Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Power Mohammad Younus Dagha visited the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) for an interactive session with the members. He was welcomed by MCCI President Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi.
Exchanging views with office bearers of Multan Chamber, Mohammad Younus Dagha said there was zero loadshedding for big industrial units and there would be no loadshedding for agricultural, commercial and domestic consumers by the end of current year and 80 to 90 percent power loadshedding would be ended by the end of current calendar year and 2018 would be free of loadshedding year.
He said "we would meet our commitment of cheaper electricity next year. We would ensure uninterrupted power supply to industry through double circuit system and pre-paid industrial connection would be installed."
To a question, the secretary ruled out the possibility of re-commissioning of Natural Gas Power Station Piran Ghaib (Multan) and said it was not possible due to non-availability of natural gas. He said tall obsolete power plants would be shut with the commissioning of new power plant. He claimed that power generation had increased by 28 percent during last two years.
Dagha said "we have supplied 24 billion units electricity to the consumers during 2016 which stood at 12 billion units." He said the recovery of outstanding dues further improved and reached to 96 percent while meter reading also improved to 96 percent which would be increased to 100 percent.
"With the completion of Sahiwal coal-fired power project, Haveli Bahadur Shah, Balloki, Port Qasim, Chashma Nuclear power plant IV, Neelum Jhelum and Tarbela expansion projects, there would be surplus electricity in the country."
He was optimistic that Thar coal power project would generate 4,000MW electricity. He said President of Multan Chamber of Commerce would be ex-officio member of MEPCO board management.
President of MCCI Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi said since textile industry was a backbone of country's economy, government should introduce special tariff for textile sector, adding top priority be given to the private power plant in supply of gas otherwise those plants would be shut.
He further said three-shift industry and independent feeders be exempted of power loadshedding. "Power supply to SME sector and agriculture sector once a day continuously be ensured, there should be no restriction on the repair of transformers of factories and mills from private workshops, similarly this facility must be extended to agriculture sector, pre-paid meters be introduced for domestic as well as industrial consumers," he said.
Jalaluddin Roomi said the government should take notice of installation of substandard TOD meters on industries and sending average bills, adding foolproof measures be taken to check power theft and a help desk be established in Multan Chamber.
Joint Secretary Transmission MoWP Zafar Abbas, General Manager Commercial & Revenue operation Muhammad Saleem, Pakistan Information Technology Company's CEO Hassan Tauqueer Bukhari, Chairman of APBUMA Khawaja Muhammad Younas, Renowned Industrialist Khawaja Muhammad Iqbal, M Anees Khawaja, Mirza Ali Ahmed, Khawaja Muhammad Farooq and Aurangzeb Alamgir were also present.