Over Rs724m spent on protest prevention, Red Zone security in FY23: Talal

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry informed the National Assembly on Wednesday that Rs724.4 million was spent on protest prevention and Red Zone security in Islamabad during the fiscal year 2022-23, with an additional Rs100 million allocated for the current fiscal year.

Speaking during the Question-Hour, he responded to Dr Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto’s inquiry regarding security expenditures for protests over the past five years. He detailed that in 2019-20, the government spent Rs150 million on Red Zone security, significantly lower than the amount spent in 2022-23. He explained that security expenses generally cover two major categories: Logistics – including the movement, food, and accommodation of security forces; and Infrastructure – such as the procurement of containers used to block roads and prevent unlawful gatherings.

Talal stated that 2022-23 saw the highest security expenditure in the last five years, citing a surge in protests and sit-ins in the capital.

Senator Talal Chaudhry assured the House that Pakistani passports incorporate international security features, making them impossible to forge. He stated that strict action had been taken against human smugglers, and the FIA officers involved in human trafficking had been terminated. Talal said that many of those apprehended belonged to organised smuggling networks rather than being victims of economic hardship, highlighting the need for stricter laws to tackle the issue effectively.

In response to another question, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Zeb Jaffer informed the House that Gwadar International Airport is operating under an open sky policy to enhance international flight operations and improve global connectivity. She added that the CAA was committed to supporting airline operators in launching new flights from Gwadar. Recently, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) started direct international flights between Gwadar and Oman. Additionally, Gwadar Airport has been equipped with refuelling facilities for international flights, further improving its operational capacity.

Regarding airport development projects, Zeb Jaffer noted that the upgradation and expansion of Begum Nusrat Bhutto Airport in Sukkur is in the planning phase, with a PC-1 proposal worth Rs40 billion already prepared. On PIA’s financial challenges, the Ministry of Defence, in a written response to Tahira Aurangzeb, outlined a comprehensive financial restructuring plan to reverse the losses. The restructuring involved carving out Rs268.7 billion in bank debt, Rs170 billion in government debt, Rs188.3 billion in legacy liabilities, and Rs44 billion in employee liabilities. It also involved the transfer of non-core assets worth Rs26 billion, reducing negative equity from Rs698 billion to Rs45 billion as of April 2024. Following these measures, the NA was told the PIA has been operating at a positive level since 2023. By 2025, it is expected to achieve full profitability, enabling it to meet its future financial obligations independently.