ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said that the government has decided to carry out audit of power plants established by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led previous government in order to fix responsibility of wrong doings in them.
While addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, the minister that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has already initiated an investigation in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants established in Punjab province.
The information minister noted that the power plants established by the PML-N government are generating electricity at high cost.
Audit of power plants set up by PML-N government will be conducted: Fawad Chaudhry
Fawad Chaudhry said that the current average per unit power cost is Rs 15.53 and the consumers are being provided electricity at the rate of Rs 11.71. He added that this is causing a loss of Rs 2.63 per unit to the national exchequer.
Further elaborating the losses, the minister said that a deficit of Rs 1.2 billion is being incurred on daily basis in the power sector in the winter season while in summer season, the deficit soars to Rs 1.80 billion. As a result of these losses, he added that, circular debt is ballooning by Rs 34 to 36 billion every month.
The minister also said that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has recommended increase in power tariff. He said that the matter will be taken in the next meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).
Fawad Chaudhary said that the corrupt elements will be brought to justice and a new Pakistan will emerge as a result of the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said that a framework has also been prepared to check money laundering.
