A parliamentary panel on Wednesday said that National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) along with Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) should devise a mechanism to start registration of undocumented Afghan refugees. The committee which met here with MNA Muhammad Afzal Khokhar in chair, directed NADRA and Ministry of Interior to complete the process of repatriation of all foreigners in consultation with Ministry of SAFRON. In present circumstances when the country is passing through a critical juncture, there is a need to complete their registration as soon as possible and ensure their repatriation if they are staying in the country illegally, the panel noted.
The officials of the Ministry of Water and Power told the committee that there is uniform policy for electricity load shedding throughout the country. They were optimistic that the issue of load shedding will come to an end as the government is making serious efforts in this regard. They also apprised the committee that Sindh police are reluctant to register FIRs against those involved in power theft, as so far 106 FIRs have been registered while the number of people involved in power theft exceeds up to ten times.
Expressing annoyance over the attitude of the police, the committee sought a detailed report about power theft in Sindh, saying anyone involved in these kinds of activities should be taken to task without any favour.
The officials of the Water and Power Ministry also apprised the panel that billions of rupees of electricity bills are pending against the governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well as Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). They were of the view if the pending amount is paid, it could easily help get rid of the circular debt. On this, the committee directed all the chief secretaries to appear before the committee and appraise it of the pending amount against their respective provinces.