Load-shedding to become history by 2018, says PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claimed on Tuesday that load-shedding would be a past narrative by 2018, expecting the power projects initiated by the present government should be completed well within the set deadlines.  

He was chairing a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Energy at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and other senior officials were also present at the meeting.

The prime minister, speaking to the participants of the meeting, said, a significant addition of power to the national grid with the completion of ongoing projects will eliminate load-shedding in Pakistan for all times to come.

Earlier, the Federal Secretary Water and Power Younus Dagha gave a comprehensive briefing on the ongoing power projects in Pakistan likely to be completed before March 2018, said a statement issued by the PM Office.

The projects include: three liquefied natural gas plants in Bhikki, Haveli Bahadur and Baloki with a total capacity of 3,600 MW; Chashma 3 and 4 nuclear power plants with a capacity of 340 MW each; 400 MW Guddu gas plant; 100 MW Nandipur gas plant; 1,320 MW Sahiwal coal plant; 147 MW Patrind HPP hydel project; 250 MW Faisalabad gas plant; 969 MW Neelum Jhelum project; 1,410 MW Tarbella 4 extension and 1,320 MW Port Qasim power plant.

Moreover, the PM was briefed that many projects of wind and bagasse would generate 350 MW.

The meeting was assured that 11,131 MW would be inducted into the national grid by March 2018.

It said that all transmission line projects were on track to evacuate ongoing power projects, and billions of rupees were invested in the existing distribution network to bear the load of additionally generated power through completion of ongoing power projects.

According to the prime minister, such a huge investment in the energy sector was never made in the country’s history into the energy sector.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government was not only working towards meeting the energy shortfall but was also planning for the future energy requirements of the Pakistan, the premier said.

The Prime Minister added increased power generation would help Pakistan in generating increased employment options, industrial activities and foreign investment.