ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday directed Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Water and Power and Finance Division to ensure that additional electricity of 2400-2500MW comes to the system by February 2015, both in the case of LNG and new on-site generation.
“The demand of the people to have affordable electricity is justified and also a promise of the PML-N government,” the prime minister said this while chairing a joint ministerial meeting of the energy sector held at the PM’s house. He vowed to regularly chair meetings of relevant ministries for better coordination and to achieve desired results within the stipulated timeframe.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers for Water and Power Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Interior Chuadhry Nisar Ali Khan, Information and Broadcasting Senator Parvaiz Rashid, Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique.
The PM said that all those working in relevant departments have to work 24/7. He said any lapse will not go unpunished and any good work they do will not go unrewarded.
He also directed the Ministry of Water and Power to ensure that in future, if bills are issued without meter-reading, it will be specified on the bill that this is a ‘presumptive bill’, and any excess amount charged will be adjusted when the meter is read; the meter will be read at least once every three months.
He said line losses and theft of electricity should be controlled at all costs and serious steps be taken against theft of gas, irrespective of official status of the persons involved. He also directed relevant agencies to implement the already provided tax relief in the LNG Policy. The prime minister was briefed about the status of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import and its availability for the power sector and informed that first consignment will reach Pakistan by February and made available to the power sector.
The prime minister gave approval of making the consignment available to Kot Addu Power Plant which will produce 1200MW, as well as four other private power plants Orient, Saif, Saphire and Halmore collectively producing 800 MW of electricity. The consignment will also be provided to Jamshoro power plant for producing 400-500 MW of electricity. The projects, including Fast Track LNG Terminal, SSGC LNG Terminal, Gwadar Nawabshah LNG Terminal and Pipeline, Private LNG Terminals, GEI, PGPL and Bahria to import 2BCFD LNG, enough to generate up to 15000 MW, will be expedited.
The prime minister also informed that there are opportunities for producing affordable power from mobile mounted on-site power plants through 26 gas fields in the country having a potential of 1000 MW.
PM LAUDS HINDU COMMUNITY ROLE
IN UPLIFT
Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday admired the productive role Hindu community is playing in the national development, stating that the Hindu community is an asset to Pakistan in whatever field of endeavour its members are engaged in.
In his message to the Hindu community on this occasion, the Prime Minister said that Diwali signifies salvation of the righteous and vindication of their stance for which they had the courage to render sacrifices.
PM has greeted Hindu members of Parliament including Members of National and Provincial Assemblies as well as Senators on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. Flower bouquets, greeting cards and cakes have been sent to them on behalf of the Prime Minister.