Wednesday, April 15, 2015 – Islamabad—State Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Baligh Ur Rehman on Tuesday informed the Senate that no discrimination was being carried out with any citizen of the country irrespective of their ethnic or regional background in renewal of computerized national identity cards (CNICs).
Replying to a calling attention notice moved by Sitara Ayaz regarding blockage of CNICs of the people belonging to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by NADRA, the minister said that no CNIC was blocked on ethnic background adding that NADRA has blocked even CNICs in Punjab, Balochistan and others areas of the country for verification.
The minister said that manual CNICs having no biometric verifications were issued on basis of B-form and attestation during 2000-2005. However, he said after the expiry of such CNICs, data was being scrutinized and re-verified. He said that both NADRA and UNHCR have also data of Afghan refugees and if the data crossed with the refugees then such CNICs were sent to a Joint Verification Cell (JVC) for verification and scrutiny. The JVC comprising personnels of MI, ISI, IB and other government administrative agencies to re-verify the data, he said.
He said that the re-verification process needed 45 days and efforts were being made to reduce the time period. The minister said maximum cases of cross data were reported in KPK and Balochistan where mainly most Afghan refugees were residing. Regarding connection of any person with terrorist organizations, the minister said that there were separate laws to deal with the terrorists and such culprits were tried under Pakistan Protection Ordinance and anti terrorism laws.
Meanwhile, chairing a follow up meeting on “Technical and Vocational Training Schools” here at the Parliament House Minister of State for Education Baleegh Ur Rehman Tuesday said the government was focusing on post middle exclusive schools for technical and vocational training.
He said general education would be of minimum level in order to retain those students in schools who are not very good in studies but can be dexterous technicians, plumbers, carpenters etc.
This would also help in reducing the drop rates in schools after primary and middle levels, he added. Minister of State said that for bright students who could excel in studies after getting trained, a mechanism would be devised to improve their vertical mobility as well. One year, two years and Competency Based Training courses would be available for these students.
Periodical assessment would be outsourced, feasibility and PC 1 would be done by National Education Foundation (NEF) mainly, Ministry of Education and NEF would be monitoring the project, and NAVTTC would be the implementing agency in this project, said the minister. Meeting was attended by Additional Secretary and other officials of the ministry.—APP
