ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed today that a number of small dams are under construction across the country which will be completed next year.
This was stated by Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Chaudhary Jaffar Iqbal while speaking during question hour. He said the under construction dams included 100 delay action dams in Balochistan, 20 small dams in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Small Storage Dams and Delay Action Dams in Sindh, Sanam, Palai and Kundal Dams in KP, reconstruction of Shadi Kaur Dam and Small Dams in Kalat. He said these dams are on various stages of completion.
Answering a question, Jaffar Iqbal said currently Pakistan is importing 74 MW of electricity from Iran. He pointed out that the existing capacity has been enhanced to 104 MW and Quetta Electric Supply Company will start taking additional electricity soon. He said a contact has also been signed with Iran for import of 100 MW electricity for Gwadar. He said an MoU has also been signed for import of 1000 MW electricity from Iran and work is continuing on both the sides in this regard.
The Parliamentary Secretary informed the House that DISCOs are working on reducing the line losses in their areas. He said five new feeders are being established in Swat. To a question, he said eight percent decrease in export of Basmati Rice has been registered due to non-competitiveness in prices. He said the exports have not been decreased due to rice quality. He said after announcement of Kisan Package, it is hoped that Pakistan will be able to give competitive price in the international market which will help increase export of Basmati Rice.
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Chaudhary Jaffar Iqbal told the House that Kisan Package announced by the Prime Minister earmarked many concessions and incentives for the progress of agriculture sector. It include direct cash assistance to rice and cotton growers be equally shared by the federal and provincial governments. He said the scheme was implemented in Punjab because of the sharing of fifty percent provincial share. He said no other province shared its fifty percent share that is why there is no disbursement.
Replying to a question, Jaffar Iqbal said Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has registered more than 1500 drug molecules with more than 70,000 registered products. More than 400 registered formulations and molecule are classified as essential medicines. He said the directions have already been given to the concerned firms for uninterrupted availability of life saving and essential medicines.
Parliamentary Secretary for Ports and Shipping Mian Imtiaz Ahmad said Pakistan National Shipping Corporation is intending to start passenger-cum cargo ferry service within the country. He said this service will be started on Karachi-Gwadar including Pasni and Ormara and Karachi to Port Qasim Authority.
INP