Cabinet committee deliberates over privatising Neelum-Jhelum project

Decision comes as PM expresses displeasure over the undue delays in the project increasing its cost

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided on Thursday to form a committee to deliberate over the privitisation of Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project or seek investment in it.

"The premier has decided to form a committee to look into the possibility of privatising the Neelum-Jhelum project or entering into a partnership with some investor to ensure its timely completion," a PM House statement said.

The decision came as PM Nawaz expressed  his displeasure over the undue delays in the project which also have also resulted in an increase in its cost, while chairing the the 15th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy at the PM House.

Read: Hydroelectric power: Neelum-Jhelum project receives $32m from Kuwait

The committee has been tasked to present its report within three months for the privitisation or investment in the hydropower project.

“The project must be completed by the first quarter of 2017,” the meeting upheld.

Further, Secretary Water and Power Younus Dagha briefed the meeting on the progress on ongoing power projects which are not part of CPEC including hydro, nuclear, LNG, wind and coal based projects.

Further, Nawaz directed that consumers should be provided uninterrupted power during sehri and iftari in the month of Ramazan.

“There should be no load sheeding from 6:30pm to 10:30pm for iftari and taraweeh.”

“Further, there should be no load shedding one hour before and one hour after sehri and overall load shedding should not exceed the approved limit,” the premier added, while chairing

Read: Load shedding: Sehar and iftar times to be exempt, says Abid

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and others.