Kaira urges Punjab CM to avoid political point scoring

Federal minister for information and broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has urged PML-N leaders to avoid political point scoring on the issue of loadshedding and advised them to help strengthen the federation. While addressing a press conference along with federal minister for water and power Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar at Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station, he said that last Friday a cyclone-type windstorm damaged around 19 steel structure transmission towers of Wapda in Muzaffargarh that excluded 1800 Mega Watt of power from the national grid, which disrupted the power supply. However, the Punjab CM tried to score political points on this unprecedented natural disaster that had extremely damaged four main transmission lines including one 500 KV line and three 220 KV lines. Kaira praised Wapda engineers who rushed to the desert-like site from all over the country and managed to restore supply of 1100 Mega Watt of electricity supply. Another 350 MW of power supply would be restored by today evening and the rest of the 350 MW by Tuesday evening, he added. Referring to the statement of Mian Shahbaz Sharif, he said that all the provinces are part of Pakistan and the government believes in equitable distribution of electricity on the basis of needs in accordance with the population and industry. He said that the government was custodian of all the provinces and it was this government that introduced 18th constitutional amendment that acknowledged the right of provinces over their resources. He said that Punjab was utilizing over 60 per cent of the electricity and majority portion of the national gas production. Kaira said that doing life with loadshedding in Ramadan Ul Mubarak was difficult amid extreme hot weather conditions but appealed the people to remain calm and avoid violence adding that government was putting its all energies and resources to bridge the electricity shortfall problem. He said that people own this country and by resorting to violent protests they would be hurting none other but their own infrastructure. He said that people should cooperate with Wapda officials as due to their hard work restoration of 1100 Mega Watt of power within hours was ensured despite unprecedented damage to transmission line. He expressed grave concerns that PML-N leaders were leading the protest processions of baton-wielding men. The Information Minister Qamar Zaman kaira said that the President and Prime Minister have already issued instructions to ensure availability of funds to maintain oil supply for electricity generation by thermal power plants. He said that oil supply has been enhanced from 12000 M ton to 25000 M ton and allocation of funds to power sector was enhanced. Kaira said that the country was passing through acute electricity shortage that prompted the government to opt for load management plan. However, the windstorm-led damage to transmission lines resulted in suspension of power supply by 1800 Megawatt that worsened the situation further during last few days. He said that now the Chashma nuclear power plant that was closed due to maintenance has again started 300 MW power generation after tripping once while wind mill project was also producing 100 Megawatt of power that would be enhanced up to 600 megawatt next year. Information Minister said that hydal power generation that used to 6000 Megawatt was 4500 Megawatt these days, however, situation would improve with more inflow of water. He said that the government wants to provide electricity at cheaper cost to the people and was focusing on power generation through coal and water. He said that none of the democratic or military governments added even a single unit of electricity to the national grid from 1996 to 2008. Federal Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar said that the government was focusing on electricity generation through wood and coal. He added that coal generated electricity has a share of only 0.36 per cent in Pakistan compared to 46 per cent in India and 65 per cent in China. He said that the government was also committed to eliminate power theft. On this occasion, Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the government’s commitment to provide electricity to the people at cheaper cost was evident from its efforts to explore alternate means of electricity generation. When asked about coal gasification project in Thar, Qamar Zaman kaira said that two fields with potential 50-MW capacity have been allocated on trial basis in Thar where engineers and researchers led by Dr. Samar Mubarakmand were trying to employing a new technology to gasify coal while it remains under ground or under water and government was providing funds for the purpose. He added that the government also moved ahead with agreements for import of electricity and gas from Iran to resolve energy crisis to solve problems of the people and industry. He said that it was the incumbent government that initiated work on Neelam-Jhelum and Bhasha dam projects. Kaira said that we all are passing through difficult times and have to come out of it together. Later, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira and Minister for Water and Power, Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar visited the two sites where windstorm had destroyed 19 steel structure towers of transmission lines of Wapda in Muzaffargarh district and reviewed pace of progress on the repair work. MD NTDC Naveed Ismail, chief executive Multan Electric power Company (Mepco) Chaudhry Guftar Ahmad and other senior officials accompanied the ministers.