Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed an across-the-board action against those involved in electricity and gas pilferage.
This he stated while chairing a meeting to review problems being faced by the Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa (KP) government in energy sector here on Friday.
The meeting was attended by Power Minister Umar Ayub, Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and other high-ups of the concerned departments.
Umar Ayub briefed the participants of the meeting about the steps being taken by his ministry to overcome the energy theft, whereas the petroleum minister apprised the meeting of gas supply to KP.
Khan, while extending support of the federal government, directed ministries concerned for immediate solution to the energy issues at the provincial level.
He said it was unacceptable that common people were suffering due to theft and mismanagement of others.
Information minister says consultations will be held to make the new entity acceptable to everyone
Last month, Minister for Power Umar Ayub Khan had said special cable would be laid in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to overcome the theft of electricity, besides upgrading grid stations.
Addressing a news conference in Peshawar, Umar Ayub Khan had said the government was making all out efforts to control line losses and theft of electricity.
Separately, a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad decided to introduce reforms in Punjab police on Friday.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and other provincial officials attended the meeting.
Later briefing media about the meeting, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the reforms are aimed at capacity building of police and changing police culture in the province.
He said Police Act similar to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be introduced in Punjab after necessary amendments.
The minister said one hundred model police stations would be set up across Punjab in order to provide better policing services to the citizens.
He said that the prime minister had assured that those responsible for Sahiwal tragedy would be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, talking to a private news channel, the information minister said the country’s media had changed altogether due to advancement in technology and it was need of the hour to run it under one administrative umbrella.
He said the federal cabinet has approved establishment of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority, for which consultation would be held with all stakeholders to make it acceptable for everyone.
Fawad Chaudhry said the new media regulatory authority would not be under the government’s control and most of its members would be from journalist organizations to make it more balanced and effective.
Replying to a question, the minister said the government has reached an agreement with Pakistan Broadcasters Association and has successfully resolved the matter of advertisement.
Published in Daily Times, January 26th 2019.
