311
3,550
3,095
7,528
186,882
24,228
14.254
18,336
9,086
8,592
8,731
8,490
143,391
20,:130
23.177
21,526
15,098
4,263
15,977
7,746
142,663
36,844
29,684
72,094
18,131
14,450
8,436
4,631
8,951
9,782
4,441
2,368
173,5~1 159,416
33,472
24,413
944
17,204
50,982
47,917
13,384
8,384
6,452
12,489
159,954
38,765
5,772
80,620
13,731
6,830
11,059
25,988
144,625
32,735
17,731
8,967
8,848
lQ,127
19,045
127,931
28,010
8,841
95,164
259,774
227,171
224,640
249,957
252,801
264,169
258,234
243,323
323,362
280,701
335,520
331,716
306,923
-------_._----------_._----.--_._---------------------
294,477
..
_ ... _-----_._-_._------
..
..
TOTAL
Japan
Raw cotton
Raw jute ..
AU other articles
,~
..'.
TOT .'\L
~
>
~
0
~
>
t"'
>
CJl
CJl
t'l
~
t:tl
~
0
..
..
..
..
53,072
116,874
1,985
40.598
37,151
697
39,367
54,516
12,283
24,647
52,673
798
50,849
69,723
2,479
58,932
60,903
1,146
52,938
79,543
2,213
172,395
78,641
95,350
78,681
124,394
122,195
135,584
2,726
53,336
,t8,245
3,953
67,706
20,519
4.199
7i ,151
1:\026
4.542
ll'f,-119
20,968
105,380
94,0:)7
92,410
114,976111,2.22
3.377
63.698
2,180
70,128
6,737
66,589
2,563
77,787
..
..
..
4,711
74,535
2,361
13,672
68,719
3,901
9,187
67,757
4,467
9,022
51,040
6,017
70,658
84,507
90,613
94,076
77,061
14.860
58,204
4,082
7,748
57,899
5,573
6,340
31,706
2,749
4,11.\
40,315
4,710
,..-,
66,536
71,136
:t:
53,528
48,110
2,120
64,089
36,686
2,109
~
~
~~
130.424
131,463
----.--~-------------.--.-..--- .. --.-.-------.--.--.--------_.-----_._--------------
..
..
::2~6
~l,(m
Zi,n5
107,071
--- - -- -----------_.
195,963
22,184
759
256,452
17,706
219,.B9
279,510
3,641
154,184
17,925
3,336
113,886
21,720
1,107
177,861133,726
.
-
'r
-. -
'-". .- .. --
6.a1)5
(d5,
79,032
23,099
.121,771
7,702
12,777
69.043
,7,471
5.647
(>4.390
~561
75,819
100.326
91,136
93,468
93,006
103,582
80,639
56,894
47,865
40,216
43,438
6,221
137,383
44,275
3,403
8,520
70,622
2,727
__ ._--_ _------_._---;:-----------
152,384
27,410
1,555
186,513
-.. - .. ---.-'.-
138,097
..
184,934
/.9,255
1,830
223,341.
,,-_ ..
-'-"-'---
101,981
34,566
1,24~
141,624
26)67
1,8S0
139,363
-.--.-.---'.----
39,770
6~302
137,266
..---.
"l
-o
3,854
61,210
2,297
West Germany
Raw skins ..
Ra.w jute ..
All other articles
0
7,324
1:23,024
----.--------.-.
lO8,644
205,7.13
-----
..•
----------
-_.-_.
---
>
a
CJl
~
~
-
>,]
("')
zg
~
STARRED QUESTIONS
SEA PORT
291
AND ANSWERS
IN BAKERGANJ
145. *Mr. Mahmud
Ali: Will the Minister
for Communications
be
pleased to state whether he is aware of an assurance
given in regard to
the establishment
of another
sea port in the Bakerganj
District during
the visit of the President of Pakistan
to that district
on the eve of
National Assembly election?
If so, what steps have been taken so far to'
implement
that assurance '?
Mr. Abdus Sohur Khan:
We have no record of any such assurance.
However, in 1963 the C-in-C., Navy was requested
to undertake
a hydrographic survey in the area south of Barisal in order to determine
the
feasibility
of establishing
a major port in that area. The Pakistan Navy
ha ve already conducted
preliminary
surveys.
The surv.ey could not be
resumed due initially
to an important
commitment
of the Navy's survey
vessel elsewhere
and later on account of the declaration
of emergency.
The survey will be resumed by the Pakistan
Navy as soon as conditions
engendered
by the present emergency
permit.
Smps
F:OR EAST
PAK.ISTAN
145. '"lVHun Md. Mansur AU: Will the Minister
for Communications
be pleased to refer to the answer to starred question No. S'G', dated
the
24th November,
1965, and state whether
the shipping
companies
who
were granted licence to import the ten ships for East Pakistan have since
opened Letters of credit to purchase the ships?
If not, what action have
Gcvernment
taken so far to expedite the matter?
Mr Abdus Sohur Khan: I have nothing to add to the reply given
bv me to Starred Question No. 90 on the 24th of November,
1965, in the
last Session.
The matter is receiving
final consideration.
REGIONAL
ASSISTANT
COt'TC10LLERS
(JUTE)
147. ':'Mian Md, Mansur AIi: Will the Minister
for
Commerce
he
pleased to state:
(a) the number of posts of Regional Assistant Controller
(Jute) under
the Jute Board and the names of the officers holding those posts;
(b) whether
the officers in (a) above have been confirmed in those
posts; and
(c) the scale of pay admissible
to the officers in (a) above and the
actual pay they are drawing at present?
Mr. Nural Haque -Choudhury : (a) A statement
giving
tion is placed on the table of the Hous.e.
(b) No,
(c) A statement
is placed on the table of the House.
Statemen: placed on the Table
1. Number
of posts
of Regional
the
of the House in reply to pan
Assistant
II. The names of officers holding the posts
given below:(1) Mr. Md. Alauddin
Khan.
Regional
Assistant
Controller
of Jute
N arayanganj.
Controller:
and
their
(Dacca
informa-
(a).
5
addresses
Region),
s re-
292
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
(2) Mr. Fazle Rabbi Farook,
Regional Assistant Controller
Khulna.
(3) Mr. Shamsuddin Ahmed,
Rangpur.
(4) Mr. Md. Sefatullah
Regional Assistant
Comilla.
Bhuiyan,
Controller
(5) Mr. Fazlul Hoque Khan,
Mymensingh.
OF PAKISTAN
of Jute
of Jute
(Khulna
MARCH}
1966
Region),
(Rangpur Region) ,
of Jute
of Jute
[11TH
(Comilla Region),
(Mymensingh
Region),
Note.-Mr. Shamsuddin Ahmed is officiating in place of Mr. A. K. M.
Shamsul Karim who has gone on long leave.
Statement
placed On the Table of the House in reply to part (c).
(1) Pay Scales:
Unrevised:
New
Rs. 250-15-.!!30-EB-15-550.
: Rs. 350-35-525-EB-40-685.
(II) Actual pay drawn by each officer at present, in the unrevised
scale, is shown below:(1) Mr. Fazle Rabbi Farook
Rs. 3951(2) Mr. Md. Alauddin Khan
Rs. 4101(3) Mr. Shamsuddin Ahmed
Es. 2751- (Provisional)
(4) Mr. Md. Sefatullah Bhuiyan
Rs. 4101(5) Mr. Fazlul Hoque Khan
Rs. 4901Note.-The
pay scale has been revised recently and the pay of the
officers will be adjusted in that scale shortly.
STATEMENT
OF MARSHAL
TITO
148. *eh. Muhammad Ishaq Cheema: Will the Minister for Foreign
Affairs be pleased to state whether he is aware that, during the recent
Indo-Pak conflict, the President of Yugoslavia, Marshal Tito, had issued
a statement in favour of India supporting her position?
If so, have
Government lodged any protest in that behalf and if so, what is the
outcome thereof?
Mr. Zulfikar AU Bhutto: No such statement was issued by Marshal
Tito, the President of Yugoslavia, during the Indo-Pak war in September,
1%5. It was after the War in October, 1965, when Indian President visited
Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav and Indian Presidents stated in The Joint Communique that the Kashmir question is an internal affair of India. The
Government of Pakistan, however, immediately lodged a strong protest
with the Yugoslav Government against the statement made in the Joint
Communique, through Pakistan Ambassador in Belgrade. A protest in
this regard was also lodged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the
Yugoslav Charge d'Affaires at Karachi
and when their Amb~ssador
assumed his functions, the Foreign Secretary also protested to him .
•
STARRED QUESTIONS
293
AND ANSWERS
The Yugoslav Ambassador explained to the Foreign Secretary that
as regards the Jammu and Kashmir problem Yugoslavia takes the position
that it should be solved by peaceful means.
INDUS
BASIN
AGREEMENT
149. *Ch. Muhammad Ishaq Cheema: Will the Minister for Natural
Resources be nleased to state the time when the construction of the link
canals in futfilment of the Indus Basin agreement is expected to he
completed?
:\'1:;:.ll!&~ Hussain:
(1) The three link canals under phase I of the
Indus Basin Project, viz., Tr imrnu-Sidhnai,
Sidhnai-Mails,
and MailsiBahawal Links were completed in ~vlarch, 1965. The maintenance
and
staunching of these links :.::rein progress,
(2) F}12.3~ II of the project
which includes tllr2e
Q'..:ciil'Jb2C1,
(>1ditabad-Br.llch:i and Balloki-Sulemanki
progress.
lSC.U.
'!..'llc:.;elink canars are scheduled
(3) Construction
of the
remaining
Iinks,
~Ji.z.,
RCl.SUJ-
II Links is in
to he completed in March,
two link canals, viz., Chashma-
(.}he~c_.cn and "-1\:'L111Sa-P2~1.jnad Links are scheduled to l;e co~::!:)le~cd in
March, lS"70. The completion 0: Chashma-Jnelum Link n:ir;nt be delayed
by <, maximum of one year clue to large scale changes in its alignment.
Tuis delay, however, ·:l:)~).lclr.ot necessitate
any extension in the !Transi··
tier, Period of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.
POST
l5C. :;:Mr. A. B. lVI. Nnwl
cations be pleased to state:
(a) whether
Council ; and
Government
OFFICES
Islam : Will the Minister
for Communi-
propose 'co open a Post Office in each Union
(b) whether it is a Iact that the Mrigi Union under the Pangs a Police
S: vi ion of F[,~l'idpLtr District has no Po st Ofhce at present ?
l~:rt
.. Abdus §ohm' Khan:
(a) There exists a Post Office in the
-;'!_-isci'ct:on 01 almost every Union Council in the Countrv.
But in a
number of Union COLm 11s be vil lagc at the headquarters does not have
a nost office. This deficiency is being gradually made up. 388 Post
Offices have been provided at such villages since 1963 either by opening
new post offices or by shifting existing post offices from villages in the
vicinity.
It is proposed to open another hundred Pest Offices at such
Headquarters
during the current financial year.
(b) Mrigi Union Council has a Branch Post Office at Ghee KomIa
Villaae at a distance of about one mile from its headquarters.
The questio-n ~f shifting this Post Office to the headquarters of the Union Council
is under consideration.
FLOOD
151. =Kazl Abdul Majid:
pleased to state:
CON1'ROL
MEASURES
Will the Minister
for Natural
(a) 'the steps, if any, taken so far. ~o introduce
in East Pakistan; and
Resources be-
flood-control measures
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
MARCH)
1966
(b) the reasons for delay, if any, in implementing those measures?
I'ar. Altaf Hussain: (a) Steps taken so far are given in the enclosed
statement.
(b) Extensive surveys and investigations are needed before any flood
control measures are introduced on a large scale. Elaborate arrangements
have been made for the collection of hydrological data including gauge
and discharge observations required for planning such measures. Severa]
10;15 term projects' are under formulation.
steps taken so far to introduce Flood Contro!
measures in East Pakistan
A short review of the works already done or are being planned, to
help in flood protection in the Province is given below:
Statement
showing
1. Storage Dams: East Pakistan has limited possibilities of flood control by means of storage dams. The completed Karnafuli Multipurpose
Project serves the purpose of flood control besides generation of hydropower and improved facilities of navigation.
Its spillway moderates
the flood flow of the Karnafuli river and helps to reduce flood damage
.downstrearn at Chittagong.
A Project for a similar storage dam has been prepared for the
Sangu river but its advantages have to be weighed against the problems
arising from the creation of reservoirs.
A preliminary
carried out.
study of the Matamuhari
river basin has also been
2. River training and protection Works: These comprise spurs, bank
piling, embankments and mattress aprons.
Under this category are
Kurigram protection works; Gaibandha protection works and Serajganj
protection works; maintenance of the existing works at Rajshahi and
other places; training works in the Surma, Kushiyara, Khowai, -Muhuri,
Feni and other rivers. Some of these works have already been carried
out.
3. Ernbankments : The major embankments
constructed or under
construction are 42 miles of Gumti embankments, Fu lchari and Teesta
embankments and the 135 mile long Brahmaputra embankment
from
Kaunia on the Teesta to Hurasagar below Serajganj along the western
bank of the river. The coastal embankment project under construction
III the southern districts of East Pakistan provides protection from saline
sea water as well as from upland flooding. Out of a total of about 3,000
miles of embankment, a length of about 1,250 miles has been completed.
4. Dredging: A programme of increasing the discharging capacity by
dredging has been carried out in the Gumti river whose loops have been
straightened out. Dredging has also been done on other selected streams.
5. Drainage: Work of this category has been done in Faridpur,
Noakhali and Camilla districts and other areas. Secondary benefits from
~hese works have accrued in the shape of improved sanitary conditions and
navigation facilities.
Major schemes for which plans have been '01' are being made arc:
1. A scheme has been prepared
district.
for the Khowai river in Sylhet
STARRED
QUESTIONS
2. A revised plan is under preparation
• Sylhet district.
3.
for the
Manu
river
A feasibility study has been started for the Halda-Karnafuli
4. A scheme has been prepared
5. A feasibility
for Muhuri
study has been started
G. Feasibility
studies are being started
ject and Kurigram Project.
'7
295
AND ANSWERS
for the Far idpur Project
for Dacca South-West
study is being planned for an embankment
bank of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna
river.
IMpORT
152. *Sved Asghar
bp pleased to state:
basil?
river.
A feasibility
eastern
in
Proon the
POLICY
Hossain Zaidi:
Will the Minister
for
Commerce
(a) whether it is a fact that the present import policy of Government
h':13hit hard the small importers and small industries; and
(b) the reasons for placing the essential raw materials, such as caustic
soda for soap making industry and silk yarn for Banar asi textile industry
on bonus list?
I\11'. Nural Haque Choudhury:
(a) The assumption
that the present
import policy has hit hard the small importers and small industries is
DC}t correct.
(b) Caustic soda has been transferred
to the Bonus Import List
in
West Pakistan only because sufficient local production is now available.
Silk yarn has been placed on the Bonus Import List exclusively as its
import under cash licences was adversely affecting the indigenous silk and
fill: yarn producing industry of East Pakistan.
PRICES
OF SHEET
GLASSES
153. ':'Syen Asghar Hossain Zaidi: Will the Minister for Industries be
to state the C. & F. prices of sheet glasses of the following
pleased
siz.es(i) 2 mm
(16-18 oz),
(ii) 3 mm (24-26 oz) ,
(iii) 4 mm
(32 oz) , and
(iv) 5-0 mm (7X32
in) ?
1\11'. Altaf Hussain: The information
placed at the table cf the House.
.
COAL
is being collected and will be
RESERVES
154. *Mr. IHizanur Rahman Chowdhury:
Resources be pleased to state:
Will the Minister for Natural
(a) whether it is a fact that coa-l.reserves have been found in different
places in East Pakistan;
(b) the names of the places where coal has been f'ound ; and
{c) the progress made by the Geological Survey in finding coal in
East Pakistan during 1964-65 and 1965 to-date?
296
NATIONAL
Mr. Altaf
Hussain:
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
1966
MARCH)
(a) Yes.
(b) Coal has been found
Paharpur-Jaipurhat-Jamalganj
Division of Sylhet District.
(c) A statement
ASSEMBLY
is placed
in two areas of East
Pakistan,
namely,
area of Bogra District and Sunamganj
Subon the table
of the House.
Statement
showing the progress made by the Geological
Survey
of
Pakistan during 1954-65 and 1965 to-date for finding coal in East
Pakistan.
Panarpur-Jaipurha,f-Jamp..Igan:i.
,
Existen~e, of coal, in ~he Paharpur-J aipurh~t"J a,lllalganj
r eaion
has
neen proven oy exploration
programme
UHCi2r the
Ui; -Pak
Mineral
Survey Project in co-operation with the Geological Survey of Pakistan.
~~\I6n}~~~dfr~~~2~1~~:Ss~~~;~c~~Je:(";:CD,OOG,OOO tone;
at
depth
kj~';.(;2n
2100
to
The Geob.:'~ical Survey of Pakistan
is continuing
Ceophysicaljfleological work in the surrounding
areas for
finding
prospective
areas
of
Gondwana
coal deposition.
Drilling
to ,determine
soil conditions
for
de3igt'.irlG shafts is being planned.
D21:::.il testinzs of the coal from the drill 1101es have b3en conducted
in the laboratortes
of the Geological
Survey
of: Pakista-, and various
European
laboratories
under the UN-Pak
Mineral
Survo,
Project
and
the coal has been found to be Bituminous-Gondwana
coal similar to that
of Raniganj coal of India.
.
Sunamgan]
Sub-Division.
T::J f'c2 area between
LaJg11Ht and Takarghat
of Tahirpur
Police Sta ...
tion of 3uDC'mganj Sub-Division
of the Sy lhet district, tw., coal seams
with an average aggreg2~t'2 th~_cl{l1~sSof 8 feet \vere found in tV10 holes
drilled by the G201ogical
Survey of Pakistan
at depth ranging
between
300 to 450 feet from the surface.
The coal is li",nitic type similar to the
'I'eriary coal being mined in various parts of West Pakistan.
The reserVE''' are expected
to be above 3,000,000 tons up to a depth of a 1,000 feet
in the surrounding
area.
No exploration
OT exploitation
programme
is
currently
in progress.
However,
Geological Survey of Pakistan
plans to
undertake
::.dcUtional drilling
in the surrounding
area for proving
the
total extent of this coal deposit when the border conditions are more settled and peaceful.
155. Transferred.
NUMBER
OF PILGRI:::AS
156. *Mr. Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury: Will the Minister
munications
be pleased
(a) the number
of pilgrims from East and West
formed Haj from 1958 to 1965, year and wing-wise;
(b) the number
by airlseajroad
;
for Com-
to state:
of pilgrims
in (a) above
Pakistan
who performed
(c) the number of applications
for pilgrimage
received
West Pakistan
from 1958 to 1965, year-wise,
applications;
who
per-
the journey
from
and
East and
STARRED QUESTIONS
297
AND ANSWERS
(d) the amount of foreign exchange spent for the purpose during the
said period, year and wing-wise?
Mr. Abdus Sobur Khan: (a), (b), (c) &- (d): A statement containing the requisite information is placed on the table of the House.
Statement showing the number of applications received, number of passages
allotted and foreign exchange sanctioned from 1958 to 1965 for sending
Pilgrims from both the Wings of Pakistan.
No. of
applications
received
Province
Year
2
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
No. of
passages
Foreign
Exchange
sanctioned.
allotted.
4
3
East Pakistan
West Pakistan
East Pakistan
West Pakistan
East Pakistan
West Pakistan
East Pakistan
West Pakistan
East Pakistan
West Pakistan
East Pakistan
West Pakistan
East Pakistan
West Pakistan
East Pakistan
West Pakistan
Percentage
5,757
12,936
42,408
11,096
3,268
8,311
21,303
5,836
3,077
9,761
31,426
4,901
12,461
4,930
35,946
11,756
11,129
4.139
40,250
10;885
4,929
11,445
12,749
45,029
5,582
10,808
11,927
55,803
5,400
12,323
57,905
11,832
------
6
5
44%
26%
39%
26%
31 %
16%
39%
32%
36%
28%
39%
22%
51 %
21 %
43%
20%
Rs.
3
crores
Rs.
r5
crores
Rs. i 50 crores
Rs.
crores
2
Rs.
t 75 crores
Rs.
r 80 crores
Rs. 1· 80 crores
Rs.
r 80
crores
Statement showing the number of Pilgrims whoperformed Hajj by Air and Sea .
-.--- ..------. -
.
Year
East Pakistan
----.---------
Sea
Air
Air
2
1
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
West Pakista!l
~---------------
250
100
300
330
450
635
475
430
Sea
3
5,507
3,168
2,777
4,600
3,689
4,294
5,107
4,970
1,250
483
1,503
1,030
1,369
1,311
819
737
The number of pilgrims who performed journey by road is not available.
9,846
5,353
3,398
10,726
9,516
11,438
11,108
11,095
298
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
TELEPHONE
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
MARCH} 1966
CONNECTIONS
157. *Mr. Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury:
munications be pleased to state;
Will the Minister for Com-
. (a) t~e number of tha?a headquarters linked by telephone connections dunng the Second FIve-Year Plan in East and West Pakistan;
(b) the time when Government expect connecting all the thana
headquarters by telephone in both the wings;
(c) the number of new telephone connections envisaged for private
parties during the Third Five-Year Plan in East and West Pakistan;
(d) the number of towns in East and West Pakistan having automaticjmanual telephone systems;
(e) the time when Government expect installing automatic telephone
system for Puran Bazar (Chandpur) in Comilla District; and
(f) whether it is a fact that the existing boards in the Puran Bazar
(Chandpur) exchange are old and rotten?
Mr. Abdus Sobuj- Khan:
Pakistan.
(a) 236 in East Pakistan and
(b) In East Pakistan by end of 1966.
149
in West
In West Pakistan by end of
Brd plan.
(c) 60,000 in East Pakistan, 50,000 in West Pakistan and 40,000 telephones for Karachi.
(d) In East Pakistan 10 towns have automatic and S7 towns manual
exchanges .. In West Pakistan 45 towns have automatic and 182 towns
manual exchanges.
(e) Expected by end of 1966.
(f) No. The existing board, although old, is in good working condition.
FOREIGN
LIQUOR
158. ~Mr. S. K. Khairuddin: Will the Minister for Commerce be
pleased to state the necessity of importing foreign liquor in the country
and how it is being consumed ?
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury: Foreign liquor has been imported
into the country to meet the requirements of tourists and other foreigners
residing in Pakistan.
JUTE
159. *Mr. S. M. A. Majeed:
pleased to state;
Will the Minister
for
Commerce
be
(a) whether it is a fact that the production of jute in East Pakistan
is coming down day by day; if .so, the reasons therefor ; and
(b) whether it is a fact that the price of jute fluctuates frequently
if so, the reasons therefor?
Mr. Nural Haque Choudhury:
(a) No.
(b) Like other agricultural crops, Jute is subject to vagaries of weather, and within certain limits, prices are bound to vary with the ehanging conditions of demand and supply.
STARRED QUESTIONS
CONSTRUCTION
AND ANSWERS
OF CHALNA
299
PORT
160.*Mr. S. M. A. Majeed: Will the Minister for Communications
be pleased to state the time when the construction
work of the Chalna
Port at Mongla and of the Port town are exp.ected to be taken up ?
Mr. Abdus Sobur Khan: The Chalna Port construction
project
involves heavy expenditure
in foreign exchange which cannot be met from
Count.r:(~ own ~esourc~s.
Negot~ations for obtaining
foreign aid have
been initiated with varIOUS agencies and countries.
Besides the foreign
exchange
requirements,
certain technical
investigations
are
essential
before the work is actually taken up.
These investigations
are in hand
and the construction
work would be taken up after these investigations
have been completed and the foreign exchange arranged.
CABLE
FACTORY
161. "'Mr. S. M. A. Majeed:
Will the Minister for Communications
be pleased to state whether the selection of site for the establishment
of
a cable factory in Khulna has been made?
If so, where and when?
Mr. Abdus Sobur Khan: Yes. A suitable site has been selected for
the purpose.
It is situated at Mile 12 on the road connecting
Khulna
with Jessore.
Provincial Government
has been requested for the acquisition of the area.
162. Transferred.
TASHKENT
DECLARATION
163. =Ch, Muhammad
Ishaq Cheerna : Will the Minister for Foreign
Affairs be pleased to state whether the Government
of India are fulfilling
their obligations
under the Tashkent
Declaration
faithfully?
If, not,
what steps do Government
propose taking in that regard?
Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto : Under
the
Tashkent
Declaration
the
Governments
of India and Pakistan have undertaken
to settle, through
peaceful means, all disputes and' differences between them and to promote
good neighbourly
relations.
Number of measures
have already been
taken to norrnalise relations, notably the
withdrawal
of troops from
across the International
border and the Cease-Fire line in Jammu and
Kashmir.
However, Indian troops have not yet withdrawn
from three
small areas in the Sialkot Sector.
We have taken up this matter with the
Government
of India.
Article IX of the Tashkent Declaration
indicated the machinery
of
consultation
through which the two countries would seek to discuss outstanding issues and settle disputes.
In implementation
of the Tashkent
Declaration,
a ministerial
meeting between India and Pakistan was held
at Rawa)pindi
on March 1st and 2nd, 1966 to discuss matters of direct
concern to the two countries.
A joint communique issued on the conclusion of tho Mipisteri.al-Ievel
Conference inter alia stated, "The two SIdes proposed tor QlSCUSSlOnand
settlement
subjects to which they atta~hed high priorit~ in the in~erest
of peaceful and good neighbourly
rela.tIOr:s between India ar:d PakIstan.
The Pakistan side pointed out the special Importance of reaching a settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir.
Both sides agreed that all disputes
between India and Pakistan should be resolved to promote and strengthen
peace between the two countries."
Th~s meeting is to be fol~owed by
other meetings between the representatIves
of the two countrIes.
300
[11TH
MARCH,
1966
It must be borne in mind that the Tashkent Declaration
is not a contract but a declaration
01 intent.
Both countries
have undertaken
to
make a fresh efrort to establish their relations on a peaceful and honourable basis.
Mr. Speaker:
We now
begin
legislative
business,
Item
No. 1.
Syed Asghar Hussain Zaidi: Before we come to Item No.1, I would
l~ke to raise a point of or~er.
The proceedings
of the House during question hour are conducted
In such a way that it becomes complicated
for
those Members
who are new parliamentarians
in this House.
Under
Rule 46 of the Rules of Procedure
discussion in respect of any answer
given to a question shall not be permitted.
Here, Sir, whenever
there
is a question and answer, the questioner
demands a statement
from the
Minister.
If on every question the Minister is required to give a statement before the House, then the purpose of the question hour is defeated.
I want a ruling from you, Sir, whether
there can be any discussion on
questions or answers and on a point of: order before it is disposed of. Another Member can get up and ask another point of order.
Sir, there is
a difference between a point of order, and a point of privilege.
Now if
an answer is wrong or if an answer is incorrect, it is not a point of order
but it is a point of privilege.
Dr. Aleem-al-Razee
procedure?
Mr. Speaker:
The
: Sir, is he making
rule
is well known
a lecture
on the parliamentary
and to be followed.
THE ALLOPATHIC
SYSTEM (PREVENTION
OF MISUSE)
ORDINANCE
(AMENDMENT)
BILL, 1966.
Shah Azizur Rahman:
Sir, I ask for leave of the House to introduce
a Bill to amend the Allopathic System (Prevention
of Misuse) Ordinance,
1962 [The Allopathic System (Prevention
of Misuse) Ordinance
(Amendment) Bill, 1966 J.
!\'Ir. Speaker:
a Bill ...
The motion
Sarda- Fazal Karim
before
the House
is for leave
to introduce
Khan : Sir, I oppose the motion.
Mr. Speaker:
Let me read out the motion first.
Why do you make
hurry like Mr. Qiz il bash ? The motion before the Home is:
"That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to amend the Allopathic
Svstem (Prevention
of Misuse) Ordinance,
19132, [The AllopaUlic System (Prevention
of Misuse) Ordinance
(Amendment)
Bill, 1965]."
Do you oppose it ?
Sardar
Fazal
Mr. Speaker:
Karim
Shah
Khan:
Azizur
Yes, Sir, I oppose
Rahman,
the motion.
do you want
to say anything?
Shah Azizur Rahman (East Pakistan)
: Now, that the leave has been
opposed, I am entitled to make a stateme:t.
Si~, this is a very important 8mendment
in view of the fact that In. Pakistan
today we have got
16,578 registered
Doctors who are quali.fied docto~s, who have pas~ed
MBBS examination
and are entitled to nrivate practice or to be employed
in any medical organisation
for rendering
medical
aid to the people
THE ALLOPATHIC
SYSTEM
(PREVENTION OF MISUSE)
(AMENDMENT)
BILL, 1966.
ORDINANCE
301
And this few number of registered qualified doctors is too small to cater
to the requirernents of the teeming millions of the people who live in
rural areas.
Most of the qualified doctors, as has also been revealed
through an answer to a question in this House two days ago that nearly
4,000 of the doctors from Pakistan, are employed in various countries
including the African countries.
So the number is hardly 10,000 qualified doctors in the country and is insufficient to meet the requirements
of the people of Pakistan.
Mr. Speaker ; You should make a brief statement.
Shah Aziz.UlrRahman: Yes, Sir, I will be brief. This Bill seeks to
make a provision in this Ordinance that those doctors who have qualified
but have not passed the MBBS examination or those who have an experience of 10 to 15 years of continuous practice in medicine may be
given a lower category or lower grade of certificate entitling them to
practice in the rural areas.
If this is done, then the requirement of the
people will be met and these doctors have been found extremely useful
in times of emergency.
Similar provision existed in China, U.S.A. and
U.S.S.R. Even the services of quack doctors were requisitioned when
there was need.
They are good quacks, they have practised a long
time and have considerable experience.
Therefore, a provision is to be
made by amending this Ordinance that they will be given lower certificate and they will be entitled to practise within certain limited scope
in the rural areas.
They will remove the long-drawn grievances of the
people and go a long way to assist the people with re.gard to medicine
and curing all ailments.
With this precise statement I will request the
grant of lea\'~ of the House to amend the Bill and, therefore, discuss the
merits and c:emerits.
Mr. Hasan A. Shaikh:
Mr. Speaker:
On a point of order, Sir.
Yes, what is your point of order?
Mr. Hasan A. Shaikh: Sir, it is a well-known tradition of the Parliamentary Homes that so far as leave to introduce a Bill is concerned, it
is not opposed.
The majority party here seems to be following a tradition suited to its own genius, and not a tradition of a parliamentary
institution.
I am sorry, Sir, I am afraid of Mr. Haneef.
Mr. Speaker:
It is not my concern.
It is the concern of the House.
Mr. Hasan 1\. Shaikh: I am not appealing to you.
I know it is useless to appeal to you.
I am appealing only through you to the House, as
it will be in the interest of good tradition.
Mr. Speaker : Would you like to oppose the motion?
Kazi Anwarul Huque (Minister for Health) : Sir, the Bill has been
opposed from th~ Government side and I want to give some reasons why
we have done it.
I suppose, when I give the reasons, the honourable
Member will he satisfied that Government is taking some action which
would go a hn.g way in meeting the shortages of doctors which he has
Just mentioned.
Members: We can't hear, Sir.
Please speak loudly.
Kazi Anwarul Huque : The loudness will depend on the loudspeakers.
Mr. Speaker: I can hear.
302
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
MARCH;
1966
Kazi Anwarul Huque: At the outset, I may mention that practice of
medicine by unqualified practitioners is not prohibited.
The prohibition would apply to a small group of drugs used by the medical profession which are dangerous to use without proper knowledge about their
use.
The Bill seeks to extend the facility of practice without restriction to this group of practitioners.
It seeks to give a status in law, to
the unqualified medical practitioners and devise a machinery for their
registration as such.
If adopted, it will remove the restriction which is
now placed on unqualified practitioners from prescribing certain group of
medicine.
Our view is, that a total removal of these restrictions will
create a situation which will be neither to the benefit of the patient nor
to the benefit of practitioners.
Government has been examining the
question, how the scope of practice of medicine by the unqualified practitioners can be extended and has come to a certain decision on this
point.
This matter came before the Standing Committee where a
similar Bill was referred for consideration and I am happy to mention
that we have arrived at a large measure of agreement.
Rules have been drafted extending the facility cf practice of medicine by the unqualified
practitioners,
arranging
them in different
grades, on the basis of their knowledge and training.
Those who have
studied medicine at established medical institutions but failed to clear
their examinations are placed in one category.
The para-medical personnel have been placed in the next category.
Those who do not come
under either category will have to sit for a test prescribed by a Board
to be set up by the Pakistan Medical Council.
This is how we propO,e to extend the facility of practice by the unqualified practioners.
The distinction between the professional and those who are not, must
be maintained.
This distinction, I submit, should be maintained at all
costs otherwise standard of practice cannot be maintained.
These rules
would have been promulgated long ago but because of the amendments
which were pending before this Assembly, these have been postponed.
The Standing Committee, as I mentioned a little while ago. has now come
to certain decisions and its proceedings will be placed before the House
very soon when the House will take up the consideration of the Bill in
the amended form.
With these words, I want to conclude. I would
like once more to appeal the honourable Member who has moved the
amendment to withdraw the Bill so that he may see what has emerged
from the Standing Committee.
Mr. Speaker:
it to vote?
Are you prepared to withdraw the Bill or shall I put
Shah Azizur Rahman: In view of the assurance of the honourable
Minister that something will be done to categories these practitioners,
I would withdraw the Bill.
Mr. Speaker: The Bill is withdrawn.
Item No.3, Mr. Sultan Ahmed.
THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1966:
Al-haj Moulvi Sultan Ahmed: I beg to move for leave to introduce
a Bill further to amend the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925 [The
Carriage of Goods by Sea (Amendment) Bill, 1966J .
THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA
Mr. Speaker:
(AMENDMENT)
BILL,
1966
303
The motion before the House is:
"That leave be granted to introduce a Bill further to amend the
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925 [The Carriage of Goods
by Sea (Amendment) Bill, 1966]."
Mian Muhammad Rafique Saigol: Sir, there is no objection to the introduction of the Bill.
Mr. Speaker:
Leave is granted.
You introduce the Bill.
Al-haj Moulvi Sultan Ahmed: I introduce the Bill further to amend
the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925 [The Carriage of Goods by Sea
(Amendment) Bill, 1966].
.
Mr. Speaker:
Ahmed.
The Bill stands introduced.
Item No.5,
Mr. Sultan
THE PAYMENT OF WAGES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1966.
Al-haj Moulvi Sultan Ahmed: I beg leave to introduce a Bill further
to amend the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 [The Payment of Wages
(Amendment) Bill, 1966].
Mr. Speaker:
The motion before the House is :
"That leave be granted to introduce a Bill further to amend the
Payment of Wages Act, 1936 [The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 1966]."
Sardar Fazal Karim Khan: I oppose the Bill.
Mr. Speaker: Yes, Mr. Sultan Ahmed, please make a brief statement.
Al-haj Moulvi Sultan Ahmed (East Pakistan) : This Bill, as the Statement of Objects and Reasons will show, seeks to amend only one part.
This is meant for the employees who are receiving benefit of this Bill
of 1936 who were then receiving a pay of Rs. 200. The pay of
Rs. 200 is now equal to Rs. 600. The payment
in all the
Departments
has now been increased due to the increased cost
of living index and the effect of the economic forces.
Therefore, this Bill is brought by me and I hope the HOUSewill reconsider the position.
The Member opposing has not given the reason for
H.
I think the House will listen to him and will give me the leave
necessary so that I can introduce this Bill and it will then go to the
Standing Committee where it will be considered very much.
I think
it will not be wise to throwaway the Bill at the initial stage.
Kazi AnwaruI Huque (Minister for Health, Labour and Social
Welfare) : A word of explanation I want to place before the House.
The draft legislation for the amendment of Payment of Wages Bill on
the line which the honourable Member has now moved was approved in
principle by the Central Government and then passed on to the Provinces for making the necessary enactment.
The subject falls within
the jurisdiction of the Provinces.
It is not necessary for the Central
Government or Legislature to move in such matter.
As regards the
other provisions of the Bill, they are taken care of by the West Pakistan
Industries (Standing Order No. 1960) and East Pakistan Payment of
Wages Act, 1936.
304
[11TH
MARCH)
1966
The third important provision in the Bill seeks to extend these objectives to the employees of the Central and the Provincial Governments
Here the payment of wages is regulated by financial rules.
The provision of this amendment is therefore unnecessary.
On these grounds
Sir, I oppose the Bill.
t
Mr. Speaker:
Do you like to press your motion?
. ~l.h~j! Moulvi Sultan Ahmed: Explanation has been given by the
M~mster-m-Charge. Of c~ur~e, if he gives the hope that these things
WIll be do~e by the Provincial Government, then, I think, at this stage
I would withdraw the Bill.
Mr. Speaker:
The Bill is withdrawn.
Item No.7, Mr. Mahmud Ali.
THE PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE (AMENDMENT)
BILL,1966.
Mr. Mahmud AIi: I beg to move for leave to introduce a Bill to
amend the Press and Publications Ordinance, 1960 [The Press and
Publications Ordinance (Amendment) Bill, 1966J.
Mr. Speaker:
Motion before the House is-
"That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to amend the Press and
Publications Ordinance, 1960 [The Press and Publications
Ordinance (Amendment) Bill, 1966J.
Mr. Mohammad Haneef Khan : I beg to oppose it.
Mr. Speaker: Mr. Mahmud AIL
Mr. Mahmud Ali (East Pakistan) : Mr. Speaker, Sir, as you will
notice, my intention in asking for leave to introduce this Bill is to bring
in uniformity between. the Provincial Laws and the Central Laws in accordance with clause 2 of Article 131 of the Constitution.
This Press
and Publications Ordinance, 1960, replaces the Press and Registration of
Books Act, 1868; but, strangely enough, the two Provincial Governors issued two separate
Ordinances in the year 1963 and amended
the Central Ordinances of 1960. Therein they provided that the
proceedings of the National and Provincial Assemblies shall not be published by any Press or in any booklet without the authority of certain
category of agencies.
Sir, this is a direct infringement on the rights and
privileges of the National Assembly and for that matter the Provincial
Assembly as well; and certainly it is a curb On the freedom of the Press.
Sir, I know that in a free and democratic country such laws do not exist'
nor in my opinion in one country there can be two sets of laws, one to
be promulgated by the Provincial
Governor in contravention of the
existing Central law.
The Press and Publications Ordinance of 1960, if
I am not incorrect, was also ratified by the Central Legislature and then
for the Provincial Governors to come forward with the amendinz Ordinance is rather oppressive and strange. I do not know whether the Law
Minister will bear me out that they have also infringed the provisions
of the Constitution.
That will, of course, be taken care of by the
Courts.
But as far as this Assembly is concerned, it must see that the
law of the country is uniform with regard to a particular matter and when
particularly the fundamental rights, the freedom of the press, the rights
•
THE PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS
ORDINANCE (AMENDMENT)
BILL,
1966
3C5
and privileges of this august House are concerned.
This House must
see that such a curb is done away with.
With this intention I have
sought leave of the House to introduce this Bill.
Besides, there are certain provisions in the Ordinance itself.
If
anyone intends to publish a newspaper, he will have to undergo the
probe and long-drawn enquiries; although he is a citizen of Pakistan and
quite capable financially and otherwise to publish a newspaper, he will
not be allowed to do so. The Intelligence report must be a long-drawn
one and after a year or so he will be told that he will not be allowed
to publish a newspaper.
He will not be allowed to sign a declaration
although a declaration is merely an authentication by the Deputy Commissioner.
And not only that; he will not be even told in writing that
he will not be allowed this under provisions of this or that law.
I can
cite instances where it has been necessary for a declarant to approach
the High Court with a Writ of Mandamus in order to get an order from
the District Magistrate that he will not be allowed to publish a newspaper.
The whole thing is kept dragging on and a citizen who has every
right to publish a newspaper is not allowed to do so. I have, therefore,
sought to amend Section 9 of the Ordinance providing that he should be
allowed more easily than at present.
Again, if after taking out declaration, a particular person is not in a position to publish newspaper within
three months, his declaration will lapse.
Mr. Speaker: It is a long statement.
Mr. Mahmud Ali: I shall be brief, I am just concluding.
His declaration will lapse after three months but if a person is not in a position
to publish a newspaper, why give him such limitation.
He will automatically fail to do so and Government need not be concerned on that
account.
I have, therefore, tried to amend that provision also providing for 12 months, instead of 3 months.
I hope in view of the intention
which the Government express and declare before the world that they
are all for democratic tradition to develop, they are all for democracy
to .develop in this country, they would not oppose such a salutary amendment of the Press and Publications Ordinance and allow my amending
Bill to be introduced and thus set up an example.
Mr. Mohammad Haneef Khan (Parliamentary Secretary):
I have
carefully listened to the learned speech of honourable Mr. Mahmud Ali.
By way of amendment he wants to regulate the business of the National
Assembly which I suppose is the only concern of the Speaker of the
National Assembly or the Provincial Assemblies.
I will submit that
there is a special procedure by which the proceedings of the National
Assembly are published and it is carefully preserved by the Speaker
of the National Assembly or the Provincial Assembly who determines
which thing should go to the public and which thing should
not go to the public.
I will quote an example for the sati~faction of the honourable Member.
The proceedings of the National
Assembly and Provincial Assembly both are
compiled
in
the
form of books which are sent to every Member of the National Assembly
or Provincial Assembly and are available in the Government Press.
The document which is published with the permission of the Speaker of
the National Assembly or the Provincial Assembly Or anything- which
is beinz permitted by ·the Speaker of the National Assembly or the Provincial "'Assembly to form part of the proceedings of the Assemblv in the
form of a book can fIOto the press and there is no restriction in that way
on the press to publish the correct news.
306
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN [11THMARCH)
1966
Mr. Hasan A. Shaikh: They are gagged.
Mr. Mohammad Haneef Khan: The second point is that what the
honourable Member wants to amend is a Provincial subject and not a
Central subject and the Government does not feel that there can be no
uniform law relating to the National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly.
If this amendment is allowed, it will be an encroachment on
the right of the Speaker of the National Assembly who is the second man
in Pakistan.
I see no genuine reason to interfere with the discretion
of the Speaker of the Assemblies and, being a very old parliamentarian,
you will also agree with me.
Thank you, Sir.
Mr. Speaker:
I now put the question.
Mr. Mahmud Ali: Let the question be put after the recess.
Mr. Speaker:
I put it now.
The question is :
"That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to amend the Press
and Publications Ordinance, 1960 [The Press and Publications
Ordinance (Amendment) Bill, 1966J."
I think, the'
Noes' have it.
Several Members of Opposition: 'Ayes'
have it.
Mr. Hasan A. Sbaikh: Division.
Mr. Speaker:
There is no need of Division.
The question is :
"That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to amend the Press and
and Publications Ordinance, 1900' [The Press and Publications
Ordinance (Amendment) Bill, 1966]."
The motion was negatived.
Mr. Speaker:
The House is adjourned for 20 minutes.
The Assembly adjourned for 20 minutes.
The Assembly re-assembled after 20 minutes, Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr.
Fazal Elahi Choudhury) in the Chair.
THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1966
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Item No.9, Shah Azizur Rahman!
Shah Azizur Rahman (East Pakistan) : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I seek leave
of the House to move for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Contempt of Courts Act, 1926 [The Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Bill.
1966].
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is it opposed?
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya (Parliamentary
to oppose the introduction of this Bill.
Secretary) : Yes, Sir; I rise
THE CONTEMPT
OF COURTS
(AMENDMENT)
BILL,
1966
307
Shah Azizur Rahman: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will make a short statement, that this Bill only seeks to amend Article 3 of the Contempt of
Courts Act, 1926. Sir, very recently the Supreme Court of Pakistan
in the case of Mr. M. H. Khundker and two others, has viewed with
great disapproval the insistence of the then Chief Justice and a Judge
of the High Court of East Pakistan, to hear the contempt case in which
they were directly concerned as Judges and had been scandalized.
While maintaining the conviction of the litigant before the Hizh Court
and his two learned Advocates, the Supreme Court has acceptel'the proposition that a plea of bias in a Judge of the High Court can be raised
before him, but by merely stating the facts giving rise to the plea.
Their Lordships found that there were reasons for apprehension of the
litigant to make the applications out of which the contempt proceedings
arose, and accordingly reduced the sen tence imposed by the High Court
to a great extent.
To remove the apprehensions from the mind cf the litigant public,
and to make the right as recognized by the Supreme Court to raise the
plea of bias available and to make it effective, it is necessary to make
provision therefor.
This Bill is intended to achieve the above objects.
Sir, this case has been cited from the January
issue of Pakistan
Legal Decisions, and Their Lordships had comprehensively dealt with
this, and there is an indication in their judgment that, if there is a contempt proceeding against a Judge of the High Court, then the sitting
Judge should not be a Member of the Special Bench constituted to try
the offence of contempt of court, because the particular Judge against
whom the proceedings had been initiated, is certainly a human being,
and as such will entertain certain bias in htat matter. Therefore, Sir, it
is desirable, and more consistent with legal principles and principles of
natural justice and equity, that that particular Judge against whom a
plea of apprehension or lack of justice is made, should not be a member
of that Bench which will try that offence. With this object in view,
I have placed this amendment.
This is a very desirable amendment,
and this will remove the apprehension in the minds of the litigants that
they will not be subjected to any biased judg-ement, because the Judge involved himself sitting in that special Bench is likely to cause that.
I
hope the Government Party will not raise an objection to this amendment, which is for improving the Bill, and not to create any complication.
This was felt by the Members of the Bar, and, in fact, they have
taken up this issue very seriously, because two very senior members ?f
the Bar were involved in the proceedinzs of conternnt of court, and this
has been discussed in the High Court Bar Association and the District
Bar Association, and this is being discussed everywhere all over East
Pakistan.
This has given rise to a considerable sense of resentment;
and in order to remove that resentment. and in order to ensure evenhanded administration of justice, this amendment should be accepted.
Mr. Abdul Awal Bhniva (Parliamentarv Secretary) : Sir. this Bill
seeks to amend section 3 of the Contemnt of Courts Act. 1926. To bar
a Judge of the Hiah Court from becominc a member of the Bench to
hear anv contemnt of court case in which he i<: directlv or indirectly
eoncerned, according to the movement of the Bill, is not right, and he
308
.,.,..•..
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OFPAKISTAN [11THMARCH,1966
[Mr. Abdul Awal Bhuiya]
thinks that his amen,dment will remove this apprehension from the minds
of litigant public.
The proposed amendment relates to the formation of
the bench of the High Court; but this is a matter that should be left
to the High Court, as it will be proper to leave the jurisdiction of the
High Court uninterfered.
As a matter of fact, Sir, we have got high
respect for our judiciary, because it is impartial, and no matter where
a Judge is concerned, anybody can be the Judge of his own cause except in the case of contempt. Sir, the Judges are impartial, and we
should not disturb this formation of the Bench. This is the concern
of the High Court, who form the Bench, and they should form it as they
like.
Moreover, Sir, there is no compulsion that a Judge who is directly or indirectly concerned in the matter should be in the Bench.
They
can avoid it. and this should be left to the High Court, and we should
not interfere in it.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
The question is :
"That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to amend the Contempt
of Courts Act, 1926 [The Contempt of Courts (Amendment)
Blll, 1966]."
I think, the 'Ayes'
have it ...
Shah Azizur Rahman:
Dr. Aleem-al-Razee:
'Ayes'
'Ayes'
have it, Sir.
have it, Sir.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I will put it again. The question is:
"That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to amend the Contempt
of Courts Act, 1926 [The Contempt of Courts (Amendment)
Bill, 1966]."
The motion was negatived.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Next item, Shah Azizur Rahman!
THE. l\-1EDICALCOUNCIL ORDINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1966
Shah Azi.lUr Rahman: Sir, I seek leave of the House to introduce
a Bill to amend the Medical Council Ordinance, 1962 [The Medical Council Ordinance (Amendment) Bill, 1966].
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Is it opposed?
Sardar Fazal Karim Khan (Parliamentary
pose, Sir ..
Secretary) : I beg to op:.
Shah Azi'lur Rahman (East Pakistan) : Sir, the same statement that
I have already made applies to this also.
This too relates to the grievances of those doctors, who have not qualified to get the MBBS or
LSMF degree yet, but have considerable experience in medicine.
In
order to facilitate and enable them to work in rural areas, and meet the
requirements of the l'eople, there should be a category for them, too.
They will not be categorized with the qualified doctors, but may be
categorized as under-qualified doctors. With the obiect of enabling
them to practise in the rural areas, this amendment in the Medical Council Ordinance is sought to be incorporated.
Sir, there are nearly thirty
•
THE MEDICAL
COUNCIL
ORDINANCE
(AMENDMENT)
to forty thousand doctors, and this will enable
fully and effectively
in the rural areas.
Mr. Deputy
Speaker:
Thank
you.
BILL,
them
Yes, Sardar
1966
to function
Fazal
Karim
309
successKhan!
.
Sardaj- Fazal Karim Khan (Parliamentary
Secretary)
: Sir, this Bill
is of the same nature as the one that had been withdrawn
by the honourable Member.
Sir, our Health Minister has given an assurance, and he
has given an explanation,
that in the meetings of the Standing Committee
concerned these demands have been considered.
So, I will request the
honourable
Member to 'reconsider and withdraw
his Bill.
Shah Azizur Rahman:
Sir, since I am nit in possision of the report
of the Standing Committee, and since I am not aware of the
contents
and whether my learned friend is correct, I am not inclined to withdraw.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
The question is :
"That leave be granted to amend the Medical
1~62 [The
Medical
Council
Ordinance
Council Ordinance,
(Amendment)
Bill,
lS65J."
The
motion
was
negatived.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
mittee-Presentation
of.
REPORT
Now item No.1: Reports
Shah Azizur Rahman!
of the Standing
Com-
or
THE, STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE BILL TO AMEND
THE MEDICAL COUNCIL ORDINANCE,
1962.
Shah Aztzur Rahman:
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have not been supplied any
report of the Standing Committee.
Therefore,
I am not in a position to
place the report before the House.
l\lr. Deputy
Speaker:
I am told that
the report
is at your
desk.
Shnh Azlzur Rahman:
NO', it is 110t, nor it is on the desk of the
learned Parliamentary
Secretary.
I see it is being circulated
now.
(Pause)
1\1:r.Deputy 'Speaker: I hope the Report has now been distributed.
Shah Azizur- Rahman:
Before presenting
the Report of the Standing
Committee
may I make an observation
that I was not invited to attend
this Standing Committee
to amend the Medical Council Ordinance;
and
I W(lS not given an opportunity
to place my point of view, in support
of
mv Bill under the Chairwomanship
of Begum G. A. Khan.
There is no
such expre,sion
as Chairwoman,
this is a misconception
of the functions
of Chairman.
J\Ir. Deputy Speaker:
A difference has been created So that it may
be known that you never attended that meeting.
Shah Azieur Rahman:
The Lady Chairman
was not kind to me so
that I could attend the deliberations
and make certain observations
and
poeslbly the Report would have been different.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Would you like to present the Report of the
Standing Committee ?
Shah Azizur Rahman:
I presented
it with those observations.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : The Report has been
presented,
There
has
been a misunderstanding
with regard to the circulation
of the Report of
310
NATIONAL
[Mr. Deputy
ASSEMBLY
[11TH MARCH, 1966
OF PAKISTAN
Speaker]
the Standing
Committee
that it has not been circulated
to the Members
when 1 called upon Shah Azizur Rahman to present
the Report.
The
reason given by the office is that some time an item may be on the agenda
but we nave to dispose of the previous it.em and as it is secret, circulation will have to be held up till the Bill is presented
to the
House.
Therefore,
the
Report
was presented
before this item came up today.
According to rules, I am told, the Member-in-Charge,
in this case Shah
Azizur R~lhman, was not called to attend the meeting
of the Standing
Commitu.s
as he was not a Member of that Committee.
Shah Azizur Rahman:
This is my Bill which
So, I should have been called.
is under
consideration.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I think there is great sense in what you say.
But the rule is that the Member-in-Charge,
if not a member
of the
Standing
Committee,
is not called and this is why we should hurry up
with the framing of the new Rules of Procedure.
Shah Azizur Rahman:
I would request you to give instructions
your office that the Member-in-Chargs
should be invited to attend
meeting of the Standing
Committee.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
We cannot
changed.
So, vie should better hurry
Proc.edure.
Shah
Azizur
Rahman:
to
the
do that
unless
the
rules
are
up and complete the new Rules of
Yes.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : As a matter of fact
the
Chairman
of the
Standing
Committee
should call the Member-in-Charge
of the Bill if it
is Private Members Bill.
Shah Axizur Rahman:
the expression
'Chairwoman
lUr. Deputy
Shah
Azizur
Speaker
Rahman:
The
'.
correction
: You are very
There
REPORT
Speaker:
Next
much
scared
with
Syed
Asghar
to
in the dictionary.
A lady was appointed
addressed
as My Lady.
item.
regard
of women.
is no such expression
Mr. Aminul Islam Chowdhury:
Judge in India but she was never
Mr. Deputy
may he made
as High
Hossain
Court
Zaidi.
OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE. ON THE BILL TO AMEND
THE MEDICAL COUNCIL ORDINANCE,
1962.
Sved Asghar Hossa.n Zaidi: I beg to present
the
Report
of the
Standing Committee on the Bill to amend the Medical Council Ordinance,
1962.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
The Report of the Standing Committee
on the
Bill to amend the Medical Council Ordinance
1962, has been presented
to the House.
Next please, Mr. Sharafatuddin
Ahmed.
311
RESOLUTIONS
REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE BILL TO AMEND
ALLOPATHIC SYSTEM (PREVENTION OF MI.SUSE) ORDINANCE,
1962.
Mr. Sharafatuddin, Ahll~ed: I have not submitted the Report as yet.
So, the Report 01 the Standing Committee as submitted should be passed.
Mr. A. H. M. Kamaruazaman : You should say-I
beg to present.
(Interruptions)
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order please, order. Mr. Sharafatuddin
Ahmed has presented the Report of the Standing Committee on the Bill
to amend the Allopathic System (Prevention of Misuse) Urdinance, 1962.
RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Now we take up the Resolutions. The first
Resolution stands in the name of Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman. I call upon him
to move his Resolution.
Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that:
"Thi.s Assembly is of the opinion that to ensure fair price to the
growers, the minimum price of jute be fixed at Rupees forty
per maund. "
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The motion mov.ed is :
"That this Assembly is of the opinion that to ensure fair price to
the growers, the minimum price of jute be fixed at Rupee forty
per maund."
Ies Mr. Sulaiman-you
may now continue.
Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman (East Pakistan):
Mr. Speaker, Sir, every
citizen of this country is aware that jute is grown in East Pakistan. The
subject of jute was discussed right from 1947 till today, but unfortunately
the problems of the jute growers have not yet been solved. Their problems were never looked into thoroughly for the obvious reasons which I
will try to' submit to the House. During the last session of the National
Assembly at Rawalpindi my Resolution on jute was discussed in detail.
This time I have moved a Resolution for fixing the price of jute at
Rs. 40.00 when the market price is Rs. 55.00 per maund. So that fact
remains that while jute sells in the market at a price much higher than
what is stated in the Resolution moved by me today, is a matter which
should be explained before the House. Though jute is grown elsewhere,
we are the principal growers of that fibre and none can grow the quality
that we dc. Our next competitor is India, then comes Thailand. But
their quality of jute is much inferior to what is produced in Pakistan.
Unfortunately, the price of the jute which We produce-that best quality in
the world-is much less. That is the anomaly, that is the tragedy which
exists in this country. We always find that when jute comes in the
market or when the jute season starts, the price of jute comes down to
the minimum but as !OOOn
as jute goes to the bailers godowns or to the
exporters godowns, the price of jute goes up. That is the common feature
everywhere. I am sure the first Chairman of the Jute Board who is now
adoring the seat of the Commerce Minister will bear me out that in the
trade of jute, the jute growers have been neglected and they have always
been denied a fair price. Last year we have seen in the month of June
when jute season started, that the Jute Board decided not to fix up the
31.2
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
MARCH~
196()'
[Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman]
minimum prrce 101' Jute out on t11e znd 01 rx overnber sudderuy they came out
wnn a decisron to nx up the minimum price or Jute as Rs, 20. Why they
fix up tne prrce m tne morun 01 rvovernuer wnen almost 'Ibio or Jute goes
out or tne growers nanus,
T11a( IS a macier which needs to be decided
in this house.
>:)lr, this house knows tnat it is, jute WhICh has prrmarily
contrrouceo
In ouuding up trie economy 01 this country.
It lstne
Jute
from 1947 till to-date which is our primary foreign exchange earner.
It
IS tue J Ul,e wrucn lilLne
[HIle 01 our unncurues
ouut up our eCOIW!ny but
witn pain I have 1:0 say that the condition of the jute growers and their
uuncurues
were neve!' consiuereu
oy any IJOVt1"lUHtllt WHatsoever rrom
1947 trrl Ulb5. 1 reel pam because In the policy makmg machinery
of the
uovernmenL,
wnetner
curmg tne perrou U1 trns Government
or Governments before, it was predominantly
controlled
by a section of people
W110nave novnrng io co WHn tne jure growers.1llls
::1:'>,/0or trie pOpUlation In trns part or the country nave always been ueprrveu 01 tile rarr
price of heir jute.
On the plea not to give them a fair price the question
ef substitute
was raised.
The plea has been that if you raise and give
the tair price to our Jute growers.uhen
our Jute WIll not be In a positron
to compete with India,
'inat has been a plea of all those persons who
decide the destiny at jute, the jute growers in this part of the country.
I would like to point out to you whatever
earning the jute makes, the
bulk of foreign exchange, the profit the jute earns in this country only
50jb of the total earnmg goes to the jute growers, 2b% goes to the jute
exporters,
and to the Government
in railways,
excise cuty
and other
taxes are 12~'Ic insurance, banks, godowns.
This is how the jute growers
have been looted for the last 17 years.
Is that what we call Justice?
Our Government
says, the Minister says, the President
says that Indian
economy is in peril and our economy is stronger than any other neigbouring country and in that way we are looting our cultivators,
depriving our
cultivators.
vVe do not want any aid from you. We do not want any
help from the Centre.
Giv.e us our money of jute, the return of jute to
East Pakistan.
This policy has been continued for the last 17 years and
how long will you continue it. What are the reasons?
Prior to partition, it was controlled
by Europeans
and after
independence
unfortunately
70% of our jute trade was controlled by marwaris
and most of
them were Indian citizens.
Unfortunately,
today the jute trade controlling machinery,
the Jute Board which decides and formulates
the policy
is headed by those persons
who have little to do with the jute of the
country, neither their forefathers
nor have they themselves
seen jute in
.heir life-time.
Unfortunately,
some of them are posted in most important organisations
of the country.
That is why the policy of jute has
never been formulated
in this country which will benefit the cultivators
of the country.
If yc'u make a survey in jute, you will find that 70% of
the traders and exporters
and bailers are those who have nothing to do
with jute and who are not jute growers.
These people have taken the
place of Indian marwaris.
I would like to point out that though India is
our neighbour, we do not want to follow them,
We want to bid in all
sphere,
'.Ve are entitled to compete with them but with our most modern
rnachinerv we are unable and disagre.eable to pay Rs. 40 which is not even
the growinq cost. This is how the jute growers have been looted and
110'N with
that monev the metre-polis of Karachi was built and, with that
monev Islamabad
and Second Capital at Dacca are being built.
The jute
h(ls proved to be the golden fibre for the economy of this country,
I draw
RESOLUTIONS
313
your attention to the fact that according to the F.A.O. Report of 1905 the
jutt consumption has gone up in 1965 by 6% and in India alone which
needs about 6 lakhs of bales of jute from Pakistan they are not sufficient
to meet their requirements of jute because their consumption has also
gont up by 5;0. According to the F.A.O., Report which was published in
Rome it says that the consumption of jute in 1963-65 was 2.12 million
tons and in 1967 it will grow to 2.70 million tons. According to the estimation in 1970 the requirement of jute will be 4.72 million tons. That
shows the tendency of increasing consumption of jute throughout
the
world. The Chairman of the Jute Board has announced the target of
having 70 lakhs bales in 1965 but for whom you have annouced. They
say that the cultivators should produced 70 lakhs of bales for building up
the economy at Pakistan. We had indigo cultivation in East Pakistan and
foreigners used to exploit us. We want to build up a market for the few
Jute exporters and shippers at the cost of overall jute producers of the
country. I would submit to the House that the question of substitutes or
the plea for substitutes does not stand any more. The world knows that
the consumption of jute in the world has increased and there is an increased demand for jute all over the world because of other products of
jute. Formerly is was only hessein which was producted but now they are
producing artificial textiles, jute carpet and other products from jute
which are more popular than the woollen carpets. That shows that the
use of jute has increased all over the world and that is why there is the
increased tendency to have more jute. There was practically no jute
market in Africa and other countries but we are now having new markets
which are flourishing in the under-developed countries like Africa. Our
market of Jute has also doubled with Soviet Russia and China. That
shows that we are having more and more buyers for our jute but is that
helping the growers of jute?
With the increased number of consumers
of jute in the world market, the price of jute is going down everyday.
Is that doing justice to OUr jute growers? "I'hat is my submission. You
cannot save the 6 million jute growers. We want that a fair price should
be given to the jute growers for their jute. We want to ensure that the
price of jute is fixed at Rs. 40 per maund. This should be the minimum
price. It is much lower than the prevailing price of j ute in the market.
I want that they be given a reasonable price when the market price is
Rs. 50 per maund. The price which I have suggested is reasonable,
economic and competitive in the world market. That is why I have
suggested that price much below the market price. The price may be
fixed and it should be ensured to the cultivators. This- would not affect
our export outside; On the other hand, it will give economic price to our
growers.
Only by passing a resolution or an Ordinance by the
Government fixing the jute price will not do and help the ;ute
producers, because when you fixed the minimum price of jute at Rs. 23
per maund, the cultivators did not even get Rs. 22 and at some time they
were getting only Rs. 18 and even Rs. 16 per maund, and this is because
the Government has no machinery to enforce their decision and;' as
such, the jute growers have even been deprived of the minimum price
which is a1:0 uneconomic price and which is not the cost price. I would,
therefore, submit that unless the functions and the activities of the Jute
Board are properly determined and channelled, no benefit and relief can
be r:iven to the jute growers in the country even though we decide to
«ive them an economic price to the growers. The House knows that this
Jute Board is headed bv a person for whom I have profound respect as an
administrator
but I have very little respect as an authority for jute.
314
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
MARCH)
1966
[Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman]
No civilian who has headed various other organisation can head effectively
an organisation like the Jute Board which is mainly concerned with the
jute and jute growers. It is a very technical or special subject. So, Sir, along
with the Chairman of the Jute Board you have seen in this House that
even the Secretary who is the principal Executive of the Jute Board cannot
be found from East Pakistan. You are having persons who have got
nothing to do with jute. This is what you are doing. I do not mean that
it is intentional. This is due to negligence, because there are no
representatives of the growers in this House to voice their grievances.
So I would suggest that the activities of the Jute Board and the formulation of the Jute Policy be entrusted with the representatives
of jute
growers for stabilising the price of jute.
Sir, I had attended the
November session of the National Assembly at Pindi and I have heard
that out of a total production of 65 lakh bales of jute only about 34
thousand bales could be purchased by an organisation which is headed
by a batallion of most senior officers, namely, the Jute Board. How can
the price of jute be stabilised?
I would submit a few words about the activities of the Jute Board.
The Jute Board allots various jute godowns. We have seen in the past
that while allotting these jute godowns to the jute shippers, the Jute
Board do not see to it that proper justice is done to the exporters of jute.
The exporters of the soil are not given the proper chance. So I say that
the .Iute Board and its activities need proper enquiry and unless we can
put the Jute Board in its proper gear, there will be no benefit to the jute
growers. I would submit a few measures which. if this House adopts,
will help the jute growers. Measures should be taken for giving the
minimum price to the jute growers. The minimum price should be
enforced and guaranteed to the growers. I would submit to the House
that unless the entire jute export trade is taken over by the Govrnment
lik.e the Government of Burna which has taken over the entire rice
export trade, and also like the export trade of cotton which has been
taken over by the Government of Egypt, there is no hope of giving or
ensuring a fair price of jute, which should be an economic price, to the
country. Sir, it is the' Fatka Market which has done the maximum harm
to the country. Jute export trade must be taken over by the Government. I use the words "must be taken over ", because in the words
, Nationalisation of Jute' there is some allergic feeling. I have, therefore,
not used the words" Nationalisation of Jute".
I have used the expression 'must take it over' because I feel that it is the responsibility of the
Government and without crying for voucher deals they must take it
over because it is a vital matter which decides the economy n the country.
My second
point
is about
the
organisation
of internal
market for jute.
If there is no good market for jute, it not
only affects the jute growers of the country but it also affects our
ecopom.ic policy. Sir, you will be surprised to know that Narayangunj
WhICh IS the principal Jute market in the province and deals with at
least 75 per cent of the jute in our country has no organised market.
The jute growers or the cultivators keep their jute there in the various
jute godowns and they are at the mercy of the exporters. The exporters
purchase the Jute on their own terms and if the jute growers refuse to sell.
they ca~mot take back their jute and go to the other shippers. This is a
great disadvantags, to the gro~ers and an advantage to the big shippers
or traders. So I would submit that a market should be organised at
nESOLUTIONS
315
N~rayangt.mj and it should. be e!1sured that the jute growers get a fair
pnce. They are apprehensive of the monopoly of the big shippers and
if the market is organised, it would prevent their monopoly.
My third point is that the jute growers cannot at present hold back
their jute. They cannot hold on their stock. There is no system existing
with the Government for advancing money as loan to the cultivators
against their jute. Unless we come to the rescue of the jute growers and
unless they are advanced some money either by bank or by the Government, they will be the victims in the hands of the exporters and shippers, I
would, therefore, submit that arrangement should be made that
the
growers should be financed Or given some loans either from the banks
or by the Government or by such machinery so that they can hold on
their jute for three to four months and they are not forced to sell their
jute at an uneconomic price, even at a price which is decided upon by
the Government.
Sir, my last suggestion to the House is that marketing operation must
be opened by the Government.
We have a very small co-operative
machinery organised by the Provincial Government in the Province.
We have East Pakistan Jute Marketing Corporation which has been
established by the Provincial Government to purchase jute from the market
and to stabilise jute price in the country. The finance of the J. M. C., is
very meagre; it is very small. I would submit that the Jute Board will
only deal with the policy of jute. The policy and the marketing of jute
should be dealt with by co-operative machinery because administrative
officers have failed in commercial handling of jute. I submit that the
J. M. C., which has been established by the Provincial Government and
which has handled ten times more jute than the Jute Board should be
extended and should be financed more by the Central Government and their
purchasing centres will be opened in all the markets of the Province
1>0 that the cultivators and the growers need not go to the exporters and
shippers but to the Jute Marketing Corporation and hand ov.er the goods
at the price fixed by the Government. I would submit that the suggestion
I have made is not new to the House. I would remind my friends on
the other side who represent the Muslim League Party that they brought
a resolution of their party in 1951 when in East Pakistan a Jute SubCommittee was formed and the General Secretary was Mr. Yusuf Ali
Chowdhry. He submitted a comprehensive plan in 1951 for the taking
over of the jute trade by the Government which would not only give
a fair price to the jute growers but would have increased even in 1951
the Government revenue by Rs. 15 crores. I am sure, if the jute trade
is taken over by the Government today, the revenue of the Government
will increase. This trade is being exploited by a handful of shippers
and exporters. If this trade is taken over by the Government a larger
sum of money will come to the public exchequer up to the tune of Rs. 25
crores in 1966. I would submit to the Treasury Bench that they should
not take this Bill as a Resolution from the Opposition, I would submit to
them that it is a national issue, this issue was not raised by the Opposition
today, it was raised by t,he Muslim League which brought Pakistan into
existence, I say the Muslim League of 1951 brought independence in our
country.
Mr. Mashiur Rahman:
On a point of order. The present
League has not received the assets of the past Muslim League.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: It is no point of order.
Muslim
316
[11TH ~ARCH, 1966
Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman : It is the Muslim League which brought
Pakistan into existence that brought a resolution in 1951. It was stated
that jute trade should be nationalised and taken over by the Government
as early as 1951. By another resolution they requested the Provincial
Government to open a comprehensive department to take jute locally.
The Muslim League was alive to this problem in 1951. If this question
had been solved in 1951, the .iute growers would not have suffered 1'01'
the last 18 years. I would ask the Treasury Bench to consider and to
have a patient hearing. This does not concern the Treasury Bench, it
concerns the growers whom they represent and we represent collectively.
I would only submit that this, resolution must receive proper justicnfrom
the House and they should consider it with sympathy so that we can give
at least the living price to our cultivators.
Moulvi Ruhul Amin : On a point of order.
How long can the mover
continued?
Mr. Deputy Speaker: He can continue for 2 minutes more.
Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman : I would submit that the woe of our jute
growers is so much that they also know it.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Would you continue for long?
Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman : I will finish it now, Sir.
A Member: Let others speak now.
Dr. Aleem-al-Razee: We should have evening sitting today. It is a
vital question. If we sit up to 12 noon, many of us will not get the
chance to speak. It is a vital issue. So I suggest that there should be a
meeting in the evening so that others may get a chance to speak.
Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman : In conclusion, I would only submit that we
should not deprive the jute growers of the commercial price and we
cannot build up the economy of our country by depriving the
jute growers and I appeal to the Chairman of the Jute Board
that by growing merely 70 lakh bales there will be no result
unless We pay an economic price to our growers and I would submit to
this HOUSethat the price of jute should be fixed at Rs. 40 which is the
most reasonable, most economic and most competitive price. I am sure,
our Commerce Minister, who is well conversant with the price of jute,
will agree with me and I also warn that if we ignore the j ute growers
any more. If we deprive them of their economic price any more, that
time is not far when the things will go out of control and probably we
cannot build up our economy by depriving those persons who are really
the instruments of our economy.
Mr. Md. Yusuf Ali (East Pakistan):
*~r. D.eputy Speaker, Sir, I
want to speak a few words in support of the resolution under discussion.
It is not only the fate of the 50 lacs of East Pakistani jute growers that is
linked with jute, but it is also the main cash-crop of Pakistan which
the Government cannot deny. Every year We have been earning nearly
100 crores of foreign exchange from jute. But there has not yet been
any change in the lot of the jute growers. It may be seen from the
report of the Government on agriculture that 40% of the jute growers
do not have any land, 35% do not have food for more than three months
in the year and 30% do not hav., any cattle for the ploughs. The FiveYear Plan prepared by the Government has fixed a target for production
of jute. What is astonishing is that the average production of jute has
·English
translation
of uncorrected
speech in Bengali.
RESOLUTIONS
fallen during the plan period. I will now show front figures that from
1948-49 to 1951 average annual production of jute was 58 lac bales. But
durmg the last three years the annual production could not exceed 54
lac bales. If this be the position then what improvements have been
done in the lot of the jute growers and in jute production during the plan
period?
In the year 1948-19 demand for jute in the world market was
lor 100 lac bales, out at which Pakistan alone supplied 75 lac bales. But
today when the demand lor Jute has gone up Pakistan is not in a position
to supply even 45'10 of this demand. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it was
with a view to improving jute cultivation and the lot of the jute
growers that the Jute Marketing Corporation was set up. As a result
of whimsical and short-sighted policy of the Jute Board it gave proof
of our utter failure in giving a Iair price to the jute growers and in improving cultivation of jute. We have seen that without purchasing jute at
the price fixed by the Government the Jute Marketing Corporation has
forced the growers to accept cash-memo showing the fixed price.
In
the Jute Purchasing Centres we have seen machinations in weighing. We
have also observed that taking advantage of the simplicity and ignorance
of the growers, and through intricacies of classifications of jute, they are
put to great embarrassing situations. They are paid a lesser price on the
plea of jute be;n,~ wet. The Jute Marketing Corporation, nay, the big
industrialists evade payment of income-tax. There is only one reason
behind it and that is that the same man is the purchaser, mill-owner,
shipper and expolLer of jute. His only aim is to' make profit by establishing monopoly in jute trade. He is keen to see if he can make any change
in his own lot. He has! no other consideration. He has no love or
sympathy for the jute growers. Without caring for what can benefit
the growers he is more particular about what can earn a greater profit
lor him. What is unfortunate is that the fate of 50 lacs of jute growers
of East Pakistan has been left to the mercy of the purchasers and monopolists or Dundee. The jute growers have been made easy victims at
the hands of these monopolists.
While fixing the minimum price the Government did not maintain
any equality with the price existing in the world market. I am, therefore,
of the opinion that the growers may be given a fair price by fixing the
pric» ilt a level cxi:;ting in the markets abroad. The Government should,
tberefuf'e, be alive to the situation and fix a minimum price for jute. The
Administration should see whether a fair price reaches the growers or not.
But the Administration is not at all keen about it. It is, of course, being
shown on papers that the minimum price has been reaching the growers,
but that is not the actual position.
This year the price of jute has increased. But when has it increased?
It has increased at a time when most of the growers have disposed of
their jute at a nominal price and when to meet various family requirements the growers had to sell their jute. Consequently they could not
benefit from the minimum price fixed by the Government.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have seen that the owners of jute mills have been
earning profit at the rate of 25 or 30 rupees in a maund by exporting
jute goods, What is astonishing is that the houses of the cultivators who
grow jute with the sweat of their brow are filled with cries of distress.
Even then, with a view to satisfying the industrialists they are being
offered tax holiday and facilities of Bonus Vouchers, while a cultivator
cannot get exemption from payment of land revenue, and his landed
properties are subjected to certificate proceedings. The growers are heading towards economic ruination along with the members of their families.
318
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
OF
PAKisTAN
[Mr. Md. Yusuf Ali]
Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is astonishing that the foreign exchange earned
from jute produced by the cultivators of East Pakistan do not actually
come to East Pakistan. And that foreign exchange is being utilised for
the purchase of railway slippers for West Pakistan. With the foreign
exchange earned by East Pakistan buildings are being constructed in
West Pakistan.
What else could be more unjust than this? Sir, East
Pakistan is more undeveloped than West Pakistan in many ways, and the
Government has admitted the existence of disparity. Why is it that East
Pakistan will be deprived of its due share of the foreign exchange?
Mr. Deputy Speaker: May I remind the honourable
Member that
jute policy in general is not under discussion. The discussion is on jute
with regard to the fixing of minimum price for jute and not how foreign
exchange is utilised.
Mr. Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury: Policy also comes under reference when he wants to make up his point in support of this resolution.
He has to develop his argument and so he has to discuss overall jute
policy.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Quite right but for the last 8 or 9 minutes I
have be.en carefully listening to every word of what he is saying. He
is still far away from the resolution
under discussion. He should
come to the resolution
now. (Interruption).
You have to either
support the resolution to fix the minimum price or oppose it. But not
how the foreign exchange of the country is being used-that
is not under
discussion.
Mr. Md. Yusuf A'Ii: The jute growers could non get a fair price this
time. They should have got a higher price. It is a mystery, Sir, that
this year the growers did not get even the price which they were getting
during the last few years. The reason was that the Jute Board has
made an announcement that 70 lac bales of jute would be produced during the year. This was done with a view to satisfying the Adamjees and
Ispahanis and they were able to' make forward sales. As a result of this
sudden and short-sighted announcement the price of jute registered a
steep fall.
We have also se.en that the jute growers within the five mile belt of
the border have been adversely affected. In this way the growers living
in these areas have been deprived of their fundamental rights.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I again remind you ...
Mr. Md. Yusuf Ali: I would not take more than two or three minut.es.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I again
is still travelling far away from
have no choice but to ask another
have not said a word about why
word so far.
remind the honourable Member that he
the resolution and if he persists, I will
Member to speak. Mr. Yusuf Ali, you
minimum price should b2 fixed; not a
Mr.l\'Id. Yusuf Ali: I am coming to' the price and would take two or
three minutes more.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: You are discussing the point about growing of
jute within a radius of five miles of the border. What do you mean by
this?
319
RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Md. Yusuf Ali: "What I was saying is that it was as a result of
that announcement that the price of jute came down.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Everything pertaining to jute is not under discussion. This point I want to impress upon you, the point that fixation
of the minimum price of jute is under discussion.
Mr. Md. Yusuf Ali: "'Mr. Speaker, Sir, the point I have raised is
that as a result of the announcement made by the Jute Board the price
of jute has been rapidly falling, and the growers are being deprived.
In the end, I propose that the jute growers be given a fair price for
their produce. The cost of production of per maund of jute cannot be
anything less than rupees thirty and a half, and as such the minimum
price of jute should be fixed at Rs. 40. We also know, Sir, that as long
as the Government does not nationalise jute trade the growers will not
get a fair price. Because, they have been left to the mercy of the big
mill-owners, who have no sympathy for the common people. I have,
therefore, to say that if the Government fails to alert the Administration the minimum price fixed by the Government will never reach the
growers. With a view to ensuring that the growers get the minimum
price it is necessary that the Government should open a fund. The
ether point is that it is necessary for the Government to create a fund
of a few crores of rupees. Many a time, I have stated that for pressure
of circumstances
the growers are forced to sell away their jute at a
nominal price. So, if the Government is keen to benefit the jute
growers, they will have to establish godowns in every sub-division and
thana for purchase of jute from the growers or to gi·ve advance to the
growers. In this way the growers will have to be given an opportunity
of selling their jute at a fair price.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Only two minutes
remain
in your time.
Mr. Md. Yusuf Ali: "What is important is that keeping stability in
the jute market the Government will have to give that much help to
the growers which will enable them to get a fair price. The growers
should not be left at the mercy of the Jute Board. 'The growers will be
benefited only if a man from East Pakistan, who is conversant with the
problems of jute growers, is appointed as a Minister for this Department. The Jute Board will have to be made a representative body. It
is only by ensuring a fair price to the growers that they can be saved
am: that is the only way of saving East Pakistan from economic ruination. Thank you.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Mr. Rahimullah
Chowdhury.
Mr. Rahimullah Chowdhury:
"Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to
support the resolution for fixation of minimum price of jute at Rs. 40. In the past also, the minimum price of jute was fixed many a time.
But the growers could never get that price. Adamjee
and Ispahani,
particularly
Adamjee, have monopolised jute trade.
They are not
spending a single farthing in East Pakistan from the profit they are
making from jute trade by taking advances from National Bank and
ether banks. The whole of this profit is being sent to West Pakistan.
In West Pakistan, you have set up organisations like the Investment
.English
translation
of uncorrected
speech in Bengali.
320
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF PAKISTAN
[11TH
MARCH)
1966
[Mr. Rahirnullah Chowdhury]
Corporation,
PICIC, IDBP, etc. Mr. Faruque is also associated with
Adamjee. We are aware that he has set up a jute mill in West Pakistan.
I would, therefore, submit to Mr. Faruque
that if he really wants to
remove the sufferings of the jute-growers
he should set up a Jute
Financing Corporation for the jute growers. It is necessary that the
jute growers should be financed by setting up a Jute Board or Jute
Corporation for the growers. The jute growers are also being bluffed
through gradations of jute. 'The Government has to ensure that the
growers are not bluffed in this way.
It is necessary that jute should be exported by feLting up a Jute
Financing Corporation. It has also to be ensured that persons like Mr.
Faruque or Adamjee do not become the Chairman of the Jute Board.
A Jute Board or a Jute Financing Corporation should be set up w'ith a
Bengali as its chairman, who will be in a position to safeguard the interests of the growers. 'That will enable the growers to get a price at the
rate of rupees 40 or 50 and that will safeguard the interests of the
growers. With these words, I conclude.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Honourable
Minister for Commerce.
(Interruptions)
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Let us hear the Government's
point of view,
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar: Sir, I am also one of the jute growers.
will express the point of view of the jute growers.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
This resolution is directed
Government.
Let us see what they have to say.
towards
I
the
Dr. Alcem-al-Razee : Sir, so far as the jute is concerned, we have
been hearing this sermon for the last eight years from the Government
side. You will kindly give us some time to explain.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have been hearing your sermon everydayalmost since the present Assembly came into being.
(Interruptions)
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have heard three speeches on the resolution
and there was repetition and nothing else.
Mr. Mashiur Rahman:
will be no repetition.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I assure you, Sir, I will
All right.
not
repeat.
There
Mr. Nurul Amin: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, will the Members from
the Opposition also speak after the Minister's speech?
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Today is Friday and We have also to adjourn.
Mr. Nurul Amin (Leader of the Opposition) : The question is that
the resolution which has been moved is a very important one. There
arc many Members who want to speak about it. If the honourable
Minister wants to speak in the midst of the discussion, he is at liberty to
•
32l
RESOLUTIONS
do so and you are also at liberty to give him permission. But that does
not mean that the rights of the Members should be curtailed thereby and.
their speeches should not be allowed after the speech of the Minister.
JIr. Deputy Speaker:
our disposal today . . .
I think, considering
the limitation
of time at
(interruptions)
.VIr.Nurul Amin: This is a non-official day lor the non-official Mernoers. This is .an important resolution on which there has to be more
speeches. I do not see any reason why there should be any objection
either from the Chair or from the Government side. This may be
carried on to the next non-official day.
Mr. Mashiur Rahman: I think, Sir, the point raised by the Leader of
the Opposi tion should be discussed first.
.\'lr. Deputy Speaker:
I am considering that also.
Mr. Ghulam Faruque (Minister for Commerce) ; Mr. Speaker, Sir, I
have listened with great interest to the very valuable speeches made by
the mover of the Resolution and his supporters.
I agree with the ...
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The discussion will not end today.
carried on to the next non-official day .
It will be
•\1r. Ghulam Faruque : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I agree with the views of the
Leader of the Opposition that the matter is of great economic importance
and, for my part, I would like to hear more from the Opposition side
and from the Government Benches with regard to this very important
problem. I want to say that while we are here in connection, with the
session, we have been going into the question of the announcement of the
future jute policy and the fixation of prices, etc. So, whatever I hear
from both sides of the House, would be of great assistance tQ me and I
would, therefore, request you that more time be allowed and the speakers
be given a chance to express their views .
•\'Jr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar (East Pakistan) ; Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise
to reiterate the historical background of jute cultivation, jute trade and
the Government's
consciousness in regard to jute policy. Sir, ever
.ince the day of Independence, every Government promised fair price
to the jute growers. I quite agree that there has been a flourishing jute
trade there has been a huge development in the jute industry and I also
quite agree that there has been a substantial increase in the improvement 01 jute export, but may I ask, Sir, "what benefit has come to the
jute growers." Sir, the jute grower remains where he was ;;0' years ago
and nothing substantial has been done either to stabilize the jute price
or to afford a fair price to the jute' grower. I must also state that this
important question of jute in the past so many years became a factor of
inter-party politics and various regimes that have come and gone took
no »incere and serious interest to improve the lot of the jute growers of
this country \vho Iorm the bulk of the population of East Pakistan. I
must at the same time urge upon you to appreciate that the rural economy of East Pakistan can never improve unless the jute growers improve their own lot either through their own efforts Or through the
aegis of the Government and for that purpose a fair jute price must be
given to the millions of the jute growers of the country. Sir, you will
also appreciate that the policy of jute has been constantly
channing.
321
NATLONAL
ASSEMBLY
OF pAKISTAN
lllTH
MARCH) 1966
[Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar]
It has been changing with the political climate of the country and, as I
said before, no Government in the past took any sincere efiort to look
into the interest of the jute growers. It is, therefore,
of paramount
importance and necessity today that there should be an objecnvs study
of the whole thing and reappraisal of the jute policy with due regard to
the changing conditions of our political relations with the countries
around us. it is a known fact that one of our biggest buyers is India
and with the recent political situation, that position does not exist.
Moreover, it is high time that we create new markets in the Afro-Asian
region. You have very good markets there. Our distinguished Commerce Minister who is very much experienced in this line knows that it
was during his time that the question of establishing
jute mills with
Pakistan's participation abroad was taken up and it has been very successfully carried out. So, Sir, on the one hand, we should create new markets for jute abroad, and at the same time in the home front we should
also try to give a fair price to the jute growers. Sir, I must place before this House my very humble submission that mere fixation of a
ceiling price of jute shall not in itself be responsible to improve the lot
of the jute growers. In the past many times fixed prices were made.
But it never worked. Without having an appropriate machinery and a
proper measure to enforce fixed price for the growers, it will be of no
use. It will again go to the cold storage. I as a jute grower must tell
you and I have said it many times in the past that the only effective
remedy is to establish warehouses in the different parts of the province
particularly where there is accumulation of jute and these warehouses
should becontroJled either by the Government or by some co-operative
agencies and the growers must get advance against stocks which they
deliver to the warehouse.
The honourable Members will bear me out·
that this year the jute price started from Rs. 17 and today it is -more
than Rs. -{)O. I see this tremendous rise in the price of jute .. But the
[ute-grewers have not- been benefited by this rise in the price of jute ..
The -Fariahs, Beoparies, the big traders and the shippers have received
the chunk of the price. The poor man who shed his blood by toil and
turmoil, has not got ~ single pie out of this huge profit. . These profits
have 'gone to other people. Ther.efore, my position is that although)
fully agree with the sentiments expressed by lVIr. Sulaiman, I do not.
SLIpport the Resolution. The Resolution ends in itself, that is, the fixation of the price of Rs. 40 does not solve the problem. Sir, I would
urge upon the honourable Commerce Minister to seriously consider the
question of granting subsidy to the growers ...
Mr. Mashiur Rabman:
Point of order. The Resolution is very
clear. But he is opposing the Resolution and then he again says that
subsidy should be provided to the growers. He is practicallv speaking
on the Resolution before the House of Mr. Sulaiman. So, either he has
to oppose it or support it. But if he has got a fresh Resolution, he is
at liberty to give his new thinking.
Mr. Molul.N.
nothing.
l\'ir. Denuty
opposing
the
saine· facts.
A. Lashkar:
Mr. Mashiur Rahman is. interfering
for
Speaker:
Order
order. The honourable Member is
R.esolution and in' support of his' argument he is .givin~
-
3D
RESOLUTIONS
Mr. l\'ldhd. N. A. Lashkar: Thank you, Sir. lam one of those who
strongly support the idea of giving the growers a very fair price, but I
do not support the Resolution. This Resolution is completely insuffident in itself. I have already said that there must be some measure.
some machinery,
to enforce the fair price and I am suggesting that
Government should immediately consider the question and feasibility
of establishing warehouses in the country; give subsidy to the growers
and give them advances against the stock delivered at the various warehouses.
Opposition Members:
We want fair price for them.
It is Rs. 40.
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lasjhkm': There is no question of Rs. 10 or Rs. 40.
Fair price is a fair price. It may be Rs. 50.
(Inter1"Uptions)
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar: At the same time I very strongly
that there is necessity of remodelling the Jute Board. I am a
.:;;·rower
...
urge
jute
(Interruptions)
Mr. Deputy
Spealcer : Order, order.
Mr. Rahimudlah Choudhury: He is not a jute grower.
area of MotijheeL
He lives in
the commercial
l~h.Deputy Speaker:
Mr. Rahimullah, you are doing grave injustice to the cause which is so dear to every East Pakistani by interrupting the honourable Member. Let us hear the jute grow·pr.
Mr. Rahirnullah
the
: He is. not a jute
Choudhurv
grower.
He lives in
commercial area of MotijheeJ.
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar : I pity your lad: of ignorance!
. Mr. Deputy Speaker:
view.
Let
~IS
hear him, the jute grower's
piont
of
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar : My second point is: I very seriously
request the Government kindly to remodel the Jute Board. The Jute
Board demands remodelling and J quite agree that there are some very
good people ...
Dr. Aleem-al-Bazee
. Point
of order, Sir. I could not follow
whether
the expression
used by the honourable Member is "Jute
Board" or "Jhut Board".
I could not catch it.
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar: I do not know whether
Dr. Aleem-alRazee is using Oxford translation or Cambridge translation.
I am not
an expert in that!
What I was saying was that there is necessity for
remodelling the Jute Board and I think that in the Jute Board some
representatives of the jute growers and jute oxperts of the soil should
he associated.
Mr. Bahimullah
price.
Choudhury:
Sir, he has not said anything
(1nterrwptiotis)
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Mr. Kamaruzzaman,
Such interruptions are' not proper.
what are
you
about
.doing
>
NA'fIONAL
:\lr. Mashiur
Uaillnall:
ASSEMBLY
[Llrrr
OF pAKI::;TAN
1966
l\L'\RCHj
lViI". Depi!i~' Speaker: Mr. Lashkar, please resume YOUI"';eat.
l\h, l\la"hilll' Rahman:
Sir, my point of order is..
(Interruptions)
l\h. Deputy Speaker; Order
please, order. Let me warn
the
honourable Members sitting towards the left particularly, Mr. Rahimullah Choudhury
and Mr. Kamaruzzaman, not to interfere when an
honourable
Member is speaking.
Mr. l\lashiur Rahman:
Sir, in his speech he has said' "somebody from
tht::~uil "'. Sir, through you I want to have a clear expression of the
word "suil".
What does he mean by it? He said that a chairman
should be appointed from the soil, or something like that. (Interruption).
Sir, 1 am not a soil-science man; you are a soil-science man.
So you will be able to give me the different lair of the soil. I want to
kl,:)",\' what
particular lair he is mentioning.
"1r. Dl'IHt.t:y Speaker: This i8 no point of order.
H;.11
Rana Ghulam Sabir Khan:
"Sir, this is jute market or the Assembly
'j"
Mr. Deputy Speaker: He is talking about some appointment
pe-sons f'ror,-, the soil.
Jlr. i\lohd. N. A. Lashbr:
{pir
So, Sir. in order that the growers get a
price ..
(InterrlLption
)
H.t".,\jmd Ali CboudJtury: Sir, today is Friday.
Hr... long the sitting will continue '?
;\Ir. Deputy
e..1,;:..
of some
Speaker:
Please resume
It is already 12·30.
your seat.
I know it is Fri-
today.
"lr. Ajmal Ali Choudhury:
~:ittill( v•.-ill continue.
l\Ir. Deputv
finish '!
Speaker : Please
I want to know,
resume
Sir,
your seat.
how
Will
long
you
this
please
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar : I was saying, Sir, that if the entire jute
cultivation
.md trade is properly
regulated,
the growers will get a
fair price. Then; i~ no question of getting forty rupees; they may get
even fifty- rupees ; and for that the prerequisites have to be made out.
In that connection I would also request the Government that the acreage of cultivation
commensurate with the world demand should he
fixed.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
creating disorder?
Sir.
Mr.
Rahimullah
Choudhury,
why are
you
Mr. Mohammad Abdul Matin (Pabna) : I am on a point of order,
SfY.'. mv privilege is equal to that of any Mem't>er of the Opposi-
tion.
Mr.
Mi:7:IlUUT
Rahman Chowdhury:
Mr. Matin is not in his seat.
325
RESOLUTI01~S
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
You should go to your seat.
(Mr. Matin went
to his
I;eat)
Mr. Mohammad Abdul Matin (Pabna): Sir, on a point of order.
It is the practice and the privilege of a Member of the House that when
he rises in his seat to speak, he must be given ample opportunity to express his view points. But it has been observed all through that while
any Member of the Government side rises in his seat and wants to
speak, it is the perpetual habit of the Opposition Members ...
Opposition Members:
Qu.estion!
Mr. Mohammad Abdu] Matin (Pabna) : it is a habit, I say; it is on
record. Sir, Mr. Lashka- was speaking, and you have seen that Mr.
Zaman and Mr. Rahimullah Choudhury were disturbing
all through.
Will you please allow us to reciprocate in the same manner?
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Mr. Mashiur Rahman:
with us.
No, no.
I welcome him, Sir.
Let him come and sit
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Mr. Matin, 1 have already warned Mr. Rahimullah Choudhury and Mr. Kamaruzzaman, and some: other gentlemen,
who have been interfering.
So why did you raise this point of order?
You took so much time for nothing. I have already warned them.
Mr. Lashkar, will you please finish?
Mr. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar:
ponsible for this delay.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I am very sorry, Sir, but I am not res-
Will you please finish?
1'.1r. Mohd. N. A. Lashkar : Sir, this is a very important matter, and
[ cannot finish it so quickly.
The main point is that the growers must get a fair price, and I was
saying that, if proper measures are adopted, the growers may not get
only rupees forty; they may even get rupees fifty; and for that I have
submitted two things. The first thing is the total jute acreage should
be so fixed as to be consistent with the world market, and we should
try to expand that market. At the same time, ...
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The
again at 9 a.m., on Monday.
Assembly
stands
adjourned
to
The Assembly adjourned till nine of the clock, in the morning,
Monday, the 14th March, 1966.
G PPK-3891/.
S-SI/L II!65 N. A.-30-8-66-330.
meet
on

assembly debates - About the National Assembly

Transcription

Similar documents

Evalyn Frondozo - Rex Book Store

Read more... - Stop TB Partnership

American Music Fest Over Brunch

- Dhaka Tribune

membres du Jury - Aga Khan Development Network

COMBINE - FarmTek

Untitled

Using Mobile Money to Promote Financial Inclusion in Pakistan