ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Friday urged the government to take both houses of parliament into confidence on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Rabbani told Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid that it would be better for the government if the prime minister gave a statement on CPEC in parliament, as both the houses were in session. “It will be better for democracy. The government should take all decisions in parliament,” he remarked. While agreeing with the chairman, Pervaiz Rashid said the prime minister has convened a meeting on CPEC in which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister was also participating. The minister said he would convey the message to the premier. However, Rabbani told the minister that the proper forum for addressing the concerns of the provinces was Council of Common Interests (CCI). Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique told Senate that a process was underway for the upgradation and commercial operations of Pakistan Locomotive Factory, Risalpur, under a joint public-private venture. Replying to questions, he said Pakistan requires 500 locomotives to meet the anticipated freight and passenger traffic during the next ten years, and in this context many companies of the world are ready to cooperate with Pakistan for the assembly and manufacturing of locomotives and other related activities. To another question, Saad Rafique said the process of induction of new locomotives has been started and an order for 55 high horsepower locomotives has been placed with General Electric of the USA. Separately, the minister for interior told the House in a written reply that so far over 182,000 manual arms licences have been computerised. On a point raised by Babar Awan, the Senate chairman asked the government to clarify the situation on Monday regarding the non-payment of salary and regularisation of contractual teachers of Islamabad. The Upper House passed two bills, the Foreigners (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015. Another bill – the Pakistan Baitul Mal (Amendment) Bill, 2016 – was referred to the relevant committee for deliberations. A PPP lawmaker’s privilege motion against Balochistan chief secretary and a Member of Coastal Development Authority was not admitted. The chair asked the mover to raise the matter before relevant committee. It also did not admit an adjournment motion related to non-provision of funds to the personnel of Frontier Constabulary performing deputed at important and sensitive places, for being in contravention with the rules. Its mover, Farhatullah Baber, told the House that FC was playing an important role in the war on terror and its 141 Platoon was taken by Pakistan Army. However, he said their working environment was very depressing. For 25,000 FC personnel, the senator said there were only 8,000 beds, while their salary was far below to that of other law enforcing agencies officials. Baber requested adoption of the adjournment motion for discussion and suggested some incentives for FC personnel. However, the Senate chairman advised the movers to come through proper forum with legal instruments.