ISLAMABAD: Minister Attaullah Tarar, overseeing Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage, and Culture, stated that the technical committee would deliberate on Jamaat-e-Islami’s demands.
Speaking to the media after discussions with the Jamaat-e-Islami delegation at the Commissioner Office, the information minister stated that the government was making all-out efforts to provide relief to the people. He added that the government was earnestly working to attract foreign investment, which would help generate employment.
“The government is trying to convince foreign investors that the cost of production is very low in Pakistan, so factories should be established here to help end unemployment,” Tarar said.
“Fluctuations in exchange rates were controlled and stabilized. We succeeded in bringing the country out of an economic default situation,” he said, adding that the government’s solid steps would help enhance exports and control inflation.
The government was focusing on improving the investment climate, he said, adding that if petroleum prices remain stable in the international market, they would be able to provide relief to the people in the rates of petroleum products.
Regarding the sit-in by Jamaat-e-Islami in Rawalpindi, he said the location of Liaquat Bagh was fixed, adding that people were facing difficulties due to the road closure.
The minister informed that a technical committee comprising the Minister of Power, Secretary Power, FBR, and Finance Ministry representatives had been formed, which would hold the next round of talks with the representatives of Jamaat-e-Islami. “We will make efforts to resolve the issue amicably tomorrow,” he informed.
Giving details of steps being taken by the government regarding solarization, the minister said that the Prime Minister had already launched the Solar Tube Wells project, under which 38,000 solar tube wells were being installed in Balochistan. Steps are being taken to shift the tube wells to solar energy through a bank financing mechanism in collaboration with the governments of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he added.
Attaullah Tarar said that the government was taking all possible measures to reduce the electricity tariff by generating economical and quality electricity.
He said that a Rs. 50 billion subsidy was already given to electricity consumers using up to 200 units. “The government is also starting various solar projects to replace fuel-powered plants,” he said, adding that the installation of solar tube wells would reduce electricity consumption.
He said that a Rs. 50 billion subsidy had already been given to electricity consumers using up to 200 units. “The government is also starting various solar projects to replace fuel-powered plants,” he said, adding that the installation of solar tube wells would reduce electricity consumption.
The Minister said that no change had been made in the government’s negotiation team. He informed that the Minister for Power, Awais Leghari, was in China. The government’s team will meet and hold talks with the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, who had some issues particularly related to electricity.
“We talked to the delegation of Jamaat-e-Islami in a pleasant atmosphere. We all want inflation to be controlled so that the issue of unemployment can be addressed and electricity can be provided at cheaper rates,” he said, adding that the technical committee would discuss the issues with Jamaat-e-Islami and try to address them.
“We are moving towards green renewable energy,” he said. The minister highlighted that people had been given relief in electricity bills by reducing the development budget.
