Railways settles uplift priorities

ISLAMABAD: Following a bailout package of Rs1.1 billion announced by the federal government, the crisis-hit Pakistan Railways was finalising its priorities including maintenance of 145 locomotives and rehabilitation of rail tracks and coaches.

A meeting in this regard would be held by mid-January between Minister for Railways and Minister for Finance in which the former would brief the latter about projects to be executed after release of funds.
“We have planed to spend Rs 6.1 billion on maintenance of 145 locomotives, Rs 2 billion each on rehabilitation of tracks and coaches while Rs one billion would be reserved for future use,” Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour told APP.
After their maintenance, 75 per cent of locomotives would be used for freight carrying and the rest would be used for passenger coaches. According to the estimates, a locomotive of 3000 horse power generates up to Rs 60 million per annum against Rs50.5 million by the one with 2000 horse power.
He said for maintenance purpose, the spare parts would be imported and 10 to 12 locomotives would be repaired each month hoping that it would help a lot to minimize losses of this public entity..-Agencies

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‘Power crisis breathing last’

Kaira says various power plants in pipeline

LALAMUSA: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that work on various power generation projects, including Thar coal project has been started. Talking to the media after attending a ceremony here n Sunday, he said after the completion of these projects, the country would not only be able to generate electricity for its own use but would also be able to export the extra power.

He said the previous government did not give priority to power generation which increased the gap between electricity demand and generation capacity over the years. To a question, Kaira said the work of exploration for natural gas, in particular digging new wells, is in progress to ensure uninterrupted gas supply. He was hopeful that the situation would soon improve.

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Posted in: allies,country,crisis,electricity,gas,generation,increased,Power crisis,PPP,projects,that,work

Ashraf switches on 201MW power plant

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf inaugurated the 201MW Reshma Power Plant, currently contributing 40MW as test generation to the national grid, at Raiwind near here Saturday.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Minister said that energy is the greatest challenge to the present democratic government, which it inherited by previous regime. The utter failure of the past government is manifested from the fact that it did not add even a single mega watt to the national grid, thus widening the power supply and demand gap in the country, he added.

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ADB seeks legal status for PPIB

ISLAMABAD: Government has decided to accord constitutional status to Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) on the demand from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other donor agencies to meet the growing demand of energy and fetch new investment in power sector. PPIB sources told it would be given the status of a constitutional and autonomous institution to attract new investment in power sector and alleviate the apprehensions of donors.

This institute will play a vital role in striking deals in power sector and resolving the disputes. It will be the responsibility of the board to initiate all projects,  manage and monitor them.
Sources told the board would be restructured and minister for water and power would be the chairman of this 15-member board.
Its members will include secretary water and power, secretary finance, secretary petroleum, secretary planning, secretary environment, chairman Wapda, chairman FBR, MD PPIB, provincial chief secretaries and two members from private sector.
Sources told following the passage of 18th amendment, every province would be authorized to install power generation project in public sector.
However every province would be able to utilise power so generated within its respective provincial limits while powers for legislation about electricity and management would rest with federal government.-Agencies

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Posted in: ADB,Asian,demand,investment,MD,powers,PPIB,Private Power Infrastructure Board,private sector,projects,striking