Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Senate has been told that the PSO circular debt stands at Rs 146.60 billion and government is endeavouring to scale down the circular debt, according to the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, addressing the Senate during question hour on Wednesday.

Out of this debt, the government has to pay Rs 9.60 billion and claims amounting to Rs 555 billion are outstanding against WAPDA, Pepco and KEPKO. Circular debt was recorded at Rs 181 billion in January 2015 which has now been reduced to 146 billion rupees, he said. It was not allowed to be increased during the last eighteen months. The minister for interprovincial coordination Riaz Pirzada told the Senate that a hike in election expenses was witnessed during the 2013 general elections as against 2008 general elections. Audit report of expenses will be tabled in the house. No out of term allotment of house has been made to any government employee as there are clear directives of the Supreme Court regarding the allotment of houses, said Mr. Pirzada.

He said that ten officers and subordinate staff were working on deputation in the housing ministry and eleven in the state office. There was nothing wrong in sending employees to other departments on deputation. State minister for water and power Abid Sher Ali told the Senate that provinces have to pay outstanding dues of Rs 154 billion on account of electricity bills. Sindh High Court has so far ruled against disconnecting power supply to WASA. He said that Azad Kashmir government has to pay outstanding bills of electricity to the tune of Rs 63 billion and Sindh government Rs 73 billion.

An agreement has been reached with AJK government that electricity will be supplied to it at the cost of Rs 2.5 per unit. Sindh government should pay its outstanding dues and its genuine reservations will be addressed. Minister for religious affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf told the senate that a model deeni madrissah is operating in Islamabad since 2002 to impart religious education to the girls and it is our endeavour that deenis Madaris be set up in other areas of the country.