Minister tells Senate body of Southern and Northern Balochistan package

Minister tells Senate body of Southern and Northern Balochistan package.

In this regard, Federal Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan on Monday informed the Senate’s Standing Committee on Power.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved a package for Southern and Northern Balochistan.

The PM made approval through the National Developmental Council (NDC).

Minister tells Senate body of Southern and Northern Balochistan package

He assured the committee that he would speak to Minister for Planning, Reforms and Development Asad Umar to get it approved either from the NDC or have it included in the PSDP.

Muhammad Fida presided the committee meeting.

Relevant officials briefed them about alleged removal of domestic meters of small farmers for running mono motors on single phase domestic connections by GEPCO.

Moreover, Senate committee nodded further discussions on following senators points.

Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar called fort further discussion on points of public importance regarding provision of electricity to chromite mining area of Muslim Bagh, Qilla Saifullah district, Balochistan.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed raised the issue of transparency in the PESCO’s recruitment process of meter readers.

As regards provision of electricity to chromite mining areas of Muslim Bagh, the concerned officials informed the committee of having prepared the revised PC-1 amounting to Rs258,075 million with 20 percent grid sharing cost.

They did so in compliance of its directives given during the meeting held on August 18, 2020.

Beyond QESCO’s scope

Since the electrification was beyond QESCO’s scope, the Power Division was of the view that funds might be arranged and remitted to the company for provision of electricity to chrome mines in Muslim Bagh Tehsil.

The committee was informed that running mono motors on single phase domestic connections was illegal and for that purpose the consumers needed to apply for three phase agricultural tube well connections.

It was further informed that agricultural connections would benefit the consumers immensely since their tariff was subsidized.

The Power Division was directed to provide Agricultural Tube Well Connections Policy to the committee.

During discussion on transparency in the recruitment process of meter readers and linemen in PESCO, the committee was informed that members of the informal sub-committee senators Nauman Wazir Khattak and Mushtaq Ahmed visited the PESCO Head Quarter.

Both the senators held detailed discussions with CEO and DG (HR).

Furthermore, they analysed the information / data presented to them.

They accused authorities of having ignored recruitment rules and regulation on a large scale. But, those did it had retired.

While considering the petition of Dr Faiz Ahmed Chaudhary, Ex-MD, NTDC, the Secretary Power Division viewed that the NTDC had nothing to do with the case.

Secretary Power apologized to Dr Faiz

They said if Dr Faiz wished he should file a suit of defamation against the newspaper.

Dr Faiz was of the view that his contract was terminated vide clause 10.3 of the contract agreement that pertained to termination of contract without any reason.

Meanwhile, the committee chairman opined that Dr Faiz had come to Pakistan to serve the country but got mistreated.

The Secretary Power apologized to Dr Faiz if his sentiments were hurt due to statement issued by the NTDC.

The report of the Senate Standing Committee on Power on a Point of Public Importance regarding ‘Exact figure of Circular Debt” raised by Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak was adopted.

Those attended meeting included: senators Moula Bux Chandio, Siraj ul Haq, Usman Khan Kakar, Mushahid Ullah Khan, Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Muhammad Akram, Molvi Faiz Muhammad and Mushtaq Ahmed, and senior officers from the Power Division along with all concerned.

GTV