13 CPEC projects worth $11bn completed, National Assembly told

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed on Thursday(today) that 13 projects worth about 11 billion dollars have been completed under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Development Kanwal Shauzab told the house during question-hour that another 13 CPEC-related projects worth 18 billion dollars are under implementation whilst 21 billion dollars projects are in the pipeline.

The parliamentary secretary said 46 percent work on Gwadar East Bay expressway had been completed.  She said New Gwadar International Airport is being built with the Chinese grant. She said this would be the largest airport in Pakistan. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan told the house that 124,587 people availed the Assets Declaration Scheme launched by the present government last year. He said over Rs 62 billion were recovered under this scheme. Ali Muhammad Khan told the house that the federal government has allocated Rs 152 billion during the current fiscal year for the development of tribal districts.

Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Aliya Hamza Malik told the house that the country’s exports have enhanced by 4.79 percent during the first five months of current fiscal year. She said our trade deficit stands reduced by 35 percent which is a big success.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Ali Nawaz Awan, Minister for Power Umer Ayub told the house that the tariff structure is being revised of the electricity connections for tube wells meant for community based supply schemes. He said talks are continuing with the NEPRA in this regard and the revised structure will bring down the power tariff for these tube wells.

SBP Banking Services Corporation Amendment bill 

The SBP Banking Services Corporation Amendment bill was also laid in the house on Thursday(today). 

Responding to another calling attention notice, Minister for Power Umer Ayub said three hundred million rupees have been approved for the upgradation of a grid station in Chitral District and electrification of adjoining areas there. He said the PTI government is determined to the development of Chitral.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said the benefits of economic stability achieved by the country in the year 2019 would now be transferred to the masses.

He pointed out that the government has launched Sehat Insaaf Card scheme under which the card holders can get medical treatment up to seven hundred and twenty thousand rupees at the public and private hospitals. He said the process to distribute 5.7 million Sehat Insaaf cards has been started. 53480 people will be provided with these cards in the federal capital by March this year.

He said the distribution of these cards to all the families in tribal districts will be ensured during the current year. The minister said the government has now launched a relief package worth Rs 6 billion through Utility Stores for provision of essential commodities to the people at reduced rates. He said we have started the programme of Panagahs to provide shelter to the poor people.