Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, chairing the meeting, inaugurated the conference while thanking the Punjab government and then moved on to resting the blame of the energy crisis on the non-payment of dues.
Federal Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar proposed that in order to overcome the crisis, electricity can be imported from Tajikistan, Iran and Uzbekistan. While Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani announced the initiation of a transmission line from Chasma to Zhob.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif complained that the Punjab government was being punished rather than being rewarded for the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
The two-day conference was arranged by the government to find sustainable remedies, with the help of stakeholders and technocrats, to tackle the ongoing energy crisis. It is being attended by stake-holders from all provinces including Gilgit-Baltistsan (GB) and Azad Kashmir.
Energy Conference a futile exercise: Punjab Forum
The National Energy Conference is an attempt to deceive the masses dejected over prolonged energy outages, the Punjab Forum said Monday.
“The outcome of this useless conference will not be different from the previous conferences that concluded with big talk but contributed nothing toward reducing the shortfall,” it said.
The Punjab government added insult to injury by hosting a conference in which the issue of Kalabagh dam (KBD) was not part of the agenda, said President Punjab Forum Baig Raj.
He said that the sustainable energy availability has become the most important issue for the country’s economic development. However, there is no hope that the federal or provincial government would do something practical to resolve the crisis except tall claims and controversial short-term measures, he added.
Demanding immediate power supply to industries, he said that thousands of industrial units have been closed while 500 textile units have shifted to Bangladesh.
The lobbies hindering KBD and other projects are doing great disservice to the country. Their efforts will turn Pakistan into a market of Indian goods, he warned.
He said that the masses should rise to get their rights including the construction of KBD otherwise they will have no future in the absence of energy.
COMMENTS (13)
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can someone explain to me why the government can't just start subsidizing new energy programs? there is so much potential here for solar and other kinds of energy. we can't keep up this loadshedding nonsense forever. this is 2012 and you need electricity to keep the economy running. why isn't anyone raising a stink over this? ET, we need energy and we need it now. please do more to push the government!. this is their responsibility.
shame on you incompetent PPP and PMLN its because of your corruption nothing has been done till date and pakistan business community has left and leaving out to bangladesh shame on you the one who became independant in 1971. well i wud say dt they had taken good decision for that.
What happened to proposals of last energy conference?? After 4 years these idiots r still wasting time.........
An irony that can only happen in Pakistan!
So what were you expecting that load shedding was due to Power conference??
Awkward moment when a Federal Minister for Water and Power doesn't declare loadshedding is over at one of these conferences.
It is pleasing to see four chief ministers and some federal ministers addressing an impressive event organized in Lahore. However, the absence of any prominent elected representative from Gilgit – Baltsitan has left much to be desired.
Pakistan needs to understand that as home to the country’s largest water reservoirs, Gilgit – Baltistan is the most important stakeholder of the discourse related to resolution of the energy problem.
The Gilgit – Baltistan region is currently faced with uncertain law and order situation and the half of the and l can understand that the CM and other minister or the governor for that matter may have been "too busy" attending the conference.
It is ironic, nevertheless, that our Chief Minster was able to spare time for visiting Naudero immediately after the massacre!! Speaks volumes about the vision and capacities of the people we elected to rule us.
I am not sure if I understand this completely. We have installed capacity to produce some 20+MW of electricity and the reason we cannot produce this is because of the circular debt crisis. Shouldn't this government focus on how to resolve this circular debt issue for the short run and focus on how to generate and/or import cheap electricity/gas in the long run? I am not sure what this dispensation is up to honestly... we have borrowed billions of USD in the last three years and we do not have a clue where this money went... This govt. keeps on babbling about how to import electricity from Iran/India (not sure where the money will come from for these) which is a costly proposition and does not resolve anything in he short term. Unless we resolve this issue in the short term, get back on track in terms of productivity thereby increasing our real growth, all these propositions are pipeline dreams.
Option 1: Friday a full working day with 1 hour break and Saturday & Sunday off.
Option 2: Friday & Saturday off and work starts from Sunday - Thursday.
Option 3: Thursday & Friday off and work week starts from Saturday - Wednesday.
All newspapers are requested to title this conference as "Energy Conference Drama" in his newspapers. Its really not more than this.
Despite announcemnt by Mr. Naveed Qamar in the National Assembly the Fuel Adjustment Charges are being levied in the bills for March 2012 at the rate of 28% against bills of August 2011. This is open slaiughter of public at the hand of these PPP walas.
Can the Chief Justice take notice of this Zulm
very good...good show for the power crises....