CJ questions govt handling of IPPs

ISLAMABAD: During a hearing of the rental power projects (RPPs) case on Tuesday, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry inquired as to why the government had not utilised the independent power producers (IPPs) to reduce electricity shortage in the country, FTNews reported.

The apex court was hearing the case against alleged corruption in the RPPs. Moreover, during the hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar also sought details of the IPPs.

Khwaja Tariq Rahim, the counsel for the Ministry for Water and Power, told the court that currently 27 IPPs with the capacity of producing an overall 6,870 MW electricity were functioning across the country.

The chief justice remarked that there was no need for RPPs if the IPPs were made to work their full capacity.

Rahim informed the court that the RPPs were installed to fulfil the gap of power shortage which touches 4,000MW during the summer season.

He also cited the shortage of water in dams and reservoirs as another reason for loadshedding.

Read more »

Posted in: NATIONAL

US freeze on Pakistan aid unwise: Salim Saifullah

ISLAMABAD: A decision by a US Congressional panel to freeze $700 million in aid to Pakistan until it gives assurances it is helping fight the spread of homemade bombs in the region could hurt already strained ties, a senior Pakistani senator warned on Tuesday.

“I don’t think this is a wise move. It could hurt ties. There should instead be efforts to increase cooperation. I don’t see any good coming out of this,” Salim Saifullah, chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, told Reuters.

Read more »

Posted in: NATIONAL

Envoys meet for second day on reforming ties with US, Nato

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani envoys in major capitals around the world were meeting for the second day at their foreign policy review talks in Islamabad on Tuesday, FTNews reported.

The envoys were working at identifying different elements of ties with the United States and Nato that need to be redefined.

The 15 envoys at the end of their two-day deliberations will come up with a set of recommendations that will form the basis of future relationship with the US. Notwithstanding the publicly-stated broad scope of the discussions — “deliberating on different aspects of country`s foreign policy” — it was evident from the agenda that the proceedings were US-specific.

Ambassador-designate to the US Sherry Rehman, who played a key role throughout the conference, will unveil the recommendations at the end of the conference.

Read more »

Posted in: NATIONAL