ISLAMABAD, May 16: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday said the government was committed to ensuring an uninterrupted supply of power and energy for sustaining the present momentum of economic growth and meeting the future requirements of the country. He was presiding over a meeting called here to review the progress in reforms and power sector deregulation as well as availability and future requirements and challenges of power in the country, says a press release.

Reviewing the current availability of power and future requirements, the prime minister said the objective behind restructuring and reform of Wapda was to provide relief to the consumers besides providing new industrial and commercial connections which would create more employment opportunities.

Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi informed the prime minister that all necessary arrangements had been completed and Faisalabad Electric Supply Corporation (Fesco) and Jamshoro Energy Supply Corporation (Jeco) were ready for privatization.

Meeting with MPS: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the role of parliamentary secretaries is of tremendous importance and responsibility as they act as a conduit between the parliament and their respective ministries.

According to a press release issued here, the prime minister made this observation while talking to parliamentary secretaries who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday.

Mr Aziz called upon the parliamentary secretaries to work hard and keep themselves abreast of the activities, role and functions of their respective ministries and divisions in order to fulfil the responsibilities assigned to them in a befitting manner.

The prime minister said “preparation of answers to the questions put to their respective ministries actually forms part of a learning process for a much larger role in days to come.

He expressed the confidence that the parliamentary secretaries would work wholeheartedly and take guidance from the members as well as coordinate with the officials while preparing answers to the assembly questions.

While giving an overview of the economic situation, the prime minister said the Fiscal Responsibility Law passed by the National Assembly recently would put a limit to government borrowings. This would ensure that the country stays on course as far as fiscal and monetary matters are concerned.

Referring to the Khushal Pakistan Programme, he expressed the confidence that it would have a major impact on improving the standard of living of the people in addition to infrastructure development, supply of gas, electricity, safe drinking water and construction of roads.

APP ADDS: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government’s vibrant economic policies had put the country on the track of development and progress.

Talking to parliamentarians at his chamber in the Parliament House, he said the government was making all out efforts to ensure that results of economic growth reached the lowest tier of society.

The prime minister said the government was committed to resolving people’s problems, adding, steps were being taken in this regard.

He said the government was particularly focused on the development of far-flung areas of the country in order to change the life of common man by providing basic amenities of life at their doorstep.

Those who met the prime minister included Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, Minister of State for Finance Omar Ayub Khan, Minister of State for Petroleum Naseer Khan Mengal, MNAs Nasrullah Darashik, Bilal Ejaz, Mehnaz Rafi, and others.