SHABIH 1182 (14) NA (S) PC-11 (SHABIH Folder) 1 (15th 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 Wednesday, the 22nd October, 2014 22. *Mr.junaid Akbar: (Deferred during 12th Session) Will the Minister for Water and Power on be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that rules of NEPRA have been violated in awarding contract of Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Power Project; (b) if the answer to part (a) above is in the affirmative, whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to take necessary action against the responsibles thereof; if so, when it will be implemented? Minister for Water and Power (Khawaja Muhammad Asif): (a) It is clarified that National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) deals with Tariffs for generation, transmission and distribution of electric power and it does not deal with rules relating to awarding of the contracts. However, for awarding public sector contracts, PPRA rules are to be followed. In case of NJHEP, contract was awarded by strictly following PPRA rules for international bidding. (b) Not applicable. 84 *Mr. Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak: (Deferred during 14th Session) Minister for Industries and Production be pleased to state; (a) whether it is a fact that the Textile Sector posted a decline of nine percent in earnings Miring first nine months of the current fiscal year; if so, the reasons thereof; 2 (b) the factors in local market/elsewhere including the appreciation of Pakistani rupee that caused the low level of profitability in the Textile Sector; and (c) the steps taken by the Government to increase textile exports of the country? Transferred to Textile Industry Division for answer on Next Rota Day. 90. *Mr. Shaista Pervaiz: (Deferred during 14th Session) Will the Minister for Industries and Production be pleased to state: (a) the Government’s mechanism to determine the actual number of closed or sick industrial and SME units at present; and (b) the regulatory mechanism for rehabilitation of those closed units? Transferred to Textile Industry Division for answer on Next Rota Day. 161. *Mr. Asad Umar: (Deferred During 14th Session) Will the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony be pleased to state the steps taken by the Government to increase inter faith, coordination and harmony in the country? Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (Sardar Muhammad Yousaf): 1. This Ministry has been mandated with the task of Policy and Legislation with regard to interfaith harmony, for which the necessary consultations are under way. 2. Allocation of 05% Job Quota for Minorities in all Federal Government Services, in addition to open merit (26th May, 2009). 3. Declaration of 11th August as Minorities’ Day (June 2009). 3 4. Reservation of four (04) seats for minorities in Senate of Pakistan under the 18th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2010. 5. Vernacular name of Christians changed from Essahi to Masihi (w.e.f 14th September 2011). 6. Free and fair celebration of religious festivals of minorities at the official level. 7. Re-constitution of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) alnogwith revised TORs (July-2013). 8. A National Conference on Inter-faith Harmony titled “Living Together with Diversity: Inter-faith and Inter-cultural Dialogue” was convened on 20th & 22nd February 2013 at Islamabad. 9. Affectees of Joseph Colony, Lahore (109 persons) were provided financial help of Rs. 500,000/- each on 15th March, 2013 and 24th April, 2013. 10. Minorities Welfare Fund is utilized for grant of financial assistance to the poor and needy minorities & scholarships to minorities on merit and for execution of small development schemes for the repair/ maintenance of the religious / worship places of minorities. 11. The rate of financial assistance to the minorities has been increased from Rs.5,000/- to Rs.10,000/-. 12. Marriage Grant of Rs.50,000/- for marriage of daughters of widows/ orphan girls of minorities community is disbursed. 13. Minority Senators have been granted share alongwith minority MNAs for the grant of financial assistance out of Minorities Welfare Fund (MWF). 14. Minority Students Scholarships rates have been doubled. 15. Upkeep of religious places of Sikhs and Hindus in the Country. 16. Provide facilities to Yatrees visiting these religious places of Sikhs and Hindus in the Country. 4 17. Following expenditure has been incurred by Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) on repair / maintenance of the religious places of Sikhs & Hindus:— —————————————————————————————— Year Expenditure incurred —————————————————————————————— 2012-13 Rs. 7,805,962/- 2013-14 Rs. 3,151,331/- —————————————————————————————— 18. Minister for RA&IH has held meetings with Ulemas of all Muslim sects at Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta and discussed with them the Sectarian issues. He persuaded them to abide by a common code of conduct. 19. Minister for RA&IH held meetings with minority community leaders in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad for strengthening national harmony amongst all the religions. 20. Minister for RA&IH held meeting with heads of Ittehad of Tanzeem- e-Madaris Pakistan for discussing with them registration of Madaris, rationalizing syllabus and bringing them to the mainstream. 15. *Mr. Shahjehan Munir Mangerio: Will the Minister for Water and Power be pleased to state: (a) the total number of new Thermal Power Stations which will be established during the next five years alongwith the details thereof; (b) the time by which the construction work will be started and completed thereupon; and (c) the total funds allocated therefor during the year 2014-15? Minister for Water and Power (Khawaja Muhammad Asif): (a) The following Thermal Power Stations, in public sector are expected to be established during next five yuears; 5 (i) 2x660 MW coal fired power plant at thermal power station Jamshoro. (ii) 660 MW coal fired power plant at Lakhra. ( b) (i) The construction of 2x660 MW at TPS Jamshoro is expected to start by Mid-2015,and the project will be completed by Mid-2019. (ii) The Construction of 660 MW at Lakhra is expected to start by Dec.2015 and the project will be completed by Dec.2019. (c) (a) Funds allocated for 2x660 TPS Jamshoro is 9300 Million. (b) Funds allocated for 660 MW at Lakhra is 100 Million. 16. *Mr. Shahjehan Munir Mangerio: Will the Minister for Industries and Production be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that a plan has been made by the Government to restructure the Pakistan Steel Mills; if so, the details thereof alongwith the steps being taken by the Government in this regard; and (b) whether it is also a fact that the re-structuring work has not been started thereupon; if so, the time by which such work will be started? Minister for Industries and Production (Mr Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi): (a) Yes, the plan has been made by the Government of Pakistan to restructure PSM. The detail of the plan alongwith step taken by GoP is attached at Annex-I. (b) The restructure work has been started after the 1st disbursement made by GoP amounting to Rs.4.2 billion. The detail of which is attached at Annex-II. (Annexures have been placed in the National Assembly Library) 6 17. *Sheikh Salahuddin: Will the Minister for Housing and Works be pleased to state whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to construct new housing units for Government employees in Islamabad; if so, when it will be implemented alongwith the details thereof? Minister for Housing and Works (Mr. Akram Khan Durrani): Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHAF) is currently considering a Housing scheme at Sector I-16/3 for Federal Government Employees and General Public. The project will be launched as soon as its planning is finalized. The Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) launched G+14 stories apartments scheme Lifestyle Residency in Sector G-13, Islamabad on public private partnership with 75% for Federal Government Employees & other specified groups and 25% for General Public. Allotments to the eligible members will be made accordingly. NOC from CDA is still awaited. The project will be completed in 48 months after issuance of NOC. 18. *Sheikh Salahuddin: Will the Minister for Water and Power be pleased to state the steps being taken by the Government to address the issue of water scarcity in the country in near future? Minister for Water and Power (Khawaja Muhammad Asif): WAPDA has prepared a master plan to address the issue of water scarcity in the country in near future. The detail of projects under implementation, ready for implementation and under planning are as under:— 7 8 9 19. *Ms. Naseema: Will the Minister for Water and Power be pleased to refer to Starred question No.120 replied on 31-03-2014 and to state: (a) whether it is a fact that funds are also released besides PWP-I and PWP-Il for rehabilitation of old system and provision of new system of electricity; (b) whether it is also a fact that no such funds have been released during the last five years in Balochistan; and (c) the steps being taken by the Government for the release of funds for the rehabilitation of old system of electricity and supply of electricity to new areas of Balochistan in proportion to area thereof? Minister for Water and Power (Khawaja Muhammad Asif): (a) Funds are released to each DISCO by Authority under head PSDP/SAP, for the Rehabilitation of old / existing system. (b Funds are released to each DISCO (including QESCO) at the beginning of each financial year. (c) Funds are being released regularly on year basis. 20. *Ms. Naseema: Will the Minister for Industries and Production be pleased to state: (a) the year-wise steps taken by the Ministry to promote industries in Balochistan during the last five years till date; and (b) the year-wise expenditure incurred thereupon during the said period? Minister for Industries and Production (Mr Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi): (a) During last five years this Ministry has initiated following eleven (11) PSDP projects with total cost of Rs.