Energy conference: Government offices to work 5 days a week

The decisi­on was taken during the Nation­al Energy Confer­ence, headed by Prime Minist­er Yousaf Raza Gilani.

LAHORE:
To overcome the current energy crisis, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has directed government offices to work five days a week, thereby saving 700 megawatts of energy.

The decision was taken during the National Energy Conference, headed by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Speaking during a press briefing after the conference, Prime Minister Gilani put forward the decisions taken during the hours-long discussion between the stakeholders.

Apart from reducing the number of working days for government offices, the government has decided to implement a street-light conservation plan recommended by the Ministry of Water and Power.

Conference members have also decided to shut all commercial centres throughout the country at 8pm except for weekends. The decision will however be finalised after being approved by coalition parties.


Admitting the uselessness of the daylight saving program initiated earlier, the government has decided to have different office hours during winter and summer time, hoping to save more energy than was done during daylight saving program.

The government will also cut power supply to advertisement billboards and would replace all the regular bulbs with energy-savers.

To ensure the smooth supply of power, government will allocate additional gas to power companies.

Gilani revealed that the government will draft an act for the prevention of power thefts. “Cases related to power thefts will be registered and immediate action against the culprits will be taken,” he said.

To limit the use of energy by government offices, the conference members decided to install prepaid metres in all federal and provincial government buildings.

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