No slackness in improving power situation: Zardari

President and premier hold a high-level meeting to discuss electricity issues.

ISLAMABAD: Taking notice of the energy crisis facing the country, President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday directed concerned authorities that there should be no “slackness” in improving the power situation as the issue was of foremost priority for him.

He also directed that he should regularly be updated on the power situation across the country. Zardari issued the directives while chairing a meeting along with Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf at the Presidency to review the latest on the energy situation in the country.

Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar briefed the meeting about the latest power situation. He said that the all the high-voltage power pylons in Muzzaffargarh had been re-erected and the power disrupted due to their damage had been restored to the national grid.

The minister informed the meeting that the power situation was steadily improving and expressed hope that with the rising water levels in reservoirs, the power generation would further improve.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain informed the meeting about the availability of gas and fuel for the power generation.

The others, who were present during the meeting, included Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh, Secretary General M Salman Faruqui, Secretary to the President Malik Asif Hayat and other concerned senior officials. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari was also present during the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2012.