NA told 2 power units of 480 MW to be installed

ISLAMABAD (SANA): The National Assembly Monday was informed that two power units of 480 megawatts each are to be installed at Tarbela Dam to overcome power shortage on long-term basis.

Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf told the House during question House that the World Bank has shown willingness to provide assistance for preparation of detailed engineering design, tender documents and PC-I of the project which would cost 700 million dollars. The project is expected to be complete in five years.

To another question he said the World Bank has made a commitment to provide assistance for undertaking Sediment Management Study of Tarbela Reservoir. The study will explore to possibility of silt evacuation from the reservoir and its transport through downstream river regime to prolong useful life of the reservoir.

Replying to a question Raja Pervez Ashraf said PEPCO made advance payment of over ten point five billion rupee to five rental power projects. The advance payment is recoverable from rental bills on commissioning of plants.

To yet another question the Minister said saving of about 200 megawatts power is achieved by advancing clocks by one hour.

He said WAPDA has been entrusted with the task to construct thirty-two small and medium dams in four provinces and FATA for irrigated agriculture development in arid areas.

Twelve dams have been selected for fast track construction in phase-I which will help store two point five million acre feet of water to irrigate over six hundred and thirty-five thousand acres of land.

He said five such dams would be constructed in Balochistan, three in Sindh and two each in the NWFP and Punjab.

He said China would provide 700 million dollars as Buyer’s Credit for construction of these dams.

He said that government is making coordinated efforts to meet the future water needs.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira informed the House that over eighty-eight thousand and eight hundred government advertisements were released to 725 daily newspapers on the central media list of the government.

He said that PEMRA had issued eighty-one licenses for satellite TV channels in the country so far besides twenty-nine landing rights to twenty-nine foreign satellite TV channels.

In a written reply the information Minister said there is a project for establishment of FM Radio Stations at Saidu Sharif and Dir. FM Radio Station at Saidu Sharif will be established within the current financial year provided adequate funds are released well in time. The Radio Station at Dir will be set up during the next three years depending upon the availability of funds.

To another question the Minister said that almost all the displaced families of Swat and Malakand have returned to their homes. He said about three hundred eighty-two thousand families have been registered after their confirmation from various agencies and their database has been released. He said the aid was disbursed in a transparent manner. He said that fifty billion rupees have been earmarked in the budget for the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure in the affected area.

Responding to a question Minister for Labour and Manpower informed the House that two hundred seventy-nine thousand workers proceeded abroad for employment during the first eight months of the year. He said the government has signed MOUs with Libya, Italy and Bahrain for export of manpower to these countries.

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