MUZAFFARABAD (Parliament Times) The Prime Minister of AJK, Raja Farooq Haider Khan on Friday presided a high level meeting of electricity department in Muzaffarabad.
He was given detailed briefing on line losses and arrears worth 12 billion rupees. “6 billion rupees were to be recovered from government departments, 2 billion from armed forces while 4 billion from common consumers of the State. Electricity department had set target of recoveries of 6 billion during the current financial year” PM was told.
e was further told that federal government had agreed to bring water use charges equal to royalty. However, “services of consultants would be hired by the department to ascertain its benefits and other aspects. The comprehensive report of the consultants would be submitted to the Prime Minister” he was told.
Addressing the meeting the Prime Minister directed the officials to take concrete steps for arrears recoveries as he said maximum revenues comes from electricity department. He urged for upgradation of transmission lines to ensure minimum line losses. “Awareness should be created among the masses to prevent unnecessary use of power” he said. He directed the electricity officials to ensure early recoveries from government departments and installation of separate meters for them in consultation with finance department. He emphasized that steps should be accelerated for separate meters and recovery of arrears from education department.
The Premier was of the view that by significant reduction in line losses and judicious use of power the power outages could also be overcome in the State.
e said Public sector projects like Neelum-Jhelum project and Mangla Dam project are not only the main sources of income of the State but also playing important role in meeting the power needs of the country. He called for significant bringing down of loadshedding in AJK for which contacts on regular basis should be kept with WAPDA and other power supplying companies in Pakistan.
Mr. Haider assured that government would spare no effort to address the issues of Neelum River water and protection of natural atmosphere of Muzaffarabad.
Earlier the Prime Minister visited police training center Shaukat Line and handed over the keys of newly purchased vehicles and folk lifters to the concerned officials.
He also inspected various sections of the police including under construction buildings and barracks for recruits. The Premier was given detailed briefing by Additional Inspector General Police Sardar Faheem Ahmed Abbasi on counter terrorism department.
SP Abid Mir briefed the PM on police reforms, completed and ongoing development projects and future planning of police force.
AJK Chief Secretary Mian Waheedud Din, IGP Shoaib Dastageer, Additional IGP Faheem Abbasi, DIG Special Branch Sardar Gulfraz Abbasi, DIG Headquarters Tahir Mehmood Qureshi, DIG Traffic Liaquat Ali, DIG Region Sardar Ilyas Khan, SSP Muzaffarabad division and a large number of police officials were present on the occasion.
