1 (46th Session) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT ———— “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the National Assembly to be held on Friday, the 15th September, 2017 198. *Mr. Sher Akbar Khan: (Deferred during 41st Session) Will the Minister In-charge of the Cabinet Division be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has dismissed the claim of additional payments by consumers to K-Electric; if so, the details thereof; and (b) the action taken against the responsibles for making a false claim thereof? Minister In-charge of the Cabinet Division: (a) & (b) The issue about over recovery of Rs. 62 billion was raised by Secretary, M/oW&P vide its U.O. No.PF-5(3)/2016 dated January 26, 2017 wherein it has been highlighted that consumers of K-Electric were overburdened due to non-adjustment of improved T&D losses and thermal efficiency in the base tariff of K-Electric (Annex-I). This matter was responded by NEPRA vide its letter No. NEPRA/Sat-I/TRE­133/ KESC-2009/1862-1865 dated February 04, 2017 (Annex-II). In the said letter, NEPRA informed M/oW&P that there has been no overcharging from the consumers of K-Electric, owing to the fact that a uniform tariff is applicable throughout Pakistan including K-Electric Consumers. Further, it was communicated that the tariff awarded to KE in 2002 was a performance based Multi-Year Tariff (“MYT”) which was extended up to the year 2016 due to signing of Amended Implementation Agreement by M/oW&P with KE in 2009. Unlike other power utilities being given tariff under cost plus regime, a predetermined return on its existing and future investments were not included in the tariff of KE. The only avenue for KE to earn profits was through bringing in efficiency by making investments from its own resources in its generation, transmission and distribution system. 2 To cap any excessive profits and to extend relief to the consumers, a Claw Back Mechanism was made part of the MYT determination through which KE is required to share its yearly profit above 12% with its consumers on the allowed Regulatory Asset Base (RAB). Therefore, the conclusions drawn that consumers of Karachi were overcharged by Rs. 62 billion due to tariff adjustment mechanism is not correct and based on lack of understanding of performance based MYT. (Annexures have been placed in the National Assembly Library) 31. *Ms. Naeema Kishwar Khan: (Deferred during 42nd Session) Will the Minister In-charge of the Establishment Division be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the posts of Assistant in BPS-16 and Superintendent in BPS-17 are not being upgraded in the Federal Government departments according to the decision of the Federal Service Tribunal given in the appeal No.175(R)CS/2012 dated 5th January, 2015; (b) if so, the time by which such posts will be upgraded accordingly? Minister In-charge of the Establishment Division: (a) FST in its judgment dated 05-01-2015 has not made any orders for up-gradation of the posts of Assistant in BS-16 and Superintendent in BS-17 respectively (Annex-I). (b) Federal Government had allowed grant of BS-16 dated 10-8-2016 and BS-17 -dated 10-9-2014 to the incumbents of the posts of Assistant Superintendent respectively (Annex-II &III). (Annexures have been placed in the National Assembly Library) 88. *Ms. Musarat Rafique Mahesar: (Transferred from 45th Session) Will the Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication be pleased to state: 3 (a) the total number of projects related to Information Technology (IT) initiated by the Government since June, 2013 alongwith the province-wise details thereof; and (b) whether it is a fact that no IT project has been initiated by the Government in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan so far? Minister In-charge of the Ministry of Information Technology: (a) Ministry of Information Technology has initiated following IT programs since 2013: (i) Broadband for Sustainable Development (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & Balochistan) (ii) Optic Fibre Cable Program (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) (iii) Establishment of National Incubation Centers (All four provinces and Islamabad) (iv) Telecenters (All four provinces) (v) ICT for Girls Program (All four provinces and Islamabad) (vi) Prime Minister’s ICT Internship Program (All four provinces) (vii) Technology Park Development, Islamabad (viii) Enhancing IT Exports through Industry Support Programs (on all Pakistan basis) (ix) Strengthening of ICT Infrastructure and Automation of President Secretariat (Awan-e-Sadar) (b) No, it is incorrect. Please see the response vide sub-para (a) above. 89. *Syed Waseem Hussain: (Transferred from 45th Session) Will the Minister In-charge of the Aviation Division be pleased to state: 4 (a) the total number of aeroplanes of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) being operated for domestic flights at present; and (b) whether it is a fact that some aeroplanes of PIA have been acquired on lease; if so, the lease duration and procedure thereof? Minister In-charge of the Aviation Division: (a) Presently PIA has 37 Aircrafts in its fleet. These include 12 Boeing 777s, 15 A320s, and 10 ATRs. Though all the aeroplanes are used both on Domestic and International sectors as well but on domestic sector mostly A320s and ATRs are used. (b) At present 24 aircrafts are on lease which are as following: —————————————————————————————— Aircraft No. of Lease Duration Type Aircrafts —————————————————————————————— B-777 04 Dry Lease 06 Years A-320s 11 Dry Lease 06 Years ATR-72 5 Dry Lease 08 Years A320s 4 Wet Lease 03 Months —————————————————————————————— PROCEDURE All the aircrafts acquired on lease have been according to PPRA Rules. Tenders were floated followed by technical and financial evaluation and ultimately awarded to lowest bidder. 90. *Mr. Imran Zafar Leghari: (Transferred from 45th Session) Will the Minister for Climate Change be pleased to state: (a) the laws in respect of safety and freedom of wild life; (b) whether said laws are being implemented in the country; if not, the reasons thereof; and 5 (c) the steps being taken by the Government to implement the said laws? Minister for Climate Change (Mushahid Ullah Khan): (a) List of the laws is given in Annex-I. (b) All laws are being implemented. (c) The steps being taken by the Government to implement the said laws are as under: a. All CITES import and export permits are issued by the CITES Management Authority chaired by the Minister for Climate Change. b. The provincial governments, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan are implementing the laws strictly in accordance with the provisions of their respective laws. Annexure PROVINCIAL/TERRITORIAL WILDLIFE LAWS OF PAKISTAN The Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act, 2012. The Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) (Amendment) Act, 2008 The Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance, 1972 The Balochistan Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 2014. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife and Biodiversity (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 2014. The Gilgit-Baltistan Wildlife Preservation Act, 1975 The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance, 2011. The Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) (Amendment) Act, 2007 6 91. *Mr. Sher Akbar Khan: (Transferred from 45th Session) Will the Minister In-charge of the Capital Administration and Development Division be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the two-way road at every station of the Metro Bus Service Islamabad is in a dilapidated condition at present; if so, the reasons thereof; and (b) the time by which the said road will be repaired? Minister In-charge of the Capital Administration and Development Division: (a) Some two-way roads near Metro Bus Stations were got damaged during construction of Metro Bus Project by RDA, list of road attached at “Annex-A”. (b) Responsibility for rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure rest with the Administration of Metro Bus Project, therefore, list of roads mentioned above was forwarded to Project Director for its rectification but response in this regard is still awaited. However keeping in view the inconvenience of the public, essential repair/maintenance is being carried out on regular basis. Annex-A CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Market & Roads Maintenance North LIST OF ROADS 1. Service Road along Southern side of Jinnah Avenue near PIMS station. 2. Service Road (North & South) near 7th Avenue Metro Bus Station. 3. Stock Exchange Metro Bus Station. 4. Parade Ground (South & North side), Metro Bus Station. 5. Service Road North near Shaheed-e-Millat (Northern side), Metro Bus Station. 7 92. *Sheikh Salahuddin: (Transferred from 45th Session) Will the Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage be pleased to state: (a) the year-wise increased made in salaries of employees of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) since 01-01-2012; and (b) the comparison of salaries of PTV employees with other Government servants at present; and (c) whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to increase the salaries of employees of PTV during the current financial year; if not, the reasons thereof? Minister In-charge of the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage: (a) Year-wise increases made in salaries of PTVC employees since 01.01.2012 are as under:— —————————————————————————————— Years Increases % —————————————————————————————— 01-07-2012 22.5% 01-07-2013 10% 01-07-2015 15% —————————————————————————————— (b) The comparison of salaries of PTV employees with Govt. servants at present is as under:— 8 (c) The salaries and perks of PTV employees in Pay Group-1 to 6 (Union members) are increased by the Management with the approval of the Board of Directors of PTVC, as a result of a Memorandum of Settlement executed with the CBA (Union) on their Charter of Demands, in terms of Govt.