NEPRA act isbeing amended to curtail its powers- Governor Punjab

MULTAN, Dec 19th: Government is introducing an  amendment in Section 7 of NEPRA act to cut the powers of the authority to provide relief to the consumers,said Governor Punjab Malik Rafiq Rajwana while addressing the meeting of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) chaired by Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi its President.He urged upon the Political parties to do work on National agenda by setting aside their political agenda. Governor asked the National Accountability Bureau not to harass the traders, industrialists and let them serve the nation.He also advised the Chairman FBR to end the lack of confidence between the tax-payers and tax-managers.Governor asked how can a trader or industrialist can do his work when he finds notices of 8/10 departments at his table. Governor said that Prime Minister had planned to establish 46 modern hospitals in the country. He further said that A master plan of sewerage system was being finalised  for Multan which would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs.100 billion.He said said that NESPAK would complete a design of this project.He said that Land was being acquired near Mati-Tal for women university Multan .Similarly Agriculture University land was being vacated by the unlawful occupants.However Government provided  them seven Marlas plot each to accommodate them.The government has tackled all the three major challenges of terrorism, economic revival and deliverance from the energy crisis.”he added.He reiterated present government’s resolve to overcome load shedding within its tenure which would boost industry, agriculture, exports stock market, foreign exchange reserves and ultimately create ample employment opportunities. Rajwana said as immense development activities were going on in Balochistan, the miscreants were unable to find any rationale to disrupt peace in the province.Referring to the recent inauguration of the Sorab-Hoshab Road, the Governor said with the construction of new roads, the Quetta-Gwadar travel distance had been reduced from 48 to eight hours.He assured  that a new Industrial estate would be established in Multan under CPEC project and Multan dry port would be connected with railway track through Shershah railway station. Malik Rafique Rajwana  said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would also bring about prosperity in South Punjab.South Punjab would get many benefits from the CPEC as industrial zones will be introduced across the country.Like the agriculture sector, industry was also a backbone of the national economy which played a key role in providing jobs to millions of people, he said.

Rajwana said there were proposals of gymkhana at Mattital Road,export display centre and centre of excellence in Multan. The government was also striving hard to provide the maximum relief to the industry especially in terms of energy, he added.The Governor informed the government was also considering to construct 46 modern hospitals in the country and

 a big  and modern hospital would be established in the city,adding that the Punjab government approved huge funds of Rs.100- billion for WASA (Multan)to resolve issues of sewerage on permanent basis.

About education projects, Rajwana said work on Women University at Mattital road was underway with a rapid pace. The issue of land for Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture was also being resolved, he added.

Earlier  Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi in his welcome address highlighted different issues like disparity in gas tariff, establishment  of centre of excellence and adisplay centre in Multan. New Industrial estate. Declaring Multan an oldest living city. establishment of a Safari park and a Zoo.