PM Shehbaz Sharif Orders Reduction in Power Loadshedding Amid Rising Summer Temperatures
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed a reduction in power loadshedding across the country in response to rising summer temperatures.
To facilitate timely complaint registration regarding power outages, the premier directed power distribution companies to establish effective and responsive systems.
A meeting on loadshedding, the anti-power theft campaign, and power sector reforms was held in the federal capital, chaired by the prime minister.
Attendees included Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Energy Awais Leghari, Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal, and senior officials from relevant ministries, according to a statement from the PM Office Media Wing.
Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that the purchase of new transformers should meet international standards and that the latest global systems should be adopted for energy sector reforms.
He also instructed provincial governments to fully support the anti-power theft initiative and ensure severe penalties for those involved in power theft.
Additionally, he demanded an end to overbilling in the country.
During the meeting, it was reported that by May 30, 134 cases had been registered, and 90 employees had been arrested.
A briefing was provided on the reorganization of the National Transmission and Dispatch Company and the progress made in this area.
Under energy sector reforms, a project involving the metering of 124,611 transformers was included in the upcoming development budget.
With the cooperation of the Asian Development Bank, one-third of IESCO’s power consumers are being transitioned to smart meters, with plans to expand this to other regions of the country.
The meeting included a briefing on power demand and supply, as well as the reasons for loadshedding.
Areas with better recovery rates were free from loadshedding, whereas it persisted in defaulting departments and regions with power theft.
The prime minister was updated on the anti-power theft campaign, which is progressing successfully with provincial government support. From September 7, 2023, to date, 160,004 FIRs have been registered, 79,885 people have been arrested, and 448 employees have been suspended.