ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan informed the National Assembly on Friday that the total outstanding dues of electricity against federal and provincial governments were Rs194.81 billion till Jan 31.
In a written reply to the House during question hour, the minister told that total outstanding dues of electricity against federal government were Rs18.1 billion, provincial governments Rs46.05 billion, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir was Rs130.66 billion.
The minister said according to detail the total outstanding dues of electricity against Punjab government was Rs6.133 billion, Sindh government Rs17.63 billion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government Rs2.44 billion, and Balochistan Rs19.85 billion.
The minister said the liquidation of outstanding dues depends on collection from electricity distribution companies based on their recoveries from consumers, which was a continuous process.
He said timeline projection for its full clearance was not possible. However, the matter regarding recovery of outstanding dues is being vigorously persuaded by DISCOs and the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) during monthly performance review meetings of the DISCOs.
To another question, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said the finishing activities on Metro Bus Project from Peshawar Morr to New Islamabad International Airport (25.6 kilometres) are in progress, and it is expected that the project will be completed by mid of Aug, 2020 on the arrival of necessary equipment such as elevators and escalators from China and Spain end of July 2020, which was obstructed due to the Covid-19. He said total revised cost of the project was Rs13.53 billion.
Murad said the physical progress of the project was 95 percent and financial progress was 63 percent. He said import of equipment, construction of mini station at airport and the ancillary works such as paint, fixing of windows etc at some other stations were in progress.
He said that several new road infrastructure projects measuring 1,700 kilometers had been approved for execution.
The minister told that five major road projects would be executed under public-private partnership. He said the government was giving special importance to the construction of western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbas told the House that despite hostile Indian attitude, Pakistan took a milestone step by opening Kartarpur Corridor and released captured Indian pilot after Indian misadventure of Balakot as a peace gesture.
She said Pakistan wished to resolve all outstanding issues with India including Kashmir dispute through peaceful means.
She, however, said India must create an enabling environment for a result-oriented dialogue to take place. She said India wanted to isolate Pakistan at the international level. But Pakistan significantly improved its relations with neighboring countries including Iran and Afghanistan over the last two years, she added.
She said that the borders with Afghanistan had been reopened and trade had witnessed an increase of 25 percent with the neighboring countries.
Andleeb said ambassadors were appointed abroad on their performance and abilities as per the host country, and there was no provincial quota in the appointments of the ambassadors abroad.
Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum Khial Zaman said there was no shortage of petroleum products in the country. He said the prices of petroleum products were enhanced as per the rising trends in the international market.
Winding up the House's debate on the government's agriculture policy, Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam said the government was planning to provide quality seeds to the farmers in order to enhance per acre yield of major crops such as wheat and cotton.
He said it would be ensured with the cooperation of the provincial governments that the farmers, only use the approved seeds, adding that enhancement of agriculture products would also enhance exports.
He said that efforts were also underway to improve canal system and on farm water management. He said the construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam would go a long way in overcoming water shortages in the country. He told that the government had approved a package for the agriculture sector under which the fertilizers would be given to the farmers on subsidised rates.
He said that the government was also planning to provide subsidy to the farmers in the electricity bills of tube wells.
About the prices of wheat flour, he said the prices of the commodity had stabilised in Punjab due to the releases made by the provincial government, adding that the government had also allowed the private sector to import wheat. He told that there was shortage of 1.5 million tons of wheat against the target of six million tons, adding that 0.7 million tons was going to be imported.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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