Prime Minister Gilani orders to end unscheduled load shedding

Giving relief to masses, at least in form of talks, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani directed authorities concerned to take concrete measures to end unscheduled power outages in the country.

While heading the weekly briefing of the cabinet, the premier took notice of the hours-long electricity load shedding. He was of the opinion that electricity outage has severely affected commercial activities as well as domestic consumers.

Federal Minister for Finance Dr Hafeez Shaikh is currently heading the Cabinet Committee of Energy while Minister for Water and Power, Information Minister along with Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Earlier, the committee reviewed the overall energy situation and was told by the prime minster that he would personally monitor progress on a daily basis and preside over the special committee’s weekly meeting.

The reports quoting the prime minister said, “Measures are being taken to balance the demand and supply of electricity.

It is the government’s top priority to work towards fulfilling the power requirements and all necessary steps will be taken”.

Secretary Water and Power briefed the participants through a detailed presentation, saying the cabinet that the country has a total installed capacity of 16, 000 megawatts.

He, however, informed the committee that only 11, 600 megawatts electricity was being produced currently due to a considerable decline in hydel power generation and cold weather in Northern Areas which turns flowing water into ice.

The country is currently facing total power shortfall amounts to 3500 megawatts, he stated. The meeting also discussed overall economic, political and security situation.

However, the premier was committed not to comment on Arsalan Chaudhry’s ongoing graft case against Riaz Malik.

A member of the cabinet reportedly quoted Gilani as saying, “It is none of my concern; I’ll talk on the issue when it somehow relates to me or the party”.

Earlier, the premier said that he and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had always been friends, and there was no harm in seeing in an old friend.

He observed, “I always said I have very good relations with the judiciary, so if I was seeing him, it was a routine matter”.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jun 14 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.