Federal Cabinet abolished ministries funds for ‘chai and pani’

Lahore : Federal Cabinet on Tuesday decided to abolish all the ministries and divisions budgetary allocations meant for entertainment and gifts with an aim to ensure judicious utilization of public money for welfare of the common man.

“There were some provisions in ministries and divisions,under which funds were allocated for ‘chai and pani’ (tea and water).The cabinet has formally abolished these provisions today. So now there will be no entertainment and gift funds there,” Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said while briefing media on the Federal Cabinet meeting.

She said the cabinet also decided to end the culture of additional
charge in all the ministries and divisions within next three months as
such posts would be filled properly. No summary for approval of
additional charge would be presented in the cabinet in future, she
added. The SAPM said the cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister
Imran Khan, deliberated on 16 agenda items and most important among
them was ensuring improved supply of electricity to consumers during
the holy month of Ramazan especially at Sehr and Iftar hours.

She said the cabinet ratified the decisions of previous meeting of Economic Coordination Committee.

Firdous Ashiq Awan said the cabinet was briefed by Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood regarding initiatives to bring 30,000 Madaris into national mainstream.

She said wrong perception was made in media that these
Madaris would be under the Ministry of Education. Rather, these would
be linked with the Ministry but work independently.

She said the education minister apprised the cabinet that
one window registration of these Madaris and monitoring of their funds
were important for their mainstreaming.

She said the ministry of education would play the role of
a facilitator to the Madaris, adding that modern education was the
right of the every children studying at the Madaris. “We wanted to
provide modern and quality education to them as they are also our
children” she added.

Firdous Ashiq Awan said the students would also be taught
about use of social media so that they could be brought out from
isolation.

As per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the SAPM
said a uniformed curriculum would be introduced in all schools and
Madaris. While, Ministry of Education would also assist the foreign
students studying in these Madaris, she added.

In addition, she said, vocational training would be
imparted to Madressah student for their capacity building so that they
could be more useful member of the society after passing their
graduation.

The SAPM said the cabinet also ratified agreement on
technical cooperation between Pakistan and Brazil, besides it approved
the annual report of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan
(SECP) that would be presented in the Parliament.

She said the cabinet was also informed about the steps
taken by the Ministry of Health to reduce the prices of medicines.
Firdous Ashiq Awan said the cabinet had decided to renew the licences
of cellular companies worth $449 million.  She said that the cabinet
had also decided to establish Pakistan China Engineering University at
Prime Minister House. She said that China would provide financial
grant for establishment of the university.

She said that cabinet had also decided to reactivate
Pakistan Steel Mills through public private partnership.

The SAPM expressed confidence that the next federal budget would be in
line with the public expectations and all allied parties would be
taken into confidence before presenting the fiscal budget in the
parliament.

Commenting on PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif’s return to jail,
she said it was unfortunate that a convicted person was going back to
jail with such pump and show by his party. She said in civilized
societies convicted persons were not glorified, adding that glorifying
the convicted person tantamount to committing the same crime. “Nawaz
Sharif is a convicted and not an accused.”

The SAPM said convicted Nawaz Sharif was violating all
rules and laws of the jail manual. Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan
said that government had set the target to get rid of the power
circular debt by December 2020.

He said during 2017-18, the circular debt had increased by
Rs 450 billion which would be brought down to Rs 293 billion during
the current year and Rs 96 billion by 2019-20. However, the circular
debt would be completely overcome by end of next year.

He said the prime minister was told that a 25-year plan
had been finalized to bridge the ever increasing gap between demand
and supply of electricity. Moreover, a fresh policy for power
production through alternate energy resources had been formulated, he
added. Under the policy, the minister said 20 percent of total
electricity would be produced from alternative resources by 2025 which
would be enhanced to 30 percent by 2030. The minister said that the
ministry’s drive to curb power theft and recovery of dues had brought
in positive outcomes. Within four months, the additional power dues
worth Rs 48 billion had been recovered that would touch Rs 80 billion
mark by year end and  Rs 190 billion till June 2020.

He said that a special focus was being given to handle the
losses caused by theft, technical and transmission issues that were
coming to fruition.

As a step to curb power theft, 27,000 First Information
Reports (FIR) had been registered against those involved while 4,225
people had been arrested including 433 officials of the power sector.
Moreover, another 1,467 officials had been charge-sheeted.

The Minister said that no power load shedding would be done on 80 percent
feeders across the country during the holy month of Ramadan due to
improved distribution and transmission system. For rest 20 percent
feeders, a load management plan had been formulated in accordance with
the losses and where the ratio of power theft was above 80 percent.
However, it has been ensured to provide uninterrupted power supply
during Sehr and Iftar.

He said the previous governments had failed to incorporate
the expenses incurred on net hydel profits and different power
projects in power tariff that was why the consumers were bearing an
additional burden now.

The installed capacity of the country was 30,000 megawatt
while 24,000 megawatt could be generated.

The minister assured that Tribal Electric Supply Company
would provide electricity for 10 hours each day instead of four hours
in the tribal areas and there would be no load shedding during Sehri
and Iftar during Ramazan.

Omar said electricity more than that could not be supplied
because of lack of infrastructure. “We will build the infrastructure
and install feeders, conductors and polls to improve the system and
provide the same kind of facilities as available in other areas of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”About the prices of petroleum products, he said
that the PTI government had decreased the GST and Petroleum Levy on
the products as compared to previous governments.