- PM takes notice of outages, orders immediate release of Rs 20 billion for fuel supply
Taking notice of the worst ever outages in Punjab that have stretched for several hours at a stretch in urban centres like Lahore, the country’s top leadership sprung into action on Tuesday. Prime Minister Hazar Khan Khoso ordered an immediate release of Rs 20 billion to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply to power units, while Punjab Chief Minister Najam Sethi announced two weekly holidays to mitigate the people’s suffering.
The government machinery scrambled for relief measures after people in Punjab suffered up to 20 hours-a-day outages over the last several days, apparently due to disruption of gas supply to Uch power plant following an attack on a gas supply line.
“What on earth is going on? First my UPS ran out of steam, then there was no gas to run the generator, and the filling station refused to sell petrol when I went out to get fuel for the generator! However, the electricity was never restored all this time. Has there been a complete breakdown of the system?” an agitated citizen, Ali, told Pakistan Today in Lahore’s Mozang area.
“The lights went out for four hours straight!” said Haider, a resident of Garhi Shahu in Lahore. “I was relieved that electricity had been restored, but it was lights out after just one hour. I don’t know what the people’s fault is.”
Rs 20 BILLION INJECTION
As citizens cursed the authorities, a high-level meeting under the caretaker PM decided that the Ministry of Finance would inject Rs 20 billion immediately to ensure fuel supply to thermal power plants and partially resolve the circular debt issue.
The prime minister also directed that new gas reservoirs be identified for provision of gas to thermal power plants to improve generation, fuel mix and reduce cost of electricity.
Khoso also directed WAPDA to begin an intensive drive to recover outstanding dues to improve liquidity and overcome circular debt issue.
He directed the Ministry of Water and Power to take immediate measures to improve power supply and use all available resources to ensure power generation was optimised in order that minimum load shedding was carried out across the country.
Ministry of Water and Power Additional Secretary Arshad Mirza informed the prime minister that the main cause of increased load shedding was disruption of gas supply to Uch Power Plant due to sabotage.
The PM said all necessary measures should be taken to secure power installations, transmission lines and power installations throughout the country.
“No installation should be left unattended and a security plan should be submitted spelling out detailed arrangements for their protection”, emphasised the prime minister.
Khoso was told that load shedding in urban areas was 10-12 hours a day while it extended to 16-18 hours in rural areas.
The prime minister expressed concern over the present situation and desired that there must be a visible improvement in the situation that was possible through better management and resource mobilisation.
He observed that though the prime responsibility of his government was to hold general elections in the country, it was a duty of the government to provide relief to the people and ensure that basic necessities like electricity were available to them.
Khoso was told that the power situation which had worsened two days ago, was improving.
The PM directed the Ministries of Water and Power, Petroleum, Interior and Finance to firm up short-term and medium-term plans with a view to minimise load shedding in the country, so that routine life was affected the least.
In Punjab, caretaker Chief Minister Najam Sethi assured reporters that load shedding in the province would be reduced drastically in a few days’ time.
“I have spoken to the prime minister and he assured me that power outages would come down to eight hours a day in a few days,” Sethi promised.
UGLY-UGLIER-UGLIEST… in My Home Town: Murree Hills
In the name of trade, they sell themselves, in the market
In the name of science, they search for petty plastic
In the name of politics, they destroy all, that is classic
They believe that death isn’t inevitable!
The psychopaths and mentally unstable
Of which blood line came, from cattle and stables
Scavengers and parasites; dancing on the dining tables
Now multi caste mafia is at the top of the table
The forth generation of the British Camp followers
Third Class tourists, thugs and their host, hoteliers
and the Pindaris of Raj, are in fact major polluters
Their ugly change is what that’s for good-n-stable!
Their carbon foot print is as big as Big Foot’s
Their face is painted black with their own soot
They strut on the Mall in their sleeping shalwar suit
Then they join, and grease the palms under the table.
They grease the palms of pathetic officers
To seek the permission to chop two conifers
Instead, raised to the ground is, a forest of Junipers
On that ground they build, ugly holier and horrible!
Be it Time, fashion, women or fad
Mindset, and mood, whether good or bad
Phenomena of change, as Ghalib had said
Is the only thing that’s at all stable?
A hamlet beside a lake and the hills
A farmer’s cottage with its rotten window sills
An ancient tree and its wise goodwill
Must be guarded by the men; wise and able
Gem, art and landscapes, the mafia is scoffing
At the wise, brave and able, they are scoffing
Would make no odds! The bitter change… in the offing
If you get up to your sea-legs…and, be stable!
[S M Hamid Hameed]
Such half hearted adhoc steps wont serve the purpose. Rs 20 billion release mean 20% improvement in load shedding and that too for a few days when summer scorching heat is imminent to kill at least elderly and infants.
This is matter of circular debt. a vicious circle. PSO sells diesel to power companies, the power companies to WAPDA or consumers. the major consumer being the Federal and provincial Govts. the Federal and provincial govtsv do not pay. PSO faces financial constraints, unable to purchase/import diesel and this vicious continues. to finance this transaction the govt borrows from commercial banks at hight interest rates, the govt recovery process is very slow thus gap widens. Interestingly there is no finance minister to manage this crisis. PSO receivables are as at today Rs. 136 billions
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