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Friday March 29, 2024

Ministers face noreal question on LNG, Nandipur plant issues

ISLAMABAD: It was really disappointing to note that those electronic and print media journalists who were leaving no stone un-turned to present government’s project to bring LNG in Pakistan and Nandipur Power Plant as biggest scams in the country’s history could not ask even a single question to two federal

By Ahmad Noorani
October 29, 2015
ISLAMABAD: It was really disappointing to note that those electronic and print media journalists who were leaving no stone un-turned to present government’s project to bring LNG in Pakistan and Nandipur Power Plant as biggest scams in the country’s history could not ask even a single question to two federal ministers which could put them in a difficult situation or embarrass them on either issue.
For the first time both the federal minister for petroleum & natural resources and water and power Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khawaja Asif respectively presented themselves for all kind of questions on both the issues in an open-house seminar where all anchor persons, journalists and experts were invited to and the whole proceedings were telecast live on national broadcast without any interruption.
No specific question to expose what is being ‘exposed’ on daily basis on news channels and in newspapers was raised. The News specially covered the issue with the focus to note down well researched hard hitting questions which could put the both the ministers in a tough situation; however, the net result was an utter disappointment as either already asked and answered questions were put or factually incorrect questions were asked to the ministers who remained present in the hall for three and an half hours.
Khawaja Asif even announced that not only he but Shahid Khaqan will also remain available for any programme to answer any questions on these issues whenever called.
When a senior journalist from Karachi asked a specific question about the issue of using local natural gas in Punjab while pumping imported costly RLNG in main gas pipeline for use in Sindh, Khaqan Abbasi responded that once pumped in main national gas pipeline whole gas will be same gas and consumers in Sindh will pay normal natural gas prices while bulk consumers like power plants in Punjab will be charged higher rates of RLNG. The senior journalist said what you are elaborating is absolutely fine but had you explained it earlier there would have been no confusions on the issue. The minister replied, “I have explained it and answered this question some ten times in different programs and forums.”
Some asked same old propaganda questions or questions based on incorrect information without any reference or evidence and all such questions were responded properly in a way that there was no one to ask more questions. An anchor asked the question that government was paying $272,000 per day to Engro LNG terminal, what is so special about ‘Engro’ and that what is the role of Senator Saif-ur-Rehman in LNG deals with Qatar. Shahid Khaqan politely responded that it should not be seen as $272,000 per day, it is $90 million per annum that will be paid to Engro.
“There is regasification plant which has a function to do. It has a price which we will have to pay,” Khaqan said adding “Pakistan will save straightforwardly $1 billion from its annual imports of oil used for generating electricity as we are shifting to LNG based electricity production and secondly we will be earning benefits of around $2 billion per annum from the RLNG. So if the gains are considered, paying $90 million per annum for regasification of LNG is nothing”. Khaqan also told the anchor that Senator Saifur Rehman has no role in any deal but he can be given any role if suggested by the anchor. On questions about as to how oil mafia is playing negative role and trying to subvert government’s already delayed RLNG project, Shahid Khaqan while responding to basically ‘wrong’ question added that what you just said shows that oil lobby is even active here now.
Khawaja Asif openly announced that Nandipur Power Project was not only operational for the last three days but was producing 445 MW on Wednesday but he kept on waiting for any harsh questions to be asked to him but he remained failed to have any such single ‘tough’ question which were being asked in propaganda tone on so many talk shows for the last few months. Khawaja Asif explained the cost of the project (Rs57 billion) and spending so far once again but no one asked him the question even on this count though campaign on the very point is still under way on many electronic media programs.
On a question that when he was in opposition, he had proved corruption in different power plant projects by moving petitions in apex court where even decisions were given in his favour, what action he has taken against the corrupt after becoming minister, Khawaja Asif claimed that he could do nothing despite being a minster and the cases were being investigated by NAB.
Khawaja Asif also claimed that there are certain developments on hydro power projects and do not agree with a journalist’s question that in fact government was looking not serious for these cheap energy projects.
However, Khawaja Asif could not fully explain as to what his ministry has done so far for the hydro power projects and what actually it will achieve till the end of its term in 2018.