A meeting of the Energy Committee was held under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Monday to review the arrangements made to ensure that no load shedding was carried out during sehar, iftar and taraweeh timings in Ramadan.
The meeting was informed that uninterrupted supply of electricity would be ensured throughout the country during Ramadan from 0230 hours to 0430 hours (sehar), 1830 hours to 2000 hours (iftar) and 2100 hours to 2230 hours for (taraweeh). In this connection a comprehensive plan, chalked out by the Ministry of Water and Power, was provided to the members of the Energy Committee.
Water and Power Secretary Anwar Ahmad Khan informed the meeting that extensive meetings had been held with power companies to ensure that instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were implemented in letter and spirit.
Dar also informed the meeting that the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its meeting held on Thursday, July 4, approved four power projects having a total generation capacity of 3511MW of electricity. These include two nuclear energy projects in Karachi, Nandipur Combined Cycle Project in Punjab and Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The finance minister expressed hope that with the completion of these projects, not only a sizeable addition of 3511MW would be made in the national grid but these would also produce cheaper electricity.
The finance minister directed the authorities that these projects should now be reflected in the projections made by the Ministry of Water and Power which should monitor its progress.
Dar said the government had taken a bold decision and had already cleared the circular debt of Rs 322 billion to settle outstanding dues of the private power producers. “The Ministry of Water and Power should now vigorously pursue the private producers to provide additional 1700MW in the national grid as promised by them, so that a visible relief can be felt by the common man,” he emphasised.
The Energy Committee also reviewed the overall supply and demand position of electricity in the country and directed the Ministry of Water and Power to address operational inefficiencies on war footings.
No load shedding at Saheri, Iftar and Travih. All the three in the month of Ramadan ensure Muslims hefty rewards in the life hereafter. However, there is no such provision for students studying and writing exams, the path that ensures their success in this life. That is the irony with Ummah.
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