Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday reiterated the government’s firm resolve to not burden the consumers with increased utility bills by keeping the electricity and gas tariffs stable through out-of-box solutions.
Briefing media about the decisions taken by the federal cabinet, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the previous governments adopted anti-people policies by not passing on the power and gas generation cost to the consumers. Moreover, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz regime did not increase the tariffs in the wake of Panama Papers case and for 2018 being the election year. The prime minister, while chairing the cabinet meeting, advised the Ministry of Energy not to offset the power and gas generation cost by increasing their tariffs and instead find a wayout by preparing a mechanism to revamp the obsolete structure of the power sector, she added.
Dr Firdous said the cabinet deliberated on the challenges related to the transmission lines which cannot bear the load of over 18,000 megawatts, whereas in summer demands crossed 26,000 megawatts, causing disruption in the power distribution system. The cabinet also expressed determination to hold the power pilferers accountable besides use of the latest digital technology to control line losses and theft. It was informed that some 58,387 first information reports were registered against the power thieves in 2019.
The SAPM said the subsidized rate of Rs 5.35 per unit for the agriculture sector and for consumers using less than 300 units will continue as Rs 162 billion have been allocated in the budget for the purpose.
She said Special Assistant Dr Saia Nishtar briefed the cabinet about five pro-poor programmes launched under the PM’s Ehsaas Programme. The patronization of poor segments of the society by the government is a step towards realization of the dream of State of Madina, she added.
Dr Firdous said Minister for Education and Technical Training Shafqat Mehmood presented the Pakistan National Education Plan 2020, which was approved by the cabinet after a thorough debate.
A unified curriculum will be introduced at all the educational institutions, including religious seminaries whose students will be brought to the mainstream by providing them modern education facilities. A comprehensive education policy will be prepared to enrol 22 million out-of-school children, she added. She said the curriculum for grade 1 to 5 has been sent to the National Curriculum Council whereas that of grade 6 to 8 has been prepared, which will be presented at a national conference next month for approval. Under the new educational policy, she said, mother languages will also be integrated in the curriculum. After 70 years, the students of Daras-e-Nizami will also benefit from the information technology, she added.
She said under the Hunarmand Pakistan, 170,000 students will be empowered through technical training as industries, and small and medium enterprises will be involved in the youth’s career counselling process. She said the government has decided to offer about 50,000 scholarships for under-graduates.
The special assistant said the federal cabinet in principle decided to merge two separate bills related to the journalists’ safety, security, insurance and terrorism, and directed the ministry concerned to make a comprehensive law on the matter for approval.
She said the cabinet also expressed its satisfaction over the measures being taken to control inflation and their outcome in the shape of relief to the poor segments of society, besides the economy moving on an upward trajectory.
She said the prime minister assured support to the law minister and his team on their standing on the legal framework in line with the constitutional and legal parameters.
Dr Firdous asked the PML-N leadership to submit the authentic medical reports of Nawaz Sharif rather sending medical certificates of private laboratories. There was much difference in a medical report and a medical certificate, she said. “They should tell the nation about the actual health condition of Nawaz Sharif and give access to the media to the hospital in the United Kingdom where he is under treatment,” she added.
Nawaz Sharif, she said, was given relief by the government on humanitarian grounds and allowed to go to London for medical treatment, but he is found there in restaurants. The PML-N leaders should now stop misleading the innocent people of the country about the health of Nawaz Sharif as despite several reminders they have failed to submit his medical reports, which are compulsory for further such relief, she added.
Dr Firdous also asked PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif to return back to Pakistan from the UK. She asked Rana Sanaullah to brief the people about Nawaz Sharif’s fresh surgery and also name the hospital where he was admitted for any such surgery.
