PM Shehbaz orders 'drastic measures' to reduce sky-high electricity tariffs

In a bid to facilitate the common man amid back-breaking inflation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed for drastic measures to reduce the per unit cost of electricity.

Presiding over a high-level review meeting regarding power sector, the PM directed for shifting of coal-run power plants from imported fuel to local coal, besides improvement in the power supply system. He said that in future, only clean, cost effective and renewable power plants should be set up in the country.

The country’s chief executive also asked for proposals for better utilisation of the current surplus power generation capacity in industries.

He observed that wheeling price of electricity should be reduced for the industrial consumers so that power supply at reduced price could be made possible, besides for the industrial development and increase in export, grid stations should be installed near big industries.

The process of auction process of those power plants of Power Generation Companies (GENCOs) that were lying dysfunctional and defective should be accelerated, he further directed.

The PM said that the government was taking all measures to reduce price of power per unit for the common man whereas to reduce circular debt, reforms in the power sector were being carried out on priority basis.

The meeting was told that by shifting the coal-run plants from the imported fuel would not only save the precious reserves but also would make it possible to reduce power price by

Rs2 per unit for the consumers.

The prime minister directed for swift implementation of all the measures within the stipulated time frame.

Presiding over another meeting, PM Shehbaz called for improving the power transmission network in the country and directed the energy ministry to maximise the utilisation of renewable energy resources to reduce the country’s oil import bill by billions of dollars.

“Ultimately, we have to move to renewable energy. The oil import worth billions of dollars can be controlled by using alternative resources like solar, wind and hydel. Make cold calculations and I believe, you will be the winner in the long term,” he remarked addressing a meeting he chaired to review the power sector’s performance.