PM asks Sindh CM to visit Islamabad to discuss Rangers' powers feud: sources

Nawaz announces Rs3 cut in industrial power tariff starting from January 1 of next year

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday asked Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to visit the federal capital to discuss the feud over Rangers powers.

Earlier, it was reported that the premier would diffuse the prolonged tussle between the federal and Sindh governments during his daylong visit to Karachi. However, sources in the Sindh CM House said the premier asked Shah to visit Islamabad to discuss the issue in the presence of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar.

"There is no meeting scheduled betweeen PM Nawaz and the Sindh chief minister," the source added.



Further, the Sindh CM did not accompany the premier to Port Qasim where he addressed the business community. "The Sindh CM is not feeling well and received the premier at the premier but could not attend other events," a CM House spokesperson told The Express Tribune.

While the provincial administration seeks conditional policing powers for the Rangers in Karachi — where the paramilitary force has been engaged in a targeted operation since September 2013 to clear the city of criminals — the Centre has turned down the request and notified a 60-day extension in the Rangers’ authority as per the previous arrangement.

The Centre rejected the Sindh Assembly resolution for clipping the Rangers powers as well as the provincial government’s subsequent letter in favour of the move, leading to a bitter disagreement between the two administrations.



Separately, during his visit the premier reviewed the pace of work on various development projects of the Port Qasim Authority, inspected the site of the Port Qasim power project and addressed the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

While addressing the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries, the premier announced a Rs3 per unit cut in industrial power tariffs. “We are reducing the industrial electricity tariff by Rs3 per unit from January 1, 2016,” the premier said.

Further, the prime minister claimed that around 10,000 MW of electricity will be added to the national grid by the end of 2017. “We are working on several power projects in the country, including coal power plants in Thar, which will create ample electricity,” he said.

The prime minister said the current government is fast meeting the challenges it inherited after coming to power in 2013 and vowed to completely eliminate the menace of terrorism and power crisis from the country.



“I have directed thatBin Qasim Power Project be made operational by the end of 2017 in order to reduce power outages,” PM Nawaz informed the participants of the gathering.

During his visit to the Port Qasim, the Port Qasim Authority chief briefed him on the performance, achievements and ongoing development projects.

The chief informed the prime minister that “eight terminals are operational at the port and the construction of LNG terminal has been completed in a record time of 11 months. The LNG imported at Port Qasim is regasified and transmitted to required destination by pipelines.”



Earlier, upon his arrival Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah received the prime minister at Jinnah International Airport. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan accompanied the prime minister.