ISLAMABAD

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has proposed 29 energy projects worth $ 12 billion for inclusion in China Pakistan Economic Corridor to speed up the progress on the western route.
“The decision about the inclusion of the KP projects in CPEC will be taken by the relevant ministries with mutual consultation,” Chairman Parliamentary Committee on CPEC, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said here while presiding over meeting of the committee. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Energy Muhammad Atif represented the KP government and presented the perspective of provincial government regarding energy projects to be included in the CPEC before the Parliamentary Committee.
Minister for Energy, KP proposed 29 energy projects for their funding and inclusion in CPEC. He proposed to discuss these projects in the next Joint Coordination Committee on CPEC. The members of the Parliamentary Committee welcomed the presence of the Minister for Energy, KP in the meeting. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said the government wants to ensure representation of all provinces in all meetings on CPEC with China, including the upcoming meeting of Joint working Group on Energy in April and JCC in May.
The committee was informed that the total worth of the KP-proposed 29 energy projects is around $12 billion.
The Committee welcomed the proposals from the KP government and said the federal government’s relevant ministries should take these (proposals) forward after due consultation.
Federal planning minister Ahsan Iqbal and KP chief minister Pervez Khattak will hold meeting to decide about the inclusion of the KP projects in CPEC, chairman Parliamentary Committee said.
The Committee was also briefed by the chairman of National Highway Authority on the issue of Dera Ismail Khan Motorway regarding western route, its progress and timelines of completion. On the issue of registration of the indenture of lease with the government of Sindh, Secretary Water & Power, Mohammad Younus Dagha informed the committee that progress has been made which requires the approval from all stakeholders and the matter will be resolved within 2 weeks. He also informed that Minister for Water & Power, Khawaja Muhammad Asif will meet the Chief Minister Sindh on this issue next week, to finalize resolution of the issue.
Managing Director PPIB, on the progress report by the Committee comprising Senator Lt Gen (r) Salahuddin Tirmizi and Senator Shibli Faraz on the issue of Suki-Kinari Hydel Power Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, informed that a revised notice for land acquisition was issued on 16th March to impose Section-4. Chairman, Mushahid Hussain Sayed directed MD, PPIB to convene a meeting with the two members of the Committee including owners of the lands, Deputy Commissioner, Power Investment Company and all the concerned on 25th March, 2016 to resolve the issue.
Chief Minister, government of Gilgit Baltistan, Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman also attended the meeting as a special invitee and updated the Committee on the project of Diamer Bhasha Dam. He informed that the progress on the project is satisfactory. The new government in GB saved 7.5 billion in this project. The Chief Minister also invited the members of Parliamentary Committee on CPEC to visit Gilgit to know the progress of the CPEC projects in GB. The Chairman informed the Committee that the CPEC is a project of national interest and all the provinces will be given their due share. Senator Mushahid Hussain said Gilgit Baltistan has a key role to play in CPEC given the proximity to China. Senator Mushahid Hussain announced that the government of Balochistan would be invited to present its perspective before the Parliamentary Committee. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks for the chair.
The committee meeting was attended by its chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Akram Khan Durrani, Minister for Housing and Works, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs Statistics and Privatization, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, MNA, Asad Umar, MNA, Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, MNA, Senator Sardar Fateh Muhammad Muhammad Hassani, Senator Lt Gen (r) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Senator Talha Mehmood, Senator Shibli Faraz, Senator Baz Muhammad Khan, Chief Minister, Government of Gilgit Baltistan, Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman and Minister for Energy, KP, Muhammad Atif as special invitee.