Roshan Pakistan programme to end energy crisis: Awais Leghari
ISLAMABAD (APP) - Federal Minister for Energy Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Thursday said that the Roshan Pakistan Programme will eliminate the energy crisis in the country.
While holding a press conference with Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik in Islamabad, Federal Energy Minister Awais Leghari said that the electricity demand was 25,820 megawatts across Pakistan on May 29, of which 21,588 megawatts have been produced and supplied from within the system. However, he said that 4,232 MW was the load shedding.
He said that this load shedding was done only on those feeders, where losses are occurring. “From 20 per cent to 100 per cent where our losses are occurring, 4,232 megawatts of electricity was not provided there,” he added.
Awais Leghari said that where the losses are less than 20%, unfortunately, the power supply to these feeders also remained off for a few hours. The minister said that if they start supplying this electricity to these areas, the losses will increase to such an extent that the Pakistani economy will be further destroyed.
“Until our distribution companies determine their direction and address these losses with the help of provincial governments, this load shedding will continue,” he informed with certainty. He said that more steps are being taken in the energy sector including elimination of load shedding and electricity theft. He said that the Roshan Pakistan programme will end the energy crisis by showing the data on the demand and supply of each feeder. He said that reforms in the energy sector with the help of provincial governments are indispensable.
The minister further said that they have contacted the provinces and told them to set an example in preventing electricity theft. “A place in Dera Ghazi Khan has only three hours of electricity in 24 hours,” he added. “It is very easy for me to provide full-time electricity there but we preferred principle over politics.”
He said that reforms in the energy sector with the help of provincial governments are inevitable, adding, action will be taken in areas where electricity is stolen and those who are involved in this malpractice would be punished. Awais Laghari said that he took strict measures to prevent electricity theft in his constituency and the people involved in electricity theft were also arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan.
He said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has assured that they will provide assistance to reduce electricity theft and a proposal is being prepared with them in this regard.
