PR. No. 47
PRESS RELEASE
2,400 MW BY END 2010
Islamabad July 05, 2010The national grid will have another 1,200 MW by end of this year, thus totaling around 2,465 MW through IPPs under the 2002 Power Policy. This was stated by the Minister for Water & Power Raja Pervez Ashraf while chairing the 85th meeting of the Board of Private Power and Infrastructure Board held here today. He said that seven projects of 1,265 MW which include a 62 MW rental power project have already been commissioned within a short period of around one year, while another 1,200 MW will be added into the national grid by private sector by end of this year, thus reducing the power supply-demand gap. The meeting was attended by the Secretary Water and Power Mr. Shahid Rafi, Member FBR Mr. Zafar ul Majeed, Additional Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry, Chief (Energy) Planning Commission Mr. Arshad Maqsood Malik, Managing Director PPIB Mr. N. A. Zuberi, besides other senior government officials.
The Minister said, today, Pakistan, like many other countries in the world is facing energy shortages, which is causing pressure on our economy and society. We believe that crisis also brings opportunities in its folds, and the decisions taken in the recent Energy Summit chaired by the Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has given encouragement to the private sector for expediting the commissioning of their projects. The Minister lauded efforts of PPIB for playing a pivotal role for bringing in investment in the private sector and appreciated its new initiatives which include launch of ICB for a 300 MW IPP based on RFO which will be located near Lalian Town, Chiniot, and another ICB for a 300 MW IPP to be located at Sonda Jherruk, Sindh based on imported Coal which is in final stages of launching. The representative of SHYDO briefed the Board that feasibility studies on small hydro power projects are in progress in the area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and around 2,000 MW are expected to come online within the next 7 to 8 years. Today issuance of LOI to 1,000 MW Thar Coal based power project was also approved, which is being undertaken by Engro Power Generation Limited (EPGL) in collaboration with Government of Sindh (GOS). The EPGL is already a joint venture partner with GOS for development of coal mine at Thar.
Raja Pervez Ashraf said that we believe in the policy of facilitating the investors, and wish to join hands with the private entrepreneurs, our attitude is positive and responsive to the investors, and we wish to facilitate them and provide them every cooperation for development of power sector in Pakistan. He further added that in order to make electricity affordable, an energy mix is utmost necessary, and therefore we are stressing on the use of indigenous resource like hydropower and our local coal at Thar, as well as imported coal.
**NJ/Ahmad**
PR. No. 48
PRESS RELEASE
OPENING REMARKS OF THE PRIME MINISTER IN HIGH LEVEL LAW AND ORDER MEETING
Islamabad July 05, 2010Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said the recent waive of terrorism in Lahore is a matter of great concern for the entire nation. As a first step, he added we would like to convene a national conference to formulate a national policy on terrorism. He further said that all the major political parties of the country whether they are in the Parliament or outside the Parliament will be requested to participate in it and bring tangible suggestions to eradicate the scourge of terrorism from our society.
Chairing a high level meeting on law and order at Prime Minister’s Secretariat this afternoon, the Prime Minister said that the attack on Mazar of Hazrat Data Gunj Bukhsh sent a huge waive of resentment and indignation in the country from Karachi to Gilgit-Baltistan and every section of the society, political parties and religious organizations have expressed their abhorrence over the incident. He urged the Nation to forge a united stand against these elements who are ought to kill the citizens, damage schools and hospitals, desecrates mosque and shrines and so discard in the Nation.
The Prime Minister stressed upon all the law enforcement forces at the federal and provincial level to redouble their efforts and timely sharing of information, coordinated actions and vigorous pursuance of these defeated elements. He reiterated that neither the Federal nor the Provincial Governments alone can deal with this challenge. Therefore, he said beside the Army and law enforcing agencies, the terrorism, sectarianism and ethnic divide need to be handled by the important pillars of the state including public representatives from the all political parties, religious leaders and civil society.
The Prime Minister opined that media particularly electronic media has an impact on the society, therefore, it is required that media be involved in this war against terrorism. He advised the Ministry of Interior to involve the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to achieve this objective.
After being hit hard in the FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, the Prime Minister said that the terrorists are on the run and seeking refuge in the urban areas of the country. He further said the terrorists are perusing violence by attacking soft targets and spreading sectarian hatred through wishes propaganda. He expressed the government’s resolve not to allow the perpetrators any room for their barbaric activities.
The Prime Minister observed that Lahore has been the target of terrorists for the last many months. He said that the terrorists have attacked mosques, worship places of Ahmedi’s community beside killing a large number of law enforcement officials at FIA building Lahore and Manawan Police Training Centre.
The Prime Minister rated the attack on Mazar of Hazrat Data Gang Bukhsh as the most heinous and barbaric incident in which 49 lives have been lost and 142 people were injured. However, he said, our nation has resolved to boldly face the challenge and root out the menace in all its forms and manifestations. He further said that earlier the terrorists attacked the shrine of Hazrat Bari Imam at Islamabad as well. He observed that such gruesome acts like desecration of the sanctity of the Sufis and their Mazars emotionally effect the people of the country. It also indicate that the heartless and ruthless enemies of the Pakistan have no respect for the noble preachers as well as for the innocent people in the main towns of our country, he added.
**PMMO/Ahmad**
PR. No. 49
PRESS RELEASE
No proposal for change in ELIGIBILITY criteria for css competitive examination
Islamabad July 05, 2010Federal Public Service Commission in an official press release has rejected the reports appearing in the media regarding proposals for change in eligibility criteria for CSS Competitive Examination.
In response to the said news, FPSC has clarified that neither such a proposal is under consideration nor a summary has been submitted to the government in this regard. The Commission has stated that approximately 10 to 12 thousand candidates appear in CSS Examination every year and such baseless news create chaos and confusing amongst the educated youth of the country. The Commission, therefore, has advised that the CSS aspirants need not to pay heed to such baseless news and that they should focus on their target.
The Chairman urged the media that before publishing such news regarding constitutional and reputed institution like FPSC, facts should be checked from the office concerned and the print and electronic media need to be mindful of the damage such news can do to an institution.
PR. No. 50
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad July 05, 2010Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has expressed his deep sense of sorrow over the passing away of mother of Faheem Anwar Khan Senior reporter Daily Nawa-e-Waqt.
In his message to the bereaved family Minister prayed Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to bear this irreparable loss.
DO/wh
PR. No. 51
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad July 05, 2010Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani while commenting on the forced removal of the democratic government on 5th July 1977 said that, July 5th would always be remembered as a black day in the democratic history of our country when a dictator mounted an assault on a an elected government. It was the beginning of a dictatorial rule which culminated into a state of uncertainty and extremist tendencies.
The biggest loss the Nation had to face, the Prime Minister said, was the suspension of and the unwarranted amendments in the consensus based constitution only to secure the undemocratic rule of the tyranny and oppression. The dictatorial rule, he said, narrowed the political space and dealt a severe blow to the fundamental rights of the citizens.
The time has proved, he said, that the power of the people to elect the leaders to their own choice cannot be suppressed by any force. Those who challenged this right of the people, he added, could not find any space in the hearts and minds of the people.
PMMO/wh