Chitral Times Report
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Power Division, Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari has directed the Power Division to immediately take step for displaying of electricity generation and distribution data on the website of Power Information Technology Company www.pitc.com.pk for ensuring maximum transparency and provision of accurate information to the public at large.
The Federal Minister passed the direction in a meeting with a Delegation of the Government of KPK headed by the Provincial Minister for Energy thursday.
The Federal Minister while referring to the Government of KPK long standing demand to provide information and data relating to the distribution of electricity among the distribution companies, said that it will be more transparent to open the information for general public.
The Federal Minister also asked the Energy Minister for help against power theft in different areas of KPK. He informed the delegation that Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has been directed to incentivize its staff deputed on high loss feeders in order to control the losses and ensure uninterrupted power supply to maximum areas. He said that government is also considering to incentivize the law enforcement agencies in their endeavors against the power theft.
The Federal Minister further informed the delegation that with the sheer consistent efforts by the present government, the power generation has reached to the level that we can meet demand of the electricity in the country. He said that there is no shortage of electricity right now.
Mr. Atif Khan Energy Minister KPK agreed with the Federal Minister for Power Division that areas where power theft is rampant and losses are high can be compared with areas where losses are low and so the loadshedding cannot be equal. He said that provincial government is all ready to extend assistance to PESCO in its operation against the power theft and recovery cases. He thanked the Minister for making the power distribution data public which he said will usher into more transparency.
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MINISTER DIRECTS FOR ESTABLISHING HOT LINE TO MONITOR SCHEDULE OF LOADSHEDDING IN HIGH LOSSES AREAS
Chitral Times Report
Islamabad, Federal Minister for Power Division, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has directed the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOS) to clear all backlog of pending new electricity connections within one month so that a new procedure for new connections can be adopted.
The Federal Minister was chairing a review meeting with all CEOs of the DISCOs and officials from PEPCO, PITC and Power Division on Thursday.
The Federal Minister took strong exception to around 400000 pending new connection applications in all DISCOs and directed that immediate measure be made to provide energy meters to the consumers. He said that special meetings of the BODs may be called by the DISCOs in order to expedite procurement of material essential for new connections as per the existing procedure.
The Federal Minister also directed that in high losses areas the load shedding shall be carried as per fixed schedule proportionate to the percentage of losses. He directed to establish a hotline to monitor the schedule of load shedding for the high losses areas. The Federal Minister will himself monitor the schedule of loadshedding in the high losses areas while the PITC will generate reports in this regard.
The Federal Minister said that with great effort the government has been able to bridge the demand supply gap and we have now enough power generation available to meet the demand. He said that all efforts be made to curtail the losses so that maximum number of consumers can be provided uninterrupted electricity supply.
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POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OFFERS 4 BILLION DOLLARS MARKET: SARDAR AWAIS AHMED KHAN LEGHARI
Chitral Times Report
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Power Division, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has invited Japanese companies and investors for investing and exploring 4 billion dollars market in the Power Distribution system in the area of service delivery to the consumers including the modern technological solutions.
The Minister extended the invitation to the Japenese Investors today in a meeting with Ambassador of Japan H.E Mr. Takshir Kurai.
Federal Minister for Power division while highlighting the importance of service delivery within the electricity distribution network said that since the government has been able to bridge the demand and supply gap with its induction of multiple fuel power generation, the emphasis is fast shifting towards providing the electricity to the end consumers with service delivery of international standards.
He said that government is now pondering over bringing in the private sector for better service delivery to the end consumers. He said that since the distribution network and associated gadgets are still lacking the modern technological advancement, and present DISCOs have no enough investment, it is high time that the public-private partnership can take the stage. He said that government is considering multiple option with high rate of return on investment in this regard.
Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari appreciated the existing level of cooperation between the two countries specially in the power sector. He also highlighted the need of Japanese assistance in capacity building of the human resource at different levels of the Power Sector. He directed the Power Division to keep close liaison with Embassy of Japan in this regard.
Federal Minister also urged the need of assistance by the Japanese side in the formulation of policy documents and future energy plan for power sector in Pakistan.
The Minister said that Pakistan and Japan are close friends and have commonality of views on a number of issues at international level. He specially mentioned the Japan assistance in the Transmission expansion in Pakistan.
The Minister also informed the Ambassador regarding the initiatives that the present government has taken in the power sector.
Mr. Takashi Kuri while underscoring the need of further enhancing the existing cooperation between the two counties, said that Japan will continue to provide assistance to Pakistan in different fields. He said that Japan and Pakistan has undertaken many good projects in Power Sector as weel.
The Ambassador said that Japanese companies and investors are closely following the potential and good rate of return in the power sector. He said that many companies are now showing interest in investing in power sector in Pakistan. He specially mentioned the recent cooperation between Pakistan and Japan in construction of Islamabad-Burhan transmission line .
