ISLAMABAD: The sub-committee of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on water and power was apprised on Wednesday that there would be sufficient power generation by 2017 to bridge existing shortfall of 5,000 MW-6,000 MW in Pakistan.
The committee, which met with its Convener Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur in the chair, reviewed the performance of different electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) of Sindh vis-a-vis incomplete schemes, initiated by the previous government.
Ministry of Water and Power Additional Secretary Umer Rasul informed the committee that various power projects were under process and there would be no problem of generation by 2017-18. The performance ofall the DISCOs was also being enhanced to cope with challenges of recoveries after surplus power generation by 2017 and early 2018.
Briefing the NA panel, the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) chief executive officer (CEO) told that the company owed Rs 400 million to Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) while the police line was also reportedly getting electricity through illegal connections (Kunda system).
The committee was further informed that zero load-shedding was observed on three feeders of Khairpur to enhance recoveries. However, the recoveries decreased further. The HESCO chief executive officer told that cash recovery witnessed 15 per cent increase while losses were also dropped by 10 per cent.
He also denied any ghost employees in the company. He said that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had sought record in recruitment which was officially provided to the agency. The additional secretary said that currently 6-8 hours load-shedding was being carried out in urban and rural areas respectively.
He added that more load-management was being carried out in areas of high losses. The meeting was also attended by lawmakers Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah and Syed Kazim Ali Shah and others officials.
