Centre committed to fund solarisation projects in Balochistan, Senate informed

Islamabad: The Senate was informed on Friday that several infrastructure projects executed by the National Highway Authority are nearing completion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This was stated Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar while responding to a question during the Question Hour in the House today which met in Islamabad today with Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan in the chair.

He said these projects include dualization of Indus highway from Sarai Gambila to Kohat, upgradition and dualization of motorway link from Kohat via Jand, construction of Peshawar Northern By-pass, Chakdara-Fatehpur Highway and upgradition of Pezu to Tank road in Dera Ismail Khan.

The Minister also informed the House that National Highway Authority is planning to execute new schemes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which include construction of Malakand Tunnel,  Muzaffarabad-Mansehra road, Yark Interchange, interchange on Hazara motorway to connect Abbottabad and Sherwan road, Khwazakhela and Besham expressway, Motorway from Ghulam Khan to Esa Khel, Tanawal interchange on Hazara motorway and tunnel joining Khaki with Oghi in Mansehra district.

Responding to a calling attention notice, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari has reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to fund solarization of agricultural tube-wells in Balochistan.

He said as soon as the Balochistan government formulates a mechanism for distribution of funds to the consumers, the Federal Government will start implementation of the initiative.

The Minister said around twelve thousand illegal transformers are operating on 404 feeders in Balochistan. He added that ninety-six percent of these feeders are running on losses.

Besides, there is an outstanding amount of over six hundred billion rupees against various entities including agri tube-wells, in the province.

The House adopted a motion moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar, to elect the Senate House Committee, comprising members as per the proposed list.

The House also authorized the Chairman Senate to make changes in the composition of said committee as and when he deems fit.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the House that the Capital Development Authority removed encroachments from PTI’s Central Secretariat in Islamabad after fulfilling all the legal formalities.

Responding to a point of order by Leader of the Opposition Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, he said the CDA had served its first notice to the PTI central secretariat in 2020 for illegal construction of two floors and occupying public areas by erecting containers and parking sheds.

The Minister said the political party gave a deaf ear to CDA’s notices and the last letter was sent on 10th of this month but to no avail.

The House has now been prorogued.