SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday directed the Ministry of Water and Power to present a technical report on the recent, prolonged breakdown of electricity, within 48 hours.
Chairing a meeting to review matters relating to power situation in the country here at the PM’s House, the prime minister directed the authorities concerned to put in place a comprehensive system that prevents such power breakdowns in future.
He also directed the provinces and the law enforcement agencies to ensure security of high transmission lines.
Matters relating to the financial affairs of the Ministry of Water and Power also figured up in the meeting with clear-cut instructions given by the prime minister to both Minister of Water and Power Kh Asif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to sort out the issues.
Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif briefed the prime minister on the factors that caused the massive breakdown and updated him on the current power supply situation in the country.
He said the situation was gradually improving and soon the system would be brought back to normal.
Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar was also present.
Later, addressing a press conference, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif said the entire power system disrupted by sabotage activities will be restored by this Monday evening.
By the evening, however, it wasn’t clear if that had been done.
The minister said: “It is our utmost effort to ensure zero loadshedding to industries in the next two to three days.
Eight-hour loadshedding will be carried out in the rural and six hours in urban areas, he added.
Khawaja Asif said steps have been taken to enhance security of power installations.
An inquiry has also been ordered into the recent power breakdown.
He said USAID and China State Grid have been requested for technical assistance to avoid complete blackouts in future.
The minister said hydel power generation is also gradually increasing after reopening of canals.
He said the release of water from Tarbela and Mangla will bring 6,000 megawatts of electricity to the system.
Khawaja Asif ruled out any power crisis due to shortage of oil.
He said twelve cargo ships have been booked through the Pakistan State Oil which will start arriving from Tuesday [today] or Wednesday [tomorrow].
He said his ministry owes around 170 billion rupees to the PSO and “we are trying to pay off the amount in installments”.
The minister for water and power also said agreement with K-Electric has expired.
The government will contact the electric company for a new agreement on new terms and conditions.
Under previous agreement the K-Electric was getting 650 megawatt power from the national grid.
He said it is utmost effort of the government to ensure equitable loadshedding from Karachi to Peshawar as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
He pointed out the country is faced with the issue of power loadshedding and it will take two to three years to address the issue.
Loadshedding is expected to end by summer of 2017.
To a question, the Minister clarified that the government is not increasing but decreasing power tariff.
When asked about the privatisation of DISCOs (distribution companies), Khawaja Asif said the PML-N government is pursuing the policy of the previous PPP and MQM coalition government.
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