Taking serious notice of the continuing power shortage in the country, President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday directed three key ministers dealing with the subject to sort out administrative, financial and technical issues among themselves and submit a report to him on alternate viable options early next week.
Spokesman to the president Farhatullah Babar said the Presidency called Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh, Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar, and Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Asim Hussain to the Presidency for a presentation on the problems and issues in the power sector. The chronic energy shortage has become a critical issue, the president said, adding that a political government, which was accountable to the people, could no longer ignore the lingering crisis.
The meeting was informed that during March 2008 to July 2011, 3,400MW of power had been added to the national grid but there was still a gap of almost 4500MW between the supply and demand during the peak summer season.