National Assembly was informed today that government is working on improvement in electricity transmission system in the country.

Responding to a Calling Attention Notice in the Lower House today, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said Prime Minister regularly takes briefings on the steps being taken by K-Electric and other DISCOs to improve their capacity.

He said K-Electric is planning to install 220 megawatts of solar and wind power projects, which will help resolve problems, faced by the residents of Karachi.

Earlier, during Question Hour, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the House that no load shedding is being carried out in the country due to shortfall in generation.

He said the DISCOs are carrying out load management in their areas based on losses of feeders.

He said that feeders having the loss of up to twenty percent are exempted from outages. He said smart meters will be installed on transformers in the first phase to check power pilferage.

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs told the House that Private Power and Infrastructure Board is actively pursuing promotion of alternative and renewable energy technologies in line with the government's vision to diversify the energy mix.

He said a total of fifty eight alternative and renewable energy based projects, having 3837 megawatt cumulative capacity, are operational. These include 1845 megawatt of wind power projects.

Responding to a question, Parliamentary Secretary for Overseas Pakistanis Ehsan-ul-Haq Bajwa said that eight hundred sixty thousand Pakistanis were legally sent abroad last year for employment. 

He said an action plan has been prepared in cooperation with other departments to take action against elements involved in begging abroad especially in the Gulf countries.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar laid before the House “The Pakistan Coast Guards Amendment, Bill, 2024.

Speaking on the Bill, the Information Minister said special measures are being taken to curb the menace of smuggling.

Responding to points raised by Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, Information Minister said there is a fourteen percent increase in exports of the country as compared to previous year.

He said trade deficit and inflation rate is also reducing, expressing commitment that FBR revenue targets will be met.

In his remarks, Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik pointed out that the indigenous gas reserves are depleting.

He said government is taking measures to improve supplies which include awarding new blocks for oil and gas exploration and import of LNG.

The Minister said a package has been prepared to encourage domestic and international companies for offshore exploration of oil and gas.

He said the oil and gas exploration companies have also been directed to optimize the existing resources.

The House will now meet tomorrow at 11 a.m.