senate slams 20year

Senate slams 20-year delay in gas supply to Ghotki villages

ByJustpaste.in

Islamabad: The Senate Sub Committee on Petroleum has expressed serious concern over a delay of more than 20 years in providing gas to localities within five kilometers of Pakistan’s gas fields, highlighting administrative lapses despite directives from the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court. The Sub Committee, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo, called for accountability of the authorities responsible for failing to implement these binding instructions, particularly in Ghotki, one of the country’s major gas producing and densely populated districts.

During the session, MNA and subcommittee members reviewed the progress of gasification projects, noting that out of 57 villages identified in Ghotki, only 42 fall within the five kilometer radius of gas fields. Despite being included in earlier phases of the project in 2021, several schemes remain incomplete. Senator Haji Hidayatullah also raised concerns about ungasified localities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emphasizing that many eligible areas were still awaiting service.

Officials informed the committee that approximately Rs670 million is required to complete gasification in Ghotki, while around Rs1 billion may be made available in phases. The funding will be released as a grant and not through the PSDP, with the Petroleum Ministry responsible for preparing a phased implementation mechanism. The committee instructed the Ministry to present a comprehensive plan within a week, detailing timelines, responsibilities, and funding strategies to ensure full compliance with Supreme Court orders.

The Sub Committee criticized inconsistent and potentially misleading information previously provided by the Director General (Gas), Petroleum Division. The matter has been referred to the Senate Committee on Privileges to ensure future information is accurate, complete, and supported by official records. Additionally, the absence of the OGRA Chairman, despite prior directions to attend, was strongly noted. The committee decided to inform the Cabinet Division and request his presence at the next meeting to provide viable solutions.

The Managing Director of SSGC briefed the committee that Rs480 million had been used in accordance with existing subsidy and tariff provisions, but emphasized the need for a structured, transparent mechanism to ensure funds reach the intended localities. The Sub Committee also requested the Attorney General for Pakistan to attend the next meeting to explain the legal implications of Supreme Court judgments on gas provision.

Senator Abro underscored that the directions of both the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court must be implemented “in letter and spirit,” warning that no further undue delay would be tolerated. The Sub Committee emphasized the importance of a fully funded, transparent, and time bound strategy to ensure that all eligible villages in Ghotki, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and other regions within the five kilometer radius of gas fields receive gas access without further postponement.

The next meeting date and time will be announced separately, with expectations that all relevant stakeholders, including the OGRA Chairman, SNGPL representatives, and the Attorney General, will be present to finalize implementation plans.

Similar Posts

  • | | |

    Corruption cases transferred back to NAB courts in…

    ByJustpaste.in

    KARACHI: Corruption cases that had been shifted from accountability courts to anti-corruption courts have now been transferred back to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) courts. The development came after a request from a NAB prosecutor, following a Sindh High Court ruling that declared the earlier transfer of the cases to anti-corruption courts invalid. The accountability court has initiated proceedings to revive 15 references that were previously transferred. The Sindh High Court had directed that the cases pending before accountability courts be returned to NAB courts after setting aside the order through which they were moved to anti-corruption courts. NAB subsequently filed an application seeking restoration of the cases in compliance with the high court’s decision. The accountability court issued notices to the accused persons nominated in 15 separate references and summoned them for proceedings. Several officials and other individuals have been named in cases involving alleged corruption and illegal allocation of land. Balochistan provincial minister Ali Hassan Brohi is among those nominated in the cases. The court also issued notices to former Sindh chief secretary and former Land Utilisation member Siddiq Memon. Former Malir deputy commissioner Qazi Jan Muhammad and former district officer revenue Ijaz Hussain were also summoned. Notices were further issued to former additional secretary of Land Utilisation Abdul Qadir Memon and former section officer Ghulam Mustafa. Treasury officer Muhammad Musa Kazmi and assistant treasury officer Abdul Latif Khoso were also summoned by the court. The court additionally issued notices to Mirpur Sakro tapedar Nisar Ahmed Wagan and Ali Asghar Mendhro. Former Mukhtiarkar Iqbal Awan and Muhammad Hanif were also among those summoned in connection with the cases. The accountability court has also called several revenue officials and builders, including Javed Iqbal and Waseem Ahmed Sheikh, to appear before it.

  • | |

    GCU goes fully paperless, embracing digital govern…

    ByJustpaste.in

    LAHORE: Government College University (GCU) Lahore has become fully paperless after shifting its administrative operations to a cloud-based digital system, marking a major step towards modern and technology-driven governance. The transformation has been achieved through the successful implementation of the Punjab Information Technology Board’s (PITB) e-Filing and Office Automation System. The platform has been provided to the university free of cost on the special directives of the Punjab government. Under the new digital framework, administrative activities across all university departments will now be managed online through a single platform. Faculty and staff can submit leave applications, travel requests and annual performance reports, while official orders and administrative correspondence will also be processed digitally. The system will also replace conventional paperwork for departmental digital notes, approval of visiting faculty payments, purchase requests and meeting agendas. As a result, the traditional practice of physically moving files from one office to another will be eliminated. Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Umar Chaudhry described the move as an important milestone in the university’s digital transformation. He said paperless administration was not merely an environmental initiative but represented a structural shift towards greater transparency, efficiency and accountability. He added that eliminating administrative delays and manual file tracking would allow faculty members and heads of departments to devote more time and attention to teaching and research. He said the initiative could position GCU as a leading example of digital transformation among public-sector universities in Punjab. According to a university spokesperson, the paperless system is part of a broader digitalisation programme launched under the vice chancellor’s leadership during the previous academic year. The university had already introduced online approval mechanisms for student society events and digital billing for payments to visiting faculty. GCU is also preparing to launch a comprehensive e-Services Portal aimed at improving campus facilities. The upcoming platform will enable staff to submit maintenance requests and seek other support services digitally, helping resolve infrastructure-related issues more efficiently without disrupting academic activities. The university’s digital transformation is also extending beyond the campus. Work is underway to digitise the records of its alumni, further expanding the institution’s efforts to establish a modern, technology-based administrative system.

  • |

    Students protest Cambridge exam leaks

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Accountability4Cambridge has called for a student protest against Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) over alleged examination paper leaks during the 2026 examination cycle, saying the incidents have raised serious concerns about fairness and the credibility of Cambridge examinations. The student group said reports of leaked papers emerged in 2024 and increased in 2025, but Cambridge failed to provide sufficient public explanations or demonstrate that it had effectively strengthened its examination security system. According to Accountability4Cambridge, leaked material from several major papers circulated before scheduled examination times in 2026. The group compiled evidence from 17 alleged cases, including screen recordings showing time-zone information that it says established that the material was available before the relevant examinations. Cambridge recognised four cases and took action, but the students say the remaining evidence was not adequately addressed. The group raised the issue before the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on May 18 and again on June 16. Following the meetings, a sub-committee comprising IBCC, Cambridge, Accountability4Cambridge, the British Council, the Ministry of Education and NCCIA was formed. During a July 13 meeting, the students presented the 17 recordings and asked Cambridge to respond. After Cambridge questioned the reliability of the videos, Accountability4Cambridge sought forensic verification from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The group said NCCIA’s report, received on July 29, found no evidence of tampering in the submitted recordings. Accountability4Cambridge subsequently requested another sub-committee meeting to present the forensic findings. The meeting was initially scheduled for August 7 but was postponed to August 12 after Cambridge said it was unavailable. The students have also criticised Cambridge’s decision to use S1 paper marks instead of assessed marks. They argue that using compromised papers for grading could unfairly benefit students who accessed leaked material while disadvantaging those who did not. Accountability4Cambridge is demanding reversal of the S1 marking decision, lower grade thresholds for Computer Science and Mathematics, recognition of additional leaks supported by forensic evidence, publication of a detailed investigation report and a transparent mechanism for handling compromised examinations. The group has also urged schools to demand greater accountability from Cambridge. Founder Samaak Iqbal Malik said the dispute concerns the integrity of the entire examination system rather than a few individual papers. The organisation has announced a student demonstration outside the IBCC office in G-10, Islamabad, at 1pm on Wednesday, August 12, calling for immediate action before the controversy further affects students’ academic futures.

  • | | |

    Punjab steps up Urban flood management

    ByJustpaste.in

    FAISALABAD: The Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority (PWASA) has stepped up its monsoon preparedness by deploying advanced machinery, completing large-scale desilting operations, and launching a modern command and control system aimed at improving flood management and emergency response across the province. Speaking to reporters, PWASA Director General Tayyab Fareed said the authority has cleared nearly 650,000 tonnes of solid waste while completing the cleaning of drains, sewer lines, and manholes before the peak monsoon season. He added that a state-of-the-art Central Command and Control Room equipped with 13 digital dashboards is now providing real-time monitoring of rainfall and drainage conditions across Punjab. Fareed said PWASA was established under the Punjab Water and Sanitation Act in June 2024, initially taking over the province’s five existing Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASAs). Since then, the Punjab government has expanded the network in phases, bringing the total number of district-level WASAs to 41. He noted that this year’s monsoon arrived nearly two weeks later than usual, with heavy rainfall recorded during the second half of July across central and northern Punjab, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Okara, and Nankana Sahib. According to the PWASA chief, a province-wide 45-day desilting campaign was completed ahead of the rainy season, with all activities digitally tracked to improve transparency and operational efficiency. To strengthen sanitation services, the Punjab government has invested heavily in new equipment. Machinery worth Rs6.5 billion has been procured for 15 major cities, while an additional Rs7.5 billion has been allocated to equip smaller WASAs established during the latest expansion phase. In total, around 950 machinery units, including dewatering pumps, cranes, tractor-trolleys, backhoe loaders, and other specialized equipment, are planned for deployment across Punjab. More than 300 units have already been delivered to field teams. Fareed said the central control room coordinates directly with field staff while working closely with the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, Rescue 1122, and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to ensure a faster and more effective response during heavy rainfall. He also highlighted several long-term infrastructure projects designed to improve water management. These include a proposed Rs55 billion wastewater treatment project in Lahore and another project of similar value that will treat water from the BRB Canal to provide a sustainable surface water supply, reducing dependence on groundwater. In addition, PWASA has constructed 18 underground rainwater storage tanks in Lahore and 10 more in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Okara, and Sahiwal. The tanks are currently being used to collect rainwater during the monsoon and are emptied after rainfall to prepare for future weather events, helping improve urban flood management across the province.

  • | |

    Naqvi backs independent ministry performance revie…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said he will recommend that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif order an independent performance review of all federal cabinet ministers to evaluate the effectiveness of their ministries. Speaking on the country’s governance and accountability, Naqvi said every ministry should undergo a third-party assessment so that its performance can be measured through an impartial process. He added that the findings of the evaluation should be made public to ensure transparency and strengthen public confidence in government institutions. The interior minister expressed confidence in the stability of the current political setup, saying the government would complete its full five-year constitutional term. He dismissed speculation about any change in the existing system and said the democratic process would continue without interruption. Naqvi stressed that regular performance evaluations would help improve governance, identify weaknesses and encourage ministries to deliver better public services. He said objective assessments by independent experts would contribute to greater efficiency and accountability across the federal government. Responding to criticism directed at him, the interior minister thanked those who had remarked that he achieved in three years what normally takes three decades. He described such comments as recognition of his work and said he appreciated both criticism and acknowledgment of his performance.

  • | |

    Goods transporters defer nationwide strike for 40 …

    ByJustpaste.in

    Goods transporters have announced a 40-day postponement of their nationwide strike following talks with government representatives in Karachi. The negotiations were held at the Governor House in Karachi. Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and All Pakistan Goods Transporters Association President Malik Shahzad attended the meeting. Speaking at a press conference after the talks, Malik Shahzad said transporters had decided to postpone the strike after receiving assurances from the government. He said the transporters had been on a nationwide strike for the past nine days. According to him, the Sindh government assured them that the parking issue would be addressed. Shahzad said the government had also sought 15 days to review the mechanism for determining petroleum prices. The issue of whether fuel prices should be revised every 15 days or once a month would be examined, he added. He said Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan had assured the transporters that a committee would be formed to review toll taxes and consider reducing the charges. The transporters were also assured that 10-wheeler vehicles would be allowed to carry an appropriate weight, Shahzad said. He added that the federal and provincial governments had already resolved some of their concerns. Other issues require decisions at the cabinet level, he said. Shahzad said meetings of the relevant committees would continue. He expressed hope that the government would fulfil its commitments. He clarified that the transporters were not ending their strike permanently. Instead, they were postponing it for 40 days. He warned that the transporters could resume protests if the government failed to implement the assurances given during the negotiations. Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said the government had addressed the transporters’ issues that could be resolved immediately. He said some demands required formal procedures, which the government would complete. Several committees had been formed to work on the remaining issues, he added. Aleem Khan also criticised the condition of the Karachi-Hyderabad road. He said the existing road could not properly be described as a motorway. He announced that work on a new motorway from Sukkur to Hyderabad and onward to Karachi would begin this year. The minister said the government wanted to avoid decisions that could create unnecessary disputes. Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi said the regional situation was currently unusual and had significant economic implications. He said the economic effects of conflicts were being felt not only in Pakistan but across the world. He added that the prime minister and the field marshal were making efforts to ensure that the impact on the public remained manageable. Hashmi said the government and transporters had listened to each other during the negotiations. Both sides, he added, agreed that they were prepared to make sacrifices for the country. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said the authorities had spent the entire day trying to resolve the issues raised by transporters. He said the Sindh government would take action on matters falling under its jurisdiction. Wahab stressed that the authorities wanted to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than confrontation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *