Increase generation capacity to tackle power shortages: PM Gilani our ... - The News International

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Defaulters continue to receive power supply - The Express Tribune

Qamar blasts CEOs of power distri­bution compan­ies for not contro­lling situat­ion. Power distribution companies were tasked with achieving a recovery target of Rs54 billion in May 2012 but only Rs15 billion has been recovered so far. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: 

Bad governance and massive loopholes still prevail in the power sector as power distribution companies have failed to disconnect supply to power defaulters despite not paying dues of Rs80 billion.

A senior government official said that Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar blasted chief executive officers (CEOs) of power distribution companies (DISCOS) in a meeting held on Monday because of their failure to improve recovery of bills from consumers.

He said that the management is responsible for disconnecting supply if consumers fail to pay bills for two consecutive months.

Power distribution companies were tasked with achieving a recovery target of Rs54 billion in May 2012 but only Rs15 billion has been recovered so far. CEOs said that the remaining amount of Rs39 billion will be recovered from consumers by May 31. They were also told to improve efficiency levels and minimise line losses.

Official said that heads of power distribution companies informed the meeting that protests and outrage of people due to outages had resulted in resistance when it came to paying bills.

“Public departments, both federal and provincial level, are the biggest defaulters and owe us around Rs100 billion,” said an official in a power distribution company adding that provinces are paying bills but recovery rate is very low.

According to a statement, Qamar stressed the need for improvement in the recovery rate. He said that improvement in recovery will help to generate more power. The country direly needs to increase power generation levels in the coming months of summer.

Qamar also asked all companies to reduce their line losses and bring it to minimum level. He directed Discos to disconnect the supply of private and government consumers without any discrimination in case of non-payment of bills.

Earlier, top executives of the power distribution companies briefed the minister on their recovery position and their individual recovery targets. They assured that they will work hard to achieve the recovery target.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2012.

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Power shortfall touches 5000 MW - International News Network

LAHORE: The power crisis could not be overcome in the country despite all tall claims by the government, as the power shortage burgeoned to 5000 Megawatts.

According private TV channel quoting sources privy to Power and Water Ministry said, the increased power shortfall gave rise to the load shedding of 14 hours in cities and 20 hours in rural areas.

Despite government measures and inflated claims, power production stands at 11,905 Megawatts with the demand touching 16,905 MW.

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PML-Q again threatens to quit govt over power crisis - PakistanToday.com.pk

RAWALPINDI - PML-Q leader and Senior Federal Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Sunday asked the PPP government to solve the power crisis, threatening that otherwise his party would part ways with the government.

Speaking to party workers in Rawalpindi, Elahi also criticised the PML-N, saying that the party was raising the power crisis issue for their own gain.

The PML-Q leader claimed that if the formula put forward by party president Shujaat Hussain was implemented than the power crisis would be solved.

He said during the tenure of the PML-Q government there were four projects for power generation while during the tenure of the PML-N government in Punjab there had been none.

Elahi said there was not just bad governance but “mad-governance” in Punjab, adding that the “loud-talking” chief minister was responsible for the electricity load shedding in the province.

He said the rulers of Punjab should compare their performance with the development works done by his government during its tenure.

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