The National Assembly was informed today that a program is being prepared to improve literacy rate in the country. Responding to a calling attention notice, Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui told the House that the elected representatives and other segments of the society also need to play their role in this regard. The house today also passed a resolution extending the Apostille Ordinance 2024 for a further period of one hundred and twenty days. Responding to points raised by Asad Qaiser, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said a uniform policy is being pursued to check power pilferage across the country. He said under this policy, more load-shedding is carried out on the feeders where the power theft is high. He noted that checking power pilferage is important to bring down the circular debt. Taking the floor, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam expressed satisfaction over the amicable solution of the situation in Azad Kashmir. He said the demands of the protestors regarding power tariff and subsidy in wheat flour have been met and the protestors have now dispersed. The house is continuing discussion on the President's address to the joint sitting of the parliament. Participating in the debate, Sharmila Faruqui said the President in his address emphasized the importance of making the right choices in order to address the problems of the people. She recalled that it was President Asif Ali Zardari who handed over his powers to the parliament. Ali Muhammad Khan said the political parties should sit together to address the problems faced by the country. Farooq Sattar stressed that there should be inclusive growth to foster a more balanced and harmonious socio-economic landscape. He said the local bodies should be strengthened to bring improvement in the social sector. Abdul Qadir Patel said the President's address to the joint sitting was comprehensive in nature. He said the President emphasized the importance of reconciliation and investing in the people. Others who spoke on the occasion i ncluded: Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Hameed Hussain, Usman Badini, Hanif Abbasi, Shahida Rehmani, Arshad Sahi, Jamal Shah Kakar, Shahid Khattak, Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Ali Sarfaraz, Syed Waseem Hussain Shah, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, Mirza Ishtiar Baig, and Muhammad Yousaf Khan. The House will now meet at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Source: Radio Pakistan