May 12, 2007	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 24, 1428

ISLAMABAD, May 11: The National Assembly was informed on Friday that 32 power projects were expected to be commissioned during the next three years to generate 2,500 megawatts.

As the opposition lawmakers grilled the government for prolonged power outages across the country, particularly in Karachi, Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi told the house that the government had taken a number of steps to increase power generation from thermal and hydel sources in the public and private sector to meet the growing demand.

He informed the house during the question hour that 28 proposals for establishing thermal power stations in the private sector were being processed by the Private Power and Infrastructure Board. The projects would generate 7,679MW that would be sold to the Water and Power Development Authority.

He said the government had begun the process for importing electricity from Tajikistan and Iran.

The minister said the Alternate Energy Development Board was taking all possible measures for preserving energy and providing it to remote areas.

He informed the house that six irrigation and water projects were under way in Punjab for agriculture. He said the federal government had provided Rs2.7 billion for the projects.

Answering a question, he said India had completed a 106MW hydroelectric power plant on River Jhelum and informed Pakistan about the project under the Indus Water Treaty. He said under the treaty both the countries were eligible to construct hydel power stations on the run of the water in the areas under their control.

He said although Pakistan was making efforts to improve its relations with India, it would never compromise on its national interests regarding water distribution.

Responding to a question about Baglihar dam, Mr Jatoi said that Pakistan was exerting continuous pressure on India to implement the decision of the neutral expert. He said India was reported to be considering changing the dam’s structure.

He said the Swiss neutral expert appointed by the World Bank, Raymond Lafitte, had given his decision in Pakistan’s favour but the government would approach other forums if India did not redesign the project.

The minister said although the expert’s decision on the spillway was awaited but he had supported Pakistan’s view on three of four issues.

Opposition legislator Manzoor Wasan said that on one hand markets are being closed at 8pm while on the other hand energy was being misused for the rally to be addressed by President Pervez Musharraf.

Liaquat Jatoi appealed to the presidency, the Prime Minister’s House, the Governor’s Houses, the Chief Ministers’ Houses and parliamentarians to support the government’s effort to conserve electricity.

Minister for States and Frontier Regions Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind informed the house that his ministry had devised a three-year strategy for repatriation of Afghan refugees and closure of their camps.

He said that by May 2, 2.2 million Afghan refugees were in Pakistan, a majority of them in 11 major districts of the NWFP and Balochistan.

Minister for Labour and Manpower Ghulam Sarwar Khan said Pakistan had signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea for manpower export.

He expressed the hope that a large number of Pakistani workers would go to South Korea shortly.

Minister for Cabinet Division Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi informed the house that the six mobile phone companies operating in the country and had the capacity to provide over 66 million connections, while they have provided 59 million connections.

Responding to a call-attention notice moved by Sherry Rehman and others regarding frequent loadshedding, the water and power minister said 45,000 villages had been provided electric supply and 19,000 would get the supply during the current financial year.