ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Wednesday said the government was taking concrete measures for providing healthcare to the people across the country and said significant steps had already been taken in this regard.

The President made the remarks while talking to Parliamentary Secretary National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination Dr. Darshan Punchi who called on him here at the Aiwan e Sadr.

President Mamnoon emphasized the importance of easy access to cheap and quality health facilities by the public, adding that healthy human resource development was key to progress and prosperity of a nation.

ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP): The government and opposition on Wednesday agreed to constitute a 12 member parliamentary committee to look into the recent allegations levelled in the Panama Leaks, offshore companies and written offs bank loans.

The committee, having six members each from
treasury and opposition benches, would also look into issues, including kickbacks and written off loans, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid told the media following a meeting in the chamber of National Assembly Speaker.

Pervaiz Rashid said Prime Minister Muhammad
Nawaz Sharif in his address in the National Assembly on May 16 had suggested to the NA Speaker to constitute a committee for devising a strategy to investigate recent allegations.

ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Wednesday said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif remained in the House on Monday to listen to the opposition legislators’ speeches and today the Pakistan Muslim
League Nawaz leaders were also present in the House for that purpose.

Speaking in the National Assembly on a point of order, the minister expressed the hope that the opposition members would also remain in the House for listening to the treasury benches’ response.

He said that the opposition, after expressing their point of view in the House about the Panama Leaks, should also listen to response of the treasury benches.

ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP): Finance Minister, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar has said that the present government ever since assuming responsibilities has focused on reaching out to the most deserving segments of the population in undeserved areas.

He stated this during a meeting held with Vice President,
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Michael Mordasini here the otherday.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance here said that
during the meeting Michael Mordasini apprised the Finance Minister about the current profile of IFAD projects in Pakistan and said that the organization with its fundamental aim to combat rural poverty by promoting rural development had come a long way since starting its operations in 1978.

ISLAMABAD, May 18 (APP): Minister for Defence Khawaja
Muhammad Asif on Wednesday called for setting up an accountability institution which emanated from the Parliament House rather than looking towards a third umpire.

Taking part in the debate on PanamLeakes in the National Assembly, the Minister said, “We should not look towards others for accountability. We take power from this Parliament.”

He said the politician was a role model for people and young
generation adding that political differences should not be taken to such a level where coming generations were deprived of democratic system.