PM directs for reducing load shedding

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has directed the Ministry of Water and Power to minimize the gap between demand and supply of power and to reduce the duration of load shedding for public relief.

The Prime Minister was chairing a meeting on power sector at Ministry of Water and Power, here on Thursday.

The Prime Minister said he had great hopes from the Secretaries' Committee formed by the government to give recommendations to improve the power situation in the country.

The Prime Minister said that the Secretaries' Committee should ensure uninterrupted supply of fuel for optimal generation from power plants and also come up with doable suggestions to improve the entire energy chain from generation to distribution.

The Prime Minister said the government has been subsidizing an amount of Rs.250 billion annually despite financial constraints, to reduce the burden on consumers.

This subsidy works out on average to Rs.3.50 per unit. Unfortunately, this relief has not attracted the appreciation from the public, the Prime Minister observed.

The Prime Minister directed NEPRA to work out an upfront tariff for investors interested in alternative energy projects like wind and solar energy.

The Prime Minister said that there should be zero tolerance for those who do not pay their electricity bills.

He directed the Ministry of Water and Power to redouble their efforts to recover the outstanding dues so that the financial health of the sector can be improved.

Earlier, the Chairman WAPDA briefed the Prime Minister on various hydel power projects including Allai Khwar-Battagram, Jinnah Hydropower-Mianwali, Gomal Zam Dam-South Waziristan Agency, Satpara Dam-Skardu, Duber Khwar-Kohistan, Jabban Hydropower Malakand and Laraib HPP which has a total capacity of 487 MW and would be inducted in the national grid by March 2013.

The Prime Minister was also told that Tarbela Dam is likely to be filled soon while Mangla Dam has been filled to a level of 1180 feet against highest level of 1230 feet.

The Prime Minister was also briefed about the progress made so far in the construction of Diamir Bhasha Dam and the efforts being made to garner finances for the project.