CCI Meeting: Provinces can submit proposals for dams

ISLAMABAD: The Council for Common Interest (CCI) has approved the Private Power Infrastructure Bill 2010, and amended the NEPRA Act.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani chaired today’s CCI meeting where the issue of power generation and energy crises was top of the agenda. This culminated in the decision to allow Provinces the right to generate their own electricity. Additionally the Provinces will also be able to submit plans for small dams.

It was decided in the meeting that all provinces will be consulted about all issues, including the power crises.

Regarding the Diamer Bhasha Dam, it was decided to approach Turkey and China for constructing the dam.

During the meeting, Pakistan Railways Ministry withdrew its request for procuring South Korean railway engines.

A report on devolved ministries was also reviewed.It was also decided that funding to universities will continue under the present NFC award and that the government will bear all expenses of educational projects.

The electricity crisis

The electricity crisis is worsening by the day with the duration of loadshedding now reaching 22 hours a day in some parts of the country, which is also creating water shortages.Lahore is facing 10-12 hours of loadshedding while adjoining areas are facing 14 hours of power cuts on a daily basis.

In Rawalpindi, power outages are taking place an hour after every three hours.

QESCO says load-shedding in Quetta is 6-8 hours while in the district headquarters of Balochistan it is 10 hours. Rural areas are facing 12-14 hours of loadshedding.

Interior Sindh faces power cuts of 10 hours a day and up to 18 hours in rural areas.In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , loadshedding has skyrocketed up to 22 hours. Peshawar suffers for 12-13 hours and Swat, Mardan and other areas around 18-22 hours.