Federal Minister for Energy “Power Division” Awais Ahmad Khan Laghari has stated that areas that fall in the loss-making feeders would continue to face power outages amid sizzling weather with temperatures rising above 50°C in some areas of Sindh.
His statement came as sporadic protests continue in various parts of the country against unannounced loadshedding amid scorching heat.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Leghari said he had directed the power distribution companies to improve their overall performance and minimise loadshedding duration.
The energy minister also instructed the distribution companies to present details of the demand and supply of electricity on a daily basis before the public.
He said the management of power distribution companies will be replaced with competent personnel. Blaming the high-loss feeders, technical faults and electricity theft as a major reason for power outages, the minister said a system was being revamped gradually to overcome loadshedding.
He said there is a shortfall of 4,232 megawatts in the country and high-loss feeders were not in a position to bear this shortfall.
Leghari said that there are 150 loss-making feeders in Punjab, 700 in Sindh, 350 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and around 80 in Balochistan, which will be overhauled.
He said there is an ample capacity for electricity generation available in the country and vowed to fulfil the demand for electricity during this summer and the upcoming year.
To another question regarding net metering, he said that net metering policy will continue and added that any decision in this regard would be made with the consultation of all stakeholders.
Laghari said that the ‘Roshan Pakistan’ programme will eliminate the energy crisis in the country. The Minister said that if they start supplying this electricity to these areas, the losses will increase to such an extent that the Pakistani economy will be further destroyed. “Until our distribution companies determine their direction and address these losses with the help of provincial governments, this load shedding will continue” he informed with certainty.
He said that reforms in the energy sector with the help of provincial governments are inevitable, adding, action will be taken in areas where electricity is stolen and those who are involved in this malpractice would be punished. The minister said that the complaints related to the overbilling of consumers are being redressed.
