ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday rejected the motion seeking a demand for supplementary sum not exceeding 21 billion rupees to the federal government to meet the expenditure other than charged during the current fiscal year in respect of the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) to hold general elections in Punjab.

The motion was moved by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. The National Assembly, which resumed its session here on Tuesday with Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the chair, unanimously adopted a resolution paying rich tribute to the services and contribution of late Mufti Abdul Shakoor in restoring peace in erstwhile tribal areas and making outstanding arrangements for Hajj.

The resolution also commended Mufti Abdul Shakoor’s special efforts for convincing the Saudi Government to reduce Hajj expenditures for Pakistani pilgrims. It demanded conferring a national award on late Mufti Abdul Shakoor.

At the outset, the House offered Fateha for the departed soul of Mufti Abdul Shakoor. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the services and contribution of late Mufti Abdul Shakoor for making the best arrangements on the Hajj last year.

Talking about the precarious economic situation of the country, he said Mufti Abdul Shakoor was very concerned in this regard. The Prime Minister said Mufti Abdul Shakoor also proposed to invite overseas Pakistanis to sponsor their loved ones or themselves by sending foreign exchange for Hajj this year.

He said the cabinet approved that proposal, which was a great contribution of Mufti Abdul Shakoor to raise foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan.

Turning to economic situation of the country, the Prime Minister announced that Saudi Arabia has deposited two billion dollars and another one billion dollars by the United Arab Emirates to increase foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan, fulfilling another condition of the International Monetary Fund. The House will now meet tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12:00 pm.