Development budget cut by Rs170bn: minister

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said the federal government had to reduce development budget by Rs170 billion due to coronavirus and this budget deficit would be met next year.

The minister expressed these views while inaugurating 132KV grid station in B-17 here on Thursday.

He said the residents of this area had problems, especially in the summer, such as low voltage.

He said that this project will help in eliminating technical faults of feeders in the area.

He said the government was committed to improving the living standards of the citizens of Islamabad.

He said the grid station, built at a cost of Rs400 million, will provide uninterrupted power to 38,000 customers.

The minister said the construction of both feeders will solve problems such as trapping and overloading for 10 years.

He said that for the first time, wires passing over houses are being removed at the government’s expense.

The minister congratulated the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) for completing this project on time.

He said that Islamabad is the second highest tax paying city after Karachi.

He said that the citizens of Islamabad have the right to be provided with all kinds of facilities by the federation.

“We will accelerate development work in Islamabad,” he said.

“We will make the power system in Islamabad a model system, so that other cities can follow suit,” he added.