Pakistani visas: Minister of state for external affairs Vasundhra Raje Scindia said. While India allowed in about 90,000 Pakistani nationals under the liberal visa package since May last year, Pakistan has not reciprocated the gesture. In fact the number of Indians who visited Pakistan in that period was not known as the Pakistan high commission here has not provided the relevant information, she said. The liberalised package was offered by former prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral unilaterally as part of what was called the "Gujral doctrine", for initiating good neighbourlyrelations.

Iraq-India: India has sent Rs 5 crore worth of humanitarian aid to Iraq over the last three years, she said. The aid, which was in kind included 1,000 tonne of wheat, 58 tonne of tea, milk powder and baby food, medicines, appliances and pharmaceuticals. India would like to see the removal of sanctions against Iraq, Scindia said adding however that Iraq should comply with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

France-India: India has held discussions with France on the possibility of cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. She said an Indian delegation recently visited Paris to discuss nuclear export control issues. It discussed the ambit of such cooperation based on the nuclear policies of the two countries and their international commitments in this regard.

No plans to scrap MMPO: The Milk and Milk Product Order, 1992 (MMPO) has not stifled growth of dairy industry and government has no plans to scrap the order, minister of state for agriculture Sompal said. "TheMMPO has facilitated regulated growth of the dairy industry by permitting only those units which could source a marketable surplus of milk and have the capacity to handle milk hygienically," he said in a written reply.

Subsidy on HSD: The estimated subsidy on high speed diesel (HSD) has increased from Rs 2,180 crore in 1995-96 to Rs 8,090 crore in 1996-97, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas S K Gangwar said. He said the government had announced a comprehensive package in September 1997 to contain the rising deficit in the oil pool account including pricing HSD on the basis of imported price.

Kerosene: Oil companies have been given freedom to fix prices of kerosene with effect from April 1, 1998, Gangwar said. Kerosene sold only through the public distribution system (PDS) was subsidised, the minister said.

Vegetables: The inadequate post harvest infrastructure facilities in the country has resulted in the loss of fruits and vegetables, Sompal said. The minister agreedthat the loss was a colossal waste and the government was taking measures to check the losses by setting up cold storage facilities. But there was a long way to go. Though there was no formal study about the loss of perishable commodities the Planning Commission had entrusted the study to noted scientist Swaminathan in the early 80s. Asked about spiralling prices of vegetables especially tomatoes, he said it was a seasonal factor.

Unemployment: The number of persons unemployed in the country as per usual principal status (UPS), is estimated to be 9 million as on January 1, 1994. As many as 4.71 million are in rural areas. Out of the 9 million unemployed, 5.48 million are educated, Ram Naik, minister of state for planning and programme implementation, said. The approach to the Ninth Plan envisages priority to productive employment which will be generated in the growth process itself by concentrating on sectors, sub-sectors and technologies which are labour intensive, in regions characterised byhigher rates of unemployment and under-employment, he added.