President Zardari: Govt can no more afford persistent load shedding

Radio Pakistan

The President has directed concerned departments to take coordinated steps to end electricity and gas load-shedding

President Asif Ali Zardari has urged Ministries of Petroleum‚ Finance and Water and Power to work in unison and take concerted and coordinated steps to end electricity and gas load shedding in the country. He was chairing a meeting in Karachi on Sunday to review current energy situation and the progress on various measures being taken to overcome the power shortage in the country. The President said the government can no more afford persistent loashedding as it was adversely impacting the country's economy. The President directed that he should regularly be updated about the power situation adding that the government accords high priority to improve energy situation before up-coming elections. He said local bodies elections will be held this year at all cost before general elections. He said a bill relating to local body system will be passed by the Sindh Provincial Assembly within two months. President Zardari said PPP will form alliance with the allied parties to contest the up-coming general elections hoping that it will again emerge as the majority party and form new government at centre and the provinces. He said PPP has given sacrifices for democracy and it will continue policy of reconciliation to further strengthen it. Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar briefed the meeting about the latest power situation in the country and said that various immediate measures taken by the government resulted in reducing the supply and demand gap. He informed the meeting that the power situation is steadily improving and expressed the hope that with the rising water levels in reservoirs as a result of recent rains‚ the situation will improve further. Chairman WAPDA briefed the meeting on various hydel power projects. The meeting was briefed about the progress made so far in the construction of Diamir Bhasha Dam and the efforts being made to garner finances for the project. The meeting was informed that Tarbela Dam was likely to be filled soon while Mangla Dam has been filled to a level of over 1180 feet against a level of 1230 feet. Advisor to PM on Petroleum‚ Dr. Asim Hussain briefed the meeting about the availability of gas and fuel for the power generation.