CPEC has reduced energy shortage in Pakistan to a large extent: Power Minister

Karachi: Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had reduced the energy shortage in Pakistan to a large extent.

Addressing a news conference here along with Managing Director of National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) Dr Rana Jabbar, he said the CPEC power projects had injected a new life in the power sector.

The minister mentioned that the Karachi Electric (KE) was providing round the clock power supply to 70 % areas of the metropolis while load management was being carried out in 30% areas due to issues of low recovery and high line losses.

“Protection of consumers’ rights and interests was our topmost priority and reorganization of K Electric would be done in a transparent and clear manner, he said adding that a committee, led by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, is working to settle the issues between KE, SSGC ) Sui Southern Gas Company Limited) and government and 90% reconciliation has been achieved so far,” he added.

He mentioned that the federal government will earmark Pakistani Rs 171 billion as Tariff Differential Subsidy (TDS) in new financial year to provide relief to citizens of Karachi.

“Moreover, Rs 151 billion were allocated in the budget 2023-24 for other parts of the country including Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and merged ex-FATA (formerly Federally Administrated Tribal Areas) districts,” he informed.

The minister that power distribution network was working as normal and there was no major disruption caused by the cyclonic storm Bibarjoy in supply of electricity.

He contended that the cyclone had landed and its severity has been decreasing gradually while supply of electricity was continued as per routine in the most of the areas.

Khan said the cyclonic storm Biparjoy did not affect power supply in Karachi except a disruption for four hours that was caused due to issues in supply of LNG to power generation units.

The minister underlined that on directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a comprehensive strategy was formulated at national level for ensuring safety of people and supply of electricity in vulnerable areas in wake of potential emergency situation due to cyclonic storm Biparjoy.

The minister said that K-E has informed that several measures were taken for safety of citizens which included raising the transformers above the ground, strengthening electricity polls and removing bunches of tangled wires for preventing accidents and loss of lives.