Minister of Energy Owais Leghari stated that no policymaker, including himself, has suggested that the government is ending net metering. Current agreements will continue at the agreed rates, but future changes cannot be predicted at this time.
Denial of Switching to Gross Metering
Leghari refuted claims that the government plans to replace net metering with gross metering as part of an agreement with the IMF, emphasizing that such topics should have been discussed with international organizations.
Condolence Resolution for the Late Iranian President
During a Senate session chaired by Acting Chairman Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, a condolence resolution was unanimously exceeded for the overdue Iranian President, recognizing him as a remarkable chief and a near pal of Pakistan.
Railway Income and Expenditures
During the Senate’s query duration, the Ministry of Railways pronounced earnings of sixty-three billion rupees for the fiscal year 2022-2023, with a subsidy of forty-seven billion rupees from the Finance Division. The railway spent 26 billion rupees on restoration and rehabilitation.
Railway Accidents
The Ministry of Railways reported 537 accidents over the past five years, with 313 resulting in fatalities or severe injuries. Causes included material defects, unmanned level crossings, human error, sabotage, natural disasters, and other reasons.
Tax on Solar Energy Users
PPP’s Qurat-ul-Ain Marri raised a notice addressing the tax on solar energy users, arguing that it discourages the use of green energy. She highlighted the country’s 16-18 hour power outages and the inconsistency in the government’s statements regarding electricity shortages and exports.
Decrease in Solar Panel Prices
Minister of Energy Owais Leghari cited that the fee for sun panels has dropped appreciably from a hundred and fifteen rupees per megawatt to 45 rupees due to an increase in global delivery. He stated that this makes investment in solar energy highly beneficial.
Incident of Violence
Leader of the Opposition Shibli Faraz expressed concern over the attack on Rauf Hassan, their party spokesperson. He called for a response and action from the Minister of Law.
Opposition Walkout
The opposition walked out in protest of the attack on Rauf Hassan, demanding immediate action from the Minister of Law. The Minister of Law assured that constitutional action would be taken to support Rauf Hassan fully.
Representation Issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Due to delayed elections, Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman discussed the absence of more representation for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Senate. Minister of Law Azam Nazeer Tarar explained that the issue is under review by the Supreme Court, with hearings expected to resolve it soon.
