The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE) Wednesday decided that marriage functions in Islamabad would be asked to close by 10 pm, shops by 8 pm and restaurants by 11 pm to save electricity.
“The same pattern will be replicated in Punjab to set an example of other provinces, saving hundreds of megawatts of electricity,” an official statement said.
It was decided that production of efficient electrical appliances consuming less electricity would be encouraged including fans, florescent lamps, air conditioners, motors, refrigerators, washing machines and UPS.
The meeting also gave approval of energy audit and energy conservation awareness in industries to save their bills as well as consumption of electricity. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who presided over the 12th meeting of the CCE, also asked the ministry of water and power to take steps for creating awareness among the general public regarding conservation of electricity.
The prime minister directed the ministry of water and power to ensure that LNG based projects were completed within the prescribed timelines. The prime minister was informed that one LNG terminal has been set up while the second one would be ready next month. Both the plants have investment from Pakistani companies worth US$ 1 billion.
The prime minister was also updated on the planned 1100-km North-South Gas pipeline which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2017. The prime minister reiterated that the timelines decided in the last meeting of the CCE for completion of the open and combined cycle plants of projects for generation of 3600 MW must be strictly followed.
The prime minister asked the secretary water and power to personally supervise all the projects being planned under the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor on daily basis to determine appropriate deliverables for the agreed energy projects during the upcoming high-level visit of Chinese leadership.
The prime minister directed the ministers in the CCE to hold meetings with the chief ministers giving them detailed briefing regarding the need and urgency of conservation measures, including early closure of shops, marriage halls and restaurants.
The prime minister directed that issue of payment between the ministry of water and power and Pakistan State Oil and a comprehensive strategy be devised by the ministries of water and power and petroleum and natural resources in consultation with the ministry of finance.