1 (295th Session) SENATE SECRETARIAT ————— “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the Senate to be held on Friday, the 24th January, 2020 DEFERRED QUESTIONS [Questions Nos. 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 deferred on 9th September, 2019, (288th Session)] (Def) *Question No. 1 Senator Dr. Sikandar Mandhro: (Notice Received on 13/05/2019 at 3:15 PM) QID: 36057 Will the Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) be pleased to state the present status of implementation of Article 158 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan regarding the right of utilization of the indigenous gas by the provinces concerned? Mr. Omar Ayub Khan: At present gas is being allocated to gas utility companies i.e. SNGPL and SSGCL on the basis of its discovery in respective province. Further the companies have been directed to meet the requirement of domestic / commercial sectors who are at highest priority in supply across the country. It is further apprised that the case for interpretation of the constitutional provision Article 158 is pending adjudication in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. (Def) *Question No. 3 Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi: (Notice Received on 14/05/2019 at 1:00 PM) QID: 35940 Will the Minister for Housing and Works be pleased to state the names, designations and names of departments of the persons who have been allotted Government accommodations on change basis 2 from lower to higher category since January, 2018, indicating also the rule/basis on which the same were allotted in each case? Chaudhary Tariq Bashir Cheema: Only Mr. Waseem Hassan Bukhari, LDC, (BPS-09) Federal Directorate of Education, Islamabad was allotted Qtr. No. 171-C, G-6/2. Islamabad in change from flat No. 10/3-B, G-9/2, Islamabad. The allotment of the same has been withdrawn with retrospective date being not covered under the rules. (Def) *Question No. 4 Senator Khushbakht Shujat: (Notice Received on 16/05/2019 at 11:45 AM) QID: 36081 Will the Minister for Housing and Works be pleased to state the number of allottees who have been issued NOCs for construction of houses on plots allotted to them in Sector G-14/1,2 & 3 so far indicating also the number of allottees out of the same who have started construction of their houses? Chaudhary Tariq Bashir Cheema: About 54 allottees have been taken final possession letters and 8 number of allottees have applied for issuance of NOC for approval of building plans. 4 allottees have started construction of house in Sector G-14/3 till date. (Def) *Question No.7 Senator Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo: (Notice Received on 16/05/2019 at 1:35 PM) QID: 36046 Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state the names, educational qualifications, experience, place of domicile and date of appointment / posting of the persons who were appointed / posted against the posts of XENs and SDOs at WAPDA offices in District Sanghar, Sindh during the last three years? Mr. Omar Ayub Khan: The names, qualification, domicile date of posting and place of posting of the persons who were posted against the post of XEN and SDO at HESCO offices in District Sanghar during the lost three years is attached as Annex-A. 3 4 (Def) *Question No. 8 Senator Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo: (Notice Received on 16/05/2019 at 2:40 PM) QID: 36047 Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state: (a) the procedure and criteria laid down for appointment against the post of CEO,Hyederabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) indicating also the tenure for which appointment is made against that post; and (b) the name, educational qualification, relevant experience and date of appointment of the incumbent Chairman of the said company indicating also the procedure adopted for his appointment? Mr. Omar Ayub Khan: (a) Hyderabad Electric. Supply Company (HESCO) is a corporate entity governed by the Companies Act 2017, and Public Sector Companies (Corporate Governance) Rules, 2013 (CGR) along with the Memorandum and Articles of Association. According to Rule 4(4) of Corporate Governance Rules The Chairman of the Board shall be elected by the Board of Directors of the Public Sector Company. However, this provision shall not apply where Chairman of the Board is appointed by the Government. (b) Presently, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili, who also happens to be the Vice Chancellor of Mehran University of Engineering & Technology. Jamshoro is serving as Chairman HESCO Board. His qualifications are as under: a. Ph. D (Energy Economic/Management), from Leeds University, UK. 1996. b. M.Sc Combustion and Energy, Center for combustion and Energy, University of Leeds, UK. 1993. c. M.A. Economics, Sindh University, Jamshoro, Pakistan, 1988. 5 d. Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical), NED University of Engineering and Technology. Karachi, 1987. The incumbent Chairman was elected unanimously by HESCO BoD in its 128th meeting held on 18-2-2017. (Def) *Question No. 9 Senator Muhammad Akram: (Notice Received on 17/05/2019 at 10:00 AM) QID: 36096 Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state whether it is a fact that Makran Division Punjgur, Turbat, Gawadar and Ormara are not connected with the National Grid rather electricity is bing supplied to the said areas from Iran, if so, the time by which those areas will be connected with the National Grid? Mr. Omar Ayub Khan: Yes, it is a fact that Gwadar/ Mekran Region is getting electricity of 100 MW from Jackigore (Iran) in isolation from National Network & not yet been connected with the National Grid. The PC-I for interconnection of Isolated Mekran area with National Network amounting to Rs. 17.421 (Billion) has been approved by ECNEC. during its meeting held just on 29th August, 2019. As soon as Authorization is issued by Ministry of Planning Development & Reform, its Administrative approval will he issued by Power Division. Moreover, the timeline of aforementioned project is 24 months, provided releases/ remittance of funds to QESCO in time. (Def) *Question No. 11 Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood: (Notice Received on 22/05/2019 at 2:45 PM) QID: 35600 Will the Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) be pleased to state the percentage of work done on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project so far, indicating also the time by which the same will be completed? Mr. Omar Ayub Khan: The work on the Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project is stalled due to international sanctions on Iran. Pakistan has completed major project preparatory activities including bankable feasibility study; detailed route survey; Front End Engineering & Design, 6 installation of concrete markers on the entire route, initiation of land acquisition process; and NOCs from environmental authorities of Balochistan and Sindh. Recently, with the approval of the Federal Cabinet, Iran and Pakistan have signed an Amendment Agreement No. 3 to the IP GSPA giving both sides a further period of 5 years to complete the Project. However, any further progress is linked with lifting of US sanctions. (Def) *Question No. 12 Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah: (Notice Received on 22/05/2019 at 9:30 AM) QID: 36130 Will the Minister for Housing and Works be pleased to refer to the Senate starred question No. 30 replied on 23rd January, 2019 and state: (a) whether it is a fact that the Federal Cabinet’s decision, made in its meeting held on 14th March, 1995, to ban the construction of official accommodations for Government employees and grant them rental ceiling along with their salaries has not been implemented so far, if so, the reasons thereof; and (b) whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to grant rental ceiling to the employees of Constitutional Bodies with particular reference to the National Assembly and Senate Secretariats along with their salaries, if so, when? Chaudhary Tariq Bashir Cheema: (a) Yes it is a fact that Federal Cabinet decided in its meeting held on 14-03-1995 to impose ban on construction of new government accommodations for Federal Government Employees and grant them rental ceiling with salaries. However, the Cabinet decision was partially implemented to the extent that no new construction of government accommodations is being made after Cabinet decision. However, rental ceiling could not be granted with salaries of Federal Government Employees due to involvement of heavy additional burden on government exchequer. (b) There is no such proposal under consideration in the M/o Housing and Works to pay rental ceiling to Federal Government Employees. 7 (Def) *Question No. 15 Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood: (Notice Received on 24/05/2019 at 9:30 AM) QID: 35601 Will the Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) be pleased to state: (a) the rate at which CNG is being provided to the CNG stations in the country indicating also the rate at which the CNG stations provide the same to the consumers; (b) whether any mechanism has been evolved by the Government to check the prices, quality and quantity of CNG being provided to the consumer by the CNG stations; and (c) the number of complaints received by the Government against the CNG stations during the last five years indicating also the nature of complaints and details of action taken on the same? Mr. Omar Ayub Khan: (a) The rate at which System Gas is being provided to CNG stations is as under:— System Gas = Rs. 980.00 per MMBTU Whereas, the rate of RLNG is notified on monthly basis, the rate of RLNG for April 2019 is hereunder: RLNG = USD10.5758 per MMBTU It is further apprised that the government in December, 2016 deregulated the end consumer price of CNG, now CNG stations are allowed to fix the CNG price keeping in competitive fuel prices i.e.