Industries to be exempt from load-shedding till December end

Ministry directed to provide uninterrupted power supply till canal closure in the end of December

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the Ministry of Water and Power on Thursday to ask all electricity distribution companies (Discos) to exempt the industrial sector from load-shedding owing to a gas shortage in the country.

“The Discos have been directed to immediately implement the plan,” a press release stated.

Industries will be exempted from load-shedding till the canal closure in the end of December when hydel generation level becomes very low.

“The Discos have further been directed to implement a load management plan for domestic consumers during the winter season which would keep the load-shedding at minimum level. The DISCOs will implement the load management plan according to their own worked out schedule,” the statement added.

The decision of providing uninterrupted power supply to industries comes in the wake of increased industrial activity due to grants of GSP Plus status by the European Union which have enhanced the country’s exports.

“Industrial activity has increased manifold as compared to the previous years,” the statement read.

Earlier, representatives of industrial association had expressed their concern over gas shortage and had requested the government to take appropriate measures in this regard.

“It is expected that the decision would have far reaching impact on the overall economic development of the country and creation of job opportunities due to enhanced industrial activity,” it said.