Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday praised the efforts of the ministries of Water and Power and Petroleum for their successful efforts to reduce power shortfall from 8,000MW to around 4,000MW.
Chairing a meeting of the Energy Committee at the Prime Minister’s House, Ashraf said people throughout the country were feeling the difference and directed the ministries to continue to work to increase power generation. “The challenges posed by the seasonal changes must also be addressed well in advance and power supply should be ensured on a sustainable basis,” the prime minister said.
Ashraf said electricity was his number one priority and its solution was the only option and expressed full confidence that the new team would undertake this responsibility with commitment and would surely succeed in this regard.
The prime minister directed the Ministry of Petroleum to ensure uninterrupted supply of fuel to the power sector. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain briefed the prime minister on the arrangements made in this regard, including covering the risk of any unforeseen eventuality to the possible extent.
Hussain said additional gas would be available to state-owned power plants from tomorrow (Friday). He was directed by the prime minister to ensure the supply of additional 125MMCFD of gas from the Kunnar Bisakhi field by tapping its full capacity, which would collectively add 800MW of electricity to the national grid.
Hussain said the new gas policy for 2012 had placed electricity at number two on the priority list after its supply to domestic consumers which amply manifested the commitment of the government to address the electricity issue on urgent basis.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Water and Power Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for Law Farooq H Naik and secretaries of the relevant ministries.
PM praises water, petroleum ministries for reducing power shortfall ‘considerably’
