Massive crackdown against power theft yielding significant results: Minister

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Fri, 15 Sep 2023, 6:44 PM

ISLAMABAD, Sep 15 (APP): Minister for Power and Energy, Muhammad Ali on Friday said the massive crackdown against power theft was yielding significant results.

Addressing a press conference along with Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi and Caretaker Minister for Finance Dr Shamshad Akhtar, he said, the drive against power theft was not for a limited time period, but it would continue in the future as well to expedite and expand its scope.

Earlier this month, the interim set-up launched a “full force” crackdown against electricity theft across the country to tame multiplying technical and commercial losses being faced by the power distribution companies.

“We are working with all the law enforcement agencies on the district level and the pace of the process will be fastened,” the minister added.

Along with theft, the minister highlighted, the government was also working on bringing improvement in the management and governance of electricity distribution companies.

The minister said the government was working on a comprehensive plan to change the Board of Governors of the Distribution Companies.

He said the CEOs of the DISCOs would also be reshuffled to improve their governance and capacity, adding
the government was also exploring three options to improve the performance of the power distribution companies.

These included working with the World Bank for long-term concessions and privatizing the companies, he added.

“We are looking at all three options and we will work on the best one,” he added.

Muhammad Ali said steps were being taken to check electricity theft and pass on the minimum burden of the increased prices of electricity bills to the consumers.

The minister said Power Sector had a total Circular Debt of Rs 2500 billion while the Circular Debt of the Gas Sector was Rs 2900 billion.

He said the government was making efforts to manage this huge Circular Debt.

He said that the government was taking practical steps to ensure availability of gas in the winter season.

The minister said that the government was expediting the efforts for exploration of new oil and gas reserves as no significant attention was paid to this sector during the past ten years.

He said the ministry had established a Central Control Room in the Power Division to monitor the ongoing campaign against power theft.

Dr. Muhammad Ali, Deputy Secretary Prime Minister’s Youth Program, unveils the draft ministerial statement at the 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting. It underlines core values, tech, education, youth engagement, employment, policy, and partnerships, turning “aiming higher” into actionable steps

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Fri, 15 Sep 2023, 6:43 PM

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APP27-150923 LONDON: September 15 - Dr. Muhammad Ali, Deputy Secretary Prime Minister's Youth Program, unveils the draft ministerial statement at the 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting. It underlines core values, tech, education, youth engagement, employment, policy, and partnerships, turning "aiming higher" into actionable steps. APP/ABB/ZID

Federal and Provincial Coordinated Initiative to stop Dengue, Federal Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan chairs inter provincial meeting

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Fri, 15 Sep 2023, 6:42 PM

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APP26-150923 ISLAMABAD: September 15 - Federal and Provincial Coordinated Initiative to stop Dengue, Federal Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan chairs inter provincial meeting. APP/ABB/ZID

Kazakhstan Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Yerzhan Kistafin called on the Federal Minister for Commerce Dr. Gohar Ejaz to discusy regional connectivity and bilateral trade at the Commerce Ministry

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Fri, 15 Sep 2023, 6:41 PM

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APP25-150923 ISLAMABAD: September 15 - Kazakhstan Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Yerzhan Kistafin called on the Federal Minister for Commerce Dr. Gohar Ejaz to discusy regional connectivity and bilateral trade at the Commerce Ministry. APP/ABB/ZID

The vendor is arranging and displaying bananas to attract customers at his road side setup

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Fri, 15 Sep 2023, 6:40 PM

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APP24-150923 SIALKOT: September 15 - The vendor is arranging and displaying bananas to attract customers at his road side setup. APP/MUT/ABB/ZID

First ‘Diplomats’ Discourse’ underlines importance of BRI, opportunities for participating countries

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NNPS Desk

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Fri, 15 Sep 2023, 6:37 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Sep 15 (APP): The speakers at the First Diplomat’s Discourse on Friday underlined the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the opportunities it had for the participating countries.

The First Diplomat’s Discourse on “Regional Connectivity: In Asian Context” was convened here at Foreign Service Academy, a news release said.

Besides several Islamabad Ambassadors, diplomats, think-tank representatives, serving and former Pakistan Ambassadors, under training Foreign Service of Pakistan officers as well as ASEAN Country diplomats currently undergoing training at the Academy attended the event.

The one-day event was organized in collaboration with COMSATS University, Islamabad and Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).

The inaugural Session was addressed by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, the newly arrived Ambassador of China, Jiang Ziadong and the Director General Foreign Service Academy, Ambassador Mazhar Javed.

Two-panel discussions were held, one themed around BRI and ASEAN and the other on Pakistan as the hub of regional connectivity.

Participants included Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Ambassadors of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in Pakistan, Pakistan Ambassadors to Philippines, Thailand, UAE, Oman and Azerbaijan and former Ambassador of Pakistan to China Naghmana Hashmi and former Ambassador to Indonesia Muhammad Hassan.

Speakers underlined the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative and the opportunities it had for participating countries.

Pakistan’s potential to become a hub of regional connectivity was highlighted. Progress already made in that direction and what was needed to be done came under discussion. Discussions were followed by a lively question-and-answer session.