PM displeased over duration of current load-shedding time

• It is the responsibility of govt to provide relief to the masses;
• Also briefed on issues pertaining to upfront tariff by NEPRA
• Seeks report on issues related to inoperational IPPs in 2 days;
• 866MW has been restored to the system this month, PM told

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday expressed displeasure over the duration of current load shedding schedule and stated that it is the responsibility of the government to provide relief to the masses.  

"Anticipated planning has not been exercised by the relevant Ministries and their organizations for which responsibility must be fixed," added the Prime Minister while chairing the 4th consecutive meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy at PM House, Islamabad.

Secretary Water and Power briefed the meeting on availability and utilization of idle Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and captive power plants. He also briefed on issues pertaining to upfront tariff by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and load management plan for the summer. 

He informed the meeting that power generation amounting to 866 MW has been restored to the system in the month of April and further 400 MW would be added by mid of May 2017. Minister Water and Power informed the meeting that power system constraints resolution programme would be completed by December 2017. Minister for Finance briefed the meeting on his meeting with President World Bank regarding funding of solar power projects in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister directed Secretary Water and Power to constitute a dedicated team for hourly monitoring of the power supply situation. He further directed that the team must report on monitoring of power transmission and distribution system as well on weekly basis.

The Prime Minister directed Secretary Water and Power, Secretary Finance and Secretary to PM to present a line of action for resolution of issues related to in-operational IPPs and present a report in two days.

The Prime Minister directed Ministry of Petroleum and Ministry of Water and Power to work out a balanced conversion plan of power generation plants from furnace oil to Re-gasified Liquid Natural Gas (RLNG) and coal as source and present the plan in next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy. This will help the government to further reduce the cost of electricity for all sectors.

The meeting was attended by Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Water and Power, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab, Maryum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to PM and senior officials. NNI