Prime Minister chairs meeting of Council of Common Interest

Islamabad, February 10, 2014 (PPI-OT): The 25th CCI meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif here at PM Office Islamabad which was also attended by Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sind, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan. Secretary Inter Provincial Coordination Division Mr. Ejaz Chaudhry presented the agenda items.

Prime Minister said that presently the government has very limited resources to bear losses of state enterprises. In the past, un-necessary recruitments and corruption has resulted in miss-management of these organizations and therefore in the national interest, privatization is the only solution, said the Prime Minister. He further added that governance is a collective responsibility and all the provinces have to work in tandem. It was decided by the CCI to continue with the Policy of 2011 regarding privatization of Power Sector Entities i.e. DISCOs and GENCOs.

CCI approved issuance of Sovereign Guarantee for Thar coal mining project. Prime Minister said that Thar Coal is an important national Project which has to be fully supported as it would provide the much needed electricity at cheap rates. Moreover, it was decided that Sovereign Guarantees would be provided for all future coal based projects. The National Energy (Power) Policy 2013-18 was also approved.

CCI expressed its dissatisfaction over the performance of NEPRA and it was decided that a diagnostic analysis be conducted in order to improve its performance. Prime Minister directed that provincial consultation should be mandatory before appointment of Board Members in public sector companies so that equal representation is ensured. CCI was presented with Annual Report for the year 2012-13, which was approved.

The Pakistan Engineering Council (Amendment) Bill 2013 was approved by the CCI. On the issue of purchase of 20 percent shares of PPL, OGDCL and SSGCL at their face value under the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Baluchistan, Prime Minister directed the Finance Division to hold detailed consultations with Provinces.

Ministry of Water and Power was directed to hold meetings with all provinces to discuss the principles and decide upon mechanism for at-source deduction of outstanding power sector payables of provinces. CCI decided to expedite the transfer of properties in the name of PTCL so that revenue of US $ 800 million is realized.

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