3,364MW electricity added to national grid, NA informed
Additional Rs192 billion recovered in campaign against power pilferage, says energy minister
Federal Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan. PHOTO: TWITTER/ Omar Ayub Khan
ISLAMABAD:
Power Minister Omar Ayub Khan, in written reply to a question, on Friday told the house that 3,364MW electricity had been added to the national grid during the tenure of the incumbent government.
He said that the government launched anti-theft drive in October last year. He added that an additional amount of Rs192 billion had been recovered as a result of PTI government’s successful campaign against power pilferage.
“The primary reasons for the theft are poor socio-economic conditions of the people and higher electricity tariff,” he said. “Departmental corruption and connivance is also a major cause of supplementing theft,” he added.
He said that cases were being lodged against the persons involved in the theft, while disciplinary action was under way against the employees, if found involved in theft, adding that surveillance teams had also been constituted to arrest people involved in theft of electricity.
Omar Ayub told the house that no load-shedding was being carried out on 80% feeders across the country. He said the government was giving priority to the Thar coal and renewable energy to produce electricity.
The Minister for Power also informed the House that Saudi Arabia would make an investment of $20 billion in Pakistan. He added that this investment would also include the construction of an oil refinery in Gwadar.
Minister for Communications Murad Saeed told the house that National Highway Authority intended to dualise 790 kilometre-long Chaman-Quetta-Karachi road. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to the construction of Western Route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chand told the house that a survey was being launched to determine the exact number of disabled persons in the country. “The survey will help the government formulate suitable policies for the welfare of disabled persons.”
A number of bills were also introduced in the House today, including, the Superior Courts (Court Dress and Mode of Address) Order (Repeal) Bill, 2019, the Pakistan Coinage (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the Banks (Nationalisation) (Amendment) bill, 2019, the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) Bill, 2019, the Loans for Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Purposes (Amendment) bill, 2019 and the Joint Maritime Information Organization Bill, 2019.
A number of ordinances were also laid before the House, including the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2019, the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority Ordinance, 2019, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 and the National Information Technology Board Ordinance, 2019.
The house also passed a resolution to extend the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority Ordinance, 2019 for a period of 120 days. The lawmakers adopted an amendment, providing for election of more than one standing committee for a ministry having more than one division and where divisions are headed by separate ministers.
Power Minister Omar Ayub Khan, in written reply to a question, on Friday told the house that 3,364MW electricity had been added to the national grid during the tenure of the incumbent government.
He said that the government launched anti-theft drive in October last year. He added that an additional amount of Rs192 billion had been recovered as a result of PTI government’s successful campaign against power pilferage.
“The primary reasons for the theft are poor socio-economic conditions of the people and higher electricity tariff,” he said. “Departmental corruption and connivance is also a major cause of supplementing theft,” he added.
He said that cases were being lodged against the persons involved in the theft, while disciplinary action was under way against the employees, if found involved in theft, adding that surveillance teams had also been constituted to arrest people involved in theft of electricity.
Omar Ayub told the house that no load-shedding was being carried out on 80% feeders across the country. He said the government was giving priority to the Thar coal and renewable energy to produce electricity.
The Minister for Power also informed the House that Saudi Arabia would make an investment of $20 billion in Pakistan. He added that this investment would also include the construction of an oil refinery in Gwadar.
Minister for Communications Murad Saeed told the house that National Highway Authority intended to dualise 790 kilometre-long Chaman-Quetta-Karachi road. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to the construction of Western Route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chand told the house that a survey was being launched to determine the exact number of disabled persons in the country. “The survey will help the government formulate suitable policies for the welfare of disabled persons.”
A number of bills were also introduced in the House today, including, the Superior Courts (Court Dress and Mode of Address) Order (Repeal) Bill, 2019, the Pakistan Coinage (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the Banks (Nationalisation) (Amendment) bill, 2019, the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) Bill, 2019, the Loans for Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Purposes (Amendment) bill, 2019 and the Joint Maritime Information Organization Bill, 2019.
A number of ordinances were also laid before the House, including the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2019, the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority Ordinance, 2019, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 and the National Information Technology Board Ordinance, 2019.
The house also passed a resolution to extend the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority Ordinance, 2019 for a period of 120 days. The lawmakers adopted an amendment, providing for election of more than one standing committee for a ministry having more than one division and where divisions are headed by separate ministers.