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GOVT BRINGING REFORMS IN ENERGY SECTOR TO REDUCE ELECTRICITY TARIFF: PM Friday, 21 June, 2024 I |14 Zil-Hajj, 1445
Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 350 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PM directs Power Division to resolve K-Electric’s payment issues g
SECP WAS DIRECTED TO EXAMINE LEGALITY OF KE'S SHAREHOLDING AND REPORT BACK TO SIFC PROFIT
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RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the government was bringing reforms in the energy sector to reduce electric-
ity tariff. He was talking to a delegation of foreign experts in the energy sector, led by former Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri which called on him at the PM House. The prime minister said that circular debt, line losses and electricity theft were the major challenges in Pakistan’s energy sector. Emphasizing the importance of energy sector for the country’s economic growth and development, he expressed his government’s commitment to implement policies for reducing circular debt and improving the efficiency of electricity bill collection personnel.
He said privatization and outsourcing of the power distribution companies was the top priority of the government. The prime minister expressed his government’s desire to promote alternative energy sources, particularly solar energy, and reduce reliance on expensive energy sources. He said the government would also promote public private partnership in the energy sector. The prime minister directed the federal ministers to consult with the delegation regarding the basic reforms of the country’s energy sector and to evolve a comprehensive strategy regarding the reforms immediately. Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik, Power Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik, and relevant high officials attended the meeting.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the Power Division to develop a comprehensive solution for settling the long-standing receivables and payments between K-Electric (KE) and various government entities. This directive was issued during a recent meeting focused on power sector issues. According to a news report, the Power Division and the Cabinet Division, which oversees NEPRA, will collaborate to expedite the resolution of KE’s tariff and claims issues. NEPRA has announced hearing dates for KE’s tariffs. Regarding shareholding matters, the Prime Minister directed the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to examine the legality of KE’s shareholding and report back to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). It was also decided to conduct competitive bidding for Category-III wind Letter of Interest (LoI) holders to procure 300 MW for KE. The Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) prepared draft RFP documents and sent them to KE in March, with approval timelines set for June and August 2024. At the meeting, NEPRA’s Chairman stated that KE’s write-off claims
President Zardari for enhanced capacity of LEAs to counter terror in Balochistan GWADAR
STAFF REPORT
President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday called for enhancing the capacity of the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), posting competent officers in Balochistan, and improving the prosecution mechanism to effectively counter terrorist elements in Balochistan. The president expressed these views while chairing a meeting on the security/law and order situation in Balochistan, in Gwadar, on Thursday. Minister for Interior, Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, MNA Malik Shah Gorgaij, Home Minister, Mir Ziaullah Langov, MPA Maulana Hidayat-urRehman, senior civil and military officials attended the meeting. The president was briefed about the overall security situation of the province as well as the role of LEAs in successfully countering terrorist attacks in various districts of Balochistan. It was informed that the provincial government had adopted a tar-
geted approach to improve the security and law-and-order situation in Balochistan. It was further apprised that the initiatives taken by the LEAs had resulted in improving the security situation in the province. The president was informed that the provincial government was taking steps to provide fool-proof security to Chinese and foreign nationals. He appreciated the efforts of the provincial government as well as the sacrifices of the LEAs in combatting terrorism. The president em-
phasized that the prosecution system needed to be improved so that the terrorist elements could not escape justice. He said that compensation for the families of martyrs of LEAs in Balochistan should be enhanced bringing it at par with the rest of the provinces. The president said that competent and brave police officials needed to be posted in Balochistan that would help improve the lawand-order situation of the province.
Party sources told media that Bilawal shared with PM Shehbaz his party’s “reservations” on behalf of his party which is the key ally of the incumbent PML-N administration in the Centre. Although the PPP has not become part of the federal cabinet, the party supported the PML-N-led in forming government after the February 8 elections. The prime minister highlighted that the macroeconomic indicators with regard to the country’s economy were showing encouraging growth while historic boom in the stock market was the endorsement of the government’s budget by the business community. He said all political parties should work together for the country’s development, prosperity and public welfare. He said that in the budget 2024-25, steps were taken to provide maximum relief to the people. It was agreed in the meeting that further consultation would continue through parliamentary committees. During the meeting, the insiders said Bilawal voiced his reservations over the federal government’s “nonseriousness” towards different proj-
ects in the PPP-led Sindh. They added that the PPP chief complained to the premier about its administration for not taking his party’s confidence in decision-making, including the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and budget proposals. It also emerged that both sides discussed the PPP’s inclusion in the federal cabinet and power-sharing in Punjab during the meeting which was also attended by senior leaders. Bilawal also complained that the ruling party failed to implement the agreement reached with his party, wherein the former supported the latter in the formation of a coalition government, the sources added. Moreover, the PPP chief also accused Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz-led administration of creating hurdles for his party in Punjab, the sources said adding that Premier Shehbaz agreed on most of the concerns raised by Bilawal and formed separate committees to address those complaints. The sources said that the committees will hold more rounds of talks tomorrow to take forward the matters.
PM reassures Bilawal of addressing PPP’s concerns over Budget 2024-25 ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
In a bid to ease out political tensions among ruling coalition partners over the matter of federal budget 2024-25, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday assured Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari of taking steps to address the key ally’s reservations on multiple issues. The assurance was given during a delegation-level meeting held between the ruling coalition partners — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP — in the federal capital after the latter lodged a token protest during the recent National Assembly session last week as Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had unveiled budget 2024-25. Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Attaullah Tarar, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ali Pervaiz Malik and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb attended the huddle. From PPP’s side, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Khursheed Shah and Sherry Rehman participated in the meeting.
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are under evaluation and efforts are being made to resolve these issues promptly. Recovery losses, common in other distribution companies, are managed through circular debt or consumer surcharges. KE’s CEO informed that the company’s Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) expired on June 30, 2023, and new tariff petitions have been filed with NEPRA. On this matter, the Chairman of NEPRA assured that the tariff determination process for the postJune 2023 period would be expedited. The Secretary of Power, Rashid Langrial, presented KE’s Indicative Generation Plan, which includes several projects converting units to 100% Thar Coal. These projects involve JPCL Coal Units, a new Thar Coal Power Project, and the conversion of HUBCO and Port Qasim Electric Power Company Limited units to Thar Coal. The Secretary of Power also requested changes to the Government of Pakistan’s board members in KE’s Board of Directors, noting that a stay order from the Sindh High Court does not apply to government board members. Key decisions from the meeting included NEPRA resolving KE’s issues, approving the conversion of JPCL Unit-I to Thar Coal, and KE assisting in changing the government board members in its Board of Directors.
Armed men kidnap 10 Punjab residents from Quetta’s picnic point QUETTA
STAFF REPORT
Unidentified armed men kidnapped 10 people hailing from Punjab from Shuban picnic point in Zarghoon Ghar area of the provincial metropolis, DG Levies and security officials confirmed on Thursday. According to DG Levies, armed men took 16 people hostage who were enjoying picnic at Shuban area in Zarghoon Ghar. “The armed men later released six hostages after checking their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs)”, the DG added. He elaborated that the ten abducted people, including a Customs Officer, are residents of Punjab province. The authorities have yet to provide further details regarding the incident. According to security officials, the incident took place at the tourist spot Shaban, in the suburbs area of Zarghoon in Quetta, where a large number of armed individuals surrounded the picnic point and checked the ID cards of the visitors. The search for the abductees has begun by the law enforcement agencies. A similar incident occurred last year in Zarghoon, where armed individuals abducted people from Punjab after verifying their identities. Last year, six labourers from Punjab were shot dead and two others were injured by unknown armed assailants in the Satellite area of Kech in Turbat district. According to police, some unknown armed persons barged into the house of a local constructor Naseer, 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of the border with Iran. The criminals committed the heinous crime leaving six laborers dead and two injured, police officials said. “Six were killed on the spot while the remaining two are critically injured,” a local administration official said.