Prime Minister orders curtailed loadshedding

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed Ministry of Water to ensure that loadshedding does not exceed six hours in cities and eight hours in rural areas during summer. An official said the Prime Minister was concerned about loadshedding and wants Ministry of Water and Power to take measures in advance in this regard. The officials claimed that by summer more than 1500 MW more electricity would be available as compared to previous year.
The expected 1500 MW, according to officials, includes 750 MW from Guddu, 425 MW from Nandipur, 150 MW Wind and 100 MW from Solar. Nawaz Sharif, who chaired eleventh Cabinet Committee on Energy here on Thursday, got briefing on the progress so far made on two power plants of 660 MW each in Jamshoro. The committee was informed that financial arrangements have been made and the project would be undertaken after an international bidding. The prime minister directed that timelines of the project must be fast-tracked so that 1320 MW electricity is added to the system at the earliest. The Prime Minister wants a project implementation unit to be put in place for execution of the work in the shortest possible time to ensure completion of the projects by the beginning of 2018.
The committee also reviewed progress on 3600 MW LNG-based power plants presented by Ministry of Water and Power. The Petroleum Ministry updated the Prime Minister on the progress made on this project since the last meeting of the Committee. The Prime Minister directed that the project be completed by February 2017.
The Prime Minister underlined the need for measures regarding conservation of electricity in the country. Chairman WAPDA Zafar Mahmood briefed the meeting on matters relating to Diamir-Bhasha and Neelam-Jhelum Dams. The participants of the meeting included Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique, Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Advisor to PM on National Security Sartaj Aziz, Minister of State for Petroleum Jam Kamal Khan, Minister of State for Water & Power Abid Sher Ali, Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Special Advisor to Prime Minister Dr Musadik Malik, Secretary Finance Waqar Masood, Secretary Petroleum Arshad Mirza and Secretary Information Mohammad Azam, and other senior officials.