Arabic language bill gets Senate’s nod
Proposed legislation makes Arabic a mandatory subject from class 1 to 12
ISLAMABAD:
The upper house of the parliament has approved a bill that makes Arabic language a mandatory subject from class 1 to class 12. According to the bill, basic Arabic will be taught from class-1 to class-5 while Arabic grammar will be taught from class-6 to class-12.
All lawmakers supported the bill moved by Senator Javed Abbasi of the PML-N except Senator Raza Rabbani of the PPP, who declared it “an attempt by the state to impose the Arabic culture”. Rabbani said: “Arabic should be taught as an optional subject. Making it compulsory will be inappropriate.”
Senator Raza Rabbani offered the sole dissenting opinion against the bill to make teaching Arabic compulsory. DawnNewsTV
The Senate on Monday approved the Compulsory Teaching of the Arabic Language Bill 2020 which makes teaching of the Arabic language mandatory in primary and secondary schools in Islamabad.
The bill was presented by PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi and approved near-unanimously by members of the Senate, with PPP Senator Raza Rabbani offering the sole dissenting note. The ministry concerned will implement the bill within a period of six months.
The bill states that Arabic will be taught in schools in Islamabad from grades 1 to 5, while Arabic grammar will be taught to grades 6 to 12.
January 30, 2021
ISLAMABAD: The government and the opposition Friday exchanged barbs in the National Assembly over the issue of Khokhar Palace and in the Senate over the performance of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The members of the PML-N lodged protest in the National Assembly after Speaker Asad Qaisar reserved his ruling on a privilege motion sought to be moved on Malik Afzal Khokhar against retrieval of state land allegedly occupied by the parliamentarian in Lahore.
The PML-N members gathered in front of the speaker’s dais after he announced reserving his ruling on admitting the privilege motion to refer it to the Privilege Committee. The situation forced the speaker to adjourn proceedings till Monday afternoon.
ISLAMABAD: The Senate was assured on Friday that no elite group would be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccination.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Senators Sherry Rehman and Ayesha Raza Farooq, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan allayed fears that the vaccine would be administered on a priority basis to politicians, generals and judges.
He said that priority would be given only to high-risk category including frontline healthcare professionals, elderly people and teachers.
He said registration for vaccination would be made through an online portal the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS).
The minister said that Pakistan would receive the first consignment of 500,000 Covid-19 vaccines from China on Sunday.
ISLAMABAD: The government and the opposition Friday exchanged barbs in the National Assembly over the issue of Khokhar Palace and in the Senate over the performance of the National Accountability.