29 Pakistanis conferred upon foreign awards in five years: Sartaj

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said some 29 Pakistan nationals had been conferred upon foreign awards in recognition of their achievements in different sectors during the last five years.
Speaking in the question-hour, he said the names of those persons were recommended by the respective foreign countries and were approved by the Government of Pakistan as required under the rules.
Answaring a question, he said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had only two state guest houses (SGHs), one each at Lahore and Karachi, under its administrative control.
He said the SGH Karachi had been declared as official residence of the President since September 2013. No foreign dignitaries had stayed at the SGH Karachi during the last three years.
He said the authorized strength of personnel working at SGHs Lahore and Karachi was 23 and 25 respectively. The guest house staff, who weres supervised by the Deputy Chief of Protocol in Lahore, were paid salary as per the government pay scales.
He said the maintenance and payment of utility charges other than the telephone bills, were the responsibility of the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD).
The amount paid in connection with telephone charges by the Ministry ofForeign Affairs during the last three years included Rs 151,000 for SGH Lahore and Rs 234,000 for SGH Karachi, he added.