The Ministry of Water and Power is reported to have sought Rs 45 billion from the Finance Ministry to maintain power generation at an optimum level in June, sources told Business Recorder on Thursday. "We have submitted our plan to the Finance Ministry which includes estimated recovery in June, generation plan and fund requirements. We need Rs 45 billion next month. The Finance Ministry has not responded as yet on the Water and Power Ministry''s plan," the sources added.
On May 20 this year, caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso had approved Rs 22.5 billion for the power sector for May, but so far the Finance Ministry released only Rs 15 billion in two instalments (Rs 5 billion and Rs 10 billion). The power sector needs nearly Rs 3.27 billion on a daily basis to deal with the electricity deficit.
The sources said that the role of the National Power Control Centre (NPCC) had been done away with in power distribution and quotas were being allocated directly to all distribution companies (Discos). The sources said that Discos had started implementing recommendations of the Senate''s Standing Committee on Water and Power headed by Senator Zahid Khan.
The Senate Committee had asked officials to carry out load shedding in President House, Prime Minister House, Parliament House, Supreme Court, Judges Colony, Ministers'' and Diplomatic enclaves, without any exemption. Senators said that Wapda employees should also be not given any relaxation regarding the provision of maximum relief to the masses. IT warned that action would be taken if any case was reported. "We are implementing load schedule in the Minister''s enclave, Parliament House, Judges'' Colony and even Supreme Court of Pakistan," the sources maintained.
They said that the Awan-e-Sadar and Prime Minister''s House had connections from two feeders and back up generators so "there is no loadshedding there". On the issue of suspending 650 megawatts of electricity supply to KESC from the national grid, the sources said the Ministry had sought a reply from its lawyer. A legislative body recommended to the ministry of water and power to immediately stop the supply of 650MW to KESC.
A delegation of All Pakistan Textile Manufacturers Association (APTMA) met with the caretaker Minister for Water and Power, Dr Musaddiq Malik on Thursday and complained that despite addition of 2,000MW in overall domestic generation capacity, increasing it to 12,000MW from 1l 000MW, loadshedding schedule was not being followed for the textile sector in letter and spirit. The Water and Power Ministry, however, informed the APTMA team that every Disco is being supplied in accordance with its electricity quota according to their distribution plans. "We have asked APTMA (representatives) to approach Discos concerned to get (their) due share of electricity," the sources said.