1 (28th 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 22nd January, 2021 96. *Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb: (Deferred during 19th Session) Will the Minister for Law and Justice be pleased to state: (a) the name of cities of the country in which Model Courts are working at present; and (b) alongwith total number thereof? Reply not received. 30. *Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro: (Deferred during 27th Session) Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that when the installed transformers breaking down or becomes out of order, the local WAPDA authorities demand the local community to pay the amount of expenses incurred on the repair and maintenance of such transformers; and (b) if so, whether it is a policy of Government and if not, what steps are being taken by the Government to stop such malpractice? Minister for Power Division (Mr. Omar Ayub Khan): (a) In case of damage of a general distribution transformer, it is replaced at the cost of 2 DISCO, either with reclaimed or new one, but no cost is recovered from general public of the area. However, independent transformers of industrial / commercial connections are replaced on cost deposit basis, as the maintenance of such transformer is the liability of respective owner / consumer. (b) There is no such policy issued for collection of funds for repair of a general distribution transformer. Hence, if any employee of a DISCO is found guilty of such practice, severe action is taken against the delinquent officials. 32. *Mr. Raza Rabani Khar: (Deferred during 27th Session) Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that a ban has been placed on the extension of low-tension line, commonly known as LT line, to provide electricity to new/additional settlements; if so, the justification thereof; (b) whether it is also a fact that such ban is depriving of the residents of new settlements to get the facility of electricity; (c) if so, what corrective measures are being taken by the Government in this regard? Minister for Power Division (Mr. Omar Ayub Khan): (a) As per policy in vogue, electricity to New / Additional Settlements is being provided under SDGs Program for which the funds are being allocated under PSDP. As, DISCOs do not provide Electricity to New Additional Settlements from their own development budget. However, the already electrified abadies are facilitated by extending LT lines and additional transformers by generating LV proposals. However the permissible length of LT line in either side of a distribution transformer is to the limit of 1200 feet in urban areas and 1600 feet in Rural areas, so as to avoid excessive voltage drop to the tail end users, besides the limit of +5% voltage drop (as per abridge conditions of supply). 3 (b) New settlements such as housing schemes are electrified through sponsor of the scheme whereas villages are electrified after receiving funds from any funding agency i.e. Federal / Provincial / District Governments. (c) As per reply of part­(a) above. 33. *Syed Mehmood Shah: (Deferred during 27th Session) Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state: (a) whether concerned authority and departments have taken notice that a number of Balochistan districts particularly Qalat, Sorab and Mastung are facing extremely low voltage of electricity; (b) if so, the steps being taken in this regad; (c) the detail of amount of funds released during last two years to cope with this issue alongwith detail of amount which have been utilized from the funds; and (d) the steps being taken by the Government to improve voltage in above areas/districts? Minister for Power Division (Mr. Omar Ayub Khan): (a) Yes, it is a fact that the voltage profile of some of rural & agriculture dominated feeders located at tail end of the system is not within permissible limits because of low Power Factor which prevails in QESCO’s network. The prime reason of this low Power Factor is the heavy inductive load (mostly comprising Tubewell load) and also owing to the lengthy feeders supplying power to population located at remote localities scattered all over Balochistan province. (b) The following remedial measures are being taken for the improvement of the distribution network at the said areas:— (i) The following two HT feeders have already been bifurcated under SAP / ELR from QESCO’s own source: 4 —————————————————————————————— S# Name of 11KV Sub Division F/Year Cost Feeder Rs. (M) —————————————————————————————— (i) Anjeeri Mastung 218­19 6.272 (ii) Shareefabad 03.987 —————————————————————————————— (ii) Construction of new 132KV Grid Station at Kapootu at District Kalat has been approved by DDWP on 21­2­2020 with an estimated cost of Rs. 603.808 million and expected to be completed by June 2022. (iii) 220KV Grid Station at Mastung has been proposed by NTDC to bring 220KV Quetta Industrial Grid and 220KV Khuzdar Grid in ring system. The completion of the project will not only enhance the evacuation of power but will also improve the voltage profile. The project is expected to be completed by June 2023. (c) No funds have yet been released to QESCO to cope up with this issue at the aforementioned areas. (d) As elaborated at (b) above. 41. *Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur: (Deferred during 27th Session) Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state: (a) whether there is any proposal under consideration of PEPCO to revise its transfer/posting policy as regard to dislocation of officers on promotion; if so, the time by which the same will be implemented; (b) the social and financial impact of dislocation policy; (c) the details of officers transferred from one DISCO to the other locations during last three years on promotion and their dates of retirement; 5 (d) the details of officers transferred from one DISCO to the other stations during last three years other than those transferred/ dislocated on promotion giving justification/reason in each case also stating whether they are receiving dislocation allowance or otherwise and their dates of retirement; and (e) the definition of term “transfer on administrative grounds”? Minister for Power Division (Mr. Omar Ayub Khan): (a) No such proposal is under consideration by PEPCO BoD for revision of Transfer / Posting Policy for Officers issued on 30.07.2019. However, the officers dislocated upon their promotion, will be considered for transfer back to their parent company according to seniority on availability of vacancy before actualizing the recommendations of ensuing Selection Board meeting in due course. (b) As part of conditions of service all federal employees are required to serve / move in areas across Pakistan. (c) The details of officers so transferred from one DISCO to the other locations during last three years upon their promotion alongwith their dates of retirement is at Annex-A. (d) The details of officers transferred from one DISCO to the other stations during last three years, is at Annex-B. However, it is clarified that only those officers are eligible for dislocation allowance who have either been transferred / dislocated upon promotion or through transfer in the interest of work. The officers transferred due to administrative reasons are not entitled to dislocation allowance. (e) Administrative grounds means when an employee is transferred in public interest and to fulfill the operational / administrative requirements. (Annexures have been placed in the National Assembly Library) 42. *Ms. Shagufta Jumani: (Deferred during 27th Session) Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state: 6 (a) the price of electricity being paid by a consumer upon consuming 300 units per month at present and the break-up taxes, duties and other charges, which are charged upon such 300 units; (b) detail subsidy which is provided to consumers, consuming 300 units and criteria by which such subsidy is distributed among them; and (c) the rate of average bill of electricity of per month of 300 units, as on March, 2013 May, 2018 and also at present? Reply not received. 43. *Syed Mehmood Shah: (Deferred during 27th Session) Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the approval to construct grid station in Kapootu and Qalat was granted worthy Members on the recommendation last year; (b) whether the funds have also been issued in this respect; (c) if the answers to part (a) and (b) above are in affirmative, the details thereof and the time by which the work on it will be started and its date of completion? Minister for Power Division (Mr. Omar Ayub Khan): (a) Yes; the Construction of 132 KV Grid Station in Kapootu at District Qalat has been approved by DDWP in its meeting held on 21­02­2020. (b) Yes, the funds amounting to Rs. 200.00 Million have been allocated in the current financial year 2020­21. Funds will be released after opening of Assignment Account which is in final stage in NBP Quetta. It will take one week for the process to be completed. (c) The project is expected to be started in October 2020 and expected to be completed in June 2022, subject to 100% release of funds i.e. Rs. 603. 808 Million as per approved PC­I cost. 7 45. *Shazia Marri: (Deferred during 27th Session) Will the Minister for Energy (Power Division) be pleased to state: (a) whether an “agreement” or Memorandum of Understanding, signed between a group of