Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Monday said that the government will not withdraw subsidy on electricity up to 200 units to give relief to poor people. Talking to journalists here, the minister said only privileged class using over 200 electricity units will share the burden while deprived segment will be given subsidy.
He said the country is facing severe power crisis and the government was taking short, medium and long-term measures to combat the menace of the load shedding. He said load shedding hours will be reduced within few days as additional power of 1,500 MW has been added in the system due to sincere efforts of the government to overcome the situation. He added that additional power generation has been achieved through system optimisation.
Pervaiz Ashraf said that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved an amount to bear expenditure of oil supply to thermal power plants for smooth functioning. He said a major chunk of the export-oriented industry has been exempted from load shedding while power supply is also being increased to other sectors.
He added in order to give boost to agriculture sector, 10-hour continuous power supply is being provided at night time to get maximum production while textile industry is also being provided 100 percent supply of power.
He said power looms are also being provided continues spells of power to increase productivity as this export-oriented industry is a major contributor to country's foreign exchange reservoirs.
The minister said sufficient amount has been allocated in the budget for water and power sectors keeping in view the increasing demand in these sectors. He said due to government's energy conservation plan, additional power is being received while the government is also planning to get electricity from alternative and renewable energy resources.
Earlier, in an open Kutchery the minister received applications from applicants and issued orders to the concerned officials on the spot. Addressing the party workers and applicants, the minister said Pakistan People's Party government is committed to resolve the problems of country's people.
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