LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered immediate reopening of all the closed power plants to enhance power generation with the aim to mitigate energy crisis in the country.
PM Shehbaz gave this directive while chairing a meeting in Lahore on the power situation on Sunday. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, Energy Minister Khurram Dastagir; Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb; PML-N senior leader and MNA Shahid Khaqan Abbasi; Finance Minister Miftah Ismail; and PM’s Special Assistant on Public Policy and Strategic Communications Fahd Husain attended the meeting. Some participated in the meeting through video link.
The meeting discussed the prevailing electricity crisis in the country and the PM ordered the restoration of closed power plants with immediate effect.
The power shortfall in the country has reached 7,787 MW, because of which electricity outages of up to 16 hours are being carried out in different parts of the country.
The power shortfall in the country has reached 7,787 MW, because of which electricity outages of up to 16 hours are being carried out in different parts of the country.
According to Power Division, the electricity generation in the country was 21,213 MW, while the total demand was 29,000 MW on Sunday. About 5,430 MW of electricity is being generated from hydro sources and 1,705 MW from thermal plants while the private sector generated 10,241 MW of electricity. Wind power plants are generating 1,629 MW and solar plants 113 MW, whereas the bagasse-power plants and nuclear plants are generating 120 MW and 2,275 MW respectively.
