CCI’s new gas policy dears 50pc wellhead price

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ISLAMABAD: The meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI) ratified 50pc raise in the wellhead price of natural gas under the new petroleum policy. It concluded resolving Energy Conference to be convened in Lahore to address longstanding energy crisis, TrendPK reports Friday.

The CCI met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani here which endorsed recommendation from its members seeking 50pc hike in wellhead price of natural gas to counter prevailing energy shortfall under the next year petroleum policy. 

The approval will make the average wellhead gas price dearer from $04 to $06.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah took up the issue of delay in release of funds for Thar Coal Project, prompting PM Gilani to direct Finance Secretary to release funds on priority basis.

Wellhead price is the transportation costs charged by the producer for petroleum or natural gas. TrendPK

Drug deaths: Privileged motion moved against Rana Sana

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LAHORE: PPP-led opposition in the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday moved a privileged motion against PML-N’s provincial law minister Rana Sana Ullah for his ‘misstatement’ about Chief Minister’s action on drug deaths, TrendPK reports.

Few days back, the law minister had assured the house that Shahbaz Sharif, which also holds portfolio of health minister among various other ministries, would himself brief the lawmakers over the deaths caused by mystery drug reaction.

However, Sharif could not attend the session for three consecutive days, leading to opposition’s rumpus in the house, forcing the Speaker to adjourn it for indefinite period.

PPP’s Opposition leader Raja Riaz on Tuesday submitted the motion in the house against Rana Sana Ullah for ‘misleading’ the house and lawmakers by his ‘misstatement’. TrendPK

Sanaullah, Riaz trade fire over drugs fiasco

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LAHORE: Government and opposition lawmakers in Punjab Assembly traded fire on Friday against each other over the deaths of dozens of people due to contaminated drugs.

Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz asked Shahbaz Sharif to step down as the chief minister due to the fiasco.

He said Khadim-e-Ala has become Qatil-e-Ala.

Disregarding the demand, Punjab’s Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said opposition has nothing substantial to offer. He said Chief Minister Sharif has no time to listen to junk talk.

Although precious lives are being wasted due to the spurious drugs, ruling and opposition leaders are wasting no opportunity to humble each other.

Speaking to newsmen after the Punjab Assembly session, Rana Sanaullah said his party would welcome any positive proposal by the opposition parties. But he said the chief minister has no time to hear the rubbish talk. TrendPK

PA melodrama: Riaz stresses on Rana Sana apology

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LAHORE: In not an unprecedented chaotic day in the Punjab Assembly, Leader of Opposition Raja Riaz Ahmed Tuesday said Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif is seemed to have signed a contract to kill innocent people.

Launching again a scathing attack against the CM Sharif, who calls himself Khadim-e-Aala (Chief Servant), Riaz termed the Chief Minister as Qatil-e-Aala (Chief Assassin).

Talking to a battery of reports outside the Punjab Assembly, the PPP leader bristled, “We, in strong words, condemn the invectives employed against the MPAs,” adding the CM does not show up at the assembly and instead, sends such ministers who uses inappropriate dictions against the other ministers.

Riaz maintained the province saw two massive scandals in education and health sectors and it is the CM Sharif who possesses the concerned two ministries.

‘Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) remained unstoppable vis-à-vis dictators like Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf; what to speak of Shahbaz Sharif,’ he asserted adding Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah will have to apologize at all costs.

Rana Sana, reacting to the situation, said the deaths did not take place owing to the fact that there was no health minister.

Commenting on former Federal Law Minister Babar Awan’s Umrah visit, the provincial law minister said the Satan has commenced protesting on his (Awan’s) Umrah, saying, “I (Satan) would be left alone if he (Awan) was pardoned.”

The PA session began two hours late, but, was soon adjourned till Friday morning on uncontrollable commotion over Rana Sana’s comments. TrendPK

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Local governments reinstated in whole Sindh

KARACHI: With the mark of pen, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad finalized reinstatement of Local Government system in entire Sindh province, TrendPK reported early Monday.

Meanwhile, Quaid Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain has welcomed the decision whereas Awami National Party (ANP) said that president Zardari and Governor Ebad jointly foiled attempts of conspiracy to divide Sindh on ethnic basis.

Shahbaz opposes new provinces on ethnic basis

LAHORE: Punjab’s Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif says he is not against new provinces, adding they should be formed on administrative grounds.

Speaking to newsmen on his return from a private visit to London today, Sharif opposed the idea of creation of new provinces on the ethnic basis. He, however, supported the establishment of more provinces on administrative basis. TrendPK

Punjab govt presents Rs 654.96b budget

LAHORE: Punjab government presented a balanced budget of Rs 654.96 billion for fiscal year 2011-12 in the Punjab Assembly session started here on Friday.

Giving break-up of the estimated General Revenue Receipts of Punjab government during next fiscal year, the Finance Minister Kamran Michael, in his budget speech, said that provincial government would receive a major share of its budget from the Federal Divisible Pool under National Finance Commission Award amounting to Rs 530.65 billion.

The Punjab would earn an estimated revenues of Rs 88.51 billion from Provincial Tax and Rs 35.65 billion under the head of Provincial Non-Tax Revenue, he added.

The Finance Minister elaborated that total Non-Developmental Budget has been estimated at Rs 434.74 billion, while a total of Rs 220 billion, 34 percent of the total budget, has been allocated for development projects.

He said, the Health Sector would receive a total budget of Rs 48.80 billion with Rs 25.50 billion for non-development and Rs 23.30 billion for development purposes.

The Education Sector’s total budget is Rs 62 billion with Rs 27.10 billion for non-development and Rs 34.90 billion for development, he said, adding, a grant of Rs 3 billion has been earmarked for Danish School Project in the financial year 2011-12.

The Finance Minister said that Police Department would get Rs 52.80 billion, while a grant of Rs 4.50 billion has been allocated for Yellow Cab Scheme and Rs 2 billion for provision of laptops/computers to students.

He said, a total of Rs 1.55 billion has been collected under Chief Minister Relief Fund, which was spent on reconstruction of 89 villages and 22 Model Villages.

The Punjab government, he said, has saved Rs 6 billion through austerity measures and 800 posts in various departments have been abolished as well as merging six deparments and abolishing project allowance and imposing ban on purchase of new furniture and equipment.

About tax measures, Michael said that Entertainment Tax has been reduced from 65 percent to 20 percent; GST on Services reduced from 17 to 16 percent; increase in token tax of over 1000cc vehicles; Rs 60,000 water conservatory charges on swimming pools per annum; Education Cess on membership of elite clubs. AGENCIES

Pakistani land will not be allowed to use for terrorism: PM

Talking to the media in Quetta, he said that war on terror was not an ordinary war, but a guerilla war with international repercussions. He said that the government wanted that the country’s land should not be used for terrorism.

He said that Pakistan wanted peaceful relations with Afghanistan and India, adding that the government would devise the foreign policy keeping in view the national interests. He said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government believed in the independence of media and civil rights, and that the protection of the journalists was the government’s top priority.

The prime minister categorically stated that there was no political prisoner in the country. He also denied that any journalist was in the custody of the government.

He said that the package of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan was given for the development of Balochistan. He said that he visited the province this time only to review law and order, but would come again with one point agenda and that would be the development of Balochistan.

He said that the United States had confirmed that Ilyas Kashmiri was dead.

The prime minister said that Pakistan and China enjoyed good relations, adding that no agreement had been made to hand over Gwadar Port to China.

He said that Pakistan should have drone technology, adding that intelligence sharing persisted between US and the ISI. He said that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was told that there was a tremendous pressure on the government with regard to drone attacks.

He also said that the government policy was to give people employment and not to render them jobless.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani were also present during the media talks.

Earlier, Gilani said that the world should recognise Pakistan’s efforts in war on terror.

Addressing a ceremony at Command and Staff College in Quetta, the prime minister said that the world had become a global village and no country could survive in isolation.

The prime minister said that the indigenous issues of every country had been internationalised and no country could solve its problems alone.

China agrees to control Gwadar Port, Raisani rejects decision

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said that China and Pakistan have agreed to work jointly to establish peace in the region. China will be handed over the control of Gwadar Port when Singapore Auhtority’s tenure would come to an end.

He revealed that China has also decided to give FC-20 jets to Pak Air Force while Pakistan had requested China to give a frigate of 44,000 tonnes weight on credit.

On the other hand, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawaz Aslam Raisani has rejected the decision of handing over the Gwadar Port to China because the federal government did not take the provincial government into confidence. He said that Balochistan government has ability to handle the port.

MQM chief condoles death of party workers

In a press statement issued from London, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain condoled the death of Asif Ali, Muneer Ahmed and Muhammad Naeem with the bereaved families.

The MQM Rabita Comittee said that the incident was a conspiracy to deteriorate the Karachi peace. The Rabita Comittee also demanded the governor and the Sindh chief minister take notice of the killings and order the arrest of miscreants involved in the incident.

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