September 26, 2018 (MLN): Members of the Senate have requested the government to take a quick initiative to end the circular debt and free the country of electricity theft.

During a dialogue on the Senate’s Special Committee report on Circular Debt, Javed Abbasi underscored the previous government’s attempt at removal of circular debt and improvement of power generation, saying that they paid off a circular debt of 500 billion rupees and added eleven thousand megawatt of electricity to the national grid.

He further hoped that the newly elected government will add twelve thousand megawatt of electricity to the system at the end of its tenure, along with elimination of circular debt.

Mr. Jahanzeb Jamaldini suggested that the command and control system must be improved in order to get rid of the circular debt.

On the matter of power generation, he added that solar energy should be promoted within the country in order to meet the domestic electricity demands, particularly in Baluchistan.

Rehman Malik told the committee that about 25% of electricity theft has been recorded, adding that power thieves should be punished.

Other than this, the opposition senators expressed their disapproval over the mini budget presented recently by the new government. The lawmakers opposed the gas price hike saying that the repercussions of a price hike include a leap in the cost of fertilizers.

The Senators also drew attention to the issue of safeguarding the interests of farmers and cotton industry of the country, as well as trade, suggesting that steps must be taken to promote exports and attract foreign investment.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan responded to a Calling Attention Notice by notifying the House that the government is making efforts to address the issue of lack of basic facilities at the new Islamabad International Airport

The House was then adjourned until today, 3 pm when the meeting will be conducted again.

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