Thursday, May 8, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1429    

PM orders for production of 2200mw power this year

Sharafat Kazmi

Islamabad—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani while presiding over the Federal Cabinet here Wednesday has directed the Minister for Water and Power to make arrangements for additional generation of 2200 megawatt of electricity this year on emergency basis to provide relief to the people and the industrial sector.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said the Federal Cabinet discussed power crisis, wheat procurement and other important issues facing the country.
She said Ministry of Water and Power has already added 310 MW through saving of line losses.
Sherry Rehman said a lengthy debate was held on the water and power situation. It was decided that an emergency meeting of the cabinet exclusively on water and power issue will be convened to find solutions of the power crisis. She said conservation measures are needed to provide some sort of relief to the people particularly during the summer. She said there was also discussion for introduction of five working days in a week but it was decided that this will be discussed during the emergency meeting of the cabinet.
The Information Minister said that the meeting reviewed the wheat procurement and expressed satisfaction that it was going at a faster pace. She said five million tons of wheat will be procured and hoped that in the next three to four years Pakistan would become a wheat surplus country.
She said the Minister for Housing gave a presentation about measures taken to fulfill the commitment of one hundred days programme announced by the Prime Minister.
The meeting was informed that the housing deficit is very high and thirtyfive percent urban population is living in Katchi and irregular localities.
An implementation committee would be formed for the housing sector to recommend provision of civic amenities to the people living in these localities.
The Minister for Housing and works presented his plan for the construction of 100,000 small houses and flats.
She said there was also discussion on the political situation in the country and referred to the reconciliation efforts of the government. She said the Prime Minister has already ordered for tracing out the missing persons and there was also withdrawal of troops from Balochistan. She said the Federal Government is keeping Balochistan development on its high priority.