Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to end electricity load-shedding in the country by the 1st of May after resolving all the issues.
Chairing a high-level meeting on Tuesday regarding announced and unannounced power outages in the country, the prime minister said the people cannot be put into trouble due to load-shedding in the summer season.
He said the step is an ‘Eid gift’ for the public who have been suffering frequent power outages in summers. Sharif directed the authorities concerned to evolve a sustained and smooth mechanism of fuel supply and that in summer season, advance planning of one month be done.
The prime minister also sought a long-term effective plan to end the losses of loss-making power distribution companies. He was also briefed in detail about the loss-making feeders of the distribution companies.
Sharif also took notice of complaints of artificial shortage of diesel during the harvesting of crops. He directed that those creating artificial shortages must be identified and action be taken against them.
He directed the authorities concerned to ensure uninterrupted supply of diesel to the farmers to operate the agriculture related machinery. He said district administration in rural areas should make sure that the farmers do not face any difficulty in getting diesel.
The meeting was informed that out of twenty-seven power houses shut over the last more than one year, twenty have been made functional. Resultantly, the power generation has increased.
The meeting was informed that the previous government did not ensure timely provision of fuel to operate the power houses. Other factors of load-shedding were the criminal negligence meted out to timely repair and maintenance of power houses. The present government not only arranged fuel in a matter of two weeks but the issue of load-shedding is also being addressed by increasing the electricity generation.
It was informed that the total power generation has reached eighteen thousand and five hundred megawatts. In terms of demand, there is a shortfall of five hundred to two thousand megawatts.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and relevant senior officials.
PM Sharif, soon after assuming his office, had ordered to operationalise power plants in the country that were shut down due to lack of fuel or other technical glitches. He also ordered to address other causes of load-shedding including negligence in timely repair and lack of maintenance of power plants.
Later talking to media persons, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is determined to provide relief to the masses and end load-shedding in the country.
She said that 20 out of 27 dysfunctional power plants have been made operational and availability of fuel will also be ensured by the 7th of next month. She said that Prime Minister Sharif has directed that there will be zero load-shedding from next month.
Answering a question, Marriyum said the prime minister has also issued strict directions against the hoarders of diesel, causing problems for farmers in harvesting their crops.
To another question, she said Prime Minister Sharif, his cabinet members, and even allies are visiting Saudi Arabia at their own expense instead of burdening the national exchequer. She also made it clear that no journalist is visiting the holy land at the expense of the government.
She said that Saudi Arabia’s visit has great strategic importance and avenues of cooperation in various sectors, including agriculture and industrial zones, will be explored.
The minister said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leadership should answer their illegal foreign funding before the Election Commission instead of pressurising the chief election commissioner. She said Imran Khan and his cronies ruined the country in four years. She said that elections will be held at due time.
Marriyum also condemned the blast in Karachi and maintained that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought a report of the incident.
