بجلی کی بچت کیلیے دو چھٹیاں، بازار آٹھ بجے بند

پاکستان کے وزیراعظم سید یوسف رضا گیلانی نے اعلان کیا ہے کہ ملک میں بجلی کی کمی کو پورا کرنے کے لیے کاروباری مراکز آٹھ بجے بند کر دیے جائیں گے جبکہ سرکاری دفاتر میں ہفتے میں پانچ دن کام ہوگا۔

یہ اعلانات انہوں نے پیر کو لاہور میں منعقدہ دوسری قومی توانائی کانفرنس میں کیے جس کی صدارتخود وزیر اعظم سید یوسف رضا گیلانی نے کی جبکہ اس میں چاروں صوبوں کے وزرائے اعلیٰ بھی شریک ہوئے۔

توانائی کے بحران کا حل تلاش کرنے کے لیے بلائی گئی کانفرنس کے اختتام پر وزیراعظم نے یہ بھی اعلان کیا کہ صوبہ پنجاب کی شکایت پر پورے ملک میں بجلی کی یکساں لوڈشیڈنگ کی جائے گی ۔

وزیراعلیْ پنجاب شہباز شریف نے کانفرنس میں یہ شکوہ کیا تھا کہ پنجاب میں دیگر صوبوں کی نسبت بجلی کی لوڈشیڈنگ زیادہ کی جارہی ہے۔

لاہور سے نامہ نگار عبادالحق کے مطابق توانائی کانفرنس میں کیے گئے فیصلوں کے بارے میں وزیر اعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی نے بتایا کہ کاروباری مراکز سینچر کے سوا ہفتے کے دیگر چھ دن رات آٹھ بجے بند کر دیے جائیں ۔

وزیر اعظم نے کہا کہ ملک بھر میں سرکاری دفاتر میں ہفتے میں پانچ دن کام کریں گے اور اس طرح سات سو میگا واٹ بجلی کی بچت ہوگی۔

یوسف رضاگیلانی نے بتایا کہ کاروباری مراکز آٹھ بجے بند کرنے اور سرکاری دفاتر میں پانچ دن کام کرنے کے معاملے پر وزرائے اعلیٰ اپنے جماعتوں سے مشاورت کریں گے جس کے بعد اس میں بارے حتمی رائے دی جائے گی۔

وزیراعظم نے بتایا کہ بجلی کی بچت کے لیے ملک بھر انرجی سیور استعمال کیے جائیں گے جس سے بجلی کی اچھی خاصی بچت ہوگی۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ سائن بورڈز اور بل بورڈر کو بجلی کی فراہم بند کرکے بجلی بچائی جائے گی

وزیر اعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی نے کہا کہ اب یہ فیصلہ کیا گیا ہے کہ گھڑیاں ایک گھنٹہ آگے کرنے کے بجائے دفاتر میں موسم گرما اورسرما کے لیے اوقات میں تبدیلی لائی جائے گی۔

انہوں نے کہا کہ گھڑیاں ایک گھنٹہ آگے کرنےسے لوگوں کو پریشانی کا سامنا کرنا پڑا اور اسی لیے موسم گرما اور سرما میں دفاتر کے اوقات کار تبدیل کیے جائیں گے۔

یوسف رضا گیلانی نے غریب صارفین کے لیے بجلی کے رعایتی یونٹوں کو دوگنا کرنے کا اعلان کیا اور بتایا کہ رعایتی یونٹز کی تعداد پچاس سے بڑھ کر ایک سو کی جارہی ہے ۔

انہوں نے بتایا کہ بجلی کی چوری کو روکنے کے لیے حکومت قانون سازی کرے گی جبکہ سرکاری کنکشن کے لیے پری پیڈ میٹر لگائے جائیں گے جس کے ذریعے بجلی چوری پر قابو پایا جاسکے گا۔

یوسف رضا گیلانی نے بتایا کہ وزیراعلیٰ شہباز شریف نے صوبۂ پنجاب کے ذمہ بقایاجات آئندہ ڈیڑھ ماہ میں ادا کرنے کی یقین دہانی کرائی ہے جبکہ دیگر صوبے بھی اپنے ذمے واجب الادا واجبات جلد ادا کریں۔

ایک سوال پر وزیراعظم نے کہا کہ حکومت بجلی کی پیداوار بڑھانے کے لیے کئی منصوبوں پر کام کررہی ہے اور وہ آئندہ آنے والی حکومت کے لیے مشکلات نہیں بلکہ فائدے چھوڑ کر جائیں گے۔

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پنجاب کیلئے گیس لوڈشیڈنگ منصوبے کا اعلان

لاہور : پاکستان کے آبادی کے لحاظ سے سب سے بڑے صوبے پنجاب کے لئے موسم سرما کے دوران گیس لوڈشیڈنگ کے منصوبے کا اعلان کردیا گیا۔

سوئی ناردرن گیس کمپنی کے منیجنگ ڈائریکٹر عارف حمید کے مطابق موسم سرما کے لئے لوڈشیڈنگ کا منصوبہ بنالیا ہے، جس کے تحت سی این جی اسٹیشنز اور صنعتوں کیلئے ہفتے میں تین روز لوڈشیڈنگ ہوگی،تاہم گھریلو اور کمرشل صارفین لوڈشیڈنگ سے مستثنیٰ ہوں گے۔

 انھوں نے بتایا کہ سوئی ناردرن کو اب بھی گیس کی قلت کا سامنا ہے،جس کے باعث پاور کمپنیوں کو 76 ملین کیوبک فٹ گیس کی فراہمی بند کردی، تاہم اب بھی انہیں چار سو ملین کیوبک فٹ گیس دی جارہی ہے۔

انھوں نے کہا کہ نجی پاور کمپنیوں کی گیس کھاد فیکٹری کو دی تاکہ قلت نہ ہو۔

ایم ڈی سوئی ناردرن نے بتایا کہ پنجاب حکومت کو سی این جی بسوں کو گیس کی فراہمی کے بارے میں بتا دیا ہے، سسٹم میں جتنی گیس ہوگی اسی حساب سے بسوں کو دیں گے۔

ان کا کہنا تھا کہ دسمبر اور جنوری میں ہمیں گیس کی شدید قلت کا سامنا ہوگا۔

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Fuel shortage affecting KESC

KARACHI - Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has maintained that duration of load shedding has been increased in some residential and commercial areas of the city due to `shortage of fuel supply to power generation plants, and `non-supply of power from KANUPP and other independent power plants’. In a statement KESC appealed to Dr Asim Hussain, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, to prevent an `impending power crisis in Karachi’. Underlining reasons causing drop in power generation, KESC claimed supply of natural gas to the utility’s production plants had suddenly been reduced by SSGC. This has caused Bin Qasim, SITE and Korangi power plants to trip and hence power production had dropped.

On the other hand, furnace oil was made non-available to independent power plants forcing them to halt supply power to KESC. Thirdly, the 80-MW KANUPP has not been providing electricity to KESC for over a month due to technical faults. Under these circumstances, load shedding hours in certain residential and commercial areas had increased. The utility would be constrained to further expand circle of enhanced load shedding hours and include usually exempted industrial areas into load shedding schedule in case fuel shortage continued. The utility was in contact with SSGC and relevant quarters to get fuel supply restored. Load shedding duration would be brought back to normalcy once efforts to restore fuel supply succeeded, KESC said.

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325MW power outage on the cards

ISLAMABAD - Acting on Prime Minister’s orders to provide additional natural gas to fertilizer sector, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) diverted 60 mmcfd gas from power sector to fertilizer units that decreased power generation by 325 MW. An official source said SNGPL has cut gas supplies to three gas based power plants, which can now operate only on other alternate fuel diesel that would enhance their generated power by at least by Rs10 per unit. He said the adjustment of the power price increase will be manageable during current year, but would be unmanageable next month when hydel power generation declines significantly due to closure of canals for annual clean up. Government has been forced to divert additional gas supplies to fertiliser sector, as country is faced with a urea shortfall of 1.2 million tonnes during the current Rabi season. Domestic prices of urea have already more than doubled from Rs830 per bag to Rs1,770 per bag during the last one year. 
Pakistan faced an unprecedented gas supply shortage even during summer season which resulted in low urea production. Government is importing 700,000 tonnes of urea to bridge the gas in demand and supply.
According to Petroleum Ministry, natural gas shortfall against committed supplies would be around 529 mmcfd during November which will increase up to 911 mmcfd in December; peaking at 1.1 and 1.4 mmcfd in January and February, respectively, before easing down to 726 mmcfd in March. Economic Coordination Committee of cabinet had earlier approved gas load management plan for November deciding supply of gas to CNG and industrial sectors for 3 days every week. It decided to provide 76 mmcfd gas to power sector and 90 mmcfd to the fertiliser sector on rotation basis. After PM’s directives, supply to fertiliser sector had been increased to 150 mmcfd as compared to their requirements of 236 mmcfd. Shortage of urea and its high prices forced PM to rescind the decision of ECC, as insufficient urea was likely to affect yield of wheat crop. Import of urea is expected to start from third week of November and the process will be completed by middle of December. Wheat sowing starts from early November and continues till December end, but the late sowing results in suppressing of yield. Petroleum Minister, Dr Asim Hussain had earlier said about 200 mmcfd additional gas is expected to be injected into transmission system, out of which 100 mmcfd is expected from Kunnar Pasaki Deep in December while 30 mmcfd each from Sui, Qadirpur and Kandanwari are expected in the first quarter next year. Pakistan has annual urea demand of 6.5 million tones, which could be easily full filled by local fertiliser industry having the capacity to produce 6.9 million tonnes per annum, provided they get feedstock gas supplies. Annual production for current year is estimated to be 5 million tonnes, with an estimated urea shortage of 1.3 million. Government has already imported 500,000 tonnes of urea during the 

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Load shedding increases in Karachi

KARACHI - Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has once again revved up the durations of load shedding in residential and commercial areas of the city on the pretext of oil and gas shortage, a private TV channel reported on Wednesday.

It should be mentioned here that six to ten hours of load shedding are being carried out in different areas of the city.

Citizens have complained that power outages span surged to ten hours in different areas, including Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulberg and Nazimabad.

Meanwhile, the power supply to PMTs was disconnected in some areas of Korangi, Landhi, Lyari, Lines Area, Orangi Town, Metrovile and Qasba Colony on non-payment of electricity bills or power thefts.

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نیشنل الیکٹرک اینڈ پاور ریگولٹری اتھارٹی (نیپرا) نے بجلی کی قیمتوں میں 1 روپے 77 پیسے فی یونٹ کا اضافہ کردیا

اسلام آباد:پاکستان کے سرکاری ادارے نیشنل الیکٹرک اینڈ پاور ریگولٹری اتھارٹی (نیپرا) نے بجلی کی قیمتوں میں 1 روپے 77 پیسے فی یونٹ کا اضافہ کردیا ہے۔

نیپرا کی جانب سے جاری ہونے والے اعلامیے کے مطابق بجلی کا حالیہ اضافہ ستمبر کے  مہینے کےلیے کیا گیا ہےتاکہ فیول کی قیمتوں میں ہوئے اضافے کے خسارے کو کم کیا جاسکے۔

پاکستان میں بجلی کے نرخ طے کرنے والے ادارے نیپرا  نے نرخوں میں اضافے کی وجہ کو فیول ایڈجسٹمنٹ  کہاہےجس کا اطلاق آئندہ آنے میں بلوں  پر بھی ہوگا۔

نیپرا کےحکام کا کہنا ہےکہ حالیہ اضافے کا اطلاق کراچی الیکٹرک سپلائی کارپوریشن(کے ای ایس سی ) پر نہیں ہوگا۔

یاد رہے کہ1 ماہ کے اندر بجلی کے نرخوں میں دوسرا اضافہ ہے اس سے قبل تقریباً 5 روپے  بڑھائے گئے تھے جب کہ چند روز قبل پاکستان میں پیڑولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں میں کمی گئی ہے۔

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SC suspicious of multi-billion dollar RPP deal

ISLAMABAD - Suspecting foul play in the multi-billion dollar deal of rental power projects (RPPs), the Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that rental power companies committed sheer negligence by not importing the required machinery per agreement and it was beyond understanding how these companies were paid huge mobilization advances without import of power producing apparatus. A two-member Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain made the observation while hearing a suo motu case coupled with two identical petitions filed by Minister for Housing and Works Faisal Saleh Hayat and PML-N MNA Khawaja Asif involving allegations of massive corruption in RPP contracts.

The chief justice noted that some companies started production after the court took notice of the matter. He said it seemed as if the companies were taking high rent for used machinery. Ali Zafar, counsel for Gulf Power Company, told the court that the government made agreement with his client after examining its performance and after that the company shifted all its machinery to Pakistan. He said his client was still not paid the mobilisation advance.

He said the machinery lying at the site was going waste and was less than 10 years old, adding that the Gulf Company was owned by Gulf and Saudi investors, who loved Pakistan. The CJP said investors invested to make profit, not for the love of some country. Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, counsel for Reshma Rental Power and Techno E Power, said his clients entered into the agreement after completing due process and then they were paid mobilization advance. He said the report produced before the court by the counsel for Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) 

had termed his clients the best companies, however, further payment was not being made. He said his clients had completed construction work at the site and the tariff had been estimated at 5.10 cents per unit. However, he said the rental power companies had not been given tax exemption like independent power producers (IPPs), which was discriminatory.

Despite all this, he said his clients were ready to pay back the amount of Rs 4 billion, which it received as mobilization advance, along with the 26 percent mark up. 

Najmul Hassan Kazmi, NEPRA counsel, told the court that Reshma Power Project was ineffective and its agreement had expired. 

Raja Anwarul Haq, counsel for Techno Energy Sahiwal and Sialkot and Techno E Power Faisalabad, told the court that mobilization advance was taken back from his client on court orders. The chief justice asked him to file a review or contempt of court plea if he wanted to challenge the decision. 

The counsel for NEPRA said the site was visited at that time and no machinery was found there. He said the case of Raja Anwarul Haq was pending adjudication before the Islamabad High Court. The chief justice then said the apex court would not interfere in some other court’s matters. The proceedings were later adjourned until today (Thursday).

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Govt willing to import electricity from India

In his efforts to resolve the power crisis that is plaguing the country at the moment, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani gave the green light on Tuesday to importing electricity from India and decided to take up the matter with his Indian counterpart this month, local newspapers reported.

Moreover, Mr Gilani expressed “deep concern” and “dissatisfaction” over long delays in the implementation of strategically important projects in a statement issued by the prime minister’s secretariat. 

An official said India had offered to sell about 500MW of electricity. It may materialize within a year by laying a transmission line. The facility in theory would have two-way electricity trade because of difference in peak-time demands in the two countries but given the continuous shortfalls in Pakistan, India would be the net exporter of electricity in foreseeable future, he said.

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SC rejects report on RPPs

ISLAMABAD - Rejecting a report submitted by the Water and Power Ministry over Rental Power Projects (RPPs), a two-member Supreme Court (SC) bench on Friday sought a fresh report on the details of all rental power plants.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain was hearing a suo motu case coupled with two identical petitions filed by Federal Minister for Housing and Works Faisal Saleh Hayat and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) legislator Khawaja Asif involving allegations of corruption in issuing the contracts of the RPPs. The bench required details on RPPs’ power production, payments made to them in advance, their dates of operation, cost per unit and the cost being charged to consumers, and variations in power production during the last two months.

The chief justice said that since the RPPs were in question, former Water and Power minister Raja Pervez Ashraf could appear before the court to clear his position. He said the former minister could also become a party in the case. He observed that the decision over the sensitive issue of the RPPs would be covering all aspects of the case, as a federal minister had levelled corruption charges, which had made the case very sensitive and unusual. He said Hayat had been pointing out corruption in the RPPs for the last two years, and he approached the court as a last resort.

Ijaz Babar, a representative of the government, submitted a report according to which only four RPPs were working. The chief justice rejected the report and directed him to submit a fresh detailed report. Khawaja Tariq Rahim, counsel for the Water and Power Ministry, told the court that he would tell Raja Pervez Ashraf that he could appear before the court if he wanted to. He said the former minister would be prosecuted if found guilty of corruption.

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Nation-wide blackout if free units stopped: Naveed

ISLAMABAD - Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar warned the Senate on Thursday that the entire country would be unplugged if the facility of free power supply to WAPDA officers and workers was suspended.

In a question hour at Senate, Naveed Qamar said although the government had ordered discontinuation of free units to the Wapda employees, the utility's union refused to abide by the directive.

"If such an action was taken, the entire country would have to face a blackout," he warned.

He said the CEOs of different power suppliers including the WAPDA chairman enjoy facility of 2000 free units while Grade-21 and 22 officers receive 1100 free power units each.

He said further that officers of Grade-19, 18 and 17 get 800, 600 and 450 free electricity units respectively.

He said electricity theft was being made a punishable crime under which severe punishments had been proposed.

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رینٹل پاورمنصوبوں پر تحقیقاتی کمیشن قائم

اسلام آباد: سپريم کورٹ آف پاکستان  نے دو رينٹل پاور منصوبوں کے آغاز ميں مبينہ غفلت کی تحقيقات کے لئے کميشن قائم کرديا گیا ہے جب کہ کیس کی سماعت کے دوراں وفاقی وزير ہائوسنگ فيصل صالح حيات حکومت کيخلاف عدالت ميں پيش ہوگئے۔

 نمائندہ دی نیوز ٹرائب کے مطابق  چيف جسٹس افتخار محمد چودھری کی سربراہی ميں دو رکنی بنچ نے رينٹل پاور پاليسی کے خلاف دائر متفرق درخواستوں کی سماعت کیں۔

 مسلم ليگ نون کے ايم اين اے خواجہ آصف نے اپنی درخواست ميں مؤقف اختيار کيا کہ 975 ميگا واٹ کے نندی پور اور چيچو کی ملياں پاور منصوبوں کيلئے کمپنيوں کو 6 ارب روپے کی پيشگی ادائيگی بھی کی جاچکی ہے ليکن جان بوجھ کر دو سال سے منصوبے شروع نہيں کئے جا رہے۔

کیس کی سماعت کےد وراں  چيف جسٹس نے ريمارکس ديئے کہ افسران کی ذاتی لڑائيوں کے باعث فائلوں کو ايک ٹيبل سے دوسری ٹيبل پر پہنچنے ميں کئی  ماہ لگ جاتے ہيں۔

 عدالت نے کہا کہ دونوں منصوبے شروع کرنے ميں دانستہ غفلت برتی گئی۔ عدالت نے غفلت کے ذمے داروں کے تعين کيلئے سپريم کورٹ کے سابق جسٹس رحمت حسين جعفرئ کی سربراہی ميں کميشن قائم کرتے ہوئے چار ہفتے ميں رپورٹ طلب کرلی۔

 سپریم کورٹ کے مطابق  کميشن کے اخراجات واپڈا،،وزارت پانی و بجلی اور وزارت خزانہ مشترکہ طور پر اٹھائيں گے۔

 رينٹل پاور پاليسی کے خلاف وفاقی وزير ہاؤسنگ فيصل صالح حيات بھی پيش ہوئے اور دلائل دينے چاہے تو رينٹل کمپنی کے وکيل شاہد حامد نے اعتراض کيا۔

 شاہد حامد نے موقف اختيار کيا کہ فيصل صالح حيات خود وفاقی وزير ہيں اور وہ کس طرح اپنی حکومت کيخلاف دلائل دے سکتے ہيں۔

 انہوں نے مزید کہاکہ  انھيں اخلاقی طور پر مستعفیٰ ہوکر عدالت ميں آنا چاہئے۔

فيصل صالح حيات نے وکیل کےموقف کے جواب  میں کہا کہ وہ ذاتی حيثيت اور تمام نتائج مدنظر رکھ کر ہی عدالت ميں پيش ہوئے ہيں۔

اخلاقيات سکھانے والے خود بھی شيشے کے گھر ميں بيٹھے ہيں۔ رينٹل منصوبوں کيلئے قومی خزانے سے اربوں روپے ادا کئے گئے اور اب ان وکيلوں کو فيس بھی وہيں سے مل رہی ہے۔

چيف جسٹس افتخار محمد چوہدری نے کہا کہ فيصل صالح حيات سوچ سمجھ کر ہی آئےہيں۔

اگر کابينہ ان سے پوچھ گچھ کرے گی تو يہ ان کي ذمے داری ہے۔ عدالت کو نہ گھسيٹا جائے۔

فيصل صالح حيات جمعرات کو دلائل کا آغاز کريں گے۔

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Electricity Crisis: Irsa Told To Inform Wapda About Water Releases

ISLAMABAD: 

Irsa has been asked to inform the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) a week in advance when water is released from Tarbela and Mangla dams so that power generation may be better planned.

Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar gave the instructions to Irsa while presiding over an inter-provincial meeting on water and other related matters in Islamabad on Thursday.

Wapda has also been asked to inform all concerned in case of any substantial deviation in the indent plan.

The minister also constituted a sub-committee comprising Irsa and provinces and asked that a plan be submitted on the release of water for the coming Rabi season.

Qamar said that the government is taking various steps to reduce the power shortages. Various projects of hydropower generation and dams are being constructed in this regard to end the energy crisis, he said, adding that the country has more than 60,000 MW hydel power generation potential.

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Gilani terms US 12 billion dlr Diamir Bhasha “life-line” of Pakistan

CHILAS: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday termed the US 12 billion dollars Diamir-Bhasha Dam project a “life-line” for the national economy, that would help meet country’s future agricultural and power requirements.He was addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the world’s highest concrete dam on River Indus that would generate 19 billion units of electricity annually and enhance life of Tarbela Dam by over 35 years.Prime Minister Gilani termed it a historic day and appreciated the people of Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and their political leadership for standing united to initiate the mega project.He said the gigantic project would generate 4500 MW electricity and store over 8 Million Acre Feet of water to meet country’s growing power and irrigation needs, and was the outcome of consensus amongst all stakeholders.

He said taking clue from the fate of the Kalabagh Dam that fell victim to some politicians who kept on playing to the gallery, he decided to take all stakeholders on board.

Gilani paid rich tributes to the political acumen of all political parties for backing the project. The Prime Minister also lauded the local people who had to sacrifice their ancestral lands for a great national cause.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the international donors for the project.
He regretted that had the work on the project started earlier, it would have gone a long way in alleviating the sense of deprivation of the people.
Gilani said the dam was the outcome of the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and recalled that in 1974-75 Northern Areas Framework Ordinance was promulgated and all agencies were given the status of Districts. 
He said Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had added Ghizer and Ganche as new districts and launched work on the Pak-China symbol of Karakoram Highway.
POLITICS:
Prime Minister Gilani stressed consistency in national politics to ensure continuity of policies and said it helps develop faith of the people in their elected representatives.
Gilani said he and his government had no interest in “clinging to the power” because the public service could be done by being either at treasury and opposition benches. 
He said he had directed that all the projects initiated during his government, must be completed, along with the work on ongoing projects. 
He said the multitude of problems that the country was facing could not be resolved by a single leader, or any particular party.  He said all the political leadership and parties needed to stand united and work for the progress and prosperity of the country. 
Gilani said the coalition government during the last around four years, has made unprecedented achievements.
He said the politicians having the “March Syndrome” were not in fact afraid of the election of Senate, but of the credit due to the coalition government for presenting next budget for fifth consecutive time. 
He said the government would come up with several new development projects in the next budget that would bring in more stability. 
Gilani said those wishing to weaken the government would not succeed and the people of country would elect their leaders on merit.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Gilani, referring to the pointing of a complaint about payment of compensation said a committee has already worked on the matter and if there were any more issues, these need to be resolved by sitting together with the leadership of the GB. He also asked the Chief Minister GB to accommodate elected members from MQM in the government so that they can play a positive role in the development of their area.
He said agreements had been entered with China on the construction of 165 km Jaglot-Skardu and 135 km long Jaglot-Sazin.
Gilani announced Rs 200 million for District Diamir, setting up of Engineering faculty at the KKH University, that would be later upgraded to a separate engineering university. He directed setting up of a Cadet College at Chillas He announced an additional amount of Rs one billion to the Government of GB for KKH and other roads besides the already allocated amount of Rs 11.5 billion.
The Prime Minister also directed Wapda to initiate work on upgradation of three DHQ hospitals at Chilas and Skardu, a public school at Ganche, sponsorship of GB scouts, where local people of Diamir Bhasha be given preference.
Referring to a demand for a road from Ghizer to Tajikistan, the Prime Minister said talks were underway with the governments of Afghanistan and Tajikistan. He said the government was desirous of providing connectivity with the Central Asian Republics.
Gilani said the Pakistan Television was already airing news bulletins in Shina and Balti languages.
The event was attended by Minister for Defence Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Governor Gilgit Baltistan Pir Karam Ali Shah, Chief Minister GB Mehdi Shah, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Ahmed Khan, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Minister for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Masood Kauser and Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti.

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