950827

Loadshedding soon to

become a thing of the

past, senate body told

ISLAMABAD: Loadshedding of electricity in Pakistan would become a thing of the past in the near future and there was no loadshedding anywhere, this year except in the province of Balochistan where Wapda would be able to overcome it by the middle of September this year.

This assurance was given at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power which was held in the parliament House, here on Sunday.

Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Sardar Bashir Ahmed Khan Tareen presided over the meeting which was attended by the Minister for Water and Power Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar, Deputy Chairman Senate Mir Abdul Jabbar, Senators Manzoor Ahmed Gichki, Haji Sakhi Jan, Haji Gul Sher Khan Afridi and Secretary of the Committee Alauddin Masood, Secretary Ministry of Water and Power Salman Farooqi, Additional Secretary senate Shahid Iqbal, Chairman Wapda Shamsul Mulk, alongwith senior officers of their respective organizations, were also present on the occasion.

Minister for Water and Power, Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar informed the Senate body that Wapda has been able to commission thermal power generation projects for over 1750 MWs, while work on Muzaffargarh units No. 4 and 6 of 300 MWs and 210 MWs each and Kot Addu combined cycle steam unit 15 of 132 KWs was in the advanced stages of completion and that completion of these power generation projects in June 1998 would further enhance the installed generation capacity in the country.

He stated that now transmission lines needed to be refurnished and modernized and that Wapda was vigorously engaged in completing this gigantic task.

Chairman Wapda Shamsul Mulk stated that due to excessive rains at Sibi this year, 220 KV industrial grid at Quetta and 220 KV Sibi grid station could not be energized by the middle of July, as envisaged, and that now work on these projects would be completed by the middle of September. He stated that after energization of 220 KV Sibi-Quetta transmission line the loadshedding in the province of Balochistan and also the voltage problem in Quetta area would be solved to a greater extent.

He said that the private sector responded very well to the attractive incentives offered by the Government and that power purchase agreements for 1967 MWs generation capacity were signed with the private entrepreneurs till June 30 this year. In addition, he stated that Hub power project, comprising four generators of 230 MWs each, was scheduled to be commissioned by April, 1997, The first unit of the Hub project, he added, will be commissioned in June, 1996. Chairman, Wapda, stated that hydle projects for 2389 MWs capacity would be completed during the 9th plan period.

He stated that the raise in electricity tariff for the low income group is minimal and that persons or households who consumed electricity upto 50 units would only pay an additional tariff of Rs 4.50 per month, while the slab for consumers who used more than 50 units has been increased proportionately.

In reply to a question, Chairman, Wapda agreed that the image of Wapda needed to be improved and its the lower staff needed to be more disciplined.-APP