ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the government plans to end the load shedding within next 3 to 4 years through a multi pronged strategy.
Addressing the meeting of the Council of Common Interests in Islamabad on Tuesday‚ he said the strategy includes production of low cost energy‚ tariff restructuring‚ efficient technology‚ transparency and merit based system.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister said low cost energy will be produced by using coal and hydel power for power generation. He said run of the river projects are being initiated to overcome the short term demands while large dams including Bunji and Diamer-Bhasha will be constructed over a period of time to overcome the irrigation needs as well as the power shortage.
The Prime Minister told the meeting that the power strategy foresees bringing down the power tariff to single digit in three years. The tariff restructuring is main feature of the new energy policy through which the subsidies will be gradually rationalized.
Nawaz Sharif said that the mismanagement and inefficiency of the WAPDA and other concerned departments is responsible for the current situation. One thousand four hundred megawatts of electricity can be brought into the system‚ within one year‚ just through proper maintenance of the system.
The Prime Minister announced to set up Gaddani Energy Corridor which will provide services to investors for energy production.
The Prime Minister said that pilferage and power theft are major problem being faced by the power sector. The distribution losses which accounts for 25 to 28% and theft of electricity amounting to 140 billion rupee per annum are major cause of the shortfall.
All Provincial Chief Ministers appreciated the energy policy presented by the government but requested the council that they need to have a detailed analysis of the policy. The Prime Minister directed to form a committee comprising Chief Secretaries of the four provinces and submit its report within one week.
The Prime Minister highlighted the role of the provinces in bringing down the power theft and power pilferage‚ asked their cooperation in bringing down this phenomenon and promised all assistance to the provinces.
The meeting was attended by Provincial Chief Ministers Shahbaz Sharif‚ Syed Qaim Ali Shah‚ Pervaiz Khattak‚ Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch‚ and Federal Ministers who are members of the Council.
