Government Announces Continued Revenue-Based Power Load-Shedding

Islamabad: Government to Continue Revenue-Based Power Load-Shedding, Says Power Minister

Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Leghari, announced on Thursday that revenue-based power load-shedding will persist in high-loss areas to curb financial losses. During a press conference with Minister of State for Finance, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Leghari emphasized that this strategy will continue until these areas show reduced losses, eventually ensuring 24-hour power supply.

Leghari explained that uninterrupted power in high-loss areas would escalate circular debt, necessitating action in these regions. He assured that sufficient power generation is available for the upcoming summer, with 7,000 MW currently produced from hydel sources, aiming to lower electricity costs and enhance service delivery.

Despite some areas with less than 10% losses experiencing load-shedding due to distribution companies' inefficiencies, Leghari has ordered improvements and transparency in power distribution. A shortfall of 4,232 MW persists, with the 'Roshan Pakistan' program targeting the elimination of load-shedding.

Addressing regional issues, Leghari outlined plans to overhaul 150 loss-making feeders in Punjab, 700 in Sindh, 350 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 80 in Balochistan. New Boards for power distribution companies will be established next week to address sector faults and enhance management.

Responding to various questions, Leghari acknowledged NTDC's arbitration issues, KPK's efforts to reduce losses, and the formation of a high-level committee to investigate imported coal allegations. He also mentioned the ongoing evaluation of the government's net metering policy, seeking stakeholder input.

Minister Malik highlighted the Prime Minister's and PML(N) President Nawaz Sharif's concerns about load-shedding, citing technical constraints and revenue shortages. He emphasized the government's commitment to providing relief to the public and urged cooperation to eliminate load-shedding.