PM directs water and power ministry to ensure uninterrupted power in Ramazan. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
There will be no load-shedding during Sehri, Iftar and Taraweeh hours in the holy month of Ramazan as per directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid.
Talking to media personnel on Saturday, he said Minister of Water and Power Khawaja Asif has been directed by the premier to ensure that no load-shedding takes place during the said hours in Ramazan.
“After the prime minister’s clear instructions for uninterrupted power supply during the holy month, the water and power ministry has started taking appropriate measures to chalk out a policy in this regard.”
“A helpline is being established where consumers can lodge their complaints if there is violation of prime minister’s instructions for the month of Ramazan,” he added.
The minister also pointed out that power generation had increased from 9,000MW to 13,000MW with a clear-cut extra production of about 4,000MW of electricity for the masses. “Some 1,700MW will be added to the national grid in coming days,” he revealed.
The government has decided to withdraw the subsidy on electricity from those who can afford to pay, Rashid said, adding that previously the subsidy was also being provided to mill owners and others.
Allocating the loan
The minister said that the $5.3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan will not be used to meet the budget deficit but will instead be used to settle past debts incurred on non-development expenditure by the previous government.
He maintained that the previous government spent loans obtained from the IMF and others on non-development expenditures and could not generate a single asset for the country from the money.
Responding to a query, the minister said that the PML-N government had not conceded to any of IMF’s conditions to get the loan.
Regarding terrorism and other challenges, Rashid said that the government will convene an all parties conference which will provide an opportunity to quell terrorism in the country.
About intelligence sharing with the Sindh government, he said the federal government is in conformity with the provincial government on the issue of peace.
Cooperating with Britain
Regarding information sharing with the British government, Rashid said that the law would take its own course with regards to the case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain.
“Pakistan will cooperate when the government is approached by the British authorities.”
Regarding the appointment of a chief for the National Accountability Bureau, he said the top official would be appointed after consultation between the Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly.
About the decision to end a moratorium on the death penalty, he clarified that there was never a ban on the death penalty in Pakistan. He pointed out that courts awarded capital punishment while the president, as empowered by the Constitution, could grant an appeal.
Swiss cases
The minister said that the Swiss courts had been duped regarding cases against President Asif Ali Zardari by the previous government.
In the previous tenure, of two letters written to the Swiss government, one was drafted on the directions of the Supreme Court while the other was written secretly against the top court’s order, he maintained.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2013.
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