5-hour loadshedding till January: Minister
Source: OUR STAFF REPORTER December 18, 2008 LAHORE - Power distribution companies either will be privatised or to be given on contract due to their poor performance and heavy line losses. This was stated by Advisor to PM on Finance Shaukat Tarin while responding to a question during a joint press briefing also addressed by Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
He disclosed the government was considering to launch a new product -better than bonds- to pay the circular debt of Rs 250 billion.
The advisor stressed the need for taking radical steps in power sector to minimise financial burden on the masses.
Earlier addressing the press conference at Wapda House after a meeting, Ashraf said that due to shortfall of around 2,500 megawatt power the loadshedding will be carried out up to 5 hours till the month of Jan.
The minister said that the present power crisis was due to gap between demand and supply and the government was working to bridge this gap. He said that projects were being initiated to completely overcome loadshedding in the country by December, 2009.
Federal Minister said that said that he was dissatisfied with the performance of some DISCOs and asked their management to take necessary steps to improve their efficiency.
He said that DISCOs were directed to minimise their line losses and power theft and expedite recovery targets in their respective localities.
Addressing a press conference here at Wapda House after a meeting, he said that projects were being initiated to completely overcome loadshedding in the country by Dec, 2009. On a query on un-announced loadshedding, the minister directed the MD of PEPCO to send him the record of loadshedding. He said that DISCOs have been directed to minimise their line losses and power theft adding he himself would review the efficiency of DISCOs on monthly basis.
He said that strict action will be taken against the power distribution companies which will fail to enhance their efficiency and the companies, showing better performance will be rewarded. He said that government was committed to providing affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply to the people. He said that the Pepco system was being made efficient to overcome the shortage of power for the provision of uninterrupted electricity to domestic and industrial consumers in the country. He said the meeting reviewed the financial condition of PEPCO. He said that the meeting also reviewed in detail the matters of PEPCO to make it financially viable and efficient.