Efforts underway to lessen loadshedding

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf Saturday said that all resources were being utilized to lessen loadshedding in the country by adding more electricity in the system.
Presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy Crisis (CCEC) here, he asked the Pakistan Electric Company (Pepco) and Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) that there should be no shut down of plants due to minor faults and all plants should work at their optimum capacity.
He said the Ministry was closely monitoring the progress of new power plants.
The meeting was convened to discuss the power situation and related matters.
The meeting directed KESC to sign PPA with Pepco and FSAs and other related departments at the earliest. The KESC was also asked to run their plants at full capacity and utilize all their resources in this regard.
The meeting directed KESC to submit a comprehensive plan to address the shortages and ensure stable supply to the power consumers.
The meeting also asked Pepco to prepare a national power plan based on next 10 years energy requirements.
Earlier, the meeting was given briefing on the demand and supply situation of electricity by the PEPCO, KESC and other allied matters.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Labour and Manpower, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Minister for Finance, Shaukat Tarin, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Secretary Finance, Salman Siddque, Secretary Water and Power, Shahid Rafi, Advisor Water and Power, Riaz Ahmed Khan, Additional Secretary Ministry of Petroleum, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Water & Power, Finance division, CEO KESC and MD PEPCO.