ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has directed the
Ministry of Finance to immediately release the due amount of PEPCO for
onward payment to PSO for resuming full supplies of fuel to the thermal
power plants.
The above direction was given by the Prime
Minister while chairing a special emergency meeting at PM’s House here
on Monday on the current acute energy shortfall in the country.
The
Prime Minister also directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Resources for ensuring restoration of full supplies of fuels to the
power plants including the KAPCO and HUBCO so that they can generate
electricity to ease the electricity shortage in the country. Full
restoration of the fuel supplies to these two plants will generate
additional 2000 MW electricity that will greatly help in lowering the
intensity of the energy shortfall.
The meeting reviewed the
energy conservation measures and Minister for Water and Power was
directed by the Prime Minister to hold consultation with the Provinces
in this regard as any operational strategy in this respect has to be
undertaken with the Provincial Governments on board.
The Prime
Minister also directed the High Powered Committee consisting Syed
Naveed Qamar, Minister for Water and Power, Dr. Asim Hussain, Minister
for Petroleum, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr. Nadeemul Haq
and Acting Governor State Bank of Pakistan and headed by the Finance
Minister, Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, to submit its recommendations in a
Special Cabinet meeting to be convened soon aimed at the resolution of
unscheduled loadshedding in the country.
The Special Emergency
meeting was attended by the by Minster for Finance, Dr Abdul Hafeez
Sheikh, Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar,Minster for
Petroleum, Dr. Asim Hussain and Senior Officials of the Ministries of
Finance, Water and Power, Petroleum and Planning Commission. Online
