The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) stressed the need of new water reservoirs including Kala Bagh Dam (KBD), which will help generate 3,600 megawatt electricity.
In a written reply to the House, Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar said that to create harmony among the provinces on the issue of water distribution and construction of Kalabagh Dam, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has so far conducted seven round table discussions in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Islamabad with parliamentarians, media persons, government officials.
In all the discussions, the Minister said that Irsa has pleaded the case of construction of new reservoirs-KBD, Akhori, Bhasha and Munda etc. He said that Irsa is of the considered opinion that mutual discussions with parliamentarians, media and government officials would help create harmony amongst the provinces over the vital issue of construction of new dams.
However, he said that implementation of Kala Bagh Dam project will be initiated after achieving national consensus, adding that the project will generate 3,600 megawatt electricity and store 6.1 MAF water. To a supplementary question, the Minister said that the incumbent government has initiated unprecedented number of hydel power projects, which include construction of both big and small water reservoirs.
He said that an agreement has been signed with the Chinese government for the construction of five small and medium irrigation dams. He said that rising of Mangla Dam has almost been completed, while capacity of Tarbela Dam will also be enhanced to generate additional electricity.
About the construction of Kurram Tangi Dam, he said that the insurgents' activities delayed construction work on the dam, however, now it will be started in July this year and will be completed by June 2015. He said that USAID has pledged 700 million dollars for the said project under Kerry Lugar Bill. The Minister said that a project for installation of 1000 MW of electricity from Thar coal has been started, which will be completed with public-private partnership, adding that the project is at an advanced stage and efforts are being made to raise adequate funds for the important project.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah told the House that a poverty survey was underway to expand the scope of Wasila-e-Haq Programme and make it more transparent. Under the programme, he said that interest-free loan of Rs 300,000 has been disbursed to 655 deserving persons, while another 535 cases are ready for disbursement in the next few days.
To another question, the Minister said that the government was committed to implement the Aghaz-e-Haqooq Balochistan package and give due rights to Baloch people. He said that out of 61 proposals, 18 have been implemented while 13 are at advance stages of implementation.
Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan told the House that Pemra devised a Code of Conduct for programmes and advertisements for the electronic media and action would be taken against the channels violating the code. She said that 52 advertising agencies have been suspended for violating rules and regulations. She said Pemra imposes fine on the cable operators and TV channels that violate the code of conduct by airing objectionable material, but all those who had been fined, moved to courts and their cases were pending even for last three years.
She also urged the courts for speedy disposal of the Pemra-fine-imposition-cases, which were pending for the last three years. She further said that a Council of Complaints was in place to address public grievances under which the Pemra rule-violators were issued show cause notices and summoned for personal hearing.
To a question, she said that there were 128 advertising agencies accredited with All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) adding that as per rules, only APNS-accredited advertising agencies are eligible for enlistment with Press Information Depart (PID) for handling government advertising business.