Pakistan

Determined to overcome power shortages by 2018, says PM

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chairs meeting to review progress on Neelum Jehlum Hydel Project at PM House

Abdul Manan March 02, 2016

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: PML-N

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said his government is determined to overcome the long-standing issue of power shortages in the country by 2018.

"We will complete the Neelum Jehlum and many other energy related projects during our term in office to bring the country out of darkness," the premier said while chairing a meeting to review the progress of the Neelum Jehlum Hydel Project at the PM House on Wednesday.

He was briefed on various aspects of the project during the meeting, which Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, minister for water and power and other senior government officials in attendance.

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Secretary Water and Power Younus Dagha was directed by the premier to submit a bi-weekly report on the status of the project to the PM office.

PM Nawaz directed all concerned to shift to the project site to ensure the effective supervision and speedy work on the project.

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"Achieving economic stability is directly connected with uninterrupted power supply to the industrial sector for the country, for which timely completion of the energy project is necessary," the premier said. "Our efforts in the shape of power projects in diverse sources of energy reflect our determination to overcome the issue of power shortages in the country."

COMMENTS (8)

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply Even if Nawaz managed to ‘overcome power shortages by 2018’, it would be four and a half years late, because the younger Sharif had promised to end it in six months , which is how long he had thought it would take. We often heard from the experts that the generating capacity in the country was already in excess of the maximum requirement, but the problem was with inadequate transmission system and various other factors. We were also told that some large industrial units had in-house generating systems but they were not operating these because being oil-based, the electricity produced would be costly and they preferred to keep their units shut, taking cheaper government-produced electricity instead. However, with oil prices hitting rock-bottom, these oil-based systems would also have become economically viable now. And providing electricity to the masses, at a price and not free, is not sort of a bonus to the nation, but is a basic requirement, which should have been met long time back. And there is no emphasis on nation-building factors like education, healthcare etc. We hear that overall literacy rates in Balochistan, and female literacy rates in Sindh, are down from the year before. And overall literacy rates were not very high to start with. And children are reported to be suffering stunted growth due to massive malnutrition. And to compound the problems, the population is exploding. The western wing started with a population much lower than the eastern wing back in 1947, but the situation is reverse now. The population planning department has failed completely, much like other departments. And intolerance, militancy, extremism and terrorism are on the rise. In addition to the existing gangs, we now also have reports from senior intelligence officials of Daish establishing its presence here, but the government’s main tool to deal with the situation is just to deny their presence, which Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan often does, with the conviction which, in the given circumstances, only a fool could have And the already overdue population and housing census has been postponed once again. Just how could the government do some planning for the nation without knowing its population and its make up? The answer is quite simple. These matters are of no interest to the government. And while democratic government took great pride on devolving power from Centre to provinces, instead of devolving it further down to the district government level, both Punjab and Sindh provinces have stripped the local governments of even the powers that a military dictator had given them. And the government delayed elections even for these power-stripped bodies for years, finally holding these only on the orders of the Supreme court. With population of the region now forming Pakistan being over six times of what it was at the time of partition, there is a definite need for more provinces. In fact, Punjab government even passed two resolutions for the creation of Bahawalpur and South Punjab province. And with PML-N now having its government both at the Centre and the provincial level, creation of new provinces would have become much easier. Instead, the two resolutions have been buried deep under the soil, with nobody even mentioning these. With our leaders doing, what they are doing to the country and the nation, the high level of admiration some of us have for these leaders is really amazing. Karachi

ishrat salim | 8 years ago | Reply @Humza...U r living in fools paradise, because Lahore is not Pakistan. He is not PM of Lahore but whole of Pakistan. By the end of 2016, energy crises will expose him.

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Woz ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply I can provide electricity to Pakistan tomorrow, meet 100% of requirement, but do note it won't be affordable. Game over, good luck all.

Humza | 8 years ago | Reply @ishrat salim: I think the energy situation is slowly getting better and neither Musharraf's 10 years nor Zardari's 5 years gave us more electricity than Nawaz has already given us in hardly 3 years ! If things aren't better by the next elections, you should vote out PML N; That's democracy after all. But on the other hand, if things have improved significantly and you agree with Nawaz Sharif's economic handling and his economic plan, you should vote him back in. Pakistan has improved in terms of political stability with decreased violence and economic stability over the last few years. If you disagree, you need to vote following your own opinion.

lolz | 8 years ago | Reply These guys needed 6 months during election campaign, now they promise they'd end load-shedding by 2018. I wonder if the poor awaam would even dare to question how would they be able to address this issue when they don't have any solution for transmission lines required in the current adverse situation! Moreover, they have recently contracted LNG deals for IPP's which are the most expensive solution. So, there is no shortcut to this problem and masses would continue to be fooled for yet another election!

Kickass | 8 years ago | Reply There is no shortage even now. PM is delaying it deliberately. The reason: next elections. How can this man be people friendly? There is a world of difference; while he lives in a 29000 kanal palace, people live in Jhugies. What a contrast. NS is in for a big shock if he waits for 2018!

Saf | 8 years ago | Reply How about putting competent people in each position instead of friends and family. That is the difference between a well run project and a poorly run project.

ishrat salim | 8 years ago | Reply You Mr PM has run out of your election promise to end electricity within 1 year. Of course, you will try to complete energy projects by 2018 - election year to get re-elected, very good strategy. But people are not fool.

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