ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government on Wednesday claimed that no loadshedding is being carried out in the country due to generation shortfall.
Addressing at the floor of the National Assembly, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that distribution companies (Discos) are managing power distribution based on losses in their respective feeders.
Tarar’s comments come as the current government faces criticism for high electricity bills and frequent power outages, particularly during the summer months.
Since assuming office in February, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has struggled with several issues, including significant challenges in the power sector. The government has been criticized for prolonged load-shedding and soaring electricity bills, leading to nationwide protests over the summer.
There has also been increased scrutiny of the IPP agreements, with calls for a review of these contracts as the government has acknowledged that the country has some of the highest electricity tariffs in the region.
Energy Minister Awais Leghari has promised that “good news” regarding the IPPs will be announced soon.
In his remarks to the National Assembly, Tarar highlighted that feeders with losses up to 20% are exempt from load-shedding. He also noted that in the initial phase, smart meters will be installed on transformers to combat electricity theft.
Tarar updated the House on the efforts of the Private Power and Infrastructure Board, which is working to promote and develop alternative and renewable energy technologies. He reported that 58 projects based on alternative and renewable energy are currently operational, generating a total of 3,837 megawatts of electricity. Of these, wind projects contribute 1,845 megawatts.
Additionally, Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik discussed the depletion of domestic gas reserves and mentioned that the administration is awarding new blocks for oil and gas exploration while also focusing on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG).
