Council of Common Interests (CCI) on Monday approved a proposal to include Haveli Bahadur Shah (1230 MW) and Balloki (1223 MW) projects in the active list of privatisation programme for early implementation. In a meeting presided over by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, the CCI discussed the two projects. According to media reports, the CCI emphasised on the importance of incorporating renewable energy in the existing energy mix. The CCI had approved sell off of the newly established RLNG-based Balloki power plant and Haveli Bahadur power plant. Last week, the privatization committee had requested the National Power Parks Company (NPPC) to submit a working paper on its feasibility. The working paper to be prepared by NPPC will identify timelines, justifications and issues ancillary to it for consideration of the Privatisation Commission board and the cabinet committee on privatisation. The meeting also decided to improve ease of doing business in the country to attract investment, promote industries and harness the export potential of the country. Moreover, the meeting discussed the issue of rapid population growth. It was decided in the meeting that national and provincial task forces would be constituted on federal and provincial levels. The national task force would be headed by the PM while the provincial task forces would be led by respective chief ministers (CM). The task forces would consider the recommendations formulated by the task force constituted earlier on the orders of the Supreme Court and would submit a comprehensive action plan to the CCI. The meeting was attended by minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza, Finance Minister Asad Umer, Law Minister Farogh Naseem, Minister for Privatization Mohammad Mian Soomro, Punjab CM Usman Buzdar, Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan CM, Balochistan CM Jam Kamal Khan, Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Industry Abdul Razzaq Dawood, federal and provincial secretaries, and other senior officials. Published in Daily Times, November 20th 2018.