ISLAMABAD: Hammad Azhar, federal minister for energy told the Senate that the federal government was spending 100 billion rupees in this financial year 2021-22 to improve power distribution system. He said the outdated and redundant power distribution lines/system will be replaced to improve power supply and reduce power outages.
He was answering to questions raised by Senators about energy-related issues. Minister said that in the past, the governments’ focus was on power generation, not distribution. However, PTI government is focusing not only on power generation but also distribution networks as well, he said.
He said the federal government spent Rs 77 billion in the last two to two-and-half years on improving power distribution system and nearly Rs 100 billion would be spent this year for this purpose. Hammad Azhar said the government has allocated record funds in this financial year to do away with obsolete power distribution system. He also pointed out that power generation has increased to 24,500 MWs, from 20,000 MWs because of the government’s efforts that improved the system.
Energy Minister said that thousands of transformers are being replaced—not only LT transformers but mega transformers installed in grid stations in 2021-22 which will improve power supply system.
To a question Hammad Azhar said the government decided to formulate a new mechanism in April this year to tackle the Karachi power crisis. He said the government was signing a new power purchasing agreement with K-Electric to alleviate power crisis in Karachi, the mega city of Pakistan.
“There has been a dispute going on between the government and K-Electric regarding Rs 200 billion payables and receivables. We are resolving these issues,” he said adding that Karachi is being provided 550MW electricity from the national grid that has resulted in a visible reduction in power outages in the cosmopolitan city.
