ISLAMABAD: Water and Power Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar announced on Monday that loadshedding will be restricted to eight hours in urban areas and 12 hours in the rural areas of the country starting June 18.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, the minister expressed hope that the situation will improve soon as a result of the steps taken by the government. The elimination of unscheduled loadshedding is priority of the government, he added.
He further stated that presently the electricity generation is 10,500MW while the demand is 17,500MW. “We are taking steps to enhance production to overcome the power crisis in the country. Water flow in Tarbela will improve during the next few days which would help increase the generation by 1,000MW.”
Commenting on the ongoing violent protests across the country, Mukhtar said that the damage to property in Punjab during protests against loadshedding is a loss to the nation. He vowed action will be taken against those causing loss to national assets and properties according to the law.
He said that additional gas and furnace oil supplies are being provided to power units to generate more electricity, and hoped that loadshedding will be reduced substantially in the next three months.
COMMENTS (32)
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So what has PPP rule done in last 4 years.Where is all the power that RPP were to produce.We want accountability
"Restrict" to 8 and 12 hours?
Initially push the public to extreme levels and then make them to settle down at lowest worst? You just can’t stop them now, they surely will not stop unless throwing you out of your offices and homes!!
I agree with A.Khan. These people do not know what the common man goes through in their generator powered Govt sponsored air conditioned homes. Take away their generators and fuel supply for one day; let them rot in the scorching heat like the rest of the population, I am pretty sure load shedding will be finished in a matter of days! Unfortunately, no leader of ours if honest enough to do that.
Excellent performance Chaudary Sahib - keep it up.
Indeed jamhoriat is the worst revenge.
I urge the Indian government to not export electricity to Pakistan.
Pakistan has managed to destroy itself hating India.
@Saleem: "FIR should be against Mukhtar and other who didn’t deliver and caused this loss."
Mukhtar took charge of this ministry one week back. Also definitely after 4 years in power PPP has to take blame for this situation but do not forget to blame the dictator who did not add a single watt in the 9 years he was in power.
Here is a simple test:
1) How much electrical generating capacity has been added to the national grid in the last decade?
2) How much has the defence budget (including nuclear wareheads and delivery vehicles) increased over the last decade?
The demand of electricity is going to increase further in future. The economic planners of Pakistan have to ensure increase in the production capacity depending on the available resources( coal , furnace oil,hydro and nuclear fuel) failing which despite all assurances and even genuine efforts electricity will be in short supply and consequent load shedding. shortage in power supply will surely increase the cost of production leading to loosing the competitive edge in export market and also increase in inflation.
FIR should be against Mukhtar and other who didn't deliver and caused this loss. This man and his predecessors are responsible for what happened today, and what will happen in next couple of days when mercury will rise even more.
Another Punjabi sell out that is nothing for equitable distribution ...
Shame on such people!!!
Industrialists will move to China. They are already f=doing that in India getting tired f load shedding and having to use generators.
Why shouldn't Chaudhry Mukktar and his predecessors be tried for misery that people are facing today. The frustration that people are facing today is direct result of loot and corruption of PPP ruling alliance. Let these fools sit in load shedding for a day, like an ordinary Pakistani, and then he will realize what people’s frustration means. Have these crooks not wasted time and money on Rental power Plants then things would have been little better.
t The government should be commended for selecting the best man for this job. His best quality is that he never loses sleep over anything, be it drone attacks or load shedding. Secondly, by putting him on this job, the government has removed him from the post of Defence Minister, which is equally commendable. His most 'truthful' statement was that Pakistan is 'indefensible.' Although he did not use these words, the meaning was clear. Now he has said it is not easy to get rid of load shedding. Well said. At least he speaks the truth!!!
In India we are (in urban areas) facing load shedding of 12-14 hours. Rural areas have no time schedule. You guys are lucky to have a fixed schedule.
i dont understand pakistan is so big but still its power demand is 17500 only? how come so small?
That's it, I'm opening a candle factory
Their co-chairman had said & was repeated by Mr. Farooq Leghari, former President of Pakistan, in his interview with Asma Chaudhry that he had come with an agenda & what that agenda is........i leave it to the imagination of people of Pakistan.......
So much time is wasted while the People of Pakistan endure and endure ...almost like Cattle .
What is the point of protecting the grid through loadshedding when the same loadshedding results in an angry mob that burns the grid?
Let us hope they will do what he is claiming. However, why they let it happen on the first place? What was plan, kill all the industries of Punjab? those who pay 93 % of electric bill of the Pakistan. They secessfully kicked out so many businessmen out of Pakistan as per their plan so that Indian products can be sold without resistance. No survival no resistance. God bless Pakistan.
Wasn't load shedding supposes to end by 2012?
Putting a defense minister in charge of Water and Power maybe politically correct but doesn't generate power or provide water. Load-shedding is a safety mechanism which isn't triggered for the fun of it -- it's designed to prevent damage/destruction to the power distribution grid. It's unlikely the engineers responsible for protecting the system give much credence to the political speeches made by the minister. The ultimate solution is to either reduce demand or increase supply - basic stuff that your leaders have ignored for years.
he must be talking about urban and rural areas of sindh. as this government has pledged to destroy punjab and rest, punishing them for not endorsing currupt ppp feudals, british thug and transport mafia. however the shameless rulers of punjab are happy over the current scenario which is scoring lots of political points for them.
Firstly, I would like to see the Presidency, PM House, Parliament and all associated accommodations without electricity i.e. included in load shedding and with no generators on standby as well. How can you talk about common man and make lofty talk about sacrifice when not facing the same problems ?
I bet he is not loosing any sleep over loadsheeding. All these people are lairs and corrupt.
lies lies and more lies.
Well we can all rest easy knowing the minister "hopes" things will get better....