The 28th meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at PM Office, today. The Chief Ministers from the four provinces attended the meeting.
The meeting observed that massive illegalities were involved in the conception, execution and completion of Kachi Canal project. It was informed that initially the project was approved by ECNEC at a cost of Rs. 27. 5 billion in the year 2003, however, later the PC-I was revised with an escalating cost of Rs. 57.7 billion. It was observed that the project was started prior to the approval of feasibility study and PC-I.
The Prime Minister noted with concern the illegal releases of funds to a project without its approval. All those who started the project and released funds in violation of rules and procedures must be identified and penalized according to the law, said the Prime Minister. The country cannot face such misadventures at the cost of public money. Whether departments or individuals, but those responsible must be made answerable to the people of Pakistan for such faulty projects, emphasized the Prime Minister.
CCI approved formation of an inquiry commission to fix responsibility on alleged illegalities in Kachi Canal Project. The commission will be headed by a retired Judge of Supreme Court or High Court while Secretary M/o Water & Power, Secretary Planning & Reform and Secretary Finance will be its members.
Underlining the significance of the project for Pakistan, the Prime Minister said that fresh feasibility study along with implementation plan shall be prepared on immediate basis.
The meeting discussed in detail the issue of conducting census in Pakistan. Secretary Statistics Division Mr Shahid Hussain Asad apprised the meeting about preparations made for conducting consensus in the country. It was informed that the country has been divided into 166,819 blocks for which staff of 210,239 heads is required. The meeting was told that since the Armed Forces of Pakistan are engaged in the ongoing military operation Zerb-e-Azb; deployment of required Army personnel in March/April for conducting the census throughout the country on same day was not possible. The council tasked the concerned to consult the Armed Forces of Pakistan for availability of the required human resource and propose a new date for census.
The meeting was briefed on Formulation of National Flood Protection Plan-IV (2015-25). The meeting decided that comprehensive feasibility studies in consultation with all provinces and stake holders must be carried out before presenting the same in the next meeting of CCI to be held on 25th March 2016. The meeting observed that National Flood Protection Plan was of paramount national importance and therefore agreed to take it up as a single item agenda in the upcoming meeting of Council of Common Interests. A committee comprising Minister for Water and Power, Minister for Climate Change and Four Chief Ministers will present the plan.
Lauding the Prime Minister for the historic water accord of 1991, Chief Minister Sindh said that it is a faultless mechanism of water distribution among the provinces. The Chief Minister further thanked the Prime Minister for the recently inaugurated Rs 16 billion Green Line bus service in Karachi.
Chief Minister Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KPK) Mr Pervez Khattak thanked the Prime Minister for resolving the longstanding issues of payment of net hydel profit (NHP) and net hydel arrears as well as for the Chashma Right Bank Uplift Canal. The Chief Minister KPK said that few hydel projects of the province requiring approval. The Prime Minister said that the projects must be submitted for approval of the federal Government without any delay.
The meeting discussed the agenda item of Pakistan Energy Efficiency & Energy Conservation Bill 2014. The meeting was informed that the bill has been passed by the Parliament and the decision, in this regard, stands implemented.
The meeting informed that the agenda item of Public Debt Management and Supervision Policy also stands implemented. The meeting approved Draft of Security and exchange commission.
The meeting was attended by Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis; Lt Gen ® Abdul Qadir Baloch, Minister for SAFRON; Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Minister for Religious Affairs; Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, CM Punjab; Syed Qaim Ali Shah, CM Sindh; Mr. Pervez Khattak, CM KPK; Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri, CM Balochistan; Mr Fawad Hassan Fawad, Secretary to PM, Mr. Khizar Hayat Gondal, Chief Secretary Punjab; Mr. Siddique Memon, Chief Secretary Sindh; Mr. Amjad Ali Khan, Chief Secretary KPK and Mr. Saifullah Chatha, Chief Secretary Balochistan.
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