- Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE) to meet again to discuss current load shedding of electricity
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday directed the authorities concerned to ensure minimum loadshedding of electricity during the month of Ramazan.
Chairing the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE) here, he expressed displeasure over the ongoing load-shedding schedule, and emphasised a proactive and solution-oriented approach by all departments with the aim to provide maximum relief in summer season.
The prime minister said that the government was fully cognizant of the problems faced by masses due to power shortage and would not rest till a significant relief was provided. Keeping in view the urgency of the situation, he called another meeting of the CCE on Tuesday (today).
It was informed that by March 2018, a total of additional 9,107 megawatts power carrying capacity would be available in the transmission system provided timelines were met. The Water and Power secretary briefed the meeting on implementation status of previous decisions taken by CCE, current load management plan, circular debt, transmission and distribution of electricity from upcoming power projects and status of utilisation of idle power plants.
The CCE was informed that Bhikki and Haveli Bhadur Shah plants were facing normal mechanical problems in some of their turbines which were being resolved with the manufacturer. The prime minister directed to complete repairs at the earliest. It was informed that a special committee in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources was working on chalking out a balanced conversion plan from conventional fuels to LNG.
It was further informed that monitoring of power generation and distribution systems was being undertaken regularly with physical and field monitoring of 270 projects. Regular meetings are being held with chief executive officers (CEOs) of DISCOS to resolve operational issues. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi briefed the CCE regarding new gas transmission pipelines being built for LNG from Karachi to Lahore.
The CCE expressed satisfaction over the pace of work on gas pipelines. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: Chairing another meeting to review progress on development projects, particularly roads and motorways and metro link to New Islamabad International Airport, Prime Minister Nawaz directed the authorities concerned to adhere to the timelines of the development projects without compromising the transparency and quality of the work.
The FWO director general and the NHA chairman briefed the prime minister regarding progress on various roads and motorway projects being undertaken across the country. The prime minister said that roads and motorways would help in boosting the economy by providing access of far-flung areas to urban centers besides generating employment opportunities. The Islamabad mayor also attended the meeting.