Govt says no electricity load shedding being carried out in country

Author: Agencies

Amid heightened scrutiny and ambiguity surrounding the independent power producers (IPPs) the federal government has claimed that no loadshedding is being carried out in the country due to generation shortfall.

Speaking on the National Assembly floor on Wednesday, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that distribution companies (Discos) are carrying out load management in areas based on losses in corresponding feeders.

The minister’s remarks come as the incumbent government faced much scrutiny owing to exorbitant electricity bills and hours-long power outages across the country – especially during this year’s summer.

Ever since coming to power in February earlier this year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has faced challenges on multiple fronts with power sector being one of them. The Centre faced country-wide protests over prolonged loadshedding and sky-high bills throughout the summer.

The incumbent rulers have also faced flak on the IPP issue with calls to review the government agreements with them as the government has admitted that the country has the highest electricity tariffs in the region.

However, Energy Minister Awais Leghari has said that the nation would receive “good news” regarding the IPPs soon. Speaking in the lower house of parliament today, Tarar also underscored that feeders with up to 20% losses are exempted from loadshedding.

The minister also said that in the first phase, smart meters will be installed on transformers to keep a check on electricity theft. Informing the House that Private Power and Infrastructure Board was working on promotion and development of Alternative and Renewable Energy technologies for power generation in line with the government’s vision to diversify the energy generation, the lawmaker accentuated that as many as 58 alternative and renewable energy based projects were operational which were producing 3,837 megawatts of electricity cumulatively

Out of these, winds projects amounted to 1,845 megawatts, he added.

Meanwhile, expressing his view on the parliament floor, Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik lamented the depletion of indigenous gas reserves and said that the incumbent administration was awarding new blocks for oil and gas exploration along with the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Trending

UAE launches new multi-entry visit visa: Key details revealed

The United Arab Emirates has launched a new multi-entry visit visa aimed at offering increased…

1 hour ago
  • Pakistan

PM says no negligence will be tolerated in preparations of Hajj 2025

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reviewed preparations for Hajj 2025, directing that no negligence…

2 hours ago
  • World

Trump promises harsh immigration crackdown on inauguration eve

Donald Trump told thousands of roaring supporters he would impose severe limits on immigration on his…

2 hours ago
  • World

Israel’s move to ban UN’s aid agency for Palestinians would be ‘catastrophic’: Top official

The head of the United Nations agency that assists Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has warned that…

2 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Trial under Army Act; hearing postpones for non-availability of Bench

Constitutional Petition regarding Trial of Civilians under Army Act was fixed for hearing today (Monday,…

2 hours ago
  • Top Stories

21 Pakistani nationals rescued off Moroccan coast: FO

Based on verified information, twenty-one Pakistani nationals have been identified among the survivors of a…

2 hours ago