‘Govt distorting truth about energy crisis’

PTI activist says govt should take emergency steps to curb shortfall.

BAHAWALPUR: “The government must take steps to reduce prices of electricity and gas. Efforts should also be made to eliminate load shedding in industrial and residential areas,” said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Bahawalpur women’s wing president Shazia Naureen on Wednesday.

Addressing a public meeting, she said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders had promised the voters it would eliminate load shedding within six months after being elected.

“Three years have passed and we still don’t have tangible progress for the crippling energy shortfall that has destroyed the industry and plagued the citizens for years.”

She said some ministers were claiming that the shortfall had been reduced.

“This is not true. It has been reported that the power shortfall has exceeded 4,000 megawatts. There has also been no reduction in unannounced load shedding,” she said.

“Last year, the government invested more than $7 billion in the energy sector but desired results were not achieved.”She said the country had been blessed with natural resources.

“Unfortunately, we are not utilising these resources to eliminate energy crisis. We are producing electricity through expensive methods and this is taking its toll on our economy.”

She said the government should restart work on the Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline to tackle the energy crisis.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2016.