ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed displeasure over the prolonged loadshedding duration and directed for its reduction till next month to provide relief to the people.
The prime minister also directed for taking of steps to reduce power glitches on emergency basis. He lamented that neither fuel was purchased by the former government nor power units were repaired.
He deplored that Imran Khan’s government had closed the power units which were set up by their government to generate low-cost electricity. Instead, the previous government had utilised those low power generation units and supplied expensive power and due to this injustice, the nation had to pay the heavy price in the shape of Rs100 billion every month, he added.
The prime minister said an LNG carrying ship which cost Rs6 billion, now priced at Rs20 billion and the nation had to pay more than Rs500 billion this year due to such injustice done by Imran Khan’s government.
Expressing his resolve to provide relief to the public, he said that neither he would sit idle nor let anyone rest till the resolution of the issue.
He said that all possible efforts should be made to save the citizens from the discomfort created by the criminal negligence of the former government and directed the authorities concerned to make temporary arrangements till the provision of oil and gas.
Nawaz Sharif’s government had generated the surplus power, but Imran’s government failed to add a new single unit, he added. With destruction of energy sector, he said, a conspiracy was hatched to deliver a fatal blow to the economy of Pakistan.
Loadshedding
According to reports, the overall electricity production stands at 15,500 MW against the demand of 21,000 MW, causing a shortfall of 5,500 MW.
A previous report highlighted that Lahore Electricity Supply Company Limited (LESCO) is facing a shortage of 1000 MW as the demand is 4,100 MW and the available power is 3,100 MW
Currently, 610 MW Engro Power Plant in Thar, Port Qasim’s power plant with a capacity of 310 MW are closed. Nuclear plant K2, K3, Chasnob, Liberty Power Plant, Guddu Power Plant are also facing shortages and not producing power at their full capacity.
It must be mentioned that ahead of Ramazan, the Power Division has decided zero loadshedding on special timings of Sehri, Iftar and Taraweeh prayers across the country.
