By Asad Cheema
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications Maulana Asad Mehmood on Sunday emphasized on the need for Tunneling Institute of Pakistan (TIP), to better discern the scholars, practitioners and tunneling industry in the country.
The Minister appreciated the role of TIP and encouraged the officials to actively participate in the tunneling projects, said a press release.
During his visit to TIP, he said that such initiatives should be promoted at national and international levels and assured full cooperation of the Ministry of Communications.
Secretary Communications Captain (R) Khurram Agha, Inspector General Motorway Police Sultan Khawaja also accompanied the Federal Minister.
The TIP Official briefed the Minister regarding the newly constructed premises of the Tunneling Institute and the promotion of the tunneling profession in the country.
Earlier last week, As the absence of the ministers from committee meetings has become a norm, a parliamentary panel on Monday directed Federal Minister for Communications Maulana Asad Mehmood to ensure his presence in the next meeting or be ready to face the music.
The Senate standing committee on communications which met here with Senator Umer Ahmedzai in the chair strongly reacted to the absence of the minister who skipped the meeting without prior intimation.
The chairman of the committee said that public representation is incomplete without the presence of the minister, adding the minister concerned should ensure his presence in the committee as he is supposed to know what the standing committee discussed.
Senator Danesh Kumar of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) staged a walkout from the meeting in protest against the continued absence of the minister from the meeting, saying the way ministers are taking the committee meetings is not acceptable.
However, he returned to the committee meeting after the chairman assured him that he would ensure the presence of the minister next time at all costs.
