Cabinet agrees to provide wheat seeds to flood-hit farmers

• Cabinet decided to ensure provision of seeds to farmers for next wheat crop
• Cabinet agreed to install advance meters on power transformers to reduce losses
• A committee was formed for recommendations on reducing line losses

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday decided to ensure the provision of seeds to the farmers for the next wheat crop in collaboration with the provinces.

The decision was made keeping in view the destruction of ripened crops on millions of acres of land due to the recent floods and the possible shortage of local seeds. The provincial and federal governments would ensure the provision of 50 percent for a joint fund.

In this regard, the cabinet ratified the Economic Coordination Committer (ECC) decision approving Rs3.2 billion supplementary grant to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for the purchase of wheat seed and for certain districts as identified by the provinces.

The cabinet tasked the NDMA to purchase seeds for the next cultivation of the wheat crop in the flood-hit areas which would ensure the completion of this process prior to the cultivation season.

Advance meters

The federal cabinet decided to expand the current installation of advance meters project in Islamabad to other areas of the country to overcome the issue of line losses. It also approved the installation of advance meters on power transformers.

The prime minister directed for preparation of a list of corrupt officers in the power distribution companies and deputing of well-reputed officers to different posts to improve the functioning of companies, reduce line losses and ensure better public delivery. He observed that such performing offices should be encouraged with appreciation and awards.

The cabinet was given a detailed briefing by the Power Division regarding electricity theft, line losses and the comprehensive strategy to reduce them.

The meeting was also apprised of the power theft, line losses, bills and recovery in the DISCOS with the presentation of all the relevant data, besides, issues in the way of recovery from those feeders which had been running into losses and the steps and proposals in this regard.

The prime minister directed the power division to present in the next meeting a comprehensive report on the vacant posts of essential staff in the DISCOs and stressed that the employment process should be held transparent while bringing it at par with the best global practices.

Expressing his dissatisfaction over the average 7 percent line losses, the prime minister set up a committee headed by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for the formulation of a comprehensive plan to reduce line losses under global practices immediately, besides submission of recommendations for reforms in the power distribution companies.

Other members of the committee included Minister for Trade and Production Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastagir, Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri, Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik, Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch, Minister for Housing Maulana Abdul Wasay, PM’s Advisor Engineer Amir Muqam and the secretary power.

The committee would hold a consultation and present a comprehensive strategy before the cabinet over the next two weeks.

Solar power projects

The cabinet also approved the recommendation of the power division for the promotion of low-cost solar power energy initiatives throughout the country to replace the import of costly fuel.

These steps included running of the existing power units on solar energy during the day time instead of using costly imported fuel, grant of permission to the private investors on a small level to install 11 KV feeders in the rural areas and shifting of the government-owned buildings on solar energy system.

The federal cabinet also directed for the continuation of the recent census process without any delay. It also approved Rs17 billion technical supplementary grant for the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme for the fiscal year 2022-23.

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