Govt introduced historic reforms in different sectors including energy to take forward country: Hammad Azhar

ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (SABAH): Minister for Energy Barrister Muhammad Hammad Azhar has said the present government has introduced historic reforms in different sectors including energy to take forward the country.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Saturday, he said this process of reforms will continue in the months and years ahead in order to ensure sustainable development.

Hammad Azhar said that our tax collection and exports are increasing as a result of better policies. He said we target to collect six thousand billion rupees in taxes during the current fiscal year whilst our exports and remittances each will touch 30 billion dollars. Hammad Azhar said that we will cover 5% GDP growth during the current financial year. He said that the process of reforms and sustainable growth will not only continue during the five years tenure of current government but will also continue in next five years.

He said that during the PML-N tenure highest transmission of electricity was 20,800 megawatt and during our tenure in last summer we already transmitted 24,700 megawatt electricity, adding that in 2023 our transmission capacity will reach 30,000 megawatt. Hammad Azhar said that we have focused on transmission of electricity instead of generation of electricity.

The Minister for energy said the government is focusing on improving the electricity transmission system.

Hammad Azhar said that this is decade of dams and 10 dams are under construction. He said seventy to eighty percent electricity will be produced from indigenous resources by 2030.

He pointed out that our gas reserves are depleting and we have to look for various options to meet the domestic requirements.

Regarding the recently passed bill envisaging autonomy for State Bank of Pakistan, Hammad Azhar rejected the impression that it would risk the national security. He pointed out that the Governor, Deputy Governor and Board of Directors of the Central Bank would be appointed by the government. He said this legislation will free the SBP from politicized decisions.

Replying a question, Hammad Azhar said that Singh government plays Sindh card at everything but facts are different, adding that the 50 percent gas produced by Sindh is non-pipeline quality gas and the pipeline quality gas produced by Sindh is also mainly consumed in Sindh.

Replying a question, he said that open discussion is held in PTI parliamentary party meetings and even in cabinet meetings and everyone enjoys right to speak.