ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi emphasised on Friday the importance of improving engagement between Pakistan and the United States. Abbasi said this while speaking to US Ambassador David Hale in Islamabad. The PM said that Pakistan and US needed to collaborate to pursue common objectives and issues of mutual interest. Both PM and the US ambassador agreed that the relation between the two countries should be strengthened through multi-faceted engagement. During a separate meeting with Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal, the PM reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability in the region with special focus on Afghanistan. He also expressed his support for reconciliation between the two neighbouring countries. On the other hand, Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal said that Afghan government was willing to improve bilateral relations with Pakistan. The bilateral relations between the two countries have significant historical, cultural, economic and political linkages, he added. Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair also called on the PM on Friday. The governor briefed the PM regarding various ongoing and new development projects of the federal government in Sindh province particularly in Karachi. The governor also informed the PM about the positive feedback received from private sector and the business community about the investment-friendly policies of the government and improved law and order situation. Meeting: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday directed the Ministry of Power and the heads of the power distribution companies (DISCOs) to come up with a comprehensive plan for improving system efficiency, reducing line losses and equipping the system to meet increased demand and supply situation in the country. He said this during a briefing on the performance of various DISCOs across the country at Prime Minister’s office. Heads of various distribution companies briefed the PM about the overall performance of their respective organizations, focusing on the load management profile in their areas and the measures being taken to reduce line losses and improve recoveries. The PM directed the heads of the distribution companies to carry out a detailed diagnostic analysis of the technical and administrative issues of the existing system and come up with workable solutions for their redressal. Transmission and distribution losses, along with slippage in recoveries of billed amount were causing a huge drain in national finance, the prime minister added. Taking notice of various issues highlighted by the parliamentarians concerning developmental schemes in the power sector, the PM directed heads of distribution companies to adopt a proactive approach with regards to implementation of projects being undertaken under Sustainable Development Goals. The PM also directed DISCO chiefs to put in place a robust complaint management system in their respective organizations and to be more responsive towards public representatives. Power demand and supply situation in the country was also reviewed during the meeting. The meeting noted with satisfaction that there was a marked improvement in the power generation and supply situation compared to the years 2013-14. The PM reiterated that achieving balanced energy mix and achieving reduction in the basket price of electricity remains the foremost priority of the government. Published in Daily Times, September 16th 2017.