Cabinet body approves new gas connections

• PM chairs high-level meeting on energy in Islamabad

The Cabinet Committee on Energy approved new RLNG (Re-gasified Liquid Natural Gas)-based gas connections for domestic, industrial and commercial consumers and the recommendation will be placed before the next meeting of the federal cabinet for ratification.

Chairing the meeting here on Monday, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif directed the authorities concerned to ensure early completion of the ongoing power projects without compromising on efficiency and quality of work.

“No laxity would be tolerated with regard to timelines for the completion of ongoing projects,” he said. He also directed for enhancing coordination among different government organisations to facilitate end consumers. Water and Power Secretary Yousuf Nasim Khokhar briefed the meeting on the surge in power demand due to early rise in temperature this season and dip in water level in the reservoirs.

The prime minister emphasised that it was the highest priority of the government to completely eliminate loadshedding in the shortest possible time.  He said that the government had steadfastly worked in the last three years to achieve the cherished goal post and all the base work for achieving this target had been completed.

“With more than 8,000 megawatt of new generation scheduled to come into the national grid before June 2018, we are well on course for a loadshedding-free Pakistan,” he added. He said that the government was not only focusing on the prevailing energy shortfalls in Pakistan, but was determined to provide for the growing future energy requirements of the country.

The meeting was also briefed about the existing power demand and supply situation, load management plan and timelines for various ongoing power projects. It was informed that a total of 5,710 megawatt would be added to the system by the end of 2017. The issues of circular debt, recoveries and line losses were also discussed.

The Petroleum and Natural Resources secretary briefed the meeting on fuel and gas supply to the power sector and the provision of new gas connections to domestic, industrial and commercial users. The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials.