ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The State Minister for Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali on Thursday said power loadshedding would end by November 2017 across the Country except the areas of high line-loses.
Talking to media representatives after attending a meeting of National Assembly Standing Committee on Energy in Islamabad, the minister said the Country had achieved the highest-ever power generation of 20,000 megawatt.
“On Wednesday, we exceeded the 20,000 MW power generation figure for the first time and that day there was extra electricity than the demand,” he said.
The state minister said 4,000 megawatts more electricity would be added in the system during next three to four months.
“3,000 MW to 4,000 MW more electricity will be added in the national system,” Abid Sher Ali said.
The minister said due to effective policies of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, power supply was improving day by day.
“Reducing the power loadshedding duration from 18 hours a day to 2-3 hours especially in the months of August and September is the hallmark of PML-N government, which is not less than any miracle,” he said.
Abid Sher Ali said the PML-N government was fulfilling its commitments made with the public, and it succeeded to overcome what he described ‘Jin’ of electricity loadshedding.
While answering a question, the minister said industrial and power loom sectors were getting smooth supply of electricity with zero loadshedding.
The minister said provincial governments had the responsibility to play their role in reducing power theft and line-loses in their respective provinces.
Commenting on electricity situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the minister said the government was setting up four to five grid stations in new localities of the province to remove the complaint of low voltage and ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity.
The state minister said it took three to four years to acquire land in Chakdara and Nowshera to set up grid stations, adding that now the land had been acquired and “we will do the two-year work in nine months.”
Abid said there were around 275 feeders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where zero loadshedding was being observed while 120 feeders were facing 85 percent to 90 percent line loses.
The minister categorically said there would be no repair work in the areas of high line loses, urging the parliamentarians to play role in reducing loses in their respective constituencies.