NHA takes over Islamabad’s roads

on 03/07/2020

The federal government has started cutting the size of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) under its reforms program designed by Dr. Ishrat Hussein, the advisor to the prime minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity.
Under the program which came before the federal cabinet last year, the authority, huge establishment looking after Pakistan’s capital would be absolved of many responsibilities and powers and thus reduced to be a policy-making organization in practical terms. Many of CDA responsibilities would be handed them over to various federal ministries.
As far as the reforms are concerned, the cabinet has decided to give Road Directorate of CDA to the National Highway Authority (NHA). Authority’s ministry–the Ministry of Communication—has been asked to transfer the said directorate to its fold.
The reforms have brought fortunes for another ministry—the Ministry of Housing—too as CDA has been forbidden from developing new residential sectors. The authority would only complete stalled residential sectors.
After the approval of the cabinet, the Interior Division had been asked to prepare an action plan. As a result, the Interior Division furnished a report on the implementation status of the recommendations approved by the cabinet to the Institutional Reforms Cell.
Now as per the report, it is decided in the aforementioned cabinet meeting that the CDA Hospital and Health Services Directorate should be transferred to the Ministry of National Health Services while the CDA Model School should be transferred to the Ministry of Federal Education.
The Sports and Culture Directorate would be transferred to the Ministry of Interprovincial Coordination and the Road Directorate, Machinery Pool Organisation (MPO), Special Projects and Geological Lab would be transferred to the NHA.
The project directorates for the National Police Academy, Parliament Lodges, Electrical and Mechanical Development, Aiwan-i-Sadr, MinistersEnclave and Federal Government Residences and Lodges would be transferred to a dedicated cell under the Ministry of Housing and Works. The letter said that the primary responsibility of the CDA should be updating and implementing the capitals master plan, setting standards and enforcing building control, regulating private housing societies and monitoring and enforcing zoning laws.A master plan commission has been formed by the [prime minister] and its recommendations should be implemented, the letter said.
It also said that development projects under the Public Sector Development Programme should be planned and executed by the relevant ministries and not the CDA.
Maintenance, repairs and operations of all federal offices and residential buildings in Islamabad is an agency function performed on behalf of the federal government should be reverted to it. The federal government provides a maintenance grant of Rs 2.1 billion annually to CDA, it stated, adding that the CDA should no longer operate any hospitals, laboratories or schools, as it has neither the capacity nor the expertise to do so

Power Capacity Expansion Plan (2020-47) has marked a full stop to all other upcoming projects:

on 03/07/2020

The decision of Power Capacity Expansion Plan will decide the direction of the country’s power sector in the future, the power regulators advised to hold for a time being for starting any new projectuntil the final decision is announced by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).

            Power Division has announced to all the concerned authorities of the Energy sector that the old system and its projects are not in favor of the country and its consumers and because it is neither capable to meet the demand of the country nor able to present the transparency in its mechanism. It is giving stress to execute the Integrated Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) which is a policy document prepared by the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), through it the country will have various fuel and technology categories and also in lesser price than the present one.

            Now the plan is in the Nepra’s office for approval since April 20. Whereas, Nepra is reluctant to announce a haste decision as it needs perfection and sound policy for the completion of the plan, which is taking more time.             The authorities said that they have started to consult all other stakeholders including provinces, experts, and also taking public opinion regarding this plan. And trying to resolve each other’s reservations and concerns and doing their best that no one is ignored while making the decisions and want that plan should be viable and free from any kind of interruption during its execution.

Import of Furnace Oil is no more unlawful in Pakistan:

on 03/07/2020

The government has taken a stern step to fulfill the demand for power supply, when it is much needed because or rise in temperature in all over the country. The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) has allowed importing the furnace which was banned by the same company to give relief to local refineries in January last year. According to this decision, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) will import around 195,000 tonnes of furnace oil, while already having 260,000 tonnesof furnace oil in the country’s reserve, and will be helpful to meet the demand of the country.             Apart from PSO Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are also allowed to import the furnace oil through PSO or other Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) with approval from the power division. Whereas, the petroleum division is requested to facilitate the import of furnace oil by the IPPs ad OMCs by the power division. On the other hand, the power division is asked to issue NOC to their desired IPPs for arranging HSFO import so there will be no interruption in the supplies of furnace oil.

The country energy sector is in jeopardy

on 03/07/2020

Islamabad is facing a huge setback in the energy sector. The maximum usage of fuel is still unable to diminish the electricity load shedding from the country.  The private sector is continuously looking towards the government for the permission of LNG import, which is necessary to fulfill the demand of energy in private power plants, textile and CNG sector at almost half the price.

On the other hand, the power generation in Karachi has much improved due to the change in the source of re-gasified liquid natural gas (RLNG), which is now taken from Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL) rather than from Sui Northern Gas Company Ltd (SNGPL) and it has turned down the merit order of the National Transmission & Dispatch Company (NTDC).

The demand of LNG is rational and profitable instead of high-speed diesel for power generation according to The Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Whereas, the government is continuously losing its assets on expensive fuel, by giving the order to import furnace oil for the national grid and KE system.

The position of SNGPL is also in difficulty as it is not able to fulfill the need for fuel of Bhikki, Haveli Bahadur Shan, and Balloki, which is about 1320 megawatts each. It claims that SNGPL has to provide 80-150 million cubic feet of gas to Karachi.

Sources report that IPPs have been given intimation to prepare themselves for the usage of High-Speed Diesel (HSD). Although the demand for HSD is also increasing in the transport sector and its use in other sectors will create a chaotic situation in the country because after the increase in its use there will be only 9 days of stock will be left for the transport sector which is an alarming situation for the government. And it was not only about demand but also cost, the cost of HSD and furnace oil is also much higher and increasing the burden on the shoulder of its consumer, a common man.             This situation has triggered the protest, some IPPs has written a letter to the Ministry of Energy Omar Ayub Khan and has informed about the discrepancies due to the latest situation. They also informed him that the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) is continuously enforcing them to get ready the plants on HSD. Whereas, the electricity on diesel is not beneficial for the consumers. The comparison of diesel and RLNG is also provided by IPPs, according to the electricity on diesel cost the government Rs15-20 per kWh (unit) and if it was done on spot RLNG it would come down to Rs7-8 per unit, which is much more different and beneficial for the consumers. Another issue regarding HSD is the immediate payment, there is a significant decline in the recovery of billing amount due to Covid-19 and the increasing rate of HSD would aggravate circular debt status and also disturb the cycle of payment of CPPA and power plants.

Expo 2020 Dubai postponed to next year

on 01/07/2020

The 12-month postponement of Expo 2020 Dubai has been formally ratified by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) at its general assembly.
The World Expo awarding body announced that it had already received the two-thirds majority required form its 170 member states.
At its assembly in Paris, the BIE said the new dates of Expo 2020 Dubai have officially changed to October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
It added that the six-month event will keep the name ‘Expo 2020 Dubai’.
The postponement came as a result of a request from the UAE government to change the dates following a meeting of the Expo 2020 Dubai Steering Committee, in which participating countries expressed their need to postpone the event in order to focus in the imminent challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The request then went through BIE’s formal procedures, which included examination by its own executive committee and a subsequent voting process.
“While this situation is unprecedented, the response by the Government of the UAE and by our Member States demonstrates the strong bonds that tie us and the shared commitment we have to delivering a truly inclusive World Expo,” said Dimitri Kerkentzes, the Secretary General of the BIE.
“The difficulties raised by the Covid-19 pandemic illustrate the importance of sharing solutions and co-ordinating our actions.”
He added, “The world is now more than ever looking forward to Expo 2020 Dubai to connect, reflect and celebrate the future