News
‘Govt to generate electricity upto 85% in Ramazan’
Minister points out massive corruption in purchase of transformers
APP
MULTAN – State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said on Monday that the government would bring power generation upto 85 per cent of the total installed capacity to reduce load shedding during the month of Ramazan.
Addressing a press conference, he said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was taking keen interest to resolve electricity crisis. He said that they had been issued instructions to generate electricity to level of total installed capacity which was over 19,000 megawatts. Abid said that electricity transmission system could not afford the total installed capacity as it would get collapsed if the installed capacity was generated.
He said that the past governments ignored improving of the transmission system. However, he said that the prime minister had ordered inquiry into negligence shown in the electricity transmission system. Abid maintained that there would be no loadshedding during Iftar, Sehar and Taraweeh timings especially.
He said that there would be equal distribution of electricity in Pakistan. He said that there were 144,000 transformers and nearly 60 per cent of these were overloaded. He observed that massive corruption was done in purchase of transformers during the past regime. He also said the government would take stern action against the corrupt officials.
About dialogue process with Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI), Abid said that the government always took special interest to resolve problems of farming community. He said that issues of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad would be resolved within next 15 days. He added that farmers were given facility to make pending payments in four instalments as the farmers representative demanded extension in instalments.
About installation of electricity meters at Tubewells, the state minister said that he had instructed officials to install metres at the earliest. He maintained the government was also providing tractors on subsidized rates and offering insurance policy on crops to improve economic condition of the farmers.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk