- PM orders formation of committee comprising legal experts to deliberate on legal position for constitutional amendment before Senate elections
- Directs completion of LNG-based 3,600 MW power generation projects by Feb 2017
- Cabinet approves Pak-China Economic Corridor, directs negotiations with Beijing for importing 1,000 MW of electricity by laying new transmission line
While presiding over the federal cabinet meeting at Prime Minister’s Office in the federal capital on Monday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed concern over the reports of alleged horse trading ahead of forthcoming Senate polls.
Addressing the meeting, the premier directed the authorities concerned to curb the corrupt practice and ensure politicians do not use money or influence to buy votes for the upcoming polls. Terming all such reports “regrettable”, the premier directed that immediate steps must be taken to make the process transparent, fair and in accordance with democratic norms.
The federal cabinet decided that other political parties will be contacted in this regard and if necessary, amendments in constitution and laws would be completed before the elections. Sharif tasked federal ministers to coordinate all necessary steps in consultation with other mainstream political parties. He further directed immediate formation of a committee comprising legal experts to deliberate on the legal position and submit its report and recommendations to the prime minister in the next 24 hours.
PAK-CHINA ECONOMIC CORRIDOR:
During the meeting, the cabinet approved Pak-China Economic Corridor (PCEC) and for starting negotiations with Beijing for importing 1,000 megawatts of electricity by laying a new transmission line.
The PCEC is the country’s biggest road project recently launched by the government. Work on one of the sections of the PCEC was initiated in December last year, under which a motorway from Havelian to Thakot as phase-I of the Islamabad-Raikot section of the corridor would be constructed.
The Havalian to Thakot section of the corridor is being financed by China while other phases will be carried out on the basis of Built Operate and Transfer (BOT).
FAREWELL JUSTICE BHAGWANDAS:
Earlier, the federal cabinet offered its condolences on the demise of Justice (r) Rana Bhagwandas, former judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and former chairman of Federal Public Services Commission of Pakistan, who died in Karachi early Monday morning.
Following a minute’s silence at the meeting’s onset, the prime minister appreciated the role played by Justice Bhagwandas for the service to the nation during his long tenure as a Supreme Court judge. He said that Justice Bhagwandas was a firm believer of rule of law, democracy and principles.
ENERGY BRIEFING:
Moreover, secretaries of ministries of Water and Power and Petroleum and Natural Resources gave a detailed presentation to the federal cabinet on energy related issues. The cabinet was informed that LNG-based 3,600 MW power generation projects would be completed by December 2017.
Directing the completion of the proposed projects by February 2017, the premier said that action would be taken against the ones responsible for delay in the energy projects as the whole nation is suffering due to energy shortage.
SOME APPROVALS:
Furthermore on the occasion, the cabinet considered and approved initiation of negotiation for Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The cabinet also approved for signing of loan agreement for energy sector reform program between Government of Pakistan and Government of Japan/JICA.
Formal approval of the inter-government framework agreement signed between government of Pakistan and China for government concessional loan to finance the Karachi Nuclear Power (K-2/K-3) Project was also accorded.
The emphasis on making Pakistan an Energy and Trade corridor for the region was initially consolidated at a high level meeting in April 2006, where both countries agreed to step up co-operation in the energy sector, promising to give China access to the gas and oil resources of Central and Western Asia. A memorandum was signed on building this energy corridor, and it was suggested that China build direct pipelines to Karachi or Gwadar, where this would then be the shortest route for ensuring a stable and fast supply of oil to China.
Pakistan and China friendship is unfolding new horizon of enhanced ties in shape of Pak-China Economic Corridor. The corridor addresses the economic as well as energy sector of Pakistan which really needs a boost of developmental projects. China has promised to invest around $33.8 billion in various energy projects and $11.8 billion in infrastructure projects in Pakistan. This indicates that China is practically working for Pakistan to address the energy crisis as well as economic development.
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