Power loadshedding: early closure of shops proposed

Ministry of Water and Power has reportedly proposed early closure of shops and markets in summer to minimise the number of load shedding hours, it was learnt. Sources told Business Recorder that a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif discussed various proposals of Ministry of Water and Power to deal with load shedding in coming months.
Any decision to this effect would be taken in the next meeting. Ministry of Water and Power has proposed early closure of shops at around 6 pm and to run the Independent Power Producers (IPP) which are not being run at present to contain the circular debt, an official privy to the meeting added. The official maintained that Ministry of Water and Power claimed to have saved around Rs 100 billion on account of circular debt by keeping some IPPs idle despite pressure by their owners.
The official admitted that earlier closure of shops, a politically challenging decision, may be difficult to be taken by the government. He added that the provinces have to be taken on board for implementation of early closure of markets and shops. A statement after the meeting by Prime Minister Office stated that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed Ministry of Water and Power for conservation of electricity including considering closure of shops and markets earlier. Finance Ministry has already released entire budgeted tariff differential subsidy to the power sector during the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Sources further stated that the government is banking on LNG as a relatively cheap fuel for power generation to reduce the quantum of subsidy.
Nawaz Sharif added that the government is taking all steps necessary to meet energy shortages in the country and intends to add around 10,000 MW of electricity to the national grid during its present tenure, which includes generation through solar, wind, hydro, nuclear as well as through LNG.
The Prime Minister added that the government is focusing on development and is confident that increased availability of electricity not only would provide relief to the common man by reduced load-shedding it would also give a boost to the industrial and agricultural sectors.
Ministry of Water and Power has informed the Prime Minister that the country is currently facing a shortfall of around 5000-6000 MW which is expected to rise with the passage of time. He said this while briefing him on the progress on power generation projects being undertaken to meet the shortfall. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Water and Power to ensure that load-shedding in summers should not be more than six hours in urban areas and eight hours in rural areas.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Secretary Water and Power Younus Dhaga and Secretary Petroleum Arshad Mirza.