ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet which is scheduled to meet on Tuesday (Jan 12) with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair will be given briefing on reasons behind country-wide power blackout on the weekend. The Central Power Generation Company Limited has already suspended seven employees working on Guddu Power Plant on account of negligence of duty, whereas National Transmission & Desptach Company (NTDC) has constituted a four member committee to look into facts/ causes of collapse of power system which plunged most of the country into darkness.
Minister for Energy, Omar Ayub, will brief the Cabinet on the possible reasons for the blackout in the country and measures taken and to be taken to avert such incidents in future.
The sources said, initial report, on the incident has not yet been prepared by the Power Division or departments under its administrative control.
"We have not yet formulated an initial report. Three more days are required for this purpose," said an official.
Minister for Economic Affairs, Khusro Bakhtyar, will share details of foreign funds amounting to Rs 70 billion and their utilization. Cabinet members are expected to enquire about the Debt Commission's report.
On economic front, the Cabinet will be apprised about increase in exports during the first half year of current fiscal and substantial growth in remittances during this period. However, prices of sugar and a few other commodities remain a challenge for the policymakers.
Ministry of Human Rights has submitted a summary for appointment of Director General of Legal Aid and Justice Authority, whereas Ministry of Interior has proposed declaration of Police Station, FIA Commercial Banking Circle Lahore.
The Cabinet will consider a summary of Railways Division regarding construction of multi-story building on Railway land at Nowshera.
Other items to be considered by the Cabinet are as follows: constitution of Board of Governors (BoG) of Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST), ratification of the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Reforms (CCIR) in its meeting held on December 17, 2020, ratification of decisions of CCIR in its meeting held on December 23, 2020, ratification of decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation in its meeting held on January 4, 2021 and ratification of decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its meeting held on January 6, 2021.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021