‘Govt not buying electricity from Iran due to US pressure’

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* Minister reaffirms commitment to honour winning female athletes at SAF games

By Tahir Niaz

ISLAMABAD: There is no valid reason why the government should not be serious about purchasing electricity from Iran especially at a time when the whole country is suffering from load shedding, Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed said on Thursday, citing US pressure to be the main reason behind the hesitation.

Speaking on a point of order in the Upper House, he claimed that an American lobby was working against the interests of Iran, which was also creating hurdles for the Iran-Pakistan Pipeline Project and the provision of electricity from Iran.

Honouring winners: Meanwhile, Minister for Sports Ejaz Hussain Jakhrani told the Senate that the government would honour its commitments made with two female players who had outperformed at the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games. Responding to a point of order raised by Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Jakhrani said that Rs 1 million have been given to Naseem Hameed and Sara Nasir, while another award of Rs 0.5 million for each would be given out in due course.

Bill passed: The Senate also passed the Pakistan Engineering Council (Amendment) Bill, which had already been approved by the National Assembly (NA).

Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economics Affairs, Statistics and Planning and Development Chairman Senator Ahmed Ali also presented before the House the report of the committee on the Federal Value Added Tax Bill 2010.