The Federal Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Tuesday (today), is likely to approve payment of Rs 90 billion (40 percent of total payment agreed) to 35 Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, in its meeting held on May 5, 2021 approved the summary of the Power Division. The decision of the ECC will be ratified on Tuesday (today).
The issue of additional power to Karachi Electric (KE), new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and probable development on Arbitration Agreement is also expected to come under discussion.
According to Minister Energy, Hammad Azhar, Federal Government and KE have agreed, in principle, to resolve most of their long-standing disputes regarding additional supply, payment procedure and subsidy disbursement; and will be swiftly moving towards signing of a new PPA.
To be presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Cabinet will also discuss the implications of not allowing Opposition Leader Mian Shehbaz Sharif to go abroad. The cabinet will discuss the growing Israeli belligerence against Palestinians.
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Dr Faisal Sultan will brief the Cabinet on the Covid-19 situation.
Other agenda items of cabinet are as follows: (i) issuance of regular public transport licence (passenger and cargo) to M/s Fly Jinnah Service ( Pvt) Limited; (ii) permission for transshipment of 1×20 feet container containing 4 packages of vehicles spare parts of UNAMA from Karachi to Kabul, arriving under Bill of Lading No, CPH 37701090; (iii) issuance of commemorative coin to mark the 70th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations; (iv) appointment of Director General of Legal and Justice Authority; (v) appointment of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (BS 20/21) Pakistan Housing Foundation; (vi) appointment of members of electronic certification accreditation; (vii) appointment of community welfare Attaches in Pakistan Missions abroad; (viii) reconsideration of appointment of Chief Executive Officer of National Power Parks Management Company (Private) Limited (NPPMCL); (ix) annual report 2020 of Election Commission of Pakistan to be laid before Parliament; (x) change of relevant S.R.O concerning the jurisdiction of Pakistan Railways Police; (xi) grant of exemption under section 21 of PPRA Ordinance 2002 for development of Darbar Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Project; (xii) ratification of decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Institutional Reforms (CCIR) in its meeting held on April 21, 2021; (xiii) ratification of ECC decisions taken on May 5, 2021; and (xiv) ratification of the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) in its meeting held on May 4, 2021.
