SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the government has prioritised the provision of electricity to the people at affordable rates, and concrete steps are being taken to minimise loadshedding in the coming summer.
Nawaz expressed these views while chairing the Cabinet Committee on Energy’s 8th meeting here at the PM’s House on Tuesday. The committee reviewed progress on the decisions taken in previous seven meetings, and suggestions for reducing loadshedding in the coming summer also came under discussion.
The prime minister directed that Neelum-Jhelum Hydro project should be completed within the given timeframe adding that no slackness on anyone’s part would be tolerated. He asked the ministries concerned to take steps for meeting fund requirement and ensure timely completion of the project.
The Wapda chairman gave a presentation on Neelum-Jhelum Power project which, after being completed, would produce more electricity than Mangla. He informed that around 70 per cent of the project has been completed.
The premier said the departments concerned should make sure that the deadlines in power generation projects must be met and those responsible for causing undue delay should get prepared for accountability. The Water and Power secretary briefed the committee that the ministry has worked hard to control the surge in circular debt which currently stands at Rs254 billion while payables to IPPs have been brought down to around Rs144.5 billion. Nawaz was also informed the current electricity bill collection was 75 per cent in the month of January 2015 while overall collection including outstanding amount in this month was 98 per cent.
Federal ministers Ishaq Dar; Khwaja Asif; Shahid Khaqan Abbasi; Ahsan Iqbal; Khwaja Saad Rafique; Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif; Minister of State for Petroleum, Jam Kamal; Minister of State for Water and Power and Abid Sher Ali attended the meeting along with other senior government officials.
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