ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Tuesday said the federal cabinet approved closure of dysfunctional power plants.
According to the minister, inefficient power plants are being shut down. Under the cabinet's decision, the plants of 1479MW capacity are being shut down immediately while other dysfunctional plants of 1460MW would be shut down by September 2020. He also said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the Islamabad inspector general of police and the Interior Ministry to ensure SECP official Sajid Gondal's recovery through coordination with the "concerned stakeholders".
"We hope that he [Gondal] is alive and pray that he does not suffer any harm," Faraz said, adding that the government realised the pain his family would be going through.
The prime minister chaired a meeting of the federal cabinet held here on Tuesday.
The meeting discussed various agenda items relating to development projects and other issues of importance.
According to the minister, the cabinet informed the Islamabad police chief and the interior secretary that it was the government's duty to prevent such incidents.
They were directed to make full efforts for Gondal's recovery, he said.
Briefing media in Islamabad on Tuesday about decisions taken in the cabinet meeting, Faraz said the idea of Panagah was very close to Prime Minister Imran Khan's heart, as he believed in providing an honourable shelter to the poor.
He said the cabinet also approved to start a ferry service for pilgrims at Gwadar.
He said the prime minister had also taken notice of the issue of the SECP official, Sajid Gondal, and directed the concerned authorities to leave no stone unturned for his recovery.
The minister said the Cabinet held a detailed discussion on the situation that had emerged as a result of heavy rains in Karachi and in interior Sindh.
He said the cabinet constituted a special committee to estimate the losses incurred due to rains.
About outstanding amount of media houses, Faraz said an amount of 1.1 billion rupees had so far been paid to the media houses in that regard.
Answering a question, the minister said the government was making all-out efforts to reduce impact of inflation in the wake of Covid-19.
He expressed the confidence that the government would overcome the inflation.
Replying to another question, he said legislation to meet requirements of the Financial Action Task Force was imperative for the country's economy and the people.
Faraz said the opposition should refrain from doing negative politics on that matter.
APP adds: Prime Minister Imran Khan told the Federal Cabinet that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had tasked to estimate losses incurred across the country in collaboration with the provincial governments so that a comprehensive relief strategy could be formulated for the victims. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said the NDMA would present its report of assessment of losses and then the cabinet would decide about the financial package.
He said the situation in the interior Sindh was even worse than Karachi. There was no political point scoring, rather it was an unfortunate tale of destruction in rural Sindh, including Larkana.
Dr Fehmida Mirza updated the cabinet about her Badin district, which was also affected by flash floods, he added.
The minister said the losses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to floods were minimal as the provincial government had learnt lessons from the past experiences and taken in time precautionary measures.
He said the people from both rural and urban areas of Sindh were suffering as they were treated by the provincial government with one yardstick. The Federal Government would provide all possible help to Sindh's people after assessment of losses.
Faraz said the cabinet expressed concern over the loss of lives and property due to the floods in SIndh, KP, Balochistan and some areas of Punjab. It also noted with concern the destruction caused by floods in Sindh, including damage to the standing crops.
Shibli quoted the PM as saying that Karachi is the engine of Pakistan's economic growth and its development is the development of the country, and that was why the Federal Government is determined to play its role for the resolution of problems of Karachi people.
He said the cabinet approved the proposal of starting a ferry service for religious pilgrims (Zaireen). It was an initiative of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, and customs and immigration facilities would be provided at Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar ports.
He said the Power Division submitted its report on reforms in the power sector and approval was given to the proposal of closing inefficient power plants.
The minister said the cabinet constituted a committee for looking into the ban on provision of power and gas connections to unapproved societies and buildings in the capital. The comprising the Commissioner Islamabad and IESCO officials would suggest measures to remove hurdles in that regard.
Faraz said that the cabinet approved expanding the network of Panagahs (shelter homes) across the country to facilitate the downtrodden and homeless people.
He said the cabinet okayed issuance of a no objection certificate (NOC) for the construction of a new LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal at Port Qasim, while the Petroleum Division would ensure that quota would be given to its operators on first-come, first-serve basis in the existing and new gas pipelines.
He said the Annual Report of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority for 2018-19 and State of Industry Report 2019 were presented to the cabinet.
It was stressed that as a result of the issues settled with the IPPs (independent power producers), steps should be taken for a future action to provide relief to the people, he added.
It was apprised that more than Rs 100 billion would be saved every year as a result of the issues settled with the IPPs.
Briefing the cabinet on the reforms being made in the energy sector, Planning Minister Asad Umar said the policy on renewable energy pending since April 2019, had been approved finally.
The cabinet was informed that the capacity of K-Electric was being increased to meet the power shortage in Karachi and that process would be completed in three years. Some 300 to 400 megawatt electricity would be added to its system immediately, while steps were being taken to reduce its monthly losses.
It approved the appointment of Qaiser Alam as chairman of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education.
The cabinet also gave approval to the proposal of the constitution of Capital Mass Transit Authority.
Answering a question about the appointment of new IGP in Punjab, the minister said the yardstick was performance and ability to deliver, and whosoever would not deliver the government would replace him.
Regarding the high prices of commodities, he said inflation had come down last month slightly. It was a continuous process to fight the mafia culture, which had developed during the last 30-35 years to promote their own vested interests. The government officials, who were meant to serve their institutions, were trained to serve the individuals, and they were resisting the change. Such a system could not be eliminated by pressing a button, however, the reform process was going on, he added.
He admitted that the rise in inflation due to the coronavirus epidemic had affected the economy. If the Federal Government had followed the Sindh Government, the whole country would have been shut down and the situation would have been the worst.
Shibli Faraz said the media houses had given an undertaking to pay dues to their workers when their outstanding dues were being paid. A media house owner informed the PM during his recent Karachi visit that their financial situation had improved and they had registered a 17 per cent increase in their revenues, he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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