In a major move, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf transferred Secretary Water and Power Zafar Mahmood and additional charge of the post was given to Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi. Sources said the cause of his removal from the office was that Prime Minister was unhappy with his performance to resolve load shedding issue in the country.
In last cabinet meeting, the out-going secretary had to face strong criticism from prime minister and cabinet members. It was reported that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Secretary Finance Abdul Wajid Rana had given tough time to Secretary Water and Power Zafar Mahmood for his failure in providing relief to electricity consumers despite getting Rs 76 billion from the Finance Ministry.
The Ministry of Water and Power, in its presentation, informed the Cabinet on September 26, that the average shortfall in June this year was 5,963 megawatts, followed by 4,539MW in July, 3,680MW in August and 3,474MW in September. Shortfall figures of Water and Power Ministry are no longer considered trustworthy by Cabinet members who are closely monitoring the duration of power outages in their respective constituencies.
According to sources, after a short presentation by the Secretary Water and Power to the Cabinet, the Prime Minister asked why the average shortfall of electricity had not declined in September. Secretary Water and Power stated that because of the "tripping" of the Qadirpur gas field and related factors, generation was reduced by 1,100MW, creating a massive shortfall.
The cabinet observed that natural factors such as rains, higher water storage levels, lower consumption of electricity were favourable in terms of higher supply and lower demand in September this year-electricity shortfall should not have been so high.