Latest news with #NuzhatSadiq
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Property encroachment issue: Senate body to summon ETPB chief, admin Nankana Sahib district
ISLAMABAD: Expressing its serious concern on encroachment of Evacuee Property in District Nankana Sahib, the Standing Committee on Government Assurances has decided to summon Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs, Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and District Administration Nankana Sahib to discuss the issue in its next meeting. The committee also directed Power and Petroleum Divisions not to issue NOCs for installation of electricity and gas meters on encroached land. The committee met under the chairpersonship of Nuzhat Sadiq, MNA in Parliament House on Wednesday. The committee was apprised that 14,000 residential and commercial units have been built on the ETPB land in District Nankana Sahib causing loss to the national exchequer. The committee was further apprised that operations had been launched against the encroachments; however, to make it meaningful involvement of elected representatives of the district would provide useful assistance and valuable advice. The additional secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs informed that the ETPB had initiated various measures that include hiring of services of the Survey of Pakistan and SUPARCO for physical survey of all the properties and acquiring their satellite imagery. He said that regular anti-encroachment drives had been initiated apart from initiation of disciplinary action against ETPB officials for their delinquency in their duties. The committee, while discussing assurance regarding massive/unannounced loadshedding and over billing in Karachi, directed for engagement with elected representatives to sort out the issues. The committee was also of the view that a new electricity provider would encourage healthy competition and enhanced service delivery in Karachi. The committee also reiterated its earlier direction for sticking to the approved loadshedding plan and zero un-announced power outages. The KESC official apprised that menace of power theft through hooked connections and non-payment of electricity dues was hindering smooth supply of electric power to the residents of Karachi especially the Lyari area. He informed that local representatives at UC level had been engaged to persuade people to come under metering net, however, all the efforts were unfruitful. He informed that as per directions of the committee, approved schedule of loadshedding was being followed and loadshedding in wee hours had been discontinued. The committee decided to take up the Assurance in its next meeting. The committee, while discussing implementation report regarding establishment of office of Protectorate of Emigrants at Abbottabad, appreciated the prompt compliance by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis. The committee also discussed and disposed of Assurance regarding establishment of transformers repairs workshops at district level by electricity distribution companies. The committee directed the Power Division to pass on directions to all the DISCOs to adopt friendly posture towards its subscribers and initiated steps for enhanced service delivery. The committee, while taking up the Assurance regarding provision of free medical treatment to cancer patients, directed the Ministry of National Health Services to expedite the submission of summary for approval of the Federal Cabinet. The Director General Health apprised that Letter of Intent had been signed with M/s Roche for provision of medical treatment to cancer patients in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) on 73 percent contribution of M/s Roche and 27 percent by the Government of Pakistan. The committee decided this while discussing assurance by education minister to address the grave issue of out-of-school children, decided to visit educational establishments in the ICT to physically verify the measures initiated by Ministry of Federal Education though the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to address the issue of out-of-school children. The additional secretary Ministry of Federal Education and director general FDE apprised the committee about the steps taken to bring children into schools. The meeting was attended by Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs; MNAs, Raja Qamarul Islam, Muneeba Iqbal, Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Shagufta Jumani, Shahida Rehmani, Sofia Saeed Shah, Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Choudhry, Shafqat Abbas, and Muhammad Arshad Sahi; Mover Mian Ghous Muhammad; Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Additional Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, and other officers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NA panel directs KE to stop unannounced load-shedding
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances expressed its grave concern over unscheduled power outages and directed Karachi Electric Supply Company not to conduct unannounced load-shedding in Karachi. The committee was of the view that consumers who pay the bills should not be left on the mercy of those who do not pay their utility bills. The committee also directed not to bill its consumers on average consumption basis. The committee met with MNA Nuzhat Sadiq in the chair at the Parliament House on Monday. The committee took up assurances given by the ministers on the floor of the House regarding over billing in Karachi, establishment of Protectorate of Emigrants Office in District Mansehra, Rehabilitation of Roads in Sindh and KPK and over billing of gas in Balochistan. The committee, while discussing implementation report of the assurance given by the Minister for Energy (Power Division) on the floor of the House on a calling attention notice moved by Sardar Nabeel Ahmad Gabool, MNA, was apprised that KESC was conducting massive load shedding, unscheduled in different areas of Karachi apart from billing its consumers on average basis, adding up to the miseries of the people of Karachi. The committee directed KESC management to immediately address both the aforesaid issues. The committee further directed for close coordination with elected representatives of city for addressing the menace of kunda culture and to bring people in the metering system. The KESC management apprised the committee that Rs44 billion have accumulated on account of outstanding bills, kunda culture and non-metering during year 2024. The committee decided to take up the implementation of its recommendations after 30 days. The committee expressed satisfaction on the assurance given by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development on assurance given for establishment of Protectorate of Emigrants Office in District Mansehra moved by Shahzada Gustasap Khan, MNA. The director general Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment apprised the committee that instead of Mansehra, the government had approved establishment of said office at Abbottabad instead of Mansehra which was just 24 km away. He apprised that the said office would facilitate Hazara Division and their adjoining areas. The committee while discussing implementation report submitted by Ministry of Communications on two assurances given by the minister regarding repairs of highways devastated by floods and deplorable condition of Chakdara-Upper Dir Road moved by Dr Nafisa Shah and Mehboob Shah, MNAs, directed the ministry and the National Highways Authority (NHA) to expedite work on the roads. The committee also directed the NHA to chalk out a strategy for rehabilitation and maintenance of roads in wake of upcoming monsoons. The committee also sought details of routine maintenance budget for roads and highways under the NHA. The committee while discussing assurance by the Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) on calling attention notice of Haji Jamal Shah Kakar, MNA, regarding overbilling and extra charges on gas in Balochistan, directed for addressing issue of overbilling. The committee was apprised by the SSGCL officials that on the direction of Balochistan High Court, special tariff was being charged to gas consumers in Balochistan. He apprised that the issue was under adjudication in Supreme Court and the gas consumers would be billed in light of the decision of the court. The meeting was attended by MNAs; Raja Qamarul Islam, Muneeba Iqbal, Shagufta Jumani, Shahida Rehmani, Aasia Ishaque Siddiqui, Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Choudhry, Shafqat Abbas, Hameed Hussain, Ali AfzalSahi through Zoom, Movers; Sardar Nabil Ahmed Gabol, Shahzada Muhammad Gushtasap Khan, DrNafisa Shah (through Zoom), Mehboob Shah, Haji Jamal Shah Kakar, Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Additional Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, and other officers of departments. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
