The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday observed there was a dire need to put energy emergency to overcome load shedding in the country, as the country had a capacity to generate 21,000 to 22,000 Megawatts while the production was much less than the capacity.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed hearing in a suo moto case regarding load shedding and energy crisis in the country.
The bench noted that even though the country had a capacity to generate electricity, what elements were creating obstacles to do the needful.
The CJP remarked that no one was serious in tackling the issue which was the most crucial thing at the moment.
“There is a need to put energy emergency in the country to meet the demands”, the CJP stated.
During the course of proceeding, Advocate Iftikhar Gilani apprised the court that PEPCO Managing Director Zaigham had been given additional charge of National Transmission & Dispatch Company (NTDC) Limited, thus being overburdened.
He said he would submit the report in next hearing.
Representative of Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) informed the court that internationally solar and wind energy sources were cheaper compared to the others.
The CJP said nothing had been done by the board and all things were only on paper, as the board had only installed a few wind mills in Sindh and nothing else.
He questioned that why they were not focusing on geo-thermal energy production.
The AEDB representative replied that this technique was not appreciated internationally, even by India, where they were generating 18,000MW from wind, 3,000MW from hydro and 1,000MW from solar energy.
The CJP said the only thing needed was sincerity.
He said if they were facing any problem regarding law making, the board should consult the government and show their seriousness.
The PEPCO MD apprised the court that at the moment the total power production in the country was 10,131MW while the shortage was 3,500MW.
The CJP said it was beyond understanding why there was a shortage when the total capacity of electricity generation was 22,000MW.
The PEPCO MD said it was due to power theft and pilferage by the people.
Later, the court issued notices to the finance secretary regarding the financial burden on the economy on generating electricity.
The court also issued notices to SNGPL and SSGC to apprise the court regarding gas load management in the country and adjourned further hearing for a week.
Hope SC will take up this matter on fast track and solve the energy crises. Why so much delay in taking notice of the shortage of energy?
Absolutely Supreme Court of Pakistan needs to take up this matter, prioritize it and see it through. There are independent power producers, likes of Mian Manhsa a Chinoti Sheikh, who are making money at the cost of the poor of Pakistan.
Uptill now, matters in which CJ involved got worse from sugar crisis to CNG crisis now ENERGY….Look what will happen?
and a samosa emergency as well LOL
Is this is the job of the Supreme Court? Really?
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