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ISLAMABAD - The PML-N government Friday informed the National Assembly that it has plans to construct new hydropower projects, including the controversial Kalabagh Dam, but it assured the enraged opposition that no major project would be carried out without a national consensus.
The government also informed the House that cross-border incident of firing at Pak-Afghan border is a condemnable act, which caused a blow to Pakistans efforts for making peace. Such kind of incidents are condemnable and sabotage the efforts for peace in the region, said Kashmir Affairs Minister Muhammad Birjees Tahir.
Giving a policy statement on firing incident on Pak-Afghan border, he said the incident happened on September 18 at around 9:30am as Afghan security forces started firing from Zero Line to Pakistan side. Five Pakistani citizens lost their lives while a women was injured due to this unprovoked firing.
The minister said that Pakistan registered strong protest with Afghan government through diplomatic mission in Kabul and also asked them to investigate the incident thoroughly. Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed, who attended assembly session after weeklong break, demanded government version on this incident.
The House was also informed that Wapda has prepared a master plan to construct new hydropower projects, including Kalabagh Dam (KBD) in the country. The opposition benches, especially PPP members, strongly criticised the government plans to revive the much-opposed Kalabagh Dam project.
However, the government side assured that all under planning projects would be constructed with the national consensus. It is the second time the PML-N government has officially stated that it plans to develop consensus on KBD and construct this multi-purpose mega project.
During the PPP government its minister for water and power had told the assembly that Kalabagh Dam project was highly beneficial for the country but it did not went ahead with its construction and made no serious effort to develop consensus among the provinces on the matter.
Responding to a question posed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) lawmaker Sahibzada Tariq Ullah, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali assured the assembly that KBD would not be constructed without national consensus. To a supplementary question from PPPs Imran Zafar Leghari, the minister repeated that the government would take up this project only after consultation with all the political parties.
According to a written reply of the minister, Naulong Dam and Terbela 4th extension was in the list of ready for construction projects. The under planning projects in Wapdas master plan include Kalabagh Dam, Muhamand (Munda) Dam, Bara Dam, Tank Zam Dam, Akhori Dam, Shyok Dam, Lower Palas valley and Lower Spat Gah.
To another question, the minister said the government is also considering a Russian proposal regarding purchase of 5,000MW electricity. PML-N government is also committed to convert thermal power plants into coal based plants which would produce cheap electricity, he added. Abid said cost of electricity production through a coal power plant would be 10 to 11 rupees per unit as against the cost at thermal plants of 21 to 22 rupees.
The House during the question-hour also saw verbal brawl between the government and opposition benches when one opposition member made offensive remarks against Minister Abid Sher Ali. The matter was resolved with the timely intervention of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq who urged the MNA to take his words back and expunged them from the record.
Minister for Industries and Production, Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi, informed that Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) had caused a loss of Rs86 billion to the national exchequer from 2008 to 2012. Four bailout packages worth Rs40 billion had been given to the Steel Mill during this period, he added. To a question about the privatisation of the PSM, he said that there is no fresh proposal under consideration in that regard.
Taking part in debate on former President Asif Ali Zardaris address to the parliament, MNA Essa Noori said that 85 persons have went missing in Balochistan in last three months. He further said that 65 mutilated bodies were also found in different areas of the province.
To a question about minorities, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yusuf said that the ministry had spent over Rs337 million on the development schemes.Rs22 million were given to 10 minorities MNAs in October 2011 as special grants, he informed.
To another question, he said that there was no shortage of rooms for visitors at Gurdawara Nanakana Sahib, as a residential block consisting 500 rooms has been constructed in the premises of Gurdawara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib.
Govt tells NA it will build KBD
The government also informed the House that cross-border incident of firing at Pak-Afghan border is a condemnable act, which caused a blow to Pakistans efforts for making peace. Such kind of incidents are condemnable and sabotage the efforts for peace in the region, said Kashmir Affairs Minister Muhammad Birjees Tahir.
Giving a policy statement on firing incident on Pak-Afghan border, he said the incident happened on September 18 at around 9:30am as Afghan security forces started firing from Zero Line to Pakistan side. Five Pakistani citizens lost their lives while a women was injured due to this unprovoked firing.
The minister said that Pakistan registered strong protest with Afghan government through diplomatic mission in Kabul and also asked them to investigate the incident thoroughly. Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed, who attended assembly session after weeklong break, demanded government version on this incident.
The House was also informed that Wapda has prepared a master plan to construct new hydropower projects, including Kalabagh Dam (KBD) in the country. The opposition benches, especially PPP members, strongly criticised the government plans to revive the much-opposed Kalabagh Dam project.
However, the government side assured that all under planning projects would be constructed with the national consensus. It is the second time the PML-N government has officially stated that it plans to develop consensus on KBD and construct this multi-purpose mega project.
During the PPP government its minister for water and power had told the assembly that Kalabagh Dam project was highly beneficial for the country but it did not went ahead with its construction and made no serious effort to develop consensus among the provinces on the matter.
Responding to a question posed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) lawmaker Sahibzada Tariq Ullah, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali assured the assembly that KBD would not be constructed without national consensus. To a supplementary question from PPPs Imran Zafar Leghari, the minister repeated that the government would take up this project only after consultation with all the political parties.
According to a written reply of the minister, Naulong Dam and Terbela 4th extension was in the list of ready for construction projects. The under planning projects in Wapdas master plan include Kalabagh Dam, Muhamand (Munda) Dam, Bara Dam, Tank Zam Dam, Akhori Dam, Shyok Dam, Lower Palas valley and Lower Spat Gah.
To another question, the minister said the government is also considering a Russian proposal regarding purchase of 5,000MW electricity. PML-N government is also committed to convert thermal power plants into coal based plants which would produce cheap electricity, he added. Abid said cost of electricity production through a coal power plant would be 10 to 11 rupees per unit as against the cost at thermal plants of 21 to 22 rupees.
The House during the question-hour also saw verbal brawl between the government and opposition benches when one opposition member made offensive remarks against Minister Abid Sher Ali. The matter was resolved with the timely intervention of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq who urged the MNA to take his words back and expunged them from the record.
Minister for Industries and Production, Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi, informed that Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) had caused a loss of Rs86 billion to the national exchequer from 2008 to 2012. Four bailout packages worth Rs40 billion had been given to the Steel Mill during this period, he added. To a question about the privatisation of the PSM, he said that there is no fresh proposal under consideration in that regard.
Taking part in debate on former President Asif Ali Zardaris address to the parliament, MNA Essa Noori said that 85 persons have went missing in Balochistan in last three months. He further said that 65 mutilated bodies were also found in different areas of the province.
To a question about minorities, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yusuf said that the ministry had spent over Rs337 million on the development schemes.Rs22 million were given to 10 minorities MNAs in October 2011 as special grants, he informed.
To another question, he said that there was no shortage of rooms for visitors at Gurdawara Nanakana Sahib, as a residential block consisting 500 rooms has been constructed in the premises of Gurdawara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib.
Govt tells NA it will build KBD
