No load-shedding across country during PSL final, claims Abid Sher Ali

Government committed to eliminating load-shedding from country, says state minister for water and power

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali on Tuesday announced that there will be no power load-shedding across the country on the day of the Pakistan Super League's (PSL) final match, scheduled to be held in Lahore on Sunday, March 5.

“The government is committed to eliminating load-shedding from the country; power projects of over 10,000 megawatts are being completed on fast track,” he said after inaugurating a 220-kiloVolt grid station in Chishtian near Bahawalnagar on Tuesday.



The grid station along with an 88km transmission line has been constructed by the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) at the cost of Rs2.633 billion.

Lauding the NTDC management, engineers and staff for timely completion of the project, Ali said the grid station will end forced load-shedding, improve voltage level and minimise tripping which was being faced due to overloading of the system.

The power ministry, distribution and transmission companies have overcome 90% of system constraints and maximum relief will be provided to consumers during the holy month of Ramazan, he said.

NTDC has recently connected a 1,320-megawatt coal-fired power plant and 1,230MW liquefied natural gas-based Bhikki power plant with transmission lines.



According to NTDC, the transmission line for the 230MW Haveli Bahadur Shah power plant has been completed and will be connected soon. Apart from this, 90% construction work on the 500kv Neelum-Jhelum transmission line has also been completed.

Work on a 660kv high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line from Matiari to Lahore will be under way soon.