The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that keeping in view the energy shortfall, work on manufacturing of solar energy gadgets including solar streets lights, water heaters and fans, has been initiated. Minister for Science and Technology, Mir Changez Khan Jamali said National Institute of Electronics is also working on the design and development of LED lights to be illuminated through solar energy.
Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar said that more aircraft will be inducted into the fleet of Pakistan International Airlines to avoid flights delay and provide better travelling facilities to the passengers. Besides, he said the government is encouraging the private airlines and licenses to them are issued to them within forty days.
Minister for Law, Moula Bakhsh Chandio told the House that credible and error free electoral rolls are being prepared in collaboration with Nadra which will be used for next general elections. He said the final electoral rolls are expected to be published by the end of May this year. The minister said eunuchs have been given the right to cast vote in the general elections. As many as 782 eunuchs have so far been enrolled in the electoral rolls.
Replying to a question, the minister said the government has finalised the new petroleum policy to expedite oil and gas exploration. He said under this policy licenses will be issued for drilling of 150 blocks. He said the government is committed to Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and work on it will be completed well before 2014.
Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar said rules will be followed for the purchase of new aircraft for PIA. In the first phase, we will get aircraft from Boeing on lease while in the second phase aircraft will be procured from Airbus. To another question, he ruled that PIA has failed to follow Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules, 2004 in letter and spirit saying that being a public sector corporation, the airline has followed PPRA Rules 2004 in letter and spirit.
He said an agreement was signed with MIS Transworld Aviation (TWA) FZE, Jabel Ali Free Zone P.O Box 61002 United Arab Emirates for the provision of spare parts for aircraft. He said that it was not a fact that the firm failed to comply orders of PIAC. Initially, he said that PIAC issued purchase order of 2500 Nos. of different items, out of which approximately 500 Nos. of items have been received. The remaining items are expected to be received by the end of March. 2012, he added.
He said that steps which are being taken by PIAC to make the deal transparent include international open competitive bidding as per PPRA Rules 36, tender was published in newspapers besides uploading tender documents on electronic media, proposal was discussed extensively at proper forum and central purchase committee recommended for PIA board of directors' approval and finally the board approved the proposal.
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