Consensus reached only on electricity: there will be equitable loadshedding across country

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday announced equitable loadshedding of electricity, not gas, across the country. "We have decided to ensure equitable loadshedding of electricity, as Chief Minister Punjab was complaining repeatedly over inequitable loadshedding of electricity in the country," Gilani told a press briefing at the end of 2nd energy conference here at Chief Minister Secretariat.
Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Hoti, Governor KP Masood Kausar, Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Ahmed Watoo were also present on the occasion. It was second energy conference held in Punjab on the desire of Prime Minister Gilani. Earlier, the first one was held in 2010 to handle energy crisis in the country.
Prime Minister Gilani said that the slab for poverty-ridden consumers had been increased to 100 units from earlier 50 units. Further, he said, street lights would be lightened up on alternative basis to save 250MW electricity; closure of commercial plazas by eight in the evening would save another 250MW, followed by five days a week office work in public sector would save 700MW. However, he mentioned that all these decisions would be implemented once the respective provincial governments take the stakeholders into confidence.
He said subsidy to the solar energy tube-wells through easy loans would be arranged by the finance ministry. Prime Minister said the conference has also decided to stop power supply to billboards and neon signs during the summer season. Campaign for replacement of energy saver bulbs would continue to save electricity, he added.
He said the conference has also agreed to ensure uninterrupted 207MMCFD gas supply to four Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and KAPCO. The process of legislation on power theft would be expedited to control this phenomenon, he added. He said that the energy crisis was affecting every sector of the country and vowed to overcome it with the co-operation of all stakeholders.
According to him, Chief Minister Punjab had complained that other provinces did not implemented the decisions of past energy conference. However, the remaining ones have agreed to respond after consulting respective stakeholders in days, he added. He said Chief Minister Sindh has given commitment to implement the energy conference's decisions in letter and spirit.
On Kalabagh dam, the Prime Minister said smaller provinces have passed resolutions against this dam and further proceedings are impossible without taking them on board. Gilani also pointed out that the situation has been improved due to efforts of the government. However, it is essential to chalk out long term strategy to enhance power generation. "We will have to make collective and individual efforts to boost electricity generation through various means to get rid of load shedding," he added.
Prime Minister Gilani said that as a result of measures taken by the PPP-led government‚ a total of 3400MW electricity has been inducted in the national grid. He felt people would have to play their part by consuming less power‚ as energy requirements in the country are increasing by seven percent every year. Gilani added that the power tariff had been increased due to increase in petroleum products' prices in the international markets.