Load shedding for more than two hours is not acceptable: PM Shehbaz
LAHORE, June 04 (SABAH): Irked by prolonged electricity outages, Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday warned the top officials of the power ministry that they would be dismissed from service if the duration of load shedding exceeds two hours a day.
A high level emergency meeting with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair continues in Lahore to discuss solution of power load shedding in the country and problems being faced by the people in general and business community in particular. Senior Vice President PML-N and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Federal Ministers Dr. Miftah Ismail Ahmed, Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Musadaq Masood Malik, Special Assistant to PM Syed Fahad Hussain, Punjab Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister MaliK Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema and high official are attending the meeting. Minister for Planning, Development and Special Reforms Ahsan Iqabl Chaudhry attended the meeting through video-link.
PM Shehbaz Sharif reprimanded the ministers and officials concerned over the ongoing prolonged load shedding amid the sweltering weather in the country.
According to media reports, the power officials earned the prime minister’s anger when they told him that only two hours of load shedding is being observed in the country.
“Over 10 hours of load shedding is being carried out on a daily basis across the country. I am not ready to trust in your lie,” replied the prime minister.
“Load shedding for more than two hours is not acceptable. Do whatever,” PM Shehbaz directed the officials.
Rejecting the explanations, the prime minister directed the ministers and officials to get the people rid of the trouble. “People need relief from load shedding,” the PM said, adding that there will be no compromise on it.
Shehbaz Sharif said that load shedding of over two hours in not acceptable and directed to officials to take steps to end power shortage in the country.
The premier lashed out at officials in the meeting and said no explanation will be accepted as people are suffering due to prolonged power outages. Do whatever needs to be done to end misery of masses, he added.
Meanwhile, sources privy to the matter said that the electricity shortfall has surged to 7,200 megawatts in the country. The demand for electricity in the country is skyrocketing due to hot weather. The country’s overall power generation was recorded at 20,000 megawatts while consumption is over 27,200, the sources added.
According to the sources, Lahore and other major cities are experiencing more than 10 hours of load shedding. In smaller cities and villages, though, load shedding lasts about up to 15 hours.
Due to the shortage of RLNG, numerous plants have been shut down and gas supplies to the textile industry have also been cut off, the sources added.