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ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests directed the ministry of water and power on Saturday to submit its proposals within one week on the issue of giving permission to the provinces to set up their own power plants.
The CCI, which met for the seventh time since the passage of the 18th Amendment last year, also approved the handing over of Zakat distribution to the provinces. The chief ministers will work out a consensus formula for the disbursement of Zakat funds.
The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, was attended by chief ministers Shahbaz Sharif of Punjab, Qaim Ali Shah of Sindh, Amir Haider Khan Hoti of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Aslam Raisani of Balochistan.
The CCI asked the water and power ministry to coordinate with the provinces while formulating proposals regarding permission for power generation. The chief secretaries of the provinces would also be consulted for implementing the plan to privatise the power sector, said an official handout.
The constitutional body having representation from all the provinces decided that the federal government would soon release funds for victims of last year’s floods. The chief ministers have been asked to provide details of each affected household within two weeks.
The CCI also approved a proposal for submitting the Special Economic Zone Act 2011 to parliament to expedite work on setting up new economic zones. This would help bring in investment and promote a competitive environment for doing business.
The finance ministry has been asked to hold meetings with the provincial finance departments to finalise proposals for the public debt management policy which will be submitted to the National Economic Council.
KARACHI SITUATION: The prime minister described the violence in Karachi as the biggest challenge being faced by his government and urged the nation to support the operation launched by the Sindh government against criminals and target killers. He said the operation had full backing of the federal government.
Mr Gilani said that at a time when the government was engaged in efforts to strengthen democracy, anti-state elements had started creating hurdles in its path.
The four chief ministers called on Mr Gilani at the PM Secretariat before the CCI meeting.
Shahbaz Sharif apprised the prime minister of his government’s efforts to recover Shahbaz Taseer, the son of late Punjab governor Salman Taseer.
Aslam Raisani and Amir Haider Hoti briefed the prime minister on rehabilitation projects under way in flood-hit areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
