F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: The spiraling power load-shedding in the country made Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif angry who told the concerned officials that “he only wants work and redressal of public grievances by reduction of power outages”.
The premier on Saturday summoned an emergency meeting on the power crisis in the country.
The meeting was attended by the federal ministers including Miftah Ismail, Musadik Masood Malik, and other related officials and leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N).
The participants discussed the current status of load-shedding in the country, and they were briefed on the reasons behind the power outages and measures being taken to fix them.
The prime minister expressed frustration over the increasing load-shedding in the country and told the officials that curbing it was their collective responsibility.
The premier lashed out at officials in the meeting and said no explanation will be accepted as people are suffering due to prolonged power outages. Do whatever needs to be done to end misery of masses, he added.
“I want work. Redressal of public problems is our responsibility,” he categorically told the participants with directions for preparing short and long term plans for overcoming the power crisis.
The premier told the meeting participants that he could not bear loadshedding at all. He rejected all excuses in this regard. He asked them to take measures to remove the difficulties of people. “It’s our duty to take measures to rid the country of power crisis,” he said adding that they should devise short- and long-term plans to provide electricity at cheaper rates and in abundance.
Notably, the rising demand amid hot weather has resulted in a power shortfall of 6,865 Megawatts (MWs) on Saturday as the production stays at 19,135 MWs against the demand of 26,000 MWs.
The acute difference in supply amid rising demand has resulted in load-shedding of up to 14 hours in different parts of the country.
Sources in the power division said that the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) is facing a shortfall of 550 MWs as a consequence of which the Islamabad region is facing up to eight-hour-long load-shedding.
Sources added that the duration of power outages increases in areas where there is a greater loss of power during transmission.
They added that due to the increased flow of water, hydroelectric facilities installed around the country are generating as much as 4,622 MWs while some 1,134 MWs are being generated through thermal power plants.
Sources in the power division say privately-owned power plants were generating a total of 9,377 MWs at the moment.
Meanwhile, on his Twitter handle today, Prime Minister Shehbaz lashed out at previous government for failing the people of Gwadar miserably by not completing any project for resolution of water and electricityissues for the locals.
The PM wrote: “During my visit to Gwadar, I witnessed how PTI govt miserably failed the people of Gwadar. Despite wasting billions of rupees & precious time, it could not complete any project for resolution of water & electricity issues for the locals who gave great sacrifices for Gwadar port.”
