Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Governor Punjab, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, on Sunday, called for strict action against the elements involved in human trafficking for its elimination and to promote a positive image of the country across the globe.

The Governor made these remarks during a book launching ceremony at the National Press Club (NPC) 'Japan Kahani,' written by renowned writer and journalist Amjad Siddiqui. Several notable dignitaries from different walks of life attended the ceremony.

Governor said that the book written by Amjad Siddiqui highlighted the burning issue prevailing in the country which needed to be addressed through tangible actions.

Sardar Saleem Haider Khan expressed deep concern over the alarming number of deaths of Pakistani citizens in the migrant boat accidents, which denounced the image of the country.

He emphasised that the human trafficking issue should not be viewed solely through the lens of poverty, adding that an individual who can afford to pay 5 to 6 million rupees for illegal travel could invest that amount in establishing a legitimate business within the country, thus securing a stable and prosperous future.

However, he lamented that the country's youth had lost confidence in the national system and stressed the importance of restoring that trust.

The Governor emphasized that the country was blessed with abundant of natural resources, which, if utilized effectively, have the potential to transform the country's destiny.

Pointing out the person within the institutions assisting human trafficking, he said, the connections of these human traffickers within the institutes needed to be identified and all those involved in the heinous crime should be brought before the law.

To combat the root causes of human trafficking, Governor Khan suggested the inclusion of anti-trafficking content in school curriculums, alongside organizing seminars and discussions to raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of illegal migration. This, he argued, could help restore trust among the youth and guide them towards legitimate opportunities within the country.

Islamabad: Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police continue a large-scale crackdown against criminal elements across the federal capital, on Sunday. During various operations, 11 accused involved in drug peddling and possessing illegal weapons have been arrested.

A police spokesperson told reporter that the police also recovered 1730 grams of heroin, 1180 grams hashish, 225 grams of ice, 44 liters liquor, four 30 bore pistols and one iron punch from their possession. Cases have been registered against the nabbed accused, and further investigations are underway.

He said the arrested accused were identified as Zain Masih, Farman, Rashid, Ismail, Taimoor Ahmed, Adnan, Arif, Azhar Manzoor, Naseer, Hamza Matloob and Turab Ali.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Muhammad Arsalan Shahzeb directed all zonal SPs to intensify the crackdown against criminal elements and ensure that stolen property is recovered and returned to its rightful owners.

SSP further said that Islamabad Police remain committed to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens and taking all necessary measures to uphold the rule of law.

Islamabad: The Executive Engineer (EXN) of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Sohaib Abbasi, issued a three-day ultimatum on Thursday to jetty owners at Khanpur Dam, directing them to cease all water sports activities and remove boats and jetties from the dam reservoir by the expiration of the deadline on Monday.

According to the notice, this action is in response to increasing concerns about the contamination of the dam's water supply, which serves the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Reports have indicated that water sports activities, along with boats and the litter left by participants, have contributed to the pollution of the water and compromised its quality.

Sohaib Abbasi, while speaking to reporter, emphasized the importance of halting these activities to prevent further contamination and ensure a continuous supply of clean and safe water for both cities.

He also stressed the need to protect the dam's ecosystem and maintain public health through the preservation of water quality.

In an update provided on Sunday, the EXN confirmed that the notice had been forwarded to the relevant authorities and that assistance from the local administration had been sought to enforce the order. With the deadline rapidly approaching, local authorities are expected to take immediate action if the notice is not followed.

The final day for compliance will fall on Monday, marking a critical point in the effort to safeguard the water quality of Khanpur Dam.

Islamabad: The Gandhara Resource Centre Pakistan (GRCP) has announced the third annual Gandhara Citrus Festival, scheduled to take place on January 26, 2025 at the Taxila Garden.

This festival promises to be a unique celebration of the region's agricultural prosperity, cultural heritage, and the ancient Gandhara civilisation, the organisers told reporter.

Following the success of previous events, this year's festival aims to promote agri-tourism, showcase the renowned Khanpur oranges in their many varieties, and highlight the exquisite stonework of the Gandhara civilisation on an international stage.

One of the festival's key objectives is to foster appreciation for the cultural heritage and tourism potential of Gandhara.

By highlighting the historical significance and grandeur of Gandhara's ancient sites, the event seeks to strengthen local tourism while raising global awareness about the importance of preserving this region's rich legacy.

According to organisers, the festival will feature an array of engaging activities, including food stalls, orange stalls, tours of citrus orchards, live painting sessions, exhibitions of stone carvings, book stalls, and displays of traditional clothing and textiles.

A particular focus will be placed on showcasing the diverse varieties of Khanpur oranges to strengthen connections between local farmers and exporters, ultimately boosting the recognition of these citrus fruits on national and international levels.

The event will also serve as a platform for Gandhara's stone carvers, connecting them with global buyers and introducing their unique craftsmanship to the world.

Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase locally grown oranges, handicrafts, and other agricultural products.

Meanwhile, artists participating in live painting sessions will creatively interpret themes inspired by Gandhara's cultural and citrus heritage. The exhibition of stone carvings will highlight the extraordinary talent of local artisans.

For exporters, researchers, and academics, the festival offers a vital platform to build networks and exchange ideas on significant issues such as cultural heritage conservation, environmental sustainability, and food security.

The event is not only a celebration of Gandhara's cultural and historical wealth but also a meaningful step towards community development and the promotion of local agriculture and craftsmanship.

Islamabad: Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Sunday released 34,000 cusecs of water from various rim stations with an inflow of 39,400 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, the water level in River Indus at Tarbela Dam was 1477.84 feet and was 78.84 feet higher than its dead level of 1,398 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam was recorded as 14,100 cusecs and 15,000 cusecs, respectively.

The water level in River Jhelum at Mangla Dam was 1136.00 feet, which was 86.00 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water was recorded 5,900 cusecs and 100 cusecs respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 24,600, 22,900, 3,500 and 44500 cusecs respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 14,000 cusecs of water were released at Nowshera and 4,900 cusecs were released from River Chenab at Marala.

Islamabad: Uninterrupted power supply at an affordable rate is considered crucial for the development of the industrial, agricultural and domestic sectors of any country.

The incumbent government since its inception through innovative policies, substantial investments, and major structural reforms in the power sector, significant progress has been made towards ensuring energy sustainability by reducing electricity costs for economic growth.

Rising fuel prices and new energy situation after the Ukraine war also necessitated in Pakistan to tap its indigenous resources like hydel, solar, wind and Thar coal to provide maximum relief to the people particularly power consumers.

Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said the power sector has witnessed tariff reductions as the average price of electricity has decreased to Rs44.04 per unit from Rs48.70 per unit in June 2024, marking a reduction of Rs4.66.

Similarly, he said the industrial tariff had also significantly dropped to Rs 47.17 per unit from Rs 58.50 in June 2024, reflecting a reduction of Rs 11.33 per unit.

Mounting debt load, rising power prices and an astonishing Rs 1,411,669 million capacity payment to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) during fiscals 2022-23 and 2023-24, the government has come up with solutions to stem out the menace and lessen burden on consumers and national kitty.

The government set up a Task Force to implement structural reforms with Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari as its Chairman, PM's Special Assistant on power Muhammad Ali as co-Chairman and Lt Gen Zafar Iqbal as National Coordinator also including in it representatives from various regulatory bodies.

Contracts with Saba, Lalpir, Atlas and Rousch having accumulative generation capacity of 2,463 Megawatt (MWs), set up under 1994 power policy were terminated through 'mutual agreements.

The minister said that a savings of Rs1 trillion had been achieved in negotiations with IPPs. The government had terminated agreements with five IPPs, which would save Rs 411 billion (Rs7 billion annually). Total savings from the settlement of the accords with 8 bagasse-based IPPs amounted to Rs238.224 billion (Rs8.826 billion per year), he explained.

He said negotiation with 16 other IPPs is also underway and revised agreements with 16 IPPs would be finalized in the coming days which would help national savings of Rs 481 billion.

Regarding solarization of agricultural tube-wells in Balochistan, the minister said, 'We are solarizing 27,000 tube wells at a cost of Rs55 billion, with a 70 percent federal government contribution.'

Awais said that this initiative would promote green energy and revolutionize the agricultural sector in Balochistan.

Responding to the government 'Winter Bijli Sahulat Package', Awais says, 'this package introduces a special tariff of Rs26.07 per unit for households and industries'.

'Under the package, domestic consumers will benefit from savings between Rs11.42 and Rs26.00 per unit, while commercial consumers can expect savings of Rs13.46 to Rs22.71 per unit,' he explained.

He said that the industrial users would enjoy savings ranging from Rs5.72 to Rs15.05 per unit, and this initiative underscores our commitment to reducing electricity costs and supporting economic growth.

Regarding reforms in transmission system, the minister said the government was diligently working on upgrading the transmission sector including the bifurcation of the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) into three entities.

'These three entities will be the 'National Grid Company of Pakistan' being established for efficient and reliable transmission, the 'Energy Infra­structure Development and Management Company for project management, and the 'Independent System and Market Operator for a competitive and transparent electricity market,' he explained.

Additionally, the South-North transmission corridor was being developed through Public-Private-Partnership, with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of 1000MWh planned for installation in the South for frequency regulation, he said.

Regarding power sector liberalization, the minister said the Independent System and Market Operator would allow consumers to purchase electricity from multiple suppliers.

He also revealed that the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP 2024-34) would be finalized soon, and emphasized that out of the 17,000MW to be added in the next 10 years, only 87MW was based on the least-cost principle. 'A review of the IGCEP will ensure that energy is added to the system on a least-cost basis,' he added.

Awais Leghari said the government has a plan to introduce special tariffs for electric vehicles (EVs) under a forthcoming EV policy. 'This EV policy will reduce dependency on imported fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality,' he said and added that it would also foster economic growth through job creation in local manufacturing and the development of charging infrastructure. The minister expressed the hope that the new EV policy would revolutionize Pakistan's transport sector

Regarding the challenges faced by the power sector, including transmission constraints and poor recovery rates, which contribute to Rs 250 billion in losses caused by Discos' inefficiencies, the minister was of the views, 'Efforts to manage the Rs2.2 trillion circular debt burden are ongoing, focusing on reducing consumer electricity costs. We are also addressing the impact of dollar-denominated debt as the depreciation of the rupee has exacerbated it'.

He said that the circular debt costs were being shifted from electricity bills to the national debt to reduce the consumer burden. 'We have eliminated Rs150 billion in cross-subsidies from the industrial sector, a step that has boosted industrial growth and job creation in Pakistan,' he explained.

About reforms in power distribution companies (DISCOs), Awais Leghari said the government was pursuing privatization and concession models for electricity distribution. Independent Boards of Directors have been appointed for DISCOs, he added.