ISLAMABAD – Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif vowed on Monday to mitigate the load shedding crises by the end of April after an increased flow of water in the rivers.
Addressing a news conference in capital, the minister stated that electricity demand in April-2017 had gone up by 2000MW as compared to the same period of previous year.
‘The country is witnessing additional load shedding as power plants capable of producing 1200MW of electricity have been closed for maintenance work. These power plants will start production by end of April. Similarly, an additional 1000MW of hydel electricity and an overall of 4500MW of electricity would be added in the national grid after which there will be significant decrease in load shedding’ the minister maintained.
He admitted that the complaints regarding the power outages were correct but cited the sudden spike in temperature as the reason for that.
‘There is an increase of eight degrees in Islamabad, while the temperature is five degrees higher in Multan than what it was in the April of 2016’ he noted.
‘The demand for electricity in the country is 17,140 megawatt, which shows an increase of 2,000MW from the units required during the same time last year’ he told the media.
The legislator in a categoric tone said that power outages of 10-12 hours would continue in areas where recovery had not increased.
He narrated that current demand of electricity stood at 17,140MW adding that circular debts were Rs385 billion as of March 31, 2017.
Asif also revealed that his ministry saved Rs 116 billion through the recovery of outstanding bills and by reducing line losses.
Khawaja Asif also claimed that there was no load shedding for the industrial sector since October, 2015.
