Federal minister for water and power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has categorically and emphatically asserted that there would be no load shedding after December 31, 2009. He was addressing the workers of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) at Chenab Club here Tuesday.
He said that PPP has been confronted with multifarious and multifaceted challenges of unemployment, law and order in addition to load shedding of electricity. He paid rich tribute to the vision of President Asif Ali Zardari and leadership of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and said that sincere efforts are being launched to overcome these crises with the active support of masses.
He underlined the importance of electricity in national economy and said that there was shortfall of 3500 MW when PPP took over. "We made concerted efforts without wasting a single minute," he said and added that 4 billion dollars have been invested in energy sector and at least 3500 MW would be added in our system bringing a permanent end to the menace of load shedding. He said that same electricity crisis was prevalent in 1994 during the government of Benazir Bhutto. He was sanguine of the abilities and farsightedness of the then Prime Minister and said that she negotiated with Independent Power Plants (IPPs) and at present these IPPs are contributing 5000 to 5500 MW of electricity to the distribution system. He said that PPP Government was once again planning to overcome any future shortfall of energy to save country from the clutches of load shedding.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said there was difference of Rs 164 billion in billing and electricity purchased. This was a direct burden on government resources; he said and added that Pepco had to pay Rs 185 billion to the electricity companies when PPP took over last year. Similarly, electricity companies had liability of oil companies and oil companies were to pay to the refineries. We have cleared dues of Rs 85 billion while remaining amount would also be cleared very soon, he added.
He said that Pepco has saved 1500 MW of energy with up-gradation and improvement of its system. "We had to invest 1.5 billion dollars, if new power houses of this capacity would have to be installed," he added. He also thanked people who co-operated with Pepco in saving energy by promoting the use of energy savers.
He once again said that new plants are coming and another 3500 MW of energy would be added in our system. He lauded the constructive role of media and hoped that it would also play its role in overcoming the prevailing crisis.
He said that Pakistan was passing through war like situation and unity among all segments of society was required to drag Pakistan out from these crises. He said that Pakistan has shortfall of only 3500 MW whereas electricity shortfall in India was 40000 MW. The industries in India were getting electricity for only 5 days in a week. But they were braving this situation with a sense of responsibility, he added.
About hydal projects, he said that work was in full swing on Neelum-Jehlum project while work on Kahota project would be initiated very soon. He said that preparation for Bhasha Dam has also been started while international financial institutions have assured to finance 12.7 billion dollars for this mega-project. He asked people to have confidence in PPP and give some time to its government to overcome the prevailing crisis.
Quoting a former minister of Rawalpindi, he said that he had played havoc with railways and now, he wants to ruin Wapda. About Fesco, he expressed satisfaction over its performance and said that its workers should now control line losses.
He announced honorarium equivalent to the salary of 2 month for Fesco employees and assured that recommendation to give status of metropolitan city to Faisalabad would be forwarded to prime minister on tomorrow. He also assured to set up a burn unit in Wapda Hospital.
Earlier, Ahmad Saeed Akhtar CEO Fesco in his address of welcome explained in detail the performance of Fesco. Federal Minister for Textile Industry Rana Mohammad Farooq Saeed Khan, state minister for Interior Tasneem Qureshi, senior Punjab minister Raja Riaz Ahmad, provincial minister Neelum Jabbar, MNA Tariq Mahmood Bajwa, president PPP Punjab Rana Aftab Ahmad, MPAs Liaqat Ali Nazar, Major Abdur Rehman (Rtd) and managing director Pepco Tahir Basharat Cheema were also present during the meeting.