Taking strict notice of electricity blackouts, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has summoned an energy conference today (Tuesday) in Islamabad. The decision to convene a meeting, which will be presided over by the premier himself, comes in the wake of violent protest across the country against load shedding.
Prime Minister Gilani, who is in Saudi Arabia to express condolences over the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, issued instructions to the water and power ministry as well as the petroleum ministry to take ‘immediate measures’ to reduce load shedding.
This is the eighth time in the last 14 months that the premier has taken serious notice of the energy crisis. After ten energy meetings and conferences however, consumers have gained little respite from the government. Electricity tariffs have increased after every meeting held to review the power crisis.
PPP lashes out at Punjab govt
Meanwhile, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has squarely blamed the Punjab government for not only instigating people against the federation but also for the loss of life and damage to public property.
He was talking to media persons at Faisal Mosque after attending a funeral prayer in absentia for Prince Nayef.
Responding to a question, Kaira admitted that load shedding had increased over the past couple of days, but emphasised that this was not a justification for attacking public property and the property of Pakistan Peoples Party leaders.
“Load shedding is (occurring) in all four provinces, but violent demonstrations are being staged only in Punjab where the police have become silent spectators, and the provincial rulers are taking advantage of the situation by allowing the people to ransack public property.”
Criticising Punjab for its poor performance in energy production, Kaira said Punjab has the potential to produce 800 megawatts of hydropower but not a single megawatt has been produced so far. The minister said that 200 megawatts of electricity will be added to the system from the wind sector and 600 megawatts will be added from the same sector next year.
ECC meeting
Meanwhile, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) scheduled to meet today (Tuesday) is expected to revise the Gas Allocation and Management Policy 2005 to prioritise the gas for power sector in a bid to reduce the crisis and energy rates that have led to countrywide protest and violence.
Sources told The Express Tribune that a proposal of prioritising gas for power sector was being discussed among the concerned ministries. “Before the ECC meeting, the proposal would be discussed with finance ministry officials and approval would be sought from Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani,” the official said.
At present, gas allocation to power plants is third in the priority list of gas allocation and management policy 2005. “Now, proposal is being discussed that power sector should be pulled up to the second category of priority in the gas allocation policy.”
(WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING FROM ZAFAR BHUTTA IN ISLAMABAD)
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2012.
COMMENTS (18)
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@gp65: Your ignorance is your problem not mine. If you dont know what we are discussing here nothing can be done. You are thinking conventionally and you dont know nothing on the subject. When you are talking to experts in the fiels please do not give your usual ideas like you hear on the talk shows. Learn to think out of the box man. And acquire some knowledge on the subject before commenting. You are living in the past. The technology has changed and so has the world. You better learn and change too. Got it?
@Burhan: "Go Solar you can add another 5,000 MW."
There is NO solar plant anywhere in the world that generates 5000 MW. The largest is less than 500 MW i.e. 1/10th of what you are proposing. Also currently solar energy is very expensive. A government that is unable to use even existing plants because it is unable to bear even the operational cost is unlikely to be able to pay the capital costs of a solar solution which are quite high.
No Longer the Prime minister of our country .
One of the things that the guys at the top have not learned in Pakistan is the principle of shared sacrifice. Why not have loadshedding at all the houses of elected leaders, and government functionaries without benefit of generators and the like? I gaurantee that load shedding will fast be over. The absence of options will clear up the mind of these hypocrites fast. No need for conferences. Ironically Pakistan is probably the only country where there are more conferences on issues than successes.
too late sir.... too late
.... but last time he had commanded that load shedding be banished from the land.
All talk No action - the usual waste of time and false promises
PM attitude smacks of non-seriousness.
They say this is the eight time they are meeting, but what has been done so far to tackle the issue.Nothing so waste of time.
Why Punjab government is protecting against loadsheding? It is also equally responsible for the people problems.
Can he even spell it.
@Burhan: Do you think there is a lack of solutions for this problem? No, there is a lack of people who want to implement the solution. No amount of technocrats can solve Pakistan's energy crisis unless the top posts are vacated by the criminals who are appointed there.
what a joke ...
Dear PM: Instead of taking "notices", and wasting monies on conferences, do something practical..
If it wasn't for the heat and load shedding i would have laughed my head off. But die to continuous load shedding my head hurts. The inept rulers == 0
Wonder what these gentlemen talk on the subject. I have given many solutions here why on Earth don't they read and implement it?
Convert to LEDs it will wipe off the load shedding. Give you 5,000 MWs Go Solar you can add another 5,000 MW. Immediately announce whoever generates electricity will be connected to the grid and will be paid good tariff.Please discuss some sense in the meetings. Your AEB (alternate energy board) guys are useless. They do not recommend good policies. Implement the above three policies I guarantee you load shedding will be a thing of the past.