Cabinet meeting: PM orders end to power outages
Asks special committee on energy to present its recommendations next week.
ISLAMABAD:
Presiding over the weekly meeting of the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday directed authorities concerned to take ‘concrete’ steps to end unscheduled electricity outages immediately in the country.
Taking notice of hours-long load shedding, which has seriously affected commercial activities, the premier directed the committee set up to address the energy crisis to present its recommendations by next week.
The Cabinet Committee on Energy is headed by finance minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and comprises petroleum, water and power, and information ministers along with the Planning Commission’s deputy chairman and the governor of State Bank of Pakistan.
The cabinet meeting earlier reviewed the overall energy situation and was told by the prime minister that he would personally monitor progress on a daily basis and preside over the special committee’s weekly meeting.
“Measures are being taken to balance the demand and supply of electricity. It is the government’s top priority to work towards fulfilling the power requirements and all necessary steps will be taken,” sources quoted the premier as saying.
The water and power secretary delivered a detailed presentation, informing the cabinet that the country has a total installed capacity of 16,000 megawatts. He said that only 11,600 MW was being produced currently owing to a considerable decline in hydel power generation and cold weather in Northern areas which turns flowing water into ice. According to him, the total electricity shortfall in the country amounts to 3500 MW.
The overall political, economic and security situation was also discussed during the meeting, but the prime minister was determined not to comment on Arsalan Chaudhry’s ongoing graft case. A member of the cabinet requesting anonymity quoted the premier as saying: “It is none of my concern; I’ll talk on the issue when it somehow relates to me or the party.”
Cabinet Decisions
The meeting also reviewed progress pertaining to the cabinet’s decisions regarding the Commerce Division. The cabinet was told that out of a total of 60 decisions, only 43 have been implemented, while 17 are in the process of being implemented.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2012.
Presiding over the weekly meeting of the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday directed authorities concerned to take ‘concrete’ steps to end unscheduled electricity outages immediately in the country.
Taking notice of hours-long load shedding, which has seriously affected commercial activities, the premier directed the committee set up to address the energy crisis to present its recommendations by next week.
The Cabinet Committee on Energy is headed by finance minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and comprises petroleum, water and power, and information ministers along with the Planning Commission’s deputy chairman and the governor of State Bank of Pakistan.
The cabinet meeting earlier reviewed the overall energy situation and was told by the prime minister that he would personally monitor progress on a daily basis and preside over the special committee’s weekly meeting.
“Measures are being taken to balance the demand and supply of electricity. It is the government’s top priority to work towards fulfilling the power requirements and all necessary steps will be taken,” sources quoted the premier as saying.
The water and power secretary delivered a detailed presentation, informing the cabinet that the country has a total installed capacity of 16,000 megawatts. He said that only 11,600 MW was being produced currently owing to a considerable decline in hydel power generation and cold weather in Northern areas which turns flowing water into ice. According to him, the total electricity shortfall in the country amounts to 3500 MW.
The overall political, economic and security situation was also discussed during the meeting, but the prime minister was determined not to comment on Arsalan Chaudhry’s ongoing graft case. A member of the cabinet requesting anonymity quoted the premier as saying: “It is none of my concern; I’ll talk on the issue when it somehow relates to me or the party.”
Cabinet Decisions
The meeting also reviewed progress pertaining to the cabinet’s decisions regarding the Commerce Division. The cabinet was told that out of a total of 60 decisions, only 43 have been implemented, while 17 are in the process of being implemented.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2012.