Provision of free electricity ruled out

The government on Friday expressed its inability to provide free electricity to consumers.
However, it was informed to the National Assembly that the government has announced reduction in electricity tariffs up to 58 paisa per unit for industrial consumers in budget for fiscal 2004-05.
This was stated by Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Water and Power, Shahzadi Omar Tiwana in response to a question by MNA Muhammad Hanif Abbasi.
Shahzadi said that Pakistan is a developing country and government is making all-out efforts to provide maximum relief to consumers. However, she made it clear that the government cannot provide free of cost electricity to the consumers.
TOURISM: Answering a question, Tourism Minister Dr Syed Ghazi Ghulab Jamal informed the House that the government has earned $ 135.6 million from foreign tourists during 2003, while tourism organisations have paid Rs 26.493 million in fees to the government during 2003-04.
Speaking about the profit of PTDC hotels and motels, the minister said that Rs 23.683 million was the operational profit of PTDC hotels and motels for the last year.
Ghazi expressed satisfaction over the law and order situation and said that people should also have to play their role in improving tourism industry.
HOUSING: To a question of Maulana Rehmatullah Khalil, Minister of State for Housing, Sardar Asif Nakai said that the federal government employees housing foundation has acquired land in Sectors G-13 and G-14/4 for allotments of plots to entitled government employees on ownership basis. The acquisition of land in sub-sector G-14/1,2,3 is also under process.
He informed the National Assembly that the provincial governments and ICT administration have been requested to earmark 100 acres of state land for launching government employees housing schemes in each district at affordable price.
He further said that Capital Development Authority has also been advised to immediately start housing scheme in any sector of Islamabad for the government employees.
EDUCATION: Answering to a query, Federal Education Minister, Lieutenant General Javed Ashraf Qazi (Retd) informed the House that Higher Education Commission (HEC) is undertaking an extensive programme for producing 1500 Ph.D students annually. To another question, Qazi said that a proposal is also under consideration to introduce IT education at school and college level in the federal government institutions.
The Minister said that a scheme titled "Introduction of computer education in 81 FG/Model colleges and schools in Islamabad Capital Territory Islamabad", costing Rs 167,424 million has been submitted to ministry of information technology and telecommunications.
SPORTS AND CULTURE: In reply to a question, Federal Minister for Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Muhammad Ajmal Khan said that the government is reviewing the current sports policy.
He criticised the performance of National hockey team. However, he said that the government would provide maximum possible financial, infrastructural and administrative support to Pakistan hockey federation for promotion of the game.
HAJ: In the absence of Federal minister for Religious Affairs, Ijazul Haq, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi informed the National Assembly that 1,50,000 Pakistani pilgrims would perform Haj this year.
About 80 percent accommodation arrangements for pilgrims under government scheme have been completed while the remaining arrangements are being made.
In his written reply, Sajjad Tareen informed the House that the government has shut down 273 unviable utility stores, resulting a loss of Rs 490.74 million and Rs 325.93 million during 1998 and 1999 respectively.