PM calls for arranging funds for Thar coal on top priority basis

ISLAMABAD: The 8th meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) after 18th amendment held here Thursday with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in the chair which considered six agenda items and approved Annual Report of the last year.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Shraif, Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister KPK Mr. Amir Haider Khan Hoti, including Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Minister for Water and Power, Mr. Naveed Qamar, Minister for Science and Technology, Mir Chengz Khan Jamali, Minister for Communications, Dr. Arbab Alamigir Khan, and Minister for IPC, Mir Hazar Khan Bajrani along with Chief Secretaries of all provinces and other senior officials.

The meeting considered six agenda items and approved Annual Report of the last year which is to be laid before the Parliament as a constitutional requirement.

The Prime Minister on the presentation by the Sindh Chief Minister directed the Planning Division and Economic Affairs Division to provide full support in arranging funds for Thar Coal Project on top priority basis as this being national project for power generation.

The Prime Minister also directed on the request by Chief Ministers Punjab and Sindh to incentivise the power generation by the sugar mills using their baggas to generate around 2000 MW per annum.

The Prime Minister asked the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance to convene an Energy Conference at the earliest which he would preside aimed at removing the snags, if any, being faced at present.

The CCI approved, in principle, the policy of Petroleum Exploration and Production 2012. The CCI approved the policy as its implementation would help a great deal to overcome energy shortage in the country.

Prime Minister directed that a meeting of Provincial Governments' representatives be held early next week to address some observations raised by the provinces.

The CCI approved amendment in its earlier decision for charging paisa 30 MAF of water and {paisa for each unit of electricity produced from hydal and nuclear sources.

The CCI also approved National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2012 which was approved by all the Chief Ministers.

The CCI approved the financing of Provincial Population Welfare Departments at the level of 2010-11 as per earlier commitment of the Federal Government.

The Prime Minister further directed the Finance Secretary to hold a meeting with provincial governments to work out the financial outlay as a consequence of the 18th Amendment.