Industries exempted from power outages: Abid Sher Ali
The National Assembly on Wednesday passed three government sponsored bills including Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2015 unanimously while the Pakistan Baitul Maal Amendment Bill 2015 was deferred.
The opposition members neither opposed the bills nor moved any amendments and the bills were passed unanimously.
The anti-money laundering bill is designed to pave the way for an effective policy against money laundering and funding of terrorists.
Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar presented the bill during the assembly’s session. Reports regarding illegal transference of funds and their usages will be compiled for the sole purpose of grounding terror networks and curbing growing insurgencies in the world.
Meanwhile on strong opposition by the JUI (F) and Jamaat-e-Islami members, the government retreated on the Hilal Food Authority Establishment bill, which will be taken up on Thursday. Members of the two religious parties also demanded that the Hilal Food Authority be authorized to stop the import of Haram food items.
They also proposed that two members of the parliament, including an MNA and a Senator be made members of the Hilal Food Authority.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali told the national assembly that industrial sector had been exempted from power outages.
Abid Sher Ali told the house during question hour that six hours of load shedding in urban areas and eight hours in rural areas was being carried out under a uniformed policy.
However, he said load shedding for longer duration is being carried out in areas of high-loss feeders.
To a question, he said the government had reduced electricity tariff by five and half rupees per unit during the last few months.
Ali told the House that the government was implementing a five year plan for up-gradation and improvement of electric transmission network.
The minister said that consensus of provinces was required for implementation of timely closure of shops at 8PM, marriage halls at 10PM and restaurants at 11PM He pointed out that the measure would be very beneficial and would help reduce load shedding further.
To a question Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif apprised the House that the government is working on micro level, medium level and macro level hydel power projects to overcome energy shortage in the country.
Opposition members of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said that at least 18-20 hours of outages were being carried out in several areas. To which Asif retaliated and asked the opposition to name those areas.
He further said that feeders where huge line losses were reported were witnessing longer power cuts.