Islamabad the 9th August, 2016: The Standing Committee on Defence Production met in the Parliament House today, the 9th August, 2016, in Committee Room No. 7, at 02:30 p.m., under the Chairmanship of Khawaja Sohail Mansoor, MNA, on the briefing on Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

The Committee Members were apprised by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence Production with regard to the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) produced at POF, Wah. He said that these weapons were consumed by the Armed Forces and other Law Enforcing Agencies of Pakistan. He told the Committee that these weapons were properly marked in accordance with the laid down procedures, bear permanent marking and can be identified in the name of the manufacturer.

The Honorable Minister for Defence Production clearly stated that MoDP has no mandate for making policies regarding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). He was of the firm opinion that Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) pertains to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Therefore, the Committee decided that another meeting would be convened in the next session of National Assembly on the said agenda and Secretaries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior & Ministry of Defence Production would be called.

Meeting was attended by Mr. Muhammad Khan Daha, Chudhary Hamid Hameed, Mr. Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, Ms. Amra Khan, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Ms. Ayesha Gulalai, MNAs and Syed Naveed Qamar, Ms. Mussarat Ahmad Zeb, as Special Invitees, besides the senior officers of the MoDP.