Pak plans 25 power projects for 2009-2010

Islamabad: The Minister for Water and Power, Raja Perviaz Ashraf said that an addition of about 650MW in the first quarter of 2009 to the national grid will substantially improve power supply position in summer. He said that presently there is no load shedding due to change in the weather.

The Minister said three provinces objected to the construction of Kalabagh dam and it is not in the interest of the federation to initiate any controversial projects, he said.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved the Diamer Basha Dam with a capacity of generating 4500 MW, he said. Responding to a question in the National Assembly about steps being taken to increase power generation in the last five years, the Minister said six power projects including Ghazi-Barotha with installed capacity of 2200mw were added to the system during the last five years.

Further, the government has planned 25 power projects with the installed capacity of about 5730mw for 2009-2010. These projects will help the government end load shedding, he added. On a query that why load shedding persists in Karachi, the Minister replied that 500mw power is supplied to the KESC by Pepco to overcome the problem. 'We are making efforts to improve the system to resolve this issue on permanent basis,' he maintained.

Commenting on a question by Beelum Husnain concerning the expenses on Khushal Pakistan advertisement campaign in print and electronic media, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman said that the claim of print media of Rs 240 million have been settled. The campaign was passed by a high level committee of the previous regime.

About 100 million were paid to different TV channels through three agencies ie, Ad Group, Midas and Kenad, she said adding that committee has been formed to fix the responsibility and make ads awarding system transparent.

Responding to a question about the number of overseas Pakistani workers and remittance of foreign exchange by them, the Minister for overseas Pakistanis observed that 2.686 million Pakistanis are working abroad and their remittances in 2007-08 were $6451.24 million.

Further, promotion and use of Urdu in the government offices was supported by a number of law makers, saying that heads of state should make their speeches in Urdu while on foreign trips as all international leaders visiting other countries speak in their national language.