Plan devised to tackle load shedding
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro has directed WAPDA and PEPCO to gear-up efforts to ensure increse in power production and make a policy for creating awareness in advance among people explaining reasons for such crisis in future. He stated this while being briefed by authorities concerned about recent power crisis in the country at Governor House here on Sunday evening.
Punjab Governor Lt. Gen. ® Khalid Maqbool, Federal Water and Power Minister Tariq Hamid, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ehsan Ullah Khan, Federal Water and Power Secretary Ismail Qureshi, Federal Petroleum Secretary Farrakh Qayyum, WAPDA Chairman Shakeel Durrani and other high officials were also present. The Prime Minister stressed the need for better coordination among concerned organizations of power to overcome the crisis.
He directed PEPCO to approach IPPs and persuade them to rectify their management and fulfil their commitments, else action be initiated if required under the terms of contract. Soomro said that IPPs should ensure 30-day fuel and gas stock to eliminate possibility of power shortage or shutdowns of plants. He urged upon the Water and Power Ministry and PEPCO to develop a system of regular inspections of generation plants in order to assess the capabilities of the sources of electricity supply and accordingly plan the load management.
The Prime Minister stressed that besides taking appropriate measures to ensure safety of transmitters and supply lines, the responsibility for which also has to be shared by the Provincial governments, awareness be created among people to help the law enforcing agencies in providing information which could avert any sabotage activity. The people need to be informed that sabotage activities would directly affect their lives as well as progress and prosperity of the country, he added.
Soomro said that a clear policy be designed by the ministry and PEPCO to create the interest of Private Power Companies to invest in this field to cater for the shortage. PM urged Water and Power Ministry to examine setting up of coal-based power plants, which could prove to be less expensive.
PM asked both the power and gas authorities to have regular contacts with the representatives of industries to be able to resolve their problems and ensure that the economy keeps moving forward. During the briefing various decisions were taken that included: both ministries for Water and Power, and Petroleum and Natural Resources should work out the need of gas by various projects urgently.
Ministry of Interior, all the provincial governments, Ministry Water and Power, WAPDA and PEPCO should coordinate security and patrolling of high tension transmission lines and grid stations. The concerned ministries and organizations be asked to ensure timely supply of fuel through efficient transportation to all the power plants.