KARACHI, July 7: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the federal government is giving high priority to the development of Sindh and 233 projects, funded by the federal government, in Sindh will usher a new era of progress.

Chairing a meeting at the Governor’s House on Friday, the prime minister reviewed progress of various projects, law and order situation and price control measures.Expressing concern over slow progress in Thar Coal Project, Shaukat Aziz said a company run by highly professional people should be set up to develop a modern mining system for coal and granite. The coal would also be used for electricity generation, he added.

The issue of power shortage in Karachi also came under discussion.

The prime minister said that the government was working on short, medium and long-term plans to overcome the electricity problem. He claimed the gap between power supply and demand was caused due to surge in demand streaming from high economic growth achieved during the last few years. He said that the KESC had been asked to take all measures to increase power generation capacity.

As an immediate remedial measure, he said, Wapda had increased its supply to Karachi up to 750MW which eased the situation. He told the meeting that the KESC had planned to increase its capacity by additional 830MW by the year 2008. Besides, he pointed out that as a short-term measure, the KESC had been asked to install barge-mounted power stations to provide immediate relief to people.

Shaukat Aziz said that the government had been regularly increasing the PSDP allocations for Sindh which had gone up from Rs24 billion in 2004-05 to Rs29.7 billion in 2006-07.

The Inspector-General of Police, Sindh, briefing the prime minister on law and order claimed that there was improvement in the registered crimes, car and mobile snatching cases.

The prime minister said that government should have zero tolerance for those creating law and order situation and the provincial government should continue with their efforts to improve law and order in the province.

The chief secretary gave details about the implementation of steps announced by the government for price stabilisation.

Shaukat Aziz said that provincial government should immediately put in place the required mechanism for price control and appoint price magistrates.

Giving a presentation on Karachi Master Plan 2020, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal said it included a network of roads, mass transit schemes, plans to ensure adequate availability of drinking water, recreational spots, education city, economic centres, suburban farm house areas. The plan also includes proposals to ease traffic problems, solid waste disposal strategy and sewerage treatment.

Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Rahim, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah and Special Assistant to Prime Ministe Commander Khalilur Rehman among other attended the meeting.

Later, the prime minister had a meeting with KESC Managing Director Frank Schmit, who called on him on Friday evening. He directed the KESC chief to take all possible measures to increase their power generation capacity. The KESC should look into the possibilities of installing barge-mounted power stations to provide immediate relief to people of Karachi, he said.

Frank Schmit informed the prime minister that the KESC had finalised its plans to enhance its capacity and renovate the existing system.

He said that the KESC would add 830MW to its existing capacity by the year 2008. The first phase adding more 400MW would be completed in the first quarter of 2007, substantially reducing the gap between demand and supply.

He said that the KESC was renovating its system and new grid stations and transformers were being installed which would help enhance the capacity of the KESC.

Earlier soon after his arrival on Thursday night, the prime minister at a meeting reviewed the situation arising out of power breakdowns and law and order in Karachi.—APP/PPI