Questions for Oral Answers and Their Replies”
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SENATE SECRETARIAT ————— “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the Senate to be held on Tuesday, the 1st February, 2011 34. *Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain: (Notice received on 26-11-2010 at 15:30 p.m.) Will the Minister for Water and Power be pleased to state: (a) the allocation made for construction of Diamir Bhasha Dam in terms of local investment and foreign aid; (b) the amount of local investment and foreign aid spent on the said project so far; and (c) the present stage of work done and the time by which it will be completed and become operational? Raja Pervaiz Ashraf: (a) The allocation made for construction of Diamer Bhasha Danl project is as under: Year Local Foreign Total 2009-10 21,832 500 22,332 2010-11 15,000 — 15000 Release from Govt of Pakistan 2009-10 = Rs.1000 million Release from Govt of Pakistan 2010-11= Rs. 1.3 billion. (b) The spent amount is as under: Year Local Foreign Total 2009-10 382 — 382 2010-11 792 — 792 (c) PC — 1 for Rs. 894,257 million PC — 1 for Diamer Bhasha Dam Project was approved on 20.08.2009. Pre-construction activities are underway since July 2009. Thakot Bridge has been substantially completed. Bids for Construction of Project Colony in Thore Valley, District Diamer, Gilgit — Baltistan under different Package are under process / evaluation / award. Tenders for Renovation of Officer’s Hostel and Laboratory near DHQ Hospital, Chilas have been opened on 22-10-2010 and Tender for New Water Supply Connection from Harpan Das Water Tank in Chilas to WAPDA Officer’s Hostel Building has been awarded to M/s. M.Aqil Khan & Brothers, Chilas on 30-11-2010. As per Cash / Work plan for 2010-2011 for Acquisition of Land amounting to Rs. 5 billion, Rs. 1.3 billion for 1st Quarter (July — September 2010 plus October 2011) has been released by GOP. 35. *Dr. Muhammad Ismail Buledi: (Notice received on 27-11-2010 at 09:00 a.m.) Will the Minister for Water and Power be pleased to state the names and addresses of the persons of village Dhery Shahan, Tehsil Taxila, District Rawalpindi, who applied for electricity connections from January, 2009 but connections not provided, indicating also the reasons for not supplying electricity and the time by which electricity will be supplied in each case? Raja Pervaiz Ashraf: (a) The requisite detail is given as under:— 1. Dheri Shahan, adjacent to Taxila is a complete Patwar Circle, comprising number of villages, Dhokes and some portion of Taxila City. Only 44 Nos. application from Dheri Shahan / Patwar Circle were cancelled due to the reasons that these applicants either did not pay the cost of connection or the same were far away from the distribution system. Connection to all other applicants have so far been provided. 36. *Col. (R) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi: (Notice received on 27-11-2010 at 12:00 a.m.) Will the Minister for Water and Power be pleased to state: (a) the amount of subsidy given to PESCO by the Federal Government during the last three years; and (b) the losses suffered by the company during the said period with year-wise break up? Raja Pervaiz Ashraf: (a) The subsidy on behalf of consumers is provided to PESCO since PESCO was not allowed to charge full tariff as determined by NEPRA. The amount of subsidy provided by the Govt. to PESCO and the losses suffered by the company during last three years, are detailed as under: —————————————————————————————— (b) Part FY 2007-08 FY 2008-09 FY 2009-10 —————————————————————————————— a) Amount of Subsidy 21,951.001 15,392.441 17,105.670 (Rs. in Million) b) Losses (System) 36.1 % 37.3 °/0 37.0 % suffered by PESCO (Percentage) —————————————————————————————— 37. *Dr. Muhammad Ismail Buledi: (Notice received on 29-11-2010 at 09:10 a.m.) Will the Minister for Water and Power be pleased to state: (a) the amount spent on the electrification of Village Samanzai Hari.fal, District Sherani; and (b) the name of the contractor who accomplished the contract work? Raja Pervaiz Ashraf: (a) The village Samarzai Harifal (actual name Samarzai) was electrified at a total cost of Rs. 2.420 million. (b) The work was executed by M/s Farooq Khan & Brothers Government Contractor Quetta. 38. *Dr. Muhammad Ismail Buledi: (Notice received on 29-11-2010 at 09:10 a.m.) Will the Minister for Water and Power be pleased to state: (a) the number of houses in village Samanzai Harifal, District Sherani, Balochistan, not given electricity connections so far; and (b) the reasons for not supplying electricity to the said houses and the time by which the same will be electrified? Raja Pervaiz Ashraf: (a) All of the 14 Nos: Applications received in Sub Division Zhob have already been processed and connections installed. (b) The Village has been energized on 20-06-2010. The A&A (Applications Agreement) forms were distributed amongst the inhabitants of the area of the time of electrification of the village but the connections were delayed due to late submission of Application forms by the residents to their Sub Divisional Office. 39. *Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain: (Notice received on 29-11-2010 at 09:40 a.m.) Will the Minister for Religious Affairs be pleased to state whether any mechanism has been evolved by the Government to redress permanently the difficulties and problems being faced by the pilgrims during Hajj, if so, the details thereof? Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah: Hajj Policy and Plan-2010 provides for mechanism to supervise the Hajj operation and facilitate the Hujjaj. The overall operation of Hajj 2010 remained satisfactory. However, some difficulties were faced by the Hujjaj of 5 Makatib due to incomplete setup and general amenities. In view of above experience, Ministry is in the process of reviewing the whole system and SOPs/detailed procedures for making the entire process transparent and pilgrim- friendly. 40. *Col. (R) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi: (Notice received on 29-11-2010 at 11:00 a.m.) Will the Minister for Sports be pleased to state whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to construct new hockey grounds of international standard in the country, if so, the details thereof? Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani: Yes, there is a proposal to establish Hockey Stadium of international standard at Jaffar Hockey Stadium, Renala Khurd, Okara. The estimated cost of the scheme is Rs. 48.468 million. The work will commence after release of funds by P&D Division. Moreover, six Hockey stadia are under construction at Sheikhupura, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas, Sibi, Rawalakot and Gilgit. Details are given at Annexure. 41. *Begum Najma Hameed: (Notice received on 29-11-2010 at 14:15 p.m.) Will the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources be pleased to state: (a) the location of reserves of gold and silver in the country indicating also the estimated quantity of gold and silver in each reserve; and (b) the quantity of gold and silver extracted from the said reserves during the last five years with year-wise break up? Syed Naveed Qamar: Occurrences and showings of Gold and Silver have been reported from various parts of the country including Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan Region and Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa. However, the reserves of these occurrences and showings have not been confirmed except Saindak and Reko-Diq deposits. district Chagi. Balochistan. The estimated reserves of gold and silver in the country are as under: Mineral Location Reserves (Tons) Gold Saindak 63.50 Reko-Diq 1,275.75 Total 1,339.25 Silver Saindak 70.59 Reko-Diq Not quantified Total 70.59 (b) The Saindak Copper-Gold Project, Balochistan is the only project in the country which is producing gold silver as a by-product in a nominal quantity year-wise gold and silver production is as under: Production (tons) Year Gold Silver 2005 1.771 2.509 2006 1.410 2.403 2007 1.576 2.136 2008 1.542 2.088 2009 1.592 2.157 Total 7.891 11.293 42. *Mr. Muhammad Talha Mahmood: (Notice received on 30-11-2010 at 09:15 a.m.) Will the Minister for Culture be pleased to state: (a) the names of art organizations, artists and journalists who were provided financial assistance during the last three years indicating also the amount provided in each case with province-wise break up; and (b) the procedure adopted for selection of the said organizations, artists and journalists? Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jillani: (a) Details of financial assistance provided from regular budget to Art Organizations during last three years is at Annex-I. Financial assistance is also provided to artists/artisans out of Pakistan Culture and Art Foundation Relief Fund, details of which are at Annex-II. (b) (i) At the time of demand for budget, the regional cultural bodies approach Ministry of Culture for assistance. The Ministry, considering their activities in the previous years, refer the cases to advisory bodies viz Pakistan National Council of the Arts and Lok Virsa. After receiving their views, the cases are again examined in the Ministry of Culture before formulating budget proposals for allocation of fund. (ii) An Administrative Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Minister for Culture for extending financial assistance to artists and artisans. Composition of the Committee is at Annex-III. 43. *Mr. Muhammad Talha Mahmood: (Notice received on 30-11-2010 at 09:15 a.m. ) Will the Minister for Culture be pleased to state: (a) the steps being taken by the Government to promote Pakistani culture inland and abroad; and (b) the amount spent by the Government for the said purpose during the last three years? Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jillani: (a) Ministry of Culture is taking the following steps for promotion of Pakistani culture inland and abroad through Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and Lok Virsa: (1) Exhibitions of paintings and arts works depicting Pakistani rich culture are organized at regular intervals.