Amidst an increase in load shedding and consequent protests, a special briefing was given to the prime minister reiterating complete elimination of power cuts by March 2018.
The PM was informed that 8,000MW of electricity will be added to the national grid by March next year and either one or two new power projects will start giving outputs every month from now onwards.
As per details available, 5,710MW of additional electricity will be available by the end of the ongoing year, whereas further 2,200MW will be added by March next year. Officials apprised the prime minister that 760MW of electricity has been added to the national grid via Bhikki power plant.
In May 2017, Guddu thermal power station will add 335MW and Sahiwal Power Plant will add 660MW. June will witness the induction of 315MW in the system, as Chashma-IV will start functioning. Haveli Bahadur Shah grid station unit-1 will start producing 380MW of electricity in July, while unit-2 of the same plant will add 380MW in the month of August. Sahiwal coal power plant Grid-2 will provide national grid with 660MW of electricity in the same month.
Following these developments, Balloki power plant grid-1 will add 330MW in September, whereas grid-2 of the same power plant will add 380MW in the next month. 660 MW from Port Qasim power plant grid-1 will be linked with power transmission lines in December, while two other projects with joint capacity 400MW will be inaugurated upon completion in the same month.
Then, by March 2018, Neelum-Jhelum will start providing 600MW of electricity, whereas Port Qasim power plant grid-2 will also add another 600 MW to the national grid.
Tarbela hydropower project’s 5th extension would increase power production by 1000MW.
It seems the federal government is all set to curtail load shedding, thereby strengthening its chances to claim victory in next year’s elections.
